Hello to all

[pes]

My name is Paul and I live in Widnes, Cheshire.
I have been reading this forum for a while and like the feel of it so I have just registered. Here is my first post.
I have recently got the bug again for cycling after a break of 15 years. I own a 1980's Pennine tourer (needs a bit of tlc) and a Raleigh hybrid.
I have had permission off Mrs pes to buy a new bike and I am looking at the Thorn Audax Mk3 or Dawes Audax Supreme. Hoping to get this through Cycle to Work.
I am really keen to get going again. I commute to work (7 miles round trip) but this only just gets the juices going so I am going out at the weekend to do a couple of 20 milers. My ambition is to do some touring. Would like to do C2C / Trans Pennine Trail or even the big one.

Now a few questions. My son is 9. He likes to ride his bike with his pals (Ridgeback BMX) but I am hoping that he will do some riding with dad and I am thinking about getting him a suitable road bike Can anyone give me advice please?
Also, I want to make sure that he is road savvy. How do I go about this?

Your collective comments would be appreciated.

Regards to all.

 

[Crackle]

Pes


Well I can answer some of your questions but not all. Widnes eh. Well you've got some great cycling on your doorstep with Delamere and Cheshire in easy striking distance and Wales as you get fitter.

Bikes for a 9 year old: these www.islabikes.co.uk are the stand out contenders for serious kids cycling, in fact for any kids cycling. My 9 year old has the Beinn 20, an excellent bike. One word of warning though, they lack a little bit of cool. Son no.1, won't have one, despite the fact son no.2 whips his ar$e up every hill. Also the Beinn 20 is not quite up to trail riding beyond forestry tracks and easy trails but it absolutely loves the road.

For yourself I can comment on the Dawes Audax. I don't have the Supreme but the 2006 Audax, my review of it is in the reviews section. You know the Supreme is a compact, which for Cheshire and North Wales will probably suit you fine. The 2006 is a triple. Probabl the best place for Dawes is www.spacycles.co.uk

I'll leave it to others to comment on cycle proficiency (tdr1nka) and the Thorn.

 

[Keith Oates]

I have a Thorn in the UK and find it very good, is it better than a Dawes is hard to say but like most things if YOU think it's better then it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Iainj837]

Pes

 

[Paulus]

Welcome Pes, The Dawes Audax is a good bike for the price. On the subject of your son, I found that the way to get them road aware was to get them to come out with you on quiet roads to start with until he has his confidence up and progress slowly to slightly busier roads and so on. My son, at the age of ten was coming out and doing twenty mile rides with confidence and didn't look back. You could also contct your local council/ PCSO's to see if they run cycling proficency courses, or whatever they call them these days.

 

[yenrod]

>Would like to do C2C / Trans Pennine Trail or even the big one.

Ive always liked the idea of that - may as well put something im usual at to good use

 

[postman]

Does the local council do school training days.We do here in Leeds.And i am a volunteer when they visit school.It is very good training and the children are taken out on the road in the second half of the training.

 

[pes]

Thanks for your very helpful comments guys.
This is a great forum.

 

[nilling]

welcome pes

Decathlon do good value junior road bikes - though nearest one to you will prob be Stockport.

I take my gfd son, whose 11, for a rideout on Sun mornings. On the quieter roads I will get him to the front so I can watch his road positioning and help him assess risks.

Be prepared for him to draft, then when you get near home he'll sprint to the finish and tell him mum that is was a slow ride!

 

[pes]

I've decided that I am going to get the Thorn Auda Mk3 in red with black mudguards.
This comes with "Selle San Marco Rolls" saddle as standard, but for £17 I can upgrade to a Brooks B17 saddle.
Does anyone have an opinion here? I hear a lot of talk about Brooks saddles but I have no experience of them.
Advice please.

 

[Crackle]

Pes: With that Brooks saddle question you have released the demons.......

 

[pes]

Pes: With that Brooks saddle question you have released the demons.......

Thought I might actually.

 

[Crackle]

You either have a Brooks backside or you don't. You either like the look of them or you don't.

I have a B17n on my Audax. I would not say it is broken in yet. I like the way it looks but it nearly got chucked at one point, however I persevered and it's coming good. The prices have gone up a lot recently but SJS on e-bay were flogging the B17 at a good price.

Here's my thread from when I was thinking along the same lines as you

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5924

have fun

 

[pes]

You either have a Brooks backside or you don't. You either like the look of them or you don't.

I have a B17n on my Audax. I would not say it is broken in yet. I like the way it looks but it nearly got chucked at one point, however I persevered and it's coming good. The prices have gone up a lot recently but SJS on e-bay were flogging the B17 at a good price.

Here's my thread from when I was thinking along the same lines as you

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5924

have fun

Thanks Crackle,

I have read your attached thread with interest.
Just one question - how do I measure my sit bones?
Might it be more fun if my wife does it for me?

 

[Crackle]

Thanks Crackle,

I have read your attached thread with interest.
Just one question - how do I measure my sit bones?
Might it be more fun if my wife does it for me?

Ermm. Well some squirming and fidgetting with fingers and ruler was the technique I used. Alternatively sit on something soft and measure from the centre of each cheek indentation or your LBS should have a gel pad to do the same thing.

You can ask the wife but it's not that erogenous