Kitted out! 1st Ride! I so need a map..

[e-rider]

It's not really true that you can simply wait until your 'yearly service' to ensure that the bike is okay. Unlike cars, bikes need regular 'small' maintenance to keep them running smoothly rather than wait for 1 year and then fix everything. If a bolt shakes loose whilst you're riding you will need at least some allen keys to tighten it again - you can't simply keep riding and ignoring it.

as for maps, in the 'old days' if I was exploring a new area I'd have an OS map (or photocopy) in my back pocket. These days I use a Garmin GPS device. If you like tech, check out the Garmin Edge touring model.

 

[Steady]

I'm by no means a good navigator, but it's surprising how good your direction-aring gets when you start getting around on a bicycle, not being afraid of taking a wrong turn can at times be incredibly fun (alright, not when you're tired, knackered and about to keel over, but getting lost has it's moments).

When I first started out I used some Chinese silicone bands (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...ue&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_6&smid=A3P0YUJ8JS9M8F) to wrap an old spare smartphone to the handlebars, once you get the right wrap, a sort of under, and back and again twist it was remarkably solid and stable as a mount and allowed me to follow a map.

These days I memorise the route before hand, google street view it as much as possible, remember it in a series of turns, and if I get lost have the route loaded onto my phone in the back pocket just to check and get back on track with rather than following it turn by turn.

 

[ChrisEyles]

I usually study the map at home (paper or on the laptop), and write out a list of the villages I'll be passing through to take with me, and the rough distances/directions between them. On the bike, I then navigate mostly by road signs for the villages, though I will bring an OS map or phone if it is a totally new area to me. I get grumpy if I have to use the phone though I like this method as it makes the ride into a bit more of an adventure rather than having every last turn planned in advance. Maybe one to try (see if it suits you too!) in an area you know well enough to feel confident you won't get lost!

Happy Adveturing!

 

[iancity]

I have learned s few new routes simply by observing where others have gone with Strava's flyby feature. It's interesting watching a circle going down a track u didn't know existed....

 

[totallyfixed]

Get a Landranger 1:50000 map for your area, a lot of the fun with cycling is planning your route, with a Landranger you can see at a glance where the hills are. We have 5 of them stuck together adorning our dining room wall. Never tire of looking at them, always discovering something new.

 

[Milkfloat]

To derail your thread slightly - you mention that you felt a bit wobbly, road on the pavement and had some close passes from vehicles. I would suggest that you might find it of benefit to try a cycle course like bikeability, read the cyclecraft book or even go out with some experienced riders.

 

[Ganymede]

To derail your thread slightly - you mention that you felt a bit wobbly, road on the pavement and had some close passes from vehicles. I would suggest that you might find it of benefit to try a cycle course like bikeability, read the cyclecraft book or even go out with some experienced riders.

Yes! good idea. And read @jonny jeez's commuting tips, which are useful even if not commuting: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-essential-guide-for-new-commuters.56622/

 

[Dave7]

Sounds like you're doing really well. I'm still a bit scared to venture onto the roads!

I need to get a wind-proof zippy thing for cycling. At the moment I'm wearing a long sleeved wicking cycling top thing and a gore-tex Berghaus waterproof. Reasonably light but still a bit bulky.

In terms of mapping, have you had a look on Open Street Map? They have loads of cycle paths listed, and as it's a curated effort by users it tends to be pretty up to date and accurate (at least in my area!) Might be worth a look

What a great website..........already helped me. Many thanks

 

[outlash]

This is the daddy for cycle mapping, Google maps is fine for roads but if you want cycle paths, bridleways and the whole shebang: http://www.opencyclemap.org/

 

[Mouki]

Hi guys,

I'm still ALIVE! Thanks for your comments as usual! I've been busy at work and trying to ride at least once a week to start and got about 5 rides in! Woot! And I got my journey time down to approx. 35 mins! (GPS says it's a 30 min journey).

I looked into the maps at my local Council and was a little confused! I don't think i'm confident enough to be figuring out a map while i'm cycling!
So modern GPS for me! (Sorry old school fans!) I bought this cheapy little handlebar bag to hold my phone and love it! Quick delivery and got a free small saddle frame bag too! BTR Bicycle Frame Bike Bag And Mobile Phone Holder - Water Resistant - Universal Fitting

So it's the same journey i'm doing at the moment - Slough to Wraysbury (someone asked) but no exploring as of yet and I think my next step is to do the commute to work. (I'm still waiting for my friend and Sister to buy their bikes before the real exploring starts!) After my first disastrous attempt to my friends, my second was to stick to the roads and all was fine. Have even been reducing my cycling time which i'm happy about!

I used the apps Map My Ride and Cyclometer and get varying results on the calories burned.. but not too fussed about that. Attached screenshots of my 1st (as in the 2nd proper) journey and the latest. (I started the app a little late on the last ride annoyingly).



So hurrah! I'm loving it! And the next problems i've incurred are with my kit and storage. Kit wise, I don't mind investing in good quality clothing and know I don't need loads atm but I like the base layer (£27) & LG jersey (£38) I bought but didn't want to invest in another 2 of each at that price. I don't know about the quality and branding stuff but I found some dhb base-layers reduced from £30 to £5! Can't go wrong! Or can I?? Otherwise I got some Specialized and LG jersey's half price at £25ish so I guess I will always have to look out for sales. I went to Sports Direct to have a nose but I didn't like the quality of their kits but they didn't have much choice anyway. Are there any other reasonably priced brands I should look out for? I love my Endura 3/4 length tights with the padding, no sore bum since I wore them from my second ride! Need to invest in another pair unless someone could suggest something similar cheaper please? Otherwise i'm probably happy to pay out for these!

So storage wise, I have my handlebar bag which has my cable lock and spare inner tube in. My new handlebar phone holder bag has money, keys, sunglasses and obviously my phone in but I have no storage for spare clothes and shoes. I started riding with an old single thick-strap handbag cross shoulder style but it doesn't fit that much for it's large size. It also keeps swinging round and making my back sweaty which is all just awkward.
I've been looking into rucksacks because I don't mind stuff on my back but thinking should I invest in pannier rack and bags? Not sure how much weight they would add onto the bike but I don't want it becoming awkward or heavy on one side if that makes sense? Just want enough storage for spare clothes, shoes, possibly my small make-up bag, some toiletries and maybe a laptop (I have the older macbook pro 15" screen when it still had a CD drive which is thicker and heavier than the newer ones). Does having a pannier bags full with all those things make it awkward to ride or lop-sided?? (Sorry if that's a daft question..!)

Thanks again for any help!
Mouks

P.S. I didn't realise the thread went off the the 2nd page..! Just had a nose and like the advise on wobbly riding and will look into your suggestions, thanks!

 

[4F]

With that lot I would say a rear rack and panniers are the way forward. Rucksacks make my back sweaty and I hate using them on a bike.

What works for me however is driving to work once a week at the weekend and leaving a weeks worth of clothes, shoes etc whilst collecting the previous weeks worth.

 

[adds21]

dhb stuff is fine, it's just Wiggle's own brand. Personally I generally go for dhb or Endura, but I'm sure most stuff is fine!

 

[SteveF]

Had an email from Ordinance Survey the other day, when you buy a new paper map you will be able to download it to a mobile device as well, only just introducing it and it's not on all the maps yet but it could be really useful... here's a link:
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/download-included.html

 

[Hippy]

Hi Mouki.
Well done on first ride. I know it was a few days ago now and hopefully you are doing more?
I have just started cycling around High wycombe, Marlow, Maidenhead and that kind of area as I am working this way and I have no idea where I am going I figure, just keep of the real nasty busy roads and follow signs, however, so far I have been out 5 times this last week since I bought my bike here and so far I have got lost only 5 times it all makes for an interesting ride and a good way to discover new places.

Keep on pedaling.

 

[Herbie]

There are also ways to mount a map on your handlebars.

Some use a handlebar bag with a holder on top

Alternatively there are a number of ways of attaching some form of clipboard to the bars.

I use the former when touring along with a GPS

Where did you that attachment thingy that your GPS is fitted on to ?....I'd like one