- Location
- Glasgow
Welcome to Cycle Chat to all new members! 
New to CycleChat? Make your first post here and say HELLO :)
- Thread starter Shaun
- Start date
- Status
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Marc Gault
New Member
Hi guys, I'm Marc & new to the forum, I have been cycling for about a year & feel its time to start asking those burning questions, I'm 31 & currently a serving soldier in HM forces, I am training for an Ironman 70.3 & a 2000 mile round trip of the uk in 18 days, I think I'm a pretty fit guy but not really sure how to better my cycling, I currently do 10 miles twice a day in around 25 mins each & do a couple of 25 mile rides at the weekends in around 65-69 mins, I am looking for advice on how to go faster... Would a proper TT bike help? I'm currently using a standard De Rosa R838 veloce, any help would be much appreciated & I look forward to chatting with you guys,
Cheers
Cheers
I've been visiting the site for several years but I'll admit I only joined to be able to see the found a bargain thread. Found some really good bargains on there.
I'm one of those 'arrogant' roadies but I do ride my second best bike to work and back - can't bring myself to say I commute!
However I solemnly promise not to start threads about:
RLJing
Helmets
How fragile carbon fibre frames are
WD40 for chains
How compacts or triples are only for the unfit or elderly.
I'm one of those 'arrogant' roadies but I do ride my second best bike to work and back - can't bring myself to say I commute!
However I solemnly promise not to start threads about:
RLJing
Helmets
How fragile carbon fibre frames are
WD40 for chains
How compacts or triples are only for the unfit or elderly.
Lance legweak
Member
Be safe there Felix and get home to ride your bike.
Aching Legs Louis
New Member
- Location
- Bath, UK
Howdy everyone!
I'm a 23 year old who lives in Bath and started cycling about 4 months ago when I moved out of the city centre and got fed up with bus prices. Never really got into road cycling when younger, but since chatting with a few at work and visiting the gym more I've decided to start making little baby steps into the sport so came here for the advice I can steal.
I'm a 23 year old who lives in Bath and started cycling about 4 months ago when I moved out of the city centre and got fed up with bus prices. Never really got into road cycling when younger, but since chatting with a few at work and visiting the gym more I've decided to start making little baby steps into the sport so came here for the advice I can steal.
James Greenacre
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Plymouth, UK
Hey everyone,
First post for me - I'm a 26 year old living in Plymouth and I've just started cycling again having not ridden a bike in 10+ years. I've signed up for a charity cycle ride from Oxford to Plymouth (which is rather daunting for someone who has less than 2 miles on the clock in 10 years), so I'm looking forward to picking up some hints, tips and general advice to help me with not only this ride, but hopefully many more in the future!
James
First post for me - I'm a 26 year old living in Plymouth and I've just started cycling again having not ridden a bike in 10+ years. I've signed up for a charity cycle ride from Oxford to Plymouth (which is rather daunting for someone who has less than 2 miles on the clock in 10 years), so I'm looking forward to picking up some hints, tips and general advice to help me with not only this ride, but hopefully many more in the future!
James
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Hi and to @James Greenacre, @Aching Legs Louis, @Mr Peps, @Marc Gault, @Andy Whittaker, @Shelby and everyone else who has joined lately.
My main tip to James would be simply to ride lots. If you start out riding distances you are comfortable with as often as you can and increase the mileage you cover from time to time you'll find yourself improving quite nicely.
The other advice I'd offer to everyone starting out is to get your saddle height right. It's very common for beginners to set their saddle too low. As a rough guide set it so that when the pedal is at the lowest point of the stroke your leg is straight with your heel on the pedal. The leg will then be bent just about the right amount when pedalling with the ball of the foot, and it can be fine tuned to suit the rider from there.
I hope this is of use.
to @James Greenacre, @Aching Legs Louis, @Mr Peps, @Marc Gault, @Andy Whittaker, @Shelby and everyone else who has joined lately.My main tip to James would be simply to ride lots. If you start out riding distances you are comfortable with as often as you can and increase the mileage you cover from time to time you'll find yourself improving quite nicely.
The other advice I'd offer to everyone starting out is to get your saddle height right. It's very common for beginners to set their saddle too low. As a rough guide set it so that when the pedal is at the lowest point of the stroke your leg is straight with your heel on the pedal. The leg will then be bent just about the right amount when pedalling with the ball of the foot, and it can be fine tuned to suit the rider from there.
I hope this is of use.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Hello Dean. Welcome from powys.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Hello maidmoo. Welcome
ADz Bikes
Member
- Location
- Zombieland Leicestershire
I am AD as in Adrian - Hello, many know me as ADz and so I am ADz Bikes here makes it easy....I am a skull and bone collector amongst other hobbies - more on that later...
(below...me 14, with chopper....
)
I have just got back into the saddle after 7 year break, as my knee gave up some time back and I threw all my cycling to the wind, got rid of everything (even sold my Campag spanners dirt cheap - arggghhh) and didn't think I would be on two self powered wheels again, but last year my car blew, and I had to borrow my mates old Giant Boulder MTB, he is a fair bit shorter than me, so I raised the seat, and it got me to the car boot sale every Sunday!
I then noticed my knee seemed OK and to cut a long story short, I wanted to get back on the road, lose some weight, get fitter before its too late, and in Dec last year decided to look into my own pedal power.
I bought my neighbours Giant OCR 4, as he had issues with a clicking noise, (he had spent £60+ on repairs) and still it clicked, I got the bike in pretty much mint condition AND as a plus it was my size (he is roughly same height) and I had an idea what the click was.....
It was the crappy pedals, so easy fix, binned em off (Won some flat Wellgo's for £11 new eBay) and I paid £80 for the bike, so I was back on the road for not much cost...
wooo....stripped all ancillary stuff off it, and replaced the saddle and all the 'white' coloured stuff, inc the bar tape.
So I looked into joining some forums, and this one came highly recommended.
Have a lot to share if yer interested - I have pics and footage of every bike I have owned (since 1974) some good, and some very odd!
I am not your usual pavement pounder, and have some eccentric slants...that you may or may not, find intriguing !
But then all arty farty types are mental!
I have set up a YouTube channel of the same name to put my cycling related only stuff on....so happy to be back....
Later
AD
(below...me 14, with chopper....
)
I have just got back into the saddle after 7 year break, as my knee gave up some time back and I threw all my cycling to the wind, got rid of everything (even sold my Campag spanners dirt cheap - arggghhh) and didn't think I would be on two self powered wheels again, but last year my car blew, and I had to borrow my mates old Giant Boulder MTB, he is a fair bit shorter than me, so I raised the seat, and it got me to the car boot sale every Sunday!
I then noticed my knee seemed OK and to cut a long story short, I wanted to get back on the road, lose some weight, get fitter before its too late, and in Dec last year decided to look into my own pedal power.
I bought my neighbours Giant OCR 4, as he had issues with a clicking noise, (he had spent £60+ on repairs) and still it clicked, I got the bike in pretty much mint condition AND as a plus it was my size (he is roughly same height) and I had an idea what the click was.....
It was the crappy pedals, so easy fix, binned em off (Won some flat Wellgo's for £11 new eBay) and I paid £80 for the bike, so I was back on the road for not much cost...
wooo....stripped all ancillary stuff off it, and replaced the saddle and all the 'white' coloured stuff, inc the bar tape.So I looked into joining some forums, and this one came highly recommended.
Have a lot to share if yer interested - I have pics and footage of every bike I have owned (since 1974) some good, and some very odd!
I am not your usual pavement pounder, and have some eccentric slants...that you may or may not, find intriguing !
But then all arty farty types are mental!
I have set up a YouTube channel of the same name to put my cycling related only stuff on....so happy to be back....
Later
AD
Last edited:
David Drabble
New Member
- Location
- St Albans
Hello all,
I am fairly new to cycling, apart from years ago when I was a kid.
I bought a Boardman Hybrid Comp about 2 years ago and used it maybe twice a week last year on my 10 mile each way commute from St Albans to Welwyn Garden City. I had a break, while moving house and have recently got back into it in the last month or so. I try to make the trip at least three times a week and the recent good weather has allowed me to do that.
Feel better about this year's Winter riding, as I learned from last year and have kitted myself out quite well for the cold weather. Alslo, it's been really mild of late, which is great.
I use the Alban Way for most of my trip, which is an old, disused railway line, so it's great not to be in lots of traffic. To make things better, the Council decided to tarmac the entire route recently, so it's now lovely and flat, compared to a bit bobbly and bumpy last year. That has certainly helped on my very rigid Boardman. Lovely bike though and much quicker than my old Mountain Bike I first started on.
I am fairly new to cycling, apart from years ago when I was a kid.
I bought a Boardman Hybrid Comp about 2 years ago and used it maybe twice a week last year on my 10 mile each way commute from St Albans to Welwyn Garden City. I had a break, while moving house and have recently got back into it in the last month or so. I try to make the trip at least three times a week and the recent good weather has allowed me to do that.
Feel better about this year's Winter riding, as I learned from last year and have kitted myself out quite well for the cold weather. Alslo, it's been really mild of late, which is great.
I use the Alban Way for most of my trip, which is an old, disused railway line, so it's great not to be in lots of traffic. To make things better, the Council decided to tarmac the entire route recently, so it's now lovely and flat, compared to a bit bobbly and bumpy last year. That has certainly helped on my very rigid Boardman. Lovely bike though and much quicker than my old Mountain Bike I first started on.
- Status
