What is UK riding like (From a Newbie)?

[Globalti]

Just Google "Chav Towns" and you'll get the picture.

 

[Brad_from_CapeTown]

Glad to be of service!

Chavs are a certain class of citizens, much derided for lack of work ethic, dependence on welfare and general criminality. We Brits are terrible snobs. Mostly chavs are working class, but even with money, someone can have 'chavvy' tastes. Footballers and their WAGS spring to mind.

BSOs are Bicycle Shaped Objects, often sold in supermarkets, garages, catalogues etc. Nearly always full suspension, heavy, very low quality, almost certain to put someone off cycling for good. In the best cases, they will be displayed, or photographed for adverts with the forks fitted back to front. because the person assembling them hadn't got a clue.

Oh, and then there's Halfords.... But I should get back to work....

ha ha ha ha I like you guys already We call the BSO's over here "Makro Specials".... So know exactly what you mean
Some of us Saffa's are terrible snobs as well.......... especially us cyclists And we have a whole host of names for our Chav's!! So Snobs unite then.
Thanks all.... crazy, I feel welcome already

 

[Brad_from_CapeTown]

Just Google "Chav Towns" and you'll get the picture.

WOW

 

[fimm]

One other activity you might want to look in to is Time Trialing, which is where you ride a predefined course (10 miles and 25 miles are the most common) on your own, as fast as you can. If the thought of cycling as fast as you can for 20 - 30 minutes and then collasping into an exhausted sweating heap by the side of the road appeals, then there's a couple of threads on here; but there's also a whole forum devoted to it and I'm sure the folks on there would be happy to help you. (I don't post there myself but I'm aware of its existance.)

 

[ian turner]

No one going to mention the forces of good rolling back the war against the motorist and the belief that cyclists cause more pedestrian deaths than mobility scooters?

 

[Brad_from_CapeTown]

One other activity you might want to look in to is Time Trialing, which is where you ride a predefined course (10 miles and 25 miles are the most common) on your own, as fast as you can. If the thought of cycling as fast as you can for 20 - 30 minutes and then collasping into an exhausted sweating heap by the side of the road appeals, then there's a couple of threads on here; but there's also a whole forum devoted to it and I'm sure the folks on there would be happy to help you. (I don't post there myself but I'm aware of its existance.)

Thanks Fimm... Yip, that appeals to me Wanting to get into Traithlons soon as well, so that is going to be a specific area i am going to need to concetrate on... the TT thing (oh... and a good TT bike is a soo easy on the eye )

 

[Brad_from_CapeTown]

No one going to mention the forces of good rolling back the war against the motorist and the belief that cyclists cause more pedestrian deaths than mobility scooters?

Oh Please Mr Turner ... Do tell... open that can

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Not much of a Rooibos fan myself, but my wife is already pining for the stuff.......

There's Rooibos everywhere now (or as the non-Africans often call it now, 'Redbush').
Also Mrs Ball's and Nandos.... I can recommend a good boerewors supplier via mail and also a biltong/droe wors maker

I'm a commuting and utility cyclist, not a roadie, which is something you'd rarely see in SA. Generally the drivers here are much calmer and very considerate compared to what you'd get in SA; and there are no minibus-taxi type things on the road either.

 

[Adasta]

Someone should call BentMikey - isn't he a Saffa?

I wonder what you'll make of British roads in a literal sense. What's the quality like of SA's roads? Well-maintained or potholes everywhere?

P.S. Is it true that Saffas call traffic lights "the robots"? I was told this a few months ago and you're the first Saf I've "seen" since!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

What's the quality like of SA's roads? Well-maintained or potholes everywhere?

P.S. Is it true that Saffas call traffic lights "the robots"? I was told this a few months ago and you're the first Saf I've "seen" since!

Depends on the road.

And yes, turn left at the robot...

 

[david1701]

The UK's cycling community is pretty big, but it's not homogenous.

There's the racing/sportive/audax community, the MAMIL community, the mountain biking community and the commuting community

Many riders will cross-over but there are distinct boundaries.

I've found all communities friendly.

Riding on UK roads, despite what you read here, is not that bad and getting better as more and more people take up / return to cycling.

As Asterix says, the middle to northern bit is nice (greener) and quieter.

argued from the south western pointy bit

Wales is lovely (never ridden there) and Bristol has some pretty stuff near it (not yet gotten up that far)

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

What part of the Uk are you coming to. It's a big place, y'know

The best part is the middle bit where you have the Dales, Peak District and North York Moors. Some of the other bits are ok'ish.

Ok'ish??

Being a Scot, the north of Engerlund is ok, bu you get the REAL hills in Scotland!

hippies with dogs in trailers

Pardon??!!

Chavs are a certain class of citizens, much derided for lack of work ethic, dependence on welfare and general criminality.

CHAV - Council Housed And/or Antisocial Violent.

Here in Scotland, we have our own name for them, Neds.

NED - Non Educated Delinquent.

 

[Arch]

Pardon??!!

Well. Middle class hippies, you know, the Muesli Belt type. All organic veg and children called Summer.


Stereotyping, moi!?

 

[Globalti]

Hey there Globalti
Did you enjoy the Argus?? What a spectacular day that was... warm, sunny and no wind... (first for a while ). Thats a pretty decent time there, I JUST managed my sub 3hr... wanted to come in nicely under the time, but made it by just 2 mins. Great morning inthe saddle though!
Admittedly, my precious carbon beauty will NEVER be left alone... She lives inside and is ALWAYS in my sight... (Must be living in SA that has done that to me ).
Our weekend or club rides are pretty well organised, did you enjyo the Fourwarys guys? Quite friendly with a couple of them on the Hub. Hope that they were welcoming to you
I would be delighted to make a trip up to Lancashire area and come a do a ride with you folks, will make a "getaway" weekend for the family.
You dont like our Euro-fizz we lable Beer?? Wow, then I am in for a treat over there Not much of a Rooibos fan myself, but my wife is already pining for the stuff....... not much a tea man (maybe I shouldnt say that here )..... Stick to the Java rather!!!

Yes, that was my second Argus and what a ride! It is simply the most spectacular ride ever, I guess only a major Alpine col would rival it for scenery and drama.

If you did the ride in sub 3 hours I think you'll be wanting to link up with a serious road club in the UK!

Yes the Fourways crowd were friendly, I enjoyed chatting with all sorts of riders as we cruised those long straights out to the Cradle of Humankind (I'm sure it was MANkind last time I rode there!) We passed a small lion sanctuary and it was amusing to see the effect on a line of riders when a lion roared.... everybody veered towards the verge and looked over their right shoulders in slight alarm.

On beer, Britain is re-awaking from a long period of darkness in the brewing industry. From a situation where every village had several "public houses" where a working man could slake his thirst for a few pence on the beer brewed out the back, we declined into an era in the sixties and seventies of mass-market pasteurised and carbonated industrial slop that was no better than lager. Then CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) came along and began the long fight to encourage small independent craft brewers. We are now in the happy situation where there are hundreds if not thousands of small breweries around the UK producing a delightful variety of beers, delivered still living to the pubs, hand pumped to the bar with all the quirkiness of a living product, naturally sparkling and bursting with flavour. We have about a dozen of these small brewers within twenty kms of my home; have a look at this website of a hugely successful local brewer run by a bunch of blokes who are justifiably proud of their product: http://www.moorhouses.co.uk/

Oh yes, you've got some delights awaiting you!

 

[Brad_from_CapeTown]

Also Mrs Ball's and Nandos.... I can recommend a good boerewors supplier via mail and also a biltong/droe wors maker

Nice!! Gonna need you to PM me those details . Nice to meet some Saffa's on here.

I'm a commuting and utility cyclist, not a roadie, which is something you'd rarely see in SA. Generally the drivers here are much calmer and very considerate compared to what you'd get in SA; and there are no minibus-taxi type things on the road either.

Thanks for the Heads Up. You would also know all about our Taxi's!!

Someone should call BentMikey - isn't he a Saffa?

I wonder what you'll make of British roads in a literal sense. What's the quality like of SA's roads? Well-maintained or potholes everywhere?

For the most past, down here in the Cape, the roads are in pretty good condition. Up in the North, LOTS of potholes!

P.S. Is it true that Saffas call traffic lights "the robots"? I was told this a few months ago and you're the first Saf I've "seen" since!

Yip that would be correct, to be a true Saffa, you have to call them Robots.... ???

We passed a small lion sanctuary and it was amusing to see the effect on a line of riders when a lion roared.... everybody veered towards the verge and looked over their right shoulders in slight alarm.

Ha Ha

We have about a dozen of these small brewers within twenty kms of my home; have a look at this website of a hugely successful local brewer run by a bunch of blokes who are justifiably proud of their product: http://www.moorhouses.co.uk/

Oh yes, you've got some delights awaiting you!

Great stuff!!! Looking forward to sampling some of the delights