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Official P&b Cycling Thread


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It's all about the enjoyment and nothing else! Your new bike looks good and I think you got a good deal on it.

 

I mostly need to get back into the habit of going out regularly. My legs were absolutely dead by the time I got home yesterday. I could just about handle that, without the added worry that when I stop I will quite literally fall over!

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Bought one of these on Saturday, second hand for about £200.

Need a new saddle and need to replace the clips with normal pedals, until I decide to be brave enough to use the clips.

With regards to saddles: Am I better buying a comfortable padded saddle, or better buying decent padded shorts?

I was out yesterday on my old bike for the first time in around 6 months. Managed just under 40km in just under 2 hours, but my arse was left feeling like I spent Saturday night at a pool party at Michael Barrymore's house.

Shorts. Couch-like saddles are only comfy on short rides; once you get your arse broken in a bit you'll find them awful.

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Bought one of these on Saturday, second hand for about £200.

 

Need a new saddle and need to replace the clips with normal pedals, until I decide to be brave enough to use the clips.

 

With regards to saddles: Am I better buying a comfortable padded saddle, or better buying decent padded shorts?

 

I was out yesterday on my old bike for the first time in around 6 months. Managed just under 40km in just under 2 hours, but my arse was left feeling like I spent Saturday night at a pool party at Michael Barrymore's house.

 

 

With regards to the pedal situation you just need to grab the bully the horns and go clipped. SPDs are easy and if need be sit on the bike using a wall for support and practice unclipping. It's quite easy and nothing to be afraid of but you need to do it as you'll notice a huge difference.

 

I changed my road bike recently and it had a used pair of SPD SL's on it. My first outing on the bike was ehm 'nervous' and I struggled to get to grip with the one sided clip in compared with the SPD's. Decided to put the SPD's on and it has made me feel more at one with the bike. Hopefully given some time I will get the grip of the SPD SL's, as I bought some nice shoes to match them.

 

 

These days I cannot imagine riding without clip in pedals, once you try (and fall as we all do :P ) you will be a convert.

 

 

Shorts. Couch-like saddles are only comfy on short rides; once you get your arse broken in a bit you'll find them awful.

 

I did a 5 day trek some years ago, the Missus had bought me a 'so called comfort saddle' so I used that thinking it would keep me free of saddle rash but that was a big mistake.

Saddle comfort is a personal thing, my 'new' road bike's saddle and I are in a 'honeymoon phase' but to be honest I doubt we will get married. My old Charge Spoon is waiting for me to reunite... :P

 

Padded shorts are great in some way, but some of the ones I use seem to be padded in the wrong place. Maybe I need to splash some cash on a 'luxury brand' ... :unsure2:

 

Anyway, Padded shorts and a 'Sleeker' saddle is my advice, for what it's worth.....

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I changed my road bike recently and it had a used pair of SPD SL's on it. My first outing on the bike was ehm 'nervous' and I struggled to get to grip with the one sided clip in compared with the SPD's. Decided to put the SPD's on and it has made me feel more at one with the bike. Hopefully given some time I will get the grip of the SPD SL's, as I bought some nice shoes to match them.

These days I cannot imagine riding without clip in pedals, once you try (and fall as we all do :P ) you will be a convert.

I did a 5 day trek some years ago, the Missus had bought me a 'so called comfort saddle' so I used that thinking it would keep me free of saddle rash but that was a big mistake.

Saddle comfort is a personal thing, my 'new' road bike's saddle and I are in a 'honeymoon phase' but to be honest I doubt we will get married. My old Charge Spoon is waiting for me to reunite... :P

Padded shorts are great in some way, but some of the ones I use seem to be padded in the wrong place. Maybe I need to splash some cash on a 'luxury brand' ... :unsure2:

Anyway, Padded shorts and a 'Sleeker' saddle is my advice, for what it's worth.....

Try Amazon 3rd party vendors for cheap high end kit - I got a pair of Pearl Izumi baggies for $30 that would be closer to a ton retail. Chain Reaction are having a clear out at the mo too, judging by the emails they're pinging me.

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I know I probably should, and I reckon in a few months I probably will. Right now though I'm content at doing what I have been doing.

I've recently switched to SPDs and found them a lot easier to get used than I was expecting.  Just keep your wits about you for the first few times you use them, then it will become second nature. 

 

The only downside is when you're stopped at a roundabout and you need to push off again.  Accelerating while simultaneously signalling and trying to get clipped in is not easy.

Edited by Gnash
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Out early yesterday and done just under 50km on the new bike. Bought some padded shorts, which made a big difference in terms of delaying when the arseache kicked in but even this morning I'm still having to take my time to sit down. Think the fact the saddle is different to the one on my old bike is going to take a little getting used to.

Anyway, new bike definitely made a difference, felt faster and took less effort to cover more distance despite some of the more agricultural stretches of the route being mud pits thanks to the rain on Friday night. Think I'll get some bull handlebars for it though, found it hard going towards the end having had my hands and arms in the same position the whole time.

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I am having trouble with numb toes using the clipless pedals. Only seems to be on my right foot for some reason, done about 20 miles and had to stop to get the feeling back before completing the ride.

 

Could my shoes be too small or the cleats in the wrong position?

 

Think i will take it to a specialist to make sure it is set up right.

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I am having trouble with numb toes using the clipless pedals. Only seems to be on my right foot for some reason, done about 20 miles and had to stop to get the feeling back before completing the ride.

 

Could my shoes be too small or the cleats in the wrong position?

 

Think i will take it to a specialist to make sure it is set up right.

Cleats probably in the wrong position. I've just had a bike fit done. The results are amazing.

If you don't fancy having one, try shifting your cleats back towards the heel, so you are not pushing down on the pedal with your toes or the front of your feet. You should notice a difference

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I've decided the weather is now good enough to put the mountain bike back in the shed and start using the hybrid again. It's very satisfying shining it up and degreasing/re-lubing the chain. The bike will no doubt be manky again by the time I arrive at work in the morning. :lol:

 

Aldi are having one of their bike sales again. I think I'll pick up a pair of shorts and gloves.

 

https://www.aldi.co.uk/specialbuys/dates/sunday-10th-april/c/2016-04-10/?q=%3Apopular&page=0

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Not in that condition I'm afraid. Done it before though, very tough!! The climb to Glenfarg - eek!

Please don't! I went out this morning, up Annfield Brae outside Kingskettle, up to star of markinch, Glenrothes, Leslie, over the hill to Falkland, through the estate to Strathmiglo then up to glentarkie.

I was overtaken by a group from Kinross cycling club going up the hill from Leslie, blowing out my arse. I'll need to get a few more training runs in before the end of the month

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Please don't! I went out this morning, up Annfield Brae outside Kingskettle, up to star of markinch, Glenrothes, Leslie, over the hill to Falkland, through the estate to Strathmiglo then up to glentarkie. I was overtaken by a group from Kinross cycling club going up the hill from Leslie, blowing out my arse. I'll need to get a few more training runs in before the end of the month

Ha ha nice route. Is that estate road that comes out at the lesbian whale music cafe aka Pillars of Hercules?

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Cable for the rear dereauller snapped on the home route. 50 miles with only 3 gears. Twas like weightlifting getting up some of them hills. Got the chain measuring tool out when I got back and it looks like its time for a new chain. Hopefully I catch this one before it needs a new cassette as well. 

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