Any of you Tossers ride a pushbike?

We did a 30km MTB ride around Penmachno on Saturday, and kept passing and being passed by a group of roadies (their term, not ours) At one point, about a third of the way round, they commented on being more knackered doing this than on a 100 mile road ride. Made my day, until we came to the next fire road climb and they left me for dead. :(
Mark
 
I think I was recognised yesterday as a Tosser, struggling up a 1:50 hill on my hybrid with helmet and reflective jacket a kindly portly biker dressed in oily black on a non discript 4 cylinder gave me the friendly sign as he overtook me - made my day :D
 
Is now the time to ban photographers and race directors from standing in the pathway of competitive cyclists?
 
On Tuesday, after an almost 2 year break from cycling, I road 32.5 miles from Dalwhinnie distillery (that's in Dalwhinnie) to the Blair Athol distillery in Pitlochry. A fine ride among the Scottish highlands and completely separate from the main A9 for the first 22 miles on a designated bike track.

I took the train to Dalwhinnie from Pitlochry and cycled back to the car which I'd parked there. Just over 3 hours it took. I was quite chuffed as I didn't really push it (no pun intended)
 
Just been out in the garage to prepare my mountain bike for a ride tomorrow. I've not ridden it for over a year, so wish me luck!:comfort:P
 
Good luck NutMeister :thumb2

Is anyone else doing the Lincoln Sportive on Saturday?
I'm doing the 98 miler but my usual bicycle buddy is poddling round the wee ride with his wife.
 
If you think that's bad check out The Fred Whitton Challenge: http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk

It's 33% + on the hairpins and the only time I have ever had to get off and walk in any sportive :blast

I did manage to get up both the last climbs staying on the bike a couple of years ago, but my mate had his chain snap going up Wrynose :eek:

I'm signing up for this next year!

Just started riding in march doing about 60 miles per week but keeping up with the local "pros"

Did Blea Tarn 25% I think, then Red Bank into grasmere followed by the struggle up Kirkstone Pass 10 to 20% which is 3 miles of bitch climb:eek:

I make the effort of climbing on every ride as I can't avoid them living in the lakes.

In total iv'e now done over 500 miles and am happy with my progress.
 
I'm doing the Boris 100 at the beginning of August. My bike is in storage and I haven't ridden it since doing the Warwickshire 100.

I think that I'd better oik it out of storage ....
 
I'm doing 55 miles tomorrow for charity from Bristol to Bradford on Avon and back on a mountain bike I haven't ridden a push bike for two years, I'm currently 21 stone (none of which is muscle) and it's going to be a long day. Lucky for me this time it's pretty flat.
 
Just been out in the garage to prepare my mountain bike for a ride tomorrow. I've not ridden it for over a year, so wish me luck!:comfort:P

I did 22 miles, all offroad, in bang on 2 hours. Not as fast as usual, but I wanted to make sure my back and knees are up to the job.:rob Unfortunatley, I forgot my padded undershorts, and I'm walking like John Wayne today!

Btw, does anyone know what's going on at Swinley Forest in Bracknell as they've cut down loads of trees, and have got rid of a few of my favourite tracks?
 
Btw, does anyone know what's going on at Swinley Forest in Bracknell as they've cut down loads of trees, and have got rid of a few of my favourite tracks?

The forest at Swinley is first and foremost a working forest and they harvest the trees. Presumably it is the red route still that is shortened with diversions in place. I think they also divert the course due to nesting wildlife etc at certain times. I've not been for a few weeks but the red course was half the length when I was there last.
 
Looking at buying a hybrid bike at the moment, the choice & different specs is bewildering. There's everything from 'a set of straight bars short of a road race bike' to 'an mtb with slightly slimmer tyres'. I need something for about 70% road, 30% gravel bridle way / cycle path (the converted train line type things), beefy enough to cope with mud, ruts & the odd brick & pot hole on a track but light enough for proper road miles. Don't really want the weight of forks, especially cheapo ones which can't be rebuilt. Budget £500-£1k.

Early days in the research process yet, lots more magazines to buy! Haven't discounted a 2nd hand purchase, but will be more tricky for me at 6'5" finding something that fits!!
 
The forest at Swinley is first and foremost a working forest and they harvest the trees. Presumably it is the red route still that is shortened with diversions in place. I think they also divert the course due to nesting wildlife etc at certain times. I've not been for a few weeks but the red course was half the length when I was there last.

I have a feeling it's something to do with drainage, as there was a big hole with a machine of some description being fitted. Seeing all the trees missing was sad, as I've been riding there for over 25 years. Next time I'm there, I'll try and collar one of the workers to find out what's happening.
 
Someone recommend me a good iPhone bike mount for MTBing, as I'd like to be able to keep track of the time / route while out and about ?

There seems to be friggin loads on Amazon etc.

Also like to re spray my rockhopper now I've got all the components sorted and ithe bike is looking quite tired and battle scarred, is powder coating a durable finish for this ?

Or is there another type of finish that's better ?
 
What's the word on disc brakes? Good or Not so good? Must have fitment or are caliper brakes still good for the average cyclist?
 
For Road or Off-Road?

I'm assuming the question relates to road bikes as they're the latest "must have" being tested by the pro teams.

To my mind, more complexity, weight and cost. And the ones that filter down to bikes that us mere mortals ride will not be made from the finest unobtanium from the planet Zarg.

And my calliper blocks stop even my voluptuous form more than adequately.
 
disc brakes are better for off-road for when you ding you wheel on a rock and it deforms slightly you can still use your brakes just as effectively as the wheel rim does not form part of the brake surface like callipers.

Discs brakes are heavier but I use a cycloc ross on the road with disc brakes and I have never found that I was in need of a lighter bike.
 

Like it or not they are coming your way!

The Ultegra rim brakes on my road bike are ok at best.

The cable disc brakes on the cyclocross bike are ok at best.

The hydraulic discs on the hybrid are excellent, but squeal like your little sister with a black man hangin' out of her.

I have heard the new generation of road hydtraulic disc brakes are good without a weight penalty?

... my next bike will have them I'm sure. :thumb2
 


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