Any cyclists among us?

[roXXo]

FTAO Ian Robbo. Hope this thread doesn't induce any rage/apoplexy.
I know your view on cyclists.

Anyway, I have resurrected my old grid.

Cycle enthusiasts note that it is a converted road bike. Now fixed gear 42/16 giving a gear of approx 70 inches. Good for twiddling, high cadence.
I had the bike built in 1988. It's a Tange chrome-moly frame. Wheels and bits have been changed numerous times. Must get a gel saddle for it though.

For non cycle enthusiasts this means that the bike has no free wheel. The pedals go round all the time, just like velodrome track bikes. There is only one gear.
Note also no rear brake. Your legs are the brake.

Great fun
I have just shoved the guards on for winter. Don't like em but they serve a purpose. Disadvantage is that when turning my foot catches the front guard !

 

[Jaws]

You can also go up and down a treat on one pedal and as fixed wheels are rare nowadays it baffles the hell out of all the kids ( who will try and copy but end up thinking you must have gorrilla like arms LOL ! )

Pushbikes are fine in my book..
Its the wankers who ride them that piss me off !!

I have a way to deal with them now though.. I just step in front of them and push them off..
Obviously the average cyclist thinks he is above the law as he / she certainly does not obey any.. so if he/she is outside the framework suggested by those he/she is living among, therefore he or she must also be fair game as someone I can use as a fookin punchbag without fear of falling foul of said laws !

If you think any of this is harsh you have obviously never been to Cambridge or London ( No doubt there are many other places that are as bad but I personally have not had experience of them so am not qualified to comment )

 

[roXXo]

I do have to agree with you Jaws, a lot of cyclists are holier than thou, selfish green zealots.

 

[Punchy]

......For non cycle enthusiasts this means that the bike has no free wheel. The pedals go round all the time, just like velodrome track bikes. There is only one gear.
Note also no rear brake. Your legs are the brake.

I only tried a fixed cog once ... it lasted until I came to the first downhill corner taken at speed, the inside pedal dug into the road. After picking myself up from some poor sods front garden and extracting my shoes and socks (yes really) from the now demolished hedge, which I went through backwards, I gingerly rode home removed the cog with hammer and punch and fired it straight in the dustbin.




.

 

[lensman]

Roxxo dear fellow - I think you have failed to mention as to WHY you have taken to the old boneshaker once again. Any reason at all mate :m

Just curious

(Am up for a motorised ride out tomorrow prior to your nights if you are up for it?)

 

[ianrobbo1]

no problem with me Paul, it's the little shits that ride in the dark with no lights that "do me in" ,
tell me have you flogged/are selling your blade?? saw a black un for sale at Immingham thought it may be yours,!! :dunno:

 

[roXXo]

Roxxo dear fellow - I think you have failed to mention as to WHY you have taken to the old boneshaker once again. Any reason at all mate :m

Just curious

(Am up for a motorised ride out tomorrow prior to your nights if you are up for it?)

Oooh you little stinker. You promised to keep quiet about my divorce/bankruptcy/loss of job/house and having to pushbike everywhere.

 

[Mid Life Crisis]

Roxxo

I have a couple of spare saddles, a Black Turbomatic 3 and a red Rolls let me know if ya want either.

What size is the frame just outta curiosity?

Mart

 

[roXXo]

Mart

Frame size... er too big actually.. 23 inch

I see these modern fellows ride with smaller frames and clipless pedals.
They'll stop wearing wool jerseys and leather hats next.

When I was a kid in about 1966 I was given a book, "every boys book of sport for 1950". It had a chapter on the great Reg Harris.
I was fascinated.
Never cycled competitively but know a few guys who do.
:beer:

 

[Hornblower]

roXXo I didn't realise you did the real bike thing too. Up till the day I had my motorbike accident I tried to do 30 miles per day and used to average 25 mph. I am only just starting to get back into riding and I hope to get back to my okd fitness levels as soon as I can. I have four bikes now A Ribble in 753 tubing with Shimano 105 parts set up for racing . An early Kirk milk race bike again with shimano 105 but with a disc rear and tri bars set up for time trials. I have a Dawes super galaxy with Campagnolo Record parts and full front and rear caradice panniers And a Kirk mountain bike. If you have never seen them the Kirk bikes have an injected magnesium frame that looks weird I will try to get them all out and take a picture of them.

Jaws a small POT, KETTLE and BLACK, episode methinks and from an ex DISPATCH RIDER too!!!!!!!!!!!
QUOTE Pushbikes are fine in my book..
Its the wankers who ride them that piss me off !! QUOTE LOL :f

 

[derek kelly]

When I was 14 or 15 I bought a claude butler frame, tidied it up and spray painted it metallic green, over the weeks I added to it using pocket money and paper round money, until I had a fully funtioning racing bike, we used to cycle to York and back every saturday in total a distance of about 60 miles, my friend on his Carlton Sun racing bike and me on my home made jobby, best bike I ever owned,
funny thing though I was always taught the correct height for the seat on a bike is when you can sit on it and place both feet flat on the ground,
two months ago I bought a mountain bike each for Bev and me, and my daughter bought one for herself, and we were told the best idea is for a smaller bike with the seat high enough for you to only touch the ground with tip toes as the way I was taught causes muscle problems.

 

[roXXo]

Classic stuff Hornblower. Good man. I used to buy all the cycling magazines in the 80's.
Always been drawn to fixed gear bikes. Unfortunately I had a big chucking out session when we moved house 5 years ago( as you do and regret it later) Still got a few little bits and bobs though.

Derek
I remember helping my mate sew and glue tubs.

Rule of thumb for seat height on a road bike is that when sitting on the saddle,your leg should be extended but not stretched and the ball of your foot on the lowest pedal. The leg needs to be extended for efficient pedalling.
Touching the ground when sitting on the saddle just isn't an issue for "us" racers


I think that with MTBs it is the same but with a slight bend at the knee so that the leg isn't so straight.

It's about getting the bike set up correctly for you. You need to experiment with seat stem lengths, handlebar style and stem length. Saddle type and position. Pedal crank etc. ec. There are so many variables.

The old frame sizing was that you had a frame that was 10 inches less than your inside leg.
An adult gents frame used to be 21 inches but than with each generation getting bigger, larger frames were required.
Then there was a fashion for smaller frames and longer seat stems.

All interesting stuff.

Good to "out" some closet cyclists
:beer:

 

[bitontheside]

And me - I used to Time Trial the buggers in the Cheshire area. Once did a 24 minutes for the 10 miles! Mind you , it'd take me 2 hours now! Used to see all the hard nuts from Kirby C.C. ( Doug Daly, the Quinns et al) training on a Sunday - tried to keep up with them once - I think I then realised they were on a different level! :bow: Happy days!

 

[Codbasher]

I used to ride my bike to work and back everyday when I lived in North Wales. All the way from Northop Hall to Gwernymyndd and back, guess not over far, but those bloody hills!!

 

[bitontheside]

Coddy - I know it well - well done that man! :bow:

 

[Stevebrooke]

At last, a sensible post :bow:

I own a titanium Colnago with Ultegra 9 speed, Mavic 20 spoke wheels and various other lightweight bits and bobs. What I can't work out is why it seems to go so slow uphill

I have also got a mountain bike - raw ally frame, deore 9 speed, hydraulic rim brakes, and associated other parts.

The Colnago is away for the winter now, except for when I put it on the turbotrainer.

 

[Punchy]

The old frame sizing was that you had a frame that was 10 inches less than your inside leg......:beer:

Thats where I went wrong I should have had a 17" frame.....
I was into off road riding on local coal tips I remember building my own bike from a frame I found on a field. Cow horn handlebars, Sturmey Archer three speeder but with two sprockets and QD nuts on the rear wheel for a swap when going off road. I could 'pedal power' slide that bugger on gravel, it didnt have a rear brake cos the wheel was too small, I used to stop it by the front brake or flicking the ass end sideways.

Feckin annoys me nowadays seeing the kids having to have ?xxx bikes to have fun... most of our enjoyment was building your own from scratch.

:-:

 

[ianrobbo1]

cleverly avoided the Fireblade issue Paul but I'm gonna "press" you for an answer !!
well?? :dunno:

 

[derek kelly]

when I put it on the turbotrainer.

When did it rain turbots??

 

[roXXo]

cleverly avoided the Fireblade issue Paul but I'm gonna "press" you for an answer !!
well?? :dunno:

Dear miss Marple (thread hijacker)

I can neither confirm nor deny.
No further correspondance will be entered in to.
:f