Not boaty - bikey. Got a new bike: want to come out to play?

shmoo

shmoo

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After commuting for a couple of years on a fold up I had bought to use on the boat I finally overcame cheque-book paralysis and bought a decent bike. A single speed (soon to be fixed wheel) courier job. Nothing quick release but very light and tight. Its bliss compared to the heavy spongy fold up. So much so that although I bought it for the bike->train->bike commute I have been out for two or three Sunday mornings for 25 - 30 miles.

Wondered if anyone in the Ipswich area would be up for a Sunday morning spin. Only on nice days; 20 - 30 miles; about 2 hours; back well in time for lunch.

Not next couple of weeks 'cause have something on, but after that.
 
Hi Shmoo,

Yeah, I'd be up for a ride, although I'm not particularly quick on my trike. I do, however, do decently long distances (73 miles yesterday) and so could combine a ride to Ipswich with a ride around Ipswich...

Let me know when your weekends start to free up. Sunday mornings aren't always the best for me (afternoons better) but I may be able to sort something out. As long as you're happy being out with someone with a rolling average of less than 12mph.

MrsChellers
 
Thanks.
Don't feel left out now :D
There are a few hardy souls who go out from our part of the world for a ride out into the countryside - down the Shotley peninsula or across to the Suffolk/Essex border areas.
 
A trike huh? I guess having an extra wheel goes with having an extra hull. I don't think I have done 73 miles on a solo in 40 years, although the admiral and I can do distances like that on the tandem.

I'll get in touch in a couple of weeks then.

73 miles...what have I got myself into...
 
Afraid I declined them when spec'ed the bike and went for old fashioned spring over the foot and strap variety so I can wear ordinary (ie boat) shoes.
 
Yep Wingdiver. I have the Shimano MT91 boots which look like hiking boots and are waterproof and breathable etc etc - and very warm for winter (don't need overshoes with them). The tread is deep enough that I can walk around on them without feeling the cleat underneath my foot. I also have some Lake sandals which are the same. My Shimano road shoes do have the cleat slightly proud so I don't like to walk on our laminate floor in them.

It seems to be a case of checking the thickness of the tread, but overall I can walk OK in any of these shoes. You just have to watch it in winter when there's snow on the ground as the snow sticks to the cleat and becomes a ball of ice under your foot... which is slippery!
 
Thanks for the reply.
So you use your trike in the snow. Cool :cool:
I have never used cleats but have a mate who is into road racing and he has offered to set things up.
 
I certainly think it's worth getting Shimano SPD cleats rather than Look or others that stand proud from your shoes (the SPDs are usually recessed, depending on the shoe design). The cleats do wear out eventually but I've done 8,000 miles on the current ones without them being too worn.
 
Quite agree. All of my bikes (excluding the unicycle, but I can't ride that anyway) have some form of cleat on the peddles and the SPD ones are easiest to use.

However, if you aren't used to them be prepared to fall off the first time you need to stop in a hurry without thinking about it! You do quickly get used to it, but its most embarasing as you become stationary and then topple off, unable to put your foot on the floor, not a problem for trikes!
 
You do quickly get used to it, but its most embarasing as you become stationary and then topple off, unable to put your foot on the floor, not a problem for trikes!
Click to expand...

I fell off my new bike in just the way you describe the day I started using it, outside Ipswich station in the morning rush hour. I would have been ok if they had all pointed and laughed, but was a bit put out by all the "Look! that poor old man has fallen off his bike: lets help him up"
 
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