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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 14, 2015 15:13:44 GMT
'Know' certain cars are usually driven badly. BMW, some Mercs, some Audis, some VWs, a lot of 4x4s, a lot of vans, some big trucks I would put Audi drivers as the worst now.
One thing about big German cars that I think helps explain the poor driving, and the same goes for Volvo and Saab: drivers are closeted, pampered with luxury and enjoy a good ride and a very quiet cabin. All these things create a disconnect between the driver and their surroundings. Driving them is easy and lulls the driver into driving as a background task. I'm not condoning it, but it's been my observation over the years.
The best thing a cyclist can do is be garishly visible: hi-viz jacket and bright lights at all times. Flashing lights in the daytime are even better. Make yourself impossible to miss (no, not that way)!
An unlit cyclist must have a life expectancy measurable in days, it's just as stupid as the driver that hits them.
I've seen a change in the past few years - and I have a large, vested interest BMs getting better Audis worse, especially those A3, Golf size jobs Mercedes perhaps slightly worse. Volvos used to be the very worst. Now I don't think much about them. Saabs very rare I see doing anything daft (unless I'm in mine of course !) |
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Post by tony on Mar 14, 2015 18:29:33 GMT
I built up a steel hard tail on one and have put 2.5 tyres on it-not tried it yet with the fat tyres. Hoping that will take a bit of the sting out.
Have an orange 5 frame that I could build up but it needs everything thrown at it-probably cheaper buying a last years model suser and starting afresh!!!
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 14, 2015 18:43:55 GMT
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Post by tony on Mar 14, 2015 19:37:14 GMT
on-one retard steel hard tail with fox front end. Lets you run single speed/geared. Allows big treads due to the massive mud clearance. on-one do fatty that caught my eye but with big tyres comes big drag and I aint no whippet.
Started out on a rigid hard tail with newly introduced v brakes......was on the roller-coaster trend wise for a decade but lost site of just riding for fun/to get somewhere.
My backs fecked due to years of powerlifting/motorcycling/mountain biking/occupation.
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Post by canetoad on Mar 14, 2015 23:27:30 GMT
I used to enjoy being sandwiched between a bus and the gutter on a 3 lane A road while riding to work years ago. Never came off and I still don't know how I managed that! Skill? Ha! Luck more like!
Worse was getting onto the dedicated bike lane and getting a puncture because dickheads used to drink and smash bottles on them all the time.
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 15, 2015 12:03:43 GMT
This looks sore, i came close to being wiped out by motorist turning left from my right hand side a few times but this is Ouch !!!.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 15, 2015 12:26:19 GMT
Sorry but don't you think he was asking for it? To me, that was foolhardy.
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 15, 2015 12:42:47 GMT
Yes i agree, luckily we don't all ride like that.
This guy definitely asked for it,don't know how long he'd been hugging the middle of the road before the bus driver took him out,
look at the line of traffic behind the bus.
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 15, 2015 13:17:54 GMT
Ouch! For both of those videos.
I do sometimes despair when I see the stupid risks and contempt for other road and footpath users taken by some cyclists.
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 15, 2015 13:33:15 GMT
Ouch! For both of those videos. I do sometimes despair when I see the stupid risks and contempt for other road and footpath users taken by some cyclists. Yes Chris, we are our worst enemies at time, i saw a cyclist in dreich late afternoon with no hi-viz or lights in deepest January where it gets dark at 4 here, pure madness. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 15, 2015 17:40:32 GMT
Moonlander is right ! You could go across a lake in that  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 15, 2015 17:45:49 GMT
Out on the Giant (road bike, TCR 0) for the first time in about a year yesterday
New chainrings, chain, cassette, service.
Wow was it different to the Holdsworth. Fantastic handling
Need to adapt to it to get the full benefit.
Downed the saddle slightly as I'm on thinner shoes than before. That's better.
Hope to be back on it tomorrow unless the rains threaten then the Holdsworth is back in use.
With my neck, shoulder and dodgy thumb problems I found more ways to give myself discomfort.
Should be fine once I adjust
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 15, 2015 18:48:55 GMT
Good to hear you're out on your bike, hope i am in a position to do that soon once i get the Cortisone injection on my wrist.
Modern bikes are good aren't they,modern materials make it smooth and just wants to Go!!, i loved my Fondriest when i had it,
got rid to go Surly Crosscheck as kept my Airborne, i just can't bring myself to part with it.
Think you know already Mike but how i adjust my saddle height is find the pivot point of my knee which should go straight through the pedal/crank axle at 3pm position, move the saddle back and forth till you find that, then with bare foot and your heel on the pedal, raise your saddle up/down till you can reverse pedal full revolutions that you hip are not rolling to compensate or legs are not over stretched in any way,thats it,
once you have your shoes on and cleats, it gives perfect ankling of your pedal stroke,i might be wrong but i find that works for me and i don't have any knee problems
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 16, 2015 13:11:36 GMT
David Harman (Eurosport commentator) once said fram technology took a big jump up late 80s so the Holdsworth is well before that and the Giant close to current tech so there ought to be a big difference Think the saddle is still a fraction too high I was static on the saddle with no rolling. Will adjust and should be able to try the thicker soled shoes tomorrow so back up again. It's possible I have the wrong frame size. Giant advised a Large for my 6'1" height whereas a few said I should have Medium/Large. Thought that was cobblers but after a few weeks I began to wonder. Sooner or later I'll have a fitting and find out how clever or not I have been I'm still on clips BTW |
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 16, 2015 14:26:05 GMT
Yes, bike tech and components has really took a leap in the 80-90's, i remember the bike Boardman used for his hour record and O'bree's home built Superman posture one which was subsequently banned, the rest is history. Ho...ho..ho.. you still in clips, i was in the same mindset as i never thought i would get used to Look's, honestly, once you get used to them,you'd never go back, it's great and far more efficient way to pedaling. If after trial and error and you still can't arrive at a comfortable position, a professional bike fit is the way to go, i don't know if Evens or any of the big bike retailers do it but it's worth it, as for frame sizing, a good general guide is subtract 9'inches from your inside leg. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 17, 2015 8:24:31 GMT
I have some cheapo Shimano clone shoes
Next move is a donated set of Shimano pedals coming soon.
After that I might spend some more dough and upgrade
I heard very good things about fitting from my financial guy.
£90 for a lot of time, work and around 3 visits sounds a good price even to me !
The muscles are certainly confused after 3 days on the Giant now.
Holdsworth is also a racer but totally different position.
I'll look up the size. I was guided by Giant's own chart based on height.
Road a medium and felt it was too small.
Tried an Xtra Large and it felt ok
Went in the middle to a large and thought I had it right for a few weeks
Could be I need that fitting ....
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 17, 2015 12:31:30 GMT
Good show Mike, are you going with the road SPD sl pedals or the mountain bike version SPD's?, i use normal SPD's now and really like them, what i will say is be prepared to keel over a couple of times, most of us do it because we forget we're still clipped in when we come to a halt,  but it'll soon be second nature to kick you heel out as we approach a stop. Bike fit is a funny thing, we are all built differently hence the 9'inches subtracted from your inside leg measurements is just a rough guide, i think the Pro Bike Fitting Service is a great thing if cost is not prohibitive to you, go for it.  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 17, 2015 13:13:27 GMT
Chunky shoes so MTB I assume.
I want to be able to walk in them as well - at least to start with.
Upgrades I might compromise but in the winter I do a fair few unlit country roads so puncture fixing not easy
Don't like unexpected contact with the road so I will practice practice practice practice.
Bike riding is what I do so £90 sounds good as I reckon I'll only need it once
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Post by Weecrackpot on Mar 17, 2015 14:34:38 GMT
Yip, MTB better, road cleats are very dangerous if you have stairs, in the early days i had my very new Fondriest over my shoulder, step off the 1st step and fell the rest of the way down with my bike over my shoulder, i thought i had been very careful too, road shoes/cleats are dangerous with steps. Well i fell off twice at lights at the beginning, face was beetroot and dented ego,no harm done though.  Good thing about bike fitting service it takes care of every aspect of your measurements, even down to length of stem and things, think of it as fitting a SME arm, fit and forget. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 18, 2015 10:02:54 GMT
I'll be having a fitting this year.
Get used to the Giant again, try out the Shimano shoes with clips, adjust a bit, make sure my left calf and knee doesn't play up
Be a right PITA if they say my frame is too big !
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