Cycling to work

brownbinman

Afternoon all

I've decided to start cycling into work, have a wedding to go to (Best man) so I hope to lose a few pounds. I live near Castleknock and work in Capel street so it will be straight down through the park and up the quays.

I have a decent enough mountain bike, with a fixed fork at the front.

I intend to get hi-vis stuff and lights, can anyone suggest some good gear to get

Cheers
The Bin Man

Peterx

Enjoy it, it's much quicker and more reliable than other ways of getting into town!

mudguards
breathable waterproof jacket and trousers
cycling gloves
I dare not mention the "h" word on this forum though:)

brownbinman

cool cheers

I do bit of mountain biking so I hope this helps as well, have gloves, helmet from that.

Any good brands you'd recommend? I heard endura is a good one.

No showers in the office so I think it'll be baby wipes all the way.

Really looking forward to starting on the bike now!

rich.d.berry

Peterx wrote: »

I dare not mention the "h" word on this forum though:)

I assume the h word is a helmet. I recommend it. I took a spill some weeks back that would have put me in hospital (at best) if not for the helmet. As it was, the concussion gave me headaches for a week after. I won't cycle without a helmet any more.

Some spare tubes (at least 2), pump, disposable rubber gloves and tyre levers. A roadside puncture repair is quicker and easier than walking home or to work with a flat tyre. This assumes quick release wheels. If not then a suitable spanner will be required as well to remove the wheel.

brownbinman

indeed, quick release wheels, it's a Trek but can't remember which one.

Definitely going to be wearing a helmet and Hi-vis, traffic is dangerous enough at the best of times.

Never thought about the tubes. Haven't a clue how to change them so I'll have to look that up. It's all uphill on the way home...it would takes hours to push the bike back.

monument

rich.d.berry wrote: »

I assume the h word is a helmet. I recommend it. I took a spill some weeks back that would have put me in hospital (at best) if not for the helmet. As it was, the concussion gave me headaches for a week after. I won't cycle without a helmet any more.

Did you go to the hospital or at least to the doctor? Because with a concussion you should do so.

ne1880

Change your knobbly tyres for a set of puncture proof road tyres. I started cycling to work about 16 months ago. Got a few punctures in the first few months. Got a set of schwalbe puncture proof road tyres, only 1 puncture since (but that was a 2" nail..!!) Also noticed a serious difference in ride with the road tyre.

07Lapierre

I suspect "h" refers to hi-vizability clothing, not helmet.

rich.d.berry

monument wrote: »

Did you go to the hospital or at least to the doctor? Because with a concussion you should do so.

I did indeed, but was discharged after an observation period with strict instructions to return if I experienced nausea or a stiff neck.

Had I not been wearing the helmet I'm convinced that I would have had a skull fracture. The helmet at the back was totally destroyed by the impact.

tomasrojo

A good d-lock. (No cable locks unless you're using one to secure the front wheel or a saddle.)

Restraint, everyone! Please don't start a helmet argument, as I won't be able to resist wading in and I have things to do today!

(Or at least read this entire thread and decide whether you have anything new to add:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056198859)

monument

rich.d.berry wrote: »

I did indeed, but was discharged after an observation period with strict instructions to return if I experienced nausea or a stiff neck.

Had I not been wearing the helmet I'm convinced that I would have had a skull fracture. The helmet at the back was totally destroyed by the impact.

As the man says lets not start a helmet debate. But the helmet is designed to break on impact -- it takes a lot less to break a helmet than it does to break your head.

Tonyandthewhale

rich.d.berry wrote: »

Had I not been wearing the helmet I'm convinced that I would have had a skull fracture. The helmet at the back was totally destroyed by the impact.

I'm not going to say anything.

As regards what you need for commuting, I really like having a rack and pannier when commuting as wearing a back-pack is a serious sweat factory even in cold weather. That's assuming you have anything to carry though.

johnciall

Theirs a a place just Beside the Boars head on Marys Abbey [opposite the Capel Building] that has showers & space for people who cycle intot own for work, might be worth looking into if your working around the corner

brownbinman

thanks all

some great advice there, especially on the tyres, I cycled in at the weekend to see how long it would take on normal mountain bike tyres. Needless to say it was tough. Now know for sure I'll be getting slicks sooner rather than later

@ne1880 thanks for that, one of the lads in the office recommended these Schwalbe tyres

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24629

seamus

Yeah, they're good little tyres I remember having them years ago. The great thing about MTB slicks is that weight and bulk on the tyres isn't an issue, so they can be made really tough.

I run these on my singlespeed:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18829

Run at 80psi, they're stupid fast and had no punctures in the first 1,000km.

BostonB

mountain ware house in Blanch SC has some cheap tops (r moisture-wicking synthetic clothes) and shorts and hi viz jackets handy for starting off.

Thats not to far, not to short, distance and you can lengthen it by doing some loops in the park.

I'd get decent lights though.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRTR2/smart_lunar_r2_rear_light
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRT35FR/smart_lunar_35_lux_front_light

or if thats too much

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRT25FR12RR/smart_lunar_25_lux_front_with_1_2_watt_rear_light_set

The park is dark at night, and you need to spot holes on the path (not too many) and joggers and dogs, deer etc.

ne1880

No worries BBM, I got the Schwalbe Marathon Plus from Marry Bikes
http://www.marreybikes.com/en/59-road-tyres?p=2

Consey

Cycle from Castleknock (beyond Myo's) in to near Mount St every day. 10.5km. 20-25 min depending on lights etc. Best way to Capel St down park and up quays, though there'll be a hair raising moment or two with the buses till you get used to it - then you won't look back !

Agree with earlier poster about numerous walkers using cycle lanes in the dark with dark clothes on and then look indignant when you ask them to step aside. Good light needed.

Other than that I'm sure you'll love it.

Enjoy !

brownbinman

morning all

Meant to bring you an update. Thanks for all your advice as well.

I wanted to start soon after I put this thread up but badly broke my collarbone when I was mountain biking. So after getting fixed, 2 weddings and a holiday, I started on the bike last week.

I must say, I'm absolutely loving it. My old Trek mountain bike with proper road tyres are great. Fly in and out. Strangely found coming in this morning in the rain a better feeling that in the sun.

Anyway, cheers everyone.