I Now Have My Bike

H_S

So I have got my bike. I ended up going with the Boardman Hybrid through the bike the work scheme. From my limited knowledge of bikes it seems ok and is comfortable to cycle. Now to see where this cycling lark takes me. If there is anybody in around the north cork area who is new to cycling and looking for a bit of company on medium distance cycles then drop me a line. Not looking to win the Tour or anything but may try and aim for a mid distance event like the 80k rebel tour

fabvinny

Started cycling myself this year,got a hybrid in halfords,cheap enough,didn't want to spend too much in case I didn't stick it out! Only doing a circuit of about 20k so far,took a long time to get comfortable in that saddle! Hadn't been on a bike for years! Getting out around 3 or 4 times a week. I work in mallow,don't know what area you are,but loads of cyclists around that area,I'm living I'm duhallow.

H_S

I'm the same didn't want to spend a fortune but still wanted to get something comfortable. I'm living in Mallow myself so will hopefully get out a few evenings a week to start getting the legs moving

fabvinny

You should have no bother finding a few cycling comrades in mallow,piles of them around the town. I'm working in newberry and they are always passing by. Lots of good circuits to do around Mallow I'd say.

dmca77

Got a Boardman Team Hybrid myself on Friday based on the reviews from Halfords. Happy enough with the bike, gears a bit noisy and saddle is tough so have to get myself some padded shorts. I am based in Swords and new to this so hope to make a few friends on the way to do a bit of cycling.
Cycled to Malahide this morning around the Estuary, nice ride but legs sore on the return leg, will take me a few weeks I would say to get the legs in shape.

Dmca

fabvinny

padded shorts are vital!!!legs will get used to it quick enough.I was in bits after my first few ventures out,but enjoying it now.

inc21

Hi.
Glad to hear I am not the only newbie on the bike round Mallow. Only been on the bike for four times/days now and I must say I love it. Even though 3 days out of that 4 have been very wet. So proper rain gear is important as well.

inc21

BTW if you guys have android or iphone there is free GPS tracking apps available. I started using "Strava Cycling". Seems very popular with cyclists in Ireland.
Just created "club" for Mallow http://app.strava.com/clubs/29110. There din't seem to be one round here. If you guys join it we can see each other's routes and maybe even compare and more.

H_S

Good idea. Good way to learn some cycle routes around here. Now to try and my bike out onto the road and get the wheels rolling

Captain Havoc

Boardmans are good bikes. You can also follow the rest of us on strava here and join in yourself.

Taksim

Hi guys . I'm in the same boat I want to take up cycling. I cycled years ago but want to start again for leisure evening's and weekends I haven't a clue what kinda bike to get or if there are regular cycles around Cork city.any advice welcome.cheers folks

inc21

Taksim wrote: »

Hi guys . I'm in the same boat I want to take up cycling. I cycled years ago but want to start again for leisure evening's and weekends I haven't a clue what kinda bike to get or if there are regular cycles around Cork city.any advice welcome.cheers folks

As we are beginners like you our advice probably wont be the best. Here is the stuff I got so far and find helpful. You might have different plans then I do.
My goal is to cycle for longer then I do now and go faster then I do now. And enjoy it all as I do now

1. Bike - Allez Specialized road bike - Go to bike shop let they measure and recommend bike for you and for your needs.
2. Helmet -Not required by the law but why risk it. Better this than a broken brain.
3. Padded shorts - They are lot easyer on your behind compared to normal shorts. But no underwear though. I learned the hard way.
4. Proper cycling clothes - You cant belive what a difference more aerodynamic clothes make.
5. Water bottle - You will get thirsty.
6. Rain proof jacket - Again learned the hard way. Got soaked few times and it is absolutely freezing afterwards.
7. Cycling mitts - Good to keep the wind of your hands and they don't go as numb by the end of the ride.
8. Glasses - They are good to keep the bugs, dirt and wind out of your eyes.

I have been told that shoes are important also. Looking at the videos of fellas falling over on Youtube I think we might stick with trainers for now until I get more comfortable on the bike.

joxerjohn

For road cycling having shoes with clip in pedals while not essential is very benefical. Claimed up to 15% increase in your pedalling efficiency over using flat pedals. So certainly worth considering. They do require a bit of care and practice but are really very easy to get used to.

Regarding falling off you do need to practice stopping and clipping in and out a few times as you may fall off once or twice when you start to use them first. The same can happen with pedals using straps.

Where I see people coming off with clip ins is always when they are coming to a stop and don't clip out in time, the falls are therefore at low speed and are generally not too painful (if you don't put your hand out !). So it is recommended to do a bit of practice in a park or on a grass surface when you get the clip ins first.

There are many different types of shoes etc available I use shimano SPD SL type which work very well. The shoe sizing is generally 1 up from your usual shoes so in my case I take a size 44 in normal shoes and a 45 in Shimano cycling shoes.

H_S

Well I knew very little about bikes before I got mine. But I felt the Hybrib suited me best at the moment. On anything but good roads its supposed to be a bit better ride. Padded shorts are a must. My ass agrees with that!!!

Taksim

Taksim wrote: »

Hi guys . I'm in the same boat I want to take up cycling. I cycled years ago but want to start again for leisure evening's and weekends I haven't a clue what kinda bike to get or if there are regular cycles around Cork city.any advice welcome.cheers folks

Thanks guys for the advice, I've been looking around while I'm on a weeks hols and a Trek 1.2 is being suggested as an entry level bike on the CTW scheme, Has anyone got experience of this bike?

inc21

How are you guys getting on? Hope you are still at it.
Universe tryed to derail me by giving me puncture 14km from home. No tools to rapair and my backup lift did not answer his phone. So ended up walking most of the way. It was a lovely walk though
Needless to say that I have saddle bag with spare now.
Not going to make that silly newbie mistake again.

FMG

Great thread thanks for posting . In Cork City myself and I've been out over the last few weeks , due to other commitments at the minute I can only make a decision to go on the spur of the moment . I have a Trek 7.0 hybrid and already am wishing of a 7.5 :D . Tell me lads can you recommend what are considered good padded shorts.

Invincible

FMG wrote: »

Great thread thanks for posting . In Cork City myself and I've been out over the last few weeks , due to other commitments at the minute I can only make a decision to go on the spur of the moment . I have a Trek 7.0 hybrid and already am wishing of a 7.5 :D . Tell me lads can you recommend what are considered good padded shorts.

DHB are reputed as being a good brand.
Available on wiggle.

FMG

Thanks for that Invincible.

H_S

Not a nice experience. I had a fear that was going to happen to me last week when I was out as I didn't realise the road I was on was as bad as it was. Even though my cycle last week wasn't the longest in the world I must admit I felt it in my legs afterwards. Need to start building them up!!!!

Taksim

Taksim wrote: »

Thanks guys for the advice, I've been looking around while I'm on a weeks hols and a Trek 1.2 is being suggested as an entry level bike on the CTW scheme, Has anyone got experience of this bike?

Anyway, I bought the Trek

inc21

Taksim wrote: »

Anyway, I bought the Trek

looks nice looking at some pictures.

danoriordan1402

Another Cork newbie here based near Blarney - picked up my Defy 3 last week to get back into the bike. Went with the cycling shoes as well for the first time, spent a bit of time in the back garden trying to click in and out(and fall over much to my 4year old's mirth..)
nice bike though..

Taksim

Looks like a nice bike.What shoes did you go with?

danoriordan1402

picked up a pair of Shimano's off Wiggle, 30% off them at the time thankfully..

inc21

have to get me some proper shoes to. Riding with the straps now and while it is improvement from standard pedals there still is lot more room to improve.

ThunbergsAreGo

Couldnt see a thread but for those cycling to work, what do ye use to bring clothes etc in?
At the moment im backpacking it but shirt etc can get fairly creased

inc21

naughtb4 wrote: »

Couldnt see a thread but for those cycling to work, what do ye use to bring clothes etc in?
At the moment im backpacking it but shirt etc can get fairly creased

Don't cycle in myself cos I'm only 5min walk away but I would have change of shirts there. Now place where I work there is hangers available, it might not be the case for you.

quozl

inc21 wrote: »

have to get me some proper shoes to. Riding with the straps now and while it is improvement from standard pedals there still is lot more room to improve.

Do! I swapped from toe-clips to SPD pedals about 2 weeks ago and I love them.

Easier to get into than toe-clips, more comfortable when you're in them and you feel like you're attached to the bike (I guess because you are!). It's great.

I did fall over slow-motion style with them twice. That was always going to happen but it was in the first two days and now it's even easier to get out of them than toe-clips were.

inc21

quozl wrote: »

Do! I swapped from toe-clips to SPD pedals about 2 weeks ago and I love them.

Easier to get into than toe-clips, more comfortable when you're in them and you feel like you're attached to the bike (I guess because you are!). It's great.

I did fall over slow-motion style with them twice. That was always going to happen but it was in the first two days and now it's even easier to get out of them than toe-clips were.

Have not heard a bad word about owning a pair. Even falling over does not seem to put people off.
Now after a payday they are 1st on my list of things I need to get.

horslips

naughtb4 wrote: »

Couldnt see a thread but for those cycling to work, what do ye use to bring clothes etc in?
At the moment im backpacking it but shirt etc can get fairly creased

If you fold an ironed shirt lightly and put it into a pannier bag on top of your other stuff, it does not wrinkle.

My biggest problem for creases is showering too soon when I arrive in work and putting a fleece on over a shirt. It tends to hold the creases for the day when you take off the fleece.

Another good trick is to bring a week's supply of shirts in a suitholder folded and put on the carrier. Would only work on a dry day though whereas the pannier I use is largely waterproof.

FMG

danoriordan1402 wrote: »

picked up a pair of Shimano's off Wiggle, 30% off them at the time thankfully..

Dan ,did you go with your normal size with the SPD's .

Daroxtar

Just throwing my tuppence worth in here, Padded shorts are a must but dont forget to rub plenty of Chammy or Vaseline around the tenderbits. I'm finding things out the hard way:o

danoriordan1402

FMG wrote: »

Dan ,did you go with your normal size with the SPD's .

yeah, I tried on a few pairs locally before I bought online, size 45 is a good fit, a tiny fraction loose but the sock makes it fit well

Taksim

Taksim wrote: »

Anyway, I bought the Trek

Got out on the Trek today for the first time, lovely bike, did a random thing around the city for a couple of hours but have no idea what i covered , anybody got any ideas for a good odometer ? (good being not expensive )

danoriordan1402

Aldi have some bike stuff in on Sunday - not sure what they have in though...

inc21

there is many FREE gps apps available for smartphones. Strava is very good. On iphone and on android.

Taksim

danoriordan1402 wrote: »

Aldi have some bike stuff in on Sunday - not sure what they have in though...

Thanks Dan. I'll check that out