Hi, started a group on cycling as couldn't find one on TimesHealth!!! How many miles do you do a week? I aim for 70 miles with running and gymwork taking up my other exercise goals.

I'm currently averaging two commutes to work each week, which gives me 44 miles, plus a weekend ride which, over the last three weeks have been 64.2, 70, and 104.2 miles.

I'm aiming to do Dover to Durness (and hopefully Cape Wrath) in June and at some point this year I want to crack a 150-miler, my previous best being 135 miles in a day.

I've only just started biking, so currently commute into work, which is 8m there and back according to google maps, so roughly 32miles a week. (And I only have a rubbish hybrid bike from Halfrds, but it's good enough for me at the moment).

Can you recommend a bike challenge for a newbie, I was thinking of doing the London to Brighton, but it's all full up.

Thanks!

How often do you get punctures? There seems to be so much glass on the road these days.

Aargh!
You're not supposed to mention that word! It's like actors and that Scottish play.

I haven't had one of them for several thousand miles. Now I expect I shall get one tomorrow!

The secret is to keep your tyres up to the recommended pressure (normally about 70psi) which helps to resist all but the sharpest and spikiest of objects. Some makes of tyres are more resistant than others and ones made with a Kevlar lining are supposedly so, though my experience of them isn't good.

Thorns on the road after hedge cutting always seems to do for me, whereas I once rode through Dumbarton (where they seem to recycle their glass by smashing it all over the roads and pavements) without a single problem.

Yes, the London to Brighton does tend to fill up very early but for my money it's far too big. I've heard of people having to walk for some miles because the crowd of cyclists gets too dense to ride in safety.

Have a look at the London Bikeathon in July in aid of Leukaemia Research. There are various routes to follow, different start points, and a choice of 13, 26 or 52 miles.

My car is off the road for a bit so I'm using it as an excuse to get back on my bike. Commute to work is about 125k a week, which is a comfortable distance each day. It's all flat though.

I'd like to do some hill rides but coming down is just so scary! Also, I live in the alps, so the hills are rather large!

A chap at work swears by Universal Gatorskins which have kevlar in them apparently. I reckon I get a puncture or two every month - it's just the way it is. However, having broke my wrist after coming off through a pothole I'll not be having one for at least four to six weeks - I knew there was a bright side to this!!!!

Hi, I am right cycling fanatic, so Great to join the Club,
Thanks

Having come off on a hill on one occasion I can understand your concern. I have, however, seen a video of someone descending through Alpine hairpins at nearly 70mph (110kph) so it obviously can be done. I'm not sure that my sense of balance is good enough, though. I find a 50mph (80kph) descent on a straight downhill exhilarating enough.

I once climbed to a 2000 feet (600m) summit hoping for a good run down the other side. Unfortunately there were sheep all over the road so it was a very slow descent with red-hot brakes by the end of it.



Hard luck, Paul, I commiserate. This comes from someone who managed to break his wrist walking to the garden shed to get his bike out! Hope it mends soon.

Thanks Ron,
am back at hospital on Friday, last Friday they weren't so sure it was broken and thought it might be just badly sprained so things looking up. Have got new pedals on the bike and hoping to be out on it this weekend if Doctor pleased with progress, must admit I don't think it's quite right yet but you never know!!!

I'm looking at coming down hills in a different light following being thrown in the air after hitting that pothole. I was only doing about 30mph according to the GPS I've got on my bike (Garmin Edge) and it's put me off the road for a fortnight so far and off work for three days nearly!

I suggest treating downhills with a lot of respect and uphills with the usual contempt (I hate going up hills!!)

All the best
Paul

I currently do a 6 mile commute everyday to university and occasionally do the red and black moutain biking routes at HighLodge in Thetford Forest (which is good fun).

I've done it twice, and I wouldn't recommend it at all ! It gets gatecrashed by too many people joining in "illegally" along the route. I ended up walking more than riding, because of the sheer weight of numbers. Not fun, and there were some right idiots too, swerving in front of you without looking etc.

Hampton Court to Hove is the same kind of distance, but more civilised? http://www.capitaltocoast.org.uk/index.cfm?action= PRE&PressID=12


BTW. I don't have a car, so bike everywhere: between 5 and 8 miles most days a week. My Galaxy can carry 3 bags of groceries in the panniers.

Careful Ron - that's where I was born!!!

On dedicated cycle lanes: all the time (broken bottles of lager/vodka). Now I ride on the roads it's much better ;)
I bought some Slime (horrible green stuff) for my inner tubes and can now ride over a bit of glass okay. I don't have thin racing tires though - I use thicker touring ones.

I've begun to participate in a couple of on-line challenges. One is to complete at least one century (a 100 mile ride) a month during the year, the other to complete as many metric centuries (100km rides = 62.5 miles) as possible during the year.

Like this site, it's splendid motivation.

So far, since the middle of January, I've done 3 centuries and 7 metric centuries. I've got a week or so's cycling leave coming up next month, so that should add on a few more!