Over the past few years, my weight has crept up and I recently made a decision to lose weight by exercise & sensible eating.
I have started cycling 6 miles to work & 6 miles home each day.
I am taking it seriously and intend to continue cycling through the winter, I have bought a set of lights, a high visibility jacket, a cycling helmet & a set of waterproofs. I am saving money on car running expenses, my car is safer left on my drive than parked on the street, I have lost 11 pounds in weight in 4 weeks, I feel healthier and my jurney to and from work takes only 5 minutes longer on a cycle than in the car.
The only downside is I feel more at risk during my 3 miles each way on roads (the other 3 miles is on cycle tracks) and cycling makes you much more aware of other vehicles.
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Well done!
Although I enjoy my job and the getting out of the office that it involves, I am consequently unable to cycle to the office each day or any day for that matter. That is a shame, as I could do with more exercise.
Spend the money you save on a rewarding holiday, where your new physique will be attracting to lots of young women!
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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For the umteenth time in my life I have recently gone back to cycling as a sport. On my first few ventures out I wore jeans and tee shirt, with just a pair of cycling shoes as specialist gear and found that cars tended to ignore you and pass far too close.
Now I have got fit enough to wear proper cycling clothes without looking like a prat wobbling along at single fogure speeds cars seem to give a wider berth. I think if you look the part, whether cycling, biking or running people definately treat you with a bit more respect on the roads.
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11 lbs in 4 weeks is excellent. You are to be aplauded for your efforts.
I too have taken to my bike recently, but only in the evenings.
Don't forget to increase your calorie intake as you approach your target weight. Have a bigger bowl of cereal in the morning and perhaps put an energy drink in your water bottle. Fruit and nut bars are also excellent.
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Have cycled continuously from when I was a boy and even now at 67 still cycle 12 miles a day at least 4 times per week it has been a lifetime habit and after cycling to work six miles each way for most of my life even with two cars standing in the drive I found that my body still demanded it when I retired at 58.
If ever we have periods of bad weather which makes it impossible to do so for a week or more I notice a deterioration in energy and mental alertness so the body must be telling us something.
There have been many threads on this site condemning the cyclist and I can categorically state the cyclist is more sinned against than the reverse.
One safety tip is on particular roads don?t ride too close to the kerb as this encourages motorists to overtake on narrow roads against oncoming traffic missing you by inches. Judge if its better to make them wait.
Beware of drivers particularly old ladies usually chatting to their passenger overtaking you very slowly when approaching a left turning. They will have their left indicator on and as they slowly pass they will simply turn across you. I think that its simply some people don?t actually see you in some way.
Most drivers recognise your vulnerability and act accordingly but there are always the exceptions whose arrogance forbids them from giving way to a cyclist.
Apart from that the benefits both physically and mentally are enormous and the spin offs are not only keeping your weight down but in many other ways.
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We are always looking for new members at Yorkshire Road Club ,I took up cycling again at the age of 56 due to some stern words from my doctor.I went from 17+ stone to a now 11 stone in the first year, it took another year to get fit and I now compete competively in Time Trialing and Road Racing one more item I gave up was drinking the best thing I ever did.
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This is all inspirational stuff, having seen the doc for a wigging last month. I've started cycling to the bus stop in the mornings only a pathetic 1.5 miles but am already seeing the benefits. Ambition is to do the full 10 miles to the office!
{Only snag so far is that at the weekend I accidentally strimmed my front tyre and now have a massive puncture to repair.}
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I have been thinking of doing similar as a remedy for the "creep" from 85kg to 95kg since retirement, but I realise the right gear is de rigueur and I somehow don't see myself escaping ridicule with day-glo pink lycra-clad bum thrust in the air and
a poached egg with slits in it on my head. In Asia that sort of thing isn't taken quite as seriously as in Europe.....
Nope I think it'll be that Miracle 3 minute Workout thing I saw on the Shopping Channel........
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Growler, the Miracle 3 does n't include the model demonstrating it!
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I have been cycling to work for over a year now, through central London.
The benfits are huge but you do have to be aware of the risks. I find that so long as you plan well ahead, show some signs of assertiveness, drivers are more likely to be aware of you.
I would not go back to the tube even during the winter.
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Although I can't take the bicycle when I need ladders with me or a mower, I have been cycling to the local swimming pool where I work part-time. The journey is part "B" road and part disused railway track which is used by walkers, horse riders and terminally selfish dog-walkers with extending leads. The 6-mile journey takes me 35 minutes but I'm not really fit to work until I've had a cup of tea and a rest for 10 minutes. Attire? Polo shirt and shorts that I wear for work. Sam Browne reflective belt, dynamo and battery lights in the dark. Sandals in the summer and trainers in the winter; I do not have the shape or temperament for lycra. I don't have much trouble from other motorists, maybe it's because the cycle has panniers and appears quite bulky from the rear. One might say that of the rider as well ...
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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In the mid 80's I cycled 10 miles to work and 10 miles back 5 days a week for a year. I was certainly fitter but had unexpected expenditure.
Had to buy all new trousers as my now bulging thighs would not fit into my existing ones!
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Don't think that you're inconveniencing traffic, you are traffic. If you have the choice, ride in the middle of the lane rather than the gutter, as this forces cars to overtake you properly, not surging past and clipping you with your mirror.
Unless a cycle lane continues for more than 1/2 mile, don't use it. The consequences of having a car parked across the lane (as it permananently the case in Leeds) makes it far more dangerous to ride in them than you'd think. Believe me, I spent a week in hospital having reconstructive surgery on my wrist after a car driver wasn't paying attention as I pulled out.
Despite the fact that an oncoming HGV driver saw everything, and was even prepared to testify in court that the driver just ran straight into me and tried to drive away (he was forced to block the road with his lorry to prevent this), the police weren't interested and his insurance company ignores letters.
Which neatly brings me on to my third point. Get, as a minimum, 3rd party insurance and if at all possible full insurance for both you and your bike.
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I don't use cycle paths.They are poorly maintained, the grit and bits of glass that accumulate because they are not swept away by passing traffic mean your rate of punctures goes up by about five.
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David, whilst I kind of agree with what you are saying, surely your aggressive methods of ensuring your own safety are also the things which lay you open to more risk?
Hogging a lane to force cars to pull out past you will cause irritation and eventually impatience (and it's consequences) in many motorists. Not using a cycle lane where one is provided could also anger some motorists. They are there for a reason, after all. And your unfortunate experience when pulling out past parked cars makes me think you might not have had due regard for the risk you were taking. NB none of this is personally directed at you, but there are two sides to everything.
IMO cyclists often (OK, that's a generalisation maybe) seem to consider they have a God given right over cars and that it is down to the cars to see and avoid them, when in fact it is a joint obligation. As a driver, when I am faced with an obstacle that is larger than myself (HGV or bus) I tend to treat it with respect!
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Smokie,
I cycle daily in Central London and have done so for the last 6 years. Most near misses are due to lack of observation (whether mine or a vehicle driver’s. Don’t claim any moral superiority over cars, collision avoidance is a mutual responsibility I want to make being seen as easy as possible.
Riding too close to the kerb exposes a cyclist to multiple risks. Drivers attention is focussed on the road ahead and the near kerb is outside the usual visual sweep (that’s why you get ignored). Crossing pedestrians also focus further out. Factor in gravel, debris and drains and the gutter can be seen as a death trap.
The methods David suggests should not be regarded as aggressive, though they may be assertive. His advice is drawn from, to at least closely follows, that in John Franklin’s excellent book “Cyclecraft”. This is published by HMSO as part of the same sequence as Roadcraft, and may be thought to have the status of official advice. The aim is to keep visible.
While cycle lanes are indeed there for a reason all to often the reason is to spend and justify a wodge of public cash. Too many lanes are by the gutter, less than a metre wide and may have the added hazard of yellow lines applied over the green tarmac.
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And what does the exellent "Cyclecraft" say about sailing through red lights and zebra crossings?
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Very good - can you generalise a bit more........?
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OK Dave I’m going to regret this but I’ll take the challenge!!
Cyclecraft of course says don’t, but some of us do. I think the analogy here is with some motorists and speeding. Either the instruction to stop is inappropriate and unnecessary or they're willing to take the punishment if caught.
Some lights on my route can safely be treated as flashing amber, one has a hyperactive bus priority phase, another is a left along the kerb. The third has an all red pedestrian phase long enough for a biddy on a zimmer to go twice round. Won't dodge peds, will cross behind without the green if it keeps me out of the grand prix start when the lights do change. Question of making progress, exploiting opportunity and keeping safe. If I get caught I will plead guilty and pay my fine. Was stopped once but the copper couldn’t be assed getting of his motorbike and just wagged his finger.
And for the record the bike is well maintained, lights front and rear, rider in fluorescent tabard.
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I?ve gotta hand it to you for the most honest answer I?ve ever heard from a cyclist. Now can you put my mind at rest about garish lycra and sweaty bum-crack...?
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Erm...let's not go there Dave :-)
smokie, BR moderator
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Believe me, when I pulled out that time, I checked twice AND signalled, and the idiot still ran into me. The lorry driver was incredulous, to say the least.
.*******
I second what's said about broken glass in cycle paths, I too got sick of swerving round it. I actually ride a mountain bike, but you might like to try Slime innertubes, as I haven't been stopped by a puncture for months now.
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Puncture avoidance, learned the hard way. Not complete but not bad. Use decent Kevlar reinforced tyres e.g. Specialised Armadillo. These will set you back £15 - £20 each but cheaper in the long run (saving inner tubes say which if you have poor tyres will need to be replaced often) and prevent you arriving late for work all the time freezing cold and cursing !
Others swear by Slime - tried it and it didn't do much (I still got punctures).
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I ride thousands of miles a year for leisure. A very useful purchase last year was a mirror for the RHS bar end (about £10) so that you can see if a following vehicle is not pulling out when overtaking. This is one of the biggest dangers for a cyclist and I know of two cases in the past couple of years around here where cyclists have been run down and killed by following vehicles. Certainly seeing that indicator come on is reassuring. I'd also say keep out of the gutter where you may get a puncture and keep away from drain covers but don't block following vehicles. I had to follow a cyclist on a single-track road at 15 mph for 2 miles last week as the selfish pink fluffy rice wouldn't pull over. I won't pass cyclists without giving them plenty of room. Yesterday I was holding up an HGV and some cars on my bike so I pulled off the road to let them pass. If you treat other road-users courteously there is more chance they will do the same for you.
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A very useful purchase last year was a mirror for the RHS bar end (about £10) so that you can see ...
Well, here's me thinking that every thinking cyclist including those contributing here would have a mirror on their conveyance. It appears I am mistaken. I can't remember riding without a mirror, even back to my first bike nigh-on 45 years ago. Dad said it was essential unless I was going to be riding faster than all other traffic. Maybe there's a link between cyclists having accidents and not having mirrors.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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Good for you, I've been doing this for about 6 years in London and wouldn't get to work any other way. Keep it up during the winter - hard to motivate yourself in the cold mornings but 1 mile or so and you warm up. My car is reserved for long journeys only or where I need to carry a lot of gear, or for the kid soon to arrive !
Please don't fall into the trap of many cyclists of jumping red lights, riding on pavements and generally thinking they own the road etc as it gives us all a bad name and you don't really save any time - a bit like aggressive driving I suppose but as there's a 0% chance of getting caught doing it on a bike more people try it on ! Ride assertively, not aggressively i.e. if passing a parked car, pull out in plenty of time so car drivers have plenty of time to adjust their speed or overtake.
Have a look at sites like www.sustrans.org, www.lcc.org.uk (London Cycling Campaign) etc, they reckon even with a short cycle your fitness will be that of someone 10 years younger !
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Wish i worked nearer home so i could cycle to work.The health benefits(although my old neighbour was knocked off and killed on his bike!) and also feeling good are great.Love cycling especially off road,Unfortunately my weekly 450 miles to and from work make it impossible.Maybe one day.....
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When I ride a pushbike I use its full abilities including riding cautiously on the pavement/down alleyways etc. Illegal I know but I can.
Riding a motorbike I annoy motorists by filtering,riding fast and overtaking because I can.
Having the ability to make your own decisions is very important.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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I started cycling around Leeds in 1989 on an old Eddy Mercx,stopped in the early 90s and bought a mountainbike in 1997.A year later I became so enthusiastic I went out and bought a brand new full suspension bike,not one of these awful supermarket things,it cost £200 more than the car I was running at the time,and was a real boon over rough terrain.Sadly some lowlife broke into my house to relieve me of it.
I do not think cycle lanes do much,mainly a PR exercise for the council and,according to a policeman I asked,it is not an offence to block one with a vehicle.
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I do quite a bit of leisure cycling, staying on minor roads where possible. I also ride on bridleways and byways. Recently, too, we've had sections of the National Cycle Network open near us - wonderful! I only hope Sustrans etc. manage to complete this route and find funds to maintain it (yes, I do belong to Sustrans!).
I also do a lot of walking (I belong to the Ramblers too!).
However, cycling to work is not realistic for me, but I do my bit for the environment by working at home one or two days a week.
I used to do a bit of green-laning on byways in my old Land Rover. However, my advice now to 4x4 'laners is to leave the 4x4 at home and explore the countryside on foot or mountain bike.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Re pfm401's point about puncture avoidance. I have never liked kevlar reinforced tyres, it tends to make the tyre too stiff and it doesn't roll as well. I have my doubts about it's effectiveness in preventing punctures, my theory being that once the tread has been penetrated all the kevlar does is buy you a bit of time, whatever has stuck in will go through eventually.
Michelin tyre treads in my experience are the best at resisting cuts, and latex innertubes will deform rather than puncture, although they are fairly porus and need more frequent topping up with air.
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UPI Paris, France - Lance Armstrong's record setting seventh Tour de France victory, along with his entire Tour de France legacy, may be tarnished by what could turn out to be one of the greatest sports scandals of all time.
Armstrong is being quizzed by French police after three banned
substances were found in his South France hotel room while on vacation after winning the 2005 Tour de France.
The three substances found were toothpaste, deodorant, and soap which have been banned by French authorities for over 75 years.
Armstrong's girlfriend and American rocker Sheryl Crowe is quoted as saying "we use them every day in America, so we naturally thought they'd be okay throughout Europe."
Along with these three banned substances, French authorities also found several other interesting items that they had never seen before, including a backbone and a testicle
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Didn't he have cancer?
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Adam
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Was it attached to anyone?
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I started cycling to work 6 months ago - now lost 2 stone, have legs like Arnie and feel so much sharper and more alive. I spent 8 years doing zero exercise and slowly degenerated into a flabby mushy, and the alarm bells started ringing after a miguided attempt to win the Dads race at my sons Sports day.
I believe your body is "genetically" designed to be used, and the benefits of a little daily physical excercise have give a whole new clarity to life. Its a bit like an italian tune-up for a car, I suppose. Sensually youre more alive - you notice more things, food tastes better, beer tastes better still, the kids dont beat me at games anymore, and of course Mrs B is smiling (ahem).
And with todays fuel prices, I cant help feeling just a little bit smug as I pedal past the queues at the 6 petrol stations on my daily run. Im even considering cycling through the winter and getting rid of one our cars.
I know its not practical for everyone, but if so give it a go - it could change your life.
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I know it's Friday, but enough please - comment pointed towards Adski and BBD.
DD.
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Just make sure you get third party insurance
Join CTC - the cyclists club for that. It's only about £35, and the reassurance you will get if ever you end up scraping a Rolls Royce that requires a respray makes it all worthwhile.
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Surely that's what fully comp motor insurance is for....
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Last time I used my bike was about 3 years ago in the Highlands where I did 6 miles each way, I remember being proper knackered and this was at a time I excercised regulary, so realistically what preparation is needed If i ever decide to travel to work and back (15 miles Total) and how long would this take bearing in mind 1 - 2 miles is up hills that are quite steep.
And I assume a Mountain bike isn't the best bike to use - especially one which weighs a far amount.
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I ride 4 miles each way and it takes 15 - 20 minutes.
I used to ride 12 miles each way and it used to take 35 - 50 minutes depending on the wind.
Both flat.
Prep required: Waterproof Panniers or Courier Bag to take spare clothing & anything else you need, Decent waterproofs (which pack small), Lights handy in case you get delayed, Breathable clothing for hotter days
Definitely use a road bike if you can - if you have a mountain bike, get some road tyres
You might be interested to know about the tax break incentive introduced by John Prescott to encourage green commuting. Your company can buy a bike VAT-free & offer it for the use of its employees. They can also claim the tax back dependent on the tax status of the employee. And when it's no longer required, the company can sell the bike to the employee at whatever charge they like. (Or something like that)
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You might be interested to know about the tax break incentive introduced by John Prescott to encourage green commuting. Your company can buy a bike VAT-free & offer it for the use of its employees. They can also claim the tax back dependent on the tax status of the employee. And when it's no longer required, the company can sell the bike to the employee at whatever charge they like. (Or something like that)
This is one reason why I'm seriously considering.
Someone at work has just ordered a £3k + bike Via work.
You sort of loan it over 2/3 years (Think it's 3 for us) then you pay no VAT on it and the deductions for the monthly cost are non taxable/ no ni payments.
Advantages - Could save upto 50% of the Bike total, and your company save on NI payments.
Work is probably 7.5 miles but the last bit is a serious of 1 way systems and around a huge park so cutting through the park would probably save 1 mile.
And just think of the money saved by going back to a 1 car family.
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I recently paid £3400 for a mountain bike through my business. I'm looking forward to seeing my accountant's face when he sees the invoice.
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I recently paid £3400 for a mountain bike through my business.
Is it gold plated with diamonds for valve caps?
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No, the gold was too heavy and the valve caps leaked on that model.
www.leisurelakesbikes.com/ProductDetails/mcs/produ.../
It rocks.
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It rocks.
For that price I'd put it in a display cabinet, rather than use it for it's intended purpose.
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I'd atleast expect some mudguards, a bell and a free pair of trouser clips!
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It's a genuine slayer of trails. Beautifully balanced, precise steering, light, it's the closest thing you'll ever get to Jedi bike riding. This thing just goes where you think without any noticeable input from the rider.
Remember that scene in Star Wars where the Ewok hurtled through the forest on his speeder bike? Well that's what it's like watching me riding this bike.
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I'm ashamed to admit that I cycled to work for the first time this year only this week - last year I managed pretty much once a week. It's 23 miles each way with a fairly significant pennine in the way, but when I get my bum in gear and do it I can't understand why I dn't do it more often.
Can't manage it this week, so I reckon I'll manag one more before the light goes - then I'll be back to driving part way and riding part way.
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It's a genuine slayer of trails. Beautifully balanced, precise steering, light, it's the closest thing you'll ever get to Jedi bike riding. This thing just goes where you think without any noticeable input from the rider.
Save the excuses for your accountant and pray that he hasn't seen the mountain bikes for sale in Aldi ;o)
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I'm with $till $skint on this. There is nothing worse than riding those heaps you see in Halfords and the like.
Though personally I would have spent the dosh on a road bike.
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The motorist in the UK are positively considerate to cyclists compared with those over here in the States. Of course it varies depending where in the US. In Arizona if you ride on the roads (which is perfectly legal and encouraged by the authorities), you constantly get shouts of "Get off the road, ******" from rednecks in their pickups. In Oregon, it is a LOT better, but people still overtake very close.
On another note, you do get what you pay for when it comes to bikes. Bought several Walmart specials for $60 which im sure are comparable to the Aldi ones. They are rubbish, you take it on a dirt track ONCE, and the gears get messed up and dont shift, the wheels get buckled and it develops play in the headset!
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Just reading Lance Armstrong's second autobiography where he makes exactly the same comments on pickup drivers as yourself. He complains about rednecks who have driven straight for him and forced him into the ditch, and truckers who have elbowed him of the road as they pass.
Maybe the UK ain't so bad after all.
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Just reading Lance Armstrong's second autobiography where he makes exactly the same comments on pickup drivers as yourself. He complains about rednecks who have driven straight for him and forced him into the ditch, and truckers who have elbowed him of the road as they pass. Maybe the UK ain't so bad after all.
Yeah and Lance is from Texas. I'm sure he had it even worse with the rednecks in pickups than I ever did in Arizona......
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3 and a half grand for a bike? You sir, are absolutely crazy.
Well done! I love overblown purchases.
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Adam
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3 and a half grand for a bike? You sir, are absolutely crazy. Well done! I love overblown purchases. -- Adam
my sons bmx was pennies off 2 grand and for that money you only get one brake the back one and one gear. so 3 and a half dont sound that bad for bigger wheels and gears etc...cheers...keo. ps his bike gets carried across roads or paved surfaces it has never been ridden off a bmx track.
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3 and a half grand for a bike? You sir, are absolutely crazy. Well done! I love overblown purchases. -- Adam
I'd set a budget of £2k and had ridden numerous bikes but none had that indefinable quality. Then the sneakity swine at the bike shop lent me his £3.5k and wow! Could I notice the difference!
The rest, as they say, is tax avoidance.
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I'm just envious!! - of both the bike and your energy!!
Have fun Ewok!!
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Having been a keen cyclist in the past I spent £500 ten yars ago on a bike with modifications to my specification. Regrettably it has not had the use I intended because of the refusal of 80% of car drivers to give reasonable room to ride. I've now sold the bike at not too much of a loss.
On the other hand The cyclists who ride in crowds on country roads do cycling no favours as they seem to have no regard for other road users, leaving motorists to follow a mobile 20 or 30 m long roadblock for miles on end.
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"The cyclists who ride in crowds on country roads do cycling no favours as they seem to have no regard for other road users"
If you've been a keen cyslist I'd have thought you'd know the reason why roadie clubs ride like this - it's to make the group as short as possible, and so that motorists have to overtake the bunch just as they would a tractor and trailer, rather than dodge along a single line of bikes, with the attendant danger of knocking someone off - it's much, much safer than riding in a big long line.
As they say - bikes (and pedestrians) are traffic.
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