The 'McPath'

[Bogus]

Thats because they aren't partaking in their sport when they are going to the shops. When a cyclist is on his bike, he is, well... cycling!

Different thought processes at work here. You see cycling primarily as a sporting activity, which quite handily can double as a mode of transport. I see it primarily as a mode of transport which can also be a sporting activity. I remember passing Portsmouth dockyard gates in the early 70s and the bus I was passenger on could not progress if it was knock off time. I,ve never seen so many people on bikes in my life, they used to clog up the whole road. They riders were all dressed in boiler suits and the like. They were simply going home rather than participating in an event. At school many of my classmates cycled there, we had bikesheds at school. ( those things that you went behind for a fag or a grope with a girl ) I suppose its stuff like that, that shapes our thinking.

[Maverick]

I see where you're coming from here.

You see me cycling to work, whereas I see me racing the clock to see if I can do it in the same time as it takes me by car (car is 20minutes, I've managed 27 on the bike so far). Whilst still being able to complete a 12 hour shift, and race back home (quickest so far is 25minutes). So anything that can speed me up helps, which means a comfortable saddle is not an option.

[Apache]

which means a comfortable saddle is not an option.

Rubbish! You'll be MUCH quicker if your bike is 'comfortable'. I'll bet money my 'comfy' saddle is lighter and more streamlined than yours. You're making the mistake of equating plush padding with comfort when the converse is usually true.

Like I said, bike setup and contact points that suit the rider are of primary importance. Far more important than padded shorts.

But, 'yer pays yer money, yer makes yer choice' as they say - if you're illiterate

[gary-r]

This thread has taken a truly horrifying turn

i agree - anti bacterial scrotum pads - boxxox to bike riding - ill keep using the truck,much healthier on the undercarriage

[Rustinho]

Rubbish! You'll be MUCH quicker if your bike is 'comfortable'. I'll bet money my 'comfy' saddle is lighter and more streamlined than yours. You're making the mistake of equating plush padding with comfort when the converse is usually true.

Like I said, bike setup and contact points that suit the rider are of primary importance. Far more important than padded shorts.

But, 'yer pays yer money, yer makes yer choice' as they say - if you're illiterate

I've got a gel-pad type saddle cover on mine which I got from Tescos a few years ago. I originally bought it for a bike that I paid about a fiver for from a junk shop (junk being the operative word!). The bike got me around when I needed it too though.

I replaced it with something fairly basic from Halfords last year - a Trax TFS 1 D (if that means owt to anyone) like this one:



I just use it to get out & about where it makes more sense than using the Surf, hopefully improving my fitness in the process, and for a bit of countryside riding with the family. We have an absolutely brilliant kiddie seat on the wife's mountain bike for the little 'un to join in and he absolutely loves it, shouting at us to go faster or slower or whatever!

[GBV8]

Talking of cycling, this first week of 'Le Tour' has been fantastic! After today though quite a few would have been better off wearing leathers rather than Lycra

[Rustinho]

Talking of cycling, this first week of 'Le Tour' has been fantastic! After today though quite a few would have been better off wearing leathers rather than Lycra

Yeah, I heard about the camera carrying motorbike causing a pile up...

[Maverick]

Like I said, bike setup and contact points that suit the rider are of primary importance.

Yep I agree, that's why I got a friend at work to sort it for me. He's been in the game competativly for years, his cheapest bike costs more than my car (Mondeo not Surf).
He also gave me a talking too about using a road bike on a gravel track.

Fittness wise a good indicator is that my resting heart rate has dropped from 80bpm to 50bpm. But I've had to go up a trouser size due to my thigh muscles!!

[Sancho]

Well, I've got one of these. Pretty cheap but nicely built and a really comfy geometry. I've had all sorts of problems with back ache and knee trouble on road bikes so have given up and gone for comfort.

[Wolfracer]

Cycle shorts are designed to be worn against bare skin. .

My old PE teacher (some years ago I might add) used to finish the PE lesson then "dress" for a lunchtime cycle with said tackle in the "up" position... that image has never left my mind...

With regard to baggy clothing, when you get to 23mph or higher you don't want anything flapping as it can throw you off balance, gloves shirt shorts socks, you want them as close to the skin as possible.

Oooh yeah, tricky one that, I also remember being able to ride down a 10% hill in top gear with my legs going as fast I could - approx 40 mph I reckon, with a VERY flappy newspaper bag strapped over my shoulder, carrying 50 editions of that nights paper...





















I was 13 at the time, and still managed to keep my balance...

[Maverick]

I also remember being able to ride down a 10% hill in top gear with my legs going as fast I could - approx 40 mph I reckon

If your legs were still pushing the pedals you weren't doing 40, 27 top. Remember I'm talking about a tyre with a contact patch of 10mm.

[Apache]

Interesting theory, but...

I saw 48mph downhill offroad once (And only once! Loose slate waste at Coed-Y-Brenin whilst racing a mate - pretty scary!), pushing 46 / 12 gears on my Proflex downhiller. The pedals were *just* beyond me at that point, so I could have done with a taller gear. I used to regularly hit 40mph down St Davids Hill in Harlech on my way home from work.

My current setup (when I have the 42 big ring fitted) theoretically gives me 40mph with pedal revs of 2.4 a sec. Fast but doable. Based on a 42 / 12 ratio and 26" diameter over the tyres. A road bike using 700c wheels and taller gears will achieve 40mph at a lower spin rate. I don't know what ratios are popular for road bikes these days, but I've seen 11 tooth cassette sprockets and 46 tooth chainrings. Thats a tall gear! In fact, by my calculations, and making the assumption that a road bike wheel is 27.5" across the tyre, thats only around 1.9 crank revs a second for 40mph on the flat!

[JUDWAK]

geltek seat covers
you lot never heard of them?

[Maverick]

Interesting theory, but...

I saw 48mph downhill offroad once (And only once! Loose slate waste at Coed-Y-Brenin whilst racing a mate - pretty scary!), pushing 46 / 12 gears on my Proflex downhiller. The pedals were *just* beyond me at that point, so I could have done with a taller gear. I used to regularly hit 40mph down St Davids Hill in Harlech on my way home from work.

My current setup (when I have the 42 big ring fitted) theoretically gives me 40mph with pedal revs of 2.4 a sec. Fast but doable. Based on a 42 / 12 ratio and 26" diameter over the tyres. A road bike using 700c wheels and taller gears will achieve 40mph at a lower spin rate. I don't know what ratios are popular for road bikes these days, but I've seen 11 tooth cassette sprockets and 46 tooth chainrings. Thats a tall gear! In fact, by my calculations, and making the assumption that a road bike wheel is 27.5" across the tyre, thats only around 1.9 crank revs a second for 40mph on the flat!

Mines 54 crank 11 sprocket, I can't keep up at 27, so you must have really been going some. That isn't the tallest gearing you can get on a road bike, but to get a taller gear on mine I'd need a different frame and rear wheel.

[Apache]

Thats a big chainring. I hate big chainrings On your tallest gear you should be able to achieve 40mph with a crank rev of 1.66/s. Sure you cant spin at one and a half revs???

You'll be needing to do this downhill though, unless your name is Lance Armstrong

My 48mph was downhill, on fire tracks covered in slate shale. Seem to remember it went on for miles. Awesome, but knees like jelly at the bottom through all the adrenalin.