#5737

Genuine LOL at this.

It’s not flexible… Taking part in a two day gravel thingy in Shropshire… Its called checks notes Brother in the Wild

1 Like
#5738

Very pleased to have completed my Audax Super Randonneur series (SR. 200, 300, 400 and 600km rides) for this year/season with a 600km ride from Bristol to Beachy Head and back. I’d never ridden so far to the south east and so it was nice to cover new areas. Route link here https://ridewithgps.com/trips/72614943 and a very brief overview below.
Day 1 - Bristol to Salisbury via the Wylye Valley which I know well and is one of my favourites, lovely gentle rolling route to Salisbury. Salisbury to Brighton - cycling through the South Downs was great and all that I expected, we got to Ditchling at about 240km and that’s when the serious hills started with Ditchling Beacon and fantastic views from the top followed by a series of hills to Beachy Head. Night section was Eastbourne to Tunbridge Wells, relentlessly hilly but nothing too savage. Arrived at our Travelodge at 1:10AM.
Day 2 - Tunbridge to Bristol. Set off at 6:00AM, first 100km was hilly but scenic. Standout was the climb known as ‘the wall’ about 30km into day 2, steep and without respite. Views on the top were absolutely stunning, the surrounding landscape reminded me of Dartmoor with the atmospheric bonus of mist still residing in the valleys … beautiful. Progressed on mostly B roads and lanes although some of the B roads were a bit busy for my liking. Got to Hurstbourne Tarrant on the edge of the North Wessex Downs at about 5:30PM and this felt like home ground with about 100km left. The route gradually became more benign which resulted in quite a fast finish and home by 10:15PM.
Really enjoyed the route, I’d probably change some of the homeward bound section and the section from Brighton to Beachy Head if I was to do it again but overall excellent.

15 Likes
#5739

I took @thewarn up this once. He loved it.

Nice write up and excellent work on another SR. Makes me miss long rides so much.

3 Likes
#5740

I enjoyed the first 2/3 of it… then realised there was still loads left and I’d started way too fast. Nearly killed me.

4 Likes
#5741

Are velosambas any good then?

I just ordered a pair. What can I expect?

#5742

Maybe this thread springing into life is what it’ll take to finally get me back out on my bike today. Really don’t get how I suddenly fall into long periods of just not wanting to ride it :frowning:

#5743

Looking at reviews they seem decent but perhaps not as stiff as ‘normal’ road or MTB shoes, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your feet. I’d love a pair for casual pub / city / errand runs, but personally wouldn’t wear them for a long road ride, but that’s just me.

I wonder how they would hold up to repeated riding in less than ideal conditions. I wear some Shimanos for nearly all of my rides which have a totally smooth outer, really easy to wipe or wash clean, which is nearly always needed* after a ride unless it’s a nice sunny day and hasn’t rained for a while.

*I rarely do this unless they are looking really grubby

1 Like
#5744

sun’s out, wind’s dropped: do it!

(it’s been nearly a month for me and i can’t see it happening again until things have happened and i’ve recovered etc)

1 Like
#5745

I really like mine. Caveats:

  • I’ve not done a big ride in them, but I don’t really do BIG road rides anyway, and would probs be avoiding heavy rain anyway
  • I’ve not owned other cycling shoes so they’re a huge upgrade from trainers for me, can’t compare them to the alternatives
1 Like
#5746

I recently bought an Alpkit Soloist (XL because I am long) and have been really impressed with it so far. If you have a frame bag to store the pole then the rest of it packs down to a very small and lightweight package. Think it was about £120 or so

#5747

Yeah without wanting to come across as too creepy I’m really intrigued to discover how you’ll reintegrate cycling into your life once that little change to your circumstances happens! Got images of the three of you in ten years forming a scratch pursuit team :wink:

Like you say, the weather’s fine, I know my tyres are inflated, my workload’s low today, my boss is on leave. At the very least I ought to attempt one lap up to Crystal Palace and back at lunchtime, just to remind myself I can do it.

1 Like
#5748

If its any help, my regular Sambas have had a year of cycling in all weathers on all surfaces (plus dog walking during the summer) and are still in good nick. I don’t do huge amounts of riding or very big distances though.

1 Like
#5749

& @schadenfreude

Cheers

I only went to the adidas site in the first place because a) I had a 20% off voucher that runs out today & b) I bought an adidas originals top the other day and I don’t have any trainers to match

Turned out that the velosambas were the best match

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So they’re on their way

1 Like
#5750

Hah! Me too. Someone in the club had a baby three years ago, unplanned c-section, and was back doing fairly swift club rides regularly 4 weeks later :scream:

I’ve no idea how it’ll go for us, but it is quite important that I get back into the swing of things (I’m not talking mega long rides I was doing before) ASAP if I am able to. Very grateful I have a partner who understands this as well.

3 Likes
#5751

Well I did it. It wasn’t too bad, although I hardly felled any trees. The most amusing part of it was at the top of my second climb up to Crystal Palace, reaching for my water bottle and squinting at my Garmin just to make out that it was telling me I climbed it a minute slower than you, which frankly I’m surprised I even managed that close. :smiley:

Also towards the end I cycled past a local school, where the kids had painted up loads of colourful sheets and hung them up on the fence saying things like “Slow down!”, “Speed isn’t cool” and stuff like that. So I obeyed my instructions.

1 Like
#5752

On the hunt for a bike in Cambridge, really want a second hand single speed but market seems quite thin especially for the money I want to spend lol. Not sure whether I should target a No Logo style fixie/SS or a comfortable Dutch cruiser. Dutch probably more practical. But does it have THE VIBES.

#5753

would you entertain converting an old steel bike? it’s pretty easy and could be cost friendly.

might be worth nipping into bike ambulance - the fixie/ss scene in Cambridge used to revolve around them (alley cats and social rides organised on LFGSS would start and end there) - they might have some cheapo second hand stuff/know people selling. @epimer did you notice if they had much second hand stuff when you went (shop looks way bigger now)?

1 Like
#5754

Cheers will check out Bike Ambulance.

I don’t know the first thing about bikes so a conversion project will probably be beyond me, I really just want a super cheap beater that I won’t care if it gets nicked or damaged, at least while I get used to cycling again, then I could upgrade.

Epimer bought a lovely loving new bike which I’m still considering as an option

#5755

Dutch cruiser 100%

The fixed gear bike I built for commuting and general bobbing around town started life as a drop-bar, no frills bike that I used to bomb around on. Then I injured my neck so changed the bars to some upright swept-back ones and it felt like a completely different bike to ride. Then I went all in and added mudguards, front basket, dynamo lights, and a bell and it’s so great. Weighs loads but it doesn’t matter now.

(Also complete snobbery but a Dutch cruiser will be much cooler than a cheap off-the-peg fixie (no offence))

4 Likes
#5756

Didn’t go inside - panny d innit