The Velotard Thread.

[Wombat del combate]

Round ones, also known as Vittoria Rubino Pro.

 

[machin05]

Round ones, also known as Vittoria Rubino Pro.

What width, funny bones!? 23c?

 

[Wombat del combate]

I think so. Can't check as I'm at work and the bike's in the workshop for a rebuild.

 

[lemonjelly]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/may/30/dont-blame-men-for-londons-cycling-problems-fix-our-feral-streets

 

[Wombat del combate]

Long shot, but has anyone done Ditchling Beacon? If so, is it:

a) Difficult
b) Murderous
c) Challenging

or

d) About as good an idea as backheeling a child's play ball.

 

[machin05]

Long shot, but has anyone done Ditchling Beacon? If so, is it:

a) Difficult
b) Murderous
c) Challenging

or

d) About as good an idea as backheeling a child's play ball.

Avg Grade: 9.1%
Max Grade: 36.6%

I'd have to go with option d.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Max Grade: 36.6%

Unless that's a typo I'd imagine that's on the apex of a corner as all others suggest the hardest kick is a mere 16%. If I do do it I'll let you know how I get on, you floppy-ankled jizzpot. X

 

[machin05]

Unless that's a typo I'd imagine that's on the apex of a corner as all others suggest the hardest kick is a mere 16%. If I do do it I'll let you know how I get on, you floppy-ankled jizzpot. X

It was just what Velo Viewer was saying, so you're probably right.

 

[Doctor Doog]

I used to live near Ditchling and struggled to get up the hill in my old Ford Escort never mind a bike. I know a few who have done London - Brighton and the experienced cyclists have all managed it OK. There is also a decent pub in Ditchling village, at least there was 20 years ago.

 

[Johnny75]

Surely you'd need crampons and ropes to get up a 36.6% gradient?

 

[Wombat del combate]

Apparently not:

 

[SLA]

Fun article about derailleurs, full of nerdy goodness - https://www.theguardian.com/environ...rful-derailleurs-and-how-they-changed-cycling

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Any of you resident velotards opt for mountain biking over roads?

 

[Keef]

Any of you resident velotards opt for mountain biking over roads?

Use mine as transport,don't own a car,so it has to do a bit of everything,think everyone else are mamil road bikers

 

[machin05]

Any of you resident velotards opt for mountain biking over roads?

Nope. Scares the shit out of me just watching it. I get twitchy if I see a bit of loose gravel on the road!

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Nope. Scares the shit out of me just watching it. I get twitchy if I see a bit of loose gravel on the road!

I can understand that having watching a few videos on YouTube whilst my mates been trying to badger me into getting a bike. One trail down the side of a mountain near Fort William looks a right death trap!

The impending arrival of a shed is opening up the possibility of getting a bike though and with a few cycle routes nearby and the Peak District not too far beyond there seems plenty of scope to explore if I get into it. Just trying to sort the wheat from the chaff when you're looking through endless lists of bikes trying to decipher each different brands tiering to understand if you're looking at an overpriced pig or a potential bargain.

 

[Keef]

£300 is about the minimum spend for a bottom end bike any of the big three is fine,giant,trek,specialized,boardman and carrera are good,but you have to deal with halfords staff,who can be hit and miss whether they're any good,spec wise on the gear changers and brakes deore is good tough stuff

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Big three?

From reviews and bits I've been reading there seem to a lot more niche names in mountain biking which has left be a bit lost at times.

 

[Tredman]

If you're just starting out you don't really want to be spending a shed load of money, you might just end up with a very expensive ornament in the shed.

Have a look second hand maybe, or see if your company does cycle to work - can get up to 52% off then.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Second hand is the route I've been exploring so far, can get more for my money and haven't got to be so concerned with damaging an expensive new toy as it'll probably come with it's fair share of bumps and scrapes. Just been trying to get a feel for what models to look out for and what to avoid when trawling through eBay and the likes.

We don't have any sort of cycle scheme at work, used to be able to get discount off older Specialized models through work but that stopped a couple years back and they never sought a replacement scheme.