Cycling

TigaSefi wrote:

Moggy wrote:

TigaSefi wrote:I am currently planning for a California to New York bike ride next year.

I have always wanted to drive across America but that’s a hell of a lot different to cycling it! Good luck!

I am completely inspired by a few other cyclists that have done it. Also I met a lot of cyclists during my holiday last year in the US that have been riding for 6 weeks and covered over 3,000 miles themselves. It's do-able and I'll have to take a 7 weeks sabbatical off work. Super excited to be planning it.

You will have to post lots of pics. It sounds amazing.

I struggle doing 30 miles, I think 3000 might be out of my league.

I'll be doing some huge fundraising and blogging so yes pictures, updates and actual information about the rides I do every day will be available.

How much is it likely to cost you?

My Wishlist is so far

Flight to California
New touring bike with specific handlebars – bit like Mark Beaumont’s round the world bike.
Tent & camping gear so i can cook my food.
Panniers
Spares – chains, tyres, inner tubes, emergency buying etc.
Daily living expenses – Realistically I just need to feed myself 7000-8000 calories of food a day. However finding that amount of food will be extremely difficult as I’ll be on huge stretches of roads with not much in way of service stations/towns for DAYS let alone hours.
Clothings for all weather as I’ll be going up the Rockies which can feature 10,000 meters of climbing and I have to stay cool during the warm and hot humid days of California, Kentucky etc.
Realistically I’ll need to budget for hotels as I’ll probably will need them every so often to have a proper deep sleep and to keep away from the strawberry floating bears .

Flight from New York

That alone is probably $5,000 so far.

Can anyone help me?

I'm selling my old bike on E-Bay and I have about 20 watchers and no end of people offering buy it now's and I'm not sure if the bike is worth more than maybe I think?

Here is the description - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321415085366? ... 443wt_1153

If any of you could help me who are experts I would appreciate it, it does need some work doing but I couldn't tell you if it is valuable or not.

Thanks in advance

Steve

Been getting into cycling more in the last few weeks after my parents booked a cycling holiday with my auntie & uncle across Vietnam and Cambodia. Would love to join them but just can't afford it, so instead I'm going to be buying a new bike for myself. Been looking at Treks as they seem to review well and my dad has one (X-Calibre 7) which is nice to ride. I think the X-Calibre 9 is the one for me, good spec at a (relatively) affordable price.

TigaSefi » Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:20 pm wrote:My Wishlist is so far

Flight to California
New touring bike with specific handlebars – bit like Mark Beaumont’s round the world bike.
Tent & camping gear so i can cook my food.
Panniers
Spares – chains, tyres, inner tubes, emergency buying etc.
Daily living expenses – Realistically I just need to feed myself 7000-8000 calories of food a day. However finding that amount of food will be extremely difficult as I’ll be on huge stretches of roads with not much in way of service stations/towns for DAYS let alone hours.
Clothings for all weather as I’ll be going up the Rockies which can feature 10,000 meters of climbing and I have to stay cool during the warm and hot humid days of California, Kentucky etc.
Realistically I’ll need to budget for hotels as I’ll probably will need them every so often to have a proper deep sleep and to keep away from the strawberry floating bears .

Flight from New York

That alone is probably $5,000 so far.

I hope you'll be doing some shorter tours first!

Slartibartfast » Wed May 28, 2014 6:15 am wrote:

TigaSefi » Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:20 pm wrote:My Wishlist is so far

Flight to California
New touring bike with specific handlebars – bit like Mark Beaumont’s round the world bike.
Tent & camping gear so i can cook my food.
Panniers
Spares – chains, tyres, inner tubes, emergency buying etc.
Daily living expenses – Realistically I just need to feed myself 7000-8000 calories of food a day. However finding that amount of food will be extremely difficult as I’ll be on huge stretches of roads with not much in way of service stations/towns for DAYS let alone hours.
Clothings for all weather as I’ll be going up the Rockies which can feature 10,000 meters of climbing and I have to stay cool during the warm and hot humid days of California, Kentucky etc.
Realistically I’ll need to budget for hotels as I’ll probably will need them every so often to have a proper deep sleep and to keep away from the strawberry floating bears .

Flight from New York

That alone is probably $5,000 so far.

I hope you'll be doing some shorter tours first!

I average 100 miles a week Plus I am climbing the Alps in September strawberry floatin' looking forward to that!

BTW strawberry floatin' rain.....

Preezy, find a local cycling club and they usualy have weekend rides and you can build up your fitness and range with them. Then you can start thinking of doing little trips around the UK.

TigaSefi » Wed May 28, 2014 7:35 am wrote:

Slartibartfast » Wed May 28, 2014 6:15 am wrote:

TigaSefi » Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:20 pm wrote:My Wishlist is so far

Flight to California
New touring bike with specific handlebars – bit like Mark Beaumont’s round the world bike.
Tent & camping gear so i can cook my food.
Panniers
Spares – chains, tyres, inner tubes, emergency buying etc.
Daily living expenses – Realistically I just need to feed myself 7000-8000 calories of food a day. However finding that amount of food will be extremely difficult as I’ll be on huge stretches of roads with not much in way of service stations/towns for DAYS let alone hours.
Clothings for all weather as I’ll be going up the Rockies which can feature 10,000 meters of climbing and I have to stay cool during the warm and hot humid days of California, Kentucky etc.
Realistically I’ll need to budget for hotels as I’ll probably will need them every so often to have a proper deep sleep and to keep away from the strawberry floating bears .

Flight from New York

That alone is probably $5,000 so far.

I hope you'll be doing some shorter tours first!

I average 100 miles a week Plus I am climbing the Alps in September strawberry floatin' looking forward to that!

BTW strawberry floatin' rain.....

Preezy, find a local cycling club and they usualy have weekend rides and you can build up your fitness and range with them. Then you can start thinking of doing little trips around the UK.

Yeah, I was also thinking about stress testing the kit you have, knowing what you really need to pack, what works and what doesn't etc. Fitness will come, so long as you survive the first week.

Ah yeah I got you. yes, I’ll be testing all that after the Alps when I get a new touring bike and then do some camping trips

Did a 45 mile ride up to Loch Lomond and back. Its practically flat so was fairly easy to keep pace without getting tired. It's a beautiful track, along the forth and Clyde canal then the river Leven. Had a lovely lunch near the shore before turning back. We were tempted to go all the way up to Tarbut instead of heading back, but an hour and a half train journey that costs a tenner sort of put us off.

I know I'm getting used to cycling because its no longer my legs or knees that go stiff, its my freaking hands. Need me some bull bars for a change of grip now and then. Think I'll get the bus into work tomorrow mind.

Ordered the Trek X-Calibre 9, should be ready to pick up next weekend

Turns out I don't know how to read order confirmations, my bike is actually ready today

Picking it up shortly

Bunni » Fri May 30, 2014 9:24 pm wrote:Did a 45 mile ride up to Loch Lomond and back. Its practically flat so was fairly easy to keep pace without getting tired. It's a beautiful track, along the forth and Clyde canal then the river Leven. Had a lovely lunch near the shore before turning back. We were tempted to go all the way up to Tarbut instead of heading back, but an hour and a half train journey that costs a tenner sort of put us off.

I know I'm getting used to cycling because its no longer my legs or knees that go stiff, its my freaking hands. Need me some bull bars for a change of grip now and then. Think I'll get the bus into work tomorrow mind.

In warm weather a pair of fingerless gloves with padding makes a hell of a difference. Also, you may need to shift the saddle slightly as not too much weight should be bearing down on your hands,.

Also, road bike - multiple grip options!

Yeah, I'm tempted to upgrade to some bullbars, but I don't think they'll suit my vintage style bike well. I'd love to buy a new fancy one but I can't afford it and head office won't do a cycle to work scheme no matter how much I pester them to.

I can vouch for the padded gloves, I've got both full and fingerless varieties and they really do lessen the strain on my hands and wrists.
Also, absolutely loving my Trek, it makes such a difference riding a light bike as opposed to the old steel monstrosity I had before. Now I can go stronger, for longer

Cycling is my new proper hobby

Am itching to get back in my bike. Not long now until Tour!

Heh, just had an arse beep his horn because I was going the wrong way round a car park.

1) one way systems exist solely for the control of motor vehicles, yes cyclists should obey them if sensible (although they are the least worst not to, imo), but...
2) private car parks signs mean gooseberry fool all, so I was doing nothing wrong

I wouldn't have minded but he beeped his horn again and wound down his window when I was waiting at a toucan crossing. I tried to explain/shout at him but a late middle aged woman came up to me and said 'don't bother darling, he's just a small man who is frustrated, it's not worth it'. Which cracked me up, so I cycled off happy.

I was fearful that he might pursue me though... That's what I didn't like :-\

Just upgraded my shitty halfords mountain bike for a specialized hybrid

I've gone from this


to this



Those hidden cables

Smart