First week

Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. Well pleased.

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit. Helmet is still uncomfortable. i keep
adjusting it but i supose i will get used to wearing it.

But i'm pleased I got the bike now, it will save me quite a lot of
money and the exercise will be good for me. Also means the wife can
use the car during the week if she wants to.

Spokemon

On 14/01/2012 11:58, spoke mon wrote:

Well, i've cycled to owrk& back every day this week.
legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

That was quick. Well done.

First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. Well pleased.

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit. Helmet is still uncomfortable. i keep
adjusting it but i supose i will get used to wearing it.

It was the same when seatbelts became compulsory. You soon got used to it. It
might take longer than a week for a helmet, but don't let the usual crew try
to put you off.

But i'm pleased I got the bike now, it will save me quite a lot of
money and the exercise will be good for me. Also means the wife can
use the car during the week if she wants to.

Most cyclists are apparently rather rich. If you can't at least afford two
cars, are you sure you're ready for membership of the cycling fraternity?

On Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:58:45 -0800 (PST)
spoke mon wrote:

Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

You're probably pedalling too hard/slow - most people do when they're
not used to cycling. Keep it in a lower gear and pedal faster, if
you bounce around put the saddle up a bit.

First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. Well pleased.

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit.

Generally the more space you take, the more they will give you - ride
away from the kerb, so you have room to take avoiding action if
necessary. Wobbling and weaving a bit will usually get you more space.

Helmet is still uncomfortable. i keep
adjusting it but i supose i will get used to wearing it.

If it's a different shape than your head it may never adjust properly -
try a few different makes/models now you have more idea what it's like
to wear one.

"Rob Morley" wrote in message
news:20120114155823.28d365cc@bluemoon...
On Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:58:45 -0800 (PST)
spoke mon wrote:

Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

You're probably pedalling too hard/slow - most people do when they're
not used to cycling. Keep it in a lower gear and pedal faster, if
you bounce around put the saddle up a bit.

First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. Well pleased.

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit.

Generally the more space you take, the more they will give you - ride
away from the kerb, so you have room to take avoiding action if
necessary. Wobbling and weaving a bit will usually get you more space.

Helmet is still uncomfortable. i keep
adjusting it but i supose i will get used to wearing it.

If it's a different shape than your head it may never adjust properly -
try a few different makes/models now you have more idea what it's like
to wear one.

"Wobbling and weaving"?
Good job car drivers do not employ this method of using the road.

On Sat, 14 Jan 2012, spoke mon wrote:

Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

Excellent.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

Even the first day back after a break (eg at Christmas) the journey
feels much longer than it should to me, so this is no surprise.

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit.

Yes, that happens. I get an occasional scare, even having cycled to
work for decades. There are things you can do - don't hog the kerb,
if there's a particular point on the route where drivers seem to take
chances move out into the lane for that, a tactical wobble discourages
overtaking, looking over your shoulder at them seems to encourage it.

If you're the type of person that learns from books, there's a book
called 'Cyclecraft' by John Franklin which has a lot of good advice
about riding a bike competently and confidently.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

On Jan 14, 11:58*am, spoke mon wrote:
Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

Very good.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. *The muscles have really tightened up now.

It's been a bit too hard of an introduction, ride easier next week.


First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. *Well pleased.

Exactly, use the lower gears.

Few things to get used to though. *Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit.

Take at least the space you need to evade a football rolling in your
way. This is likely to be around a metre from the edge of the
carriageway. Remember this is your leftmost position and do not enter
in to the space to your left unless stopping or taking emergency
action. If you suspect someone is going to attempt to squeeze past
giving litttle room, you can give a wobble by turning briskly to one
side then the other before centreing. Practice that one in the park
or a cul-de-sac.

Helmet is still uncomfortable. i keep
adjusting it but i supose i will get used to wearing it.

I find a woolly hat comfortable at this time of year. I suggest you
get a helmet that fits or stick to a wooly hat, a warm head will do
more to help your safety right now.

But i'm pleased I got the bike now, it will save me quite a lot of
money and the exercise will be good for me. *Also means the wife can
use the car during the week if she wants to.

Spokemon

"thirty-six" wrote in message
...

I find a woolly hat comfortable at this time of year. I suggest you
get a helmet that fits or stick to a wooly hat, a warm head will do
more to help your safety right now.
================================================== ==

FRUITCAKE ALERT!!! FRUITCAKE ALERT!!! FRUITCAKE ALERT!!!

Spokemom, please ignore any advice from thirty-six. A wooly hat will give
you head no protection if you fall off. Please continue to wear a helmet.

Next he'll be advising you to take kelp tablets and a pinch of sea salt. If
he does, ignore that as well.

On Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:58:45 -0800 (PST), spoke mon
wrote:

Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. Well pleased.

Yup, this is quite normal - in commuting races in towns, bikes almost
invariably win, often by a large margin. Even when Top Gear did it :-)

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit.

You may find that moving further out from the kerb, reduces this.
There is an excellent book called Cyclecraft that covers cycling
technique for adults, it explains a lot of the psychology behind
cycling technique, especially road positioning.

http://cyclecraft.co.uk/

Guy
--
Guy Chapman, http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
The usenet price promise: all opinions are guaranteed
to be worth at least what you paid for them.

On 14/01/2012 17:00, Ian Smith wrote:
On Sat, 14 Jan 2012, spoke wrote:

Well, i've cycled to owrk& back every day this week.

Excellent.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. The muscles have really tightened up now.

Even the first day back after a break (eg at Christmas) the journey
feels much longer than it should to me, so this is no surprise.

Few things to get used to though. Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit.

Yes, that happens. I get an occasional scare, even having cycled to
work for decades. There are things you can do - don't hog the kerb,
if there's a particular point on the route where drivers seem to take
chances move out into the lane for that, a tactical wobble discourages
overtaking, looking over your shoulder at them seems to encourage it.

Interesting point

Highway Code Rule 212 states:
When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, give them plenty of room (see
Rules 162-167). If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they
intend to pull out, turn right or change direction. Give them time and
space to do so.

But I have noticed the same as you have, that by looking over your
shoulder seems to have the opposite effect in that the driver will
assume that you have seen them coming and can overtake regardless.

I have noticed a big difference with a mirror fitted to the down tube so
I can keep an eye on the traffic behind without keeping looking over the
shoulder. And while the driver behind thinks that I am completely
oblivious to their presence, a slight erratic wobble makes them think
that they need to take extra care too. And they do.

I have also lately been experimenting with distance from the kerb.
Anything less than about a metre (which in my case is the height of the
bike) away from the kerb will often encourage them to overtake too
closely. If the road is wide enough to allow them to pass, then a metre
away from the kerb is fine but certainly no less.

If the road is not wide enough to be overtaken with a safe clearance or
the overtaking traffic is tending to poorly judge gaps, then a third to
halfway into the lane (or that side of the road) is better.



--
The Weasel

On Jan 14, 11:58*am, spoke mon wrote:
Well, i've cycled to owrk & back every day this week.

legs hurt like hell for the first 3 days, but by friday they were not
too bad. *The muscles have really tightened up now.

First couple of days i did the journey about the same time as using
the car, on friday I got there in 5 mins less than it took in the
car. *Well pleased.

Few things to get used to though. *Some cars wizz past really close
which scares me a bit. *Helmet is still uncomfortable. i keep
adjusting it but i supose i will get used to wearing it.

But i'm pleased I got the bike now, it will save me quite a lot of
money and the exercise will be good for me. *Also means the wife can
use the car during the week if she wants to.

Spokemon

Well done, Sir.
My wife uses the car to get to work as well.
I only drive it now to take her to country walks for her weight loss
regime, the hills we are using are from my cycling club magazine.
Maybe you can join your local club as well when you get into it more?
And you can ditch the helmet when you realise how useless and
uncomfortable it is.

--
Simon Mason