Re: New to cycling
 

I spent a good 10 teenage years riding BMX in regular clothes with crap shoes, no rear brakes and a slammed seat... those were uncomfortable times and I have the scars to prove it! Looked cool though I guess? :yelrotflm

These days i'm more then happy to spend the coin on the most comfortable kit and combine function with form. Just have to find what fits you best and suits for the riding you are going to be doing

Re: New to cycling
 

You don't need brakes, they're for stopping, we want to go fast [emoji13]

Re: New to cycling
 

Im not sure if anyone here was following the Indy Pac event (#ipwr) over the past 2 weeks, but ended with sad news of the competitors being killed just out of Canberra this morning.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family

Re: New to cycling
 

I have. Yes my thoughts and prayers go out to the competitors family and friends
It was only on Friday that i choose to drive to work as i wasnt feeling well and the 5.30am starts to ride into work had taken their toll.
When on the same road travelled by bike the car just ahead of me to my left left the road , climbed the curb and ran about 150m mowing down trees and street signs before coming back on to road and in a split second disappearing down a street to the left. The car was gone and the trail of damage it left behind was substantial.
As i paused i wasnt concerned for the street signs but what if I had ridden to work could I have been in its path?
I feel at times it best not to take too much time to think about what might have been - however it is getting harder not too when we are continually reminder of the perils of riding on shared roads .
The driver on Friday did he veer off the road because of? It makes no difference if he had caused someone an injury or taken one or more lives . The driver gets the car repaired however no amount of money , apologies will ever repair what has either been done or taken away from another innocent party
This , like many other accidents gives us all things to think about

Re: New to cycling
 

I would love to ride my bike the 36 km to work, I would be as fit as a fiddle and it would save me money. The 30 km on the open road is what puts me off, I just don't trust the motoring public with my life. A situation like you describe can come out of nowhere and then it is all over.

Re: New to cycling
 

I hear you and i too am evaluating how I continue to enjoy what keeps me 'happy' and at the same do all I can to limit the risk of getting hurt. I been there and I don't feel the need to experience that again

Re: New to cycling
 

On Sunday at various locations in Melbourne there were an number of rides in memory of Mike Hall whom lost his life doing what he loved. So sad , you just want to ball your eyes out until it stops hurting.

Re: New to cycling
 

came off at over 40km/h on sat...
https://i183.photobucket.com/albums/...pszs2qc2ug.jpg
https://i183.photobucket.com/albums/...psvvha89x5.jpg
https://i183.photobucket.com/albums/...psmvrfjkro.jpg

at the end of a nice cruisy ride with a mate, less than a km from home (solo by this stage) and a black cat comes flying out of the bushes and straight in to my front wheel. stupid animal. after picking myself up off the road wondering what the hell just happened, i was informed by a motorist who had stopped, that the cat just ran away.
pics don't really tell the story. it was cold saturday, so i had 4 layers on, which was a good thing as it ripped a hole through 3 of them and still left grazes on knee, hip, elbow and shoulder. my shoulder took the brunt of it but thankfully nothing is broken but my ribs are very sore on left side, along with my shoulder. starting to be able to move my arm above the horizontal today.
I'm pretty careful when i ride, but some things you just can't account for. thankfully insurance will cover repairs to the bike and new clothes. all covered under house contents.

and this is why you always wear gloves
https://i183.photobucket.com/albums/...pstttdrjbq.jpg

Re: New to cycling
 

Lucky it wasn't worse, Prydey, though it's bad enough for it to have happened to start with.

I came off a few years ago now, onto my left shoulder, and damaged the bursa in the shoulder socket. Coincidentally, a mate of mine came off his mountain bike, and did similar damage at the same time.

After getting checked at the doctors, I went to a physio once a week afterwards, while my mate did nothing. The physio gave me exercises to do with therabands (long elastic bands you can tie to door knobs and such) in the following weeks.

I have no problems now with my shoulder, whereas my mate still has pain years later.

The moral being, keep the joint moving, gradually increasing the range of movement.

Hope you're not too long off the bike!

Re: New to cycling
 

Jesus!

I've had a similar incident which resulted in me cracking my head on the ground backwards. Had I not been wearing a helmet it would have been a royal mess!

Re: New to cycling
 

holy smoke Rob. Thats intense! Im glad you're ok. I think you were quite lucky that it wasn't worse. How's the bike? repairable?

Re: New to cycling
 

Thanks Shav, yes I think I was quite lucky. It could have been a lot worse. I'm still very sore in the left side of my chest and to make matters worse I have a cough/cold and every time I cough it just about brings a tear to my eye. It is slowly improving. I hit the road with my shoulder and that is not too bad now for movement so I reckon I must have landed on my bars up under my armpit, hence the soreness, and also why the shifter has so much worn off it.

House and contents covered bike repairs and kit and have paid out already (minus $400 excess), so parts have been ordered.

Bike shop bent everything back facing the right way so bike is actually rideable as is, but I have new 105 levers and RD coming and new inner and outer cables as they are all nearly 5 years old. Can't afford anything too fancy but tiagra has served me well so far so it will be an upgrade of sorts for me.

Re: New to cycling
 

Sounds good mate. A fall like this can be something that can make some stop riding altogether, so Im glad it hasnt deterred you from going down that path.

Rest up bloke.

Re: New to cycling
 

So my Giant Reign goes off to its new owner tommorrow with another enduro MTB to fill its shoes and big shoes they are. Pretty excited.

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b4&oe=59607FC5

Re: New to cycling
 

Picked up my new whip today, couldnt resist getting it out for a quick spin.
I thought my last bike was good this thing just does everything at 11.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b7&oe=5A01C4B7

Re: New to cycling
 

How sticky are those minions???!

Re: New to cycling
 

Very is the answer!

Re: New to cycling
 

Been a long time since I have been on here and I must say I am glad to see this thread is still going strong.

Re: New to cycling
 

Welcome back.

Re: New to cycling
 

Thanks. How are you feeling after your crash?

Re: New to cycling
 

Not too bad now. Still some soreness in ribs but almost gone.

I never thought I'd be one to have too many issues with any mental scars, but i have found myself jumping at shadows, esp when the speeds get in the high range.

Commuting is knocking my confidence a bit too. Not sure if the idiots are increasing or if i just see more because i ride more. Thankfully 90% of my ride is bike paths and b roads.

Re: New to cycling
 

I went through the same thing when I got knocked by a car when I was 16. I was t boned by a car through an intersection, I went over the bonnet and roof so it was a big hit. Injuries were fractured tib/fib, 3 bones in my foot, fractured wrist, massive haemotoma on my left thigh (that hurt the most) and a few ribs. I was off the bike for 6 months due to injuries and then when I could ride again I was too scared to. I tried but I crapped myself at every intersection. It was a shame as I went from a very accomplished juvenile road racer with a promising future in the sport to unable to ride at all in a split second. It was not until I was 19 that I got back into cycling.

The good news is the fear fades, the confidence returns. You just have to do it gradually and don't push yourself too far out of your comfort zone or you will stop.

You have seen me descend now, I am back to being a bit on the crazy side again.

Re: New to cycling
 

I must be getting old my Fuji Track fixed wheel didnt appeal for the 20k commute, so I bought this luxury barge! free wheel and 48/18 gear! no leaving the saddle to pull away from the lights. Oh and non knee bending brakes

https://fordforums.com.au/attachment...1&d=1500497911

Not the actual bike but the same as advertised! done over 400km's in last three weeks through london. Good to be out and about again and no abuse!
JP

Re: New to cycling
 

Its been a while since Ive been on here boys. Health has not been good. But when I get out I try and take a picture of Bae :D

https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps96scj7ct.jpg

Re: New to cycling
 

Get an MTB and hit the trails and do 30 odd ks, you'll be as fit as a fiddle in no time and the outdoor trails would crap all over the road for views and enjoyment. My daughter spends around 500 ks a week on the road and I get worried sick for her but it's her hobby, she's heading over to Chattanooga in the US in September to compete in the Ironman 70.3 so the practice never stops. Just makes me worried.

Re: New to cycling
 

I have and I do, but I still would like to be able to ride to work.

Re: New to cycling
 

Interesting. Why the single speed? It's a good looking bike.

Re: New to cycling
 

Gook looking bike. My bike is dated back to the early 90s, but it is pristine. It is in the shop getting tweaked right now. As I got older I realised I didn't care about speed anymore. I just loved to ride. It is a rigid frame mountain bike, half alloy, half moly with road tyres. !8 speed, rapid fire shifter, good weight. Works well for what I want.

Unfortunately, I am going through a health issue too. Lost a lot of blood over the past few weeks do to serious nose bleeds. I never knew one could could so drained from that. Can't wait to ride again. Hope you improve soon.

Re: New to cycling
 

Sorry to hear about your health also. Hope it isnt serious.

As long as you get out on the bike thats all that matters. Its doesnt matter the speed or distance.

Re: New to cycling
 

After being a road cyclist forever I was walking past a cycle store and saw a new fuji track bike in the window. Had to have it! Then the cycling club went to Newport velodrome for a track riding introduction weekend away and I fell in love with track riding. Wish I had discovered it as a teen!
The simplicity and purity of a brakeless, steeply fixed gear bicycle sat well with me. Plus the notion of anything over a minute was an endurance event was super appealing! I'm big and strong rider but stamina has never been my forte'.
On the plus side I can ride for an hour at training with very little risk of abuse from a ****ed of motorist with an axe to grind while wearing the appropriate attire without further abuse.
The fuji is too much for a commute and hasn't ever seen bitumen! But the simplicity of fixed or single and extra workout I get by having no 'lazy gears' makes the most of the hour on the bike I get each way.
A 2 year old daughter doesn't give me much spare time any more