Hi, have been soaking up the info on here for a fair while now but thought it was time to register and introduce myself and see if I am doing it right !
So, I started cycling to work about six months ago, been threatening to do it for months but the lack of a suitable bike and gear put me off, previously I was an occasional cyclist but generally having kids my weekends got swallowed up so I find its a great way to get some exercise at the same time as getting to work.
I am a 37 year old bloke who works in IT, six foot tall and sixteen stone (two of it being laid up for famine provision)
My journey takes me from Wilmslow in Cheshire to Knutsford, about 7 miles through mainly countryside, some resedential roads, some dodgy country lanes and a fairly alraming A road, on the whole its a pretty nice run.
My bike is a Cannondale Bad Boy 700 fitted with some mudguards, the essential computer, Cateye Single shot and the Hope Mono Mini's off my MTB as the standard Avid's didnt stop me well enough, a near 300lb combo of me, bike and luggage takes some stopping ! I rode an ancient steel racer for a while before as well, prefer the Cannondale but the ride is rock solid.
I am enjoying it, my car is getting less and less use, good job as it only does 23 mpg on Super Plus, I am getting fitter, the weather doesnt really bother me, I can cope with cold, wet and ark, whatever, dont give a stuff, with the right gear its not an issue, its the traffic that daunts me, most people are ok and dont actively try to kill you, some are inconsiderate and selfish but very few agressive, apart from the charming chap in the old Merc that nearly hit me whilst I was doing 20 mph in Primary whilst riding through roadworks to avoid the debris and cones.
I am a well behaved cyclist, I dont jump lights, I am not big on filtering as on my journey its not required, I will wait, I am not in that much of a hurry, if I was I would use a car ! I do assume everyone wants me off though and will defend my road position rather than be bullied into the gutter, I wont hol dup lines for cars though as I dont like it done to me when driving, having sat behind pairs of Lycra clad weekend warriors having a drink and a chat for miles at a time.
Safety wise, I ride in an Altura Night Vision waterproof this time of year, summer, bright t'shirts, I generally ride with lights, Single shot plus on the front, decent rear and an extra one mounted on my rucksack (panniers later, spent to much already). The upgraded brakes help as well. I wear a helmet as well, mainly for my safety ( i know its a big debate) but so my kids see me wearing one.
Fell off once so far, when I first got my SPD's, stopped, forgot, lay down on the road, lucklily no Range Rover to roll over me and nobody to laugh.
I am averaging between 15 and 16 mph and improving. I tend to average four days a week due to having to pick a kid up on the way home or some other item, today I am in the car due to last nights works gokarting outing, I am rather sore and knackered so I wussed out, pity its a nice day !
So, here I am, dont be shy !
So, I started cycling to work about six months ago, been threatening to do it for months but the lack of a suitable bike and gear put me off, previously I was an occasional cyclist but generally having kids my weekends got swallowed up so I find its a great way to get some exercise at the same time as getting to work.
I am a 37 year old bloke who works in IT, six foot tall and sixteen stone (two of it being laid up for famine provision)
My journey takes me from Wilmslow in Cheshire to Knutsford, about 7 miles through mainly countryside, some resedential roads, some dodgy country lanes and a fairly alraming A road, on the whole its a pretty nice run.
My bike is a Cannondale Bad Boy 700 fitted with some mudguards, the essential computer, Cateye Single shot and the Hope Mono Mini's off my MTB as the standard Avid's didnt stop me well enough, a near 300lb combo of me, bike and luggage takes some stopping ! I rode an ancient steel racer for a while before as well, prefer the Cannondale but the ride is rock solid.
I am enjoying it, my car is getting less and less use, good job as it only does 23 mpg on Super Plus, I am getting fitter, the weather doesnt really bother me, I can cope with cold, wet and ark, whatever, dont give a stuff, with the right gear its not an issue, its the traffic that daunts me, most people are ok and dont actively try to kill you, some are inconsiderate and selfish but very few agressive, apart from the charming chap in the old Merc that nearly hit me whilst I was doing 20 mph in Primary whilst riding through roadworks to avoid the debris and cones.
I am a well behaved cyclist, I dont jump lights, I am not big on filtering as on my journey its not required, I will wait, I am not in that much of a hurry, if I was I would use a car ! I do assume everyone wants me off though and will defend my road position rather than be bullied into the gutter, I wont hol dup lines for cars though as I dont like it done to me when driving, having sat behind pairs of Lycra clad weekend warriors having a drink and a chat for miles at a time.
Safety wise, I ride in an Altura Night Vision waterproof this time of year, summer, bright t'shirts, I generally ride with lights, Single shot plus on the front, decent rear and an extra one mounted on my rucksack (panniers later, spent to much already). The upgraded brakes help as well. I wear a helmet as well, mainly for my safety ( i know its a big debate) but so my kids see me wearing one.
Fell off once so far, when I first got my SPD's, stopped, forgot, lay down on the road, lucklily no Range Rover to roll over me and nobody to laugh.
I am averaging between 15 and 16 mph and improving. I tend to average four days a week due to having to pick a kid up on the way home or some other item, today I am in the car due to last nights works gokarting outing, I am rather sore and knackered so I wussed out, pity its a nice day !
So, here I am, dont be shy !
