Stuck in a rut...

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Hicky

Guru
Not long now till the days grow longer, if you want to have a look at a cx I'm local(Castleton). My riding is just commuting ATM!
 
I don't do much riding between Dec and March,the odd 30-40 miler and commuting
is all I do,once the temps get back above 10 degrees tho I'm off on 70-80 milers
roll on the spring :sun:
 

Accy cyclist

Legendary Member
The only difference between summer and winter is the hours of daylight. Both seasons have their faults as proven with last summer's non stop rain.:rain:Wear the lycra that you wore in the summer, over many layers, and maybe you'll be recognised as a true cyclist and not a fair weather one.:sun:
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Chin up !
The time and motivation will come round again, could be the time of year what with the weather and lack of daylight giving you the "blues"
This year my cycling has taken a back seat what with the arrival of ck #2 and ck#1`s health problems meant that i have had to prioritise my family over cycling.
Luckily i still commute but my club /long rides have really taken a hammering and i have on average gone out every 3 weeks for them.
Its nearly the new year so use that old chestnut the new years resolution to set yourself a target and a reason that makes you happy why you should be on your bike , list the good reasons why you should be riding and get those wheels a spinning !
In the meantime what about getting a cheap turbo and having a blast as and when you get chance ?
 
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Gaz Vickers

Gaz Vickers

Well-Known Member
Not long now till the days grow longer, if you want to have a look at a cx I'm local(Castleton). My riding is just commuting ATM!
Yeah great.. i often used Chadwick lane as my cut through, then do circuits back past Springfield park. lapping 2 or 3 times, but it got too wet! and full of horse sh!t, lol.
 
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Gaz Vickers

Gaz Vickers

Well-Known Member
I don't do much riding between Dec and March,the odd 30-40 miler and commuting
is all I do,once the temps get back above 10 degrees tho I'm off on 70-80 milers
roll on the spring :sun:
i'm with you on that one Paul, Roll on spring. lol
The only difference between summer and winter is the hours of daylight. Both seasons have their faults as proven with last summer's non stop rain.:rain:Wear the lycra that you wore in the summer, over many layers, and maybe you'll be recognised as a true cyclist and not a fair weather one.:sun:
i suppose, its not nice being wet, but better to be wet than wet & cold! i need to get more layers. the wife might treat me for xmas, but i doubt it!! ha
Chin up !
The time and motivation will come round again, could be the time of year what with the weather and lack of daylight giving you the "blues"
This year my cycling has taken a back seat what with the arrival of ck #2 and ck#1`s health problems meant that i have had to prioritise my family over cycling.
Luckily i still commute but my club /long rides have really taken a hammering and i have on average gone out every 3 weeks for them.
Its nearly the new year so use that old chestnut the new years resolution to set yourself a target and a reason that makes you happy why you should be on your bike , list the good reasons why you should be riding and get those wheels a spinning !
In the meantime what about getting a cheap turbo and having a blast as and when you get chance ?
It looks like my first ever news year resolution then....hahaha....to stop being a pansy!! lol
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
How's this for a suggestion, If you are going out as a family for any reason (shopping, eating out or visiting friends & family) why don't you suggest travelling seperately. Wife and child/ren in car and you by bike. I am sure your wife will resist this suggestion at first (mine always has) but if you explain that it really is your only chance to ride and this will help your happiness and fitness then you should be able to get her on board?
Buying more equipment is unlikely to solve the time problem and you will just end up facing resentment from your partner because of the unused turbo trainer under the bed or expensive bike sat gathering dust in the garage and this will not help your motivation at all.
 
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Gaz Vickers

Gaz Vickers

Well-Known Member
I'm not too sure it would work, with two young kids it would be unfair to lump them on the wife everytime we went anywhere! haha, does sound appealing all the same! :laugh:
I meant clothing, as i only have summerish gear! bib-shorts and a light rain Jacket!
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
I'm not too sure it would work, with two young kids it would be unfair to lump them on the wife everytime we went anywhere! haha, does sound appealing all the same!
It should work ok if done right. Help get things ready before the trip, put stuff into car etc then make Mrs Vickers a cup of tea while you jump on your bike and set off early enough to be ready and waiting at the destination when she arrives. Even if it is only a 3-4 mile trip to the supermarket you could still sneak in a 7ish mile ride in this way.

I meant clothing, as i only have summerish gear! bib-shorts and a light rain Jacket!
There was some talk of new bikes or wheels earlier in the thread. I suggest maybe some road biased tyres for the MTB so you can stick to the roads and keep off the muddy trails during the rotten winter months then swap back to the knobblies in the spring when the call of the wild is strong :sun:
 
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Gaz Vickers

Gaz Vickers

Well-Known Member
It should work ok if done right. Help get things ready before the trip, put stuff into car etc then make Mrs Vickers a cup of tea while you jump on your bike and set off early enough to be ready and waiting at the destination when she arrives. Even if it is only a 3-4 mile trip to the supermarket you could still sneak in a 7ish mile ride in this way.


There was some talk of new bikes or wheels earlier in the thread. I suggest maybe some road biased tyres for the MTB so you can stick to the roads and keep off the muddy trails during the rotten winter months then swap back to the knobblies in the spring when the call of the wild is strong :sun:
i was undecided earlier, i suppose i will never make my mind up! haha... what i want and what i need are two different things! for the time being its just me and my mtn bike with nobblies! so lets get muddy! ha, when it warms up tho, obviously!
until i win the lotto and get a CX bike! and clothes for every season!! lol
 

Hicky

Guru
Have you got mudguards? If not I've got a pair of cheap clip ons you could have that would help with keeping dryer, see if you can get a child seat to take one of the brood with you.....I used to do this to get the youngest out of her indoors hair!
 
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Gaz Vickers

Gaz Vickers

Well-Known Member
Have you got mudguards? If not I've got a pair of cheap clip ons you could have that would help with keeping dryer, see if you can get a child seat to take one of the brood with you.....I used to do this to get the youngest out of her indoors hair!
No, don't have mud-guards, i'm not really fussed about having any! it doesn't really bother me getting sprayed, i suppose i might need a front one! spray in the face isn't pleasant!.
No....No child carrier....the idea is to escape for a few hours! haha,
 

Nebulous

Guru
Location
Aberdeen
Update: Ice-free roads so decided to go for a ride. Found the chain on the road bike has pretty much competely seized. Decided to take the hybrid out. 12 miserable miles later I'm home. Sad face.

I haven't been out for just over a week. I've been to the gym 3 times and sat and cranked an exercise bike though.

Road salt is terrible for chains. It can even leave you with small corroded pits in alloy rims. I changed the chain and the brake blocks on my bike and gave it a good clean yesterday. My hundred mile ride was supposed to be today, but was cancelled due to weather - gale force winds and ice. My years target looked well within my grasp a couple of weeks ago, but now looks to be slipping away.
 

Hip Priest

Veteran
I haven't been out for just over a week. I've been to the gym 3 times and sat and cranked an exercise bike though.

Road salt is terrible for chains. It can even leave you with small corroded pits in alloy rims. I changed the chain and the brake blocks on my bike and gave it a good clean yesterday. My hundred mile ride was supposed to be today, but was cancelled due to weather - gale force winds and ice. My years target looked well within my grasp a couple of weeks ago, but now looks to be slipping away.

I managed to get the chain working again yesterday afternoon. There were about 10 stiff links in all. Managed to get out and do a 35 miler today, but the winds made it an exhausting experience. I should now be able to hit my target, snow / ice permitting.

Shame about your 100 miler, but with serious winds / ice it would've been awful.
 
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