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Working From Home - Impacts of Coronavirus

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AndyC_772:

--- Quote from: bd139 on May 15, 2020, 02:52:42 pm ---I keep trying to buy a bike but can't get what I want because everyone has decided to do exactly the same thing and has bought them all >:(.

--- End quote ---

Guilty as charged!

My usual sport is archery, but as with all other sports, that's been cancelled for the last couple of months even though it's something that can be done with no close contact between participants at all.

So, instead, I've been getting out on my bike, which I've been reminded is a 10 yr old MTB that's no doubt much more capable than I am over rough ground, but hard work on the road. I've found that recording my rides on Strava has been a useful motivator - and a good excuse to design and 3D print a phone mount too.

New bikes are indeed pretty thin on the ground, but I was pleased to discover that the Giant web site usefully shows which retailers have stock of any given model and size. I pick up my Revolt Advanced 2 next week and I can't wait!

Zero999:
I've always found it strange why so many people have mountain bikes and only ever use them on the road. There was a craze in the 90s, with heavy steel frame bikes, marketed as mountain bikes, but were rubbish for hills, as they were so heavy. I got a road bike and never looked back. Now I have a gravel bike, as well as a road bike, which has drop handlebars but thicker tyres, so is good for the rough roads.

I wish I could work from home more. People just can't or won't follow the social distancing. Most people just forget, but there are a few people who don't care. It's very worrying to go into work and see it.

paulca:

--- Quote from: Zero999 on May 16, 2020, 11:01:01 am ---I've always found it strange why so many people have mountain bikes and only ever use them on the road. There was a craze in the 90s, with heavy steel frame bikes, marketed as mountain bikes, but were rubbish for hills, as they were so heavy.

--- End quote ---

Modern mountain bikes are pretty light, mine was a mid range bike with aluminium alloy frame and wheels.

While they are far less efficient to ride on tarmac, they do open your options massively.  For urban cycling, curbs and small steps can be negotiated with ease, especially with suspension.  The larger tyre absorbs impacts with pot holes and curbs so you don't get blow outs, pinched tubes and buckled wheels.  But when the tarmac runs out and you are on forest trails, coastal scenic paths or gravel paths the road bikes just get left behind.

Where I live in Ireland I'm about a mile away from one of the most beautiful coast lines in the UK, some of it is tarmac, a lot gravel.  We also have many miles of "Ulster Way" signposted walking/cycling routes which are 99% gravel.

(looks for the off-topic hammer to come down)

bd139:
I’m after a gravel bike or tourer here. Need something which doesn’t wreck you on tow paths and actually goes somewhere on roads :). I did this in the 90s on an old galaxy and it was again good for mental health.

Alas no bikes as mentioned so isolation activity is now “couch to 5k”. So I’m currently looking like a dickhead in tights, some cheap trainers with Jo Wiley shouting at me for the next few weeks instead  :-\

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/

Zero999:

--- Quote from: paulca on May 16, 2020, 11:11:08 am ---
--- Quote from: Zero999 on May 16, 2020, 11:01:01 am ---I've always found it strange why so many people have mountain bikes and only ever use them on the road. There was a craze in the 90s, with heavy steel frame bikes, marketed as mountain bikes, but were rubbish for hills, as they were so heavy.

--- End quote ---

Modern mountain bikes are pretty light, mine was a mid range bike with aluminium alloy frame and wheels.

While they are far less efficient to ride on tarmac, they do open your options massively.  For urban cycling, curbs and small steps can be negotiated with ease, especially with suspension.  The larger tyre absorbs impacts with pot holes and curbs so you don't get blow outs, pinched tubes and buckled wheels.  But when the tarmac runs out and you are on forest trails, coastal scenic paths or gravel paths the road bikes just get left behind.

Where I live in Ireland I'm about a mile away from one of the most beautiful coast lines in the UK, some of it is tarmac, a lot gravel.  We also have many miles of "Ulster Way" signposted walking/cycling routes which are 99% gravel.

(looks for the off-topic hammer to come down)

--- End quote ---
Yes, modern mountain bikes are much better than the old steel frame ones.

Another thing I dislike about MTBs is the gears are often stupidly low, especially the more modern ones. The top gear is too low to do any decent speed on the road and the lowest gears are still useless off road because I'm quite strong and the back wheel just spins round, if I try to go up too steeper hill in a low gear.

Decent puncture proof tyres are a must on a road bike. Keep them well inflated to minimise pinch punctures and buckled wheels.


--- Quote from: bd139 on May 16, 2020, 11:18:12 am ---I’m after a gravel bike or tourer here. Need something which doesn’t wreck you on tow paths and actually goes somewhere on roads :). I did this in the 90s on an old galaxy and it was again good for mental health.

Alas no bikes as mentioned so isolation activity is now “couch to 5k”. So I’m currently looking like a dickhead in tights, some cheap trainers with Jo Wiley shouting at me for the next few weeks instead  :-\

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/

--- End quote ---
Yes gravel bikes are good, much better than a mountain bike if you only right on the road, but the surface is a bit rough and ropey.

Here's a link to the one I have. It's got disc brakes which stop quickly, almost puncture proof tyres, a nice, high top gear for going fast downhill and the lowest gear will get you up most hills. If you spend most of the time on the road, it's great, but in my case the tyres, rather than gears limit the off road hill climbing, due to wheelspin, as I found by trying to climb a steep grass bank near my house. I got it from GO Outdoors. I've just tried their website to see if they have them in stock, but it's not working at the moment.
https://www.konaworld.com/rove.cfm

EDIT:
This place has the 52cm frame size in stock, at a reduced price, so you go for it, if it's the right size for you and you want a gravel bike.
https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m1b116s23p79607/Kona_Rove_2020/Gravel_and_CX_Bikes/RS_GB/189268?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv4e48ey46QIVTe7tCh3HFAh-EAYYBCABEgIe4fD_BwE

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