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Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

cyclelove.net

21–30 of 36 posts

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#22
post #18
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Riding != commuting, for me. I mean, being on a bike is nice, but going for a ride implies a more care-free attitude, and the complete liberty to go fast and sweat (there are no showers in the office). My favorite thing, once upon a time, was to just grab the bike in the morning and go.

I think you're just looking for an excuse ;) I do 2h training rides (in full lycra, of course) before work, and we don't have a shower. Come to work, change all my clothes, put some water in the face, apply deodorant and I'm set.

I also cycle to work and do the same thing (change clothes, apply deo). Only a 25min or so ride though. I cycle differently to work than going back, makes it more interesting.

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#25
"No visible lycra — I am not, and do not intend to become, a mammil." "No fancy gear, cleats or hi-vis — I will make the journey as a human on a bike, not a “cyclist”."

Although the article is well written, and the t-shirts are nice, I can't help but feel the author is very narrow-minded. There's nothing wrong with wearing lycra, cleats, or hi-vis - it does not define the type of cyclist. This does nothing to integrate and align the interests of the different cyclist groups (ironically his mission statement is to celibate the diversity of cycling). To each their own, and if your interest is in cycling on busy roads in the dark without any lights, hi-vis or helmet then that's your choice. But don't label those who value their comfort and safety over how they look.

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#26
i just came back from a 100 mile ride - you're a nutter to be doing it without cleats - you lose so much energy and it's asking for foot/ankle problems if you don't have stiff soles. i hope you had straps at least.

as for the lycra i have to say i feel the same way.. it stays underneath or is replaced by too-expensive rapha stuff where applicable.

nice tshirts anyway.

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#27

i just came back from a 100 mile ride - you're a nutter to be doing it without cleats - you lose so much energy and it's asking for foot/ankle problems if you don't have stiff soles. i hope you had straps at least. as for the lycra i have to say i feel the same way.. it stays underneath or is replaced by too-expensive rapha stuff where applicable. nice tshirts anyway.

What is it with being scared of modern synthetic materials? Sure, if you have more money than sense wear the same stuff made from merino wool, but otherwise, why would you not take advantage of modern clothing technology that keeps you dry and warm? Not to mention the decrease in wind resistance, which is _the_ main factor in going fast on a bike.

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#28
post #27

i just came back from a 100 mile ride - you're a nutter to be doing it without cleats - you lose so much energy and it's asking for foot/ankle problems if you don't have stiff soles. i hope you had straps at least. as for the lycra i have to say i feel the same way.. it stays underneath or is replaced by too-expensive rapha stuff where applicable. nice tshirts anyway.

What is it with being scared of modern synthetic materials? Sure, if you have more money than sense wear the same stuff made from merino wool, but otherwise, why would you not take advantage of modern clothing technology that keeps you dry and warm? Not to mention the decrease in wind resistance, which is _the_ main factor in going fast on a bike.

i'm not! the rapha stuff is pretty high tech, merino/synthetic blend - i just wear shorts over the bottom half, partly because i feel somewhat exposed in just lycra, partly because it's kind of drafty without. another benefit is more pockets for longer rides. i'm not sure what the shorts are made from, but they're not straight cotton anyway - they don't seem to absorb sweat.

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#29

i just came back from a 100 mile ride - you're a nutter to be doing it without cleats - you lose so much energy and it's asking for foot/ankle problems if you don't have stiff soles. i hope you had straps at least. as for the lycra i have to say i feel the same way.. it stays underneath or is replaced by too-expensive rapha stuff where applicable. nice tshirts anyway.

That isn't actually true. Cleats or no, the power comes from the down stroke not the up stroke: see http://roadcyclinguk.com/riding/bike-fitting-the-myth-of-the... . While there are good reasons to use cleats (mostly so your feet won't come off the pedals), I haven't seen any evidence of significant efficiency gains. Furthermore there are plenty of ordinary shoes with sufficiently stiff soles to cycle in.

Re: Why I cycled a hundred miles to meet my first customer

#30

"No visible lycra — I am not, and do not intend to become, a mammil." "No fancy gear, cleats or hi-vis — I will make the journey as a human on a bike, not a “cyclist”." Although the article is well written, and the t-shirts are nice, I can't help but feel the author is very narrow-minded. There's nothing wrong with wearing lycra, cleats, or hi-vis - it does not define the type of cyclist. This does nothing to integra…

I take your point, and with the benefit of hind legs it does sound a little like I'm venomously anti-safety/lycra, which was not my intention.

In fact I did have Lycra shorts on for this ride, always use lights at nights, and wear a helmet for most journeys I make. I've also frequently ridden clad head-to-toe in a certain stretchy fabric.

It's just for this particular outing I wanted to emphasise the fact that you don't need loads of special equipment to ride a bike - as I think this is a misconception that puts a lot of people off getting on a bike in the first place. The more cyclists there are on the road, the safer it becomes for all of us.

CycleLove has covered naked riders, pro riders, pregnant riders and slow riders... I don't really mind how people ride, so long as they enjoy it, and don't endanger other road users.

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