At my local bike shops, they shake their heads about my three B17's, but I really like the way they shape to you.  Have had other saddles and tried many more, but I've found what I like.

 

Interestingly I've just got the tape measure out: Left calf 17", right calf 14". Whadd'ya know! 

 

 

 

Yep, couldn't agree more.  Hard to get off at that point too.  Totally unsuited to riding at this time of year  :no:

 

Gaz

Could it be worth wearing tights with baggy cycling shorts or something over the top? The material and cut is much better, and you'll not be showing as much. I wear baggy shorts over my tights even on my road bike (I think because I'm a mtber and wearing tights on their own feels wrong).

At my local bike shops, they shake their heads about my three B17's, but I really like the way they shape to you.  Have had other saddles and tried many more, but I've found what I like.

 

Interestingly I've just got the tape measure out: Left calf 17", right calf 14". Whadd'ya know! 

 

Gaz

I used to have my B17 on my road bike which at the time was my main commuter, since selling my road bike and buying CX bikes I've always run Charge Spoons, I've always had these on my MTB's and they seem to suit that style of riding. 

The calf thing must be pure awesomeness with some people

 

Could it be worth wearing tights with baggy cycling shorts or something over the top? The material and cut is much better, and you'll not be showing as much. I wear baggy shorts over my tights even on my road bike (I think because I'm a mtber and wearing tights on their own feels wrong).

I used to-do just the same, just wait until you've finally ditched those short's and you realise just how much more movement & comfort you get without them, I never wear shorts anymore & look even more out of place riding my MTB in the Peaks with my roadie lycra on

 

At the end of the day, you should wear what feels comfortable to you

I used to have my B17 on my road bike which at the time was my main commuter, since selling my road bike and buying CX bikes I've always run Charge Spoons, I've always had these on my MTB's and they seem to suit that style of riding.

The calf thing must be pure awesomeness with some people

I used to-do just the same, just wait until you've finally ditched those short's and you realise just how much more movement & comfort you get without them, I never wear shorts anymore & look even more out of place riding my MTB in the Peaks with my roadie lycra on

At the end of the day, you should wear what feels comfortable to you

Not gonna happen!

Anyone up for the TdY? Sportif on the last day? No names announced yet though so I guess most people will be hanging on for that?

Serviced the Reverb (what a faff, would've been made much easier if I had a decent vice, mind) and bled the brakes this evening. Think both were well overdue...

 

 

Yep, that's the old brake fluid.

Edited 23 January, 201511 yr by samj2013

Could it be worth wearing tights with baggy cycling shorts or something over the top? The material and cut is much better, and you'll not be showing as much. I wear baggy shorts over my tights even on my road bike (I think because I'm a mtber and wearing tights on their own feels wrong).

 

Thanks for the suggestion Sam    I'm going to stubbornly stay in my totally unsuitable comfort zone for the time being...you can lead a horse to water!

 

Out yesterday (in the dry, for a change) and followed (briefly) a chap in all the gear.  His tights were matt black and didn't have that lycra sheen.  Thought they were a maybe.

 

Did 12.5 miles at an average of 11.6mph, which I was quite pleased with.  Down to 7mph on one bit though.  I will crack it, but at the moment it's a drag, and just as you run out of momentum/steam, it gets steeper 50 yards from the crest.

 

 

Yep, that's the old brake fluid.

 

 

Yuck! 

 

 

Gaz

I'll admit I was completely against the idea of wearing anything lycra while cycling but a friend was insistent I should wear cycling shorts as they would be much more comfortable, when I resisted she pointed out I could wear them under any clothes I wanted which is what I now do and I think the cycling shorts are fantastic.  No-one can see them but so much more comfortable on my rear end on longer cycles on any of my bikes despite the different saddles.

 

I took part in the StrathPuffer last weekend which is a 24 hour endurance cycle up here in the Highlands, this year was the ten year anniversary so they were allowing ten man teams.  I was having trouble getting a quad together so joined a ten man fat bike team thinking if the weather was terrible as it frequently is this time of year that I wouldn't have to worry about doing many laps.  I was unsure about choice of bike as the track seemed to favour full suspension making it easier to carry speed through rough parts and the trails are generally solid but the fat bike on the other hand could handle a variety of conditions better and its rigid frame would be more tolerant of the abrasive mud.  As the whole team were riding fat bikes I had to go that way and was glad for it as the conditions were very mixed varying between snow, ice and mud plus unsurprisingly with over 800 people taking part some of the sections were really chewed up.  I didn't actually realise just how treacherous some of the conditions were until watching a video afterwards as I was mostly getting pretty good grip and traction.

Although the ten's weren't nearly as competitive as the other classes we still had a good battle in our class moving up over the first few years and then taking the lead then almost dropping off the podium over night.  Several consistent decent laps moved us clear of fourth and back up to second but not quite enough to take the lead back however it's good just have a battle even if it's not for a podium. The trophies they were giving out were superb made up of a cassette ring with the number welded in the middle:

 

 

This was our team (the older guys along the back) and the school pupils that beat us:

 

 

John

I'll admit I was completely against the idea of wearing anything lycra while cycling but a friend was insistent I should wear cycling shorts as they would be much more comfortable, when I resisted she pointed out I could wear them under any clothes I wanted which is what I now do and I think the cycling shorts are fantastic. No-one can see them but so much more comfortable on my rear end on longer cycles on any of my bikes despite the different saddles.

I took part in the StrathPuffer last weekend which is a 24 hour endurance cycle up here in the Highlands, this year was the ten year anniversary so they were allowing ten man teams. I was having trouble getting a quad together so joined a ten man fat bike team thinking if the weather was terrible as it frequently is this time of year that I wouldn't have to worry about doing many laps. I was unsure about choice of bike as the track seemed to favour full suspension making it easier to carry speed through rough parts and the trails are generally solid but the fat bike on the other hand could handle a variety of conditions better and its rigid frame would be more tolerant of the abrasive mud. As the whole team were riding fat bikes I had to go that way and was glad for it as the conditions were very mixed varying between snow, ice and mud plus unsurprisingly with over 800 people taking part some of the sections were really chewed up. I didn't actually realise just how treacherous some of the conditions were until watching a video afterwards as I was mostly getting pretty good grip and traction.

Although the ten's weren't nearly as competitive as the other classes we still had a good battle in our class moving up over the first few years and then taking the lead then almost dropping off the podium over night. Several consistent decent laps moved us clear of fourth and back up to second but not quite enough to take the lead back however it's good just have a battle even if it's not for a podium. The trophies they were giving out were superb made up of a cassette ring with the number welded in the middle:

This was our team (the older guys along the back) and the school pupils that beat us:

John

A friend of mine did it for at least the third time. This year was the first time they got there and back without their van breaking down.

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Rode at Conwy Mountain today - local-ish trails to me. Lovely sunny day, but my god was it windy (and bloody cold wind too).

 

I went out into Derbyshire yesterday with a friend, did The Ba$tard/Houndkirk/Froggatts/ (up) Stanage Edge. What a fantastic day out

 

Stanage Edge

 

I absolutly love this bike I over took 2 mountain bikers going over Froggatts, they couldn't believe how quick I was going (compared to them).

I used to have my B17 on my road bike which at the time was my main commuter, since selling my road bike and buying CX bikes I've always run Charge Spoons, I've always had these on my MTB's and they seem to suit that style of riding. 

 

 

Selle-Italia 'Flites', since 1992 - the original style

 

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/saddles-road-selle-italia-flite-1990-the-original-saddle/sellsadd199

The one that's currently on my Ridley, is the one that I bought for my Dyna-Tech, when I bought it back in 1994 (so, I guess it's worn-in by now!)

The Ribble has a new one (re-issue of original) that I bought, when I couldn't get on with the saddle it was supplied with

I also had them on my Pace Research, & my Cyclo-Cross bikes

 

Has anyone read the Yorkshire Post this morning???

Won't be this year, as that's in Rchmond (Virginina, USA) this year
 

 

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/local-stories/county-gearing-up-for-world-championship-bid-1-7089283


 

Has anyone read the Yorkshire Post this morning???

Won't be this year, as that's in Rchmond (Virginina, USA) this year

 

 

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/local-stories/county-gearing-up-for-world-championship-bid-1-7089283

 

Clearly written by somebody who knows nothing about cycling - it doesn't even say which discipline...

Very true, but the implication, due to Cavendish supporting, is the Road-Races

 

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/yorkshire-bid-world-championships-155994

Very true, but the implication, due to Cavendish supporting, is the Road-Races

 

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/yorkshire-bid-world-championships-155994

Well, yes, but you would hope that any journalist worth their salt would do a little research before writing an article on a subject about which they know nothing. Sorry, things like this bug me, could be that I'm just bitter that MTB disciplines receive less attention than road cycling.

I had to dig all the way down to page 10 to find this topic, not good!  Hopefully with the weather improving more bikes are starting to come out of hibernation, sadly I seemed to have invited the wraith of winter by taking my road bike out - it was only a couple of weeks ago so I was surprised to be fighting through the snow and blizzards, not really good conditions for a road bike.

 

Rather amusingly the last CX race I did had superb weather with the sun out and bright blue skies which isn't very authentic for CX racing which is supposed to be wet and muddy but certainly makes for a more pleasant race.  I had debated whether to race or not with the fat bike as a relatively flat and dry course didn't suit the big bike but given I just do it for a laugh anyway (wouldn't be competitive on any bike anyway) I gave it a go.  I left the bike outside while registering and heard a few people commenting on how slow the bike must be and how much resistance the tyres must generate etc. so the funny thing was after all that, I got my best result of the three races which included lapping several of the CX riders.  Afterwards a few people commented that I must be a very strong rider and would have flown on a CX bike but I did feel obliged to point out that I don't think so, although fat bike looked a slow bike and it was pain on the paved sections it was floating over the grass with surprisingly little effort and the huge traction meant it could carry a lot of speed through the corners.  I decided to try three cameras this time which came out not too badly although next time I'm thinking of moving the bar mount camera down to the fork:

 

Started my cycling to work season this morning

Going out with the old man this evening .. Slightly concerned what I've got myself in for, considering he'll do 50 miles on a 'quick bike ride'

JRJG

Pah I am all year round commuter! Just fitted clipless pedals to the road bike and bloody hell it makes a difference!! I know they quoted 30% better power put down but it really feels like it too. Of course the first time I went out to take them for a spin I got a puncture and realised since I had only planned on going round the block and accidentally ended up about 8miles from home with no tube or phone and shoes I couldnt walk in. After walking about a mile in socks I was so lucky to meet a friendly bus drive who got me home. Lesson learned!! Stay safe.

I use mountain bike pedals and shoes on my road bike - you still clip in and get any benefits, but you can walk just fine as the cleats are recessed into the shoe.

I use mountain bike pedals and shoes on my road bike - you still clip in and get any benefits, but you can walk just fine as the cleats are recessed into the shoe.

I too have 'recessed cleats' in my bicycle shoes. Ideal for those occasions that you have to walk across new flags/tiles/oak flooring!

JRJG

I did look at spd rather than spd sl pedals but as a rule the smaller selection of road type spd shoes dont have such stiff a sole as the spd sl shoes so the benefit is reduced. Its no problem normally. Walking in them is ok for short distances but I was never going to cover that many miles!

Did my first decent bike of the year so far. A nice 50miles on the road bike but some of the head winds really slowed me down

I tried a couple of different clipless systems but couldn't avoid knee pain with them which I've never had with flats although I found a guide recently that dealt with angling the cleats which is where I went wrong and must have caused the problems.  That said, I never got the benefit out of them as the lack of flexibility to change position as I wanted hurt my speed and endurance.

 

John

I am well and truly smashed after a week in mallorca. If you've not been, go. It's a must do, it's a fantastic place to ride. Going back next year, same group with our partners this time maybe, but will have a better winters training under my belt hopefully!

Can't believe I've only just found this tread!

Been riding MTB's for years now, started off riding Downhill bikes:

My old Norco, loads of fun, could ride down anything!

Now I'm mainly riding XC/all mountain/enduro on my Rose:

Just about to buy a 29er hardtail to add to the collection :-)

Mainly ride at either Llandegla Forrest or Cannock Chase but I've heard a lot of good stuff about Gisburn Forrest, so I'll be exploring there soon.

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