Cycling, do any of you own a pedal bike, do you use it often(obviously not at the mo)

Oooh yes don't forget the padding. I wear cycling knickers because my bum is too big for lycra. I'm working hard to reduce it to cycle clothing size. Unfortunately they don't make clothes for bbws.

That's a lovely bike. It's amazing the difference the bike weight makes. Get the lycra on and go for it. Enjoy.

Craftyone that looks fab.
I’ve got a hybrid bike that I got 3 years ago. I love it - most of the time it requires very little effort & I only have to get off & push on very long, steep hills.
You don’t mention an important bit of kit, ie the well-padded cycling shorts. I wouldn’t be without mine

my beautiful new bike came, a road bike especially designed for seniors and I had to get XS. It was scary at first, I put the pedals on and bought a 4 5 6 torque wrench, straightened the handlebars, put a tiny bag under the saddle with spare inner tube and a very small pack with CO2 cylinders, tyre levers and patches. I also put an ortleib handlbar bag on the front, all I carry in it is emergency info such as ICE and maybe a waterproof, nothing heavy because the bike is twitchy

I ordered it with a rear luggage carrier and have made little filling pads so that my panniers don`t wobble, a piece of leather and black electrical tape x 4. I have smaller black panniers that fit well

I had my second and longer ride this morning and am getting used to the similarity to riding a thoroughbred, learning the gears and quite honestly took all the hills in my stride. The saddle is thin, long and pointy so I am going to put a brooks b17 lady saddle on when the special 8 nm torque wrench arrives, I tested the saddle on my very heavy bike (3 x the weight) and it felt fine, wider and shorter. The more I use it the more comfortable it will become

I raised the handlebars by re-positioning a spacer and lowered the seat a tad

So I am mobile and not far off being confident enough to wear my lycra from `fat lad at the back`, I`ll do that when I don`t have a starting wobble

The bike is this one
www.islabikes.co.uk/product/bikes/icons/janis/

some of you will understand when I say I found a white feather in my vegtrug on my way in after my ride. My lycra racing cyclist husband would thoroughly approve of my antics. He very much rated islabikes for children and would be delighted that they are now designing bikes for seniors

Thanks for that I will ask ds about it, pity he lives in scotland

Do you have Slime in your innertubes? If not you can get it from bike shops or online. If you get a puncture the Slime seals it.

do you check your tyre pressures every few rides? Yes I do, tyres always deflate albeit slowly. I inherited my husbands floor pump

Punctures when out are what scare me, being a long way from home. I could fix a front tyre quite easily, maybe I should carry a spare inner tube but the back one is another story. I did it once at home but more by luck than by judgement. AC who don`t live close, have been telling me about the new tubeless tyres that seem like a godsend

I would have to carry tyre levers and the right spanner to take the front wheel off my present bike. It isn`t a quick release lever. My tyres are good and puncture resistant but you never know

Yes, but on three wheels as I no longer trust my balance on two.

lol

Thank you bikergran, that’s useful advice. I am determined to at least be able to cycle round my garden and miss the trees!

Thank you vampirequeen very kind of you It's the reason my posts are short and infrequent but I enjoy reading threads.
Great to hear you're in remission.

Missedout

I had a brilliant female Motorcycle teacher when I was training.

She taught me one thing (as I headed into the bushes)

WILIWIG "Where I look is where I go"!

If your looking at a bush, a fence or where ever, that's where you will go, try and look ahead, if you look at the fence you will possibly end up in it..(I did a few times whilst training)

There was a metal security fence and around the course, for some reason I kept looking at it instead of looking where I wanted to go,and sure as sure once I had set my eyes on the fence! that's the direction I headed the instructor did learn to jump out the way.

I have an ancient old Raleigh Shopper. It's over 40 years old, and has been re-painted a couple of times by my husband. We first bought the bike when our children were small, my son sitting on the back seat, and my daughter riding her Budgie bike in front of us.

Not being very tall, I like the bike because it has 20" wheels and is easier for me to get on, although I do have slight difficulties these days.

Nowadays it's mainly used for short distances round the village, visiting my friends or trips to the dentist, but I would be lost without it.

Sorry tried to correct kater and hit 'Post' by mistake on phone.

So managed to pedal a few days ago. Now the work really starts. Why is it when you try to avoid an obstacle on a bike, you end up heading straight for it?

I'm using this time (shielding) to learn to ride a borrowed bike. I tried a few times as a child but fell off to often and gave up. I've managed to freewheel down my lawn (feet dangling) after many attempts, then two days kater

I'm so sorry to hear you have ME. It's so debilitating. I've been in remission for the last few years but still have to make sure I don't run my internal batteries down below 25%. I hope you get some respite soon. x

Excuse error

I havd a bike at the caravan. Like new, hardly used. Have M.E. and little energy.
Optimistic husband insisted on buying foldup bikes for home. Have done two 15 min cycles total. But I live in hope. I won't give up. I used to love cycling for miles especially on holiday. It's great fun and exercise.

ladymuck I met a lovely older lady, guessing at 85, collecting veg and using a big basket on her tricycle. She was a vibrant, smiley lady, very nice and said she would like coffee with me. It seems to go with the territory, out and about on a bike at her age. She said it was an expensive upmarket tricycle and she was encouraged by her AC. It looked light and easy to use. Go for it if you can

me too! 20 miles [shocked] (takes a sideways glance at my bike) which hasn't moved all week

mumofmadboys…..20 miles...I'm seriously impressed.

Today is cycling chufty day. 5.9 miles with lots of hills and long upward drags....didn't get off the bike once even on the hill that DH suggested I might need to walk up. Didn't even feel tired when I got home. We were going to go for a good walk this afternoon because I'm a bit hyper but the clouds are coming over

I cycle for leisure too. Usually about 20 miles at a time. It has been great during the lockdown when the roads have been quieter.

Lovely to see so many older people still cycle. I have two bikes, a road bike and an electric bike. I was unwell all last year with dizziness so wasn't able to cycle at all.
I'm nervous about getting back on the bike as I don't know if my balance has been affected.
I was looking at tricycles. They seem to be popular and might be more suitable for someone with balance problems.

crafty you sound like you have a great bike there.My friend has one but the range is only up to 30 miles.

We both uses to have motorcycles and scooters, so pedaling seems soooooooooo.... hard work lol (for me anyway)but I will persivere.