Hey Cyclists

I have a question for the cyclists out there. Any advice would be welcome.

I'm considering cycling to work along the canal path, which would be about 10-12 miles at a rough guess. I currently have a heavy bike which is made for comfort and certainly isn't for commuting, but even on that I can manage 10-12mph on the canal path without much effort.

We have a scheme at work where I can get a bike for a good deal if I use it to commute, so my question is what would be a good bike for the canal path, (lots of stones and bumps, none of it tarmac or paved). I'm assuming there are bikes purpously made for this but not too heavy.

 

Perhaps a full suspension mountain bike

 

Get a mountain bike but no need for a suspended one. get some advice on tires because if you want to used it on paved roads the traditional off road tires won't be ideal - you should opt for interim tires made for dual purpose.

 

Get those tyres that cant be punctured ! i used to bike the canal to work every day , i must have got punctures once a week!!! , didnt seem to matter what style of tyre i used either....

 

Try a hybrid with decent off road tyres. No need for a moutain bike on a canal towpath and certainly no need for a full suspension. Get a front suspension though. How much are looking at spending?

 

Agreed on an MTB without suspension. That's only needed if you're truly off road and will add weight and cost. Not tried the non puncture tyres but they sound a good idea also. I used to cycle along the canal when I was a student, racking up 10s of miles a day and this is all you need.

Keep some money in your budget for a decent helmet and halogen lights with plenty of rechargeable batteries If you're planning on winter cycling.
A good pair of waterproof trousers and a Haivis Veste:biggrin: is also a good idea if your doing any road travel.

 

its the wearing of a helmet that stops me biking to work now , how sad that i dont want to wear one at my age

 

I resisted it for years but if I started cycling again regularly I'd forgo looking like a mushroom for a bit of safety

 

I have about 10 miles to work and ride my bike as often as children logistics allow me. I wear a helmet like this:



I agree it isn't that smartest thing to wear but having known people who nearly died from simple undramatic crashes which resulted in them hitting their head on the edge of the curb - I don't want to gamble.

 

Ditto. I'd consider wearing one if I was on the road all the time, but I won't be. It's not a legal requirement is it?

Budget? No idea really. I've got to visit a bike shop and discuss the scheme and how much I'd save on what bikes.

Meister, did you get as many punctures as Leyton?

 

Road or no road - I'd advice your to get one. You can get helmets which are not so sporty/silly looking. But they usually cost a bundle.

Re. which bike to choose - Kona bikes are the dogs preverbials, Trek and Specialized do good bikes too, but in general, anything over £400 will be fine for your purpose (I say not knowing the price levels on bikes in the UK).

 

I've ridden on canal towpath between Apsley and Berko in the past on both my own bike (with front suspension) and my wife's bike- with padded seat but no suspension. I would personally recommend at least front suspension- there was a noticeable difference.
But then again, if you've never tried it with suspension, and it is comfy for you without, then just go for standard...

 

I had a look at those bowl skate/bike helmets but seeing as i have the exact same one as Kris , but different colour , sitting at home , my missus expression when i told her wasnt great...ahh sod it , what does it matter what i look like , if i wear sunglasses , no one would know it was me anyway!

Admin = not a legal requirment mate , no

 

Neither will they when they see your brain splattered all over the road

I guess for someone nearing forty with a wife and three kids - it's safety first fun last as Steve Coogan once said.

 

Get a scooter

Or buy a canal boat and sail to work everyday

 

Didn't suffer many punctures, one or two maybe. Don't bother with a puncture repair kit. Wilkinsons sell inner tubes for less than 3 Quid so just carry a spare, a couple of tyre levers and a mini pump. Simples (assuming you have quick release wheels of course.

I bought a bog standard 18 speed Raleigh Mountain bike at Uni no suspension, cost me £150 17 years ago from Halfords (check they've put it together properly for you though). It's still perfectly serviceable, I merely added handle bar extensions and a quick release seat post., nothing worse than having a wet seat when you go back to your bike at the end of the day.

It's one of these
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/mountain-bike-raleigh-sabre-18-gear/83254974

But with an adult sized frame.

 

£400 will be something mint.

 

Oh, and I too am too cool/stupid for a helmet.

 

Mountain bike dead cert for tow paths... front suspension would be a bonus, the paths can be very bumpy.

Get kevlar or other kind of reinforced tyres, and Slime inner tubes. Still not a guarantee of no punctures, but you will save yourself changing tyres on a frequent basis. I have cut down punctures by a factor of at least five I recon. Pump them up to a high pressure.

Helmet is not a legal requirement but a sensible one, crack that skull on a pavement or rock and you are dead or brain damaged.

Get onto the British Waterways website and print off a license to ride on the towpaths. Technically you MUST have one by their bylaws and its a little known fact. Its free and to be honest, all it really does it show that you understand the "rules of the road" for cycling on them... but best to cover your ass from a stroppy Waterways worker should he ask to see it. http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/cycling/permit

Finally... get some kind of horn (sexier than a bell), people do not hear you coming up behind them, and on a towpath there is little room to get past. Also watch out for their dogs.. they love running right in front of you.

 

and wear boots, for booting fishermen into the water off of those little stools.

 

I attached Boadicea type knives to my wheels for that.

 

Admin,

I'd recommend a hardtail mountain bike (Front suspension, not back) as for tyres, I tend to go for dual tyres - Will provide you enough grip for a toe path but won't sacrifice speed on the road.

May be worth getting quick release wheels incase you get a puncture, or are worried about someone nicking your wheels. Also have you considered a bike lock?

As for punctures. Get Slime. This is basically a material which goes between the inner tube and the tyre and will stop common punctures. Or Slime even do there own tyres now. If you need recommendation on bikes or shops drop me a message.

 

I'm bloody glad I wear one after my last two crashes!

 

I don't understand why you need an MTB for a towpath. A hybrid would be much better. It's lighter, you can still fit off road tyres and it's better for when coming off the towpath on to tarmac.

 

You can get fairly cheap bikes with decent suspension from Halfords.

 

That's a fair argument. But I go off road on trails and bridleways a lot, so prefer something that can take the punishment (I'm no lightweight).. hence will suggest a MTB. The sinker on that would be Admins errrrr "build"

Cheap for a reason.. I'd suggest you avoid unless your budget is that small. Plan on £3-400 and you will have some good kit. I'd suggest disc brakes too

 

Having met admin I'd suggest he takes the engine out of a Honda Goldwing and uses that instead:biggrin:

Halfords is OK as long as you get a decent brand and check it's been assembled correctly.

 

Love that, a thread completely about bikes and cycling - you would expect an advert for Evans, Halfords etc. I have got:
New! Top Quality Lingerie!

Admin: buy and wear a helmet!!

 

PLEASE DO NOT GO TO HALFORDS THEY ARE AWFUL!

Your best bet is to find a shop that is a specialist bike shop. Halfords rip you off and are complete winkers, they also do not assemble the bike properly!

 

The ad system is more swayed by your own search engine history than thread contents

 

:sign15:
How about the chatroom for fitness singles

 

I have certainly done more searching for bike parts than underwear parts!

Phew- a bike advert has just appeared!

 

DON'T GO TO HALFORDS!

Go to a proper bike shop and explain what you're wanting to do. They'll find the right bike for you.

This is what I've got.

 

Hey, it's July! Warm, dry(ish) and long daylight hours.

Would you make the decision to commute on the canal in January or February when the mornings are dark - very dark indeed on canals in places, where the overhanging branches will have you off- wet, muddy and bloody cold? 12 miles will keep you fit but it'll be a slog on early mornings and occasionally a mite dangerous.

Hence an earlier comment to get a scooter, isnt a bad one. It's a more realistic commute option over that sort of distance, and you park in the hospital for free right next to the Vic on match days

I use the canal everyday to run, cycle or walk the dog.

I'd you go for it, the advice about Tyres above is wise. Brit waterways cut back the bushes leaving hawthorn *****les everywhere which are a bustard for punctures.

Consider clothing or mudguards to stop most of the muck and spray you're gonna get.

Trek, Giant or specialized are ace. I'd go for a front suspension hybrid as they're much faster. Especially if you're on a subsidy form work.

And really decent front light for the canal in winter, cos hitting something could end up with you in the drink!

Decent gloves/mitts

I dunno where you live but the grand union south of Watford to Uxbridge is messy and sticky. North to Hemel and Berko, rocky as stated above by someone.

Cyclopaedia in Watford's Market Street are good for service too.

Specialized do a drop bar specialized hybrid / cycle cross type bike called a Tricross which is a reasonable price and fast as heck and could easy cope with the canal.

 

A decent light is very important. Something from Hope is a good bet. It's worth spending a bit extra as you'll want to see everything in front of you.



Has anyone told you taking up biking properly is farking expensive?