Things i know now but didnt know when i started

Raam

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

Classement is pronounced class-eh-meant.

Italian is pronounced eye-tallon.

Dr Rod Doom

Jawgap wrote: »

I've a new one from last night -

If treasure domestic bliss, then don't bring your bike into the living room so you can work on it and watch the football at the same time.

Secondly, don't compound your error by saying "Well you do the ironing in here while watching the telly......"

Ha Ha, Brilliant! I've had exactly the same conversation on more than one occassion


Some of the things I know now -

• Fitting a UST Tubeless tire is dangerous to your short-term (broken thumbs, skin removal) and long-term (ulcers, heart attacks) health.
• Just because a driver is looking you right in the eyes as he approaches the roundabout you're on, that doesn't mean he's going to slow down for you.
• Buy Cheap: Buy Often.
• I'm funny when I've got a concussion, and broken collar bones hurt.

Things I do now -

• Obsessively check out every single bike I see, in case a nice one might ever slip by without being ogled.
• Look at every hill/ forest/ cliff and think "I'd like to give that a go", spend every car journey thinking "this'd be much nicer on the bike".
• Try to "sneak" my roadie past my mountain bike when I'm taking it out, so it doesn't get jealous. And vice versa.

thebouldwhacker

Dr Rod Doom wrote: »

• Obsessively check out every single bike I see, in case a nice one might ever slip by without being ogled.
• Look at every hill/ forest/ cliff and think "I'd like to give that a go", spend every car journey thinking "this'd be much nicer on the bike".
• Try to "sneak" my roadie past my mountain bike when I'm taking it out, so it doesn't get jealous. And vice versa.

+1:D

esp the first one, my gf gives me looks and i'm like 'I wasnt looking as her, I was checking out her bike sweetheart'

Jawgap

Some other thoughts:-

I've cycled routes I've only ever driven before and thought "didn't realise there was a hill here"!

I've sat in the car watching cyclists go by and thought "wish I wasn't stuck in here."

I'm obsessed with wind speed and direction. Some of my more frequently accessed sites:-
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/EIDW.html (I commute quite close to the airport sometimes, so this is very handy!!)

http://www.windguru.com/int/index.php (this one for the coast roads!!)

Lumen

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

esp the first one, my gf gives me looks and i'm like 'I wasnt looking as her, I was checking out her bike sweetheart'

I was once (many years ago, when I was young enough to keep my bike in my bedroom) accused of ogling my cranks during the act. That relationship didn't work out so well.

Chips Lovell

TMI dude, TMI.

Chips Lovell

But were they Campag cranks?

Dr Rod Doom

Lumen wrote: »

I was once (many years ago, when I was young enough to keep my bike in my bedroom) accused of ogling my cranks during the act. That relationship didn't work out so well.

Admit it though, you were

Lumen

el tonto wrote: »

But were they Campag cranks?

No, Ultegra (before it got all chunky and masculine).

In my defence, at least they were a standard double.

Chips Lovell

Lumen wrote: »

No, Ultegra.

No wonder the lady was offended.

DePurpereWolf

I bet you were thinking what cadence would be most efficient.

Jawgap

el tonto wrote: »

No wonder the lady was offended.

Who said he was with a lady!!!!!:p:p

dub_skav

I learned 2 important things straight away on Boards spins.
1: Cyclists aren't as weird as they seem
2: Meeting people off t'interweb isn't sad at all (I swear:cool:)

Major cycling thing is to take hills slow and steady not try to get as far as you can as fast as you can

Caroline_ie

- Nutrigrains are ONLY for cycling, not for watching telly ...
- There is a way of crashing and avoiding major injuries ...
- Chamois cream feels nice on your bum ...

Raam

Eating Powerbars as evening snacks when you run out of other snacks is an expensive habit to get into.

dub_skav

Raam wrote: »

Eating Powerbars as evening snacks when you run out of other snacks is an expensive habit to get into.

It does mean you can change channels with great speed and stamina though

Caroline_ie

Raam wrote: »

Eating Powerbars as evening snacks when you run out of other snacks is an expensive habit to get into.

Powerbars are not nice, they re too chewey and sweet ... whereass a nutrigran ( or 2 ) is lovely with a cup of tea

biker_joe

Raam wrote: »

Eating Powerbars as evening snacks when you run out of other snacks is an expensive habit to get into.

That Fry's Turkish bars delight become a good substitute to high5 and power bars..... but most people stare when they see you with that retro packaging !

Biker Joe

irishmotorist

Two things spring to mind.

My original thing to learn and non cyclists won't believe you, but wind is THE worst element. Give me any of the others.

The next thing is 'yes I can'. Yep, the hills and distance can seem daunting when starting out, but become a real pleasure once you get there.

Caroline_ie

biker_joe wrote: »

That Fry's Turkish bars delight become a good substitute to high5 and power bars..... but most people stare when they see you with that retro packaging !

Biker Joe

Must try that on my 160 fixie challenge

biker_joe

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Must try that on my 160 fixie challenge

yea they defo work and are Easy to eat... even while racing ...... I'll be bringing some on Sunday for the Swords tour ...

Biker Joe.

DePurpereWolf

irishmotorist wrote: »

Two things spring to mind.

My original thing to learn and non cyclists won't believe you, but wind is THE worst element. Give me any of the others.
.

Fire is kinda 5hite too. Earth is okay. Water is okay unless you drown in it.

Raam

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Fire is kinda 5hite too.

Agreed. I can battle through the wind, but that last fire I cycled through... woh... not a nice experience.

Chips Lovell

I'll take wind over or any day.

crazydingo

I found that when I cycle I hate pedestrians, cars, buses, trucks, motorbikes, mopeds....in fact I hate everyone



and wheelie-bins

Junior

Tea tree oil is a great eczema reliever ..

hynesie

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Fire is kinda 5hite too. Earth is okay. Water is okay unless you drown in it.

What about heart?

bcmf

I hate RobFowl for what he bought last night.
You are buying me and KM McD's next time out.

RobFowl

I know that I have no logical thought processes once bikes are concerned !

I know tri bars and deep section carbon fibre rims don't make me go any faster.

I know that there is no better sport for socialising, relaxing, enjoying the Irish countryside, making contacts abroad and competing at whatever level you want be it PB's to and from work or elite racing.

I know padded shorts are a must have

Shaved legs look odd to non cyclists but make cleaning dort out of road rash a hell of a lot easier

And finaly I know buying Zipp's costs me McD's at the next sportif :rolleyes:

DrGroove

I know now that you can spend the whole winter in the small ring, and that's okay.

I know that it's important to tighten in those quick releases properly before you try and bunny hop over level-crossing.

I know now to use both breaks when doing a fast descent.

I know what a compact is and have one.

I know what it's like to go looking for a good training hill.

I know what a wish list on wiggle is.

I know certain phrases in Italian which I didn't know.

And I know now that there is a certain comradeship of the road which I didn't expect to find.

souter

I now know to take off my sunglasses when tackling a steep hill - when my peripheral vision starts fading it is neurological rather than clouds of sweat.
I now know that clothes have washing instructions - even Aldis cheapest and lairiest lyrcra require a cosseting that the rest of my wardrobe is denied.
I know hills I was afraid of, and that I then hated. Now I nail them.
I now know cycling is a blackhole that sucks up your free time either doing it or waffling about it.
And last but most importantly,I've learnt that you don't use tyre levers to refit the tyre, no matter how careful you are.

irishmotorist

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Fire is kinda 5hite too.

Ah yes - fire isn't great. But wind will turn even the friendliest fire into raging inferno.

Jawgap

irishmotorist wrote: »

Ah yes - fire isn't great. But wind will turn even the friendliest fire into raging inferno.

Wind is the twat of the elements and the sneakiest.

You cycle a route that takes you into a headwind expecting that when you turn you'll eventually have a tailwind, but wind, being capricious, changes direction as soon as you do - it has a warped sense of humour!

DePurpereWolf

And last but most importantly,I've learnt that you don't use tyre levers to refit the tyre, no matter how careful you are.

I still do this sometimes, never has caused me trouble.

Anyway.
I've learned that it really rains everyday in Cork. Think with a clear blue sky you can leave your bike out for a while? Think again.
There is no such thing as two dry days in a row.

Caroline_ie

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

I've learned that it really rains everyday in Cork. Think with a clear blue sky you can leave your bike out for a while? Think again.
There is no such thing as two dry days in a row.

I've learned that sometimes, in Dublin, there is a big yellow shinny thing in the shy that comes out, and i must not be scared of it, it's only the sun. Yes the sun, that thing that I used to see a lot more while living in France and Canada ... it's crazy how quick you forget these things.

rottenhat

DrGroove wrote: »

I know that it's important to tighten in those quick releases properly before you try and bunny hop over level-crossing.

That was your finest hour, all right.

thebouldwhacker

I know that there is nothing to shake the system than a day of hard mtbing followed by a spin on a (new) road bike...

its feels SO fragile... it terrifies the bejesus outa me, give me an unexpected swich back any day of the week. Evey pebble will cause a flat, every bend will lead to a loss of traction and send me flying, every bump will dismantle the frame.... I LOVE IT:D

NorDub

... it's all in the head! When my brain tells me I've a bad day / have weak legs / feel rather slow and sluggish - very often the body doesn't. Funnily enough I often get the best averages on my commutes when this happens (and I try to take it easy such days, following my head's advice). Shocking every time!

... wearing a neon jacket/vest and bibs makes you look more serious in the eyes of other cyclists/commuters. Impossible to just cruise along then.

... most cycle-idiots don't wear helmets, not to speak of neon or bibs.

... I hate wind - but it doesn't help.

... in a Norwegian winter cycling is much safer than walking. Also without studded tyres - although I wouldn't want to try that anymore now.

... in mentioned winters it's safest to choose the steepest road to get down - it will be perfectly cleaned and sanded. Much riskier to choose flatter ways.

... my hands need their annual "oiling" on a nice spring day

... I don't have any decent jackets/coats and shoes anymore and get panicky everytime I need some :eek:

thebouldwhacker

Seeing as its friday I thought I'd wake this up...

• Never train hard for an event and then do it with people who haven't
• Buying a good pair of cycling shoes is essential, they will improve your cycling: however all the other gear you buy while your in the shop, will not....
• Bumble Bee's hitting you at 50kmph hurt more than you'd expect

Jawgap

What I learned this morning -

Cycling along a damp road at speed makes a great "swishing" sound until you feel the crack of your arse get wet from the spray.......

Lumen

You need wheelbrows.

Jawgap

Wouldn't want to spoil the look of the bike!!!

Lumen

Jawgap wrote: »

Wouldn't want to spoil the look of the bike!!!

What about the look of your arse?

Jawgap

Lumen wrote: »

What about the look of your arse?

black shorts - it'll be fine:)

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

What about the look of your arse?

Especially if wearing Boards shorts (shudder)

witty username

I know that a grass strip up the middle of the road is a fairly good indicator of mind-bendingly steep gradients somewhere ahead...

thebouldwhacker

witty username wrote: »

grass strip up the middle of the road

The dual carrage way of rural Ireland:)

Bunnyhopper

I'm curious about how the makeyourownjeans.com stuff worked out (quality, price, customs charges, delivery times, etc.).

Also, I have learnt that:
tyre pressure matters more than I realized;
if you're going over about 50km then you really should be going chamois-and-commando too;
and actually, yes, bolts can be too tight.

And if your significant other ever says "You love that bike more than you love me" your response must be immediate, because the consequences of just appearing to think about it - even for a split second - will be bad.

Quigs Snr

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

The dual carrage way of rural Ireland:)

Indeed, anyone who has done the Ballinrobe 2 day will be familiar with the finish circuit on the final stage and what was introduced to me as the "Mayo Dual Cabbageway". It didn't take me long to figure out what they were referring to..

thebouldwhacker

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

And if your significant other ever says "You love that bike more than you love me" your response must be immediate, because the consequences of just appearing to think about it - even for a split second - will be bad.

This situation can be avoided by regular statements such as 'you know I love you more than carbon' or 'these shoes pale compaired to your beauty' or 'yes I went on a 4 hour spin, I thought of you from start to finish' or 'ther only thing that got me through that 5 hour cycle was the thought of you waiting at home' etc etc.


The regular insertion of such sentences will soften the blow of truthful bombshell slip ups when drunk