Just cycled to work on my mountain bike

[Ultra Motor]

Just cycled the 13 miles into work on my mountain bike, I must be mad!

You suddenly realise how much e-bikes help you out on hills and against headwinds. I also turned up considerably more sweaty than I do on the e-bike, nice!

 

[sapper44]

Just cycled the 13 miles into work on my mountain bike, I must be mad!

You suddenly realise how much e-bikes help you out on hills and against headwinds. I also turned up considerably more sweaty than I do on the e-bike, nice!

Think lots of us will do the same or have already done so.We will soon realise why we have an E-Bike and jump back on it.

 

[jasono]

Hi Mark
That's excatly why I ride an e-bike to work. It's easy to forget the amount of effort the motor takes out of hill climbs, etc
Jason

 

[Scottyf]

I've been recording my run's to work unassisted to get some decent data behind it.
I ride with the bpm motor attached but no batteries.

The hub is very free running at the moment despite hubs motors having some drag its more the additional weight penalty it carries.

Last night I did a decent run with little traffic back from work. I'm averaging a good 13mph to 15mph unassisted doing a 10.8mile commute to work. Where I have to shower but its good excercise. as soon as i take my helmet off i'm dripping from my head with sweat! Sexy. Espcially when you work with mostly women...

Next week i'm going to do the same commute with electric assistance and see what I can get!

Can't wait to smash a few of the hills on the way to work.



However just changing from a race bike / hybrid to a mountain bike and doing the same journey would scare me. In fact anything wider than 35c tires would feel like it would take considerably more effort than my bike.


Well done to you glad you made it. Now to cycle home ;-)

 

[Ultra Motor]

I've been recording my run's to work unassisted to get some decent data behind it.
I ride with the bpm motor attached but no batteries.

The hub is very free running at the moment despite hubs motors having some drag its more the additional weight penalty it carries.

Last night I did a decent run with little traffic back from work. I'm averaging a good 13mph to 15mph unassisted doing a 10.8mile commute to work. Where I have to shower but its good excercise. as soon as i take my helmet off i'm dripping from my head with sweat! Sexy. Espcially when you work with mostly women...

Next week i'm going to do the same commute with electric assistance and see what I can get!

Can't wait to smash a few of the hills on the way to work.



However just changing from a race bike / hybrid to a mountain bike and doing the same journey would scare me. In fact anything wider than 35c tires would feel like it would take considerably more effort than my bike.


Well done to you glad you made it. Now to cycle home ;-)

Wow- sounds like you have been pushing yourself hard!!! Theres some saying about woman abeing attracted to the smell of sweaty men...you never know?! But that could be counteracted by the Lycra(!)

I did 15mph average over 13 miles today, which wasn't too bad. Trying to get my Stingray Chopper conversion finished so I can use that!

 

[Scottyf]

The only time i get over 15mph as an average is when I've not cycled for a day, No wind, dry warm evening with no traffic for shorter distances.

Normal commuting I average at about 13mph.

Girls definetly dont like the Lycra, but least the padding makes me look a bit bigger ;-) Just glad theres a shower at the new office.

Keep going unassisted and see what you can do. I like riding without electric due to the sense of achievement you get after doing it.
However the thing that gets me is the thought of having to ride unassisted is usually much worse than actually doing so.
You must be pretty fit anyway to keep about the 15mph average anyway!

 

[Ultra Motor]

The only time i get over 15mph as an average is when I've not cycled for a day, No wind, dry warm evening with no traffic for shorter distances.

Normal commuting I average at about 13mph.


Girls definetly dont like the Lycra, but least the padding makes me look a bit bigger ;-) Just glad theres a shower at the new office.

Keep going unassisted and see what you can do. I like riding without electric due to the sense of achievement you get after doing it.
However the thing that gets me is the thought of having to ride unassisted is usually much worse than actually doing so.
You must be pretty fit anyway to keep about the 15mph average anyway!

Its relatively flat here, going from Gloucester to Cheltenham. Haven't been on my mountain bike for over a year, nor seen a gym in a while- so surprised myself!

Ha, your wearing padded shorts too then!!!

I'm going to keep at it for a while, but we have no showers- so if we have an external meeting it will have to be electric and I'll probably take a Metro.

Your ride, the thought is always daunting but the experience isn't- funny that!

 

[mike killay]

I have just got back from a ride, got caught by a shower. We have a long flat track by the beach, so it's easy to pace the lycras. Most are doing about 15mph, very few any faster, most about 12 mph.
People on mountain bike tyres drone along 10-12 mph.
Today , there was quite a stiff headwind, but my e-bike easily got up to15 mph straight into it. The non- assisted were down to 8-10 mph

 

[Ultra Motor]

I have just got back from a ride, got caught by a shower. We have a long flat track by the beach, so it's easy to pace the lycras. Most are doing about 15mph, very few any faster, most about 12 mph.
People on mountain bike tyres drone along 10-12 mph.
Today , there was quite a stiff headwind, but my e-bike easily got up to15 mph straight into it. The non- assisted were down to 8-10 mph

I wish I had a beach to ride along!!! Sounds bliss (aside from the headwind!!)

 

[mike killay]

I rode to Mumbles, bought a pasty and cake in the Co-op and ate them sitting under a palm tree. Sounds idyllic.
But
The wind was getting up and had a bite in it.
Soon, the weather will turn cold. The wind and rain will come whipping in from the sea. The beach is the last place you would want to be.
Besides, when you live by the sea, you get used to it and don't really notice in the same way that a visitor would.

 

[flecc]

Besides, when you live by the sea, you get used to it and don't really notice in the same way that a visitor would.

Exactly right! I lived by the sea in my early teens and found an additional huge disadvantage when cycling or particularly motorcycling. There's only 180 degrees of routes out, half what all the inlanders enjoy, and believe me, that can become very boring and frustrating, especially when all are clogged with holiday traffic.

 

[mike killay]

Agreed, Swansea is worse because we have the Gower Penisula to the West so quite a bit less than 180 degrees.
Strangely though, visiting other people's sea sides, I feel just as entranced as any other visitor.

 

[sapper44]

I rode to Mumbles, bought a pasty and cake in the Co-op and ate them sitting under a palm tree. Sounds idyllic.
But
The wind was getting up and had a bite in it.
Soon, the weather will turn cold. The wind and rain will come whipping in from the sea. The beach is the last place you would want to be.
Besides, when you live by the sea, you get used to it and don't really notice in the same way that a visitor would.

I'm a regular down that way.Nice run from Treboeth.Try a coffee at the cafe by Bracelet Bay.Sit and watch the waves break over the rocks by the Coastguard station.

 

[Tara]

Agreed, Swansea is worse because we have the Gower Penisula to the West so quite a bit less than 180 degrees.
Strangely though, visiting other people's sea sides, I feel just as entranced as any other visitor.

I never thought of that, but you're right
I live on top of a cliff with two separate beach coves behind my house, and I do take it for granted, but like you, I make more of the sea elsewhere (mind you our beach is shingly and a 'pepper sand' beach is far superior)

 

[Tara]

Girls definetly dont like the Lycra, but least the padding makes me look a bit bigger ;-)

Oh nooooo, too much info (budgie smugglers)

 

[Scimitar]

Oh nooooo, too much info (budgie smugglers)

I must admit, I was surprised by the number of W-Ws amongst the women I bumped into when I wore tight-ish shorts

 

[flecc]

Oh nooooo, too much info (budgie smugglers)

I find this cultural change frankly weird. After around a century of male swimming trunks of various kinds causing no offence, suddenly since hip-hop baggy shorts appeared in the mid 1980's, trunks or short male shorts have become an object of ridicule. I view this as nothing other than bigotry and sexism, since women often wear shorts so short that their cheeks are showing, sometimes even wearing thongs on the beach.

 

[Tara]

I must admit, I was surprised by the number of W-Ws amongst the women I bumped into when I wore tight-ish shorts

I'm almost too scared to ask.....
Does 'W-W' stand for wolf whistles?
(I couldn't do one if I tried, but I do have a old style horn to honk at such special moments)


Tara

 

[funkylyn]

OK....as a female can i just say....lycra doesnt generally do it at least not for me, padding doesnt usually fool us and whilst I have no objections to the occasional sweaty man its not usually after he has cycled to work LOL

Lynda.....currently getting quite sweaty herself on my 2 week cycling holidays !

 

[Cyclezee]

I find this cultural change frankly weird. After around a century of male swimming trunks of various kinds causing no offence, suddenly since hip-hop baggy shorts appeared in the mid 1980's, trunks or short male shorts have become an object of ridicule. I view this as nothing other than bigotry and sexism, since women often wear shorts so short that their cheeks are showing, sometimes even wearing thongs on the beach.

Please don't take this as an ageist remark Tony, it's good to know you are aware of fashion trends when it comes to beach wear.
I have little interest in what the male population wear on the beach or elsewhere for that matter, I do have greater interest what women wear and make no apology for that. Personally, I dress for comfort and the weather conditions. OK, I know I rode round London naked and it was a fashion disaster..........really should have left the helmet off! But some people really should have a good look in the mirror before leaving home.
Thongs, skimpy shorts and cropped tops look great on the right body, but if you are a 20 stone man with a beer gut, please please please just don't do it even if you do feel the urge!