Mumsnet Peleton?

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Thought I'd start a thread for the cyclists here. Lycra or casual; road-bike or vintage steel with a huge basket... Whether you're a commuter, riding for weight loss/health benefits, or into racing or distance challenges, would be interesting to hear about your bike(s) and your rides.

My bikes are a Cannondale CX, a Pashley Poppy, a 1970 Raleigh Twenty which I should be doing up over the summer and I have a currently slightly dead handbuilt Raleigh Endeavour from the 1990s which I want to get fettled but am too broke to fix... Love to hear about everyone else's bikes/objects of desire!

I've only just got back on my bike after months not riding, so am going out every other day. My usual ride is about 13 miles. Hopefully, 20 this weekend. I'm the most unfit I've ever been which is my main motivation for getting back out there but will need to maintain my motivation somehow too!

Anyone else for the peleton? What bike(s) do you have and where do you go/what do you do? Any tips to share? Why do you cycle? When did you start? Let's talk cycling!

[Chopstheduck]

ooh fabbo! I'm in.

I've always cycled tons, from as soon as I could walk. Recently got back into road biking again, and completed the cycle leg of a triathlon. Hoping now to increase distance, do a full triathlon next year and some cycle events too. I've been covering about 100 miles a week, anything from a 7 mile commute to the gym, to 25 miles on the road bike.

I have a dawes kalahari, which I have modified a bit. That is my everyday bike for getting places, and for long rides where I need to carry stuff.

I also have my road bike - a Carrera Virtuoso, and a mountain bike - Decathlon Rockrider. I haven't been mountain biking as much as I would like to this year though.

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm a recent returner to cycling - from 0-18 I cycled everywhere as did my mum, and then cycled 22-25 commuting. At 38 I trashed my l arm (the week after ds had really got the hang of cycling) and for a long time I thought that cycling would never happen again.

DH bought me an Ariel Elite for my 40th, and with the help of several splints I've been cycling properly since the beginning of the year. Did a sprint tri a few weeks ago with a good cycle time, and plan on doing some more. Have also been doing a few charity cycle events with ds(8) around the 20 mile mark, and he wants to go further.
We do a family cycle at the weekend of 16 miles or so, and I do a couple of 20 miles in the week.

Just thinking about getting a roadbike - took DHs out at the weekend, and it was fab, but harder to balance with the one hand thing.

DH started cycling at the beginning of the year, and is doing 100 miles a week on his Felt F45. He's fast for a fat bloke!

[CMOTDibbler]

Oh, and ds has a Islabike Luath 24. He's very proud to have cleats after campaigning for some time on the subject.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Ah some great bikes! My kids(ages between 12-24) have various bikes. The oldest has a Ridgeback hybrid, No 2 has a vintage Raleigh Richmond (he's six foot 3 with very long legs!), No 3 has a Cannondale CX, No 4 a Ridgeback MX we got secondhand and No 5 a new Ridgeback MX. (After he'd had a series of secondhand bikes that were supposedly 'serviced' but never really worked...) I've just realised that's a lot of Ridgebacks and it wasn't a conscious thing - No 1 bought his own bike, No 4 was lucky enough to get his from Bike Rescue in York and No 5 got his after I had a little windfall and read all the kids' bikes reviews!

[Likeaninjanow]

I'd like to join! I have an ancient trek for mountain biking, and bought my first road bike last year. It's a Specialized Dolce.

Cmot - I'm totally impressed that you can ride a road bike with one hand. They are so wobbly compared to other bikes!!

I did a 76mile event in June & loved it!

[Suzannewithaplan]

I started cycling as a kid, my only mode of transport for much of my life, currently I cycle to get from a to b (mostly to the gym and back) and sometimes just for exercise.
I average about 50 miles a week, have a cheapie mountain bike and a specialized road bike.

[Suzannewithaplan]

I wish I had space for more bikes, I live in a small flat and tbh 2 bikes is pushing it :(

[Suzannewithaplan]

and on the subject of mountain bikes, I'm thinking of getting a better one and not sure whether to get full suspension or hard tail, anyone used both and which did you prefer?

[Chopstheduck]

Suzanne - def hardtail! Have tried full suspension and so much effort just gets absorbed by the suspension and you don't go anywhere!

[Suzannewithaplan]

thanks Chops :o
I was leaning towards the hardtail but I didn't realise it made quite that much difference!