Cycling for Noobs

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GordonG May 2020 7:20am, 19 May 2020 8,154 posts	GordonG While we're talking about the otherwise excellent fetch cycling tops, my only suggestion would be to make the zip pocket a bit bigger. It's fine for keys but you can't get a mobile phone in there. Although if the pocket was made bigger it may need to be moved to the middle to keep everything balanced
JustCommando! May 2020 9:27am, 19 May 2020 3,778 posts	JustCommando! Fetch top - same thing, tight armholes. It made a few appearances on tri club zwift/zoom sessions but it's got a bit warm for that now. To whomsoever was asking about tops slipping - you can buy the rubber stuff in bottles and dot it on - it's designed for crafters to put on the bottom of slipper socks and is called sock stop.
EvilPixie May 2020 9:33am, 19 May 2020 17,500 posts	EvilPixie JC I have some sock stop as I do knit socks but never used it! Good shout
LindsD May 2020 9:36am, 19 May 2020 36,665 posts	LindsD Great tip!
1step2far May 2020 11:51am, 19 May 2020 5,287 posts	1step2far Brilliant tip!
Gooner May 2020 3:16pm, 19 May 2020 15,596 posts	Gooner Got a quick question whilst we have the attention of people who actually know something about bikes other than that they have wheels and move when you pedal. I am looking to get a new bike to make my cycle commute a bit easier and I did a fair bit of research and decided on this - leisurelakesbikes.com The problem is that it is out of bloody stock everywhere apart from in XSmall and nobody seems to know if they will get any more and the manufacturer haven't replied to me so now I have found some alternatives and was wondering if anybody could have a quick nose and see if any are suitable for a 7 mile commute on reasonable roads for the most part with the plan being to do at least one decent ride a week of 20 miles plus. I'm not particularly likely to ever be fast but am happy to try. leisurelakesbikes.com leisurelakesbikes.com leisurelakesbikes.com
Dvorak May 2020 3:35pm, 19 May 2020 19,753 posts	Dvorak For your stated requirements, I'd say that they were all overkill by a factor of up to four. Still, if you have the money and want to buy something nice (I used to have a "really cheap bikes" thread. Though it was culled ). For that money, especially for a commute, I'd look at an e-bike.
Dvorak May 2020 3:37pm, 19 May 2020 19,754 posts	Dvorak Re-reading, my question is "what's making your commute hard in the first place"?
Gooner May 2020 3:49pm, 19 May 2020 15,601 posts	Gooner I figured by spending a little more I would have a better chance of good longevity out of it as my current 2011(?) Voodoo Marasa has definitely degraded with time and not so much wear. (Admittedly mostly due to neglect on my part). I like the idea of e-bikes but would feel like I'm kind of cheating myself out of exercise. Entirely personal though, I completely get their advantages. The commute is hard partially due to several things, through lack of fitness, some nasty hills at either end and the fact my bike regularly decides to sabotage me.
Dvorak May 2020 4:08pm, 19 May 2020 19,757 posts	Dvorak I made quite a lot of progress in fitness terms through (hired) e-biking in the latter half of last year. Unless you are assiduously non-effortful (or have illegally doctored your bike) you will still put in somewhere between a bit and a lot of effort. And they are great fun And come those hills, an e-bike will turn your frown upside-down.