My Salsa Warbird after Trans Iowa …

I got a big DHB one you could borrow but its in Newcastle

OP – I think the answer depends on your definition of commuter. Those who do it week in, week out – good weather and bad – will generally be quite level-headed. When the sun comes out you get those who know how to behave themselves and those who don’t both joining in. Some people get carried away; probably those who don’t get out often enough!

Agreed … I think I am getting probably a skewed cross section of commuters due to good weather increasing number of people digging the bikes out the shed.

of all the posts so far this one confuses me the most….

I don’t usually ride to work .. much prefer to come home fresh and go riding but in the last week the sun has been out and I wasn’t having to train for any big event so thought I would potter in to work the 6 miles or so
6 miles…. really?

so say you did have a big event coming up (wedding, concert, house move?) do you think that an added 12 miles would ruin your training?

hang your head in shame, you imposter….

Ha .. I suppose I could count the extra 12 miles as training but I would rather use the energy on something more structured when I got home … by big event I mean a cycling event .. usually quite long too.

I never started the thread to prompt debate on motorist and cyclist interaction I just wanted to see if people encountered commuters taking unnecessary risk trying to beat you in an imaginary race in their heads.

Though when I drive to work I never come across drivers weaving in and out of traffic, using the hard shoulder to overtake and jumping red lights
you should try riding into the centre of manchester from the south then.
all of those are regular daily occurances.

I lived in Didsbury for a little under a year and I made sure if I was on a bike I was heading out of the city not in to it.

Though when I drive[cycle] to work I never[daily] come across drivers weaving in and out of traffic [to get a couple of cars ahead at the lights], using the hard shoulder[left turn lane] to overtake and jumping red lights [, often as many as 3 cars going past on red , and speeding]

I definitely don’t want to live there :)

Number of people killed in road accidents in 2012: 1901
Number of people killed by cyclists in 2012: 2*

*higher than the average yearly total

I’m more worried about these guys killing themselves than other people .. get to work 20 seconds later and don’t win the imaginary race or get flattened by a car you didn’t see as you tried to get across a road junction quicker ? You would think it would a no brainer.

We all accept the idiocy imparted on us by cars, buses and taxis but by other cyclists is an eye opener.

idiots drive cars
idiots ride bikes
idiots exist, your mode of transport does not alter that fact

Though when I drive to work I never come across drivers weaving in and out of traffic, using the hard shoulder to overtake and jumping red lights :)

I always use ” Can I pass when its safe ? “

Everyone is racing and its always better to let the person you are trying to pass dictate where and when is appropriate.

Seems my decision to come home early meant I missed the best bits after Ullapool.

Agree with Jame’s comment about getting yourself off course .. though I did get to ride most of the great glen way but also at end of the day had to ride 50 miles of the A82 from Fort William to Tyndrum .. most unpleasant :(

The little I rode was thoroughly inspiring .. great trails .. saw some amazing views and met some cool people along the trail .. everyone meet the guy with the BOB trailer pushing up Devils Staircase at the start ?? .. legend … he was eventually making his way home to Sweden via Norway :)

Huge respect to anyone getting round this course… even more so to those who went flat out from the start and gave it all.

The sharp end of the race looked to be very sharp.

What little I rode of the race route was amazing riding and the guys I met out there were great people.

Hope this event continues next year and more people like Alan Goldsmith put up more routes to challenge us all.

No stove ? Stove might be a luxury but a hot drink is a motivator at times.

I have been uncharacteristically ready and packed for a week ..

Suffering same issue .. registered … got initial email then nothing regarding my activation .. tried just in case and doesn’t work.

Renault Kangoo Trekka … 1.5 dci motor would be preferable for economy.

As Aidan says its $200 each way :(

I don’t pre book and take my chances at the airport .. BA will accept bike as checked luggage so I always make sure my first leg flight I check in with BA but on return from US I expect to get charged.

Rental bikes in Moab are top notch though.

No excuse now not to come do a 300km Audax with me when I get back from Trans Iowa :)

Great looking bike !!

Yeah have to say same as andrewh .. webasto night heater fitted in Transporter so I am weather proof :)

andrewh, planning on overnighting this year ???

JohnClimber , planning to just head over later Saturday afternoon and have a little drive around see if anybody else has parked up …. there is a good looking spot at end of forest road they get everyone to park on.

Will make sure I have coffee and cafetiere for anyone camping near :)

Anybody planning to park up in Whinlatter on Saturday night and camp ?? Noticed a few good pull ins on the Whinlatter pass :)

Anybody planning to park up in Whinlatter on Saturday night and camp ?? Noticed a few good pull ins on the Whinlatter pass :)

http://www.alpkit.com/daring-deeds/welsh-ride-thing

Great event !!

I think the benefit of Kickstarter is that the money is initially pledged and not taken until the target budget is reached so worst case you don’t get to your target then what do you do ???

Better for all as no money is taken initially.

Its not really a question of whether someone is legitimate as Kickstarter can still be abused more just making life easier for all .. plus as previously stated allows people to offer up more money .. ‘Donate £7500 and get the trail named after you’ :)

shoestring-racing.blogspot.com

Thanks for that ..

I have just had a map board made in carbon fibre for Trans Iowa .. an offer was made to make it for me and I couldn’t resist :)

Yeah I have been caught out int he past playing follow the leader until everyone realises the guys in front weren’t paying attention to the route.

Looking forward to it … also does anyone know if any rides of required distance can be completed to complete the Super Randonneur ?? I just noticed some event pages have the symbol of the challenege and some don’t

Got my first Audax in March in Darlington .. 200km ride.

So are these rides a group start ??? Kind of like a club run but with controls etc ??

Wouldn’t mind riding round with more experienced guys to get a feel for what needs to be done .. like I would never of brought a pen !!!

I have done a car camping trip around Iceland and took my bike .. managed to only get one ride in though ..

http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/iceland-roadtrip-words-and-riding.html

http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/iceland-photo-diary.html

Kicking the year of with El and Back in January then building towards Trans Iowa in April with a little Hit the North and Tour of Flanders Sportive thrown in for good measure :)

If you have the option take a CX bike and a mountain bike and decide on the day … this year it was rock hard and mountain bikes were killing it on the descents .. year before it was a mud fest and cx bikes were the best choice.

… whatever the conditions you’ll die on a road bike :)

The TRP Parabox I used was far better then the BB5 I had previously mainly just as I never had to really spend time faffing adjusting them … they were fitted .. they worked very well.

Mini ‘v’ brakes have as much power as the disc options but less modulation, require a lot of set up and adjustment.

The bare basics are its just plain unsafe to be walking on trails meant for riding … sucks the OP gets abused for offering some advice on ‘safety’ not a lecture on rights of way.

Most ride on footpaths and I would assume that when you do you exercise the degree of caution required for the potential of slower moving walkers on the trail as you have made the assumption that there will be walkers on the paths … when I ride dedicated mountain bike trails I am no way expecting people to be walking on them.

Again I don’t think the issue is rights of way just safety … what if it was a mountain biker riding the wrong way round a way marked trail .. he would get offered the same ‘safety’ advice.

That sucks ..

That Salsa is very rare .. limited edition… will not be easy to pass on.

Buzzard, just get some long days in the saddle, having completed Transportugal this will not be an issue for you :)

Ridden it twice ..

First time entered long distance and race was stopped due to extreme weather conditions .. blizzarding snow.

Second time did the 120km ish distance

One of the best organised events I have ever attended… altitude is not an issue the ability to sit in and climb for an hour or so at a time is :)

Plenty of feed stations and alot of locals out on the course to give support … great section along cliff through tunnels … not very technical but interesting enough.

Pretty sure they have crazy restrictions on bringing any foreign matter ( soil) into the country so bin your tyres and make sure bike is super clean

These are incredible value for money.

If you decide you want a large drop me an email as I bought one as a stop gap bike thinking my new bike was weeks away then it turned up .. bike has not been off road and will be a good price :)

This one …

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001HZE7VU/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/275-3662166-9344329?creative=22218&creativeASIN=B001HZE7VU&linkCode=asn&ref_=asc_df_B001HZE7VU10515007&smid=A37EAWMTY48SBW&tag=googlecouk06-21

Sad reality is most times people go to a local bike shop is that they can’t wait for an online delivery and want something now even if it means that they pay a little extra… but when basic parts aren’t stocked then online wins every time.

I think the same courtesy needs to be extended to all trail users … lights are insanely bright these days.

Interesting point of view Aidan :)

If you want a low tech hardtail thats what you’ll buy…. if you want a jump bike you will buy a jump bike … the Transition klunker isn’t made for practicality its a ‘ruled with the heart’ purchase…

More than one person has professed a desire to own one … these will be absolute impulse buys and no doubt number of buyers will outstrip the amount Surf Sales bring to the UK.

They aren’t trying to imitate anything they are what they are and most people would spend more on a pair of forks than this whole bike costs.