push bike chains

[BrokenBiker]

when you say 8 speed, do you mean the number of sprockets on the rear wheel?

I think I will give it a fortnight of cycling around the county lanes that are right on my doorstep, a few bigish hills, some fast parts and some bumpy bits too, then will give a commute a try. I would like to cycle to work in all honesty, it would cut down the fuel bill, im using about 40 quid a week petrol at the moment, and the fitness levels would go up too

 

[CRB]

I don't think I could cope on one of those lol

A couple of starts and retraining your brain, and it becomes second nature. Do not hold the bars to start, just push against the seat.
My friend Bill, we met through Guzzis twenty years ago at least, had a KingCycle, below, then which I helped him with, and I have hankered after on ever since, just where does the money go first.
I wish I had done it sooner, a lot sooner. http://www.blids.nl/gallery/WHPVA-2010-World-Championship-Jersey

Bills' had a dustbin fairing but the wind was hitting his face so we made a small screen to sent it around his head.

My first little trek on Friday was only eight miles, but it was so easy. No butt ache, no bent wrists, not bent over to avoid the wind at Whitley Bay, easy breathing, just lie back and pedal. http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/recumbents/
Hill starts on gravel are a pain, do not ask. I even managed SPDs easily for the first time.

At the moment Chunko, it is (I am) far from a speed demon. The gearing is higher than an MTB, I think 53-39-30/ 11-34 and I have not got out of 2nd chainwheel yet. Pussy, but keeping the cadence up.

If any of you reading this are still unsure, you MUST try one, but give it a fair chance. You WILL be pleasantly surprised.

 

[clift_d]

when you say 8 speed, do you mean the number of sprockets on the rear wheel?

I think I will give it a fortnight of cycling around the county lanes that are right on my doorstep, a few bigish hills, some fast parts and some bumpy bits too, then will give a commute a try. I would like to cycle to work in all honesty, it would cut down the fuel bill, im using about 40 quid a week petrol at the moment, and the fitness levels would go up too

Yup, number of sprockets on the back cluster.

10-12 miles each way is very do-able once you've got some basic fitness, but with that kind of mileage every day and a secondhand bike don't be surprised if you find yourself replacing a fair number of the parts in the first year, on top of general wear and tear. In terms of that I generally find I end up with new tyres and brake blocks once every 9 - 12 months, new rims and chain every couple of years, wheel bearing rebuild etc every 2-3 years.

Your fitness will go up, you'll probably find you have less sick days. Oh,and your appetite will increase - don't forget to budget for extra cake! And you'll still loose weight and save yourself a tidy sum.

 

[graffian]

I have run 7,8 and 9 speed chains and cassettes mixed and they all worked. Sprocket widths are pretty much the same, but the spacing, chains and derailleur cages are different widths. If you have to buy one you might as well get the right one.
I use KMC chains, I bought some KMC X8.93 chains from evans or chain reaction[both offer free postage] and they cost about a six quid each. The KMC instructions say the link should be replaced after three uses, it's a keyhole thing, you can remove the link in seconds, I take the chain off and clean/oil it every hundred miles or so, it sounds ****e if I leave it any longer.

Chain length, put the chain around both big sprockets[derailleurs out of the way] and chop the chain so when it's joined it's two links long.

 

[chunkolini]

Recumbents are the way to go.
Mine is a nice tourer, very relaxed not especially fast but a lovely ride. I had kingcycle and hated it, it was amazingly fast but for pootling about it just did ot do it for me.
Gravelly hill starts are indeed a pain.
First ride on one you get off walking like a cowboy, it does something to your legs after the first ride it is fine.
Chain lenght I use Graffians method, big sprocket to big sprocket and add two pairs of links.
Punctures? I always fix them by the road after too many episodes of thinking 'I'll patch that later' and refitting it with the hole unfixed. that is a real bummer.

 

[Browser]

Go for it commute when you feel good and try and up up the number of days a week slowly.
my trip is nine miles but they are big miles really uppy downy stuff, but very beautiful miles.
It is a great way to put your head in a nice place for the day, get all your legal built in highs flying around your system.
Buy the right gear and cycling in the rain is even enjoyable.
CRB recumbents? that looks like a speed demon,
I prefer the more gentlemanly version. More Daimler than XR3
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Peer Gynt?


If I win the lottery (or just say 'f*** it' and blow a lot of money) I want a Windcheetah!

 

[CRB]

Get yourself to ebay now http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windcheet...1144741966?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item43c994344e Starting at £700

There is a Bacchetta 26/20 Giro too.

 

[Farside]

Pedalling? B*gger that.
Lectric foot is the only way to go...

 

[chunkolini]

Browser
Peer Gynt?
Not far off. Mine is the Dino, same frame minus the suspension.
Much better, I saw a guy on the Peer Gynt (full suspension model) hit some braking bumps in the Cotswolds at about 40mph. Bouncy bouncy bouncy SLAAM i cruised them. undamped suspension is a stupid idea.
The Peer Gynt was the Rolls Royce recumbent. BUT it had suspension, a giant lump of rubber, no damping linking the back wheel to the frame. (primitive suspension), scared me to death seeing , my mate fired into space..
The Dino? lovely bike to ride.

 

[CRB]

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Much better, I saw a guy on the Peer Gynt (full suspension model) hit some braking bumps in the Cotswolds at about 40mph. Bouncy bouncy bouncy SLAAM i cruised them. undamped suspension is a stupid idea.

I rode on a Guzzi outfit which had been modified after Derek had a similar accident due to Hedingham undamped suspension. He had a badly damaged left wrist, so he moved the rear brake onto the left handlebar and the clutch to his left foot. I got into second and back down again across a field. Do it in your head, or on the bus.