3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[patsylabrador]

Firstly, I love my new bike, it's light, does what I ask it to and has a comfy saddle.

A year or so ago I cycled the Monsal Trail and to be honest, I crashed and burned. Since then through cowardice& procrastination I hadn't cycled since. Recently though OH bought new bikes and I've got ' back on my bike'. I'd lost all confidence, I don't know why, so we"ve treated it as though I'm a biking newbie.

Today, I cycled 12 miles and really enjoyed it. I've got used to my new bike and managed to cycle round with minimal wobbles and only one sliding panic moment.

We drove to Milton Keynes and cycled a route which goes round a lake, along a river and round another lake. Happily, there was a pub on both lakes. We felt we should visit both.

On Thursday, we cycled round Windsor Great Park which is beautiful and quiet but quite hilly which is something I definitely need to master. My fitness and technique are rubbish on hills, although I have mastered the descent!

While we were there I stopped to check my route and a lady on a horse went by. Her horse became very skittish and she had to persuade it past us. Further round we had to go past them but were unsure in case we worried the horse. The lady told us no, it was fine, her horse was ok if bikes were moving, it just didn't like it if they were still, not doing what they should!

It was lovely there, we had coffee at the village post office, next to the pond, opposite the cricket ground. Hardly any traffic, no paint on the road, it was like being transported back to the 1950s.

Glad I'm back on my bike and I am going to do the Monsal Trail again and enjoy it properly.

[Willow]

Sounds fun, I like my bike for short local trips but it won't go into 1st gear any more and struggles to get into 2nd so I'm mostly stuck in 3rd (there's a whole set of minor gears on other handle bar that make subtle differences so I tend to ignore them). I live up a hill so I'm fine getting places, not so easy to get home must get it looked at.

[WarrensWorld]

I love my bike. If it didn't rain so much I'd use it more often.

 

[Chicken shack]

I love my bike. Where we live now we are able to cycle down small lanes and tracks and through forests. I am not to good up hill, however on the flat I can go for miles.

[Space Chick]

I love cycling

 

Only just started.... I was an "inspire a generation" convert from the Olympics.... I dont think they expected to inspire my generation, but there you go!

 

I live on a HUGE hill, so we have to drive down the hill to start cycling at the moment

 

Am trying to work on smaller hills and build up

 

I have done my first cycle commute to work too (7 miles each way).

 

I've also become a big fan of watching track cycling.... In fact this weekend I missed the National Poultry Championships and went to the Cycling World Cup in Glasgow instead..... It was AMAZING!!!

[Daphne]

Its lovely to hear more people are taking it up. I too live on a massive hill and in a hilly area I have to say its a major deterrant, but OH has shown me a circuit which isn't too bad. Its just 11 miles so my task is to improve my time. If I'm feeling feeble I just put the bike in the car and drive out to somewhere flatter and join OH who has cycled out for a toodle about. I can thoroughly recommend cycling as a way of spending time with your friends/family as well as getting fitter and fresher. I love the feeling when you come home, tired, and slip into the bath and your dinner of choice (not literally ) and then sleep a good sleep

 

I watched the track champs on TV - wasn't it great to see some of the youngsters coming through, although a major highlight for me was off the bike; seeing Sir Chris! (Do we have a swoon smiley roll: )

[Space Chick]

Daphne, we were sat next to the BBC booth, which was open.... So in effect I was virtually sitting next to Sir Chris.... A wonderful man... He unplugged his earpiece so he could stand up for the national anthem when Laura Trott won the Omnium gold, much to the BBC staffs disgust... What a man!

 

Jonathan Edwards on the other hand was a right miserable so and so

 

Give me 10 mins and I'll post my pic of the very lovely Mr Hoy

[Space Chick]

Here he is

 

 

That's how close I was to him

 

The youngsters were amazing.... Bothe Elinor barker and Becky James have come through the Newport Velodrome in South Wales.... Makes me very proud

[Ms Marple]

I cycle to work when it is lighter. SInce I came off on a slippery, wet cycle path at 6.30am just before clocks went back OH has asked me to stop. I have as I do a 22 mile journey and it is very hilly and the cars are not cycle friendly when there are no cycle lanes. I do love it. Always feel invigorated when I arrive at work. I have a great road bike but I still feel edgy when it is very wet. It doesn't matter what your age is- age is not the barrier (I'm 52) the car drivers are the problem along with cyclists who wind them up by jumping lights etc. I will not be back on the two wheels again until Spring. On a sunny day it's a difficult choice between my Z4 with the roof down or the bike. Usually the bike wins!!! If I travel during the peak period the bike is quicker- in spite of the hills.

[redhotchick]

I went on a bike for the first time in years this weekend, I hired one, I think it was a mountain bike. I have had a look at some bikes online and am very confused! I have an old racer buried in the garage, the categories of bike I have seen on the Internet today are Road, Fixie, Mountain, Classic and Hybrid. I'd like something with gears that are easy to use and tyres that are robust.

I'm put off cycling by the idea of punctures! What do you do if you get a puncture miles from home?

I'd most likely be driving to a spot and then cycling on flattish trails. Any recommendations as to what bike might be suitable for me?

Great timing for me that you raised this topic now, although my purchase would be months away yet.

[Geoid]

Road - has thin tyres and dropped handlebars.

Mountain - has thick tyres, flat handlebars and a lot of gears, has some sort of suspension too.

Hybrid - a mix between a road bike and a mountain bike, has flat handlebars and some models have suspension.

Fixed gear (also called Fixie or Single Speed) - can have flat or dropped handle bars, but only have one gear, with fixed gear, you will have to pedal all the time as there is no freewheel. But with single speed there is freewheel.

 

Improvements with tyres and inner-tubes makes it unlikely to get a punture, my current bike has never had a puncture (yet), but I did have to change the tyres as I had worn them out!

 

If you get a puncture miles away from home, take off the wheel (most bikes now have quick release wheels, so no tools required) take the tyre off with the tyre levers in your toolkit and replace the inner tube with your spare one. Put the tyre back on, put the wheel back on, pump up the tyre (with the small pump from your toolkit) and off you go!

[Space Chick]

We bought hybrids, and in fairness they are perfect

 

I personally dont like drop handlebars, but mountain bikes are too heavy.

 

The hybrid I have has 21 gears and is really easy to use.

 

Like Fred says, carry an emergency kit.

 

I have a mini pump on my frame, then I have a saddle bag which has my spare inner tube, a tool kit and my lights in it

[patsylabrador]

This is my new bike. It's pretty smart and nice to ride. It's a hybrid which is ideal as I will mostly use it on trails like unused railways etc. The roads here are just to busy for wobbly riders like me and a lot of drivers learned their skills other than by the Highway Code. It's not worth the risk.

I envy people who live in Milton Keynes, they can just leave their homes straight onto a safe, flat network. I was surprised that more people weren't out cycling to be honest.

Getting the hang of the gears - the ones on the left do something, the ones on the right do something else. When combined they do another thing altogether.

The saddle is nice and wide enough to fit those all important 'sit points'.

I haven't found anything to fault it so far.

 

picture of bike

[Daphne]

Lucky Lucky you Spacechick I am typing this from my prone position on the floor Isn't he just the perfect gentleman, he is so unfailingly polite and generous about everybody, I bet lots of people will miss his sportsmanship when he finally retires, I just hope he gets through to the Commonwealths fit and healthy and fast enough

 

Laura Trott is a real breath of fresh air as well as being mega talented, and Elinor Barker is so young; she has a great future in front of her. I think Becky James is a bit like VP, she needs to believe in herself but I think she has the potential to grow into a real Olympic champion. My OH was just saying yesterday that we now have 3 world class facilities in the UK, I have to admit I wasn't aware of the track in Newport. If I was younger I'd quite like to have a go on one, but now the thought of a heavy fall is a bit offputting.

 

RHC - I'd take yourself to a bike shop and have a go on different types, and maybe go to a local track/trail where they have hire bikes or best of all can you borrow one? Mind you, a good bike with the right set-up is a revelation, many bikes are the wrong size/heavy/clunky and it can really put you off. Try to get advice from a shop with a good cycling expert about what would be best for you. I grew up with a roadbike (drop handlebars) and I love mine, but the position isn't for everyone (it takes a bit of getting used to) and then I'm not keen on mountain biking. You can also buy touring roadbikes, which are built for comfort not racing. I reckon for a first timer then a hybrid is a good way to go as they give you the choice of a comfy ride on most sorts of terrain to see what suits you best. You definitely do not want a fixed wheel as your first bike - it is far too much like hard work In fact if I tour with my OH, he takes his fixed wheel as it evens our abilities out.

 

Way to go Ms Marple!

[Daphne]

Lucky Lucky you Spacechick I am typing this from my prone position on the floor Isn't he just the perfect gentleman, he is so unfailingly polite and generous about everybody, I bet lots of people will miss his sportsmanship when he finally retires, I just hope he gets through to the Commonwealths fit and healthy and fast enough

 

Laura Trott is a real breath of fresh air as well as being mega talented, and Elinor Barker is so young; she has a great future in front of her. I think Becky James is a bit like VP, she needs to believe in herself but I think she has the potential to grow into a real Olympic champion. My OH was just saying yesterday that we now have 3 world class facilities in the UK, I have to admit I wasn't aware of the track in Newport. If I was younger I'd quite like to have a go on one, but now the thought of a heavy fall is a bit offputting.

 

RHC - I'd take yourself to a bike shop and have a go on different types, and maybe go to a local track/trail where they have hire bikes or best of all can you borrow one? Mind you, a good bike with the right set-up is a revelation, many bikes are the wrong size/heavy/clunky and it can really put you off. Try to get advice from a shop with a good cycling expert about what would be best for you. I grew up with a roadbike (drop handlebars) and I love mine, but the position isn't for everyone (it takes a bit of getting used to) and then I'm not keen on mountain biking. You can also buy touring roadbikes, which are built for comfort not racing. I reckon for a first timer then a hybrid is a good way to go as they give you the choice of a comfy ride on most sorts of terrain to see what suits you best. You definitely do not want a fixed wheel as your first bike - it is far too much like hard work In fact if I tour with my OH, he takes his fixed wheel as it evens our abilities out.

 

Way to go Ms Marple!

[Space Chick]

I agree that Becky James is the perfect replacement for Victoria pendleton, and her and Jess Varnish seem to have a real rapport already

 

Another one to look out for from the the Newport programme is Lewis Oliva, I reckon he will have a bright future. he was representing a Welsh Trade team in Glasgow, although had to retire from the Omnium after a very nasty collision on the track where he was stretchered off. He's tweeted me and he is OK, a few bruises and friction burns but nothing major.

 

Laura Trott is a legend already and such a young girl still. We were chatting to her Dad this weekend, he's a right character, very witty and funny, yet totally devoted to his daughter.

 

There is an outdoor Velodrome in Cardiff where you can take your own bikes, we are tempted to try it, and then try the Newport Velodrome. They do beginner taster sessions.

[Daphne]

Let us know how you get on if you do give it a whirl, I've only seen an outdoor not very banked track in the flesh but the height of those banks on TV scares me I'd be stuck to the inside on that nice blue flat bit where you're not supposed to go

 

I saw that young lad stretchered off - minus a large part of his skin - it looked awful, its good to hear he is feeling OK. Aha, so Laura gets her sunny outlook from Dad, its really nice to hear, she seems so unaffected