Keen cycle nuts in Sydenham ?

[G-Man]

In response to G-Man, 14kgs sounds a little heavy. I'm by no means a club level cyclist, but from what I understand, one's own weight has more of an impact than the bike weight, so if you can stay away from the office biscuits..........

Ha - the biscuits is a tough one for me, but I'm rationed. Thanks for this. I went into a shop selling Trek bikes yesterday and have also looked at some Specialised and it actually looks like the average weight of a Hybrid is around 14kg, if you're spending about £400, which is what I've been advised. Thing is they are what I term ugly, Globe is probably whatI'll be going for, who are Specialised cool brother . Any thoughts?

G-Man

[paultreacy]

I wear a grotty yellow workers day glo thing from a gardening gig years ago and a blue cycle helmet and can be seen on an old grey mountain bike with road tires and a yellow bag slung over my shoulder at any time of day most likely on the high street going a little too fast. I gave up on cars years ago but would consider an all electric vehicle at some point. (That's a long sentence.)

No engine either but considering hybridising it with a small electric motor for hills while dressed for work and not wanting to get too moist. Has anyone done this? Might have to pick your brains when the time comes. Maybe over the summer.

[stuart]

You may be pleased to know that lethal ride from Lewisham around the Catford gyratory onto the Sydenham bound south circ may soon be a thing of the past. They will be trialling sharing the bus lane that gives a shorter protected route ... more here:
http://www.cyclechat.net/topic/78822-ca ... clist-use/

Stuart

[cyclesteve]

That looks a good deal Stuart, I've been round that a few times and it can be pretty dodgy at the best of times. Lewisham roundabout can be interesting also, especially during the rush hour.

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[cyclesteve]

In response to G-Man, 14kgs sounds a little heavy. I'm by no means a club level cyclist, but from what I understand, one's own weight has more of an impact than the bike weight, so if you can stay away from the office biscuits..........

Ha - the biscuits is a tough one for me, but I'm rationed. Thanks for this. I went into a shop selling Trek bikes yesterday and have also looked at some Specialised and it actually looks like the average weight of a Hybrid is around 14kg, if you're spending about £400, which is what I've been advised. Thing is they are what I term ugly, Globe is probably whatI'll be going for, who are Specialised cool brother . Any thoughts?

G-Man

Good deals on 2010 Specialized road bikes in Evans at the mo ....

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[Sydenham]

I'm not cycling in Sydenham at the moment - but in Tenerife - riding in the morning, followed by doing not very much for the rest of the day. Very enjoyable with all roads being either up or down (the volcano). I have hired a road bike from www.tenerife-training.net which has proved succesful - very good service.

Looking forward to getting back to London (and Sydenham / Westwood Hill) though to see how my climbing legs have improved.

[cyclesteve]

I've got a 7.30 am start for the London to Brighton ride next Sunday, so I was wondering if anyone local who is doing the ride at the same start time fancies joining me for the trot down to Clapham Common ?

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[stuart]

Weather is looking a little dodgy for Sunday. Hope you enjoy it.

If you do you may enjoy the 'Genteel' ride next month even more. Starts midnight from Hyde Park Corner getting into Brighton for a hearty breakfast after a 3am feast half way. Ditchling too! I'm going via the 22:28 from Sydenham via Victoria.

100 riders in the dark contrasts mightily with 30,000 in the day. More here:
http://fnrttc.blogspot.com/

Stuart

[cyclesteve]

Cheers Stuart, hopefully the rain gods will be smiling at me for next Sunday

Ditchlings in the dark !! sounds fun !!

[stuart]

Ditchling is after dawn. This is the view looking back from the top last year. Really, really eerie. Its nice too clapping people as they, mostly, get to the top.

[leenewham]

Just out of interest, a new bike shop has opened in Crystal Palace which appears to have pretty good reviews. I was going to go and have a look. We don't have one in Sydenham unfortunately.

http://www.virtualnorwood.com/forum/top ... e__st__735

Has anyone here been there yet?

[stuart]

Can you spare an hour or so tonight?

We need help marshalling a British Cycling Criterium Race in Crystal Palace Park. You would need to be by the cycle circuit below the terrace @ 6.15pm. If you can help please PM me or call 020 8778 6300.

The duties are not onerous and involve wearing a sexy yellow tabard and armed with only a whistle and red flag, prevent the animals, human or otherwise, from getting
in the way of the Tour de France want-a-bes.

Stuart

[G-Man]

Had my first proper long run on my new bike yesterday, cylcled from Angel to past the Dolphin in an hour and 20, which I don't think is to bad for map stops etc.

I'm going to try the work run tomorrow to Charing Cross and am dreading the hill up Well's Park Road that the TFL map is giving me, tried it the other day and nearly died...guess it will get easier!

Is it generally flat once you hit town? I fear more hills...

G-Man

[Andwar]

I used to cycle commute daily from Sydenham to Mayfair evey day on my newly restored Roberts until my achilles decided to not play ball.

The route I found easiest was up Kirkdale then straight up to Sydenham Hill and down the other side to the Horniman. Then straight across at The Grove Tavern and then left down Court Lane. Through Dulwich Village to North Dulwich Station. Straight on to Red Post Hill and across the mini-roundabout to Sunray Avenue. Right onto Denmark Hill then into Camberwell. Left at the main lights onto Camberwell New Road and then keep going straight to Victoria.

I cut through some of the back roads now but I can do the 9 mile trip in around 40 minutes if the lights are with me.

I will never do the TFL route up and down to Crystal Palace Parade, you're having a laugh!

I would love to do a Saturday ride but everyone starts too late for me as I would like to be on the road by 6:30 to miss the traffic. It also means I can be back at home for 9am ready for the weekend.

So if anyone see's me in the future on a Aston Martin Green Roberts then please say, Hi!

[cyclesteve]

Hi guys !!
Been a while since I've posted in here so thought I'll give a heads up about the London Skyride on 4th Sept 2011, just wondering if any local folk are interested in maybe a little trot down to the big smoke to join in ?
Andwar, if you,re interested, me and a couple of buddy's do a fairly regular ride to the North Downs taking in about 30 miles or so most Saturday or Sundays. We normally start around 7 - 8 Am. If you fancy tagging along one week-end your welcome ... Drop me a line if you fancy it.

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[G-Man]

Skyride looks good, unfortunately I'm not around.

When you do the south downs rides how long does it take you? Just for when I get a bit fitter and due to longer distances.

G-Man

[cyclesteve]

It all depends on who ur with and how you feel really G, as a general rule it takes us about 40-50 mins to get out into the country roads in the north downs. taking it fairly easy, stopping off for a coffee and a bite to eat, we are normally out for roughly 4 hrs or so.
On my own I tend to speed it up quite a bit and vary the distances, average distance for one of our rides is about 30 miles ....... when ever you fancy it G, just drop us a note

That offer is open to any local riders who fancy a blast through our green and pleasant land.

[cyclesteve]

Just thought ill give ye old thread a bump to see if anymore Syddyites enjoy the noble art of pedal power ......... wishing all the cyclists of Sydenham a safe and happy year.

[paultreacy]

My sons and I messed around with our bikes as a summer holidays project. I still ride around Sydenham with my bike all coloured up with bright upvc electrical tape. It's the silliest bike around, I think but it's great for enhanced visibility and therefore, safety.

We based our project on the Scrapper Bikes movement that started in Oakland, California.

See this sweet little film, all the way through.

Scraper Bikes

Might be a great project for some of our local youngsters. I may try and work up a workshop idea for my sons' school. Hmmm.

[14BradfordRoad]

Good to see the youngsters in California having such fun Paul! Gaffer tape has so many good
uses too..

I grew up around the PeaK Hill area in the 60's (Brasted Close) and spent most of my time
with my mates building up our bikes out of bits and pieces, mainly hand painted frames with
plenty of stickers (they make you go much faster )..
We learnt so many skills from staightening buckled wheels to refurb-ing frames, etc. Got more
into cycling at Forest Hill Boys School, John Clarey (former tour de-france rider) was a sports
teacher there and gave us plenty of the right encouragement. He got me in to VCL (Velo Club Londres) based at Herne Hill Velodrome and racing at Crystal Palace too. My racing career was
short lived but have cycled on and off ever since (about 40 years now).
Still have a garage full of old cycle bits and bobs and still love to have a tinker, Cycling these
days is mainly riding to and from work. No longer live in Sydenham but relate the area to my
cycling memories..