Education We Like to Ride Bicycles

The most recent post on there was on 27 April, so almost a month ago, and before that conversation the most recent post was 30 March

 

Maybe people are busy riding their bicycles?

 

Last year was full of all of the modding and painting and bike chat. It was glorious.

 

Valit Tec has left a hole, for sure.

 

Yea, not been online since October 2024 either, anyone know if hes all good?

 

Had a bit of a run-in with the boss and rage quit, is the short answer. I feel for the guy though, didn't really do anything wrong, just couldn't reconcile.

 

Ah, thats a shame.

 

Sounds about right for him. Even when I was a regular here over a decade ago he was belligerent.

 

He’s fine and we usually chat at least once a week on Discord. He plays PUBG on and off and usually joins the weekly LAN night I go to on Discord audio.

A couple of the LAN guys visited him a couple of weeks ago to collect PC he was selling and to have lunch.

We also have a WhatsApp group, which he’ll drop into and comment or send a funny photo.

He doesn’t always come across his best online and is less prickly in person. He has serious mental health conditions and describes his daily selection of meds he takes as an advent calendar.

If the meds aren’t working, he can be abrasive or withdrawn, so some days he may not be around or will not game as it doesn’t suit his mood.

He realised that having online discussions wasn’t that healthy as his mental conditions meant that he couldn’t let it go and felt he had to fight his corner come what may.

Meeting the LAN guys has helped him overall, which is thanks to B-T and me going to buy a monitor from him.

We also catch up at least once a year as he holidays around Milford on Sea, so will come to LAN night that week and meet for a meal.

 

@Arboreal, next time you see VT online, wish him well from me please mate, I know what it's like to have mental health problems that can seriously affect mood and interacting with others.

 

Personally, I always thought he just said it how he saw it, which is something more people should do without fear of recrimination. There is a dangerous element of "this is MY website" that has become more prevalent around here in the last few years from certain people.

Glad to hear he's okay though.

 

Picked up a puncture on my Kommoda. I took this as an opportunity to upgrade the tyre to a Moto-X, it has made a huge difference to the whole bike. Much smoother ride and no noise, second tyre on order for the front

 

I'm considering purchasing a bicycle, as Mrs A thinks that cycling would be something good to do together.
OK, this is clearly the wrong thread to be saying it..
I'll admit I don't enjoy cycling...

I think that the right bike would help and am open to advice here.

My last 3 bikes have been free hand me downs and a £60 pot luck buy at a garage sale!

I think I need to get something that fits me properly as the last 2 have been uncomfortable and inefficient to ride.

SWMBO has a fairly light hybrid she used to go to work on which seems good.

All I want is to have a comfortable riding position, some gears for up and down hill on roads, no dro bars and it not be too heavy.

No idea on budget, but not a lot to spend TBH.

Some guidance would be appreciated of you can navigate that lot!

 

I'm not well up on bikes anymore, my knowledge is now well out of date but, I would suggest, if you are buying new, that you look for last year's models being sold with a good discount.

 

Thanks Mr_M, that's sound advice.
I'll keep that in mind

 

@Arboreal Where will you ride? What terrain? What distances? How tall are you?

 

All good questions!

I'm 5ft 8, 30" leg.

I imagine that we will be riding on roads mainly and the promenade when allowed, not envisaging any mad hills or fast stuff. It'd be social cycling with my wife locally or on roads in the New Forest for example.

 

There are a lot of bikes out there which will do, so don't take this as me saying "get this one" but I work in a Giant brand store.

It sounds to me like you need a medium Giant Escape (rigid hybrid) if you're doing g more road than off road, but were you wanting to mix in a gravel tow path / bridleways if suggest a Giant Roam (front suspension).

Spend a little bit more money and get hydraulic brakes, outside of that spec levels won't make a difference on what your doing.

 

Thanks Cookie, that sounds good broad advice.
I'll start looking locally, I think we have a couple of decent bike shops locally.

 

Where do you live, I may know someone.