So Im now living 3 miles away from work, and being a lazy bugger I cant be arsed to walk so I got my old bike out. Nothing special, £250 from a local bike shop.

Got a couple of niggles. First off my arse is killing! Dunno if its just the roads in Cardiff or my bike being crap but Im in pain.

Second, Im not sure I ever got to grips with bike gears. High gear for fast/downhill and low for the tough parts is fine, but the chain and gears always seem to be making a clicking noise which is very annoying. Also I only seem to use one or two of the gears (albeit the route is almost entirely flat so maybe thats right?).

Also how much of a fag would I look if I got one of those masks? I was waiting at some traffics lights yesterday behind a bus, and after 30 seconds it felt like Id smoked an entire pack of Marley Red in under an hour.

Quote from: White GiantFirst off my arse is killing! Dunno if its just the roads in Cardiff or my bike being crap but Im in pain.

Ill leave knighty to explain that one. Alan - over to you....

Quote from: White GiantSecond, Im not sure I ever got to grips with bike gears. High gear for fast/downhill and low for the tough parts is fine, but the chain and gears always seem to be making a clicking noise which is very annoying. Also I only seem to use one or two of the gears (albeit the route is almost entirely flat so maybe thats right?).

I never tend to change gear on my bike much unless it was really varied terrain.

Quote from: White GiantAlso how much of a fag would I look if I got one of those masks? I was waiting at some traffics lights yesterday behind a bus, and after 30 seconds it felt like Id smoked an entire pack of Marley Red in under an hour.

Youll look like a huge fag - but your wearing a mask so your in disguise!  

Quote from: White GiantSo Im now living 3 miles away from work, and being a lazy bugger I cant be arsed to walk so I got my old bike out. Nothing special, £250 from a local bike shop.

Got a couple of niggles. First off my arse is killing! Dunno if its just the roads in Cardiff or my bike being crap but Im in pain.

Second, Im not sure I ever got to grips with bike gears. High gear for fast/downhill and low for the tough parts is fine, but the chain and gears always seem to be making a clicking noise which is very annoying. Also I only seem to use one or two of the gears (albeit the route is almost entirely flat so maybe thats right?).

Also how much of a fag would I look if I got one of those masks? I was waiting at some traffics lights yesterday behind a bus, and after 30 seconds it felt like Id smoked an entire pack of Marley Red in under an hour.

The roads in cardiff are fine

Your arse hurts only cause its not used to the saddle, dont change it... so long as things dont go tingly down there its good. Itll go after a week or so.

Clicking noise just means you need to have a look at your gears. Follow advice given pretty much everywhere for adjusting your gears a bit of patience and a phillips screwdriver and youll be sorted.

Around cardiff I rarely used my gears at all, unless I was shattered and just couldnt be arsed to go fast.

As for looking faglike... well I dont know, its cycle chic mate. I used to just get by with a Buff pulled up over my nose.

Cool, ta for the answers.

Tip for cardiff... watch out for those bendy buses, they are f**king lethal!

Indeed, a quick pavement mount seems to solve that problem though

Oh and I just love when Im sitting at lights next to a boy racer and I accelerate away much quicker than him, haha.

Quote from: RivkidI never tend to change gear on my bike much unless it was really varied terrain.

Rivkid,

Where do you go biking in Shrewsbury? Im looking for some good roots.

Quote from: telfordboi

Quote from: RivkidI never tend to change gear on my bike much unless it was really varied terrain.

Rivkid,

Where do you go biking in Shrewsbury? Im looking for some good roots.

TBH its been ages since I took the thing out. But there are some cracking places to go round town. Haughmond Hill has a few really nice routes and some wicked off trail biking too. You could spend weeeks exploring in good weather. Surely Telford way though youve got the Wrekin to play with havent you?

Heh WG, i started riding 10 miles a day a couple weeks ago. On a peice of crap bike which i paid nothing for but had to buy new tryes and tubes. Makes lots of noise, my arse really hurts every day and its killing me. I forgot how much you feel on a bike without suspension, Im never going to moan about pain after a day on the motorbike.

Has got easier but still not at the easy fun time!

telfordboi - In Shrews I used to love the run up to Haughmond Hill, Join the old cannal from Telford Way, follow that all the way to the base of haughmond (coming from the back way) and then round the place for a few hours... all of it off the road so no bastard traffic.

Head back by leaving the carpark and turning right, head down through the villages (Upton Magna and Attingham) along the roads

Quote from: DoomsHead back by leaving the carpark and turning right, head down through the villages (Upton Magna and Attingham) along the roads

Nah Leon - surely its left at the car park then left agin down the huge hill at about 250mph!!

Thats the way I used to go but turning right is still a damn good hill ride down but as its small A roads more likey to have Gez driving dangerously in the other direction

Quote from: Rivkid

Quote from: White GiantFirst off my arse is killing! Dunno if its just the roads in Cardiff or my bike being crap but Im in pain.

Ill leave knighty to explain that one. Alan - over to you....

sssshhhhh, Ive been doing him for a few months now and he still hasnt woken up !

...I think Im onto a good thing here

Huh? Waa?

Put some of the contents of a tube of KY jelly up your rear when you go to bed and it might ease the pain.

Alternatively I have a gel seat on my bike, they do help.