Cycling - hints, tips and routes

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Bit of advice off you cycling veterans please
I' v had 2 punctures in my rear tyre in the 4 months iv been cycling and i'm sick of changing it..plus the cost of inner tubes...just found out about flatless tyres, Halfords do one called Schwalbe marathon plus at £26, do they work? and are they worth investing in a pair?

I have Schwalbe Marathons on my hybrid and on the Brompton. They are extremely good tyres but like all tyres they are not puncture-proof. You can go months, years even, without a puncture and yer get two within days. There's no particular antidote to puncture-free riding.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Recently been told ive got high blood pressure, high cholesterol and so im being put on statins. Its kicked me up the arse so i'll be doing some cycling but to get into it I don't want to be huffing and pufing up and down hill so i'm looking for flat routes initially. The only one i've found near me is only a mile long.
Any suggestions where I might drive to with the bike thats flat and fairly scenic? I live in Bury.

We cycled Stage 13 of the Sustrans Land's End-John o' Groats which starts at the top end of Deansgate, goes through Salford and Bury, and it's only when you come off at Holcombe Brook does it come off the flat. It goes over quietish roads, dirt tracks and old railway lines, through Drinkwater Park. It's much longer than a mile or so! And then once yer get down to the other end of Deansgate there is the Bridgewater Canal to have a go at - it's six miles or so of towpath riding to the AAAAAAAAAAArgh Centre, where they don't let yer take in yer bike, not even the Brommie folded, although I was able to sweet-talk the guy and he let us lock 'em up with those kids' car things in the main mall!

Have a look at the Sustrans site - there's loads of canal towpaths to follow. Apart from the locks and some cobbled stretches the Rochdale Canal is a good ride. We often ride down to the Velodrome and dine with polite society at their cafe. We were in the queue with SDB last time we went.

 

[The Silver Surfer]

We cycled Stage 13 of the Sustrans Land's End-John o' Groats which starts at the top end of Deansgate, goes through Salford and Bury, and it's only when you come off at Holcombe Brook does it come off the flat. It goes over quietish roads, dirt tracks and old railway lines, through Drinkwater Park. It's much longer than a mile or so! And then once yer get down to the other end of Deansgate there is the Bridgewater Canal to have a go at - it's six miles or so of towpath riding to the AAAAAAAAAAArgh Centre, where they don't let yer take in yer bike, not even the Brommie folded, although I was able to sweet-talk the guy and he let us lock 'em up with those kids' car things in the main mall!

Have a look at the Sustrans site - there's loads of canal towpaths to follow. Apart from the locks and some cobbled stretches the Rochdale Canal is a good ride. We often ride down to the Velodrome and dine with polite society at their cafe. We were in the queue with SDB last time we went.

I never knew, thats great thanks Dave.

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

I have Schwalbe Marathons on my hybrid and on the Brompton. They are extremely good tyres but like all tyres they are not puncture-proof. You can go months, years even, without a puncture and yer get two within days. There's no particular antidote to puncture-free riding.

Tannus tyres? They're expensive at £110 a pair, but reviews I've read are positive. No pump or spare tube to carry. Also available in Aquamarine!

 

[hilts]

I presume nothing! I ride my bike when it's the sensible thing to do, and I drive my car when that makes more sense.

Wtf

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Wtf

I dunno. I just thought that was a sensible reply to your post! You must have meant something entirely different!

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Bit of advice off you cycling veterans please
I' v had 2 punctures in my rear tyre in the 4 months iv been cycling and i'm sick of changing it..plus the cost of inner tubes...just found out about flatless tyres, Halfords do one called Schwalbe marathon plus at £26, do they work? and are they worth investing in a pair?

Ive found Gatorskins to be best

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Bit of advice off you cycling veterans please
I' v had 2 punctures in my rear tyre in the 4 months iv been cycling and i'm sick of changing it..plus the cost of inner tubes...just found out about flatless tyres, Halfords do one called Schwalbe marathon plus at £26, do they work? and are they worth investing in a pair?

Not sure about flatless but i have tubeless tyres on my road bike and mountain bikes. They have been around on mountain bikes for years and only now becoming popular on road bikes. Its a system whereby you 'seal' your rim with tape (pvc leccy tape will do) and you fit a sealed valve and a specific tubeless tyre (i use Schwable One Pro), you also add a liquid sealant (Stan's fluid). It is quite an expensive set up but it does work once you get them sorted. See video if your a non believer. It's not 100% but if you cycle a lot then it is the best answer to an age old problem.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Recently been told ive got high blood pressure, high cholesterol and so im being put on statins. Its kicked me up the arse so i'll be doing some cycling but to get into it I don't want to be huffing and pufing up and down hill so i'm looking for flat routes initially. The only one i've found near me is only a mile long.
Any suggestions where I might drive to with the bike thats flat and fairly scenic? I live in Bury.

Hollingworth lake is decent and not far from you mate.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Hollingworth lake is decent and not far from you mate.

Yer have to go round about five times to get just over ten miles, and on days following downpours that cement-like covering they have round the back, between the cafe and The Beach makes a right mess of a bike. I rode my Brompton round it once and the sludge gathered between the wheel and the mudguard so that it felt like the brakes were on. Only when I got to the tarmac section did did the bike roll as it should. And then there's the dog walkers, pram walkers, walking walkers (I think I've spelt 'walkers' properly!) I much prefer the Rochdale Canal.