Search results for:

Best attempted mug that I've been in was Swindon, about 7 years ago. I worked for Deloitte at the time, so was a suited an booted 'professional'. Me and a colleague had been at the client 'til late, so was walking back to the hotel looking for somewhere to grab a quick bite. Was about 10 o'clock and nothing was open .... Swindon is a shit-hole and shuts at 5 o'clock!

Anyway, this little geezer twat walks up to us, inhales from a balloon (with helium) and squeaks "nice suit mate" (to my colleague). My mate says "what?". And pickey takes another slug of helium and squeaks "nice suit .. give me your wallet". "erm, no, fuck off" was the answer.

"oh" he goes, and starts to walk off. We walk up to him and say, why the balloon. He says, it's so if we did give him the wallet then we wouldn't be able to describe his voice to the police! We pointed out that we know what he looks like, so his voice is irrelevant. He looked confused, and just scarpered.

We walked back to the hotel and couldn't quite work out if we really had been attempted mugged. Very weird.

Not having the same tyre size front and back is perfectly fine, you shouldn't have any problems. The only downside to having a 23c tyre if you previously had a 28c is that you will probably have a slightly less comfortable ride but thats about it.

Thanks mate - much appreciated. I wasn't sure if rim sizes differed somehow ... I will be having words with Cycle Surgery though to ask why they gave me different sizes!

I had a puncture on the rear wheel of my Charge Plug about 3 weeks ago and I took it to Cycle Surgery and they fitted a new tube and tyre - a 700x28 Armadillo.

This week I had a puncture on the front tyre but as I wasn't in town I just went to the same Cycle Surgery and asked for the same tyre and tube and I would replace the tyre myself. I got home and after some struggle (never changed a tyre before) I got the new tyre on. But it looked a bit different to the rear tyre and now I see that they gave me a 700x23 for the front, but they fitted 700x28 on the back.

Is this a problem? Should they both be the same size? Is there a risk of riding a 23 tyre when the original is a 28?

I live in SE London and have to ride up and over Crystal Palace/Sydenham hills, which means I hit 30+ MPH on the down side and the last thing I want is a tyre ripping off at those speeds.

Can someone please advise?

I have a second bike I can use tomorrow so won't be using the Charge until I am 100% it is safe.

Happened to me once, about 15 years ago cycling through Hackney to Walthamstow. Was late-ish, been for a few sherbets so was not really thinking straight. I stopped at some lights and a guy walked up to me and asked the way to a 'chippy'. I stupidly answered then he held on to the frame and another guy appeared in front of the bike - they told me to get off.

I argued for a few secs whilst I unstrapped my helmet and asked if he wanted the helemt too. He said 'nah, just ya bike'. By this time I raised the helmet via the strap above my head and said in a more threatening voice 'well, if you take the bike you're gonna get the fukcin helmet as well'. I think it then clicked what I meant and he let go and backed off. Chap in front moved off and I peddled sharpish back home .... I must admit, I RLJ's every one 'til I got home :)

he's always on them. he's a naughty rlj'er too.

Really? WAC .... if I'd known I wouldn't have let him out in front of me ;)

Celebrity spotted ... Dexter Fletcher (the chap from Press Gang in the 80's) yesterday morning Dury Lane on a Boris Bike :)

This morning at New Cross. Chap on a SS berates a women driver for getting too close to him and driving badly (I didn't see so could be fair comment) but then went on to jump the next 2 sets of reds! Hmmm, not helping our cause there mate - you've just turned another driver against all cyclist.

Chap this morning cycling from Lewisham to Catford on a yellow framed bike. You had green shorts, and was probably riding a larger gear than me as I seemed to be peddling faster ;) Lost you at Catford 1 way as you RLJ'd ... bad boy!

Aweful. I cycled round the island on the way home Friday afternoon, not my normal route, and was horrified by how vans drive around it. I was thinking at the time I'll be avoiding it in future ... who'd have thought? :( Poor girl

I second Tanzania and Rwanda, went there or first time last year and it was amazing! The roads in Rwanda are on the whole better than Tanzania but great views in both. I recommend dar es Salam, Arusha, Serengeti, lake Victoria and Kigali. Internal flights are also pretty cheap...

As we offer African safaris, I have to agree 100% :) Africa gets in your soul

And don't forget, if you're cycling and a lion attacks, you don't need to out pace him ... just your fellow cyclists! Spin to live

My friend went on a cycling holiday in the Atlas mountains, his pics looked amazing! Pretty hard work up the hills tho. There are loads of organised cycle tours on the web...

But did he go fixed ;)

43 and loving it. Live the 'wrong' side of Crystal Palace/Forest Hill/Dulwich Hills. Grit ya teeth, and get up those hills :)

Still can't track stand though. Just have no balance LOL

41/21 = hamster wheel ratio

I either stay in london and ride or take my bike with me when I go away to Sweden (family time)

Only been to Sweden once - was a foot of snow, so no biking that trip. I bet those long summer nights are great for riding.

Go on a porn binge, with the family.

With the whole family? Is your real name Saville by any chance :) Leave the kids out at least!

A response to a post I put in the travel section got me thinking. If most of us cycle to work each day, cycle at weekends and in some cases cycle for our jobs, what do people do when they have their 2 weeks leave?

Do you go on cycling holidays ('cos you just can't stay off your bike), trekking hols, stay at home, some other exciting adventure? Maybe even spend some time with the family??

For me it's away from the bike and head to somewhere where I can enjoy my other passion, photography. Usually with wildlife too :)

What do others do?

How long is a lap?

Standard Plug 42/16. Nice and easy, doesn't kill my knees, and means I can get up the hill next to Dulwich College, and up past Crystal Palace park. I think this is about 70.5?

Whatever target I might have had went out the window this week as I bottled it and caught the train instead ... too cold for more in the mornings. Old bones can't take it any more. Really need those summer days to come a bit faster :)

I saw Alun Armstrong the other day off Carnaby Street. Didn't have his 'New Tricks' bike with him though. I DAS'd him anyway, but he looked at me as if he was thinking WAC.

Fair point Alun.

I get the "Good luck on the way home tonight" from work colleagues as I leave in the evening. Why should I need luck to cycle home ?!?

Cheers guys - great help.

Yes it's a flip flop hub.

I'm in SE London (Beckenham) so I'll probably head down to Deen's on the High St. and ask him to show me the ropes (unless one of LFGSS members are in this area).

Let me first say, I am a numpty when it comes to mechanics ... hence what is to follow!

I have a standard 2012 Charge Plug with the flip-flop rear wheel which is currently a SS. I want to convert this to FG. Exactly what do I need to do this? Ideally I'll stick to 16 tooth on the back so I assume chain length remains the same?

• So do I just need a rear cog? If so, any recommendations?
  
• Do I need a locking ring, or would I not need this on the Plug?
  
• What tools do I need (apart from myself)?
  
  

Cheers in advance :)

My wife is so cool she bought me my 2 bikes ... well I say bought them for me. I mean she gave me the cash and I got the bike.

TBFT, I do the same for her with shoes. I 'buy' them for her ... but I'm not good with colours so really she buys her own :)

Does anyone on here ever go on guided cycling holidays to far flung places? Such as Africa, Asia or South America.

I ask because I run a tour operator business (I won't say who as I know I can't link on here) so was wondering what people are looking for in this type of adventure. We have quite a few options with some being very popular, but we're looking to expand the portfolio and wondered if there were any countries people would be really interested in cycling?