petee_c

There was a thread a few years back about bicycles, there were some pretty nice looking bikes in that thread.

Back before the pandenemic hit, I bought a fitness/hybrid bike off of kijiji to get some exercise.. I really enjoyed it. Bike ran great, had a minor ding in the rear wheel, but rolled fine. Cost me $300 and I put about 4000km on it, usually 17-20km at a time. I had thought about winter riding for exercise, and even bought studded tires for my old 26" MTB, but gave that idea up after a handful of rides. I tried the Peloton app on a free trial, and have kept it since. I have logged just 200 rides on it, currently on a Suny magnetic spin bike from Costco. I use the peloton app for my cold weather or rainy day workouts.

Fast forward to Summer 2022, and I was researching used gravel bikes on different facebook groups. My bro-in-law offered me his 2019 Giant Advanced Revolt 1, and I picked that up from him for a song. This is my first carbon fiber bike, and my 1st dropbar bike. I am loving it. I got the bike in July and was instantly 10% faster on the road than I was on my hybrid style bike. It's been 2 months since I owned it, and I have finally got it setup the way I like it... - raised the stem a touch, added a wider short CF saddle, then finding the best saddle position, fiddled with cleat position, and just hotwaxed the chain. I even got spandex now.

I'm trying to get out 4+ times per week, riding solo, doing 20-25km at a time (40-60minute rides). Today, I set out to stretch my ride distance a bit - aiming for 30km. Ended up doing 35km -(11km was gravel) in 1hr27mins.


My BIL lives in TO, and gets out before 6am in the summer to ride with buddies.... I like to sleep. He goes out on longer 90+km rides on the weekends... I don't have any interest at this point in doing that much distance at once... Maybe in a year or 2.

If I can average 120km/week, I'd be happy, and exercised enough to enjoy a few brews guilt free.

How much do you ride?

CanuckGT4

I used to ride a lot when i was a teenager, built my own bikes, lots of fun. I just run now as I feel it gets the job done quicker and super easy to do in the morning regardless of weather.
Also seems a lot less safe compared to 30 years ago...

reacp911

You can't use running as a means of transport in most cases. I have spent a whole working career cycling downtown without incident, except for a spate of bike thefts 20 years ago. I solved that by getting an ugly bike with good components. I think that cycling downtown is safer than the 'burbs because urban folks are more used to seeing bikes. I also use a good side mirror (mircycle) to improve my situation awareness.

CanuckGT4

Ah, well if you need to get back and forth to work, cycling is the way to go depending on where you live. No-one is running to work in the morning without a good shower afterwards.

Sarawnty

My wife and I cycle a fair bit around the Halton area, Quebec and Europe. We just completed a charity bike ride a few weeks ago from Toronto Sick Kids to Montreal Children's Hospital. 586 kms in 2-1/2 days. We leave next Saturday for a week of cycling in southern Spain. Great training for ski season!

ekam

Great documentary.

JimV8

Lucky me gets to ride everyday on the Costalegre, the happy coast of Mexico all winter. I ride with others on odd calendar days, ‘we’re the Odd Squad. Distance isnt our measure as we ride dirt trails and farm lanes through mango orchards and banana plantations. We start 8:30 and usually get back 10:30-11:00, before the temps go up. Great way to stay in shape, last year when I got back to Ontario my Vit D was at 80.

joseph mitro

i live way down in OK, USA. just found this thread searching for cycling posts.
Ive been riding/ running marathons for about 12 yrs, now age 50. Back before my time at work heated up, i was riding 200-250 miles a week. Now its more like 50-90 miles a week with 10-20 miles of running thrown in.

I just bought a Giant Revolt gravel bike to try out this new cycling trend; Liking it so far.

petee_c

We've got brothers!