@@thecyclingchiropractor I went to check, all I can make out is "CTX". Very hard to read it. I'm not an expert at all, personally I would go have a chat at a reputable store. As I remember it, they said there are two types: one is puncture resistant, the other is meant as a replacement outer tyre and has kevlar on the sides to keep it flexible. But again, don't take my word for it, consult a professional or do some research. They are a bit heavier and have some higher resistance so it's not for racing. I don't find it noticeable in daily life.
@@thecyclingchiropractorThe good (or sad?) thing is that even riding directly in car traffic, the air a cyclist breathes is still better than that of a person sitting in a car or in public transport. (probably because air intakes for cabin ventilation sit low, typically at the base of the windscreen, and cabin air filters can only remove a small part of the pollution). So do not let traffic and car exhaust deter you from riding a bike... it's still better for your health than driving a car! Still, your advice to take a small detour to ride on nicer roads/paths and through nature is valid and valuable. It may take a few minutes more, but if it makes the commute more enjoyable, that is almost always worth it.
Lekka boet! I'm moving to the UK soon and looking forward to (hopefully) better behaved drivers. South Africans have lost the plot, okes aren't even stopping at red robots these days - kak story!
Lekka Greg. I am not sure if the UK is better. I live in the Netherlands and it is quite ok. Funny - South Africans have lost the plot. Don't forget we have KAK weather here...9 months of it😁
Thank you for a very informative and interesting video contribution. I noticed that you also wear glasses. Do you have any suggestions for using glasses while cycling in the rain or fog? These two weather conditions are the main reason that discourage me from using my bike more often on my commute.
Hi Blazz Great question. I am at the stage where I think I might be a good mountain biker because I cant see properly. Not knowing what the trail really looks like. 😁 Commuting is always a challenge in wet weather or in the dark. I've been struggeling for 5 years now as the eyes are getting worse. Wearing a cap under my helmet has helped a lot. The visor keeps the lenses quite dry but it remains a struggle. I usually carry a clean kitchen towel for wiping wet surfaces (very small ) under my waterproof sleeve of my jacket to wipe my glasses every now and again. Works for me. Good luck.
Great Video! My tips: get a horn (electrical from Amazon like €20), be more visible than required by law (stickers, 2 rear lights, reflective vest), AirTag your bike (feels a lot safer), profile tires for winter (Schwalbe g one bite for my gravel bike, marathon for race bike). I still have trouble with gloves in winter, most are too cold, Neopren are sweaty after a few minutes and skigloves can’t feel enough. I now usually start with neoprene and switch to wool after some time but it means having to fill my toptube. Does anyone have a better tip?
Great tips thank you. I try to ride without gloves for 12 minutes - very painful sometimes. I've noticed my hands start warming themselves up after 12 min. Then I put running gloves on fron Nike. If it's under 4 celcius nothing keeps the hands warm I find. I have 44m tyres with profile. I could use even more lights...thanx for finding it a great video.
@@thecyclingchiropractor Not for the roadie who may be purist about keeping their bike minimalist. I'm very impure and maximalist. Two motorbike style mirrors for your handlebars for safety. More reliable than any technology and ten bucks or less from Amazon. A rear rack for carrying your stuff. Although my bike generally looks like I'm off on a world tour! An upper face shield or visor to protect your eyes in cold wet weather. I wear glasses but I prefer the extra protection. Thankfully I've never got a red eye. A long peaked hat to keep the rain off my glasses/visor. A permanent very bright flashing light on the front day and night plus another good main headlight for night time. I have two 150-200 lumens always on the back plus another on the back of my helmet. Plus spares in case of battery failure, loss, theft.....? Hi-vis vest always. And always a good idea to carry a few pairs of disposable mechanics gloves in case you do need to get your hands dirty and wet especially in cold weather. Actually I found after reading it as a tip latex gloves worn under outer gloves help keep your hands warmer too. And my final tip is to buy yourself a fairly cheap older car for those times when the weather is just too bad or your body is just not up to it. And everything else when necessary. Yes it will cost you extra €€€€'s but I'm a morally flexible idealist. Granted, I live in a rural area of Ireland and if the side roads were icy I wouldn't risk 6-8 weeks recovering from something broken and other less dramatic reasons. Or excuses if you prefer. Keep riding safely though guy.
@tconnolly9820 wow riding in Ireland seems auiye harsh. I was there in june and broke my ribs on the MTB :( The narrow roads with hedges, I can imagine you are all safety. I tried the latex gloves under my normal gloves...did not work for me. But I do have them for a mechanical. How far do you commute? I might move to 🇮🇪 next year August from the Netherlands.
5miles twice a day, 220 working days a year still add up to 3540km a year. Most normal people (i.e. those not obsessed with cycling training) would quantify that as "a lot". Keep doing it!
