SwedishHouseFifa Streetview is your friend (if they have it of course), I like to memorize the signs/crossroads so it's easier to remember where to turn.
SwedishHouseFifa I have found that if you click and hold on the yellow street view man then all the roads that google has streetview data for turn blue. Then you at least know that a car can go down those roads. I find this handy to quickly eliminate roads... But yes, I too know the pain of getting repeatedly fucked up the ass by dirt/gravel roads. God damn it
Even if there isn't a streetview option, you can most often see what type surface it is. Look for a centerline, or where other roads connect to it. It's easy to tell if an asphalt road connects to a dirt road.
absolutely love the show! new to cycling as a sport and videos got me interested! i was more focused on commuting as a student(its cheap haha)......just a wee suggestion maybe some commuting tips while cycling on busy roads or the like?always some idiot on the road or some strange junction throwing us off. Thanks Jack
Hi Jactheripper21. Great to hear you're getting in to cycling! We covered commuting the other week, here's the video - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-deuWgGzNCK8.html
Jactheripper21 TBH I think GCN is really weak on commuting - even the video linked to is poor, for me at least it has almost no relevance. (Presuming you're in the UK) Rule 1: DO NOT TRY TO UNDERTAKE LEFT TURNING TRAFFIC. This is very tempting and can get you killed. It's not just HGVs a small car will squash you fairly effectively as well. Hanf back let the vehicle move and then go. Or get out in front. I find it extremely frustrating that GCN do not cover this. I think it's the biggest issue in commuting. But that's just my opinion - though I believe there is evidence to support it. Rule 2: DO NOT TRY TO UNDERTAKE LEFT TURNING TRAFFIC. The rest: Adopt an assertive road position - takes a while to become confident. Claim your space on the road, generally drivers will respect you. Honestly. If you're slowing traffic down move over and let it past there's not much advantage to having a very annoyed car, van, or lorry driver behind you. Plus it's just pro-social. I sometimes (shock horror) even ride on the pavements to let traffic past, generally on climbs where there's not enough passing room. Consider getting panniers. I much prefer them to a rucksack. Gradually acquire the right kit. Waterproof trousers, waterproof gloves, overshoes etc. Presuming you've already got a waterproof top. All this stuff can be expensive to buy in one go but if you stick to cycling then it becomes cost effective to invest. More generally Google is your friend. :-)
How do I define a great ride ? When I don't have an idiot in a car cut me off at an intersection or roundabout, or breathing down my arse because I'm going "slowly" (30km/h) on "their" road. Or when I don't come across jaywalking pedestrians walking on the road (not on the footpath) because they are oblivious to cyclists and think they are perfectly safe with no cars around. Sad but true. That's the way cycling has become in my area. Apart from that - I absolutely love just getting out & riding to my abilities & trying to push myself without going into bonk territory.
same here actually most people have no respect for cyclists. two cars almost crashed me and a motorbike got the job done and it was just today in less than two and half hours.
Should add avoid d@#$ k head drivers. Doing everything right enjoying my ride. Hit by a car from behind. 4 fractured vertebrae. Still in bed 5 weeks later!
All the tips that you guys have give have been AWESOME. I've been cycling since I was 5...dropped it for a while and took up basketball. Eventually I grew to love both. Everyday I ride 20-28 mile. Again your tip on cycling are wonderful.
Thanks for the tips, I am just getting into cycling and I am 12 years old. Yesterday I bought the specialized Allez jr, and if I would have never found this channel I wouldn't have been as into this sport as I am now!
...and speaking of smugness. I just did Calais - Roubaix - Calais. 2 days of pure cycling pleasure. and a bit of hateful wind for good measure..... vive le velo!!!
Do more of what you love. A wonderful tip that is applicable to everyday life. In fact, quite a few of these tips have daily-life applications. 1) Have a clean bike and shoes. Life application: Have a clean partner (feel free to use this in the marriage counseling video...)
actually I would rather a busy street than a free highway rood. I live in Egypt and looks like people have no respect for cyclists. two cars almost crashed me and a motorbike got the job done and it was just today in less than 2 and half hours.
Each to his own. I very seldom plan my route other than to have a rough general idea of direction. Sometimes I don't even know whether I'm going to turn left or right out of my own gate until I feel the wind on one cheek or the other. However, my wife plans every ride to the nth degree using Map My Ride or Google Maps. I can seldom resist turning off down a side road or bridlepath, but if my wife sees one, she is more likely to remember it and check it on the map for a later ride. However, all the advice in the video is good. I'd say (1) carry enough water for the ride and (2) carry a spare tube, pump and any necessary tools to replace a tube. Patching a tube at the side of the road is seldom the best idea. (3) Claim your space on the road (i.e. don't ride in the gutter) but be courteous to other road users. (4) On narrow lanes, signal for cars to pass when it's safe, wave your hand in acknowledgement of they've waited, and (5) always acknowledge other cyclists - including families on clunky old mountain bikes, and grannies on 3 speed shoppers with wicker baskets.
I enjoy everything, except when I get a flat tire. You can't prevent that, do you?. Wait, I could say I enjoy flat rides more than claiming, and descending more that flat rides. But I enjoy every pedaling I made, that is for sure.
Dan LLoyd, What is your favourite local pub to ride to? Red Shoot at Linwood has got to be up there... Any other recommendations? (Christchurch based!)
Guys, we all know it - you are sponsored by Garmin. But still, don't you have to kinda announce it at the beginning of the video, that you are trying to fiddle in Garmin advertisement? (covered advertisement)
affording yourself being smug about a great ride keeps most of us going. But mind you, if a ride happens and no one tracked it on Strava, did it still happen?
Coincidence or not, today I had my worst ride ever. Two tires and chain are gone. I got a beautiful fall and in consequence of this I got my ass exposed for 5km walking way home. Ohh I almost forget the rain. What a lovely day guys! Thank you!
No11. : Spend an hour the day before arranging a new and cool playlist on your mp3 player. Not just tossing new folders in, but actually picking the tracks one by one, for a duration 10-15mins longer than the planned ride. Then go out and enjoy a full ride with non stop,non repeating, new music :D
Fwiw here's the way I go about riding (I do non-competitive scenic routes generally of 100k or more) in case it's any use to anyone: Wind is important. I look for this on the forecast as much as rain, if not more. You can aim for a tailwind on the way home - and it's great when that happens - but if that doesn't work (I always head out E -> W and come back W -> E, I've no choice really) then take the wind into account - and factor in that you will be much slower. Don't stress! It can be really stressful trying to get back in a certain time when the wind is against you. Allow time for it, enjoy the challenge, and it's fine. On new routes be prepared for climbs: Is the summit really round the next corner? It's not? Well it must be round the next corner. Oh $%*£!! That is one of the hardest parts of a new route for me. (But once you know then you can adjust next time and it's much better. Till you've done it three or four times and you can really pace yourself and start aiming for PBs :-)) On new routes factor in getting-lost time: missing a junction, turning off too soon - ie just generally not knowing where you're going. (Again this will obviously improve with time - though you may well still not remember whether it was left, right. or straight on till you've done a route a few times.) Include a good cafe stop - Can't believe they missed this one out! Notice if other riders turn off when you go straight on, and if they do then maybe try those routes - I've discovered some real hidden treasures this way. Like Si says: Do more of what you enjoy. Simple and obvious but so true. I really enjoy climbing (within reason) though I'm not physically suited to it at all (for competition at least), so I find as many climbs as I can. Those are my experiences. And thanks to GCN for a great channel :-)
Simon: you're not alone matey - I also have an inside-outside thermometer, digital tho... 😋 On another level, I don't mind getting lost that's part of the fun and challenge for me... If you want a 'classic' just go waay far than you need to then you've really got to muscle it home
I really really *really* want to just go in the drops and go faster and faster, but our roads is full of potholes and traffics so.. I keep on finding short but safe place to do that and it works out well!
I check the weather radar to see what weather will blow in during my ride (this may be a North American tip since we can see storms and wind shifts that are hours away).
Your knees should not be hurting after a normal ride, especially at age 14. First, check your saddle height. Sitting comfortably on the bike, with the cranks in the straight up and down position, you should be able to put the ball of your foot on the bottom pedal with your leg just very slightly bent. If your saddle is too low, it's like walking upstairs with both knees bent. If your saddle is too high, it's like walking everywhere on tiptoes. Correct saddle height puts the least strain on your knees, and is most efficient. Secondly, try pedalling faster in a lower gear. A common mistake is to try to push a high gear (big cog at the front, small cog at the back) but it is usually more efficient and less damaging to spin fast in a low gear than grind in a high gear. It may be that you have already done a little bit of soft tissue damage, so if your knees still hurt, take a break of a few days to let the damage heal itself. Another thing to consider is how your feet are positioned on the pedals. You should be riding with a very slight amount of "toe in". Good luck. :)
The battery on my phone died...looked at the map signpost to see where I had taken a wrong turn. The map was covered with graffitti...pissed me off! Turned out I went the wrong way.
GCN guide to marriage counselling 😂 Tip for nagging partners... Get a bike and get out there!!! Cycling is brilliant (and keeps you fit for the bedroom 😉)
