Stories from the United Kingdom

hi. this is not really a story but I didn't know where to post this.
Does anyone know what I can do to release my bike saddle post? it is totally stuck. All I need is to lower it a couple of i... read more

Topic: Other

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Chris Anthony Hello. My advice would be to take it to a local bike shop and get them to remove it. Shouldn't be expensive. Any reputable ... read more

Hello. My advice would be to take it to a local bike shop and get them to remove it. Shouldn't be expensive. Any reputable bike shop will have lots of tricks for removing stuck seat-posts!

Elena Simon-perez Hi Chris. Thank you for your advice. I did exactly what you have suggested. Halfords couldn't do it but GA Cycle did it w... read more

Hi Chris. Thank you for your advice. I did exactly what you have suggested. Halfords couldn't do it but GA Cycle did it with no problem. I am really happy now. Thank you

Gavin Turner Sounds like you have tried most things already - carbon is a bit of a bugger for fusing to stuff - and it doesn't help that... read more

Sounds like you have tried most things already - carbon is a bit of a bugger for fusing to stuff - and it doesn't help that greasing carbon can cause it to swell too... hmmm. Sounds like you just really need to salvage your frame... If you have access to a good strong bench vice - try turning your bike upside down and clamping the saddle post - at this point, with help from a friend you should be able to twist the actual bike, which might crunch and crack and free things up... by twisting the actual bike itself while clamping the saddle post you're creating a massive amount nms of torque and putting yourself at a huge mechanical advantage over the fused hardware. Good luck.

Elena Simon-perez Thank you Gavin. I tried to twist the seat and I fell on the back wheel. I took it to the should and they managed to do r... read more

Thank you Gavin. I tried to twist the seat and I fell on the back wheel. I took it to the should and they managed to do remove it plus they also had to true the back wheel as I twisted it with my fall!

Gavin Turner Glad you managed to sort it! :)

Glad you managed to sort it! :)

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I don't drive, so if I didn't cycle I would rely on Public transport to get me to work, which is not always great. I do enjoy my 20 mile daily trip from Harlow to Ware PSC GSK site, even through Wi... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Gavin Turner That's a good length commute, and it really does wonders for conditioning/legs to keep rotating through the winter. Come su... read more

That's a good length commute, and it really does wonders for conditioning/legs to keep rotating through the winter. Come summer you'll be a machine! I too long for when I can trade the neoprene back in for something lighter and more breathable. Spring is just around the corner.

I struggled to exercise after cancer treatment as I would suddenly get tired and had to stop quickly. A Brompton bike was suggested so that I could just fold it up and get on a bus, in a taxi or on... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Awesome ride to work this morning......clear roads, green lights, fresh air to clear the cobwebs! #lovetoride

Topic: My commute by bike

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Week off + Rain = Pain!
First ride in 11 days.

Topic: My commute by bike

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Just a thought for those who are safety conscious about burglary and stalking.
If you use Strava go to your privacy settings and create a privacy zone around your home location- this will keep... read more

Topic: Other

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Tom Darville I agree and always horrified when people show events on Strava when on holiday basically telling everyone your house is emp... read more

I agree and always horrified when people show events on Strava when on holiday basically telling everyone your house is empty for a week or more.

Carvel Lonsdale Excellent point Tom!

Excellent point Tom!

Mozelle Langford Thank you for the great advice! Be safe out there!

Thank you for the great advice! Be safe out there!

Chris Wiffen Thanks for the tip, I've heard it mentioned just wasn't sure quite where to look for the setting.

Thanks for the tip, I've heard it mentioned just wasn't sure quite where to look for the setting.

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As part of "Team Speyside" within Moray Council I have thoroughly enjoyed the September cycling challenge.
Before the challenge I was an occasional cyclist. Paul, my husband, and I bought bike... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Anna Vince This is absolutely amazing to hear! Thank you so much for sharing, it has made my day :-D To go from not cycling much at a... read more

This is absolutely amazing to hear! Thank you so much for sharing, it has made my day :-D To go from not cycling much at all to cycling 65 miles in one day is seriously impressive, so I wish you all the best for your cycling "journey" - 75 miles will easily be in your grasp!

Sheila C Johnson Thanks Anna, frosty mornings are already here and the nights drawing in so may have to stick to my hilly commute for a whil... read more

Thanks Anna, frosty mornings are already here and the nights drawing in so may have to stick to my hilly commute for a while. Living so far north in Scotland doesn't make cycling easy, especially where I live. I shall continue to commute by bike for as long as it's safe to do so. Sheil

My lungs are shot - after 40 years of chest infections, and asthma attacks, I got an e-bike. I've not been on a bike seriously for many many years, mostly because I can't breathe properly. The ex... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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WIND SUCKS! or should that be blows?? Either would do today.......and I thought rain was bad!!

Topic: My commute by bike

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ride on a green lane and let go by speed

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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After a week and a half of enforced working from home thanks to my 'crappy knee' (this is apparently actually in my official medical notes!) I'm back on my bike this week.

My knee still i... read more

I've joined the Lendwithcare Zambia Bike Ride taking place in May 2020. Its a 10 day trip, cycling 500 kms starting in Lusaka and ending at the fantastic Victoria Falls in Livingstone. We'll be sto... read more

Richard Leseney amazing !! well done !!

amazing !! well done !!

Jason's e-biking experience is encouraging and shows that age is no barrier when it comes to cycling... his story:

"I learnt to cycle as a child and up until 4 years ago used a moped to ge... read more

Topic: Other

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Diane Seddon Thank you for those inspiring comments

Thank you for those inspiring comments

Cycling makes me feel happy. I used to use a bike trailer to get my son to school and now he rides to school with me. My eldest son likes to do longer rides with me and explore.

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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magnifique et très dur parcour VTT vive le sport !!!

Topic: A happy riding memory

Today we went to an open day at Kingston Maurward College - This is down in Dorset, and has a studio school attached. My eldest daughter - 15 is starting her last year in school and wanted to go to... read more

Topic: Other

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December 2015 I was almost 20 stone in weight, as someone once said I was built for comfort not for speed. Something had changed for me however and I was about to embark on something life changing.... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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No ride today. Gynae appointments and bicycles don't really mix!

Topic: My commute by bike

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Sarah Davison ouch!

ouch!

petite ballade sous un magnifique soleil .... c'est là que le vélo est vraiment top !!

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Having not really rode a bike since I was in my Teens - I decided to get back to it and start riding to work. 8 weeks later and 62 trips completed I am feeling fitter, have lost weight and saved mo... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Jack Van den Berg Well done... I have been commuting since January 2018 and I am loving it... then I get it in my head to go for a long ride,... read more

Well done... I have been commuting since January 2018 and I am loving it... then I get it in my head to go for a long ride, like today!

I read of a guy who ran a marathon every day for a year,that and Steve Abrahams attempting 80,000 miles in a single year,since then I have ridden nearly 40 mile a day for almost four years without ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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I was joined by a barn owl on this morning's commute. It flew with me along the lane, just a couple of metres in front at head height. We carried on riding together for about two hundred metres bef... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Clive Sheldon You are so lucky to experience that! I love being close to nature on my rides.

You are so lucky to experience that! I love being close to nature on my rides.

Ruth Billingham that's amazing!

that's amazing!

Tom Darville On the Love to Fly site the owl has posted a story about being chased by a cyclist

On the Love to Fly site the owl has posted a story about being chased by a cyclist

Tim P Love this; so lucky! While i've had barn owls cross in front of me, I don't think I've ever had a barn owl shadow me (altho... read more

Love this; so lucky! While i've had barn owls cross in front of me, I don't think I've ever had a barn owl shadow me (although they are so silent how would I know), but I've had Red Kites and Buzzards do that , giving me "the eye" before zooming off upwards, off up into the deep blue!

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The Cycle September CityConnect Global Bike Challenge perfectly coincides with my Cycle 300 challenge for Cancer Research. Started yesterday, 1 September with the Selby Three Swans Yorkshire Cancer... read more

Topic: Other

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After taking on the challenge in 24 hours for the last two years, I decided to mix things up a bit and invite my non-cyclist friends along. I was apprehensive that someone would give up halfway but... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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In a few weeks time I will be cycling the 100 miles of the South Downs Way in 3 days to raise money for Raleigh International. This is tough off road with lots of hills. Trying to fit in training b... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Steve Carpenter Hi, did it about three years ago in two days!!! bad weather to start then sun came out when we got to Amberly so we carried... read more

Hi, did it about three years ago in two days!!! bad weather to start then sun came out when we got to Amberly so we carried on, next day was great, very hard ride but well worth all the wet and pain, hope it goes well for you, Steve

A great tailwind and lots of cars stuck in traffic gave me a real smug feeling on this particular morning! I had to cover my face to hide a massive grin 😆 #winterwheelers

Topic: My commute by bike

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No frost this morning. No rain. No wind....just an almost silent bike on quiet roads, beautiful Westmorland country side and hardly any traffic. One of the best commutes I've had in ages. Great sta... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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BEST RIDE EVER!
Today I followed my friend and colleagues advice and to a ride on his daily bike commute along the Taunton and Bridgwater canal.
Such a great ride.
Did an 8 mile roun... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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In July as a group of four I cycled from Whitehaven to Sunderland in a day. Whilst having fun on my bike I chose to raise funds for a cause close to my heart - Fibromyalgia.
Today I had another... read more

Topic: Other

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There are not many things that can ruin the start to a day than a puncture on your commute to work. The rule of Murphy will tell you that these are most likely to happen in wet weather and therefor... read more

Topic: Other

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Tom Darville Question..how will tubless tyres stop you getting a puncture? and does a tubless tyre not make it harder to repair at the r... read more

Question..how will tubless tyres stop you getting a puncture? and does a tubless tyre not make it harder to repair at the road side?

Robert Clegg Hi Tom, firstly it's impossible to get a pinch flat from hitting a pot hole or similar as there's nothing to pinch. For tho... read more

Hi Tom, firstly it's impossible to get a pinch flat from hitting a pot hole or similar as there's nothing to pinch. For thorns or similar the tyres have sealant in which is supposed to immediately seal any run of the mill punctures. If the hole is too big then I still carry a tube just in case although because of the sealant this would be a little more messy than normal. I've not had to do this yet (fingers crossed).

Tom Darville I'm not convinced! I used to get on average almost 2 punctures per month having to cycle past a skip yard every day so I fi... read more

I'm not convinced! I used to get on average almost 2 punctures per month having to cycle past a skip yard every day so I fitted Schwalbe Marathons and now hardly ever get a puncture in fact only 1 in over 2 years and that was a nail going all the way through and out the side wall. Upside is it's normal tyre so none of the expense or mess and easy to repair if needed (I carry puncture kit and spare tube) Tom

Richard Beale Repairing punctures on a dark wet night. Part of the fun I thought.

Repairing punctures on a dark wet night. Part of the fun I thought.

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30 Sept 2019, East Devon, leaving work I thought no way can it continue to rain this hard for the entire eight mile ride home. How wrong was I? Biblical. So there’s me doing my bit to mitigate the ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Robert Goodwin Who ever said life was fair!

Who ever said life was fair!

Paul Thomas I remember cycling across the Dikes in Holland on my way London to Amsterdam into a headwind. Just thought God please turn ... read more

I remember cycling across the Dikes in Holland on my way London to Amsterdam into a headwind. Just thought God please turn the wind off but he didn't for 2 days

Åsa Pamphilon I left the office on Tuesday, no sign of rain, when I came out from the changing room it was raining so hard that most sens... read more

I left the office on Tuesday, no sign of rain, when I came out from the changing room it was raining so hard that most sensible people would take cover. But I had to pedal through the rain to collect my son from school. Despite what I thought was good quality water proofing I still was soaking wet within 5 minutes or so..so basically I couldn't get more wet and thought never mind. It continued for the entire 25 minute ride. Any ride after that one will be better!

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Sent an email last week encouraging colleagues to have a go. Volunteered to bring in my tandem if anyone wanted to have a try on the back. So glad Peter took me up on it! Only 10 minutes round the... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

Four years ago I had not been on a bike for 30+ years and never thought I would ever be on one again. However a posting to Paris saw me looking for a cheaper option to monthly metro tickets.
read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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From 7-15 Sep 19, I took part in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain cycling 980 miles in 9 days. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but it was an incredible experience which I would highly rec... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Well that sucked!

Topic: My commute by bike

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22 cyclists 🚴 500 miles, 6 days… it's the Riders of Shaam who recently took part in a 'wheelie' amazing cycling challenge which saw them ride from Amsterdam 🇳🇱 to Berlin 🇩🇪 in support of Rainbows. ... read more

Topic: Other

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Richard Leseney well done

well done

Ana Norrie Awesome!

Awesome!

Had my first actual contact with the wildlife early in my ride today...roadkill I am afraid. Not sure what but my, did it cause me to fight the bike and the noise as it passed through the frame wil... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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One year ago I was tired. I noticed my feet aching at work. People were overtaking me on shopper bikes on the way home, and my segment times were getting worse. I decided I needed a holiday. Just a... read more

Topic: Other

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What a day! 2 bridges loop. Chepstow to Coleford to Parkend to Cinderford... To Gloucester to Berkley Castle to Chepstow. Via some absolutely beautiful countryside and fuelled by peerless WI cak... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

Ribs still ache from my cycling accident on Friday, but not enough to discourage me from completing the September challenge. Beware of dogs while cycling..... my advice of the day!

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

This has made a lot of car drivers/passengers smile 👌❤️
Attach colourful pipe cleaners and feathers to the rear of your helmet.

Topic: My commute by bike

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Silvia Lopez What a wonderful idea!! I will do that! Thanks for sharing ☺

What a wonderful idea!! I will do that! Thanks for sharing ☺

Carvel Lonsdale No problem ❤️ Enjoy! Post your picture too 😃

No problem ❤️ Enjoy! Post your picture too 😃

Having a lot of positives from acknowledging drivers at junctions/roundabouts and give way chicanes with this hand signal combined with a big smile.
Fist tap your heart three times- point direc... read more

Topic: Other

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I spent the holidays cycling from Santander in Spain to Bordeaux in France. It's a great way to see the countryside.

Yesterday I discovered I get very grumpy if I don't get my daily bike ride!
Bloody rain!

Topic: My commute by bike

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Jasper Post I know the feeling...

I know the feeling...

Richard Beale Riding in the rain is great. Give it a go.

Riding in the rain is great. Give it a go.

Jack Van den Berg Rain? just a minor inconvenience... I have no car, so my commute to work is either by bike or walking. I prefer the bike.

Rain? just a minor inconvenience... I have no car, so my commute to work is either by bike or walking. I prefer the bike.

Joyley Prince It's the specs that do it........can't see through them!

It's the specs that do it........can't see through them!

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Love riding both my mtb and road bike. Rivington and Darwen for most of my local mtb rides. Gisburn and Lakes if going further afield.
Enjoy rides to Southport , Blackpool and Garstang on the ... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Today, on my way home from work, I swallowed a fly!!

Topic: My commute by bike

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Geraldine Purcell Lynch Protein! Wash it down with plenty of water!

Protein! Wash it down with plenty of water!

Clive Sheldon The ones that don't touch the sides are the best.

The ones that don't touch the sides are the best.

Joyley Prince This on bounced about in my throat for a few seconds.........it wasn't pleasant.

This on bounced about in my throat for a few seconds.........it wasn't pleasant.

Tom Darville Now you need to swallow a spider to cath the fly and a bird to catch the spider and a cat to catch the bird...........

Now you need to swallow a spider to cath the fly and a bird to catch the spider and a cat to catch the bird...........

Joyley Prince As long as I dont eat any horse meat I should be ok!

As long as I dont eat any horse meat I should be ok!

Phil Goldblatt How do you spot a happy cyclist? Squashed flies on their teeth 🤣

How do you spot a happy cyclist? Squashed flies on their teeth 🤣

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This will be my second year cycling to work. Until this morning I would jump on the train if it rained, but I decided this morning would be different, I didn't think about it, got dressed and cycle... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Marina K Hi Geraldine! Be careful cycling in the rain. I also thought the rain won't melt me but my bike wheel slipped in the rain. ... read more

Hi Geraldine! Be careful cycling in the rain. I also thought the rain won't melt me but my bike wheel slipped in the rain. I fell, broke my wrist and injured my knee a few weeks ago which meant no cycling for 2 months and I'm still in pain :(

Geraldine Purcell Lynch Hi Marina, I am so sorry to hear this, how awful. Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope you will be back on your bike in n... read more

Hi Marina, I am so sorry to hear this, how awful. Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope you will be back on your bike in no time. Geraldine.

Jack Van den Berg When you live on the coast.... winds can be damn blowy. I have had to contend with sideways rain before, and as much as I h... read more

When you live on the coast.... winds can be damn blowy. I have had to contend with sideways rain before, and as much as I hated it, it makes you committed to keep moving. At least when I get home I have a hot shower waiting.

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[address removed]

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Barbara Hampton [address removed]

[address removed]

Barbara Hampton In 2015 I was diagnosed with FSHD which is a muscle wasting condition. I was lucky enough to have cycling in my life, so in... read more

In 2015 I was diagnosed with FSHD which is a muscle wasting condition. I was lucky enough to have cycling in my life, so in order to try and keep myself active I commute to work at least 3 times a week

I may not had a Carbon bike, but my 30 year old 531c framed bike was a joy to ride to and from work and weekend jaunts into the Dales.

No more, D lock smashed off and insurance not interes... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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John Newell this is why Richard Ballantine thought that hanging was too good for bike thieves...

this is why Richard Ballantine thought that hanging was too good for bike thieves...

Tom Darville It is good enough as long as it's followed by being drawn disemboweled and quartered like the good ole days

It is good enough as long as it's followed by being drawn disemboweled and quartered like the good ole days

Yesterday I discovered I don't like cycling in the rain.
Today I discovered I'm going to need long sleeves for the early mornings from now on!

Topic: My commute by bike

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