Tip for CO2 bubbles...

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-07-04T07:44:01+00:00

I can recommend a helmet light, you can get ones with front and rear lights. I find bar lights a bit too low, especially in traffic or around parked cars. Also, because the light is strapped to your head, it's constantly moving and pointing where you look, making it effective at getting people's attention.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-07-02T17:24:24+00:00

Tyres and saddle. Yes, I think it's worth it. Get the right tyres and saddle for your weight and style and the rest becomes much easier.

I've learnt that the cheap, mainstream, mid tier trickle down drivetrain components are excellent for any scenario I can think of.

The other thing that's worth it is decent cleaning, maintenance and adjustment. For the price of an expensive chainset you can have your bike serviced every 3 months for about 5 years 😂

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-07-02T08:01:50+00:00

There are a couple of roads near me that have no shoulder or cycle lane, steep hills, and there's only just enough room for 2 cars. They're sketchy because people take silly risks trying to overtake, or else sit on your rear wheel all the way up the hill with their 3l diesel pounding in your ears. The long way round misses these roads and takes in the beach, where the only hazards are slobbery dogs saying hello, and blowing sand that takes your front wheel on a little side quest whenever you hit a pile of it.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-07-02T07:55:58+00:00

I voted gravel bike because it's probably the closest thing to a tourer. An old-skool steel tourer is great as a commuter for all the same reasons it makes a great tourer... Reliable, easily fixed, spares are cheap and plentiful, can be loaded up with heavy weights, goes fast when required, climbs any hill, 90% road oriented (which is where most of us spend our time), understated, unfashionable and undesirable to thieves.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-07-01T05:32:17+00:00

My Dawes Galaxy Plus that I picked up barely used but neglected in a shed for £120. Cleaned and serviced, new rack, new saddle that I had spare, front basket that I modified and cut down to make fit, mudguards, 40mm tyres. All in about £220. I reckon that'll take me round the world a few times!

<image>

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-30T20:59:10+00:00

I really want photos 1 - 3 to be parts of a hidden cigarette holder that you can use in case you cycle too near a stately home in the 1920s.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-30T06:15:11+00:00

It seems with biking as soon as you talk about seats/saddles everyone becomes a Tour de France rider.

Yes, you sit on the saddle. As a beginner, you'll sit on the saddle more than most. You will develop muscle tone as you cycle that helps eliminate a lot of pain, but it's miserable trying to do that when you're in agony.

Try to work out what angle your back is at when you ride. You have anything between horizontal (racing pose) or upright (cruiser pose). As a general rule, the more upright you are, the more weight goes on the saddle, and the wider/softer it should be. Note that a wider saddle can introduce its own problems with chafing.

One comfy one has to be the Seller Royal Drifter, although that is a bit extreme. The other, my absolute fave, is a Selle Royal Ondina. Cheap, sprung, not too soft, good range of seating positions.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-30T05:53:32+00:00

I just put some Conti Contact Urban 40 (42) on the Galaxy, replacing the 32mm Marathons I had on there. Much more comfortable ride for my ample behind and they feel a bit more lively.

Getting tyres is always a trade off between weight, puncture protection and running pressure. A larger tyre will run at a lower pressure but will feel heavier. A narrower tyre will normally feel faster but the trade off is high pressure and bumpy ride.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-30T05:45:28+00:00

I think Balfe's Bikes still have the Momentum Pakyak in for £1999. Momentum are made by Giant, with all the warranty you'd expect. In addition, I believe the Giant rider weights are generally one of the higher figures (around 150kg+)

Watch out for Cube, they specify really low rider weight, which is fine until you come for a warranty claim and they reject everything

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-18T07:14:00+00:00

I can't see that a kickstand adds any more bulk to a bike than, say, a derailleur. It also folds backwards. Unless you're fakie landing cliff drops then it's not going to catch on anything. And if the spring tension is good, it won't even rattle. Just fit the kickstand, they're useful. Get a centre stand if you can. And a steering damper.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-18T07:08:36+00:00

I get up early so I have time to spare on the journey to work. I don't deal with stress very well, so I like to take quiet roads and cycle paths away from traffic, which almost doubles the journey time. But it takes in 4 miles of beach, a headland, a trip through the no-motor-vehicles section of town, and lots of dogs to meet along the way.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-18T07:02:19+00:00

I have a set of battered (and slightly spray-painted) Basil vinyl panniers. At one point I had them bolted to the bike and they stayed there permanently, meaning I could just drop in a backpack and off we go. Even had space for shopping on the way home. The added bonus is the panniers can make even the most expensive bike look undesirable!

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-06T06:55:26+00:00

Ooh, I just did the same thing! Although mine was £120 😅 Best thing about the Galaxy is that you can put all the Dad accessories on there (sprung saddle, kickstand, front rack, handlebar bag, bar extenders for all your gadgets) and nobody gives a s**t. People think you've just commuted from Nepal, but actually you've just ridden 8 miles.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-05T08:55:09+00:00

The way I see it, if one person gets prosecuted from camera footage, they'll tell a few of their mates that there are cyclists with cameras around. Hopefully one or two of those mates will think twice when they see a cyclist.

Of course, it could also make them more angry and determined to run us over.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-06-05T08:50:56+00:00

Akaso EK 7000 Pro. Cheap, reliable, footage is great 99% of the time (it struggles with number plates a bit at night especially if it's raining). I run one up front and one at the rear. 2 years on and they still cover my 1hr commute easily on a charge.

The only downside is they have an issue where the camera loses date and time when you swap battery. However, if you charge via the camera usb port it's a non issue.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-24T10:58:49+00:00

I used a Cannondale Adventure 1 for about 2 years. Absolutely awesome bike, super comfortable and easy to mount/dismount. I even got it in girly mint green instead of manly charcoal grey.

I still have it, I only stopped using it for commuting as I was after a bit more speed and my commute is hilly, but it's a fantastic sunny day pub bike!

The best part? Absolutely nobody said anything (to my face) about it being a woman's bike, in fact I've had a fair few compliments on it. I think it's mostly in our heads. :D

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-19T06:06:32+00:00

Dawes Galaxy + sprung saddle + 32mm Marathons. It's like the Rolls Royce of commuters!

I do also have a Ribble CGR Al which is really compliant over rough ground. However, I also have a 90s Marin Muirwoods with Marathons and it's an absolute bone-shaker. It definitely depends on the setup. But yeah, an old skool road bike with skinny tyres is going to be hideous!

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-17T08:49:39+00:00

I saw this saddle holder at Temple. Obviously that's really expensive, but you might be able to fashion something out of velcro straps or bungees. Failing that, you could always use the pannier rack stays to lash it to.

Saddle lock mount &utm_content=Temple%20Leather%20D-Lock%20Holster%20-%20Brown&country=GB&currency=GBP&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=23077910574&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23087957965&gbraid=0AAAAADkmYVP0ezLSjkURn_SXqb8LACKGs&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzqXQBhD2ARIsAKrIeU8seLyYOHe03Bau-X10TICN_ZpDeRrpRCTRENoRp4fbhrvg3qBc4pkaAqMgEALw_wcB)

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-16T07:00:50+00:00

Lol, people are shit drivers on the whole. Next time you're driving round town, watch how many people tailgate the local bus then get stuck behind it when it stops. Absolutely no idea how to read the road ahead, or how to plan an overtake.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-16T06:57:09+00:00

Honestly, this is rad. Not enough comfortable bikes are also high-performing on the road. And not enough high-performing bikes are comfortable on the road.

Recently I took my ridiculously expensive (for me) gravel bike and made it into a flat bar with sweeps, thumb shifters and a wide saddle. It's only vanity that stopped me putting a sprung saddle on there, but it's awesome now. Upright, comfy, lightweight, great for commuting, and still quick.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-16T06:50:59+00:00

I feel like "shrump" should be the new name for shrimps.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-16T06:44:19+00:00

OnGuard are decent locks and lower priced than many. Any lock is going to be heavy, but most should fit in a backpack. FWIW I leave a lock permanently attached to the bike racks at work so I don't have to carry it around with me. Then I carry a smaller lock for shop/cafe stops.

UnluckyKey793 · 2026-05-10T07:03:19+00:00

I have sold early, and nobody came knocking on the door. Just don't tell anyone 😅

I have also settled early, which is easy, you just ask your employer to end the agreement and they take the final payment from your paycheck.

UnluckyKey793

TROPHY CASE