@CycleCommute
If you do like stats, you might think of counting the number of cyclists you see on your daily journeys.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
New Cycle Blog
(162 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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Re costs, might be worth while downgrading cassette/chain to Tiagra, almost half the cost of 105 and not much to speak of in terms of detriment. When I was doing 6000 miles a year, I'd be changing them every 3 months. In fact every 18 - 20 months I'd have replaced most everything on the bike except the frame, and brake calipers.
Also worth factoring in time spent/saved against car/train. In my case it was more than an hour detriment each day over train, which ultimately seemed better spent with the boy when he came to being.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Rosie, it would be interesting to take a count of cyclists but I'd need to do it over a regular period to make any use of it. I wouldn't be able to concentrate on it that often, too many potholes and drivers to contend with.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Baldcyclist, not sure if your Tiagra cassettes wear out quicker, but 4 times a year would be about 1500 miles for you. I get at least 3000 from a cassette and someone as much as 4000.
Cycling is significantly faster than any form of public transport for me. It probably averages 10 mins per journey longer than the car, but its been that long since I took the car I don't know how long it would take now. Also, I never need to worry about what time to leave, and get all the exercise for free.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Suspect my maintenance schedule is more the issue with my wearing out cassettes. I used to wear out Ultegra, and SRAM force cassettes at same rate when I used my road bike. ;)
Tiagra, good value, and performance for commuting, save the good stuff for the good bike.:)
Posted 5 years ago # -
I got 5000 miles on the cassette on my winter bike (Campagnolo Athena, 11 spd) with regular cleaning and chain changing. In actual fact, it outlasted the groupset, which I sold to a customer when I broke up the bike. I'll probably bung it on some training wheels and it'll live on.
You should get at least 2-3000 miles from a cassette if you change your chain when it needs changing (technically .75 on a checker, but as long it's before it passes 1.0 it's fine). However, if you're using cheap cassettes, there's no great harm in the wearing them both out philosophy, but this is likely to damage your chainrings over the course of a few chains and you'll then need to fork out for replacing them at some point. If you follow my advice, your chain rings would likely never need replacing.
Posted 5 years ago # -
“If you follow my advice, your chain rings would likely never need replacing.”
Think that’s a bit optimistic!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Currently I have over 11500 miles on the cassette on my Lightning recumbent, and the gear changing is still spot on. I get about 4500 miles to a chain (ok, three lengths of chain). I replaced the middle chainring after a few thousand miles, but the chainset was second-hand when I bought it as part of the bike's original build.
The torpedo's fully enclosed drivetrain has about 6500 miles on the current cassette (the same make and model as above). I only got 7000 miles out of the fancypants KMC ultralight chain.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I've added a post on my trials changing brake cables today. Read about it here:
Also, I've put together a list of my top 10 tips for people starting out on cycle commutes. Plenty other resources for this out there but these are my main helps:
Posted 5 years ago # -
This week has been interesting, not all for the best reasons. Check it out here:
Posted 5 years ago # -
Oft. Painful looking finger. Hope it heals quickly! I'm hugely paranoid about getting caught in disk brakes. It's why I don't do bike maintenance naked.
I have a scar on my inner arm which is from taking the pedal off from a crankset. The chainring took three chunks out my arm just as the pedal came loose.
Posted 5 years ago # -
It's why I don't do bike maintenance naked.
DELETE * FROM MIND.IMAGINATION
WHERE
IMAGE_CREATE_DATE = '2019-01-30'
COMMITPosted 5 years ago # -
It's why I don't do bike maintenance naked.
Wait a minute @ARobComp, that's the only reason...?
Posted 5 years ago # -
I'm hugely paranoid about getting caught in disk brakes. It's why I don't do bike maintenance naked.
@ARobComp This raises so many questions.... interesting that the bike maintenance is where you draw the line.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Cold conditions this week!
Posted 5 years ago # -
I also wouldn't shallow fry naked. That's just asking for trouble.
Posted 5 years ago # -
My bike is just one fail after another right now :
Posted 5 years ago # -
I quite like your tracker pages for punctures and cost of bike etc. Would be good to have a "mechanicals" one too for these situations.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks @ARobComp, I might look at doing that too before I forget.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Not just a bit cheaper either.
I have a friend who has just started a 30 mile bike commute a couple of times a week. He hopes to save almost £1000 on diesel this year alone.
Unfortunately after being caught in heavy rain for a few hours he had to take a day off so I suggested the fuel savings for that day should count too.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Me thoughts on dealing with the storm today:
Also got my wheel back so updated the cost tracker
Posted 5 years ago # -
New blog post:
Posted 5 years ago # -
One of my colleagues only recently started to accept that I cycle because I want to (and I enjoy eating cake!). Since he joined the company he kept asking (multiple times!) "Have you thought about getting an electric bike/scooter/car?" and I had to justify my commute choice. Then when I actually got a car he couldn't comprehend why I would still choose to cycle to work.
As @CC.CC said yesterday arvo was such an enjoyable ride! I love rolling down Clifton Rd through all those open fields.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Reaching those milestones:
Posted 5 years ago # -
What an amazing day to end the week:
Posted 5 years ago # -
Sometimes the middle of the week can be a real struggle:
Posted 5 years ago # -
Full week passed without a single abusive driver! First time in months.
Posted 5 years ago # -
What a start to the week! Beautiful weather and legs out in Feb.
Posted 5 years ago #
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