This is my newish bike bought this year . My old one died a death, the chain kept falling off & I often had to walk home. This one has far too many gears that I forget which one is which! It was such a lovely evening last night so thought I would have a short trip along the lanes in the sun. As the theme this week is wheels & there have been lots of bicycles pictured I thought I would put mine up. This is Out Rawcliffe Church where there is a scattering of houses & farms, mostly dairy, a school, church & village hall which surprisingly has it's own wind turbine ! Behind my bike is an old fashioned gate which is rather sweet. The choir must have been practising because as I took this picture I could hear lovely music. The most enjoyable part of the ride though was the lovely evening scents...new mown hay, honeysuckle & wild garlic!
In the basket I have my mobile phone ,sweater , purse with a bit of money in because I have to cross the river by Toll Bridge 10p each way & of course my camera !
it sounds quite lovely and idyllic! I do rather like the hint of cemetery in the background. congrats on your new bike. just learn the 2 or 3 gears you need and forget the rest. :)
Ooh - that sounds idyllic Pat. We managed a turn round the block with Monty who was looking hopeful all evening but your trip into the countryside sounds fabulous. so is the 10p for the bike or do walkers pay too? Seems like an extortionate amount ;0)
@judithg Walkers go free Judith but every one else has to pay ! I think it is 70p for anything bigger than a car too so if you have tractor business over the river as we did sometimes it worked out at £1.40 every time ! The elderly lady who owns it and lives in Bristol stays with me when she comes up & she is lovely.
Lovely shot! It is a great bike too. For the gears you should keep the front ones on the middle cog most of the time and just use the back ones to help on undulating terrain the big sprocket is easy for uphill and the small is harder for downhill. If it the middle gears are not enough ie when it gets very steep uphill and the pedals start to slow up and will grind to a halt put the front on onto the small ring, if it gets very steep downhill and you are pedaling ten to the dozen put it onto the big ring. I'd get on a nice flat area and just try going up and down on the back gears keeping the front on the middle ring until you get the feel for what they do and then do the same using the small and large front chain rings. Once you get the hang of them - your brain just tells your hands to change gear and you don't even have to think about it! It may take a fair few rides to learn all of them and you may only need a limited number anyway. The only rule is never to have the chain cross right over so it is is very stretched. ie small at back to large at front or vice versa - these are not useful combinations. Hope you don't mind the gear use diatribe!!
It will be even easier if you have just two chain rings at the front not three. I"d tend to use the small front as the default setting in this case.
@whippeteer Thanks so much Francis. I think it has 22 gears in all but i have just been using the right hand ones which gives a range of about3 or 4 up & down. I will get my bike out after & have a proper look at it & then will be able to work out what you mean ! Sounds like you love your cycling !!!!!
Great shot Pat, good narrative too (and love the explanation from Francis on the use of gears - this site is just so helpful and knowledgeable!!) love the fact you have to pay 10p to cross the toll!
I haven't ridden a bike since I was a teen, but I bought one at the flea market last summer. Once I got it home I realized the brake cables were broken and it sits on my back patio! LOL
August 3rd, 2011
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@digitalrn Thanks Rick , we are thinking of you ,hope you & your family are OK.
Looks a lovely bike :)
It will be even easier if you have just two chain rings at the front not three. I"d tend to use the small front as the default setting in this case.