Not sure if the singlespeed comments are directed at me, but the Charge has got the new shimano 8-speed hub on
On your comment Percy, that's interesting that 175's have sorted your knees (I'm assuming you were on 170ish before). I thought longer cranks were generally more stressful on knees. I guess it's all about specific fit issues eh? Is that what you were advised to do after your fit consultation at la Bicicleta? I can't afford to even look through their shop window, but one day.......
As a rule of thumb, the bigger you are, the longer the cranks you need. As regards knee stress - longer cranks increase the range of movement your knee goes through each pedal revolution so can aggravate some knee complaints, but it also increases the ammount of leverage and power you can put through the cranks so means that it requires less effort to turn the gears (and thus puts less stress on the knee joint). As ever, its all swings and roundabouts, and what works for one person might not work for others, blah, blah, blah!
this may have been done before... recommend me a helmet.(smashed mine up today crashing my bike on the forest of bowland, lucky it was my winter bike - needs a new back wheel, fully fucked myself up on a 20% decent - i feel quite lucky to still be here!!!).i was thinking about a catlike whisper......??????http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ID=1836
I never used a helmet riding on the road. apparently wearing one makes you twice as likely to be hit by a car, (statistically drivers perceive you as less vulnerable and take less care). Mad innit? I'm guessing you had a spill on the mountain bike? that's a different kettle of fish!
QuoteI never used a helmet riding on the road. apparently wearing one makes you twice as likely to be hit by a car, (statistically drivers perceive you as less vulnerable and take less care). Mad innit? I'm guessing you had a spill on the mountain bike? that's a different kettle of fish!I don't doubt you read/heard something that said that, but I don't believe it. 1) You can use statistics to prove whatever you want. 2) I can't believe motorists would think that much when faced with situation involving cyclists.
Some of the stats on this may have come from the fact that in countries like Holland, where lots of people don't wear helmets, the accident/damage rate is low, whereas in places like the Uk where most people do where helmets the accident/damage rate is higher.In fact the reason for this statistic has a lot more to do with the environment that the cyclist have to ride their bikes than their helmet wearing tendencies, ie. in Holland there are lots more cycle lanes, and car free areas compared with the UK where we have to share the narrow roads with cars.
Some of the stats on this may have come from the fact that in countries like Holland, where lots of people don't wear helmets, the accident/damage rate is low, whereas in places like the Uk where most people do where helmets the accident/damage rate is higher.
In fact the reason for this statistic has a lot more to do with the environment that the cyclist have to ride their bikes than their helmet wearing tendencies, ie. in Holland there are lots more cycle lanes, and car free areas compared with the UK where we have to share the narrow roads with cars.