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It was good to meet a few of you at last. Lovely bunch of women, you are! Shame I had to leave so early. I am guessing you enjoyed yourself just a wee bit more than I did last night. More laughs anyway. I left my meeting at 9ish and had thought about heading back to see if anyone was still around- however a late meeting on top of a long working day just about finished me off. I went into remote control mode and was heading through Peckham almost before I realised.

Or that, now I just need to work out if I have the 'balls' to ride across London Bridge to get there or if I wuss out and get the bus.

I will be riding over myself at about 5.15pm if you want company. May be able to have a quick drink before heading round the corner to my 6.30

Can't make this after all, unfortunately, as it's the same night as the LCC policy forum, of which I'm a member. Although, if people are there before 6.30pm I could pop in and say hello.

I'd love to come along to one of these. Missed the last one as it was a third Wednesday of the month which is always our local borough cycling group meeting (Lewisham). The 17th is the same, so can't make that either. But I could do the 24th.

I can't seem to find the final design anywhere on the thread- I see most people voted for ladies being on it- if it has ladies on it, I really don't want one- sorry- can't help it- the word has too much baggage for an ageing ex punk/70's feminist like me.

Yes, obviously. We all eat, drink, or sleep, though, and I just don't think I'd ever come across anyone who didn't like padding--certainly no man, so perhaps it's a gender-specific thing?

I'm sure there must be other pad hating beasts like me somewhere? The rather nice Pearl Izumi 3/4 tights of which I spoke earlier were given to me by a friend with pad intact (too small for her, post baby) and I gave them a try as its years since I even attempted to wear a pad. I thought perhaps new materials and technology might have improved them (after all, sanitary towels have come a long way since my teens,). I was disappointed. It still felt like having a large uncomfortable nappy on. So out came the scissors- the tights are lovely now.

I don't think that this strategy will be successful, Alex. Your commute is an hour each way, and I have no doubt that this discomfort is caused by your lack of padding, not by an unsuitable saddle. It's not really a lack of moulding to you that's usually the issue but the chafing you get from sliding around on it while riding. You may get lucky finding a saddle that fits you well, but I'd first consider wearing padded shorts under other trousers or shorts or skirts that you wear, or to get trousers or shorts with padding built into them. Fair enough if you don't like padding, but don't expect as comfortable a ride as with it.

We are all different. Goes without saying, I know. And it is possible to never use padded shorts and be comfortable. I can't stand pads- feels like wearing a nappy to me and grossly uncomfortable. I never wear one. (In fact this weekend I spent half an hour unpicking one from a rather nice pair of Pearl izumi 3/4's my friend gave me). I ride daily, commute is 5 or 6 miles each way, sometimes more. But I ride 50 to 100 miles at weekends and spend my summer hols touring similar distances daily for anything from 5 days to 5 weeks. Can't remember the last time I suffered soreness/pain in those personal saddle contact parts. I use Brooks on all my bikes, but I have used all kinds in the past, including cheap, trashy plastic things. I may just be lucky, I guess.
My personal feeling is that saddle soreness is more to do with how your bike is set up and how that affects your weight distribution over those parts. But again, maybe that's just me.

Unfortunately, the 19th is the third Wednesday of the month, which is when Lewisham Cyclists meets. As I'm the group secretary, I can't really miss it so I won't be able to make the drinks. Shame, I still haven't made one of these and keep meaning to.
Hopefully, next time. And if any of you lot hail from Lewisham, come along to our meeting, Dog and Bell pub in Deptford at 6.30pm. If not this time, next time.

1. scoot
   
2. ms.chris
   
3. Shoosh (as long as price is right)
   
4. missmouse (^ ditto)
   
5. bianchimasher (^ that)
   
6. blowfish (^same)
   
7. Cafewanda (same)
   
8. Lolabelle
   
9. Poots
   10.Cleft
   
10. Doctor Cake
    
11. Kat
    
12. Cazakstan (as long as not über 'spensive!)
    
13. pops1207
    
14. Katy B
    
15. IKHTW (same money thoughts as above)
    
16. hats
    
17. LittleHeather (would prefer to try on before deciding on size, if possible)
    
18. bothwell
    
19. hoefla
    
20. Long&Bumping
    
21. Tanya g
    
22. mands = 1 - LGE
    
23. mands = and 1 - SML
    
24. alienmo (Emmy)
    
25. Jess
    
26. Tricitybendix
    
27. williamshatnerpants (cara)[/QUOTE]
    
28. saoirse (but not if it says, "I'm a lady".
    

I would never wear anything that labels me a lady. I am a 70's old school feminist. The word has too much baggage for us. But nothing or women is fine. I am not one of those kooky hippy feminists who used the word wimmin, but you could include that as an alternative to make them feel included. (please don't take me seriously on that last point).

If you have a few minutes to spare and are in the area, Lewisham Cyclists have a little stall and a very good (free, as always) Dr Bike at the Brockley Fayre on Hilly Fields, the bit of the park alongside Montague Ave. I can definitely vouch for the skills of the two guys who will be running our Dr Bike, Radek and Tadeusz (sorry T, if I got that wrong again!) from East Dulwich. I have seen them bring back to life, BSO's belonging to pupils at my school that I had given up on. Loads of other good little stalls there too plus some interesting events (the local dog show was very entertaining last year!)

I put my name down too. It will be my first LFGSS ride ever, if it turns out to be a date I can make.

I have a Pearl Izumi jacket like this one. http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=pearl+izumi+womens+cycling+jacket&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1064&bih=594&tbm=isch&tbnid=IfTtw4fIOEZyuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cycle-route.com/bikeshop/1589-Pearl-Izumi-Womens-Insula-Tour-Jacket.html&docid=rQmNhU3DbkcCCM&imgurl=http://www.cycle-route.com/images/products/large/1/1589.jpg&w=200&h=200&ei=1B6mT6uqPIXr8QOStpTwBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=870&vpy=184&dur=693&hovh=160&hovw=160&tx=93&ty=85&sig=115538302074347181080&page=1&tbnh=115&tbnw=96&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:89

£7

Have removed all these wheels from sale as I have decided to place them elsewhere.
Thanks

I am removing these wheels from LFGSS classifieds. Decided to put them elsewhere.
Thanks

Sorry, I have been trying to find a way of shrinking them. I'll link instead. I have been using my iPad and they don't seem to be coming up that big on that. Strange.

Another 26" front wheel. XTR hub. Rigida Sputnik rim plus an unused Marathon plus 1.5 tyre. All for 60 quid. Never used, as it was a Christmas present from family members who didn't know I had already had a dynamo hub wheel built. Thought it might come in useful, but several years later, it's still in the shed. And I prefer slightly bigger tyres on my tourer (1.75's)

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/15bmzcaxs1eeyzp/Photo%2004-05-2012%2019%2022%2040.jpeg?dl=1

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/f4zyvq9h2urj3xi/Photo%2004-05-2012%2019%2022%2051.jpeg?dl=1

Well, rims hardly worn, but possibly a Helicomatic rear hub. I've added pics so people can verify. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/b1ofi3lr592xhag/Photo%2004-05-2012%2019%2020%2035.jpeg?dl=1

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/g1bnss30rq589bn/Photo%2004-05-2012%2019%2021%2042.jpeg?dl=1

Here's front hub. Seems to run fine.
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/yv3pf276m3olmu3/Photo%2004-05-2012%2019%2022%2018.jpeg?dl=1
40 quid

Wheels I was planning to trailer these up to miss mouse's jumble but can't use the trailer tomorrow so can only take the smaller stuff. Popping these up here to see if anyone's interested here.https://dl.dropbox.com/s/47njset1oaj5rvh/Photo%2004-05-2012%2018%2019%2008.jpeg?dl=1
Bog standard 26" wheel from a tourer, quando hubs, 32/11 9speed cassette which may have a bit of life left in it. The rim is hardly worn, though. Was an emergency replacement for the original which split on a descent near the end of a long tour. So only used for about 200 miles or so. Hub likewise. Don't know the make of rim 15 quid
The corresponding 26" front wheel from the tourer. Mavic rims, XTR hub,
still good. Replaced early for a dynamo hub wheel.
25 quid.

I have a couple more 700c wheels which I will put in another post ASAP.

Brooks for me too, even though, in my teens and twenties, they were about the most uncool thing you could put on a bike, used only by old, bearded CTC'ers and grizzled club riders. Like my uncle, who handed me one of his old Brooks when I returned from a summer long trip across France and Spain, having completely worn through the leather skin on my stylish Italian saddle I had spent months saving up for. I still have that first Brooks, over thirty years later. It must be at least fifty years old. The Italian saddle went in the bin, it didn't look quite so stylish wrapped in duck tape and I couldn't even afford to get it repaired. I learned my lesson and now have various Brooks on all my bikes. I don't ever expect to buy another saddle. Which, even taking into account the way their price has rocketed over recent years, still represents excellent value for money.

 I know some people find them uncomfortable.  Although, I have never had this problem, nor have I ever understood the wearing them in bit.  Mine have felt fine from first ride onwards, although you can clearly see the pattern your bum makes on them as time passes.  But perhaps my ability to ride on anything for days without any ill effects in the bottom area is due to a good deal of padding (all muscle of course, ahem) plus years and years as a kid, teenager and younger adult of riding absolutely crap saddles.

I have one of these only used a few times ( bought by my daughter's father in a vain hope of his that she might wear a helmet)

It's the pink one. 15 quid
Also a Creek 2 Peak bike briefcase. Another unwanted gift as it fits on a pannier rack which I don't have, on my commute bike anyway. Hardly used, no wear on it. 30 quid. I think they are about 60 new.

PM me if you are interested.

Check out Sheldons gear calculatorhttp://sheldonbrown.com/gears/
Although I believe this has already been mentioned.
If you have hills, a gear inch in the mid 60's using whatever combination you prefer to give you that, should be fine. But, having said that, it depends on steepness, length of said hills and strength of the rider. Personally, I don't like combinations that use really big front chainrings, but given you will need a lowish gear that wouldn't be an issue. And it's an aesthetic issue, rather than a performance one.
How hilly is it where you live? If it 's very hilly, is ss the best way to go? If you choose a gear that can cope with steep ups, that gear is going to have
you spinning like crazy on the descents. My uncle, an old school club rider, always rode fixed in the winter. He had a few hills to deal with and used a flip flop fixed/fixed hub with a small sprocket on one side and a larger one on the other. On long, steep descents, he'd stop and flip the wheel to the smaller sprocket. Then flip it back when the going got too tough.
I run 44/16. I can just about get up Gipsy Hill on that. But I wouldn't want to do it every day. Although, it might get easier if I did ( or completely knacker my ageing knees).

I wasn't questioning the quality of the cake. Just the universal ownership of bollocks and thereby the experience of them tingling. (And because I am a laaaaydeeeeee, I cannot possibly comment on a parallel cake induced sensation).
But bike riding and chocolate raspberry cheesecake is my idea of heaven.

Your bollocks maybe.

Well, well. Small world. I remember you and your bike. I tend to remember bikes more than people, how sad is that? Catford is just a mile or so from me, (Honor Oak, just round the corner from Vaidas bikes). Our ride programme is a bit sparse at the moment, due to weather and illness, but I am doing my Surrey Hills Ride in March, the Spring Edition. Our new website is here
http://www.lewishamcyclists.co.uk the old .net one is defunct and should be ignored. Our rides are very women friendly, although not women only, and at the moment, most of our ride leaders are women.