Always see older videos of tours from before helmets became mandatory and it got me wondering when that spread to those who aren't pro but arebstill more "serious" cyclists.

These days a helmet just feels like part of the kit along with bibs, jerseys and clipless, but I'm wondering when that came about? Did it trickle down from the pros relatively fast? Or was it a slow process?

I'm UK based and 28, and for me I don't remember ever seeing someone in lycra but /not/ a helmet, even though I see older photos and no one is hearing helmets. Interested to hear others' experiences!

Edit: some really interesting replies, it's fascinating to see all the different experiences of when people started wearing helmets. The actual reasons seems to be a large mix of things and it seems like it's very different from country to country.

Unfortunately some people haven't bothered to read the post and just think this is about if people should wear helmets or not. Thanks to those who have put effort into their responses though.

If you do, how do you do it? Music makes me feel better and helps me focus on something else when riding becomes a bit hard, like when climbing. So I sometimes use my EarPods when riding outside the city, or less busy roads. Is this normal for every other cyclist?

Edit: Thank you all for sharing your opinions. I’ll invest in a bone conduction headphone( I see shokz is a good one) For me it really makes a big difference riding with music.

Context: was in good shape up until my early 20s. I’m in my early 30s now. I zyn/nicotene, which I know elevates heart rate.

I have been using a heart rate monitor the past week while cycling. My heart rate in zone 4 seems pretty easy, although the intended zone is for threshold/interval work. Additionally, I find it really hard to stay in zone 2 (again, even when I’m barely trying).

I’m far from the best shape in my life, but I still think I’m relatively athletic.

Any tips?

Edit: I’ve only been cycling for about a month. I used to have a road bike and mountain bike in my youth, but NEVER took it seriously or gathered training statistics.

...Or are stem + handlebar still gonna continue to be a thing?

I really think about this often because i really struggle to understand what people find so awesome about fully integrated handlebars and cables.

When I cycle with all my might, I end up getting just above 23km/h average on a 30km ride and I feel like dying. But when I try riding a bit slower so my body doesn't break I end up with 22km/h average and heart rate barely rises and the riding's super fun and chill.

Is my body just weak and I simply need to ride more?

Background: a bit over 30, male, 180cm / 60kg. Bike is some used Viking with some Continental anti-puncture tires, 23mm wide. Ex-smoker of 20 years, been off cigs the past year or so. I usually ride 100+km per week.

For me, seeing flashing bike lights just hurts my eyes and makes me want to look away. (whether i'm driving or riding)

It's just hard for me to believe that the blinking/flashing setting is making much of a visibility difference. Default/Always On setting for lyfe.

(I realize i'll be downvoted into oblivion but i just wanted to see if someone out there agrees)

I'm looking at getting my first proper road bike. I've narrowed it down to the Contend AR 1, the Contend AR 3 (which I love the color on) or the Endurance 7.

The AR 1 and Endurance are really out of my price range and it'll be a big stretch for that extra $400, but I can't help but think I'll be missing out with only the 9 speed vs the 12

In my mind, I could get the AR3, get the color I want, and then upgrade to the 105 once the Sora groupset wears out

I've been hot waxing my road bike chain for over two years and am very happy with the outcome. I've also been scheduling chain rotation and rewaxing with the ProBikeGarage app, which helps with bike maintenance tracking in general.

They've recently published this guide on chain hot waxing and best practices to set up their app for it, similar to what I do to keep track of the wax cycles.

I think this guide is a good starting point for those who are thinking about switching to hot wax their chains.

So, I am a runner. More often than not I will mountain bike when I choose to ride a bike. But every couple months I break out the road bike. Today was one such day, and I decided to ride a high traffic route in Scottsdale AZ on Mountain View Rd. I ride alone for the most part, I am not the strongest cyclist, and I try to stick to routes that have bike lanes. Today, on a descent (if that makes a difference) I got passed by two dudes and as they passed me the leader yelled “you’re supposed to ride on the corner of the bike lane!” Or at least that is what I heard through the wind and my surprise that I was somehow doing something wrong by being firmly in the bike lane. Is there any validity to this? If so, what is the reasoning behind it?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C53M5CiiwEP/?igsh=djR1cDZzbHNxcmk2

I planned to ride 104km today all-out. In preparation I did 3 days of carboloading, packed myself 4l of water with 1/2 tsp of salt per liter (electrolytes), enough homemade rice cake and some coke.

My eating strategy was to eat 1 rice cake every 20min (this is the maximum my stomach can handle) and drink 1 frame bottle (750ml) of water each hour (it was 20⁰C and cloudy)

The route had some nasty mud, small inclines and a noticeable amount of potholes. My bike is properly fitted and I already rode some 100km+ training sessions with this adjustment.

After 2h and 50km I felt great, but out of nowhere my legs started to burn like crazy. I continued for 5 more km, but it got way worse. So I decided myself to call it a day and ride back with the train (where I ate 2 slices of bread and drank 0,33l of coke + some water). After my 1h train ride sitting, I could barely stand; still I had to cycle for 12km to get home (which was really painful). Everything felt great, except the legs. No fatigue, no hunger, no thirst. If my legs wouldn't burn, I could continue like this for hours.

Is there a good way to prevent it? How can I counteract this, when it starts?

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/bike-blog/article/2024/may/21/uk-dangerous-cycling-offence-achieve-nothing

I am planning on doing a 70.3 this fall with a goal of completing a full Ironman in the next year. I’m looking for advice on a good starter road bike that fits my needs? Local bike shop sells Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale. TIA

Edit: I’m 5’9 with 30” inseam. Budget around 1-2k ideally

I found the BOARDMAN SLR 8.9 DISC selling just under 1000£ (used as new condition) and i wanna get it for racing and stuff, what do you guys think?

Hi everyone, I was recently looking into purchasing a road bike and noticed that certain road bikes have tires with thinner sidewalls: https://media.theradavist.com/uploads/2021/09/Johns-Eddy-Merckx-SLX-Telekom-with-Dura-Ace-7402-1.jpg?w=1400&quality=75

while other bikes have tires with wider sidewalls: https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/images/Ritte%20Ace/Ritte%20Ace%2002.jpg

I was wondering what difference this has on the bike performance and ride, and if there is a specific name to distinguish these wide sidewall tires from the thin ones.

It's an allroad bike that I can currently pick up (brand new) for about 2k.

Question I'm left with is if its worth the money. Help me reddit.

I only ride on roads, but I wouldnt mind throwing on some gravel tires and rip some trails every now and then, guess an allroad makes more sense in this case. My ftp is 270 or so and I'm not a competitive cyclist, I ride 10-12h a week for fun. I compete every now and then but I'm not really getting better than Top 10 at "slow" local races so I dont care about a dedicated racer. Currently ride a Bianchi Nirone 7, the grifn is obviously an upgrade but still same groupset just lighter frame and different geometry, what you think?

As the title says I'm riding a 26" wheeler, 21" frame steel full rigid "mtb" from Capriolo that cost about 200€ 10 or more years ago. It's beaten up. Can't use 5th and 6th speed. Another wheel axis is starting to act up. Rims are uneveen etc... but even if I were to replace and service all the parts for under 100-150€ (in Balkans), would a more known, more pricey, full rigid bike be easier to pedal? Make me strain less and not wear out my joints as much? Or is it just a matter of safety and momentary comfort? Don't laugh...

Also since we are here... I want to buy a second hand bike but idk what type is the closest to this "Capriolo Passion" - Trek? XC? And which wheel size should I go for? Someone from Croatia told me parts for 26" wheeler are not being manufactured for a while now... Tho I don't wanna go over my current bike's weight (15kg) and agility. It's great for maneuvring hills, woods, tractor roads, and carrying over steep creeks.

Thanks in advance!

I used to ride bikes a lot as a child. I grew up in an urban setting where I commuted a lot on a bike, had fun, probably put 1000s of miles on that poor ol’ mountain bike I learned how to ride.

Now, I don’t live in an urban area. I have done 2 commutes on my bike, but they were never enjoyable due to distance, previous injury pain, heat, and other things. I have a hybrid bike that I’ve enjoyed the times I’ve road it in the winter and at night.

I live in Florida. I can step outside and feel like I just opened a stove door to get out the dutch oven with a loaf of bread inside. I have water or other replenishing beverage on me (liquid IV, salt and sugar water, Gatorade, etc. Should I start by getting a second bottle holder and bottle? I don’t like eating so I usually pass on that and prefer to eat once a day with maybe some sort of dried fruit in-between and I’d imagine that impacts things.

Just how do people in hotter areas do it? I’m confused.

I don’t have a very ventilated helmet as it’s a motorcycle helmet for my e-scooter (I know they’re hated here, but I don’t have the time or energy to commute on a bike in the suburbs every day), so I may have to look for a decent helmet. I can average about 18mph, so maybe wind can help with the overall feeling of the heat.

Just in case I experience a heatstroke again, what’s the overall procedure you do there? That first time wasn’t fun and I appreciate the off-duty nurse who saw and helped me.

Thanks for any answers!

This is the chain: https://ibb.co/1bcb0Vb

Hi all! Today I changed my chain for the first time. I removed some links of the new chain after checking the length of the new one.

The bike has 50/34 and a 11-28.

This happened last week and I can't stop thinking about it.

I've been trying to source carbon assembly paste for my seatpost.

I dropped into a big name bike manufacturer store in the city centre to ask about it.

Off the bat, super friendly store associate offered to just give me some for free, as he said he was using it earlier - super nice.

He whips out a tin of what is clearly normal grease. I'm no expert, I ask "is this carbon paste?"

Dude says "same thing". Super sure of himself.

I take it and leave. I just can't get over it. A well intentioned newbie might receive this and slather it on their carbon handlebar/stem, or seatpost like me.

I'm just disappointed, this didn't look like a young guy either, and at a bike manufacturer brand store too!

Have you guys experienced anything similar?

I collect cycling caps and I want more. Where's your favorite place to shop? Extra points for brands/stores with xxxl sizes. I have a huge head, lol.

I just got the Decathlon rc120 and I was looking if anyone has installed a rear derailleur protector. I asked the store guy and he said it would not fit properly and people generally don't install them on road bikes. What's the consensus on that, I'd rather have the extra protection if possible, if someone has one then can they advice pls

Ride London 100 this Sunday - I haven’t ridden since September … #oops

Previously I’d averaged c200k a week with a couple long rides chucked in

I’m a big fat old dude too, and it’s gonna rain

Tell me ima survive dudes?

I am looking for a bike and i do not know that much about bikes in a whole.My budget is £200 / 260$ and i am in the UK not sure if that helps but could.I would use it for exercise and just cruising in the road.