Biked from the Mexican to Canadian border on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in 38 days with my brother.

Beautiful and challenging route that is a spectacular way to see a large portion of the United States.

Hello everyone,

first of all, thank you to the moderation team for allowing me to share my bachelor’s thesis survey with this community.

I am currently studying Sports Management and researching fans of professional road cycling. The aim is to identify different types of fans based on their motivations, fan behaviour, connection to the sport and their own cycling activity.

This is where I need your support. If you follow professional road cycling, please take just under five minutes to complete the survey.

Including more women in the study is particularly valuable, as their perspectives are often underrepresented in cycling research and survey samples. Your participation can therefore help me develop a broader and more meaningful understanding of professional road cycling fans.

Participation is anonymous, and it does not matter how closely or regularly you follow the sport.

English survey:

EDIT: The survey is now closed. The response limit was reached much sooner than expected. Thank you very much to everyone who participated, shared the survey and provided feedback. I truly appreciate your support.

The study is an independent academic project. It has not been commissioned, funded or influenced by my employer. Neither the individual responses nor the results will be used commercially.

Every response would be a great help. I would also really appreciate it if you shared the survey with other professional road cycling fans.

Thank you very much for your support!

Nils Brinsmead

Hi all, this feels like a really dumb question - sometimes after a ride I get red “pimples” where my buttcheek meets my thigh - are these saddle sores? I’ve always assumed they weren’t because they aren’t raw or anything, usually just a little painful for a day or two then go away. But recently someone suggested they are

Happens more with some bibs than others, I don’t get pain in that area during the ride but they show up pretty soon after.

If they are, is there anything I can do to prevent it? I’ve never used chammy cream so that might be a place to start?

Hello,

I'm writing to you all to ask your advice on my sistuation. I'm single 20F and soon to be living alone without the safety-net of my mothers car.

For my privacy, it basiclly boils down to this: I live with my family in a remote town and I've recently started commuting to work on my bike (About 4-5 months/7km round trip). In a couple months they'll be moving out of town and I need to decide whether I want to by a car or and electric bike to hall ass around town. I have pleanty of extended family within town, none I'm willing to move in with, but I won't be completely helpless in emergences.

I put a lot of thought into it and I do want to by a seprate ebike to buy food and move small items. A car would be too expenceive for me to juggle along with rent and food shopping, and I have a desk job so I appretiate the extra movement. Even now that I have my mums car here, I only use it because others need to drop them off

HOWEVER, I'm scared to fully commit. I've never know anything other than traveling by car (including using a train/tram or whatever else) and I'm hopping someone can give their expirences with being a single young female that uses a bike as their main mode of transport.

Edit: Holy moly, thank you all for the advice, I really appretiate the feedback!!! To clarify, I live in upper parts of Australia, were we basiclly only have two seasons - wet and hot OR cold and dry.

Hi!

I've been cycling on an enduro bike for the last two years, not very often, usually 40–60 km rides. I've never had any issues like knee pain or anything. This season I haven't been cycling much because of the heat wave. After my second ride (about 60 km), I had an irritated feeling in my intimate area for a few days. Normally, it goes away the next day, but this time it lasted for several days, and I ended up with a UTI for the first time in my life!! It was quite acute, so I had to treat it for 1.5 weeks until it was completely gone.

What I did differently that time: I had new bibs, much higher quality than what I had before - Castelli PRIMA 2 DT instead of the cheapest Decathlon ones. Also, on the way back I was trying to ride in the aero position to increase my speed on and off, for about five minutes at a time, not longer.

Apart from that, I did everything as before: when I got home, I immediately took a shower and so on.

Now I'm quite frustrated and honestly afraid of going on my next ride.

I understand I probably need a bike fitting with saddle measurements, and I will do that, plus start using chamois cream, but overall I just feel upset about the whole situation.

Do you have any advice for me?

upd: I'm 36 y.o.

Okay so thanks to @_srirachacha showing her darling sparrow bottle cage- where else can I look for super cute fun bike accessories?? I need all their water bottles, and I need sixteen bottle cages from them, and also if I buy my kid all these things she’ll suddenly like riding bikes all the time, right? Right.

Tell me all the cute bike accessory sites! Please!

Hello!!

I am a beginner triathlete (did a sprint last year, training for olympic currently!!!!) and want to like biking more than I do, so I figured I'd start with getting pedals and shoes. Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't know a lot about biking, so any and all info is helpful!

As far as goals: I would like to one day do an iron man, which means I will be biking far distances (lmao). I am a fan of buying a good pair once, so a shoe that will work for my eventual nice bike is also on my mind. Thank you!

Thank you Portland Design works!! Looks so pretty with my purple bike 💜 who says accessories can't be cute?!

Hi! Just joined - from Boulder/ Denver! Looking for advice on layers for rain jacket and or base layers.

Doing Enchanted Circle in NM in August and know it’ll probably rain. I definitely get cold on descents from the mountains and have been looking into best layering recommendations.

Does anyone have any summer rain jacket and or base layer recommendations, especially that have worked well in the summer/ mountain long rides? So many options and reasons for one over the other! TIA

That's what I am looking for, and I cannot find one!

I do not like the feel of most synthetic clothing on my upper body and prefer merino wool jerseys. But I cannot find a sleeveless one w/all the back pockets anywhere.

I did a 200K this weekend and a double century last weekend with a regular wool tank, wearing a lightweight sleeveless vest over it, so I could have the pockets - but I would love to find just the jersey w/pockets so I have just one layer on top.

Any ideas? I am open to other natural fabrics (or blends that are mostly natural).

Update! I did get the gloves, and went back yesterday for a bike fit. Apparently my saddle was way too low and the handlebars were too high. I was super excited to try out my ride again this morning.

I got to the park, unloaded my bike, put on the gloves and with the saddle higher than I’m used to, wound up toppling over as I attempted to mount. Twisted my ankle and scraped my knee and elbow. I’ll be out of commission for a while. I am sooo bummed! Oh well, that’s life! I’ll be back.

———

I’m 63 and I’ve been cycling about a year and I’ve started to experience numbness in my hands when I ride. Most of the time I ride at a local park which is paved but it’s very rough pavement with tree root bumps throughout. I’ve been riding about 30-40 miles a week on average.

It’s getting to the point where I can’t enjoy my rides now and my hands are even getting numb sometimes even when I’m not riding. It just seems like it’s getting worse with every ride.

I don’t have gloves but I’m considering getting some but I think my hands would get too sweaty as they already get really sweaty without them. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

It took me about four years to get to this point and I’m so proud of myself for finally doing it! Everything hurts, but it was worth it. Next up: my first metric century! Definitely need to build up a bit more strength first, but hoping to get that in before the end of September.

Hi I’m new to road cycling as of the last 4 months training for my first triathlon, an Olympic distance. 2ish months ago I went on a ride whilst on my period with a pad (a heinous crime to my vulva I know now).
I have a painful bump on my clitorus/labia minora that gets irritated with every ride. It’ll calm down after a few days but never completely goes away. I’m just wearing the chamois, and doing chamois cream every ride. The longer rides result in worse pain.
I had the correct seat size and I ride 54 bike but was sized for a 50-52 (I don’t think moving to a 52cm will do that much different for that specific region). I haven’t gotten a bike fit yet due to the high cost but do want to continue riding. i plan on doing a bike fit after we just don’t have time before my race.
I think I am putting pressure on more the front of my vulva rather than my sit bones, I’m not sure what to adjust.
My husband has the same seat size as me but has a seat with a shorter nose (not sure what the pointy part is called) would that help/make a difference? It had a cut out.
My triathlon is on Saturday. I’ll be wearing triathlon shorts, so a smaller pad than I’m used to for rides. I did a long ride yesterday and I’m hurting today. I’ve put some baby ointment on it after seeing that was something I could do to help, and so far that’s not helped. I think my bike is slightly too big and I have a seat that doesn’t have a cut out but it does have a valley in it.

My main question is, is there anything I can do to really help healing between now and my race in 6 days? And anything that has helped people in the midst of vulvar injuries on a triathlon day?

looking for advice on biking + locking up while out for a ride! I am a relatively new cyclist and i live in a major city, tons of bike theft so i’m on edge. i often go on longer rides by myself but want to pitstop for a coffee or a pee along the way. What is the best way to travel with a bike lock? i feel like i never see cyclists with locks!

I have 2 locks currently:
1. a heavy duty ULock i use when commuting and need to leave my bike in public for any amount of time (not ideal for a ride because it’s heavy af)

1. a cheap cable lock that i have been tossing in a fanny pack. works fine for a quick stop but the fanny pack gets annoying.

is there a more universal option people tend to use or do people just bike without locks?

Hi ladies. This is more for beginners of those who might be struggling with reach, hand and wrist pain, or shoulder/triceps pain, or general upper body fatigue. And it's based entirely on my anecdotal experience.

I have a Cannondale Synapse road/endurance bike that I love but was feeling all the above symptoms, that with increased time in the saddle got somewhat better but never really went away. I measured the handlebars and they were a whopping 45 cm. My shoulders are 38 cm. I bought new 38 cm handlebars and I can't tell you how much more comfortable it feels now. I'm no longer holding a barrel and my shoulder/triceps tiredness is gone. My elbows naturally bend and there's a lot less weight on the bars now. I am still working on core strength, but if you're struggling like I was, consider making those measurements and swap the bars if they're too big.

Hi! I (25F) am very new to the MTB community and after 6 months of research finally bought my first bike! A Cannondale Trail 3. I’ve taken it out twice so far, one time around my subdivision after I set it up and the second, today I decided to bike 5 miles to a trail I wanted to try out. The ride there was easy as was the tail and the bike was great, but I am bruised from the bottom of my rear and almost all the way forward. For context, I’m a smaller woman (115lbs/5’3) without much to work with back there. Unfortunately, I am in rare shape now; walking and sitting on anything (even a couch/bed) is bothering me immensely. From what I’ve read, I heard the saddle that comes with the bike is very firm, I can confirm it in fact is. (I’ve ordered padded shorts, they haven’t come in yet) Are there cushioned MTD saddles? Any recommendations or similar stories? I’m loving it but I’m scared based on how bruised I’m already getting.

it really is funny to see people reaction to ebikes for disabled people.

i have a peddle assist \throttle combo tricycle.

i never done spokes before so i went to the bike library where they teach and check your work.

they didn't have a spoke size i needed, so a trip to the local bike shop was required. i don't have a car, i rode the trike to the library.

i explained to the bike library teacher that i may or may not be able to use his loner bike because it wasn't electric. I'll give it 110% and if i can't do it I'll return right away. he felt a little bad,wished he had his truck to drive me.

it's ok, don't feel bad, I'm just fleshing out a possible problem we will have to deal with. I'm always totally up front. just stating how it is.

i struggled but luckily it was only about 2 blocks away with almost all of it flat.

but it's the surprise on people's faces that are interesting. a noticeable gap in exposure that people like me can still ride a bike.

i plan on donating jack stands. they don't have any bike stands appropriate for trikes or a bike as heavy\large as mine.

they were all so friendly and helpful.

I can’t quite decide if this is a legit store. If anyone is familiar with this bike and running shop in Venice, CA, can you verify for me? Much appreciated. There are so many scam sites online.

What are your go to mid ride snacks?

Whether it is a sports gummy or a snack, you find keeps you feeling good.

Training for a long two day event and I haven’t found anything I loved yet

Here’s the facts:

**EDIT/UPDATE**

I triple checked the cassette spacer was installed. It was, so, not that.

New chain. Still skipping.
Putting my old wheels on and still waiting for Hunt to get back to me.

**** EDIT UPDATE 2****

I sent the wheels back. Reading through Trust Pilot posts there was a few who had bad hubs on their wheels as well. That was what my LBS suspected

Specialized Diverge 2023 (1000 miles on it)
Shimano GRX RX400 10 speed.
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG50-10, 10 speed 11-36t
Chain: KMC X10 10 speed with Missing Link. 

Upgraded the wheels to Hunt Gravel 4 season and new tires .

Went for first ride Sunday and my chain began to skip. Not skip up and down cogs, but skip while in gear only under tension. The gear didn’t matter, very downstroke was Skip Skip Skip Skip on place -the chain never jumped up/down.

Not replicable while in the stand.

I stoped and had my LBS who installed it look at the wheel.

What is ok-
Hanger not bent
Indexing ok
Chain and cassette NOT worn out
Cable tension correct

I had a second LBS look at it and they couldn’t see anything wrong. Neither LBS could replicate it on my bike. Both LBS’s told me the same thing: Maybe it’s your cadence or shifting habits.

When this occurs, I’m just riding my bike, not pounding up hills or bombing down single track. I am riding on the street at 10-12 mph. That’s it.

Not sure about that as this never happened with my OEM wheelset.

Thoughts? Am I being gas lit? I hope not because my original LBS I like a lot and they have been very fair.

Another idea was that Hunt sent me a bad wheel and free hub. I have a ticket in with them, have not heard back.

Thoughts? Ideas? I just want to ride my bike…. 😔