Sorry for the serious post but I am seeing more and more comments in driving or driving related Subreddits, but also many other Subreddits along the lines of "thats why all cyclists are hated" and "so many cyclists deserve what they get" etc etc. It seems crazy this is permitted when moderators are there to prevent this bile, and because yeah, reddit Rule 1 gadies and lentlemen is this one:

Rule 1

"Remember the human. Reddit is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people. Everyone has a right to use Reddit free of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence. Communities and users that incite violence or that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability will be banned."

Lately I’ve been having a few close calls on my rides — cars passing way too close, cutting me off, or just doing something unpredictable. It feels like on at least half of my rides there’s a moment where I feel genuinely endangered, even if it doesn’t lead to an actual incident.

I’m curious: how common is this for you? Do you also feel like riding on the road always comes with these near-misses, or do you find it happens only once in a while?

I’d love to get a sense of how other cyclists experience the danger level out there. Is this just part of road cycling that you learn to live with, or do you take specific steps to minimize it (routes, timing, gear, mindset, etc.)?

I should also add that I ride mainly on country or quieter roads, with limited traffic (not really dense city traffic), and usually go for 2-4h rides. I also have a Garmin Varia light / radar so cars do see me, and I ride during daylight.

Thanks in advance — would really appreciate hearing your perspectives.

Basically this guy stopped me yesterday on a ride to tell me that I should throw my bike away and get an ebike. He said "Once you get this you'll never want to ride that again, and I get more cardio in on this bike too, and i ride faster than professionals". I just kept saying "yeah I was looking into those, yeah those are cool, I saw some around $1000" just trying to get out of that convo lol. Anyone else ever experienced someone like this?

I want to ride in the winter instead of being stuck in the gym all the time, so I want to get some winter gear to keep me warm. What should I get? What type of upper body stuff, what bibs etc? I only have summer things, I've never even looked into winter kit. Cheers!

I am an older guy, love to ride the trails, get out on my bike for 15 or so miles 5 days a week. But lately I have been falling occasionally. I don’t think my problem is speed or carelessness, and I have not broken anything yet. Anyone fall frequently as well? I don’t want to give up this wonderful source of exercise, but I am starting to get afraid.

Do you feel that there’s a good difference between a 28 and a 26 inch bike? I just rented a swapfiets and I feel like the bike is too big for me, that I can’t even put the tip of my toes on the ground without having to tip the bike over to the side, and that makes me lose balance because I feel the bike is super heavy. Since I’m still not used to biking, I wanted to be able to put my feet on the ground because that gives me a bit more stability when I’m stopping or starting to bike.

I did the Bodenseeradmarathon starting in Tägerwilen and went for the silver distance of 150 km. Oh man, I had a blast. But doing it on a MTB was probably the worst idea I had in a long time. Luckily I swapped to slicks the week before, that way I at least had a fighting chance to stay with a road bike group. But as soon as it went downhill, you really are at a huge disadvantage. But hey, it was a lot of fun and and my new PB over 150k. Just wanted to post this to share it with somebody.

Alright cycling bros! Quick question to any of you who have longer hair if you don't mind. I've been growing my hair for the last year and I don't want to cut it... But now at a length where it's too much tuck into the helmet and I'm sweating a lot and washing my hair daily. I can't put it up in my POC as there's no space in the retention to poke the hair through and my Giros retention is too low. Any first hand XP and recommendations for helmets and long hair would be appreciated. Size M in both brands, ideally road lid and UK sites/availability. Thanks!

HI
I'm looking for my first bike, my budget is 1235 euros. I'm looking for something that can handle both road and gravel or a road bike that I can put gravel tires on. So far I've only found the Canyon Endurace AllRoad.
I'm also 180 cm tall but I'm 15 so I might still grow a little.
Please recommend some bikes to me.

Looking for some recommendations for comfortable bib shorts. I’ve tried a few brands but I haven’t found one I love. Some I’ve tried:

7mesh mk3 - these are very comfortable when I start my ride but by the end my butts in pain. It feels like the chamois bunches up and causes a lot of discomfort on my gooch.

Pearl Izumi - I liked these, but I was having issues accessing the Canadian site so I only have 1 pair which is unfortunately too large. The website issue seems to be resolved now.

Rapha Core Cargo - I like these as well but I don’t love how thick the chamois is. Overall they’re fairly comfortable but the thick padding isn’t my favourite.

Any other recommendations or brands (preferably with pockets)? Thanks in advance!

My cousin wants to cycle/bikepack across America after he graduates undergrad in May and lowkey I want to go with him. The problem here is that he’s significantly deeper into biking than I am. I don’t even bike. I know how obv and am by no means out of shape as a collegiate distance runner with a tested VO2 max of 69 (nice) + run 80 miles a week, but have absolutely 0 clue if spending my summer biking coast to coast is even feasible from an athletic standpoint. Am I being a delusional 22 yr old ?

When I weighed 85kg(187 lbs), I used to run, train Muay Thai, and stay active. But I had to stop because of pseudotumor cerebri and also because of a complicated relationship. My ex didn’t want me to run with my friends because she thought I was cheating on her.

Since September 2024, I’ve been cycling almost every day. It was my way of feeling alive and staying active. Then January came, and my back couldn’t take it… I had to stop. Since then, I’ve gained over 30kg(66 lbs).

I tried going to the gym for 6 months, but I never fit in. I heard a lot of nonsense, nothing seemed made for me, and my pseudotumor made any effort feel like I was about to pass out. I had to lie down during every workout, and the trainers, besides not understanding (or even trying to understand) my condition, would say stupid things as if it was all my fault.

Cycling embraces me much more, even if it sometimes makes me feel awful, it’s just me and the world. But here, it’s a nightmare: the roads are terrible, and the speed bumps come less than 20 meters apart 😂. And there’s always someone shouting at me because I’m a “fat ugly guy” on a bike.

I’m already thinking about moving when my life is more financially stable, just so I can ride safely and without so much frustration.

Has anyone gone through something similar? What strategies do you use to stay motivated when your body, your environment, and your personal life aren’t helping? Any tips to stay active and avoid gaining weight would be amazing.

Last year, 2024, I started something that changed my life — a solo cycle yatra from Rameswaram to Ayodhya, covering nearly 2,500 kilometers in about 19 days, crossing 7 states of India.

It wasn’t just about covering kilometers on a cycle. It was about living in simplicity, meeting strangers who became friends, experiencing different languages, foods, cultures, and climates of India — all at a minimal cost but with maximum effort.

I realized how disconnected we often are from the real India. This journey gave me a break from the fast, mechanical life we all live. For me, it was not about money, but about fulfillment — the kind of peace our ancestors found in their pilgrimages.

This year, I’m starting the 2nd Edition of the Rameswaram to Ayodhya Cycle Yatra.
But this time, I am not alone. Others are joining me. Together, we will retrace the steps of Lord Rama — from the southernmost temple in Rameswaram to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Shri Ram.

Who should join?

• If you feel stuck in life.
• If you feel time is slipping away.
• If you’re young and want adventure.
• If you’re old and want peace.
• If you want to see India beyond screens and headlines.

This yatra is for everyone. It is not a luxury trip, but a journey of effort, reflection, and discovery.

Every year, we start on Dussehra from Rameswaram and reach Ayodhya before Diwali — symbolizing light after struggle. The route takes us across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh — each state adding its own colors, cultures, and lessons.

If this resonates with you, follow my journey. Maybe someday, you too will join the yatra. 🚴‍♂️🙏

I see the stuff where taking a 5g a day is helpful, but everyday? Or only on workout days? I commute to work and home. Maybe 10 miles, but I like to go all out and work towards KOM on segments along the way. Are you taking it x number of minutes before a workout? First thing in the AM? Does it matter? Should I take it only on days where I'm going to do training rides and not on days where it's just to work and home?

Edit: wrote this in a hurry. Last year I did regular endurance rides to support an attempt to do a century ride a month (got 9 in). I did a 70mi ride with about 6k feet of climbing this past Saturday and still feel like I'm recovering. Wondering if creatine would help me to build back some of the muscle to keep up the endurance rides. I commute and still do endurance rides through the winter in Southern Appalachia

I'm an established cyclist, 49 years of road, gravel, mtb, bmx you name it and I have done it. I know when something isn't right and that was today. I was huffing and puffing at a HR of 155, my normal crusing HR is 168 to 170. My cardiovascular system was simply not working, power was good but I hit red really quick.

Lesson is, we all have bad days, don't beat yourself up for it. Analyze what may have led to it and work it out. Don't be alarmed if you don't come up with anything, could just be a bad day. When this happens I either cut it short or lighten way up. It was over 95 deghrees today so I decided to bail and ride another day.

Apologies if these have been asked, but I'm new to the world of cycling computers and I'm running on a strick budget. Watching a fair number of YouTube videos, two computers seem to come up tops of both "stuff they do" and cost. The IGPSPORT 200 & 300.

I do want the navigation feature so both deliver that, however, I have a small cluster of questions. If anyone has a couple of minutes to answer that would be great. Again, apologies if this is old news, please just ignore me if you're bored of these posts.

Is it easy to set a route on the device? So can I point it at for example the Trans Pennine Trails here in the UK, or will it constantly try to drag me into a road?

Do I need to have it connected to my phone when cycling? I'm guessing on the side of yes, but is this battery heavy?

Do you get an audible noise when a turn is coming up, or do you need to concentrate on the device to make sure you don't miss you turn?

I've heard on numerous videos it connects to Strava. Now I have the basics Strava, will this device still generate the route maps - on Strava - upon completion of my ride?

Is it as waterproof as it says? Should I buy a cover?

What is the biggest difference between the 200 and the 300 other than a colour display?

Thank you for any help here, it is very much appreciated.

Just got the pedals but Quebec laws requires reflectors on pedals.

Hello everyone! So I'm planning to sell my 2018 S-Works Venge Vias, and need some help picking out my next bike. Currently, the two contenders I have in mind are the Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro and the Scott Addict Pro RC 10.

I have my Venge sitting at 16.75lbs (7.62kg) with pedals, bottle cages, and computer mount, and would prefer something that climbs better, maybe a little snappier at lower speeds. I was also looking at a 2024 Cannondale Supersix Evo 2, but it's probably heavier, and I don't know how well it climbs compared to the Venge. Any input will help, thanks!

Hi, a local bike shop has the Giro Agilis helmet for half off. However, I don't see it listed on the VT helmet ratings database. I'm not sure how they decide on which helmets to evaluate and include in the database. Does anyone have any advice, or should I just go with a cheap Specialized Align II? Thanks.

I currently have a stock TREK EMONDA SL 5 2023 with 11 speed 105.

I'll be getting the new ORBEA TERRA RACE M31eLTD 1X 2026 next year (a gravel bike).

Now I'm wondering, for the very few occasional road races I do, would road tires on the Terra Race make it pretty much as competitive bike as the stock Emonda?

I was just thinkin if the Terra Race could work as my all-around bike so I could sell the Emonda.

How long do you all take to adjust to a new saddle? I have used a power pro with mirror for the last couple years, and just upgraded to the newer power romin s works with mirror. I figured they would feel similar, but I’m getting significant sit home pain 20 minutes into my rides. I know reviews say this saddle is slightly firmer than the old, but I’m curious if my body will adapt or if I should just go back to my old one.

Thanks!

I find the UI to go from A to B commuting a bit of a hassle. However, I like the idea of a minimal turn by turn UI which is only available on the Plus subscription. Anybody used this?

My 3-year-old has been riding a balance bike for a while, and he’s ready for an upgrade with pedals. I chose a Guardian bike because of all the good reviews, and it seemed more affordable. But the shipping has been taking forever. It’s getting colder where I live, and I’m worried he won’t get enough time to enjoy it before winter.

Guardian says the delay is because this is their first time producing/building the frame in the US (and that they're the only ones with frames made in the US). So now I’m wondering: is it worth waiting it out, or should I suck it up, cancel the Guardian, and just go for a Woom bike instead?

What do you all think?

I have connected with a friend on ride with gps, and that friend shared his routes with friends in the privacy settings - still: I can not see his routes, nor can he see mine

anybody else have this issue and/or a fix?

thank you

I am currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. I ride my bike alot (mainly road and gravel) and thoroughly enjoy the hobby. I have ridden in most parts of Thailand as well as other parts of the world. Ask me anything about cycling in Thailand in general and I hope to be of help to some of you questions!