Great vid, love the music ! I do somewhat fear coming off, after three consecutive years in my early 50s when I had three crashes including a broken collar bone without another vehicle in sight. Two of them were my own fault due to lack of concentration , the third, a wet slippery narrow steep down hill, is what makes me cycle more carefully in my late 50s. The older you get, the longer it takes for them bruises to heal, believe me.
I love your comments about using clipless pedals Leonard. My scariest thing is not anything to do with the bike or its repair, its always about drivers who are too busy looking at their phones and not watching the road. I've had a few close calls here in Ontario, but thankfully never been hit yet. I've put mirrors on all my road bikes for this reason. Keep up your great work on your channel!
Leonard, I carry the brass inner of electrical choc block in my toolkit which can be used to secure a snapped spoke together if it hasn’t snapped at the hub or rim. The two screws are usually strong enough to keep it secure for the ride home. Not a miracle cure but a decent hack. Nice vlog.👏
I saw the lump in your throat as you swallowed the GCN video. Len, we all do it. For me it's like going to Walmart, sooner or later I have to go there.
Good advice as usual Leonard. I used to break spokes quite regularly when I was more of a fatty than I am now. It irked me considerably, so much so I determined never to pay the bike shop ever again for this nice little earner he had. I watched every video on youtube on the subject of spokes and wheel truing and then built my own stand. My friends now bring their wheels to me for repair and I charge them all the same price. Two bottles of good beer.
It amazes me that someone older that 15 cannot fix a puncture assuming they owned a bike as a kid. My friends and I were changing punctures at 10 years old. This fear stops many cyclists from riding alone and far.
When I converted to clipless pedals, an old, wise and experienced cyclist told me that you have to fall over due to forgetting to unclip three times until you finally figure it out. Unfortunately for me, he was spot on.
I have use the clipless cleats for a few years. One tip I can offer, is, always unclip from the same side first, every time. It makes a sudden-need-to-unclip one step closer to automatic.
Just started road cycling a few ago after MTB for years and managed 100yards shy of my aim of 61km 1 for every year today on my birthday and hope fully the rule of 3 applies as I fell over in my clip for the 3rd time LoL. Bruised right hand but all safe.
“Ventriloquist’s dolls and Celine Dion” 😂 very good Loved the Electropop music I this one Oh and good subject matters too Thanks Leonard Keep u the good work 👏
Both the GCN vids are presented by Simon Richardson, one of the old guard, and well worth watching. I stopped watching GCN when the channel moved in their current lineup. I taught my daughter to ride with clipless by getting her on the turbo trainer while she watched TV. For an hour I called out "left" or "right" at random intervals, until she could unclip without hesitation. She's never fallen. Edit: fix auto incorrect.
Cycling scary things; dogs that suddenly materialize in front of you, cars that "don't see you", blind corner followed by wet asphalt or running water, smartphone zombies with errant decisions...., but gosh the mere though of a ventriloquist Celine Dion dummy will give me nightmares for weeks.
Hey Leonardo....you got me, I’m 4/4 on that list but gradually working through my ‘issues’! BTW I find most of the GCN videos either helpful or entertaining (and sometimes both!) Thanks 😊
Here are my three scary cycling things, in no particular order. 1. Unleashed, unfenced aggressive dogs. 2. Drivers who are careless and unaware of cyclists... with a special note for those who open their car doors without looking. 3. Road debris (broken glass, bricks, dead animals, potholes that have just opened, etc. on a road you know very well (and for just an instant you have lost situational awareness).
I think that once you experience the mandatory slow motion fall when starting to ride with clips, there’s nothing to worry about from then on. For me, my slow motion fall was in a parking lot going slow on a gravel surface. Embarrassed more than anything else, I looked around to check if anyone had seen me fall, then moved on, and never again forgot to unclip before coming to a stop.
One thing about punctures is that you can buy various products to do quick fixes (sealant and compressed air to inflate tyre) that may be enough to get you home. I know the success of these is not guaranteed but something I carry around with me and would try first before having to change out the inner tube completely
Yeah. I remember learning spuds. I was mountain biking. A couple of club rides spring to mind. First, I took this hill and tried to power up it, only to discover that i didn't have the umphhh to get up the hill as I had chosen too high a gear. It is then that I tried to take my foot off of the peddle, suddely remembering that I was clipped in. I found myself lying on my back with my lets and bike in the air, having found a large patch of stinging nettles. It was summer and I was in shorts and short sleved top. Yeah. Another time when it was autumn and we had a reasonable amount of rain. I was half way through this flooded section of grass when I ran out of forward drive and then,, like a felled tree, crashed over sideways straight into the muddy water. Changing tyres. Having stared in mtb I carried tubes, patches and a bit later, CO2. Anyway, you must make sure that you have QR,, rather than bolts for your wheels. My fastest change and repair is 2 minutes. The real scary thing for most cyclists initially and is usually the reason why people don't take up cycling, is the roads. Towns are scary because many motorists choose to make it so. Impatience, the idea of entitlement and, to be fair, bullying. We have plenty of examples from our driving history where some pratt in a beemer is trying to bully you out of the way. Fortunately I learnt to ride a motorcycle before returning to cycling and I employ those lessons, especially defensive ridging, to the cycle. The thing is, despite what many car drivers believe, cycles are road vehicles and have been for a couple of centuries. So defend your space and stuff the guy behind you. Ride to be safe and don't apologies for being a cyclist. A good publication to get your hands on is Roadcraft. There is both a motorcycle and cycle version..
MuppetAlex1 absolutely right about drivers. Today everyone who passed us drove on the otherside of the road (it was very quiet) except one in a van came far too close and blasted the horn at the same time. Deliberately of course...
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 when I was commuting by bike I got a cheap helmet cam. What I found is that it didn't meet to work to have an impact. The guy who blasted past you would not have done so if he thought that you would upload his antics and cause points and a fine. Get some toilet role tube. Paint it black and stick it on your lid will work wonders
hey Leonard, cycling up hills scares me! Im going to try clipless again this year -but as you suggested, i will practice where there is a soft landing first :)
@@JuggernautMTB haha cheers juggernautMTB so i hear...im sure it'll happen to me in front of loads of people/cars/buses! I love my flats with spikes..but i guess i''ll get used to twisting the heel before bailing out!
@@jollygoodvelo hi leonard, im sure you will be right...its just so ....scary! but I'm glad you didn't break out another steptoe image for this one! cheers
I hate changing tyres because the modern deep clincher rims are a total pain. Easy to do at home with my workshop long levers, but not by the side of the road. I now use kevlar reinforced tyres or self sealing inner tubes or a combination of both. Punctures are rare, and usually slow ones that can be fixed when I get home.
@@jollygoodvelo yes but there seem to be considerably more idiot drivers about now since this bloody stupid plandemic started or should I say plandemic. I've was knocked off three times in three months. One avoiding an idiot in a tractor on a country lane, in on other myself and a friend were deliberately pushed off our bikes, apparently it's some stupid Facebook challenge and the last one in January I was knocked by an idiot in a bit and run. What the Hell is wrong with these people?
Remember I'm riding in Middle East and all it's wonders of road users ! My scary things are (1) cement mixer lorries (or buses) driving less than a metre from me and the seeming suction they give (2) loose rocks falling (or fallen) from construction lorries (3) seeing potholes too late (maybe also a more UK thing) (4) local drivers who think it is a sport to drive close to, or toot cyclists randomly (5) culmination of 1-4 = falling off bike and recovery techniques.
Mechanical issues are more of an annoyance now than anything. Tried cleats, hated it. Been on flats and no problem. Maniacs with a vehicle scare me the most... way too many close calls. Animals I can predict. People? Not a chance.
It happens to the best of us. I've been hit by a vehicle 4 times in the last six years. I fractured my ankle by being hit by a mini-van here... {{well I would post the link but UA-cam Censors the entire reply}} with an x-ray picture also. And yes, I was out riding the next day
Great common sense stuff. We all face every one of those dilemmas eventually. A very useful tip for the cleats and clip in pedals for those afraid to use them.....buy a small can of the old WD40 oil spray. Spray the pedals and the cleats and you will find that you can disengage very fast and easily without compromising retention to the pedals. It is a no brainer and works beautifully.
Being hit by a car in the dark once, I'm kinda scared for car drivers who don't pay attention or even have poor eyesight in the dark, so I use an abundance of light ever since.
The scariest thing I experienced was 3 weeks ago. I had purchased my first road bike and was going to go on my inaugural ride. I parked at a church. As I was airing up my tires and getting prepped, I was approached by two young men. They at first asked for spare change. Then they robbed me at gunpoint. They took my car, wallet and cell phone. I thought I was a gonner for sure. Well, it's been 3 weeks and I haven't had the desire to go cycling. Hopefully soon I'll get over it. For now, advice, be aware of your surroundings and if something feels off, trust your instincts and do what you feel is right.
Blimey, that certainly would scare anyone. At least they didn’t hurt you. You owe it to yourself to ‘get back on the horse’ and not let your fear and those thugs beat you.
Stans dart is a must if you are tubeless. I found a puncture the day after a ride, after reinflating the hole wouldn’t seal. So i popped in a dart and it been fine ever since. Sram has a tyre pressure calculator that i now use, slightly lower pressure than i was used to but a much better ride, tyre deforms slightly more so may be less punctures. Only had two puncture in three years of riding road bikes. My biggest fear is getting fat again. After loosing so much weight, I cycle so i can have cake and not feel guilty. I still eat cake or chocolate, but i eat less to compensate.
Nothing wrong with GCN videos. Usually entertaining and informative. So are yours Leonard and you are worth listening to because you are closer to my age, though still way younger.
Ok. You threw the bait out ... I'll bite. 1. I got tired of the constant overdone product placement. 2. I got tired of the constantly changing lineup. They have no loyalty to people, so why would people have loyalty to them? 3. After that lots of other things became irritating. Each to their own.
I’ve been watching a lot of your videos as a fellow overweight guy who loves riding a bike for exercise. I can’t say I’ve been into it as much as to wear the spandex and stuff only because I’m scared of getting the funny looks. I stepped it up this year though and got a fitness bike trek FX2 and I never knew what clipless pedals were until I saw your videos so I decided to give them a try also. I had no issues with them at all, right away I took off and was able to break out easily if I needed too. I averaged 2mph more than usual (sorry I know that probably doesn’t compute to you on the other side of the Atlantic lol) thanks for the videos and all the good advice. Also I never knew what cadence was and now paying attention to my pedaling much more to be in the right gear.
Hi Leonard, the only thing im particularly scared of when riding is being caught out in fog or heavy mist. Usually in winter the day can be perfect but as it draws in the fog arrives. OK got lights but feel very vulnerable on the country lanes.
Wasps, hornets, spiders, Ellen and Tom Cruise, scary, yes! Flats are a pain on cold weather rides since the tire is stiff and hard to get off/on. I have had numerous flats, broken spokes, broken saddle bolt (no saddle ride home, not fun!), even a busted chain. The chain break was the only time I had to call the wife for a pick up. Turns out she was quite good at picking up guys, but that's another story in itself. Heading out for a ride, keep on doing what you do.
Great topic! So what scares me is riding in a pack with inexperienced riders who think they are tour material. And if the bug I just swallowed while riding is going to give me an allergic reaction. I think that’s all.
i tell you what scared me . yesterday whilst waiting at a t junction to turn right (on my mtb),some bellend driving a range rover turns right on my side of the road and drives right at me. i was sure that i was going to be hit by them. they stop right at the last sec. i can say that a few choice words were said to them by me. be safe out there people
Few scary things added; 50+ (even up to 100!!) ton wood truck passing behind less than 50cm from Your elbow with 80+km/h... happens every ride and usually more than once.. black ice on the road; front wheel slips away faster than... and one of my most feared is rapid puncture to front wheel when descending high speed mountain road with 60+km/h speed just before tight turn. :/
So true about being connected to the bike. I knew I would fall. Not sure when, ... 😂today was the day, had a cute slow motion fall when faced with a dead end I didn’t see😳
@@AndrewBlucher thank you, yes I am okay, I was on a track in the floresta close by. I got cuts on my knee and the gloves worked well to protect my hand. It was my first fall, I think the fear of this happening is gone now 😊
I have just bought cleats for my shoes but I’m scared stiff of trying them with my new pedals which are half and half, to get me going,so to speak. I’ve been trying them on my turbo trainer and I love the clicking sound they make when you’re clicked in. Cheers for another great video
I just replaced my cranks and axel with some shorter ones, that was pretty scary! 😅 the spacers are probably all bassackwards but it seems to be working. 👍🤔
Modern pedals are a blessing, the old days of having to bend down and ease off a toe strap before taking your foot out of the pedal saw many a cyclist simply topple over if they had to do an emergency stop.
My first clipless pedal nightmare was popping a wheelie and falling over, kinda funny to me and others 🤣 Other then that , I'm more scared of hitting a rut in the path I'm riding, after surviving one broken collarbone, I don't need another...good video leonard!
Scared of dogs on retractable leashes, always afraid the poor bugger will run in front of me and will either get hit or choked. Sacred of patches of packed snow and ice.
An intermediate step to riding with cleats is to start with mountain bike pedals, aka Shimano SP's, as the cleats and pedals are much smaller and less intimidating than standard road gear.
GCN also has a very good video on adjusting disc brakes. Fixed my problem very easily. Been there, done that on all points 👍, but the vid isn't what I thought it would be from the title. An interesting one would be unexpected things that are dangerous for cyclists (if you haven't done it already).
I hate descending where there's tight bends, like in the Alpes. Back in England I once hit 61 mph, on a straight road with a tailwind and it was exciting rather than scary. I just hate banking over,
The scariest cycling thought I have is White’s Hill Owselbury, followed by Portsdown Hill from Southwick, followed West Marden Hill, then both Harvesting Lane & North lane up Butser, Old Winchester Hill and fnishing off with Stanmore Lane Winchester. Tomorrow’s ride is scary!
Not much phased by mechanical issues, most scary thing for me is coming off my bike and getting injured, due to a) wet roads b) ice patches c) potholes & d) inconsiderate and dangerous drivers, not much really LOL! Perhaps I should just stay at home eh???
I once failed to climb a hill on a geared bike. Then I decided never to fail again on fixed gear in honor of my late father. I willed it and haven't failed since. The mind is a powerful tool, use it!
The only thing that 'scares' me is cycling without my GoPros. I just don't feel safe without them now. Every ride I will get a handful of dangerous close passes. The stardard of driving in East Sussex is horrendous.
Why would a broken spoke end your ride? I've had many a broken spoke on the trails, I just twist it around the adjacent spoke and carry on with my ride regardless, then I fix it when i'm back.
Those are more annoying than scary. I've never been scared of getting a puncture, changing the inner tube takes like 5 min. But having to bring inner tubes and a pump were so annoying that I pretty much just ride a tubeless mountain bike now. Those don't puncture outside trails unless you run a sharp object over. Learnt from gmbn how to tune the derailleur and gcn how to do the brake a long time ago. I still don't use cleats, got to try them but they didn't feel different, for me it was just losing the option of changing my foot position when my ankle is painful. Was very tempted to get the Shimano SPD sandals though , I am very adamant on wearing sandals to cycle lol. Haven't had to do a spoke before, but we have so many shops around I I'll ride to one and have them do it for me. My friend did that once. The scary thing is 1:22 vehicle round a corner. Love the music .
Leonard, how about a video on what you don't like about GCN. They are ubiquitous on YT, so it's kind of hard to avoid their videos. I can't say I've liked them all, but I'm curious about how the cycling community views them. Cheers.
Congratulations on changing the spoke. I went through a similar experience, watched a video and just trued the wheel using the brake blocks as a guide. I guess you already had a spare spoke of the right length, or did you have to buy one? (or maybe took it off another wheel).
Very difficult to credit GCN for me also, but once in a while. (also I like Manon). I'm particularly afraid of my neighbors dog. He is in a fenced enclosed area but I can tell from his attitude the goal in life would be a nice juicy cycling calf for a snack!
Yes, I understand many people find dogs a problem. Again, it seems to be cyclists mainly in the UK. Not sure why its not such a big issue here in the UK.
I ride out to the country and have had as many as 4 maybe 5 dogs chase me at one time. I bring milk bone dog treats and put the bike between me and the dog. Usually the dogs end up following me for treats not to be territorial. I have a small gun I take but really dog treats have done it every time.
Look for a black spot peeking through the lighter color of the inside of the tire after pulling out any obvious object jammed into the outside. Often you can catch something that is making its way through. Carefully feel the inside of the tire afterwards to scan for any more foreign bodies. I like to line up the valve stem with the first letter of the brand name so that it is easier to match up the puncture on the inner tube with the location of the puncture on the tire.
Since I got my new (Chinese) rear wheel, I’ve broken 4 spokes, and I’ve ridden home each time. This is on a 32 spoke wheel. I wouldn’t have done so on some super lightweight 18 spoke thing. I was 120kg. Interestingly, I replaced them with thinner spokes which flex, but don’t break. Ideally of course I would rebuild my wheel with trusted Sapim spokes and a worthy rim.
Great video did you swallow hard having to mention GCN. Who hasn't stopped and then fallen over when wearing cleats, but it's all part of the process😉. Finally did you get the inspiration for your own opening credits from Dark?
The scariest thing is the price of coffee in some cafes. Better to stick to the old burgers vans though the stuff they sell as coffee tastes nothing like a coffee.
I’m scared of thunder and lightning. With cycling it was riding clipped in and seriously the thought was worse than the actual doing. Fell off 4 time on the first day but 2 yrs on wouldn’t ride any other way.
Can someone please explain what the issue is with Celine Dion? I mean, I'm not necessarily a fan but I also wouldn't necessarily change the channel if she came on the radio. So why no love for Celine?
Have I missed something here? Do people not like GCN videos? I find them obsessed almost with tubeless tyres and racing. Some videos are good but they remind me of the sporty types in school. I do like Oliver though. Funny lad.
@@Biking360 yes, I know what you mean. I just have a 7 speed sit up and beg type bike, with panniers.I often do 80 miles full of luggage. I wonder if GCN types could take the weight? I like leonards channel as its not technically racing except against himsel,but has a human struggle aspect to it. I.e No flash just to the point. I have a racer to but just for exercise. My main problem like you is GCN just tries to appeal to the sporty types from school! I don't think hub gears have been mentioned once.lol.
@@tonyjones9442 The problem with GCN is it's packed with racing pros and that's where they concentrate on making content. I've got a couple of racing bikes but also a city bike and a touring bike. A lot of us do a lot of mixed cycling and GCN systematically fails to represent us. That's why I come to channels like leonardmlee and frequently so. In fact, I might even unsubscribe to GCN! This exchange could just have pushed me over the edge!!
@@Biking360 Do you find when on your tourer that some of the racer types just look snootily down at you? Bit of a childish question but I've noticed it. Kind of ironic that my tourer is a land-rover defender of the bike world when they are all worried about a chip on their carbon frame. Also I got go love how they all dress up on GCN, I just wear jeans and t shirt sometimes and go where the peddles take me. I think its called freedom.
@@tonyjones9442 I live in Thailand and the overwhelming reception from cyclists is positive regardless of what you're riding. Most cyclists wave as you go by and plenty of non-cyclists wave and say hello too. It's a very friendly country to ride in so I count myself lucky.
Hi Leonardo.I have been riding for so long,I have seen it all. At the present time,the only things that scares me is; When ever i get the weird look from a cyclist that woories me.It some unknown reason it always turns ugly. Flat tire,something breakes,get cut off from cars,followed by other ugly things. So I try not to look at other cyclist,only if they are stopped with problems on the side of the road, in that case I stop. Ciao from lockdown Italy.
Trucks approaching from the opposite side on a very small road, not giving a f*** if you are cycling there and pushing you from the tarmac because you want to live a little longer. Other motorists driving backward out of a street, not checking for cyclists.. the list goes on and on. So the scariest thing for me is ‘not being seen or noticed’..
Mines is passing horses that are being ridden on the road especially on narrow country roads they are really unpredictable ( certain people will agree)
@@jollygoodvelo , always alert the rider and let them know I'm passing, sometimes they say it's ok and the horse still "rears" up , I do mainly ride in the Ayrshire countryside n there is a cpl of riding schools
Punctures aren't that bad, doesn't take too long to fix. I have found that Schwalbe Marathon plus are really dependable. I have only had one flat in 10,000 km.
@@lindatisue733 Thanks for the comment. India is still new to cycling. Where I live, a remote hill station, we don't have many good bike shops, and I've been trying to get my hands on a decent set of tires for a while. Checked the price of a Pirelli Cinturato and it costs almost half the price of my entire bike. Other brands don't sell here methinks.
My greatest fear is not being able to cycle anymore!
Great vid, love the music ! I do somewhat fear coming off, after three consecutive years in my early 50s when I had three crashes including a broken collar bone without another vehicle in sight. Two of them were my own fault due to lack of concentration , the third, a wet slippery narrow steep down hill, is what makes me cycle more carefully in my late 50s. The older you get, the longer it takes for them bruises to heal, believe me.
The only scary thing in life is the wife finding out how much I spend on cycling 😆😆😆
Probably best not to tell her.
Bob3lees@gmail.com
Loads
Get her a bike!
My wife thinks my Scott Foil bike cost around a thousand U.S. If I die she will sell my cycling stuff at a bargain basement price.
I love your comments about using clipless pedals Leonard. My scariest thing is not anything to do with the bike or its repair, its always about drivers who are too busy looking at their phones and not watching the road. I've had a few close calls here in Ontario, but thankfully never been hit yet. I've put mirrors on all my road bikes for this reason. Keep up your great work on your channel!
Keep an eye out for them, Ed.
A mirror has helped me at a particular unavoidable bottleneck where cars tend to speed through.
And reflective clothing and flashing LED'S
Leonard, I carry the brass inner of electrical choc block in my toolkit which can be used to secure a snapped spoke together if it hasn’t snapped at the hub or rim. The two screws are usually strong enough to keep it secure for the ride home. Not a miracle cure but a decent hack. Nice vlog.👏
I saw the lump in your throat as you swallowed the GCN video. Len, we all do it. For me it's like going to Walmart, sooner or later I have to go there.
Very true. It was very useful to watch.
Good advice as usual Leonard. I used to break spokes quite regularly when I was more of a fatty than I am now. It irked me considerably, so much so I determined never to pay the bike shop ever again for this nice little earner he had. I watched every video on youtube on the subject of spokes and wheel truing and then built my own stand. My friends now bring their wheels to me for repair and I charge them all the same price. Two bottles of good beer.
It amazes me that someone older that 15 cannot fix a puncture assuming they owned a bike as a kid. My friends and I were changing punctures at 10 years old. This fear stops many cyclists from riding alone and far.
Great stuff Leonard....delighted to see the channel goin do well..👍
And your soundtracks ate brilliant
When I converted to clipless pedals, an old, wise and experienced cyclist told me that you have to fall over due to forgetting to unclip three times until you finally figure it out. Unfortunately for me, he was spot on.
I have use the clipless cleats for a few years. One tip I can offer, is, always unclip from the same side first, every time. It makes a sudden-need-to-unclip one step closer to automatic.
I unclip one side, maybe 2 when going downhill or going fast , I went head over when I made that mistake last time, and I mean my LAST TIME😅
@@rollandjoeseph ...are you saying unclipping was a mistake while going downhill?
@@rollandjoeseph why are you unclipped going down hill?
Just started road cycling a few ago after MTB for years and managed 100yards shy of my aim of 61km 1 for every year today on my birthday and hope fully the rule of 3 applies as I fell over in my clip for the 3rd time LoL.
Bruised right hand but all safe.
“Ventriloquist’s dolls and Celine Dion” 😂 very good
Loved the Electropop music I this one
Oh and good subject matters too
Thanks Leonard
Keep u the good work 👏
Both the GCN vids are presented by Simon Richardson, one of the old guard, and well worth watching. I stopped watching GCN when the channel moved in their current lineup.
I taught my daughter to ride with clipless by getting her on the turbo trainer while she watched TV. For an hour I called out "left" or "right" at random intervals, until she could unclip without hesitation. She's never fallen.
Edit: fix auto incorrect.
Matt leaving and Jon stopping presenting killed it for me.
Matt does a really good sigma podcast, very funny man.
@@markbevis7947 I've watched some of his stuff with Sigma and love it. He's a really great guy and funny as you rightly say.
Cycling scary things; dogs that suddenly materialize in front of you, cars that "don't see you", blind corner followed by wet asphalt or running water, smartphone zombies with errant decisions...., but gosh the mere though of a ventriloquist Celine Dion dummy will give me nightmares for weeks.
Hey Leonardo....you got me, I’m 4/4 on that list but gradually working through my ‘issues’! BTW I find most of the GCN videos either helpful or entertaining (and sometimes both!) Thanks 😊
Here are my three scary cycling things, in no particular order.
1. Unleashed, unfenced aggressive dogs.
2. Drivers who are careless and unaware of cyclists... with a special note for those who open their car doors without looking.
3. Road debris (broken glass, bricks, dead animals, potholes that have just opened, etc. on a road you know very well (and for just an instant you have lost situational awareness).
All of those are concerning.
A big yes on dogs.
Agree to all three.
Your obvious pain at giving kudos to a GCN video made me laugh uproariously! Love YOUR videos. Crack on, Mate!!
It was a useful GCN video to be fair.
I think that once you experience the mandatory slow motion fall when starting to ride with clips, there’s nothing to worry about from then on. For me, my slow motion fall was in a parking lot going slow on a gravel surface. Embarrassed more than anything else, I looked around to check if anyone had seen me fall, then moved on, and never again forgot to unclip before coming to a stop.
Absolutely
Whats scares me is drivers blowing red lights in San Francisco. Keep safe and thanks for the video
Luckily we don't have too many incidents like that here but it does happen.
They do it here as well. I cycle on very busy roads and the amount of selfish drivers is not only astonishing, it’s disappointing
One thing about punctures is that you can buy various products to do quick fixes (sealant and compressed air to inflate tyre) that may be enough to get you home. I know the success of these is not guaranteed but something I carry around with me and would try first before having to change out the inner tube completely
Yeah. I remember learning spuds. I was mountain biking. A couple of club rides spring to mind. First, I took this hill and tried to power up it, only to discover that i didn't have the umphhh to get up the hill as I had chosen too high a gear. It is then that I tried to take my foot off of the peddle, suddely remembering that I was clipped in. I found myself lying on my back with my lets and bike in the air, having found a large patch of stinging nettles. It was summer and I was in shorts and short sleved top. Yeah. Another time when it was autumn and we had a reasonable amount of rain. I was half way through this flooded section of grass when I ran out of forward drive and then,, like a felled tree, crashed over sideways straight into the muddy water.
Changing tyres. Having stared in mtb I carried tubes, patches and a bit later, CO2. Anyway, you must make sure that you have QR,, rather than bolts for your wheels. My fastest change and repair is 2 minutes. The real scary thing for most cyclists initially and is usually the reason why people don't take up cycling, is the roads. Towns are scary because many motorists choose to make it so. Impatience, the idea of entitlement and, to be fair, bullying. We have plenty of examples from our driving history where some pratt in a beemer is trying to bully you out of the way. Fortunately I learnt to ride a motorcycle before returning to cycling and I employ those lessons, especially defensive ridging, to the cycle. The thing is, despite what many car drivers believe, cycles are road vehicles and have been for a couple of centuries. So defend your space and stuff the guy behind you. Ride to be safe and don't apologies for being a cyclist. A good publication to get your hands on is Roadcraft. There is both a motorcycle and cycle version..
MuppetAlex1 absolutely right about drivers. Today everyone who passed us drove on the otherside of the road (it was very quiet) except one in a van came far too close and blasted the horn at the same time. Deliberately of course...
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 when I was commuting by bike I got a cheap helmet cam. What I found is that it didn't meet to work to have an impact. The guy who blasted past you would not have done so if he thought that you would upload his antics and cause points and a fine. Get some toilet role tube. Paint it black and stick it on your lid will work wonders
hey Leonard, cycling up hills scares me! Im going to try clipless again this year -but as you suggested, i will practice where there is a soft landing first :)
Its easy. Like I say, you'll wonder why you hadn't done it before.
Falling over clipped in while stopping for a traffic light / sign is a cyclist rite of passage.... My first time was .... spectacular. 🙄
@@JuggernautMTB haha cheers juggernautMTB so i hear...im sure it'll happen to me in front of loads of people/cars/buses! I love my flats with spikes..but i guess i''ll get used to twisting the heel before bailing out!
@@jollygoodvelo hi leonard, im sure you will be right...its just so ....scary! but I'm glad you didn't break out another steptoe image for this one! cheers
I hate changing tyres because the modern deep clincher rims are a total pain. Easy to do at home with my workshop long levers, but not by the side of the road. I now use kevlar reinforced tyres or self sealing inner tubes or a combination of both. Punctures are rare, and usually slow ones that can be fixed when I get home.
Thing that really scares me ?? Motorists
Most motorists are pretty safe; it the idiot ones we need to be wary of.
@@jollygoodvelo yes but there seem to be considerably more idiot drivers about now since this bloody stupid plandemic started or should I say plandemic. I've was knocked off three times in three months. One avoiding an idiot in a tractor on a country lane, in on other myself and a friend were deliberately pushed off our bikes, apparently it's some stupid Facebook challenge and the last one in January I was knocked by an idiot in a bit and run. What the Hell is wrong with these people?
I originally subscribed for the cycling but I’m staying for the music!
Remember I'm riding in Middle East and all it's wonders of road users ! My scary things are (1) cement mixer lorries (or buses) driving less than a metre from me and the seeming suction they give (2) loose rocks falling (or fallen) from construction lorries (3) seeing potholes too late (maybe also a more UK thing) (4) local drivers who think it is a sport to drive close to, or toot cyclists randomly (5) culmination of 1-4 = falling off bike and recovery techniques.
Mechanical issues are more of an annoyance now than anything. Tried cleats, hated it. Been on flats and no problem. Maniacs with a vehicle scare me the most... way too many close calls. Animals I can predict. People? Not a chance.
Nowt queerer than folk
Being a 9 month elderly novice, I'm scared of vehicles and crashing, which will no doubt happen somewhere down the line.
Hopefully not.
Get a good pair of ridding gloves. Skidding and taking a tumble is a lot less painful if your hands are protected.
It happens to the best of us. I've been hit by a vehicle 4 times in the last six years. I fractured my ankle by being hit by a mini-van here... {{well I would post the link but UA-cam Censors the entire reply}} with an x-ray picture also. And yes, I was out riding the next day
I've watched your videos and you're just a young lad in my eyes!
@@nathanwoodruff9422 do you have reflective clothing Nathan?
Great common sense stuff. We all face every one of those dilemmas eventually. A very useful tip for the cleats and clip in pedals for those afraid to use them.....buy a small can of the old WD40 oil spray. Spray the pedals and the cleats and you will find that you can disengage very fast and easily without compromising retention to the pedals. It is a no brainer and works beautifully.
Being hit by a car in the dark once, I'm kinda scared for car drivers who don't pay attention or even have poor eyesight in the dark, so I use an abundance of light ever since.
The scariest thing I experienced was 3 weeks ago. I had purchased my first road bike and was going to go on my inaugural ride. I parked at a church. As I was airing up my tires and getting prepped, I was approached by two young men. They at first asked for spare change. Then they robbed me at gunpoint. They took my car, wallet and cell phone. I thought I was a gonner for sure. Well, it's been 3 weeks and I haven't had the desire to go cycling. Hopefully soon I'll get over it. For now, advice, be aware of your surroundings and if something feels off, trust your instincts and do what you feel is right.
Blimey, that certainly would scare anyone. At least they didn’t hurt you. You owe it to yourself to ‘get back on the horse’ and not let your fear and those thugs beat you.
Damn what country did that happen in?
@@MisterSal9895 San Antonio TX USA
Stans dart is a must if you are tubeless. I found a puncture the day after a ride, after reinflating the hole wouldn’t seal. So i popped in a dart and it been fine ever since.
Sram has a tyre pressure calculator that i now use, slightly lower pressure than i was used to but a much better ride, tyre deforms slightly more so may be less punctures. Only had two puncture in three years of riding road bikes.
My biggest fear is getting fat again. After loosing so much weight, I cycle so i can have cake and not feel guilty. I still eat cake or chocolate, but i eat less to compensate.
Congratulations on reaching 40k followers
Nothing wrong with GCN videos. Usually entertaining and informative. So are yours Leonard and you are worth listening to because you are closer to my age, though still way younger.
Ok. You threw the bait out ... I'll bite.
1. I got tired of the constant overdone product placement.
2. I got tired of the constantly changing lineup. They have no loyalty to people, so why would people have loyalty to them?
3. After that lots of other things became irritating.
Each to their own.
I’ve been watching a lot of your videos as a fellow overweight guy who loves riding a bike for exercise. I can’t say I’ve been into it as much as to wear the spandex and stuff only because I’m scared of getting the funny looks. I stepped it up this year though and got a fitness bike trek FX2 and I never knew what clipless pedals were until I saw your videos so I decided to give them a try also. I had no issues with them at all, right away I took off and was able to break out easily if I needed too. I averaged 2mph more than usual (sorry I know that probably doesn’t compute to you on the other side of the Atlantic lol) thanks for the videos and all the good advice. Also I never knew what cadence was and now paying attention to my pedaling much more to be in the right gear.
Sounds like you are doing great. We understand MPH here in the U.K.! Good to know it’s going well.
It was very convincing how you said a GCN video was very good, I believed you😂. Nice video, thanks.
I did try, honest.
Hi Leonard, the only thing im particularly scared of when riding is being caught out in fog or heavy mist. Usually in winter the day can be perfect but as it draws in the fog arrives. OK got lights but feel very vulnerable on the country lanes.
Wasps, hornets, spiders, Ellen and Tom Cruise, scary, yes! Flats are a pain on cold weather rides since the tire is stiff and hard to get off/on. I have had numerous flats, broken spokes, broken saddle bolt (no saddle ride home, not fun!), even a busted chain. The chain break was the only time I had to call the wife for a pick up. Turns out she was quite good at picking up guys, but that's another story in itself. Heading out for a ride, keep on doing what you do.
Hopefully you won’t have any issues, Jeff.
Great topic! So what scares me is riding in a pack with inexperienced riders who think they are tour material. And if the bug I just swallowed while riding is going to give me an allergic reaction. I think that’s all.
Ooooooo.....swallowing insects is not nice.
Swallowing them is one thing, but when they get stuck, gak!
I carry a spare spoke taped to the seat stay. It's helped me a couple of times.
i tell you what scared me . yesterday whilst waiting at a t junction to turn right (on my mtb),some bellend driving a range rover turns right on my side of the road and drives right at me. i was sure that i was going to be hit by them. they stop right at the last sec.
i can say that a few choice words were said to them by me.
be safe out there people
At least it wasn’t anything worse than a near miss
Few scary things added; 50+ (even up to 100!!) ton wood truck passing behind less than 50cm from Your elbow with 80+km/h... happens every ride and usually more than once.. black ice on the road; front wheel slips away faster than... and one of my most feared is rapid puncture to front wheel when descending high speed mountain road with 60+km/h speed just before tight turn. :/
So true about being connected to the bike. I knew I would fall. Not sure when, ... 😂today was the day, had a cute slow motion fall when faced with a dead end I didn’t see😳
Hope you're ok. The slow falls can be the worst.
@@AndrewBlucher thank you, yes I am okay, I was on a track in the floresta close by. I got cuts on my knee and the gloves worked well to protect my hand. It was my first fall, I think the fear of this happening is gone now 😊
Fab video m8 as always yea good info in there
Thanks John.
"And Celine deon"
*Spits out tea* 😂😂
I have just bought cleats for my shoes but I’m scared stiff of trying them with my new pedals which are half and half, to get me going,so to speak. I’ve been trying them on my turbo trainer and I love the clicking sound they make when you’re clicked in. Cheers for another great video
You’ll get used to them. Good luck
I like the clicking sound too!
It takes longer to wait for the vulcanizing cement to dry when repairing a puncture, than it does to take the wheel off and put back on
I just replaced my cranks and axel with some shorter ones, that was pretty scary! 😅 the spacers are probably all bassackwards but it seems to be working. 👍🤔
Yes, I can imagine the thought of doing that for the first time would be pretty scary.
Great vid and music a bit of Jean michel jarre vibe going on always look forward to watching very helpful and inspiring
It’s that 80s synth thing to fit in with the Stranger Things feel.
Modern pedals are a blessing, the old days of having to bend down and ease off a toe strap before taking your foot out of the pedal saw many a cyclist simply topple over if they had to do an emergency stop.
A simple click out. Much better.
Been cycling for 40 years roughly . What still frightens the life out of me is large roundabouts. Will often take a detour to avoid them.
Try Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout. It’s bad!
My first clipless pedal nightmare was popping a wheelie and falling over, kinda funny to me and others 🤣 Other then that , I'm more scared of hitting a rut in the path I'm riding, after surviving one broken collarbone, I don't need another...good video leonard!
Ouch.
Scared of dogs on retractable leashes, always afraid the poor bugger will run in front of me and will either get hit or choked. Sacred of patches of packed snow and ice.
Top tip for SPDs. Unclip BEFORE you stop. Wave your leg out to inform the traffic behind you intend to stop.
You should do that with whatever cleats you are using.
Congrats on reaching the 40k subs!
Scary 😉!!!!
Thanks Tim, but a good scary.
An intermediate step to riding with cleats is to start with mountain bike pedals, aka Shimano SP's, as the cleats and pedals are much smaller and less intimidating than standard road gear.
GCN also has a very good video on adjusting disc brakes. Fixed my problem very easily.
Been there, done that on all points 👍, but the vid isn't what I thought it would be from the title. An interesting one would be unexpected things that are dangerous for cyclists (if you haven't done it already).
I hate descending where there's tight bends, like in the Alpes. Back in England I once hit 61 mph, on a straight road with a tailwind and it was exciting rather than scary. I just hate banking over,
Ha ha---the curse of the GCN people. I laughed out loud! Don't worry, you won't lose me or many other fans. 😆
My worst scare was a lorry turning right in front of me when riding down bathwick hill at 37 mph. Managed to lock up the front wheel stopping in time.
You forgot to mention ... Passing a gang of youths in an underpass and wondering if they're going to jump you and steal your bike!
I find myself shifting into a low gear and getting ready to Chris Hoy it out of there. Or assist level 5 on the e-bike.
34 years as Nurse Ratchet! Fear me! 6'1" 240 lb. You got a gun. No?. That probably won't be enough. Walk on home boy!
@@TimpBizkit next comment is what I'd do!
Or jump out and criticize my riding gear
The scariest cycling thought I have is White’s Hill Owselbury, followed by Portsdown Hill from Southwick, followed West Marden Hill, then both Harvesting Lane & North lane up Butser, Old Winchester Hill and fnishing off with Stanmore Lane Winchester. Tomorrow’s ride is scary!
I’ll be checking out the rear mech, always has me scratching my head😊👍
It’s really simple.
I'm always scared of getting a front puncher going down hill on my aero bars
My biggest concern is any form of wildlife jumping out in front of me. This includes pedestrians!
Tim what about a snake on the road...
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834
Good point but I was thinking four-legged type that can send you over the handlebars.
@@timyaiser like a skippy 😅
Not much phased by mechanical issues, most scary thing for me is coming off my bike and getting injured, due to a) wet roads b) ice patches c) potholes & d) inconsiderate and dangerous drivers, not much really LOL! Perhaps I should just stay at home eh???
Leonard - what groupset is on the Allez?
I once failed to climb a hill on a geared bike. Then I decided never to fail again on fixed gear in honor of my late father. I willed it and haven't failed since. The mind is a powerful tool, use it!
It certainly is.
Hit the deck twice..scared of icey roads!...ok and Celine Dion🤣🤣
Ouch. Not sure which one I would rather.
The only thing that 'scares' me is cycling without my GoPros. I just don't feel safe without them now. Every ride I will get a handful of dangerous close passes. The stardard of driving in East Sussex is horrendous.
Oh my word, first flat I had was last year in the middle of nowhere. I found out it is quite a work out using the little pump on my bike.
You managed to get yourself going again, though.
@@jollygoodvelo yes but I may get one of those small air canisters to refill. I also bouhht puncture resistant tires
Scariest thing for me is riding on wet roads. Braking and cornering take on new dimensions of risk.
Why would a broken spoke end your ride? I've had many a broken spoke on the trails, I just twist it around the adjacent spoke and carry on with my ride regardless, then I fix it when i'm back.
If I have a problem I phone hubby (retired), fold bike place in boot, go home !! Keep Safe!!!
Those are more annoying than scary. I've never been scared of getting a puncture, changing the inner tube takes like 5 min. But having to bring inner tubes and a pump were so annoying that I pretty much just ride a tubeless mountain bike now. Those don't puncture outside trails unless you run a sharp object over.
Learnt from gmbn how to tune the derailleur and gcn how to do the brake a long time ago.
I still don't use cleats, got to try them but they didn't feel different, for me it was just losing the option of changing my foot position when my ankle is painful. Was very tempted to get the Shimano SPD sandals though , I am very adamant on wearing sandals to cycle lol.
Haven't had to do a spoke before, but we have so many shops around I I'll ride to one and have them do it for me. My friend did that once.
The scary thing is 1:22 vehicle round a corner. Love the music .
Leonard, how about a video on what you don't like about GCN. They are ubiquitous on YT, so it's kind of hard to avoid their videos. I can't say I've liked them all, but I'm curious about how the cycling community views them. Cheers.
I’ve actually not got anything against them. It’s all just a bit of friendly rivalry.
The Canterlever brakes (or lack of) on my CX bike on a steep road decent 😬😬😬
Ah!
Congratulations on changing the spoke. I went through a similar experience, watched a video and just trued the wheel using the brake blocks as a guide. I guess you already had a spare spoke of the right length, or did you have to buy one? (or maybe took it off another wheel).
I took it off an old wheel. Thankfully it’s a universal spoke.
Scary: gusty cross winds. Either putting you into the ditch or into traffic. I'd rather have a straight on head wind.
hills, oh my god ....HILLS !!!!
Very difficult to credit GCN for me also, but once in a while. (also I like Manon). I'm particularly afraid of my neighbors dog. He is in a fenced enclosed area but I can tell from his attitude the goal in life would be a nice juicy cycling calf for a snack!
Yes, I understand many people find dogs a problem. Again, it seems to be cyclists mainly in the UK. Not sure why its not such a big issue here in the UK.
I ride out to the country and have had as many as 4 maybe 5 dogs chase me at one time. I bring milk bone dog treats and put the bike between me and the dog. Usually the dogs end up following me for treats not to be territorial. I have a small gun I take but really dog treats have done it every time.
Squirt guns work well with a bit of soap in the water.
Gcn has great videos. Lol. What’s ur deal with Celine dion? Reminds u of the lizard people or something? Lol
My fear is that I damage my prostate or blood vessels in the "seating" area. Is it true or a myth that you are increasing your risk?
Scary thing about punctures, "Am I going to find the sharp object that caused the puncture?"
Hopefully you will and remove it otherwise is a sharp object that will cause you a second puncture
Look for a black spot peeking through the lighter color of the inside of the tire after pulling out any obvious object jammed into the outside. Often you can catch something that is making its way through. Carefully feel the inside of the tire afterwards to scan for any more foreign bodies.
I like to line up the valve stem with the first letter of the brand name so that it is easier to match up the puncture on the inner tube with the location of the puncture on the tire.
Easy, just check finger for bleeding
I thought you could ride the bike if only 1 spoke was broken. Either bend it around another or remove ?
Depends on how strong the wheel is and if the spoke is easily removed or at least not a problem running on the frame, etc.
Since I got my new (Chinese) rear wheel, I’ve broken 4 spokes, and I’ve ridden home each time. This is on a 32 spoke wheel. I wouldn’t have done so on some super lightweight 18 spoke thing. I was 120kg. Interestingly, I replaced them with thinner spokes which flex, but don’t break. Ideally of course I would rebuild my wheel with trusted Sapim spokes and a worthy rim.
what saddle do you use?
I just use the saddles that came with the bikes.
Great video did you swallow hard having to mention GCN.
Who hasn't stopped and then fallen over when wearing cleats, but it's all part of the process😉.
Finally did you get the inspiration for your own opening credits from Dark?
Ah, this time It inspiration from Stranger Things, another Netflix series.
@@jollygoodvelo another great series, sorry I meant the Jolly Good Velo trailer was Dark the inspiration for that?
Nearly being hit head on by a speeding car scared me a bit on yesterday's ride!
The scariest thing is the price of coffee in some cafes. Better to stick to the old burgers vans though the stuff they sell as coffee tastes nothing like a coffee.
The one thing I am really scared of, is not ever seeing another one of your "Inner Fred" videos.
I’m scared of thunder and lightning. With cycling it was riding clipped in and seriously the thought was worse than the actual doing. Fell off 4 time on the first day but 2 yrs on wouldn’t ride any other way.
I love thunder and lightning! I was actually thinking of you when I was talking about how easy it is to start using cleats.
Can someone please explain what the issue is with Celine Dion? I mean, I'm not necessarily a fan but I also wouldn't necessarily change the channel if she came on the radio. So why no love for Celine?
She's just a bit cheesy and whiney but each to their own.
You need to see her Eurovision entry for Switzerland to understand the horror.
If you need to ask, then you are Celine immune.
Have I missed something here? Do people not like GCN videos? I find them obsessed almost with tubeless tyres and racing. Some videos are good but they remind me of the sporty types in school. I do like Oliver though. Funny lad.
It's all too race-focused for me. Virtually nothing on touring which I'm into. I'm with you on Ollie. He's easily the best of the bunch.
@@Biking360 yes, I know what you mean. I just have a 7 speed sit up and beg type bike, with panniers.I often do 80 miles full of luggage. I wonder if GCN types could take the weight?
I like leonards channel as its not technically racing except against himsel,but has a human struggle aspect to it. I.e No flash just to the point.
I have a racer to but just for exercise. My main problem like you is GCN just tries to appeal to the sporty types from school! I don't think hub gears have been mentioned once.lol.
@@tonyjones9442 The problem with GCN is it's packed with racing pros and that's where they concentrate on making content. I've got a couple of racing bikes but also a city bike and a touring bike. A lot of us do a lot of mixed cycling and GCN systematically fails to represent us. That's why I come to channels like
leonardmlee and frequently so. In fact, I might even unsubscribe to GCN! This exchange could just have pushed me over the edge!!
@@Biking360 Do you find when on your tourer that some of the racer types just look snootily down at you? Bit of a childish question but I've noticed it.
Kind of ironic that my tourer is a land-rover defender of the bike world when they are all worried about a chip on their carbon frame. Also I got go love how they all dress up on GCN, I just wear jeans and t shirt sometimes and go where the peddles take me. I think its called freedom.
@@tonyjones9442 I live in Thailand and the overwhelming reception from cyclists is positive regardless of what you're riding. Most cyclists wave as you go by and plenty of non-cyclists wave and say hello too. It's a very friendly country to ride in so I count myself lucky.
Hi Leonardo.I have been riding for so long,I have seen it all.
At the present time,the only things that scares me is;
When ever i get the weird look from a cyclist that woories me.It some unknown reason it always turns ugly.
Flat tire,something breakes,get cut off from cars,followed by other ugly things.
So I try not to look at other cyclist,only if they are stopped with problems on the side of the road, in that case I stop.
Ciao from lockdown Italy.
Hey Saverio, I have to say that my experience is that Italian cyclists are generally very friendly.
@@jollygoodvelo Yes I agree,generally.
GCN are great! Helped me so much over the last years.
Me too.
When Matt was there it was fun and interesting, but presently...
@@paulojrg and Jon
Trucks approaching from the opposite side on a very small road, not giving a f*** if you are cycling there and pushing you from the tarmac because you want to live a little longer. Other motorists driving backward out of a street, not checking for cyclists.. the list goes on and on. So the scariest thing for me is ‘not being seen or noticed’..
Mines is passing horses that are being ridden on the road especially on narrow country roads they are really unpredictable ( certain people will agree)
Happens a lot where I ride. As long as you pass them wide and slow they are usually fine.
@@jollygoodvelo , always alert the rider and let them know I'm passing, sometimes they say it's ok and the horse still "rears" up , I do mainly ride in the Ayrshire countryside n there is a cpl of riding schools
I'm worried about my bibshort give ways. Lol.
The mark up on carbon fibre!
Getting a puncture. I get nightmares thinking of what's going to happen when I eventually get one..
You’ll fix it and be on your merry way.
Punctures aren't that bad, doesn't take too long to fix. I have found that Schwalbe Marathon plus are really dependable. I have only had one flat in 10,000 km.
@@lindatisue733 Thanks for the comment. India is still new to cycling. Where I live, a remote hill station, we don't have many good bike shops, and I've been trying to get my hands on a decent set of tires for a while. Checked the price of a Pirelli Cinturato and it costs almost half the price of my entire bike. Other brands don't sell here methinks.
Threshold, VO2MAX, and anaerobic workouts.