My new Kuo+

[Kelly P]

After much help and advice on these forums - I ordered my Kuo+ folding bike.

It's taken what felt like a lifetime, as I got the bike through the cyclescheme, but it's worth the wait.

I collected the bike on Friday evening from Valley E-Bikes in Bolton (who gave a great service - including staying open late so I could collect it Fri eve). I gave the bike an initial 5 mile ride on Friday evening and was pleased as punch.

Today I cycled to work (6.5 miles each way)... The weather was BOILING, but I did it. 30mins or so there, 44 on the way back (up hill mostly).

I went for this bike as it seemed the easiest to fold, tip back and wheel into my office (one of my requirements).

The below pics are of it in my hallway and then at work today.

My bum is killing me.... I'd like a nicely sprung Brooks but will wait a little bit.

Thank you everyone for all the advice and guidance!

 

[Kuorider]

Take a look at a Selle saddle, I use one of these. http://practicalcycles.com/products/243695--selle-royal-drifter-sprung-saddle.aspx (shop around for price though) I found this really good after a bit of experimenting with adjustments. Choosing a saddle can be a bit hit or miss. Also look at Dutch 'roc' saddles ,these can be had as short nose and nose less. The sprung Brookes is excellent but can take a while to break in. There are two adjustments on your bars which may help with comfort. Try setting them a bit higher than you think you need, and look for the centre clip which lets the bar rotate to adjust your wrist position. A set of Ergon grips and gel gloves are also worth a look.
Watch out for fake ergon stuff,they look similar but are junk.
Ladies roc saddle-
http://www.lecyclo.com/velo/confort/selle-tige-et-housse/selle/selle-de-velo-femme-confortable-avec-gel-rokky-selle-royal.html
Ergon grips-
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ergon-gp1-handlebar-grips/ These can be ordered with a shorter right side for the gear shift,or just cut a bit off
Noseless type-
http://www.lecyclo.com/velo/confort/selle-tige-et-housse/selle/selle-de-velo-sans-bec-a-suspension.html

 

[LeighPing]

Gel saddles are a tenner at Tesco's. I have one, they're good.
I now have a suntour seatpost. But my previous, ebay seatpost had no complaints from me. As you can see, by the state of my bike, I ride it like I've stole it.

Suspension seat post £6 Click to view.

 

[Kelly P]

Thank you both for you advice - I've been looking at the Selle Royal Drifter Plus on Amazon... it's pretty weighty but shouldn't really matter as i don't really carry the bike.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Selle-Royal-Drifter-Relaxed-Saddle/dp/B009O0CVPY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Are the nose-less ones mentioned alright for women?

x

 

[Kelly P]

PS. The Kuo+ has ergo grips - they're great

 

[Kuorider]

The nose less are designed for the Ladies, 'Roc' means skirt and these are specifically designed for use with a coat or skirt. A more upright sitting position would be required which may not suit your use. The Drifter may be the best choice. Try different adjustments ie back/forward and nose high/ low. Ours seem best slightly nose high as this keeps your weight back on the springs. Small adjustments to these settings can make a big difference to comfort.

 

[Kelly P]

Thank you Kuo Rider That's a great help!

 

[georgehenry]

Hi Kelly, I replaced the saddle on my bike with a Velo one sourced from amazon that has proved to be very comfortable, well made and good value.

Indeed so comfortable that I have put them on my other bikes. I do a 23 mile commute and have covered over 3000 miles so the recommendation is based on a year and two months of hard use.

Although finding the perfect saddle can be tricky as we are all different.

 

[Kelly P]

Thank you all for your help!

 

[Geebee]

Give it a couple of weeks and the chances are the seat will be fine, there tends to be a period of adjustment

 

[Kelly P]

Monday turned out to be a bad day.... I always planned to cycle Mon, Wed and Fri to work this week.
Monday came and it was chucking it down, but I thought "I can't just not cycle because of the rain"... So I set off. I got to work like a drowned rat.... I'm like the opposite of the common saying.... I had the idea but not the gear. I was drenched, my waterproof coat wasn't waterproof, I had wet clothes, shoes and socks all day.

Lunch time I was in the lift coming down from my works canteen and the lift got stuck and then dropped several floors - super frightning!

Home time came, I put on my leaky waterproof jacket and helmet and set off. I live and work in Manchester and there are various tram lines in the roads around my journey. I was sat in the cycle box at the traffic lights, the lights went to green and as I set off and cycled over the tram line my wheel slipped on the wet metal line and threw me off my bike in front of a car.
I lay there thinking I was going to get run over and I braced myself. Luckily the driver saw me and stopped. A nice pedestrian came running to help me and I got away with a few bruises, scrapes and a ripped jacket.

I know these kind of things happen but it was pretty scary and my confidence has been knocked.

Once on the pavement I checked my bike over and then cycled the rest of my journey home (6 miles).

I've not been on my bike since as I'm still in pain from Monday but I hope to be back in the saddle soon.

My lessons are - take clean clothes to work, get better waterproofs and avoid cycling close to a tram line.

 

[electrickery]

Bloody hell , scary times. Next time use the stairs and better for you also )
No tram lines where I am but came off quite hard a few months back on a wet tree root. Don't bounce so well these days.
Get back on a dry day. The sooner the better. Your confidence will return. Try and cross tram lines (and tree roots) as close to right angles as possible.
Take care Regards

 

[Kuorider]

I spent a lot of my young days riding on wet cobbles and tramlines in Glasgow in the 50's. When crossing tram lines it's important to do so at as near 90 degrees to the steel line as possible. No thin tyre will grip on wet steel when approached at an acute angle. I recently watched several cyclists falling off in Edinburgh at Haymarket and almost found my self shouting at them to cross the lines in a safe way, it just did not occur to them how to do this. So either cross at 90 or avoid.

As for keeping dry, the best is still the old fashioned cycle cape, fixed at your neck over a towel scarf and draped over your handlebars at the front and carrier at the back, both you and the bike will stay dry. Capes have thumb loops which hold the front in place and keep your hands dry. Best on your head is the good old fashioned oil skin Sou'wester which sheds the water out over the cape. A hood with a brim will do instead, you soon get the knack of using the brim to keep your eyes dry. Jackets and trousers are no use in heavy rain ( Argyll in June), too many gaps. With a cape just drape it over the bike to dry, wring out your towel scarf and dry on a radiator or have a spare and you are good to go nice and dry later. If you can go out on a quiet Sunday morning and practice it will get easier. Remember cycling is a skill and it does take some time to become reasonably good at it. On your sore bits try some Arnica gel . Above all don't give up.