Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I do swim and go to the gym from time to time and would love to get a bike but am not a confident rider. As I walk a fair bit I thought wearing FitFlops might be a good top up exercise.


Anyone else overcome the dilemma of being an almost beginner cyclist on London roads?

Yes - me! A year ago I was too scared to ride on London roads, now I go nearly everywhere by bike - including the centre of London. The things that helped me were a lesson from a cycle instructor through Southwark Council (Cycle lesson info), who cycled my commute to work with me, and then going on some long cross London rides with some confident cycling friends. See if you can borrow a bike (I used the work pool bike to start with) and ask someone to cycle along with you for a bit. Also do some cycling when there's no pressure to be anywhere on time, have a pootle around at the weekend. And remember, the beauty of cycling is that if at any point you get nervous or there's a junction you don't think you can handle, you can just hop off and push your bike round it.


No idea about fit flops though, sorry!

Nope. If you don't do any other exercise and only ever wear high high heels, then you might notice aching calves the first time you wear them for any length of time. Otherwise, no.


Having said that, once you get used to the slightly rough toe-pole, they are ridiculously comfortable. Kinda like wearing slippers but as flip flops. I got a pair last year and then a pair of the bronze sequinned ones (that go with more) to wear as regular summer shoes - and I'll be sad when I have to switch to 'sensible' shoes. However, I suspect the tri-weekly gym sessions have more effect on my butt than the Fit Flops :(

Thanks Pandora. Might take the plunge but would need to get a lot more practice cycling without wobbling before I hit the roads. Overcoming the embarrassment of walking the bike to the park for practice would be the first challenge. Perhaps a beginners' cycling course might be the way to go but I guess I would still need to bring my own bike? Anyone have any recommendations for courses?


Thanks for the feedback about FitFlops guys. Won't waste my money although having a pair of flip flops that are as comfortable as slippers is appealing.


Edited to say: Before I get slaughtered by the grammar police is it "practice" or "practise"

"Comfortable" shoes are not for everyone, and "Fit flops" make me very uncomfortable indeed, they are about as attractive as Y fronts. They are not a work out. That is a gimmick.


If you want to get fit - take exercise. If you want to tone up lazily, buy a Slendertone belt!


I used a power plate to tone up and lose weight, but I found it difficult to keep all of my wine in my glass with all of the vibration... I can have a nice glass of vino while wearing my Slendertone belt - the ideal solution for me (hic). Exercise is so undignified, all of those obese, wet people in the gym or pounding the pavement in their obscene lycra shorts past my house. It's not for everyone...

Quite right too...


I'm no home fitness expert but I hear the shopping channels swear by these slendercrone belts. Some, such as yourself Hibbs, may find their purse a little light to purchase one. Simply take a weightlifters belt, strap it across your stomach and attach the ends of the belt to the piston heads of a combustion engine.


The results you're looking for can be achieved at about 80 mph.

hibbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> OK I have several pairs of Fit-flops and whilst

> they have made absolutely no difference to my

> appearance they are THE most comfortable pair of

> flip flop/sandals/shoes I have every worn...so

> from a comfort point of view I would definitely

> recommend buying them.


I have 4 pairs. They are great at relieving lower back pain, hip pain and any pain in the foot area. I know lots of people with Fitflops and they all say the same. They are more comfortable than bare feet and particularly good if you have to stand up a lot, cooking or whatever.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • They are very good
    • Having  current and relevant experience of both Charter North and Charter East with regards to their conduct towards SEN pupils and their families, I would say that their conduct and behaviour is wholly lacking in understanding as well as making no effort to make reasonable adjustments for the SEN pupil as legally required under Equality Act 2010. Furthermore, I believe that their behaviour is wholly illegal. According to data from Ambitious About Autism, unfortunately that is not uncommon We have separately requested legal advice as to whether or not the specific conduct of the school and certain teachers constitutes a criminal offence under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 or other legislation. These links have some very good materials to assist parents: https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/understanding-autism/education/exclusions-know-your-rights https://www.ipsea.org.uk https://sossen.org.uk   Also, this link specifically for girls with autism as this tends to be diagnosed at a much later stage than boys and requires different support and reasonable adjustments that the neither of the policies nor behaviours of Charter East or Charter North reflect. https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org   Helen Hayes MP for Dulwich & West Norwood and whose constituency includes Charter North is Chair of the Education Committee at the Houses of Parliament They published this report on the SEND crisis on 18 Sept 2025 https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8684/solving-the-send-crisis/   Ellie Reeves (Rachel Reeves’ sister and formerly Chair of the Labour Party) is the MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich - the constituency under which Charter East falls I would urge any parents who are concerned about their children, whether SEN or not, who attend Charter North or Charter East to write to your MP canvassing their support and requesting that they write to their respective school on this subject, referencing this report of the Education Committee and the failures of Charter East and Charter North with regards to SEN, their illegal behaviour and soliciting a plan of action from them to immediately stop such behaviour and support SEN pupils with reasonable adjustments as required under the Equality Act 2010. Even if your child is not SEN, the school implementing the correct and legally required procedures materially improves the school environment for all pupils, teachers and non-teaching staff. Often the reasonable adjustments can actually be relatively minor but have a very material benefit. In our experience, there have been one or two teachers who have shown this with very positive results; however, this is the opposite of the institutional approach of both schools which is wholly negative, unsupportive and often illegal. In addition to EHCPs, there is also huge pressure at CAMHS and insufficient resource to support all cases and meet demand.  Even if families and their child are lucky to get access to it, there remains very long wait lists to access treatment.  The same is true in the private sector. A proactive and practical, common sense approach to SEN in this manner by Charter North and Charter East would also help to reduce pressure on CAMHS The latest tragedy last week at Charter North means that this is more pressing than ever.    
    • Thought I'd add a comment as sadly there are now too many primary schools for the number of children in this area... St Anthony's is a wonderful school and my 2 sons were extremely happy throughout the time they were there. They have some open days for reception and  nursery in Nov I believe and welcome children and families of all faiths and backgrounds. It has lovely staff and I cannot recommend it more highly!
    • Anyone has lavender buds they don’t want/that I could harvest/cut and use? Ideally in Peckham/ED goose green area.  Thanks in advance!
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...