tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-384422822024-03-15T18:09:33.430-07:00Idiot On A BikeIt's all about the bike. And the idiot on it.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-15661954346204615762010-05-20T06:04:00.000-07:002010-05-20T06:10:39.153-07:00The Science Of The Tour<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SCJgsuAkMBQzn5C9jvyEqLRXIiGp6R8inLCdRjDiQ7YEG5Lc1zIudmOQ2tmFM6LvdK2MdckJmDNb3r4YhpESyDCEIKe6oJ-H_S7T-cZjEWZxi6VM4lkhvpw2fsZ9djies6BhSw/s1600/bikes.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SCJgsuAkMBQzn5C9jvyEqLRXIiGp6R8inLCdRjDiQ7YEG5Lc1zIudmOQ2tmFM6LvdK2MdckJmDNb3r4YhpESyDCEIKe6oJ-H_S7T-cZjEWZxi6VM4lkhvpw2fsZ9djies6BhSw/s320/bikes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473338888960578082" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.danacentre.org.uk/events/2010/06/07/578">This</a> looks interesting; a discussion, at the Science Museum, of what exactly it takes to complete the Tour De France. Plus you can have a beer while you listen. I wonder if they'll touch on the more "pharamceutical" aspects (in the news again, thanks to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.espn.go.com%2Foly%2Fcycling%2Fnews%2Fstory%3Fid%3D5203604&h=bcb94">Floyd Landis</a>)matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-35624647816021301922010-04-30T09:48:00.000-07:002010-05-04T03:24:50.752-07:00Raphé<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3j5jIUrwjUmZ-jNmoda5TZ3Cpq71jonU65tl8cbjHTWw_YNmorv_jcl-p5ZxUTzGdnlC0Q1hWuHJVdxtohf5H7kGu0A85dTKjH2PBshoRoH-ZdvBSRss20ABJzazlhxmo3aX_Q/s1600/branding_cycleclubsoon.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3j5jIUrwjUmZ-jNmoda5TZ3Cpq71jonU65tl8cbjHTWw_YNmorv_jcl-p5ZxUTzGdnlC0Q1hWuHJVdxtohf5H7kGu0A85dTKjH2PBshoRoH-ZdvBSRss20ABJzazlhxmo3aX_Q/s320/branding_cycleclubsoon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467358665442007618" /></a><br /><br /><br />Despite the best efforts of various pubs, London's not really had somewhere you can watch the Tour De France and have coffee/beer/Special Brew. Hopefully that will change with the opening of <a href="http://www.rapha.cc/cycle-club/?cm_mmc=email-_-nl300410-_-textlink4-_-cycleclub">Rapha's Cycle Club</a> (basically a cafe-cum-exhibition-space, for the duration of the summer, in Farringdon). They'll be showing the Tour live, along with the Giro and other road races. No doubt the drinks will be oh-so-stylish and possibly a little expensive, but if it's a nice place to catch some cycling, I won't be complaining.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-29700562212342898102010-04-23T01:06:00.000-07:002010-04-23T01:18:48.519-07:00Bargain Merino<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSf1-CB0ZXnjmrSLYJM_lmaFe6z6IK03MnfmJK3SvzHFxE4x0m_fpZjj7Y8iVObrX3jnyKrEHyb76m4YLxNlkmyduOaGQS4QXD4cLrNRiPJraQHi72_RHyu48JIjsf8ilPa-UbA/s1600/onone.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSf1-CB0ZXnjmrSLYJM_lmaFe6z6IK03MnfmJK3SvzHFxE4x0m_fpZjj7Y8iVObrX3jnyKrEHyb76m4YLxNlkmyduOaGQS4QXD4cLrNRiPJraQHi72_RHyu48JIjsf8ilPa-UbA/s320/onone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463244385729018514" /></a><br /><br /><br />High tech fabrics are great and everything, but for breathability, wicking and a general nice feeling against the skin, you can't beat merino wool. I've recently snapped up a pair of <a href="https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm#/Mens/Socks/PerformanceSocks/Cycling/2389/">Smartwool Light Mini Cycling Socks</a> for £5 from the Howies store in Carnaby Street. I'm not sure if they've got any left, but if not I notice <a href="http://http://www.facewest.co.uk/Smartwool-Sock-Cycling-Ultra-MC.html">this place</a> has them for £7.95.<br /><br />Possibly even more bargain-tastic, <a href="http://www.on-one.co.uk">On-One</a> have long-sleeve, merino zip tops reduced to £27.50. Stock up now, for next winter.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-12803367515833977962010-04-21T13:26:00.000-07:002010-04-21T13:27:28.333-07:00Great bike blogNot mine! This one <a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/">http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/</a> :-)matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-29906185878297874412010-04-10T08:51:00.001-07:002010-04-10T08:59:45.191-07:00Nice Team Sky Paris Roubaix VideoIf you don't know the Paris Roubaix bike race (aka Hell Of The North) is reknowned for the rain- and wind-blasted cobbles that the riders have to travel across. <a href="http://michaelbarry.ca/">Michael Barry</a> from Team Sky has made this nice video of their training run across them, which captures the experience rather well.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CU_LM1znjPI&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CU_LM1znjPI&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-86921659379589208522010-03-18T05:37:00.000-07:002010-03-18T05:39:20.867-07:00Securing Your Bike Storage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguquNAee2pY08egkd9dA9LVHensCwSWJVG07ksVNcXG7-yOabkLhySNrvdM69_nH3fBFPipcFlATbfRcErM2QzIAjK6C4flfMZqcLILqW8jmzhN5FMWz0_CR5mL3pMbuZeno6vdw/s1600-h/1246524856652-46ohwdi6xsrj-280-75.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguquNAee2pY08egkd9dA9LVHensCwSWJVG07ksVNcXG7-yOabkLhySNrvdM69_nH3fBFPipcFlATbfRcErM2QzIAjK6C4flfMZqcLILqW8jmzhN5FMWz0_CR5mL3pMbuZeno6vdw/s320/1246524856652-46ohwdi6xsrj-280-75.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449952197562637858" /></a><br /><br /><br />If, like me, you've recently moved and want to plan how to store your bike securely, this <a href="http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/how-to-toughen-up-your-bike-shed-part-1-21131">two-part article</a> on Bike Radar has a lot of good advicematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-47754590169488042672010-03-10T07:02:00.001-08:002010-03-10T10:06:09.041-08:00Potholes<a href="http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1300"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlip-7vHbXz2imxLxHjuUm3H5Hpja54405aGqTkseNtE_q99upMBKS6kczoZB40UA4EvktX9ejps8ganRcoWnmr9P7q7tSX41x7nECWJusdhlyL8CkYgQjGBPMCtcLF-A79aCxQ/s320/pothole_372.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447067622293684354" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Having just started cycling again (see <a href="http://idiotonabike.blogspot.com/2010/03/back-on-bike.html">previous post</a>), my first thought after "Wow, this is great" was "Where have all those holes come from?". The roads around my way seemed to be a minefield of hollows and ditches,<br /><br />'Turns out that it's <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Potholes-Repairs-To-Britains-Crumbled-Roads-Could-Cost-Billions-After-Snow-Damage/Article/201003215570618?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15570618_Potholes%3A_Repairs_To_Britains_Crumbled_Roads_Could_Cost_Billions_After_Snow_Damage">the harsh winter's fault</a>. Some of these are hugely dangerous to cyclists, so the LCC are encouraging you to <a href="http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1300">report them to the TFL</a>.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-72012482891134789532010-03-04T08:57:00.000-08:002010-03-04T09:06:29.503-08:00Back On The BikeAfter moving house and having a baby I'm finally back on my bike, and thankfully it's coincided with the last two days' glorious riding weather. Not only does it feel great to stretch the legs, but it's turning out to be fun trying to find a route to my office that does not involve Sydenham Hill or the centre of Peckham.<br /><br />In the meanwhile, there's a nice summary of the forthcoming bike racing season at The Bike Show up at <a href="http://thebikeshow.net/the-racing-year-with-lionel-birnie/">The Racing Year With Lionel Birnie</a>. A nice intro if you want to know the difference between your Dauphine Libere and your Ronde van Vlaanderen.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-26071253101726638202009-10-22T04:46:00.000-07:002009-10-22T04:54:16.002-07:00Something Which Has Always Puzzled MeI can understand people who choose to wear cycle helmets. <br /><br />I can understand people who choose not to wear cycle helmets.<br /> <br />What I <span style="font-weight:bold;">don't</span> understand is people who carry a helmet around, dangling off their handlebars. What are they saving it for, some particularly gnarly bit of their route to work ? Or perhaps they just enjoy the extra challenge of having some extra weight on their handlebars to complicate their steering?matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-33117062964651751272009-10-16T03:38:00.000-07:002009-10-16T03:50:06.283-07:00Watching Next Year's TourThe route for the <a href="http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html">2010 Tour</a> has been announced and Rotterdam has been chosen for le Grand Depart. The Bike Show has some <a href="http://thebikeshow.net/getting-to-le-grand-depart/">nice ideas</a> for getting over there via Eurostar and bike, and watching the early stages in Holland. I'd be particularly tempted to see the stage in Brussels or maybe stage 3 from Wanze yo Arenberg Porte du Hainaut and combine it with a trip to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westvleteren_Brewery">monasterey in Westvleteren</a> to pick up some of their beer. <br /><br />Having said that, I think an upcoming addition to the family may limit my future cycling jaunts :-)matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-85791748890069437832009-09-25T00:54:00.000-07:002009-09-25T01:06:31.941-07:00Pants and more cycle cinema<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_T_E46hEbKakZ1uiXLse4emopDP-e3KxVgOXBCd7hnO1bnhBIFVflpEPnhZVs_1m3snLchRpvsFtIbJIa3G-NUBNIj-6jrLLiTQan2fYr0DmO1cCrAC2Sgo-vfJW81ffEx_nSQ/s1600-h/ns_boxers52.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_T_E46hEbKakZ1uiXLse4emopDP-e3KxVgOXBCd7hnO1bnhBIFVflpEPnhZVs_1m3snLchRpvsFtIbJIa3G-NUBNIj-6jrLLiTQan2fYr0DmO1cCrAC2Sgo-vfJW81ffEx_nSQ/s320/ns_boxers52.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385311155924039538" /></a><br /><br /><br />There are many great things about riding a bike to work, but forgetting a change of pants and socks TWO DAYS IN A ROW is not one of them. There's only so many times you can ask your boss if you can pop out for 10 minutes to buy some underwear.<br /><br />On a lighter note - the <a href="http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/?p=london">London Bike Film Festival</a> opened last night and I went along to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078902/">Breaking Away</a>, the 1979 film about small-town American life, broken dreams and cycling. I'd not seen it before, but it was a lot of fun and more light-hearted than I expected. The climax of the film is, essentially, a bicycle relay race, complete with the competitors passing the bike from team-member to team-member. It was frankly, insane! Do such things exist, or was it just a dramatic invention for the purposes of the plot?<br /><br />The festival is on for the rest of the weekend at the Barbican. I think <a href="http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/?p=london&d=04">Tour Des Legends</a> looks particularly good. Get down there if you want to some more cycle-oriented movies; there was a great atmosphere last night, plus current British Road Race Champion, Kristian House was there.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-37244169260987483262009-08-30T08:10:00.000-07:002009-08-30T08:19:41.470-07:00Bike Films For The Bank Holiday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3868402114_6fd4b93595.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3868402114_6fd4b93595.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow night, Monday, in Brockwell Park they're showing the fantastic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286244/">Belleville Rendezvous</a>, along with live music, a bike race and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070155/">The Harder They Come</a> (not sure about the bike connection with that one, I thought it was about reggae). More details <a href="http://www.brockwellpark.com/php/whatson.php">here</a><br /><br />And if you're looking for something more environmental, the <a href="http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/">Climate Camp</a> in Blackheath is showing some films about sustainable transport tonight, Sunday, "when it gets dark" using bicycle generators! Go to the camp entrance (off Hare & Billett Road) and ask to be directed to the 'cyclology tent'.<br /><br />Picture courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/littled/">"reynard"</a>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-45410747102228498032009-08-16T09:00:00.000-07:002009-08-16T09:07:37.419-07:00London Bridge Bike Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85Ma83uaB6DCdYn8x_G8ui_5sq1rhxTW4fmCf0ByV_nKhjW3_S1i8qREQaO3bnY1nH7BgDF5wqD6vfh-rikZKlrzI2H2hsMv1igVQljShhhK6e8eEg4uMyX_5nN4hSssgfg5NeA/s1600-h/cycle+park+logo+small.bmp"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 115px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85Ma83uaB6DCdYn8x_G8ui_5sq1rhxTW4fmCf0ByV_nKhjW3_S1i8qREQaO3bnY1nH7BgDF5wqD6vfh-rikZKlrzI2H2hsMv1igVQljShhhK6e8eEg4uMyX_5nN4hSssgfg5NeA/s320/cycle+park+logo+small.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370593140058733602" /></a><br /><br />I've seen cycle parks in other cities (Bristol, Amsterdam) but not London until today. Luckily I have pretty good facilities at my office, but if you don't and work around the City, <a href="http://www.onyourbike.com/stylesheet.asp?file=7_1_1_cycle_park">this</a> could be a useful facility. Although, you will have to put up with the bell-end outside the "London Tombs" pretending to guillotine tourists.<br /><br />Apparently there's one in <a href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11947.aspx#Finsbury_Park_cycle_park">Finsbury Park</a> too.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-82581653121916712382009-08-06T11:56:00.000-07:002009-08-06T12:48:12.563-07:00Drookit!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAy5RAoTsLHqjZ6BF__Bu59eq1bWyvamQLeRVAm_txj0QG5rsCAmvHdftcxDF2EItsFS2tL7ogmB7aCXvGXvrzYgWP1M1huCnXEga3GmnILWyztIx9FYaw7Rk0SRVsOKPYoJxkg/s1600-h/rain.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAy5RAoTsLHqjZ6BF__Bu59eq1bWyvamQLeRVAm_txj0QG5rsCAmvHdftcxDF2EItsFS2tL7ogmB7aCXvGXvrzYgWP1M1huCnXEga3GmnILWyztIx9FYaw7Rk0SRVsOKPYoJxkg/s320/rain.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366928794616955890" /></a><br /><br />Wow! Did anyone else just get caught in that downpour? The Brixton Road was so bad that even the buses abandoned the bus lane for fear of drowning.<br /><br />Still the Carradice ("that handbag" © my boss) proved exceptionally water-tight. Everything was still bone dry by the time I got home. Same couldn't be said for "other parts" of me. Times like these I wish <a href="http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Gore_Alp_X_Gore-Tex_Baggy_Shorts/5360023931/">Gore-tex shorts</a> were less expensive and less "fetish" looking<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaidDcEKonlUeb_MYzVuGxnKWQPez1gdeywV8ngm5TUrRHnvcJpACOzBE99nYT1UMOa-VBce9XK4-4t42dxUena7BUgeQdo2NnT4Fri_46nJYhM43sRYWy8C5RC0xkg-mi-6Bweg/s1600-h/shorts.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaidDcEKonlUeb_MYzVuGxnKWQPez1gdeywV8ngm5TUrRHnvcJpACOzBE99nYT1UMOa-VBce9XK4-4t42dxUena7BUgeQdo2NnT4Fri_46nJYhM43sRYWy8C5RC0xkg-mi-6Bweg/s320/shorts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366932770420080818" /></a>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-69962460462392778842009-08-05T05:15:00.000-07:002009-08-05T05:24:48.537-07:00Old Bikes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfE5FuYBS_Xr0ZBKGDZ5UABBStZhR4diEf7ZwmKCAtkGW9EEZk8y-2DOEqnd2uk8bck_m0EM-0sXHj7JEXhePa-PQzeBh1Khtv-fEyOgktrzw-yMNAdwW8NL3KHPOJ9U_N7M08g/s1600-h/sq3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfE5FuYBS_Xr0ZBKGDZ5UABBStZhR4diEf7ZwmKCAtkGW9EEZk8y-2DOEqnd2uk8bck_m0EM-0sXHj7JEXhePa-PQzeBh1Khtv-fEyOgktrzw-yMNAdwW8NL3KHPOJ9U_N7M08g/s320/sq3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366454580144075858" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />What better way to have a "lifestyle change", than to open <a href="http://sargentandco.com/">a shop restoring vintage road bikes</a>. I shall be cycling up to Sargent & Co in Finsbury Park soon, to check it out.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-67474144100740315002009-07-10T00:12:00.000-07:002009-07-20T05:01:37.788-07:00Made Me Laugh"Why spend a king's ransom on the latest titanium confection when any weight advantage will be rendered irrelevant by a cheese-and-pickle sandwich and a thermos of soup?"<br /><br />:-) From the Tweed Cycling Club<br /><br />Incidentally, I saw the following *very* non-titanium bike outside an Old Street (natch) pub last night. I don't think I've ever seen such Heath Robinson looking brakes before<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgKiVPRb_3wueWYmmBMSDTZTJPNuq9cLGyK0TwMVdAII031gDi9quC5_4pplWo-DuT4OTXEwSCWZ1vG7yoxZVtKL-FEWB_NjBYbmiv1q6O8DBvS6CkVSONSMSLChDlvuS7bIOKg/s1600-h/closeup.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgKiVPRb_3wueWYmmBMSDTZTJPNuq9cLGyK0TwMVdAII031gDi9quC5_4pplWo-DuT4OTXEwSCWZ1vG7yoxZVtKL-FEWB_NjBYbmiv1q6O8DBvS6CkVSONSMSLChDlvuS7bIOKg/s320/closeup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356727571588402418" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="style14"><br /><br /><br /></span>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-12658856844189775712009-07-03T01:04:00.000-07:002009-07-03T01:11:43.146-07:00AA for Bikes?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcn324aMrORERMYvAWE_BrJrwIFVvP8njApCNYvJtZYc4ZVy2SSa9nj_xosUr-HiG5bpvCJ1fHAdbbI7G8HZ8J40lbt55T0RE0ebce1mncGHfh30f2YqeACA1XD1pskKmg6OKDg/s1600-h/bikeade_logo_plus.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcn324aMrORERMYvAWE_BrJrwIFVvP8njApCNYvJtZYc4ZVy2SSa9nj_xosUr-HiG5bpvCJ1fHAdbbI7G8HZ8J40lbt55T0RE0ebce1mncGHfh30f2YqeACA1XD1pskKmg6OKDg/s320/bikeade_logo_plus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354143189306957666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've often wondered if such a thing exists and then this morning I found business card for <a href="http://www.bikeade.co.uk/">Bike-Ade </a>outside my office. He only covers Central London, but it sounds a good idea nonetheless.<br /><br />I hope I can fix most minor problems myself, and if anything more serious happens I'd probably just walk to a station, but I'll keep the card anyway, just in case.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-49426395546706952132009-07-02T04:23:00.000-07:002009-07-02T05:39:07.861-07:00First Big Ride on the New Bike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Br0F1f3a0QHXEinVGV65QkqgB9LlPG1sWtquCWAKfmdRYvvWEMuJz7Op1YkgF7ULoHU-WmpzRgyo7bY8rW9Yjfpg84cU71hq7kabitZKNrSJUj_ba4NDVASMpD5_brco6hRTaA/s1600-h/aerobrid.jpeg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Br0F1f3a0QHXEinVGV65QkqgB9LlPG1sWtquCWAKfmdRYvvWEMuJz7Op1YkgF7ULoHU-WmpzRgyo7bY8rW9Yjfpg84cU71hq7kabitZKNrSJUj_ba4NDVASMpD5_brco6hRTaA/s320/aerobrid.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353832792304766690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've finally taken advantage of the good weather to take the new bike out for a (long) spin. I found the <a href="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ten-Thames-Bridges">Ten Thames Bridges 100k</a> route on Bikely and augmented it with an extra 50k between Herne Hill and the start of the route in Windsor.<br /><br />The section from home to Windsor took in lots of West London, including much of Heathrow Airport. Whilst low on rutal charm, I have to admit to finding the environs of Heathrow oddly fascinating; all the low rise, anonymous business parks interspersed with 1930s suburban houses long since seperated from their demolished neighbours. Not to mention the constant stream of jets overhead - I soon passed the time playing guess the destination based on my (hazy) knowledge of airline tail logos.<br /><br />The Ten Thames Bridges route itself was pretty lovely; lots of Home Counties greenery and obviously a number of bridges varying from the fairly imposing <a href="http://www.marlowtown.co.uk/bridge.html">Marlow Suspension Bridge</a> to a thin, no-cycling walkway across <a href="http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/seengland/thameshambledon.htm">Mill End Weir</a>. The latter was actually a highlight, despite having to get off and push, as you felt a lot closer to the water, with the Thames rushing, crystal-clear below. Having said that I'm not sure I'd get out the picnic chairs halfway across as one elderley couple had done.<br /><br />Using just a printed out Bikely map for the route wasn't great (translation: massive navigation fail!). In future I think I'll create some kind of prompt sheet, complete with distances between turnings. There's nothing better at bringing down your average speed than having to ride up a hill that you're not 100% sure is on the route. At one point in the afternoon my nav was so off I had to turn on the GPS funcitonality of my Nokia N95 to work out which way I'd veered off the route proper.<br /><br />The bike seemed perfectly up to the distance and in particular the Brooks saddle was a revelation. No sore undercarriage the next day. The <a href="http://www.carradice.co.uk/saddlebags/barley-saddlebag.shtml">Carradice saddle bag</a> was also up to the task, storing plenty. However it's definitely from a "gentler" age of cycling - no ability to quickly remove and attach it when parked up outside a newsagents in the dodgy part of town.<br /><br />Having convinced myself 150k is do-able, I think the next step is to maybe do an audax of a similar length. I've been eyeing up these two - <a href="http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=09-416">Ruislip 205k</a> and <a href="http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=09-364">Luton and Herts 150k</a>. Has anyone ridden either of them before?<br /><br />I was pretty exhausted by the end, but sitting at Datchett station aftewards having a lucozade and salt-and-vinegar Discos, I was pretty pleased with a good day's riding.<br /><br /><br /><br />(aerial pic of Marlow Suspension bridge courtesy of/stolen from <a href="http://www.marlowtown.co.uk/">http://www.marlowtown.co.uk/</a>)matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-77759064678364927182009-06-17T01:56:00.000-07:002009-06-17T01:59:16.484-07:0010% off RaphaPromotional code I picked up at the <a href="http://www.nocturneseries.com/smithfield/">Smithfields Nocturne</a>:<br /> SMTH2009<br />gets you 10% off on their site.<br /><br />Although that still leaves them a little dearer than Halfords.<br /><br />Valid at http://www.rapha.cc/ until the 20thmatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-15491797782723261682009-06-12T02:13:00.000-07:002009-06-12T02:24:38.457-07:00Penny Farthings and Bike Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttWrQS4Yo_nQIvot3kd8N7sY8SVJoRTrGiNQ7HAOqbHPTg6V-KHBMuQYGwm2yxsIihFIY1Jrn7dOjLYFx2QyJCYkT0frGdsraSWSVwZSpdKXBq6AXuS9AwZmIzbq1xVUcKPDmQg/s1600-h/3603166225_eda06f4c06_m.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttWrQS4Yo_nQIvot3kd8N7sY8SVJoRTrGiNQ7HAOqbHPTg6V-KHBMuQYGwm2yxsIihFIY1Jrn7dOjLYFx2QyJCYkT0frGdsraSWSVwZSpdKXBq6AXuS9AwZmIzbq1xVUcKPDmQg/s320/3603166225_eda06f4c06_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346366959036227170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last Sunday I caught the tail end of the <a href="http://www.v-cc.org.uk/">Veteran Cycle Club</a>'s annual event at the Herne Hill Velodrome. It has to be said, there's something pretty awesome about seeing a Penny Farthing "racing" around the a bike track against other cycles from antiquity (I'd tell you what they were, but I haven't a clue - a velocipede? Solid tyred bike? No idea!). Unfortunately we only got there for the very end, so I think we'll have to return next year, but it does look they put on <a href="http://www.v-cc.org.uk/new_page_1.htm">other events</a><br /><br />Loads of bike events coming up this week (being <a href="ttp://www.bikeweek.org.uk/">Bike Week</a> and all), but a few which have caught my eye are:<br /><br /><ul><li> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvents/Events/BikeKiteFestival2009.htm">Bike and Kite Festiva</a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvents/Events/BikeKiteFestival2009.htm">l</a> - Blackheath, tomorrow and Sunday</li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Southwark Cyclists Film Festival</span> - <a href="http://www.shortwavefilms.co.uk/">Shortwave Cinema</a>, Bermondsey, Monday evening - showing shorts plus <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078902/">Breaking Away</a>. Email barrymasonuk@googlemail.com for details</li><li> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.greenfest.org.uk/">Greenfest</a> - Furnival Gardens, Hammersmith, Sunday - not just bikes but general hippy-dippery</li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Free breakfasts for cyclists</span> - (<a href="http://www.camdencyclists.org.uk/rides/fairs/breakfast0609">Camden</a>, <a href="http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/bikeweek/">Tower Hamlets</a>, <a href="http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/diary09.htm#jun">Hackney</a>. Plus many others)</li></ul>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-31559434159527380362009-06-10T07:19:00.000-07:002009-06-10T07:31:49.967-07:00Bike Tubes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7-N_FpPVF34h_gxjqNMUvBs1H_tRdTFqGkLnzyuSHpV2Fe4Pi-NEfp8xYZvOgz-KomllzAqGXDP0zbxNWp_utoJSAW2wd_j694-G9xEQOy_pajRZr9wrA8lcbr0Olwt8HQK1jw/s1600-h/header_biketube.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 58px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7-N_FpPVF34h_gxjqNMUvBs1H_tRdTFqGkLnzyuSHpV2Fe4Pi-NEfp8xYZvOgz-KomllzAqGXDP0zbxNWp_utoJSAW2wd_j694-G9xEQOy_pajRZr9wrA8lcbr0Olwt8HQK1jw/s320/header_biketube.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345706465109305810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />One good thing that might come out of this - the <a href="http://www.lcc.org.uk/">LCC </a>organised some "<a href="http://biketube.org.uk/index.asp?Pageid=1">Bike Tubes</a>" today, where they led a number of groups of cyclists into central-London from pre-arranged locations (Ravenscourt Park, Finsbury Park...).<br /><br />I couldn't see from the site whether they are repeating this tomorrow, but they do say they'll be running more Bike Tubes in future, even if there's no disruption. Sounds like a good introduction to commuting into London to me.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-25133021528885563612009-06-10T00:27:00.000-07:002009-06-10T00:39:10.894-07:00Mayhem On The Roads Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFnbXHaeEttDqaAQaBimUFQiZBTrSFOFs5iLwEkerVQcEMIyS1pds7H3XTPrkvop2c8e2MFhEHzIxkQQ_0gbnhrsAlk6pfoeqHYFyND8yKg7fXZ_SmxaOW5PY3fsywYGEJQy4RQ/s1600-h/Traffic_seen_from_top_of_Arc_de_Triomphe.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFnbXHaeEttDqaAQaBimUFQiZBTrSFOFs5iLwEkerVQcEMIyS1pds7H3XTPrkvop2c8e2MFhEHzIxkQQ_0gbnhrsAlk6pfoeqHYFyND8yKg7fXZ_SmxaOW5PY3fsywYGEJQy4RQ/s320/Traffic_seen_from_top_of_Arc_de_Triomphe.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345599513158949746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />As you may know, there's a tube-strike today. Rather than use it as an opportunity to "work from home", Londoners seems to have decided to battle in anyway possible, with the streets already rammed at 7:15. Here's your I-Spy cut-out-and-keep guide to the strike<br /><ul><li>Red-faced tube workers manning picket line outside a station (10 pts)</li><li>Commuter shouting at red-faced tube workers (20 pts)</li><li>Twelve people trying to hail the same taxi at once (20 pts)</li><li>Pedestrian walking out in front of you because their head is buried in their A-Z as they attempt to work out how to get to their office (50 pts)</li><li>Cyclist, riding a bike that hasn't been used since the late 80s and certainly not in rush-hour London, wobbling across three lanes of traffic in an alarming fashion (100 pts)</li><li>Company director, in flash car, equally un-used to rush-hour traffic, cutting up the novice cyclists in order to try and grab the last parking spot (100 pts)</li></ul>It'll be an interesting couple of days.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-18926329395735446442009-06-07T08:02:00.000-07:002009-06-07T08:17:41.876-07:00Back On The Road<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyfrr0lIozCJC9yZ2-8Ln4eh91Oc5p5pD2LETEI8TFqN474UDle8YCWyR62kwEOSrgelWlMg7P9pbQmYUH_G8yoWw6uBIaL3XIkU3fcF_TZskHMBncnfsJOx_Iw_Yj0Jw3JbKfw/s1600-h/3603960900_40b1061dbd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyfrr0lIozCJC9yZ2-8Ln4eh91Oc5p5pD2LETEI8TFqN474UDle8YCWyR62kwEOSrgelWlMg7P9pbQmYUH_G8yoWw6uBIaL3XIkU3fcF_TZskHMBncnfsJOx_Iw_Yj0Jw3JbKfw/s320/3603960900_40b1061dbd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344604614954797378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Finally, my Evans voucher arrived and I popped over to the store to pick up the new steel stead. With hindsight, I should have perhaps got the voucher for a bigger amount, as it's not often you get the opportunity to buy what you want in a bike shop, effectively at half-price with six months to pay it off. In the end I contented myself with a new lock and some SPD pedals.<br /><br />I've also added a <a href="http://www.brookssaddles.com/">Brook's B-17</a> saddle, as per <a href="http://purpletraveller.blogspot.com/">Purple Traveller</a>'s advice. Bit early to tell yet, although I'm sure we'll be very happy together. If nothing else, I think it makes the bike look a lot nicer (you may remember I wasn't sold it's appearance) and it complements the ace, <a href="http://www.carradice.co.uk/saddlebags/barley-saddlebag.shtml">Carradice Barley saddlebag</a> I've bought.<br /><br />After 4 months or so, off the road, I have to admit I'd forgotten the sheer joy of cycling, even if it was on a clogged up, drizzly Euston Road. I'll take it out for a proper spin over the next few weeks and let you know how it is.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-30843769077096277742009-06-01T05:19:00.000-07:002009-06-01T05:29:19.562-07:00Still Waiting For Evans Ride2Work Voucher<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA1f1_vR2tdn1YZxyRbPGNsnIb5MqDKzYEDniqcLNpmvphH7yr-XCokGnkyo-gXvmbuNhBryC69slSBmWvxmD0TsdFoU5vhR-csGFFVtIAEWRryh9EyO62GCzuxxAZk2hf-PSYw/s1600-h/logo.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 56px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA1f1_vR2tdn1YZxyRbPGNsnIb5MqDKzYEDniqcLNpmvphH7yr-XCokGnkyo-gXvmbuNhBryC69slSBmWvxmD0TsdFoU5vhR-csGFFVtIAEWRryh9EyO62GCzuxxAZk2hf-PSYw/s320/logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342334503643091714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Apparently they've received the payment from my company, but not the form. Obviously, it's too much to expect Evans to email/phone my company and ask where the form is. Oh well, duplicate form on it's way now. It's like living through an enforced <a href="http://thebikeshow.net/no-bike-week/">No Bike Week</a><br /><br />On a more positive note, yesterday proffered an unexpectedly, nerve-wracking end to the Giro, with race leader <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/sports/cycling/01cycling.html?_r=1">Dennis Menchov falling off his bike</a> in the final kilometre of the Time Trial around Rome. Some pretty sharpish bike changing by his team car, and the decent buffer he'd built up saved the Giro from a pretty unfortunate end in it's centenary year.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38442282.post-30696421200086987582009-05-28T10:11:00.000-07:002009-05-28T10:13:49.219-07:00Pith Helmet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRZioXWd-wEObpaShIxuOIwBAdnNX3fWUkAcLauNO8p1sMJSgriPlctnQ8s1Eu_NhadAg4OBvaxt51HHD7hWdcDQCikAh04t9FRGPd7vTtPA8Ozbu1GvJwE2mmt0esJe-WNVBeQ/s1600-h/acchelyakpopup2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRZioXWd-wEObpaShIxuOIwBAdnNX3fWUkAcLauNO8p1sMJSgriPlctnQ8s1Eu_NhadAg4OBvaxt51HHD7hWdcDQCikAh04t9FRGPd7vTtPA8Ozbu1GvJwE2mmt0esJe-WNVBeQ/s320/acchelyakpopup2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340923859962112482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A bit pricey at £95, but this Danish helmet is one of the most dapper I've seen. Available from <a href="http://www.bobbinbicycles.co.uk">Bobbin Cycles</a>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02194855106588372050noreply@blogger.com0