Insane Bike

While searching for Raleigh Grifters on ebay (just out of curiosity, don't worry I have no intention of becoming a Hoxton Twat riding around on a 70s kid's bike which is 10 time smaller than me!) I found this:



If you don't remember it, the Raleigh Vektar was their attempt to make a futuristic electonic bike. As well as the more usual features (wheels, gears, saddle, etc), the Vektar featured:

• computer (for speed and distance)


• an AM radio (with attena dangling off the rear of the bike)


• a sound effects generator!!

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the sound effects would have included lasers and sirens. Of course, being the 80s, these electronics occupy a good third of the bike, whereas nowadays they could fit in one of the tyre caps.

I actually took part in some Raleigh market-research for this when I was a kid, so I am partly to blame for this bad boy! They came to Heston Village Hall and paid us a couple of quid to quiz us about it. Unfortunately although I remember the bike, I have no recollection of what I thought of it. Looking back, it's hard to see how this
didn't provoke some kind of reaction in me!

See here for more details

New Favourite Bike Shop In London

My girlfriend has just bought a bike which has meant quite a few weekends over the last few months have been spent trawling round the bike shops of London, trying bikes out and watching customer service in action.

Our requirements were a bike mostly for fun rides at weekends, rather than commuting, suitable the odd footpath/canal towpath/forest track, but nothing remotely gnarly and off-road. Price range: £300-400.

Evans, Spitalfields - this initially scores highly by being big and therefore browser friendly and unintimidating for someone who doesn't want to be pounced on by a sales assistant the second they enter. However after this point, we found the service rather lacking. They didn't have any bikes in her size in stock, only suggested two different models and rather pushily got us to reserve one for a test-ride next week (the more expensive of the two, natch, £50 deposit required). My objection to this is that someone who's new to cycling may not know what they want, far better to get them trying stuff out (even if it's a similar, more expensive model), just so that you can be sure of their requirements. The person at Evans seemed far keener on getting us dealt with as quick as possible (they were pretty busy that day) 5/10

Cycle Surgery, Spitalfields - also crowded and again, didn't have the right frames in stock. This time however, they were keen to get Jen on similar bikes to establish stuff such as whether she would prefer a ladies frame or not. Also, sent us round the corner to their other store, to ensure she could try some other bikes they didn't have in stock. If you want to go to one of the chains, this would be our recommendation. 8/10

Brixton Cycles, Brixton - Initial impressions are quite intimidating as this store is small and all the assistants look like grungy cycle couriers. It was also extremely busy as it was the first hot Saturday of the year. However once we managed to flag down an assistant the experience was great. The staff's enthusiasm for cycling was manifest (they seemed pleased that you wanted to ride a bike!) and they took as long as was necessary with you, even though the queue in the store was getting longer. Somehow, the guy serving us juggled several other people all test-riding bikes and asking Jen useful questions to aid in the decision making process.

The only drawbacks were the busy-ness and the slight chaos in the store (when we went to pick up Jen's bike the following week, they said it was ready when they still needed to fix a few things on it). We'd definitely recommend it for buying a new bike, just don't go when you're in a hurry. 9/10

(Thanks to CTC Maps for the photo

Intermission (Win an £800 bike!)

Sorry if anyone's waiting with baited breath for the third and final installement of Gloucester to Hungerford. I haven't got around to writing it up yet.

In the meantime, why not support Re-Cycle by buying some raffle tickets and being in with a chance to win the above Wilier Pista singlespeed.

Re-Cycle send reconditioned bikes to poor communities in Africa, where they are obviously more use than here in a shed/locked to a lampost getting seven shades of shit beaten out of it by passing kids.

They also have a nice plan for how to build a trailer out of old bike parts if you want to do some recycling of your own (I'd be tempted if I could spot weld)

Gloucester to Hungerford Pt 2

Continuing from Pt 1

Peering out of my B&B window on Day 2, I could see that the weather had taken a turn for the worse with wall-to-wall grey skies and a distinct drop in temperature. This combined with the extremely (and wind-exposed) landscape of the Severn estuary meant that Saturday morning was probably the low point of the route. Perhaps on a sunny day this would be nice cycle, but even then the Avonmouth bridge (riding alongside the M5) would be a bit of a grind.




Thankfully, once you're over the other side the fun stuff begins. Following the Avon you wind your way towards Bristol through woods and with cliffs rising either side. Suddenly it felt a bit more remote (even though we were on the outskirts of major city). The route pleasantly rises and falls, and you can even (occasionally) kid yourself that your charging through some gnarly single track :-). With the lack of traffic I decided I could not stick my headphones and crank up the music.

Soundtrack: Client - Client




The Clifton Suspension Bridge announces the beginning of Bristol proper and soon you're passing converted warehouses and the SS Great Britain. One thing to beware of (particularly in the rain) are the disused railway tracks on the waterfront in Bristol. Even though they barely poke above the surface, they're treacherour if you don't cross them at an oblique enough angle, something I found out to my cost when I ended up sprawled on the ground.

I combined my need for (a) grub and (b) a spare chain link by visiting the excellent Mud Dock Cafe. It's part bike shop, part cafe and is about 50 yards off the route. Probably the only place I've eaten with a penny farthing dangling above my head and a copy of L'Equipe celebrating Armstrong's seventh Tour win in the bogs



The route then follows the Bristol-Bath Railway path, predictably along disused railway lines. The section immediately outside Bristol centre is a little dull, but the nearer you get to Bath the more rural and pleasant it gets. Fulfilling all my preconceptions of Bath I passed some posh kids cheering on the school rowing teams.

Soundtrack: Electric 80s - Various



After a brief stop in Bath, I push on along the Avon-Kennet canal in the hope of reaching of Bradford on Avon before dark. This turns out to be a vain hope, which is a shame as apparently this is one of the highlights of the route, taking you over aquaducts and surrounded by pretty hills. Also, it's a royal pain in the arse trying to spot 20 cm cycle route signs in the dark, with a weedy front light. Thankfully all the wrong turns I took soon left me in someone's driveway/front-garden/a forest, so I was able to correct myself before going to far off route.

Bradford turned out to be an ideal stopping point, being a well-to-do suburb of Bath with plenty of pubs, two Italians, an Indian and a bike shop.

PS - You can find all the photos of this trip at Flickr

Gloucester to Hungerford Pt 1

Having previously completed the C2C and the Devon-Coast-to-Coast cycle routes, I decided to use up some holiday doing the "Gloucester-to-Hungerford-via-the-Avon-Kennet-Canal" or "GTGVTAKC" as I preferred to call it. The original plan was to go with my mate Barry, but unfortunately a nasty ear infection meant he had to stay behind in London while I caught the train up to Gloucester.



Gloucester seemed the very model of a sleepy cathedral town, it's quiet streets seeming a million miles (and approximately 3 decades) from modern-day London. Figuring I had an hour to spare, I spurned the cathedral and had a quick look round the (free!) Gloucester Folk Museum. Unfortunately I then had to spend a further 30 minutes trying to attach my new map holder to my bike. I'm not sure if I was doing something wrong, but in the end gave up and just wore the wap round my neck on a strap (which worked perfectly well)

The first part of the route follows canals and country lanes down the Severn Valley with the river itself occasionally hoving into view. Even though you only really see the beginning, it's nice to think you're following the course of the river. Unfortunately time constraints meant I didn't have time to stop at Slimbridge but had to crack on for the Village Farm in Elberton (my B&B for the night)



This first stage was nice enough, but I have to admit didn't really stir the soul. The terrain was mostly flat, 30 miles partially on pleasant country roads and partially on tow-paths. Having said that Elberton was nice, with a decent meal and beers in the White Hart.

Be Safe, Be Seen...Be A Bad Bwoy

From Instructables

The Least Enticing Bike Route Ever ?

On the platform at Lockerbie station (I think). Apparently it runs *alongside* rather than *on* the motorway, but even so...

Having said that, it is a lovely bit of the country that it runs through

Chain Reaction Pt 4

Finally got the chain fixed this weekend. Once I knew what I was doing it actually only took 5 minutes to fix. I also then used the chain wear tool to see whether the whole chain needs replacing, which it does :-(

Passed the above "chopper" on my way in, or rather I should say it passed me. Despite the rider having to pedal like some furious BMX-er, he was maintaining a pretty decent speed down the Kennington Road. Perhaps it's the low-slung, aerodynamic postion.

Chain Reaction Pt 3

If you're expecting a step-by-step guide about how to fix a broken chain, I'd wait a few more days till I'm actually able to do that. In the meantime, here's some "DON'T"s that may prove useful

1. Don't turn you bike upside down without removing your (open) panniers first

Picture says it all really



2. Don't forget to make a drawing of where the chain goes first

You'll forget as soon as your trying to re-attach the chain and when you're covered in oil is not the time to be looking round your house for a picture of a bike.

3. Don't re-attach the chain (using the SRAM link you bought) in such a way part of it is running outside of the frame.



You'll just swear a lot

4. Don't think "That's OK" - it should be possible to just slide my SRAM link back apart again

Apparently it *is* possible, but it requires skill and pliers, and not oily hands and no skill.

4. Don't think "That's not a problem", I can use my bike chain tool to remove another link, move the chain back inside the frame, before re-attaching the link using your bike chain tool.




The bike chain tool should be used to push a pin out part (but not all) of the way. See here for how to do it properly. If you do push the pin all the way out, there's no way on God's Green earth that you'll be able to get it back in.

I will now be buying another connex link, to replace the link where I took the completely out and hopefully I'll be able to be back on my bike (finally)

Bike Events in Brockwell Park This Weekend Pt 3

Cycle Training are now not appearing at the Urban Green Fair, but Dr. Bike will be.

Hopefully this is my last post on this subject :-)

Bike Events in Brockwell Park This Weekend Pt 2

Cycle Training UK have also said they'll be in Brockwell Park this Sunday, so if you're interested in getting some training on how to cope with London's not always bike friendly streets, pop by. I believe they even provide some subsidised/free courses via Lambeth Council.

PS I still haven't had a chance to repair my chain yet, so am having to make do with public transport again this week. Obviously a good week to do so.

Bike Events in Brockwell Park This Weekend

The "Urban Green Fair" this Sunday in Brockwell Park has a Bicycle Testing Zone, where you can try out different types of bikes and even better Brixton Bicycle Art will be teaching you how to repair and pimp your old bike.

Chain Reaction Part 2

I've spoken to my resident bike expert and in order to fix my chain I need to use a chain tool like this



(which I have) to remove the "busted-up" link and replace it with one of these



(which I don't). I can also use a chain wear tool like this



to tell whether the whole chain is knackered and just needs throwing in the bin.

Off to the bike shop at lunch, I'll let you know how I get on.

Chain Reaction

Yesterday morning, I rode to work marvelling at how well my freshly cleaned and oiled bike worked. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and each time I changed gear, you could hear the cogs bite with a satisfying clunk, and the movement on the shifters was smooth and definite.

Yesterday evening, my chain decided to explode and leave me to push the bike two miles home.

Not sure if I my cleaning was a little overzealous, or it was all an unfortunate coincidence, but I will be spending the evening learning how to repair and/or replace my chain.

I got a tattoo to commerate the ocassion (only joking, the image is from Louisiana BMX a site dedicated to BMX art!)

I Missed This Last Year...

...so am hoping to catch some of their films this year.

2007 Bike Film Festival

Cycle Theft Chat

Chat online to a couple of coppers and some people from the Home Office, about how to avoid getting your bike nicked.

17th August, 12pm-2pm
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/chat/chat002.htm

This Looks Fun

The Hovis London Freewheel is a load of London streets closed to traffic on the 23rd September, for some car free fun.

PS The logo is mine, not the official one :-)

Cycling on the Isle of Wight

Last weekend I went off to the Isle of Wight for a long weekend. As part
of it, my girlfriend (a non cyclist) and I decided to hire some bikes in order to get around and just for it's own enjoyment. Thankfully the Isle of Wight seems a fairly cycle-friendly
place, with plenty of bike hire places and a variety of routes around
the island.

As part of our hire of two bikes from Wight Cycle Hire we got the Cycle Wight pamphlet which lists 13 routes of varying difficulty (they also sell it seperately for £2.99). On the Saturday we chose the Sunshine Trail (12 miles), supposedly named as it orbits the part of the UK which gets the most sunlight per year. It runs from Shanklin through Wroxall, Godshill, Sandown, before returning to Shanklin and mostly runs on cycle-tracks and very quiet roads. The "challenging
off-road" section is basically across a field, bumpy in summer, and
probably a mud pit during the winter months. The route was lovely,
quickly leaving Shanklin for some very rural fields and scenery.



On the Sunday we went for the more challenging Shanklin to Ventnor and
back route, which includes two substantial hills and for a lot of the time sticks to the main road (more appealing than it sounds). Although less rural, it does take you
to Ventnor for a dip in the sea/pint at the (http://www.thespyglass.com/) Spyglass Inn. We also opted for the extension to. It's supposed to end at Niton but we didn't find much there (it was probably around the next corner). Luckily we spotted a sign for a beach cafe at St.Catherine's Point and had a late lunch there.

Oooo, nice

Combining my loves of not getting cold on a bike and peerless Jocko booze, is this great top from the Velo Club d'Ardbeg. I'm looking into doing a holiday up on Islay which will involve some cycling, and will update you with what I do.

PS. Apologies for the lack of updates of late, normal service should be resumed now.

Cycle Lanes Part II

Following the no doubt overwhelming response from readers of this very blog, the government seems to be backtracking on the idea of cycle lanes being compulsory.

Story on Government News Network

"Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."