Category: Words

Bike Blog

Floreat Velominati

It has been far too long since I posted on here and worryingly it was 1st April when I actually last rode a bike. I had to log in to Strava to look that up and then it took me 10 goes to remember the right email and password combination. That was a rubbish, horrible, totally forgettable ride too.

I am currently contemplating whether I need the bikes I have. This is causing much mental anguish as every one (in the cycling world at least) knows that the number of bikes needed in n+1 where n is the current number of bikes. It’s not like the number of bikes is being threatened by the other part of Rule 12, that this equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

So it may be that one thing might save me. It being the rules. A life spent with bikes until the advent of children (which seems to have thrown a tangental spanner in the spokes of the spinning wheel of cycling enthusiasm) means that upon reading them I can relate to every single one. I’ve even had to check quick release alignment since reacquainting myself to ensure I am in compliance.

My detachment and drift away from that group of people that formed a community of cycling friends has been heightened by the mystical and unannounced halt to the paper edition of Singletrack that used to come through the post. Nick Wallis’ demise didn’t do anything to cheer me up either. So I’m left wondering if anyone actually cares about the rules or will give me grief if I flaunt them.

Yet I just need to think back to my last ride and the looks from other riders looking significantly more chiseled than I to know that one look is enough to recognise if you have the rules in check or have missed a vital component and look stupid. Yes the rules are known, even if they’re not spoken.

Cheri Mills takes on the Elite

Lardy

My good friend Cheri Mills recently made the podium in the Afan round of the UK Gravity Enduro series last weekend. What a top result amongst some well known names!

Elite Women
1st No. 151: Moseley, Tracy – Sponsor: T mo racing/trek. Time 05:05.3
2nd No. 152: Gaskell, Helen – Sponsor: None. Time: 05:28.6
3rd No. 157: Mills, Cheri – Sponsor: Twelve50 Bikes. Time: 05:40.9

Cheri has an impressive Palmares including Welsh National Cross Country Champion and Winner of the Isle of Man End to End. Coming from a background in Triathlon and with an interest in other cross over sports such as motorbike trail riding she will definietly be one to watch. She’s sponsored by twelve50 bikes based in Frodsham, Cheshire.

Shakedown

Took the Ti Crown Jewel out for its first ride this weekend. I didn’t have any shoes, but ordered some Mavic Avenge Maxis that arrived last week so no more excuses! Put some paint protection on to protect against cable rub and then scooted out. I love the detail on this bike, Independent Fabrication have gifted it with some really nice touches.

Independent Fabrication Titanium Crown Jewel

Independent Fabrication Titanium Crown Jewel

Independent Fabrication Titanium Crown Jewel

After the initial shock of riding a road bike again after such a long spell off a bike with 23mm rubber, two things became apparent. It rides well and fits very nicely. I might shift the saddle back a little, but I’d like to get some more mileage in on it first. No sore shoulders from the ride which is a good sign.

The shakedown fulfilled it’s purpose. Loose headset, bars not clamped tightly enough in the stem and a slightly sticky free hub. The latter is no so easy to fix, but only manifests at standstill when trying to back pedal. It’s the side effect of buying a second hand wheel set and having had the same problem on a pair of Crossmax, I’m not relishing trying to banish it.

Lakeland Adventures

High Set Photo

Well the biking come back didn’t last. I haven’t turned a pedal this year and it’s mid-February now. Still, walking between 15 and 25 miles a week to and from work and with a special occasion coming up a weekend in the Lakes seemed like a logical choice. The weather was glorious and ascending Skiddaw brought the winter snow you’d expect from the time of year as a stark contrast to the beautiful low light cast by the sunshine. Feeling inspired to get outdoors more now. Further photos on Flickr.

Coming Back

Same ride as last week today. Nice to do it in daylight and not to get rained on. Felt loads better once I warmed up and ended up 20 minutes quicker around the same loop and felt much more focused. Only got off and pushed the Singlespeed twice which was a massive step forward even if just psychologically.

One bit was unridable with my 2:1 gear. The secong bit was just lack of legs. Really impressed with the Strava iPhone app, especially now I have the dame ride twice and can start to see where I was slower and faster. Even put the Heart Rate monitor on today, but tried not to look too much, but having had a look at the log now home I was ‘in the zone’ for 2 hours out of a 2 hour 45 minute ride.

Power Gone

Back on the bike today for a ride, decided to head out and do a familiar route but in reverse, getting a good technical descent but a long road climb. The plan was ambitious, my last big ride was the 18th December last year. As with these things, the ride started off okay, but within 30 minutes I was questioning the sense of an evening into night ride. In Manchester. In winter.

The first incline had me worried. I used to power up this sat in the saddle today it was hard work out of the saddle. Things did not improve. Of course there was a headwind, my brakes were probably binding a bit, tyre pressure wasn’t optimal and the ground was too sticky under tread. I was able to find plenty of excuses, but no real explanation for how my riding form had evaporated in the last year. Clearly power walking to work for 15 minutes each way every day is not a substitute for exercise that necessitates breaking a sweat.

In no short order the ride was eventful in that:

  • One drug deal going down out the boot of a Clio (Tesco bag of Cannabis being exchanged for a big wad of notes)
  • Two new components being tested SLX cranks and XTR pedals.
  • Three times I thought about turning around and going home early.
  • Four sections of santisied trails – thanks for ruining some great trails morons.
  • Five hundred metres of climbing and I felt every one.

cranks

Any way I used the Strava app for the iPhone for the first time. What a great bit of kit, no more Map my Ride messing about for me! Like garlic bread, this is the future. It even allows you to compare times against other riders on the same sections of trail. Ace.

So the aim is to now try and maintain a regular riding mentality and get back out on the trails more often. With my power gone, stamina and a mediocre level of trail skills seem to be the only assets I have left and I’m not too happy with that prospect. At least I am not totally destroyed tonight after a 3 hour ride and 46km.

Titanium Crown Jewel

Finally finished the build during the week and with a break in the gloom and some sunshine this afternoon here’s a few pics of the built up new road bike.

Controls

Controls

Bike

The paintwork is Ruby Red Pearl (which was brought in specially as it is no longer a standard colour option) with Freshwater Pearl to make up the ‘jersey panels’. The Independent Fabrication graphics are hand-painted by Chris Rowe. Few more photos here.

This is a special bike with a paint job inspired by my old Harry Hall which had a Dave Yates paintjob. Although tipping a hat to these old school names, it is very much a state of the art chassis in Titanium.

It tips the scales at just under 17.5lbs. Full SRAM Red, Ultegra Carbon SPD SL Pedals, Deda Newton Bars, Thomson post and stem and Selle Italia SLR saddle. Wheels are classic Mavic Heliums – some of the lightest factory wheels they’ve produced. I’m sure this build will evolve….

New Road Bike

It’s been some time since I had a road bike and I decided around a year ago that with the perfect roads around the place in France that it was time to get back on skinny rubber. I owe a massive thanks to Gary Smith and Chris Rowe at Independent Fabrication for the new ride – I picked it up today from Tim at Sideways Cycles. Just need to accumulate a lot of parts now to get it on the road.

Creation Card