Category: Words

Traditionally an early show opportunity for new kit Sea Otter is in full swing over in the States. There is coverage from Cyclingnews and over at Mountain Bike Action. MBA also has coverage, like Singletrackworld, of the new developments to expect next year from kit manufacturers like Shimano, Fox and others.

Whilst I’m interested in bikes I believe you have to draw the line somewhere. I think I now know where this line is. For that reason whilst I am going to now link frameforum.net, I refuse to spend any more time on there. I just don’t think it’s healthy.

They might be a division III team, but Californian based Sierra Nevada have some seriously nice looked bikes, made by none other than the legendary Serotta. I think there is some thing about the look of this bike that just makes it look fast standing still. Now I thought they did mountain bikes too? Couldn’t see any on their site at the moment.

Now I missed reporting the fact that just prior to the track Worl Cup event here in Manchester, in the light of doping accusatiosn Cofidis pulled it’s whole team from International competition. Here’s the latest:

From: Cyclingnews
Subject: The Cofidis Situation

Voluntarily removing itself from the peloton on the eve of Paris-Roubaix to regroup after the widening revelations and allegations of doping within the team, Cofidis has yet to offer a clear indication of its intentions for the coming weeks or even months.

“The decision has allowed everyone to realise now just how serious the situation is,” Bondue explained. “The team’s existence is what’s at stake. Everyone needs to reflect. Right now we’re not going to stop. But, if the measures I propose to Cofidis aren’t convincing, the team will stop.”

The team’s three track riders, Arnaud Tournant, Mickaël Bourgain, and Laurent Gané, are in fact clear to race in competition in the colours of the French national team. The entire road squad remains in a waiting game pending developments within the team direction.

“I know that a rumour has hinted at the Four Days of Dunkerque in May, but that would be an ideal scenario,” Bondue said of a possible re-entry. “I would rather be pragmatic. We shouldn’t rush just because of the time passing, rather we should do things right. I have to propose to Cofidis measures that guarantee an ethical program following the values of the company.”

Now reports are that certain members of the team are getting restless wit the fact that the team is dormant at the one of the busiest times of the years with many riders not happy to be missing the Spring classics. With riders World class athletes like David Millar and Igor Astarloa on board it’s going to be interesting to see how long Cofidis sit it out.

Finally there are a few nice singlespeed hubs on show over at the dutch singlespeed site.

Many good intentions since Thursday but little chance to realise them. I am sorting out some of the stuff in the flat though. Harry Hall road frame number one is now ready for ebay and when it’s gone frame two will be off to Dave Yates for a respray. Then it’ll be sitting somewhere until I either decide to build it up or sell it. I guess I’ll have to see how it turns out first.

I’ve just been looking at the Mt Nittany Wheelworks website I have the feeling that the staff there are really passionate about their riding and cycling in general. I think having people like Eric Roman on the staff makes stuff like that just happen. Check them out.

Rode Thetford for the first time this year this weekend. It was excellent, but yet more trees have been felled. The Forest Enterprise lot don’t seem to be replanting much at the moment so there’s a fair few desolate spaces around and about. That and the motocross racing had left some fairly significant changes since my last trip.

Jed kindly led the way and guided through the usual excellent sections on both sides of the road. Including both the old and the new rollercoaster. I’m of much the same opinion as several others – it isn’t worthy of the name ‘the beast’ but it is definitely a rollercoaster ride, just keep off the brakes and trust your tyres. There was also some mini-shore dotted around which was interesting and certainly seemed to compliment the existing trails.

Well a bit of riding a bit of working out in the country air and that was Easter in Norfolk and now it’s back to the City life. I’ve been back about 24 hours now and I’ve just about caught up from a week off, e-mails, phone calls, jobs and a bit of work.

I knew I was back in Manchester within minutes when some kids decided they’d try some moving target practice on my car as I drove back into the City last night. Quite what it was (half brick, beer bottle, etc) that bounced off the car I’m not sure but I’m amazed there was no damage given the hefty thump.

All sorts has been happening in the last week and there’s some good stuff for updates over the next few days, but this made me smile. Scam you say? And what is a costumer query? Does this look like a cyber-haberdashery?

From: Barongan
Subject: Costumer Query

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Willy, I interest to make order from your store, I’m not sure
if you have the products which I wish, but I really hope you can help me.
Below the detail producst which I wish to buy from you:
# Rockshox SID World Cup
# Shimano XTR Groupset(Kits) + Shimano XTR Wheelsets
# Compagnolo Record Groupset(Kits) + Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL
Do you have in your stock?
if you don’t have this in your stock, what you suggest for me?
for the payment method I will use credit card, Do you accept payment with
this method?
also do you can ship your products world wide (Indonesia)?
I look forward to hear your answer soon.
Thank you very much.

I’ve rejigged the menus on the left because I now want to link to some more web forums across Europe. There are forums in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland linked now. Maybe there’ll be some more. Some interesting stuff, but most of it in a language you don’t really understand unless you’re fluent in it.

Having just received my Christmas present four months late (thanks Zyro, you’re good aren’t you?) I was interested to see this blaggers guide to a do-it-yourself workstand. Seems feasible.

After yesterdays post I wrote this last night. I’m pro-helmet. I wear mine when I go out riding. I don’t wear it when I sprint the 5 minutes to work from my flat. The odds are that I am probably as likely to have a serious accident in five minutes hammering it to the shop as I am in five minutes hammering around the Coed-y-Brenin. The thing is I have a choice over whether I wear it or not. There is a concern about the proposals that this is the thin edge of the wedge and that soon I may not have a choice, especially if the BHIT get their way.

I also know having been in more bike vs car RTAs than I am comfortable with that a helmet does not provide the wearer with a power of invincibility. In fact I don’t know if a piece of polystyrene foam is going to make much difference if an Arctic takes me out. I doubt it. I do know that it probably saved me a worse headache last time I went through a car windscreen. I tell you what would save more lives than cyclists wearing helmets – if all cars on the roads were road safe with valid MOTs and driven by people with driving licences and insurance. Hell if the government really wanted to save lives they could ban cars from city centres altogether.

So whilst I am pro-helmet, I’m also anti compulsion. In fact the whole issue has actually made me write to my MP for only the second time ever (the first being prior to the start of the last Gulf War). This Bill has not be well written nor will it address a simple fact – British roads are not a safe or welcoming environment for cyclists. Body armour will not help nor should it be necessary.

There’s a further discussion going on here. Mark Alker’s comments I though have been very good.

If you have interests in the future direction in which cycling is going in the country, you may want to take action over this proposal.

From: Bikebiz
Title: April 23rd – Could this be a black day for cycling?

Perhaps. That’s when Eric Martlew’s private member’s bill, ‘protective headgear for young cyclists’, gets its second reading. Many MPs support Martlew’s bill. Any measure that says it aims to save children’s lives is a vote winner. But will a kid lid law, in fact, lead children to ditch their bikes, leading to the unintended consequence of more deaths via obesity-related illnesses? MPs need to be better informed. To date, they seem to have absorbed only BHIT’s argument. Time to write to your MP…

Well I’ve written to Tony Lloyd my MP about this, whilst I’m pro-helmet I’m not pro-compulsion. I think it’s the thin end of the wedge and as Carlton Reid’s article says “many helmet campaigners seem to think helmets will be a panacea for all cycle-related head trauma. Unfortunately, motorists think so too and speed up to pass helmet-clad cyclists because they are seen to be ‘protected’ and ‘serious cyclists’. (Source: TRL 549, Drivers’ perceptions of cyclists). Motorists pass such ‘serious’ cyclists much closer than they would have done otherwise” and in the Netherlands where helmet wearing is almost unknown, yet there is no epidemic of cycle-related head injuries.

I’ve had a link to the bike brothers site sitting in my mailbox for sometime. I just couldn’t remember why. Last night I remembered. It’s because within the pages of the site their is a tribute to the late Bruce Bursford.

Canadian manufacturers seem to be getting everywhere at the moment, but some like Cove are better known than others. Most however are brought into the UK and if you haven’t looked at them before you might be quite interested in Balfa.

Whats been happening in the wonderful world of bikes then? Well specialized have been continuing their quest to be the bike company to be associated with. Not only has their new carbon frameset now got a win under its belt, they’ve also licenced their Zertz vibration damping technology to Italian tubeset manufacturers Dedacciai. Then the big S also has the World XC Mountain Bike Champion riding for them too.

Filip Meirhaeghe is aiming for some new golden jewelry to sling around his neck come August. The 33-year-old Belgian is putting everything into winning the mountain bike gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games. Meirhaeghe is leaving nothing to chance, he’s already checked out the course in Athens, he’s training hard, and earlier this year he won the season opener in Cyprus wearing the world champion’s rainbow jersey. There’s an interview with him here.

Square bike wheels. It’s going to be the next big thing.

Sunday opening is back for the summer and given the forecast for the weather and the fact I’ve been feeling a bit run down, I decided to work rather than try riding this weekend even though Jed was riding the Welsh trails. From what I hear he enjoyed it despite the rain…

Graeme Obree is on something of a comeback at the moment which has to be a good thing for British Cycling. He is currently bidding to reclaim the world hour record set by Boardman in 2000. According to Cyclingnews, Obree has not set a date for his record attempt but Sunday will provide an indicator of his condition.

“If the test goes well, I plan to attack the world record fairly quickly,” Obree said. “Boardman’s distance [49.441 km] won’t be easy to beat, but I’m hopeful. I’ve followed a very strict training plan and even if I’m two kilos heavier than I was in 1993, it’s two kilos of muscle.”

Back in the 90s Greg Herbold used to ride Koga Miyata and I reckon if it wasn’t for him they’d be even less well known than they are. Well the word is that they’ll soon be available in the UK again. Here’s the website.

Just managing to squeeze one last update in before the end of the month and I can’t think of a more appropriate way to update than offering some good time wasting entertainment. If you liked the first penguin game check out the latest two additions over at Yetisports.

Manzano has made the move that has been widely speculated to be on the cards, but the shitstorm continues to gather in the wake of his allegations. Cyclingnews has the latest. Drugs don’t seem to be at all prevalent in the female side of the sport. I mean they certainly have some top of the kit, but you never hear much about doping scandals.

People living outside North America choosing to stick two fingers up to the film and music industry and share copyrigted material have for the most part been getting away with it, but that looks set to change:

From: Gilles
Subject: First file sharers prosecuted in Europe

We had been waiting for it for a long time, and here it is: for the first time in Europe, some people will be prosecuted for sharing copyrighted material.

Groups go after music swapping in Canada, Europe

“LONDON — Recording industry associations in Europe and Canada are going after 247 people for illegally swapping music on-line, taking up a
tactic used by music companies in the United States.

The London-based International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said Tuesday that action had been taken in Germany, Denmark, Italy and Canada. The IFPI, which represents the recording industry worldwide, said lawsuits would be launched in more countries in coming
months as part of its campaign against music piracy.”

or

Europe’s song-swappers face court

“The music industry is to take legal action against 247 online song-swappers across Europe in the biggest crackdown against music piracy outside the US.”

For what it’s worth I still think they are going about this the wrong way. I mean look at Sony. I have loads of albums from artists under the Sony label and I have a Sony Net Minidisc which lets me record tracks from CD as well as MP3 and other electronic music files onto Minidisc using Sony’s own jukebox software, but under the current laws it’s all illegal.

What a miserable failure.

Some people chose to ride the Mary Townley Loop this weekend and it was a memorable event, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. It was a muddy ride when I rode it last May and attempts to ride it after the recent rain we’ve had were likely to make it challenging.

I went out on Sunday with Steve Makin, Steve’s friend Bill, Jon Woodhouse and the absurdly fit Dave Clark and we rode from Sale Water Park up to Broadbottom and then back. It was mostly along the banks of the Mersey but it was a good distance. The ride down to Sale and back also adds to the distance, especially as I had to go and meet the Sexmidget on the way. It was a good ride and an idea for an Epic later in the year has been hatched.

It has also prompted me to try a carbon bar for the first time. I’ve tried suspension on the singlespeed, but it threw the gemoetry right out and I’ve started to get used to it being rigid. Yet even withe the ti spokes and steel frame and forks there’s a need for just a bit more comfort. I’ll have to see if this does the trick – I’ll post some photos of the latest singlespeed specification in a couple of days.

There’ll be some new kit on show at this years road races as both Mavic and Giro have new works in the pipeline and will be looking to make riders go faster than before. Meanwhile the Manzano debacle has been continuing, but it all seems a bit academic. The suspicion that doping was taking place was always there, it’s just that Manzano is the first rider to talk graphically and openly about what was happening.

For his sake I hope he gets a ride with Amore e Vita because if he was good enough for second in the Spanish Nationals without the aid of drugs, then he’s likely to be good enough to ride well a professional level without artifical assistance. He may not have the same form as before, but on the other hand maybe he will. At least he won’t have to worry about his blood thickening during the night.

The infamous lyrics “when tha shit goes down ya better be ready” sum up the current situation in the world of professional road racing. As I reported briefly on Thursday, former Kelme rider Jesus Manzano has been saying a lot about his personal experiences with doping and the near fatal consequences they held for him.

Now while it’s obvious why a lot of people would want him to stay quiet or stop talking, he’s been spilling a lot of information and from what I can see has been careful not to implicate other riders specifically. The fact he’s pretty much tarred all of the riders in his team already though isn’t going to make much difference to how the riders are reacting.

Interestingly, maybe it’s the fact that no big names have yet been dropped that has stopped the news from making it into the mainstream media. Most just report that Kelme has been dropped from this year’s Tour and that this follows Manzano’s revelations. After a relatively quite year in terms of doping last year, this year is looking stormy.

This has to be good news:

Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced a tax exemption scheme for bikes, The Green Transport Plan, which could see you saving up to 50% on your bike, and there’s no upper limit on the value of the bike. The only catch, if you can call it that, is that the Inland Revenue’s rules say that the bike must be used “mainly for transport to and from work” but that’s not really a terribly onerous requirement.

More at Bikemagic.

Now buying stuff off the Internet can be a bit of a hit or miss affair, but when you thing you’re getting this and this is what arrives, you’re going to be pissed. In fact you might tell some people you know, who’ll tell all the people they know and the whole thing spirals and then even I’m posting a link to it. The dirty details are here. I think there’s quite a strong case from going and buying certain stuff direct from a dealer.