No Da Costa or even risque humour for the dads, a bit of blue left in the sky at the end of this evenings ride home from work. In reality not really much blue and probably more of a case of shades of very dark blue indeed, but. The start of nights starting to pull out and the first sign that the end of winter if not imminent, is, well not as far away as it seemed a few weeks ago. Certainly a time frame that seems suddenly surmountable rather than a suggestion to hibernate, visit the pub, or other entirely pleasant but completely sedentary winter activities. Certainly on arrival home this evening it was quite dark, but the sort of dark that if you'd been out on a long day ride and you'd just got back and not had lights for, you'd have felt a bit reckless rather the plain foolhardy act of riding into the night without illumination. Even nature seemed to be trying to hold onto the light with the last of the still to be pollarded trees in Hackney seemingly trying to hang onto what remained of the day. Spring and the classics are just a few weeks ...  Read the rest of the entry...

Wow just realised I've not written anything for over a year, that's proper slack of me... Despite the seasonal activities I roe bikes over Christmas two reasonable length rides of 50 miles, then rode the first weekend of the new year and commuted the following three days... Then the cold weather came and I stopped, hopefully it warms up again at the weekend and I get to ride bikes again... The eagle eyed will have noticed the Riding Page to the right which is wehre I'll start logging miles, I'm hoping the mileage is above zero come Monday.   Read the rest of the entry...

Well of all the stuff I'd ordered over the internet this week I hadn't expected the Howies stuff to be lated Ribble really are usper reliable and cheap these days, their use of Parcelforce is a bit annoying as it means going to the post office in the wrong direction still that's a gripe that's s minor I should probably shoot myself. So once the parcel was picked up the remainder of the morning was spent washing the Condor, then gardening, Salix trees have been trained and Budleia throughly cut back, I'm bored of cats shitting in my garden though, I need more ground cover, that'll happen in the spring. I thought fitting mudguards was going to be grim but it was actually pretty easy way simpler than the CTC forum suggest... I rode the Mercian today wich was ace although the sky was grey so I took it on myself to ride the grimmest Edmonton-Walthamstow border route ever the North Circular part of north east London really is brutally horrid and grim. A bite of brunch and then the Belgian Cross championships cheered me up no end Sven Nys doesn't look like a man in the twilight of his career, I know Niels ...  Read the rest of the entry...

Alpkit jackets are ace proper fresh this evening and my new Filet/Filo can't remember which but it's got sleeves kept me toasty with just a shirt underneath, perhaps the ultimate pub jacket? Oh and having a down gilet means that when it gets really cold I'm going to be laughing... Warm clothes ace!   Read the rest of the entry...

Well it's here I guess, I've given up on commuting by bicycle for the year now, I'm afraid spending two hours a day cold, and changing in toilets just isn't doing it for me. I'm aiming for at least one weekend ride every week, perhaps two and I'm hoping to ride a bit over Christmas if it's not raining or snowing. There's a considerable difference between a forty mile ride starting at 11.30am and finishing at 2.30pm than having to commute in the dark and freezing cold and get changed in cold toilets. Getting soft probably, staving off winter illness certainly.   Read the rest of the entry...

Well Monday saw me start to suffer with the start of a cold, to the point that the ride home was back end of the block and wheezing and spluttering really really horrible. A Lemsip and an early night followed by a day off of the bike. Back on the bike today and everything felt right maybe rest is the way forward.   Read the rest of the entry...

The component list was going so well too Rotor Cranks Zero Gravity Brakes SRAM Rival Shift Bits Thomson Stem and Seatpost Deda Bars So what saddle and bar tape and wheels, on and what chain rings do I have to use Rotor rings with Rotor cranks? I suspect I'm probably going to run Eggbeater pedals yes I know it's a road bike, but I can't track stand very well (barely if at all) and most of my riding starts with a run through a lot of junctions and lights? Thoughts needed, I'm a bit concerned about the red bits on the cranks clashing with the sprout green frame. Comments and thoughts actively sought, bike should be done by next Spring!   Read the rest of the entry...

Powder coating and reflective decals £90 or a Ragley Cragg Vale for £130... Inevitably I'll have to spend more if I buy the Ragley as well, tempting though, need to sort out a bike that's right for commuting and logging winter miles now and just cruising around on it has to be left in the bike sheds at work too...   Read the rest of the entry...

Well the cross bike was out of stock, Triton did offer me a killer deal on something else but I actually wanted a specific frame and finish, never mind. A new KMC chain has been popped onto the commuting bike, and a plan for having it powder coated to make it more robust in the bike sheds is in hand that will probably happen in December, although I'lll need a new seatpost saddle and potentially bar tape. I'm going to try a Brooks again I think, riding in jeans which tends to be stock for a lot of the town riding I seem to do just destroys saddles so I'm thinking a Brooks will solve that issue, although it does put a kybosh on white lycra for next spring.   Read the rest of the entry...

I must get into this blogging lark again I'll see what I can do. Hopefully a new CX bike for commuting arriving next week!   Read the rest of the entry...