tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12266542930224459472024-03-04T03:02:47.992-08:00THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT BIKE (S)MY BIKES AND THE EXCUSES I'VE MADE FOR BUYING THEMUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-1722825252670640162018-06-04T04:40:00.000-07:002018-06-04T15:02:34.359-07:00BACK ON THE BIKE AFTER A BREAK, AND THE JOY OF FULELLING<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well it's been a couple of years since my last post, and while plenty has happened in that time, I haven't bought any new bikes, well not for myself at least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I retired in October 2017, and was hugely busy while builders turned the house upside down building a new kitchen and bathroom. I was expecting that once I retired I'd have plenty of time for cycling, whereas the opposite turned out to be the case. Without the regular commute I got out of the habit of riding in poor weather, and when a couple of virus related illnesses (man flu type stuff) laid me low in November and December, cycling was the last thing on my mind. Then of course we had a horrible winter, so the excuses for not getting on the bike were piling up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I managed 62 kms towards the end of October, then nothing, until a check up at the doctor's revealed a rise in my cholesterol level, almost necessitating putting me on statins. I managed to fend that off with a promise to eat better and get fit, so on 22nd December I did something I hadn't done for six or seven years; I went for a run around Clapham Common. Must to my surprise I quite enjoyed it although I had to stop every couple of hundred yards. The cold air was hurting my lungs - my lack of fitness meant I was breathing really hard, and it hurt!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I managed 16 runs by mid March and felt a lot better for the efforts. So when a friend at Charlton Athletic mention a 145 mile two day charity ride from the Olympic velodrome in Stratford to Amsterdam (for the charity Prostate Cancer UK), I signed up, partly because I thought the motivation would help get me back on the bike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went for a couple of rides on the Enigma Etape 'winter bike' but something went horribly wrong in the saddle department, and a trip to the doctor revealed a haematoma, the doctor jovially diagnosing 'bony bum syndrome' as a probably cause. I'd been using my rather old Swift saddle, and I suspect it needs tightening urgently!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I almost cancelled the bike I'd booked for our April holiday in Gran Canaria, but when I got there, decided to give it a go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perched on a Fabric Scoop saddle I was in agony (well, a bit), and could only manage a couple of short rides. I took the bike back to the hire shop, and they swapped the saddle out for a Cannondale one (a bit more padding), and I was in business. A bit more comfortable, aided by the fact that the haematoma was easing a little. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As usual, the riding in Gran Canaria helped hugely. Cycling uphill for 10kms can't really be replicated in the UK, well not near London at least, and it always improves my riding, despite, or probably because, it's such hard work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So in all I cycled over 1200kms training for the charity ride. An 85 mile ride to Harwich on Day 1 was followed by a gentler 54 mile ride from the Hook of Holland to Amsterdam on beautiful bike lanes and paths on Day 2. They wound their way through windswept coastal regions, before diverting inland, often along canal-side paths and roads. And to be honest, I found the riding quite easy. Why, well partly because of the training, but also because my mate Nick at <a href="http://www.thelondoncycleworkshop.co.uk/" target="_blank">The London Cycle Workshop</a> gave me a lesson in <b>how to eat properly</b> when riding longish distances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Three years or so back, Nick took me on a ride from London to Brighton and back, on a day when the temperature dropped from about 14 degrees to two degrees. I bonked horribly after 90 miles, and barely made it home. I was shaking like a leaf, and it took me a couple of days to stop feeling wobbly. He told me at the time I hadn't eaten enough, but even then, the penny didn't really drop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the prospect of riding with 'Team Charlton' (this was a charity ride for football clubs) meant I didn't want to let anyone down, so I asked him how much I should be eating, bearing in mind I used to take two or three gels on a long ride and would often come back with one of them still in my pocket. In fact any ride over 30 miles I'd get off the bike with jelly legs, and that got worse the longer the ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So his advice was to take a bite of an energy bar every ten minutes or so, not right from the start of the ride, but maybe after an hour. I tried this for the first time on 14th May when I just rode round Richmond Park and Bushy Park and the area in between, for 100kms, the longest ride I'd completed in a couple of years. I couldn't believe it when I got off the bike at the end of it feeling fine. No wobbly legs at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And since then it's been the same story. Even the 137kms ride to Harwich left me feeling, well, almost normal. And the next day, I felt as fresh as a daisy by my standards (I ate a couple of protein bars after the ride) and the 54 miles to Amsterdam was fine, except perhaps in the saddle area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This to me is a major breakthrough. My average speeds have gone up a little, but it's made me realise I could probably go a bit faster if I wanted to. They say the more you ride the easier it gets, or the faster you get. Well combine that with fuelling properly and they're certainly right.It was interesting to see Nick's strategy put into effect so effectively by Team Sky at the Giro, a few days after my first fuelled ride!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the way, rode to Amsterdam on my Condor Legerro, still my favourite bike so far for road riding.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-51597469208487313382016-05-25T13:51:00.004-07:002016-05-25T14:01:03.521-07:00CONDOR LEGGERO: HAVE I FOUND MY PERFECT BIKE?<div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I picked up the new Condor Leggero <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">l</span>ast Saturday and took it for its first coffee stop, even before the pedals had been fitted. I've ordered some (hopefully) matching blue and yellow Keo Max pedals from Italy, which haven't arrived yet. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A Julian Cunnington bike fit <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">was </span>part of the deal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8sMnM32NuSSjSCzlwuYjMNdjaQrgdwo_UC4RV7sWyYcjo1UtLVBzAAaSS5SbK8Npbv1v4fv2DUOM__F78gtoYNLdznRFRMAuMPQMiu8iUumv1IIIrurcACR_-d0GxbQVkVJP-MLfUB0/s640/blogger-image--455551434.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8sMnM32NuSSjSCzlwuYjMNdjaQrgdwo_UC4RV7sWyYcjo1UtLVBzAAaSS5SbK8Npbv1v4fv2DUOM__F78gtoYNLdznRFRMAuMPQMiu8iUumv1IIIrurcACR_-d0GxbQVkVJP-MLfUB0/s640/blogger-image--455551434.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8sMnM32NuSSjSCzlwuYjMNdjaQrgdwo_UC4RV7sWyYcjo1UtLVBzAAaSS5SbK8Npbv1v4fv2DUOM__F78gtoYNLdznRFRMAuMPQMiu8iUumv1IIIrurcACR_-d0GxbQVkVJP-MLfUB0/s640/blogger-image--455551434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>With pedals, a 16g bottle cage, and no saddle bag <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the Leg<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">gero</span></span> weighs around 7.8 kgs<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>I'm going to swap my Mavic SLS wheel for the Élites, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a slight upgrade</span>. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So the big question<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">:</span> What's it like to ride?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">To find out I headed off on a ride to Box Hill via Richmond Park and Es<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">her, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">a trip </span>that I'd completed a couple of times in recent weeks on the Enigma.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I headed off through Battersea at warm up pace, and r<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ight away I noticed how smooth the ride was.But i</span>t wasn't until I approached Richmond Park along the rough section of Danebury Avenue that I realised just how smooth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've graded every bike I've ever owned over that strip of low budget, buzzy Tarmac.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The pre-Leggero results:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. Enigma Étape</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. Vitus 979</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rossin Record</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. The rest</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'd almost finished cycling over th<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is</span> rough road surface <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">when </span>I realised where I was. I actually hadn't even noticed it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So that was one box well and truly ticked. The Leggero moved into first place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a bike with 'race geometry', but as you can see from the photos, I had spacers stacked under the stem to give me a relatively relaxed riding position, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">with the</span> hope to gradually re<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">move at least some of</span> them. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I headed out on my route through Kingston and Hampton Court, to Epsom via Sandown Park. I glanced at the Garmin at the hour mark. 25 k<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">m</span>s/hr, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">nicely </span>up on my average. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And no</span> stiff arms, shoulders or back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">O</span>n arriving at the Box Hill café (just under 50Kms in just over two hours) I bumped into James from Condor who greeted me with "I recognise that bike!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After cake and coffee I headed back down <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Box Hill, retracing my route ho<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">me. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Right after Box Hill railway station</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">there's </span>Bagden Hill which touches 17%,<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> offering a nice little climbing test.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Disgracefully, after 90Kms, I <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fell apart</span> in Richmond Park, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">requiring<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> a</span></span>n </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">emergency </span></span></span></span></span> stop at the caf</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">é for <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">lunch</span>. I clearly need to up my mileage<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the good news is that despite my inadequacies this was clearly the best bike I've ridden. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The stiffest for sure<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">;</span> as comfortable as the very comfortable Synapse, and smoother than the super smooth Enigma. It felt really quick too, but to test that I needed to load the ride onto Strava.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whenever I buy a new bike the predominant feelings I experience are those of guilt and doubt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Will it be any good? </span>Will it be worth the money? Have I messed up again!? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So after the ride I knew the Leggero was comfortable and smooth. And it felt fast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was hoping to have set a few personal bests on a course that I had 'attacked' just seven days earlier. Praying might be more accurate than hoping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>But I really wasn't expected 54 PBs<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Up </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bagden Hill I clocked a pretty slow 6.17, but th<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is was a whole minute faster than my previous week's effort.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Considering how I had crawled home from Richmond Park <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">my average speed of 23.6 kms/<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hr was <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">decent for me</span>, up from 21.8 <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the week before <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">when I rode </span>a much short<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">er <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">route</span>.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But bike riding is about much more than times and segments and data. It's about how you feel on the bike and how the bike looks when it's propped up against a wall while you sip your well earned coffee or tea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And this Condor Leggero ticks every box for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have to say, I love it, and I can't wait to get out on it again. And that's the ultimate sign that you've bought the right bike. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And yes it's nice to go a bit faster<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If all goes as well as I hope, I intend to keep this bike for as long as possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can have it resprayed in the same livery if it gets too tatty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can upgrade to Dura-Ace eventually<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A</span>nd maybe get some Mavic Cosmic Carbones to add some extra bling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And you don't see too many of them around, which for me is a real bonus.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5VifnxNSiIh9vt4NmB4CmbxATinTsl5Ef_4Bv-EsEZ4QFrzGeko662CRUG8lr3kbOlWveIatPZ-AkayQn3a9vl0DzsRNsbTWxfWE2QngtFhIoz2uR1RUe6wt0l2c_Rx_DrPGYw4RM7I/s640/blogger-image--331898396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5VifnxNSiIh9vt4NmB4CmbxATinTsl5Ef_4Bv-EsEZ4QFrzGeko662CRUG8lr3kbOlWveIatPZ-AkayQn3a9vl0DzsRNsbTWxfWE2QngtFhIoz2uR1RUe6wt0l2c_Rx_DrPGYw4RM7I/s640/blogger-image--331898396.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-85278036726812539832016-04-19T13:10:00.004-07:002016-05-25T13:33:13.595-07:00SADDLES AND BIBSHORTS<div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last year I bought my first pair of upmarket bibshorts. I´d been struggling on longer rides and thought maybe a decent pair of shorts might make all the difference. And with L´Éroica coming up I went for this pair of Vélobicci ´Victor´ bibs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">P.S. Not modelled by me obviously.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcc-mktaFnjN1xyY_hC5sXz7KVGEInQHq_gThSRFmWZeRWKZI2ChdTw3jxRMUTg3JXhQPNLZP_dVIfqAu1l9jE-qu5tmfTgJ_zOF0bmBmbZLIMQLzr6u2ZsHUkBeZ1erjrIUHGgZGB-o/s1600/victor-bib-shorts-4-5570-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcc-mktaFnjN1xyY_hC5sXz7KVGEInQHq_gThSRFmWZeRWKZI2ChdTw3jxRMUTg3JXhQPNLZP_dVIfqAu1l9jE-qu5tmfTgJ_zOF0bmBmbZLIMQLzr6u2ZsHUkBeZ1erjrIUHGgZGB-o/s320/victor-bib-shorts-4-5570-p.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I set off for a ride (L´Éroica) a few days later on the the Vitus 979, and about half way through realised that I hadn´t even noticed the saddle. Now this was a first. Normally by this time I'm spending half the time out of the saddle trying to give my rear end a rest. Wow, I thought, the shorts are amazing - my worries are over!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But only a few days later I wore the same bibs on the Enigma with its Fizik Aliante, and the difference was far less marked. An improvement perhaps, but not the magic carpet ride I´d experienced on the Vitus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I assumed it must be the saddle. For the Vitus I bought a beaten up old Brooks Swift on eBay for about thirty five quid.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmmdngbrCYbjKLGnINPa_jPeyI67AmmN6zvE8KI0N_LIN1eg-2znlkJ0Iq1cnxWoOVk1V5QMX2R75H3vkq4M34aRdwqENJuv5453rz2MjKYEpdzapl1xQxZTXH13bXvQ98e83ScsxhYw/s640/blogger-image-298136248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmmdngbrCYbjKLGnINPa_jPeyI67AmmN6zvE8KI0N_LIN1eg-2znlkJ0Iq1cnxWoOVk1V5QMX2R75H3vkq4M34aRdwqENJuv5453rz2MjKYEpdzapl1xQxZTXH13bXvQ98e83ScsxhYw/s400/blogger-image-298136248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I´m not sure how old this Swift is. On the Brooks website they say the Swift is ´the youngest gentleman's racing saddle in the Brooks range´, and ´On introduction the Swift was offered only with lightweight titanium
rails. However, due to popular demand, since 2008 we also offer the
Swift Chrome, with traditional steel underpinnings, finished to our
usual high standards with bright polished chromium plate.´</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHVt23kD6t3ZFDBiHWlr4F3QZMgfOJe0Mm1Lgl5d3Ea45r6u7fpj-O_cKTxkj_oN3w0vcasSpsvOI4jqnadltJC1UfmAZo5xlt83MF3NwntV1RfoB4LpMfur6UtsaX3s_k4niG1W7XMc/s640/blogger-image--1608052419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHVt23kD6t3ZFDBiHWlr4F3QZMgfOJe0Mm1Lgl5d3Ea45r6u7fpj-O_cKTxkj_oN3w0vcasSpsvOI4jqnadltJC1UfmAZo5xlt83MF3NwntV1RfoB4LpMfur6UtsaX3s_k4niG1W7XMc/s640/blogger-image--1608052419.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But this saddle looks way older than that, unless it was used every day since 2008?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maybe it was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So anyway, I was lucky enough to be offered a titanium railed Swift at a special tester price. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And it´s now on my comuting bike (the Surly Crosscheck) getting broken in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It´s a decent 384 grams on my kitchen scales, the lightest saddle in the Brooks range I believe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So far, as you'd expect with a new leather saddle, it´s nowhere near as comfortable as the ´vintage´ Swift, but is already improving with use.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PRme8AR8TVO-AzUXXz8d0HAWHChk6yE61HP2TPtrLr5nENeyduYKjumBdpb0kl7i4wLqJrpSLhAA1VHrNCqWUrRe_ZsfoJk6YaqL0nObB3R4BQ75DMCZFMYywpC1tWTgQDoD7EEL7ek/s640/blogger-image-1512654166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PRme8AR8TVO-AzUXXz8d0HAWHChk6yE61HP2TPtrLr5nENeyduYKjumBdpb0kl7i4wLqJrpSLhAA1VHrNCqWUrRe_ZsfoJk6YaqL0nObB3R4BQ75DMCZFMYywpC1tWTgQDoD7EEL7ek/s400/blogger-image-1512654166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So with bikes getting lighter and lighter it'd be perfectly possibly to have a Brooks on your super light road bike and still be under the UCI's 6.8Kgs minimum. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below are some other classic or well known saddles and their weights. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IbyRJuY_tNDq1RaTWNkqPtuIU4gbYQqlHUDRNfBvEg6X1-ugyTZYfXs1hseZSPjIeRsKEtb2qHR4lVH2VoLjQIWkclwqFwzhQP1E0FCdcvLKUoYEBEx96SCdTcY1XK2i68a4pyUQqxY/s640/blogger-image--51025944.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IbyRJuY_tNDq1RaTWNkqPtuIU4gbYQqlHUDRNfBvEg6X1-ugyTZYfXs1hseZSPjIeRsKEtb2qHR4lVH2VoLjQIWkclwqFwzhQP1E0FCdcvLKUoYEBEx96SCdTcY1XK2i68a4pyUQqxY/s400/blogger-image--51025944.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ua8HgQLpwlf1Lxm1AEau8uVO04OdxKpeR7me7JOsdVJ3UxIPCL-NGRWCCW8GgaWDeNup0z6hDQf3blobGLanDy3Tpo-nNV5-Pht0xiDC-hjzfJ8LhIy61s9zKNAne6cZ-GNeZ5tpXQ/s640/blogger-image--447679201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ua8HgQLpwlf1Lxm1AEau8uVO04OdxKpeR7me7JOsdVJ3UxIPCL-NGRWCCW8GgaWDeNup0z6hDQf3blobGLanDy3Tpo-nNV5-Pht0xiDC-hjzfJ8LhIy61s9zKNAne6cZ-GNeZ5tpXQ/s640/blogger-image--447679201.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Turbo was considered lightweight back in the day....</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvehJ_jfr4IX9J4cV7xGANge0hClRitfj6NPsrwM8ClaHPjQdrn_ZcZn8FAzVyKTx_vFGxI530Och6jLjYx2fymLyaGW-jDQDNk1f51c0qbtV2JcCBLhlEaIklvjP7L7NLuS9PNL_BCrA/s640/blogger-image--194449242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvehJ_jfr4IX9J4cV7xGANge0hClRitfj6NPsrwM8ClaHPjQdrn_ZcZn8FAzVyKTx_vFGxI530Och6jLjYx2fymLyaGW-jDQDNk1f51c0qbtV2JcCBLhlEaIklvjP7L7NLuS9PNL_BCrA/s640/blogger-image--194449242.jpg" /></a></div>
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Above: The trusty Brooks Professional from my commuting bike.<br />
Weighty, but comfortable!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-55874019041718545632016-04-18T12:40:00.003-07:002016-05-25T10:36:28.570-07:00SPRING IS IN THE AIR - NEW BIKE TIME?<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So eighteen months ago my Enigma Étape became my only road bike (unless you include the vintage Vitus 979), a well intentioned attempt to reduce the number of bikes littering the house.<br>And the bike certainly hasn't let me down. It´s been great.<br>However... there now follows a lists of reasons (excuses) to buy a new summer bike...<br><br>1. Hiring lighter bikes while on holiday has left me with the feeling that I´m ´missing out´.<br>2. I´m 60 in September and (the following statement is, believe it or not, true), my wife suggested that I buy a new bike as a birthday present to myself.<br>3. The Enigma weighs just over 9Kgs with mudguards/fenders. It wasn't supposed to. According to the component manufacturers' quoted weights, it should have been in the lower regions of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7Kgs</span>. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">[More about this subject some other time. It makes me cross.]<br>4. New bikes are good.<br>5. Buying new bikes is good for the economy.<br><br>So I've been looking for something a bit like the Canondale Synapse Ultegra that I've been using on holiday in Gran Canaria. It's quite light. It's pretty comfortable. It matches my cycling jersey.<br>Or possibly something a bit more upmarket. Which would please my pal Nick 'Angry' Von Vader who seems to hate all bikes with less than a £4K price tag.<br>That might be because he's a bicycle mechanic.<br>It might also be because he likes to see me spending my money.<br><br>So rather than the 'ordinary' carbon Synapse Ultegra, I looked at the Canondale Synapse hi-mod Dura-Ace.<br>Or, there´s the Trek Émonda SL 6 2016 £1800 7.7kg (despite average wheels).<br>There´s the Fuji SL 1.5 2016 6.4kg (light but too too racy for me?)<br>Or how about the Orbea Orca M20 £2,399 7.8kgs (despite average wheels)?</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nick </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">of course recommended nothing under about five grand. The cheapest frame was about £3,500. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We
can only dream. He suggested this lugged Colnago C60 special edition
costing about £12,000, so way out of my league. But stunning.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYoUCjfqrv4ERYK9jC-8oSoD89kD7hkZtIajtpMvyREuGQuqGztKfRosb0SfaSLeJAzabmZ-3aaS0EYynCgYVkdRru5vfEN5YrAKnrbMzReDu7pI-yFgemhKULAcY917z-trGBEhKnqo/s640/blogger-image--2123315551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYoUCjfqrv4ERYK9jC-8oSoD89kD7hkZtIajtpMvyREuGQuqGztKfRosb0SfaSLeJAzabmZ-3aaS0EYynCgYVkdRru5vfEN5YrAKnrbMzReDu7pI-yFgemhKULAcY917z-trGBEhKnqo/s640/blogger-image--2123315551.jpg"></a></div><br>Anyway, I work a hundred or so yards from Condor cycles and have previous owned an Acciaio (my first road bike), and often wander around in the basement keeping my eye on the latest models. (And the sale prices).<br>To be honest, I´ve always thought they´re ever so slightly out of my league, and have normally ended up being seduced by the idea of the ´better value´ offered by internet or mail order manufacturers like Canyon or Ribble. With mixed results.<br>But one Condor that leapt out at me a year or so back was the Leggero limited edition in blue and ´limone´, the frame manufactured in Italy using carbon from japan, and really rather beautiful. I tweeted a photo of it (@elprezcyclismo) saying it was one of the prettiest bikes around, and received more retweets that for any of my other cycling tweets.<br><br>So I popped in recently to look at helmets, and found myself drifting down to the basement to look at wheels, as you do. Condor´s Julian Cunnington and I were talking about my Mavic Kysyriums SLS set, and mentioned that their baby brother Élites were part of a special offer Leggero package. The frame retailed at £2,500 and yet the entire bike was available for £2,999.00 with the Élite wheels, a full Ultegra groupset, and Fizik finishing kit and saddle. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBSm2RhZ2HCPbWolcCpiC3JbA1mMxFbYvvPrJuDpEN3ZxirfE4g7IHFZ63zEOMJR51Cv6uib51sPYEDHs9dUX1S8tl46pTnf68MPhPU8ZRFZwiKPHMQpJ9sX0XPFwpPvlHYQTQ1ZKB8I/s1600/Leggero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBSm2RhZ2HCPbWolcCpiC3JbA1mMxFbYvvPrJuDpEN3ZxirfE4g7IHFZ63zEOMJR51Cv6uib51sPYEDHs9dUX1S8tl46pTnf68MPhPU8ZRFZwiKPHMQpJ9sX0XPFwpPvlHYQTQ1ZKB8I/s640/Leggero.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I´ve only heard good things about the Leggero.<br>Well, the next thing I knew I was on the bike fit rig, and now I´m sorted. There´s now a five week wait. So <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">it</span> should be <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ready </span>just in time for summer.<br> </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj037sH_C5G8-oBF7n0q53U2lJ87_RgMqhygFcLD1ufGvIANsDLqc5w3ITU5AWxHqgB618n9b3vCPKzH5UB2QTC85fImlYVwZbFheKaTp3TTqoQurOmErIyNrvQQnWomsCMsSEsD9Y8KKI/s1600/Leggero2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj037sH_C5G8-oBF7n0q53U2lJ87_RgMqhygFcLD1ufGvIANsDLqc5w3ITU5AWxHqgB618n9b3vCPKzH5UB2QTC85fImlYVwZbFheKaTp3TTqoQurOmErIyNrvQQnWomsCMsSEsD9Y8KKI/s320/Leggero2.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">T</span>he Enigma Étape will sit there quite happily as a classy winter bike, and I´m almost 100% certain that´ll be the case for many years to come. It´s around <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">8</span>.6Kgs without guards, which is a bit heavy to be a proper summer bike. Oddly, it was 8.5 WITH guards last time I<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> weighed it (!). And w</span>hen I <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">selected the components for the bike<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I took into account the claimed weight of each part. It should <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">have been <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">under</span> 7.5Kgs<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Bit disappointing tha<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">t<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, component manufacturers!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I'll certainly never need to buy a touring bike or another wonter bike. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br><br> </span><br>
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<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now do I need a set of Zipps 404s? Or are Cosmic Carbones better value? Or stick with the SLS wheels (I´ll put the Élites<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> on the Enigma).</span> Decisions, decisions...</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-40367484040597125522016-04-06T09:19:00.001-07:002016-04-09T15:13:10.928-07:00WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "noteworthy"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">Gran C Cycling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I've posted a few photos on Facebook recently, of me smiling stupidly on top of various (small) mountains in Gran Canaria, next to or near the bike that was largely responsible for me making it to the top.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Of course had the snaps had been taken just minutes before, as I slogged my way up to the top, it would have been a very different look. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what about the family? Well, the plan is normally to set off before they're up, and make it back in time for a late breakfast. None of the rides have been very long, the longest being two and a half hours (but with between 700 and 1400 metres of climbing).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even so, all of these rides have had one thing in common: shortly after hitting the first serious gradient, anything over about 5%, I've found myself wondering what the hell it is that I think I'm doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It hurts. And I know it's going to hurt a lot more as I keep going up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Within a few yards the temptation to stop pedalling, or make a u-turn and head home, is almost overwhelming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Obviously (as you can tell with a glance at the photo) I'm not a professional. I'm not even a decent amateur, I'm just someone who six years ago caught the cycling bug for no apparent reason, despite being physiologically totally unsuited to it. I'm too tall (heavy), with skinny legs (not enough power). Power to weight ratio? About as far from Laura Trott's as it's possible to go. And as I hadn't played football for more than two decades I was, pre cycling, aerobically a disaster zone, despite the</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">occasional jog around Clapham Common. We're talking about a classic Middle Aged Man In Lycra. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So why do I keep pedalling up the mountain, despite logic and good sense dictating I shouldn't? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well I asked myself that very question today, and here's what I came up with:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Firstly, if I keep going it will easier next time. And the time after that, it might be easier still. If I stop, it'll be harder next time, probably much harder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Secondly, there's always a remote chance that I'll be faster this time than the last time I did it, or better still, faster than one of my friends I follow on Strava, the App that records and measures your rides in hideous detail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thirdly, there's always the hope that maybe I'll receive an encouraging nod from someone speeding down the mountain as I pant and sweat my way up - perhaps Fabian Cancellara, out for a training ride. He might even invite me for a mid-ride cappuccino while we discuss his chances at this year's Paris-Roubaix; or perhaps he'll want to help me sort out my riding position, or sort me out with a tailor-made training plan to take back to London. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is what goes through your mind when it's starved of oxygen, and hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But one of the appeals of cycling is that with the right kit, and the right bike, it's possible for most cyclists to at least look 'pro', something it's l<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">ess easy to do for a Formula One, or WWF fan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This year I've suffered like a dog because I've not put the miles in since my mum died in October; and somehow three Kgs of fat have mysteriously attached themselves to my waist without me noticing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After nine straight days of getting out on the bike, if only briefly, some of that fat has returned from whence it came, and the hills, while not exactly getting easy, have become a little less gruelling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are other reasons why I've kept the pedals turning over; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The post-ride chemically induced euphoria. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The desire to keep active with retirement being not too far off (with two young boys to watch growing up, and a daughter's achievements to enjoy for as long as possible). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then of course there's the belief that if I somehow get faster I'll deserve a better (more expensive), lighter, more aerodynamic bike. After all, the bikes used by the professionals are much more within the reach of the amateur cyclist than a Formula One car would be to a petrol head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But lastly, I'll be 60 in September, and that's a bit scary. But I'm not planning to slow down. And I know, because many of them regularly overtake me when I'm spinning round Richmond Park, that there are plenty of fast, fit cyclists out there who are way older than me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But to get to be like them, I've gotta keep the pedals turning over when I'm struggling up that hill or mountain, even when surrender seems a better option. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And also, if I packed it in, Fabian would never forgive me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For anyone interested, my main rides in Gran Canaria are from Maspalomas up Montaña La Data, or Monte Léon, both of which are the same geographical feature, just different ascents. My other ride is supposed to take me to Fataga and back. But I haven't quite made it yet. But I will next year!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E49JDozy_BMkF8gpsF7SA4uPJvtG-viuW_au5eRDYlLI5WtR6tyX1ZNwCR6VhzfbFs8vZV2UDMz1lKLdZKhkIfRLV2JvjK1CG0LZzkv3vXJHeZQutXYC_CczpBPvsGhsjzeDkL1Qfp8/s640/blogger-image-801606549.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E49JDozy_BMkF8gpsF7SA4uPJvtG-viuW_au5eRDYlLI5WtR6tyX1ZNwCR6VhzfbFs8vZV2UDMz1lKLdZKhkIfRLV2JvjK1CG0LZzkv3vXJHeZQutXYC_CczpBPvsGhsjzeDkL1Qfp8/s400/blogger-image-801606549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">T</span>he bike was a very nice carbon Canondale Synapse Ultegra, rented from the Free Motion hire shop (recommended) at about </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">€</a></span>22per day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I liked it so much it's on my list of bikes to buy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And
here are some shots of the roads and views. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You'll see from the map
that the roads around the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Monte Leon</span> don't lead anywhere, so they're only
used by local t<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">raffic, meaning you'll hardly see<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> a car <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">all day</span></span></span>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncB5kZzruzTLsbdWYmvTMUctNt49LHoE_UIScLd4h-WetRiwsGjKCVgZIhbfMN3UYjZ-4OsGBYD5vV_enBV6nZC6Ol6MbjXqAMFJv1_c6wNrsZkD2wBBarBgQ07B_ZhvZHZqjFApkrMU/s640/blogger-image-1770482349.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncB5kZzruzTLsbdWYmvTMUctNt49LHoE_UIScLd4h-WetRiwsGjKCVgZIhbfMN3UYjZ-4OsGBYD5vV_enBV6nZC6Ol6MbjXqAMFJv1_c6wNrsZkD2wBBarBgQ07B_ZhvZHZqjFApkrMU/s640/blogger-image-1770482349.jpg" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And here's the missus, half way up...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hmmm...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmQ3MiqdwVHlL93vs0p5rJMosPXTNSKQ526580227ygNchj_RhDGyae_Hh9IPXSWT_DfY4298dj3RgIXthV0P213ntw-35QHAQTousZdLeGLH-tfw1l55S-5gVKyh7cyNWHjFkD4J4rc/s640/blogger-image-250710312.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmQ3MiqdwVHlL93vs0p5rJMosPXTNSKQ526580227ygNchj_RhDGyae_Hh9IPXSWT_DfY4298dj3RgIXthV0P213ntw-35QHAQTousZdLeGLH-tfw1l55S-5gVKyh7cyNWHjFkD4J4rc/s640/blogger-image-250710312.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />A couple of Strava segments in case you're visiting Gran <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Canaria...</span></span></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/537288475/embed/429a2ce8588f35764fe342f774ca73761ee93fc2" width="590"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/536289443/embed/8b2fe0f43c5d314457cc192596a198af0f0dd33f" width="590"></iframe>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-85090418529366633022015-02-17T13:15:00.001-08:002016-04-08T08:07:30.111-07:00ENIGMA ETAPE REVIEW<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So finally it´s arrived. I could bore you with the details of how I ended up with the Enigma Etape frame after I´d ordered a Kinesis Gran Fondo back in August. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I have to say that I although I saved a couple of hundred quid by ordering from online supplier Shiny bikes, I´m not sure it was worth it for the months of waiting and the hair pulling.</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, the bike, now built up, is great!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0inlIpu4pWAj1cx27aTxhuZ12HpIYg9Y6dCFNxTLmxwnmpFejk2MR4v5V1RYyBYRHY76aYADZ-7eKFpd8ivn322sDnzx88QQSAtgYOiu4eFC_UIkhUGy86Uu4mFUQa1qxRaMhJ2n9bQ/s1600/IMG_4732(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0inlIpu4pWAj1cx27aTxhuZ12HpIYg9Y6dCFNxTLmxwnmpFejk2MR4v5V1RYyBYRHY76aYADZ-7eKFpd8ivn322sDnzx88QQSAtgYOiu4eFC_UIkhUGy86Uu4mFUQa1qxRaMhJ2n9bQ/s1600/IMG_4732(1).JPG" height="233" width="320"></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Apart from the 3TTT Ergonova bars possibly being a bit racy for me, the fit is perfect.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My average speeds (compared to those achieved on my Vitus 979) have improved by three or four kms per hour.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And climbs up hills like Surrey´s White Down Lane and Box Hill seem easier than on any bike I´ve previously owned, including the Canyon.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This might be the bike, but it´s more likely because I´ve hardened (the *#ck) up by riding heavier bikes over the last few months.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Enigma tips the scales at 8.5Kgs (more about that later) but that includes mudguards which will be coming off in April, so I´m saying just over 8Kgs.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafyfPS8hrWsxOFG-cWLPJTgZwCig4z3JJ_Sev1g-okKnol3cTUeDdvh4gDACJN1k2XNDP6ipz_2advCDdnXzLxhS6SLZ6GnFfLr_WoKuO6CCvTg_hTBWQzSdvqwZG-9QHEeUKx2v3cbA/s1600/IMG_4726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafyfPS8hrWsxOFG-cWLPJTgZwCig4z3JJ_Sev1g-okKnol3cTUeDdvh4gDACJN1k2XNDP6ipz_2advCDdnXzLxhS6SLZ6GnFfLr_WoKuO6CCvTg_hTBWQzSdvqwZG-9QHEeUKx2v3cbA/s1600/IMG_4726.JPG" height="320" width="240"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ride is spritely but assured, road buzz is minimal, and the frame is nice and stiff. It´s just a great all rounder.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nonetheless, in a perversion of n+1, I´ve successfully reduced two bikes (winter and summer) to one.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I´ve alread been out for a few ´all weather´ rides, and they´ve been a joy.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But how long I can go without a pure summer bike, only time will tell... </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nick at TLCW</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note natty matching shoe covers</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Neat welding!<br><br></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Update April 2016:</span><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm still loving the ride, but as usual, time marches on, and I'm thinking of getting myself a summer bike as a 60th birthday treat. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On my holiday in Gran Canaria I hired a Canondale Synapse Ultegra (Bike of the Year 2016 I believe?) and was pretty impressed. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nick at the London Cycle Workshop thinks I can do better, so we'll have to see! Stand by for the next post lusting the various options. Including Nick's suggestion, a Colnago C60. It's such a great bike for the money!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile, I'm never going to be without a great winter/touring bike. The Enigma Étape is a keeper!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB3F9HClWy6c74u1bjXrOrvJy-XAz6dASwFTH018NXQFx0ED5LLBGQM-ieHczbJK0DfHg8O94Z_t0x2hSZZ8KocHR-t6M_3qRuiKPuRswmjdif3RzJGSqsH6BZp-Rakneq3t-KXY6tzM/s640/blogger-image--75789291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB3F9HClWy6c74u1bjXrOrvJy-XAz6dASwFTH018NXQFx0ED5LLBGQM-ieHczbJK0DfHg8O94Z_t0x2hSZZ8KocHR-t6M_3qRuiKPuRswmjdif3RzJGSqsH6BZp-Rakneq3t-KXY6tzM/s640/blogger-image--75789291.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-41292629692286171052014-12-24T01:37:00.001-08:002015-05-20T08:52:43.764-07:002 DIFFERENT VITUS 979 SET UPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My niece liked the look of my Vitus when she saw it in the autumn, and I promised to look out for one for her on eBay. Within a couple of weeks this one popped up in France, but we missed out in the auction. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Luckily it became available because the buyer didn't pay, so it's now being shipped over to The London Cycle Workshop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The flat bar set up should be perfect and we both think it looks great with the matching Brooks saddle and bartape. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The French components also look rather cool, and the wheels are also pretty decent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm hoping I might be able to 'look after' the bike while Laura's travelling in 2015!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After we missed out in the original auction I found a Vitus that was built up with a full vintage 7400 eight speed Dura Ace Groupset with the exception of modern Claris STI shifters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We won the auction, so now we´ll try both bikes for size, and the one she doesnt want I´ll either hang on to, or sell, or hide. The usual. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The flat bar is a 55cm, which is a bit on the small side for me. This one is a 58cm which is much better...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I´m surprised how easy it still seems to be to find a Vitus 979 in good condition at reasonable prices considering the frame´s history (Sean Kelly et al), light weight and ride characteristics. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>UPDATE:</i><br>Nice 58Km ride round Wimbledon and Richmond Park on the Dura-Ace/Claris Vitus. It rode pretty much like any of the modern road bikes I´ve ridden in the past. Loved it! </span>The <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dura-Ace/Claris combination is unusual to say the least, but it works really well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>UPDATE</i>:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The drop bar Vitus was too big so Laura's gone for the flat bar. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6oeSPWcNtGPkHlbSxhvMC8EYS1HRBJKQmEsXFZELy3aldUcAPJ-47gkotocippE82aAHccfuSM1R5T9jbhHEeuM2aZX3f4CJBcIlKuCTyyQ1tX740vrdpFZLAKoSifJjFUfusx_ts2Y/s640/blogger-image-1802196454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6oeSPWcNtGPkHlbSxhvMC8EYS1HRBJKQmEsXFZELy3aldUcAPJ-47gkotocippE82aAHccfuSM1R5T9jbhHEeuM2aZX3f4CJBcIlKuCTyyQ1tX740vrdpFZLAKoSifJjFUfusx_ts2Y/s640/blogger-image-1802196454.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApA_Xt9y3UMWH1x4VFDOw0mK1I6f2aFmCKaS-pv1yGBRJNV9mopk2MMaOACkqK79wRv0f5rqREW2QhtnsuKfTGEgtkl3kyEOR4jcCtOsacV0h0jH4Ai3wLRlOccwlTm1DFm9wPkHmsNY/s640/blogger-image--1375433792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApA_Xt9y3UMWH1x4VFDOw0mK1I6f2aFmCKaS-pv1yGBRJNV9mopk2MMaOACkqK79wRv0f5rqREW2QhtnsuKfTGEgtkl3kyEOR4jcCtOsacV0h0jH4Ai3wLRlOccwlTm1DFm9wPkHmsNY/s640/blogger-image--1375433792.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>FINAL UPDATE</i>:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Dura Ace Vitus has gone to a very good home in Amsterdam. It was collected by the new owner's friend Emma, herself a proper cyclist. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Very sad to see her go!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6idmQDZzbtuHQ8Uiay8MMNXUZLfbpvGHhoZEdNuMmubA5Rfncn-uvC8tSXOH7wjTFw1Q-JSmKmH6O9rOctQ51OyeJexUeTEV2yxMVgu1gX-0zYdYjSS60l64hmFL-YicJWtwFj6tY_EM/s640/blogger-image--887002962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6idmQDZzbtuHQ8Uiay8MMNXUZLfbpvGHhoZEdNuMmubA5Rfncn-uvC8tSXOH7wjTFw1Q-JSmKmH6O9rOctQ51OyeJexUeTEV2yxMVgu1gX-0zYdYjSS60l64hmFL-YicJWtwFj6tY_EM/s640/blogger-image--887002962.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-73710963366871780772014-09-30T13:47:00.001-07:002015-01-12T10:53:35.353-08:00AND A VITUS 979 FOR LUCAS AGED 11I bought my son a Jamis hybrid bike a few years ago, but he's going to outgrow it soon, so when I saw this 50cm Vitus going cheap in France (complete except for wheels) I thought it might be worth seeing if he'd take to it. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It was in decent nick and after a bit of a tidy ended up looking like this. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBubVt12aFQMpxSr8FENIFhLi8mFalqxmyUVjFnGwC_rx1MhGxsgh9sDybRul-7sKB39Hwn-ehl9rki6zkfq_5l_SkeLg4XgM36o3tt5VNmc_fAdDXm7N0D1so3iU-ehCOmFPp2GwXNQ/s640/blogger-image-1473403819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBubVt12aFQMpxSr8FENIFhLi8mFalqxmyUVjFnGwC_rx1MhGxsgh9sDybRul-7sKB39Hwn-ehl9rki6zkfq_5l_SkeLg4XgM36o3tt5VNmc_fAdDXm7N0D1so3iU-ehCOmFPp2GwXNQ/s640/blogger-image-1473403819.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbmxSNZD7WK4SyWZJoYyEyUiwGmZxq01aNTyktGXzM959TF0BAJbfTwJMDkFSgCIWdJsjn81wiQOuc8lQs6YtV3P85EAsLV3DYQ5mEFTG1hhf91KKrAnwLej-BvaVyxpupMmKXrqcEAg/s640/blogger-image--1072895000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbmxSNZD7WK4SyWZJoYyEyUiwGmZxq01aNTyktGXzM959TF0BAJbfTwJMDkFSgCIWdJsjn81wiQOuc8lQs6YtV3P85EAsLV3DYQ5mEFTG1hhf91KKrAnwLej-BvaVyxpupMmKXrqcEAg/s640/blogger-image--1072895000.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">t has an indexed Shimano 105 SLX gearset and brakes, a Stronglight chainset, and I found a nice set of wheels with Shimano 600 hubs in excellent condition. Better kit than my Vitus in fact. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSa7gMDzDKghzAGDHF20DNS0MyidRrqyCNeq4pgtVIkOAk1kkow_MXJKlRCuXVPAqkZ_jGfvjF0xUGdr6tsZdRdBrGqKsl7HLlKt1aSJjxqhA-Imd54pZl9hpENFeHjkh2Qd6N3TzZw8/s640/blogger-image--1574744598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSa7gMDzDKghzAGDHF20DNS0MyidRrqyCNeq4pgtVIkOAk1kkow_MXJKlRCuXVPAqkZ_jGfvjF0xUGdr6tsZdRdBrGqKsl7HLlKt1aSJjxqhA-Imd54pZl9hpENFeHjkh2Qd6N3TzZw8/s640/blogger-image--1574744598.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It looks great and even received a complement from the normally hard-to-please Nick Van Vader at The London Cycle Workshop. He actually wanted to buy it as it fitted him perfectly. No comment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZmDKqwi3rGkYnLBqle6nHQXBc88qr71KVJf4Ej4dW-wipvXFlIzAQcjYEqSCRRjiN1jPjnBpE-7cg8dgUj1iNT2keal3tTuhKI_ZQ2mVx2rZYd1Bmi3WPw7ZbjLG6APsFxYYPKoZbvw/s640/blogger-image-1514242587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZmDKqwi3rGkYnLBqle6nHQXBc88qr71KVJf4Ej4dW-wipvXFlIzAQcjYEqSCRRjiN1jPjnBpE-7cg8dgUj1iNT2keal3tTuhKI_ZQ2mVx2rZYd1Bmi3WPw7ZbjLG6APsFxYYPKoZbvw/s640/blogger-image-1514242587.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The chainset has typical cyclo cross gearing (46/34) which happens to be ideal for an 11 year old.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I don't think it was a cross bike, but who knows. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnZu9xld7obXRtTBdMX9dp0R_idtb1fgzYIGTmPnul4uDBXz2C-qUQcRw4h0U4PoagutFewd754Bflq_aLDwoXytI_OqH60zcdsZpzWca17LuowV5Uu6z83-35s-zp1z_No431i0Q5f4/s640/blogger-image--1994908251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdHvsqiNDDEhOE2Mf6PsBci7EpBJc51imDS1OrVJbnmOcans9OaVmphWvbUlxUdniTmDPze9XulrWGKWDh0TcvZJgHiOi63lX2Qkh3HZ2Q4ONpN2kUWGx6qKbxz4Di8Ix3s5ixf8djaU/s640/blogger-image-1965475985.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lucas is getting used to the downtube shifters, although he hasn't tackled any hills yet. To be honest, he'd probably prefer STI levers, but that's tough :(</span></div><div><br></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-63012973653208639182014-09-29T10:32:00.001-07:002014-12-23T10:25:35.397-08:00MY VITUS 979 READY FOR L'ÉROICA BRITANNIA<br />
The Vitus 979 'restoration' is now complete.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nick in The London Cycle Workshop swapped the Ofmega triple chainset and Deore front derailleur (early nineties) for an eighties quite rare Shimano 600 Tri Colour triple chainset and vintage 105 triple derailleur. I tried to find a 600 front mech for a triple but couldn't track one down. I've heard that they do exist. If you have one, let me know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Brooks bartape and Open Corsa tyres provided the finishing touches and although I'm still looking for a vintage Brooks Swallow saddle, I think the results look pleasing on the eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">See previous post for more details of the build.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I used to be a bit of a Campag snob (not that I knew what I was talking about) but now have a bit of a thing for Suntour and some of the earlier Shimano groupsets. The 'Tri Colour' version of Shimano 600 looks especially neat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">600 became Ultegra, as you probably know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The build is mainly 105 (derailleurs, shifters, hubs, brake calipers & levers), with the 600 triple chainset being the only correct period triple I could source.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I managed last year's Eroica Britannia on a very heavy Koga Miyata 'Gents Tourer' (just about), so the reasoning behind getting a triple wasn't so much for getting me round L'Eroica but more that I could keep the 12-24 gearing, and will now have a vintage bike 'for life'. I'm 58 at the time of writing, and now I won't need to swap to a triple when the legs start complaining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, the saddle <i>will </i>be swapped from my Brooks that is currently on my Surly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And a Brooks saddle bag will complete the set up. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-75136453430550659922014-08-15T02:23:00.001-07:002014-09-30T10:28:41.271-07:00FINDING A VITUS 979 FOR L'ÉROICA BRITANNIA 2015<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've just picked up this mid to late 80's Vitus 979 (in fairly rare 'bronze') on eBay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It comes with vintage 105 downtube shifters and rear derailleur, but an Ofmega oval triple chainset (a 90's mod).</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Photo from the eBay ad</span></i><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Although I bought the Holdsworth with a view to restoring it for L'Eroica Britannia I couldn't resist the Vitus having seen the one used by my friend Andy Bell at L'Eroica 2014:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Possibly the lightest bike used at L'Eroica Britannia 2014?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's also a perfect fit (59cms) whereas the Holdsworth is a bit on the small size (56cms), especially with the 45mm stem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">There's plenty of info on the net about the Vitus 979, but they're famous for; being one of the earliest widely available aluminium frames, being lugged and glued, and being used by cycling legend Sean Kelly. Oh and they're apparently a joy to ride, although they do say the larger frames can feel a little bit flexi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Check out the 'bronze' anodised finish!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And as for buying too many bikes? Nah. The Holdsworth and the Vitus were great value, and there'll now be two awesome vintage bikes stored in the in-laws' garage in Suffolk, meaning two people can hit the rolling hills, something that gained my wife's approval. Very sociable!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Update</i>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Picked up the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Vitus today (Ben, the seller, bought the bike when it was new back in 1987) and I'm pleased to say it's in great condition. Having not been used for 20 years or so the tyres needed replacing which I expected. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The chainset being a 90's oval Ofmega triple will also need replacing before L'Éroica, so I'm on the lookout for a correct period 105 chainset.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And further down the line I guess if I wanted to upgrade the bike, a 600/Ultegra groupset would fit the bill. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Decisions, decisions. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Latest:</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">New tyres fitted I set of for a quick ride on the quiet roads behind Taunton station, and I have to say the whole experience was much more like riding a nippy road bike than the usual ride on all but the most high end steel vintage bikes. Not only that, the ride was super smooth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I loved watching the oval chainrings doing their thing and the triple chainset provided a huge range of gears for a vintage bike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But I've found an NOS 105 chainset on Hilary Stone, and a 105 Golden Arrow front dérailleur so that the bike will pass the 1987 Eroica Britannia test. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">At Taunton station, ready for the journey home:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>The plastic bottle cage will have to go</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Update 24th Aug 2014</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I've just had a great first ride round Richmond Park and am happy to report that it was one of my favourite ever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now I've circuited Richmond Park on at least eight different bikes and this was up there with the best of them. I wasn't trying to break any records but when I did put a little power down I was recording my second and third best times on Strava. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The gearing, with the Ofmega oval triple, was as easy as any bike I've ever owned, the only downside being that it wouldn't change into the big ring, perhaps not a surprise after the bike's been mothballed for 20 years. Would fettle if I knew what I was doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'd always heard that the Vitus offers a smooth ride and it's certainly the case. No road buzz to speak of, and the handling was nimble and responsive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And when I went for a short sprint I couldn't feel any flex at all, whereas with the steel Rossin the frame went a bit bendy when I got out of the saddle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I didn't even have to adjust the Vitus's saddle and the bike seems to fit me like a glove. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> <i>Sistema Ingranaggi Ovali indeed</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i><i>Bottom Bracket Shell looking good. Will probably polish at some stage.</i></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Bought at Simpson Cycles, 116 Malden Rd, London NW5 back in '87</i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The shop's still there in 2014, same phone number!</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This blog is called The Search For The Perfect Bike(s) and in some ways this is it. Fast, light, comfortable, and quite elegant. And very cheap. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Three people at Richmond Park came over to chat about it, and that sort of gives you a warm glow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This could be love. </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>VITUS 979 FRAME BOUGHT IN HASTE!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I made the classic mistake of buying this frame on eBay in a hurry without doing my research. I was using the mobile App and after I paid for it was shocked when I had a look at the photos on a bigger screen. Check out the bottom bracket shell:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GmTYKT5fnt-8Uy1OyAFiiwxAFvjeycI2nBpYEzGyN00MbkPx5r8ZrKESzmloOrjySBYcOYwm3inkaSd3ZmUx_PwlhJnE4SW0aL-ycIA884MS-4kd41Ul3-W8PU7RpEbX2YGCT9DvD3Y/s640/blogger-image-2130745850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GmTYKT5fnt-8Uy1OyAFiiwxAFvjeycI2nBpYEzGyN00MbkPx5r8ZrKESzmloOrjySBYcOYwm3inkaSd3ZmUx_PwlhJnE4SW0aL-ycIA884MS-4kd41Ul3-W8PU7RpEbX2YGCT9DvD3Y/s640/blogger-image-2130745850.jpg"></a></div>It almost looks like parts of the shell have corroded away! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Below you can see how the shell actually looked - not nearly as bad. A rare example of someone making an eBay item look worse than it actually was! </span></div><div><br></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Yes it´s the magic rim block and autosol that has done the business. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This is clearly a well used frame, but somehow even with the scuffs and scratches it looks great. People talk about patina, but keeping the bike in original condition, and not replacing faded decals for example, maintains the personalityof the bike/frame. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After panicking about the frame I found the complete bike for £200 on eBay. </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I then cleaned up this frame and it sold on eBay for £220 which is just shows few people want to buy complete vintage bikes but loads of people want to build their own. </div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here are some more photos from the clean up/polishing:</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAx-3-zO6UOgdRuGFxiHzLvaMRclM5CvLwVCkfbcXSSLDDDX4xHROcdP-8BjHoTCkDoiwL3cLFf3wetEaRGuLmxleTc-wj1y9dRX85OpV0PV0v21yEYzMVFwHkCesVAKLX68cSvVY0TY/s1600/838C6DB3-D74C-48F8-AD5A-24C8E8FB0F2B.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAx-3-zO6UOgdRuGFxiHzLvaMRclM5CvLwVCkfbcXSSLDDDX4xHROcdP-8BjHoTCkDoiwL3cLFf3wetEaRGuLmxleTc-wj1y9dRX85OpV0PV0v21yEYzMVFwHkCesVAKLX68cSvVY0TY/s1600/838C6DB3-D74C-48F8-AD5A-24C8E8FB0F2B.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zgDEJlclrgUcOSzFHAEoEXjU-xVBMqmfoqEHCqxDj8w1mflcuIZ4SQnb2bMlx6dr4y_yFzLE2bwHaKM8FXDY7S2-y58oIlulBX64OCLwoqNIpTNAM_pyIGYIZSePZjIJ0DX0HAOWDiA/s1600/BEC6227A-7CA9-4237-843B-D05742826755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I've bought this Peracinni badged Vitus 979 with a view to building it up for one of my boys when they are bigger. Looks nice!</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7juZSTKrFeaVa3gBoPt7FOZW8880csS6uKwOX7BeKlYgdE_tKajY9Y91qS-x41IJTRBLF6yoUZglJzqZ9IzTHL_NQ1NygyIAlhr24W3Uv4z1PfT4a2C9DIPq6CgZh2f4To9SIa4PAaM/s640/blogger-image--47009426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7juZSTKrFeaVa3gBoPt7FOZW8880csS6uKwOX7BeKlYgdE_tKajY9Y91qS-x41IJTRBLF6yoUZglJzqZ9IzTHL_NQ1NygyIAlhr24W3Uv4z1PfT4a2C9DIPq6CgZh2f4To9SIa4PAaM/s640/blogger-image--47009426.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A frame like this could be built up with period kit you can afford, or even a modern groupset and lightweight wheels?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The choice is yours. </div></font></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-65325716281604458932014-08-14T03:28:00.000-07:002014-09-04T14:35:32.919-07:001984 HOLDSWORTH ÉLAN RENOVATION<div>
Having sold the Koga-Miyata touring bike that I rode at L'Eroica Britannia my search for a replacement began here:</div>
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1980's Holdsworth Élan</div>
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VINTAGE WHEEL RENOVATION</div>
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Bought for a decent price on the London Fixed Gear Single Speed forum the Élan arrived boxed and in 'original' condition. </div>
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The frame is good for its age: There are one or two rust spots, but all decals are intact. </div>
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The Campag gears and brakes are in need of a clean up but are rust free. Where there is work to be done is in the wheel department. The tyres have perished (as advertised) so they'll be replaced by amber walled Vittoria Open Corsas. The hubs need servicing which is to be expected, but the galvanised spokes have gone grungey (oxidised?) and the rims are a bit blackened in places. </div>
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I've already started work on cleaning them up using the magic 'rim block' that I was introduced to at The London Cycle Workshop. </div>
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Talk about a trick of the trade! Rub away at the spokes for a few minutes and they start returning to their former glory. </div>
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The same applies to the rims. It's hard work though. </div>
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I also have a tube of aluminium reviving cream (Autosol) and this really gets rid of marks and adds a shine to the finish. </div>
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Below is a picture of the two wheels, one with the original tyre, one with a new Open Corsa. I've started cleaning up the former. </div>
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Here are some close ups of the wheels demonstrating the clean-up process. </div>
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Original condition: </div>
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And post some hub cleaning:</div>
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Rims, one original (but with new tyre)...</div>
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One cleaned up a bit...</div>
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I'm quite looking forward to getting stuck in with a tooth brush and some elbow grease. Cleaning the spokes will be hard work. I was tempted to replace them, but hopefully that won't be necessary. </div>
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The good news is that the Élan is quoted in the original spec sheet as 10.8 Kgs which although not super light, is at least 3 Kgs lighter than the Koga-Miyata. </div>
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After my holiday I'll get back to work on the wheels and when they're done will take the bike into the London Cycle Workshop for a full service and new bartape. </div>
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<i>Rim block, used and unused.</i> </div>
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<i>Latest:</i></div>
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<i>Rust removed with Autosol and my secret tool. A fingernail. </i></div>
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With low expectation I set about the rusty headset with some Autosol which brought about a nice shine but didn't get rid of the rust spots. </div>
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I had a little scrape at the rust with a fingernail and was really surprised <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">when the rust spots came off quite quickly. </span></div>
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<i>Seatpost made by 'Strong' of Japan pre clean up</i></div>
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<i>After 10 minutes of rubbing with Autosol. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm not sure if I'll keep the seatpost which is a bit basic and heavy.</span></div>
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The stem is interesting in that it's a size 45mm. To be honest, I'd never heard of such a short stem. The bars are GB so I'm assuming the stem is GB too?</div>
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The stem has also cleaned up quite well although the scuffs on the top will need some work. Again, I'm tempted to replace the bars and stem. I have a couple of suitable bars but would need to source a stem. </div>
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The big decision concerns the groupset. </div>
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The rear dérailleur is a Campag 980 or Victory. It's not the finest Campag ever made. </div>
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I have a very nice Suntour Vx (GT) gearset that would look great on the Holdsworth. </div>
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The Wiemann brakes seem ok and I've started cleaning them up:</div>
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After a couple of wipes one side of the brakes looking better already. </div>
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The chainset is made by SR and seems good to me:</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The frame has quite a few small rust patches, but I'm not going down the respray route. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">THE REBUILD 4/9/14</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mc3u2ZyJFABp768PSg6kT982cSyELUFMh9BNX2l8-QFGImeE_cFuxhgnVQ4Ibc4PJ8bVnqmCpLvpnbqp6hCO80deqSBz2h__KKGe-YquLugykDrHoBz7wU8ol5ozHtYkE2gWN88E7og/s640/blogger-image-1006556510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mc3u2ZyJFABp768PSg6kT982cSyELUFMh9BNX2l8-QFGImeE_cFuxhgnVQ4Ibc4PJ8bVnqmCpLvpnbqp6hCO80deqSBz2h__KKGe-YquLugykDrHoBz7wU8ol5ozHtYkE2gWN88E7og/s640/blogger-image-1006556510.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Nick at The London Workshop did his usual sterling job with the rebuild. There were, as expected, quite a few issues. The bottom bracket shell needed reaming, brakes needed removing and reseating, hubs needed servicing etc etc </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUzU_4a6EPrwbePYMTJxvNmqGTARO_YGw-nQV2JpaoCPOm5EFhVKmvQFGsh_d1udY6y0reLq4pTxleUABd0OPioxB4OE3g3B_3gf7UmjvE7WAyMoOXFFCWQZTrwjHU2ejZllSS3iKjk0/s640/blogger-image-181024944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUzU_4a6EPrwbePYMTJxvNmqGTARO_YGw-nQV2JpaoCPOm5EFhVKmvQFGsh_d1udY6y0reLq4pTxleUABd0OPioxB4OE3g3B_3gf7UmjvE7WAyMoOXFFCWQZTrwjHU2ejZllSS3iKjk0/s640/blogger-image-181024944.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The <i>Suntour Vx</i> groupset looks great and works well, and the new Campag seatpost/Turbo saddle combo looks nice.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Weinmann brakes function well, but I still need to polish them up. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Rounded off with new bartape and Continental 'Classic' tyres (keeping the Open Corsas for the Vitus) I think the results have made all the work scratching away at the spokes and polishing the rims worthwhile. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB_yRpeed_17mTlCYORpvI5wtTJtty7A2ekhC4Bep8i2-iBUEnFxgXcHg0og5DuqjDfuWJGz319GZmdP55a_wiV7lUqbiMfM-RLDrefmtllioWc9xL-oh3FKyL070UGWwphD6viUn_AU/s640/blogger-image--1579962138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB_yRpeed_17mTlCYORpvI5wtTJtty7A2ekhC4Bep8i2-iBUEnFxgXcHg0og5DuqjDfuWJGz319GZmdP55a_wiV7lUqbiMfM-RLDrefmtllioWc9xL-oh3FKyL070UGWwphD6viUn_AU/s640/blogger-image--1579962138.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>SR Apex chainset</i></font></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-55143873876596560242014-08-12T13:12:00.001-07:002014-08-12T13:41:30.319-07:00Inner Tube RecyclingEver felt a pang of guilt when you've discarded a perfectly decent inner tube after a puncture rather than patch it up for later use?<div>Heard of any councils offering a rubber re-cycling service? Thought not. </div><div>But all may not be lost. </div><div>Today I visited a 'marché nocturne' at Meyssac in the Lot region of France, and spotted a table of bags, rucksacks and other items made from recycled inner tubes. </div><div>BackToBag offer 'Original bags made from inner cycle tubes - strong, waterproof 100% recycled product'.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPuO1lkXn6h0kyw7c3QPxSxzJRjBPJG2Ls_UImc42dYeBQtE5QTlnH-w13LS7gzazNVe4YZ1RSty8o_PKtcs-yfCpS7wpFe0ePC6dZSHw7uyWHcjdLQan5AJnqvcZPtAmUWKPJwq1sAQ/s640/blogger-image--1270484268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPuO1lkXn6h0kyw7c3QPxSxzJRjBPJG2Ls_UImc42dYeBQtE5QTlnH-w13LS7gzazNVe4YZ1RSty8o_PKtcs-yfCpS7wpFe0ePC6dZSHw7uyWHcjdLQan5AJnqvcZPtAmUWKPJwq1sAQ/s640/blogger-image--1270484268.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">They're made by Annemieke Bod, Dutch born but a French resident and they're sold on her website www.backtobag.net (which may be under repair at the moment - watch this space). </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1SGOBsumJAj_x-qGJgp5aH2V1TD8qS_kRwJrOcsRsSH7g_blwsL_LjTSnsnIoF-iyUkiJ0RZFRkA4YIOheiLs1eHno5poCfF_Dr5ZZZubWExsvkOeAPtDKX6blvqs3fwPLmGQjZ32rU/s640/blogger-image-400644683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1SGOBsumJAj_x-qGJgp5aH2V1TD8qS_kRwJrOcsRsSH7g_blwsL_LjTSnsnIoF-iyUkiJ0RZFRkA4YIOheiLs1eHno5poCfF_Dr5ZZZubWExsvkOeAPtDKX6blvqs3fwPLmGQjZ32rU/s640/blogger-image-400644683.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Messenger bag:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC38kGHs24nGcxo_RiwrLrLPsfrSlvf1-gof1QbGkZECMh0KYCAfetgsdTHYM8IMLTSpcR23Q7hyphenhyphenYVTQR-H-G5V4M2iQmyFIgK6vOUUSYa4F4K4F3Y3VCMkF3AV9fNBxvzgSvg4eDXuo/s640/blogger-image-1161363674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC38kGHs24nGcxo_RiwrLrLPsfrSlvf1-gof1QbGkZECMh0KYCAfetgsdTHYM8IMLTSpcR23Q7hyphenhyphenYVTQR-H-G5V4M2iQmyFIgK6vOUUSYa4F4K4F3Y3VCMkF3AV9fNBxvzgSvg4eDXuo/s640/blogger-image-1161363674.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tool bag at 15€</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT0mveh9JNu6QVwn9jvr_8YjIUrDL64XBMPikWdbjZziA8U5pnrnESqwQvpawXMxOs0_5ybc8aM8521pBZ-hF_yTK_1kFWtvkzCynHflvFQUBh7tkSiRJQLCkhyphenhyphen-BPa5q5AVWKkXGlDE/s640/blogger-image--2101569908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT0mveh9JNu6QVwn9jvr_8YjIUrDL64XBMPikWdbjZziA8U5pnrnESqwQvpawXMxOs0_5ybc8aM8521pBZ-hF_yTK_1kFWtvkzCynHflvFQUBh7tkSiRJQLCkhyphenhyphen-BPa5q5AVWKkXGlDE/s640/blogger-image--2101569908.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Rucksack:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaEliC3qKkzmqe07-5_rWPQnNdmaVrgERWWj3j2AapTtHvFCgIGNxzlV4MAd6V2ZpXEaHlt6R-33JQocRnwLcFll-GpzTxkNPKn2FoQ6zYytNJKe4riuZYLwSj_mtyJaT84a9SMgiKxI/s640/blogger-image--932700753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaEliC3qKkzmqe07-5_rWPQnNdmaVrgERWWj3j2AapTtHvFCgIGNxzlV4MAd6V2ZpXEaHlt6R-33JQocRnwLcFll-GpzTxkNPKn2FoQ6zYytNJKe4riuZYLwSj_mtyJaT84a9SMgiKxI/s640/blogger-image--932700753.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-74771937786977902352014-08-03T02:20:00.001-07:002014-08-03T11:50:28.963-07:00L'Eroica Britannia Weekend<div>The Team:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdzGVBl5A4vXXiEqQK0RtcxHZczuR3ejcc5YRR-X9koLkzjq-ISUpoMjjAczDaA7fZOjsHGrWbZ1RCvp5kLpcr8zQAtFs2Y-YpLRtEWkVhYFLl8NXqw0taWyLgUgKKyaiHpKvmMWGoaI/s640/blogger-image--704894121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdzGVBl5A4vXXiEqQK0RtcxHZczuR3ejcc5YRR-X9koLkzjq-ISUpoMjjAczDaA7fZOjsHGrWbZ1RCvp5kLpcr8zQAtFs2Y-YpLRtEWkVhYFLl8NXqw0taWyLgUgKKyaiHpKvmMWGoaI/s640/blogger-image--704894121.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joe Quill (<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1956 Mal Rees)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsMI3X5Tn11aGbRpLK50FJJq8_VzDfhYz9qsa2CHLy-JndZtRSqOOLcy1cxikGP-Q8yrJj1DRAX7fl_6VZ1iENBHiRH5PYTuO5xSC34oZ1AbHSxUZbth0Eddel3PnP9xmI4XZzzFQfcA/s640/blogger-image--1636391202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsMI3X5Tn11aGbRpLK50FJJq8_VzDfhYz9qsa2CHLy-JndZtRSqOOLcy1cxikGP-Q8yrJj1DRAX7fl_6VZ1iENBHiRH5PYTuO5xSC34oZ1AbHSxUZbth0Eddel3PnP9xmI4XZzzFQfcA/s640/blogger-image--1636391202.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Andy Bell (<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1984 Vitus 979)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0zqk10JEgeo8XBwg9gJOxVWmIxTKqTUPhWUrRG-b1EFn7Tjq8r6TI2wZEDuEjpyA4TQ5bi_-HBAKqqPfJ5Tk1uFRK02Xq6EZD-XuH7KPPSc993FpBG-B6zKqVGiKiRCZCR9QxKOcZ-o/s640/blogger-image-61396471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0zqk10JEgeo8XBwg9gJOxVWmIxTKqTUPhWUrRG-b1EFn7Tjq8r6TI2wZEDuEjpyA4TQ5bi_-HBAKqqPfJ5Tk1uFRK02Xq6EZD-XuH7KPPSc993FpBG-B6zKqVGiKiRCZCR9QxKOcZ-o/s640/blogger-image-61396471.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Craig Bell (1984 <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Holdsworth)</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkmLo26lz-nJXOBEAdfQYz0U8MPJvSfn7l1EKUnCydOEye4-pBcBSjl_K5yNi0TgxWhESaz_b5tbQ4F4MmKjmbQ0ta_7p1VMelCHojUL5q1I_3lhjzU4Uzf-urjxBjIatqg9XjZ0KRT0/s640/blogger-image--1979880420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkmLo26lz-nJXOBEAdfQYz0U8MPJvSfn7l1EKUnCydOEye4-pBcBSjl_K5yNi0TgxWhESaz_b5tbQ4F4MmKjmbQ0ta_7p1VMelCHojUL5q1I_3lhjzU4Uzf-urjxBjIatqg9XjZ0KRT0/s640/blogger-image--1979880420.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Jim Dutton (1977 Koga-Miyata Gents Tourer)</div><div><br></div><div>Amongst our number the tandem 10 mile time trial record holders, Joe and Craig. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLOfH4_Aqt31JqG79zvRJNRASrZyIF2-ExB5mAZk0xPuI_r3Xj7iSWuhhz3R4zpItAbrj0UfamVLj13x_Ewjr46VZyKCbmKheiyLh0sCOuvODUIjpQ2pRnfzJa6g_-bTHOhdJ2L12brc/s640/blogger-image--718402290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLOfH4_Aqt31JqG79zvRJNRASrZyIF2-ExB5mAZk0xPuI_r3Xj7iSWuhhz3R4zpItAbrj0UfamVLj13x_Ewjr46VZyKCbmKheiyLh0sCOuvODUIjpQ2pRnfzJa6g_-bTHOhdJ2L12brc/s640/blogger-image--718402290.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My teammates all rode proper old school pre 1987 racing bikes, as per the rules. I was on a heavyweight 'Gents Tourer' which, while awesome on the Strada Bianchi, was a bit of a disaster on the climbs. Craig and Joe bestrode Holdsworths, whereas Andy used one of only two aluminium bikes allowed, a Vitus 979. Incredibly light and appropriately colour matched to 'Fosters blue'. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQU0IWIehjTlHLD70lnUmXLD95SwUXJSPBXRDxudAidsUXGNcxw-vY2aRW7DjJpxQO_v8OS1XzacG3MIx1jQELRWbK0qrIKkjpWHN_lLpxTu1hXeWw72lDiUNE-SJZ_ayW43wvOBPcws/s640/blogger-image-644697665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQU0IWIehjTlHLD70lnUmXLD95SwUXJSPBXRDxudAidsUXGNcxw-vY2aRW7DjJpxQO_v8OS1XzacG3MIx1jQELRWbK0qrIKkjpWHN_lLpxTu1hXeWw72lDiUNE-SJZ_ayW43wvOBPcws/s640/blogger-image-644697665.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Pre race line-up:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cBdjqrD2uVO00lokjWdZSGrtpqrT1mwio3uS8o2AoVWboYmtdS05vQSDYMR91rI5DQxsRfXOXYAbdQvZJuRH6V6_Wd1gX57P-T31FWs-RcGGiUnb1zl2epvMP9PnGFVSmWbHJ6wD5p0/s640/blogger-image--55307616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cBdjqrD2uVO00lokjWdZSGrtpqrT1mwio3uS8o2AoVWboYmtdS05vQSDYMR91rI5DQxsRfXOXYAbdQvZJuRH6V6_Wd1gX57P-T31FWs-RcGGiUnb1zl2epvMP9PnGFVSmWbHJ6wD5p0/s640/blogger-image--55307616.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And in the heat of the action:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9smtUmTkSlR8wDUYxMPU0jdhxA3V1GhEvG6EciMQB79Gts1CM7KAiWkTbc3QXXMy0Q2AazhawK6myWoUOue4mLKQyv-PxNn6VKoCWcsxgIa9EhE-vrRBNHfckTdPM7PfLrKzXdNE2uJQ/s640/blogger-image--1287997608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9smtUmTkSlR8wDUYxMPU0jdhxA3V1GhEvG6EciMQB79Gts1CM7KAiWkTbc3QXXMy0Q2AazhawK6myWoUOue4mLKQyv-PxNn6VKoCWcsxgIa9EhE-vrRBNHfckTdPM7PfLrKzXdNE2uJQ/s640/blogger-image--1287997608.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5lKwA2On8YPqknHcshNi8GBBnYmiiA0cDW2fDDUDywWfa8JcEWE7-z_hyphenhyphenlI_U_4KcMJYDW7DuiShyOiN26vpRIAooxr_ziV7tPvf0QuBJyeYWo9TNFqP6sDB-IsBT-0Et9S5_JmiVqg/s640/blogger-image-634988238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5lKwA2On8YPqknHcshNi8GBBnYmiiA0cDW2fDDUDywWfa8JcEWE7-z_hyphenhyphenlI_U_4KcMJYDW7DuiShyOiN26vpRIAooxr_ziV7tPvf0QuBJyeYWo9TNFqP6sDB-IsBT-0Et9S5_JmiVqg/s640/blogger-image-634988238.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-Vn1zIXLX5qPfWPzezuMcHvKGF1VNiN82I8zj79LmZ6ixD_NJjWtSZ3KSg2ffO2z8wGDD2yO1MiDw46_jIIhut3Ly4t8fycxk3G3Ki-IOYzZ5_pZuE_mwHDo2MMtH6N-SumwA2IY6zU/s640/blogger-image--831400258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-Vn1zIXLX5qPfWPzezuMcHvKGF1VNiN82I8zj79LmZ6ixD_NJjWtSZ3KSg2ffO2z8wGDD2yO1MiDw46_jIIhut3Ly4t8fycxk3G3Ki-IOYzZ5_pZuE_mwHDo2MMtH6N-SumwA2IY6zU/s640/blogger-image--831400258.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8qzi_UkPGvHSDTTYgQuvbuAOiFlPSwMrpGRAk3q-Tp9eSKzKxbH-HBIAEIQEsrBDtCTdTm2YGTFrfh40p-5Opn550ZYwrbfHbV2CgHJAJu11kM3EvFEGEg4BIxUVneXmoAoubc0ZxsA/s640/blogger-image--1143485230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zur8J3TusHoqLzjQNnSCjQBBJo0e3mMnJZsTrahXIbumT_fo7PIQv1vkflf99Gmhg6zhpodvDuJvZgh_rumu6lcvsyZfDRC6dpPBhxxEc5wXL5za3xrX_Bk6JZQ07oUCmLx5OhQ4Doc/s640/blogger-image-1014752704.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>What an incredible weekend. Many beers, many miles, great organisation, great companions. </div><div><br></div><div>And if you were overtaken on the hills, chances are it was by someone like Team Peugeot!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDFPxUZbTqaMeXkHvRaFquHF75Pr1qUmdNPpgliJ1WidWKnanRMpjylOcebT0UCG021xgEiUN6UOxDc_Zh5P2Map_O4IC_b1NEdl9ydZrAGu6OkN4FaxMehH6mISXm7iYHIAzepRPoVQ/s640/blogger-image-442984114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDFPxUZbTqaMeXkHvRaFquHF75Pr1qUmdNPpgliJ1WidWKnanRMpjylOcebT0UCG021xgEiUN6UOxDc_Zh5P2Map_O4IC_b1NEdl9ydZrAGu6OkN4FaxMehH6mISXm7iYHIAzepRPoVQ/s640/blogger-image-442984114.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Team Bell finished a creditable 327th. Probably. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-43885018378867556232014-07-30T09:26:00.001-07:002014-08-25T14:30:40.749-07:00NEW BIKE MELTDOWN!Shocking I know, but in the last three weeks I've sold three bike. And I'm going to replace them with two. Agh: N-1 !<div><br><div>Canyon Ultimate AL (summer bike)</div><div>Tifosi CK7 (winter bike)</div><div>Koga-Miyata 'Gents Tourer' (vintage bike)</div><div> </div></div><div>I'm left with the Surly Cross Check commuter/bike cam, and I even have plans for that one. </div><div><br></div><div>I managed not to buy a bike last year (winning a small wager at The London Cycle Workshop in the process), and rode all three bikes a reasonable amount. </div><div>But when I analysed how much use each bike was getting I realised that about 70% of the miles I was getting in were on the Tifosi, and while it was a decent winter option I wasn't expecting it to be my main bike. </div><div><br></div><div>The much racier and faster Canyon I kept for special occasions (London-Brighton-London being an example) which wasn't the original idea. </div><div><br></div><div>However the upside of this policy was that it stayed in almost 'as new' condition meaning I was able to sell it for just £300 less than I paid for it (it was bought in the Canyon sale), and once I'd sold the Tifosi I had enough to fund the new project.</div><div><br></div><div>I had decided that what I needed was a winter 'super bike' built around a Kinesis Gran Fondo titanium frame (now 'on order'). The search for the perfect bike is still on!</div><div><br></div><div>I sourced all the components on 't internet and the whole cost (bearing in mind I kept my upgrade wheels - Mavic SLs) was £1900, just £100 more that the income from bike sales (after eBay took its enormous slice for the sale of the Tifosi - the Canyon sold on Gumtree).</div><div><br></div><div>The following is a rough guide to the bike costing and predicted weight:</div><div><br></div><div><div>Frame: £1116 1400g</div><div>Ultegra gs £527 2320</div><div>SLs wheels 1450</div><div>Seat post £100 200</div><div>Bar 3T erg £135 200</div><div>St 3t Arx £44 120</div><div>Pedals 00 280</div><div>Tyres 00 460</div><div>Saddle 000 240</div><div> </div><div> £1922 6620g</div></div><div><br></div><div>I also went for<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Dia Compe 'Full Metal Fenders'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now I know the predicted weight is ridiculous. The groupset weight will be increased because I opted for a 12-32 cassette (I'm 57 for crissake) but apart from that it demonstrates how manufacturers tend to underestimate weights. I'm hoping under 8.5 Kgs without pedals and guards. </span></div><div><br></div><div>As for the Koga-Miyata? Well I bought it very cheaply for L'Eroica Britannia where it showed itself to be a bit of a heavyweight. Around 14kgs with saddle bag and Brooks etc <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">so this is being replaced by a Holdsworth Élan from 1984 (10.8kgs apparently).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It comes with a Campag Groupset and tubs and looks very pretty. It's 531 tubing a big improvement on the 1024 of the Koga. </span></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS6DiivoXDF7ziyK7w6jVVrSj6aK5y2gj1GYdy4zjOjTj6p71Tho2ogeQ1Mu5kNYspmq19P_EvhJoTXhyphenhypheneamgWJtnVA80L4JJngDphXXkUFHZ6kg60fI-af-2lE1RVofSoHK93WiZx5M/s640/blogger-image-1693761946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS6DiivoXDF7ziyK7w6jVVrSj6aK5y2gj1GYdy4zjOjTj6p71Tho2ogeQ1Mu5kNYspmq19P_EvhJoTXhyphenhypheneamgWJtnVA80L4JJngDphXXkUFHZ6kg60fI-af-2lE1RVofSoHK93WiZx5M/s640/blogger-image-1693761946.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can follow the restoration of this pick on later posts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-63877755547776613722014-02-03T13:47:00.003-08:002014-08-03T01:42:21.761-07:00L´ ÉROICA BRITTANIA 2014<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes! I´m entered into L´Éroica Brittania Festival 55 mile route in June this year.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I shall be riding the Koga-Miyata Gents Tourer 1977</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9ZI4QMdtiYKQb5e9IJZ1iSgq05a6-Y_zLY_jBk2JHZYSpAB3y_hLgR-YSaby6DdA9DjiFvVNnL-VN0QuVoJr4rSfXQpy_f55z3XpE6AD9I5ZI12VvbtH1hV4DI8qAWK5VLpvbp_yMBY/s1600/green+2+koga+miyata.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9ZI4QMdtiYKQb5e9IJZ1iSgq05a6-Y_zLY_jBk2JHZYSpAB3y_hLgR-YSaby6DdA9DjiFvVNnL-VN0QuVoJr4rSfXQpy_f55z3XpE6AD9I5ZI12VvbtH1hV4DI8qAWK5VLpvbp_yMBY/s1600/green+2+koga+miyata.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From L´ Eroica <a href="http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Only cyclists with "heroic" bicycles will be permitted to participate. 'Heroic' bicycles are road racing bikes, built before 1987 Gear shift levers on the down tube of the frame (exceptionally, only pre-1980 bar-end gear shifts are allowed) </i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heroic Groupset</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bike was designed for flat Dutch roads, built in Holland using Japanese built frame and groupset and </span>I may have to do something about the gearing. The chainrings are something like 50/48 and the cassette is around 11-17. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I obviously need some vintage kit, and so far have come up with this jersey which has an early eighties look:</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heroic Jersey</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At least if something goes wrong the frame is guaranteed for life apparently.</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPo4Yk6ewp5nd2N1XjYhfrUlXu5p8lwdS91wi_yKny7NAa8ysxnlftv7XULD9Bpyn0b6BvlP09e5MlNooi1toXWIHz8TkL_f5zG-gwN61Gk82OymaVFsItCe7qpdizZoBjSJpQR0_13M/s1600/green+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPo4Yk6ewp5nd2N1XjYhfrUlXu5p8lwdS91wi_yKny7NAa8ysxnlftv7XULD9Bpyn0b6BvlP09e5MlNooi1toXWIHz8TkL_f5zG-gwN61Gk82OymaVFsItCe7qpdizZoBjSJpQR0_13M/s1600/green+6.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heroic Frame<br><br></span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-50144982715586578182013-12-02T13:39:00.003-08:002014-02-13T00:02:30.663-08:00LONDON-BRIGHTON-LONDON CENTURY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN2X5QhNfG2__zONsQ08zrHHoWPL2G6TSkM0BuNcyZrLhJyNgtTlED93gXykLFJM_jXAnQdSRUM0gei95sJEXAnyEdQKEb30rx-mNQIJvtpDC8v8qeOLF03M09P0EK4Ey2ptybAAzON8/s1600/2013-11-28+07.48.44.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN2X5QhNfG2__zONsQ08zrHHoWPL2G6TSkM0BuNcyZrLhJyNgtTlED93gXykLFJM_jXAnQdSRUM0gei95sJEXAnyEdQKEb30rx-mNQIJvtpDC8v8qeOLF03M09P0EK4Ey2ptybAAzON8/s400/2013-11-28+07.48.44.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They say your first century is an important landmark for any cyclist, so when my friend Nick Von Vader scoffed at my proposed <i>London-Brighton-Train</i> ride, and suggested making the 100 mile round trip without taking the train, I couldn't think of a valid excuse<span style="color: #0000ee;">. <span style="color: black;">Well not quickly enough anyway.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We'd been on fairly regular 75 mile </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">rides, to the hills of Kent or Surrey, and I had improved my base fitness from poor to less poor. Nick's training regime of beer, fags and 100 mile rides, combined with his relative youth had left him way ahead of wherever I was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I've read a few articles about century rides in my time and one thing I've learned is that you need to eat porridge. Add grapes and banana and you have enough fuel for half the journey right there. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-52KP26O-tX1nMl9r1GkUXn6YnLD4688b2zxz-A17nYELXLL6Cd4pRyj6fnHxpaHvVwRQlj3CF8mj4NYcBQ6DzZ1SMX3epzWC32_A2rC7nBPx61Zz6vN8uIsvKZ4scx4RZFmjshatDI/s1600/2013-11-19+08.57.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-52KP26O-tX1nMl9r1GkUXn6YnLD4688b2zxz-A17nYELXLL6Cd4pRyj6fnHxpaHvVwRQlj3CF8mj4NYcBQ6DzZ1SMX3epzWC32_A2rC7nBPx61Zz6vN8uIsvKZ4scx4RZFmjshatDI/s400/2013-11-19+08.57.01.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Top Tip: When it's 3 degrees and it's rained the night before use your winter bike, or at least use winter tyres. Two punctures on the way to Brighton. Didn't go down well with NVV.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRXx6DQU80iKueBCKIJlC4myH8xBdglZVm_58Fa4dLI1AhbAcKnt_ZZ_LDk4UghqLWHX4hJL-CNRKlsOiWO22fJEEb0u7crsurR_kb8Na8DW3grh-oXJdXdXc7qy6HzFUnI3EFA88enQ/s1600/2013-11-19+17.58.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRXx6DQU80iKueBCKIJlC4myH8xBdglZVm_58Fa4dLI1AhbAcKnt_ZZ_LDk4UghqLWHX4hJL-CNRKlsOiWO22fJEEb0u7crsurR_kb8Na8DW3grh-oXJdXdXc7qy6HzFUnI3EFA88enQ/s400/2013-11-19+17.58.33.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cresting Ditchling Beacon in reasonable shape </span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So far so good. I'd eaten one energy gel and a bit of a bar up to this point. Wearing thick gloves made eating awkward, and on reflection, I should have eaten more.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ74MDaivz7oUDBHNwIz_okEWUUg3wQYgun0yVBVN1uG37moiPfo2_8Pqe3Y307_1XmYk1OaQNmRry3PfQwH1Kga9Xej_fAEfya_L-eu6adfhMQsf2Zq6n4MYdvNaevv0NJa0qs72iA6Q/s1600/2013-11-19+16.21.04-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ74MDaivz7oUDBHNwIz_okEWUUg3wQYgun0yVBVN1uG37moiPfo2_8Pqe3Y307_1XmYk1OaQNmRry3PfQwH1Kga9Xej_fAEfya_L-eu6adfhMQsf2Zq6n4MYdvNaevv0NJa0qs72iA6Q/s320/2013-11-19+16.21.04-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The classic 90 mile bonk. Mitcham Junction.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So after 90 miles, just minutes after I'd claimed to be feeling great, the dreaded bonk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I sat by the side of the road on the metal barrier pictured on the left, shaking like a leaf (the temperature had dipped further), and ate everything in my pockets. I squeezed enough energy out of the gels and bars to get me home but only just, as </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the dreaded cramp was threatening to seize my thighs with its vice like grip</span>. As I </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">reached t</span>he end of my road I saw the family coming towards me in our car and I managed what I thought was a somewhat heroic wave, only for them to drive past without seeing me.</span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I couldn't see the speedo that said, as it turned out, 154 kms, just 5 miles short of the century. Cycling time was 7hrs 10mins. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I should have cycled round the park for five miles, but th</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ere you go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the main aim was to raise finds for the Philippines typhoon appeal. The target was £1000.00 and we've just about reached it: </span><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Jim-Dutton2" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.justgiving.com/Jim-Dutton2</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-48030321060802914922013-11-04T09:19:00.001-08:002013-11-08T01:19:52.311-08:00DISCOVERING 'TRAINING' (or going from slow to a bit less slow)<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a combination of the tube strikes back in November 2010 and my office's proximity to Condor Cycles in London that fired my initial interest in cycling. My early efforts were feeble, but technology intervened as I went from this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK15l3_znpD9fuPLbQATPez9QPdklmgLvpTLyP6SSNHtCAoHCop0Xvu0JJwAsLhz43y1UHJZd42UK-oLLluEYnchjrDsCJOFOoTaJD_U2VJLzkKKItB1Ho0-rVa0TcI-nDenRjyLYh2wo/s1600/trek+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK15l3_znpD9fuPLbQATPez9QPdklmgLvpTLyP6SSNHtCAoHCop0Xvu0JJwAsLhz43y1UHJZd42UK-oLLluEYnchjrDsCJOFOoTaJD_U2VJLzkKKItB1Ho0-rVa0TcI-nDenRjyLYh2wo/s400/trek+side.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBsRcQBBbGN7lrSAlZgxBCsBPRfe8mUfB__XFkBGM2pU0OFUbvWIHjIDQYYrUoB14zfliojWzjrEpwRtIP1xLvD_CM_DUObODp1yuqw95WRnnTMI4NOfQXSV397rdTSB-MF7wxwpZ0sc/s1600/2013-10-15+12.50.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBsRcQBBbGN7lrSAlZgxBCsBPRfe8mUfB__XFkBGM2pU0OFUbvWIHjIDQYYrUoB14zfliojWzjrEpwRtIP1xLvD_CM_DUObODp1yuqw95WRnnTMI4NOfQXSV397rdTSB-MF7wxwpZ0sc/s400/2013-10-15+12.50.59.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">via this:</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTjWriWnZMLAFfP_cXPrSbDFvEMNwF3T34gxZJlElZhj7wGOQBEkHqu7jlJN7C54LNylXiCOZWltpXbjbZWknvmL-ENe7OdQt5n7iJ7G-YKLKNYJdjBEZL5s9Te_MWPSl6uMskO-W4t4/s1600/plug+bull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTjWriWnZMLAFfP_cXPrSbDFvEMNwF3T34gxZJlElZhj7wGOQBEkHqu7jlJN7C54LNylXiCOZWltpXbjbZWknvmL-ENe7OdQt5n7iJ7G-YKLKNYJdjBEZL5s9Te_MWPSl6uMskO-W4t4/s200/plug+bull.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GhVz70DOGKoD0kUosycjjlyI_Q9RTZ0bcs5v0kXM9rtbA9QE9wzehsPKzDD5v-MMEgaBj7t1G3i9yYb2DHHGBzsQJd5vbksPnTcUfxMB2hqOAUpWp9Yvly1-Grq5X1qbd3WhfzVmcjw/s1600/Photo0342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GhVz70DOGKoD0kUosycjjlyI_Q9RTZ0bcs5v0kXM9rtbA9QE9wzehsPKzDD5v-MMEgaBj7t1G3i9yYb2DHHGBzsQJd5vbksPnTcUfxMB2hqOAUpWp9Yvly1-Grq5X1qbd3WhfzVmcjw/s200/Photo0342.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My first encounters with Richmond Park were in not in the least impressive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the Charge Plug single speed I ground to a halt half way up Broomfield Hill and almost fell off. It seemed that gears might be quite useful after all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then, having purchased the Ribble (the Plug became the commuting bike) I set off once again to the Park, practising clipping in and out of my new proper pedals on the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, despite this new found professionalism I again ground to a halt, this time semi-voluntarily, after I had wobbled up Sawyer's Hill with its maximum 9% gradient. I pretended to be admiring the view at the top, but passing roadies weren't fooled and they shook their heads in pity (or was it disdain?). It seemed that enthusiasm alone wouldn't make me a decent cyclist, and my relatively high weight (82Kgs) in combination with my puny legs, had me at a distinct disadvantage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I spent a couple of years 'getting the miles in', entering the occasional (shortish) sportive, cycling to work and generally getting a little bit faster </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (which wasn't hard from such a low base)</span>, even up the hills . But to be honest, my progress was slow and a couple of encounters with cramp almost put me off completely. It seemed you can go a bit faster if you get a lighter bike, but only a bit faster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then along came this man: on this:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmhH3wQ1L9CRnZDTUG-fV5X28VcM8-64CsV5LnEgKdiJsknTzWN_L98Ay3rxSWwlnJpgIfTmhZ_hS1G7dOE_Vo3o3Is-N2vMmy9abmYQZmWU4PUsof_MFByy0hi8XS8dG68lc45mPI2o/s1600/2013-09-24+15.23.18.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmhH3wQ1L9CRnZDTUG-fV5X28VcM8-64CsV5LnEgKdiJsknTzWN_L98Ay3rxSWwlnJpgIfTmhZ_hS1G7dOE_Vo3o3Is-N2vMmy9abmYQZmWU4PUsof_MFByy0hi8XS8dG68lc45mPI2o/s200/2013-09-24+15.23.18.jpg" width="154" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77FCdgHOWPr6Z7u6OIipWDF5i8ON5jmCaxSvd1NxTMPkDGbgcBHHWYMHLsZV_0YA-9AMHSwj-Xg-N2hX_Jrf857OT5y9Mt5rZhQoCfSvYmeRsTQDcc0SqMvLlrVwafVXTpLmMfW_VU5E/s1600/2013-10-15+10.53.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77FCdgHOWPr6Z7u6OIipWDF5i8ON5jmCaxSvd1NxTMPkDGbgcBHHWYMHLsZV_0YA-9AMHSwj-Xg-N2hX_Jrf857OT5y9Mt5rZhQoCfSvYmeRsTQDcc0SqMvLlrVwafVXTpLmMfW_VU5E/s1600/2013-10-15+10.53.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77FCdgHOWPr6Z7u6OIipWDF5i8ON5jmCaxSvd1NxTMPkDGbgcBHHWYMHLsZV_0YA-9AMHSwj-Xg-N2hX_Jrf857OT5y9Mt5rZhQoCfSvYmeRsTQDcc0SqMvLlrVwafVXTpLmMfW_VU5E/s200/2013-10-15+10.53.20.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't be fooled by the smiling face, or the pint, this (Nick Von-Vader) is a beast on a bike. No ride is too long, no hill too steep, no weather too foul. He acquainted me with Rule #5 of the Velominati Rules of Cycling ('Harden the Fuck Up') and dragged me kicking and screaming round Surrey and Kent. The gentle delights of Box Hill were replaced by White Down Lane and Titsey Hill, 40 mile rides with 75 mile ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At first it felt like I was dying, then (and I have no idea how this happened) I found I wanted more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The benefits have become apparent quite quickly. I'm losing weight, the stamina and speed are increasing, and my blood pressure (I'm currently on the pills) is lowering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow I'm attempting my first century (+) as we're apparently going to Brighton and back (from Clapham Common). To be honest I'm fairly sure I'll bonk after 70 or 80 miles, but if I do there's always the train of shame. I'll have a better chance if I can persuade Nick to take it easy. Seems unlikely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've nicknamed Nick 'El Hobbito' (for obvious reasons) and he nicknamed me 'Quadzilla'. I've got no idea why.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi6TOORL3ey321FMYK7yG0eru_fdzPpuSvivJ5Jzu5uUARrT89EIpCSX-ugF0b_Q-iQa_m0jx8R-_Jps6Sw1qVlr0oicFwO6Zz0T9bdL1z3qh02NY0IFKdamTDy9Xkff3RH9nUP5pSVc/s1600/2013-10-16+09.45.38.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi6TOORL3ey321FMYK7yG0eru_fdzPpuSvivJ5Jzu5uUARrT89EIpCSX-ugF0b_Q-iQa_m0jx8R-_Jps6Sw1qVlr0oicFwO6Zz0T9bdL1z3qh02NY0IFKdamTDy9Xkff3RH9nUP5pSVc/s320/2013-10-16+09.45.38.png" width="213" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've discovered the joys of Strava, another aid to motivation, and around a year ago I'd be around 5,500th out of 6,000 round Richmond Park, whereas now I'm more like 4,000th. Pathetic, but less pathetic than before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[<i>left</i>] I've no idea how this occurred. I can only imagine there must have been a strong tail wind that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[Update]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We vetoed Brighton on the grounds that Nick's poor tootsies were cold and wet, but instead he put me through the wringer (again):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2tsNQF2Z2uQDCkKqU9JDxYKnRjI-CGRwdNxW19p7y3YOejqalEIlaw4lMIhQpHoZFFIwqAO1pV6iRKaWaKNaiBukiB-Cygf1k93dP_VyKimtXJRQZ2OulC-86qyUnwJKf-NojTzNnPw/s1600/2013-11-05+21.06.10.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2tsNQF2Z2uQDCkKqU9JDxYKnRjI-CGRwdNxW19p7y3YOejqalEIlaw4lMIhQpHoZFFIwqAO1pV6iRKaWaKNaiBukiB-Cygf1k93dP_VyKimtXJRQZ2OulC-86qyUnwJKf-NojTzNnPw/s320/2013-11-05+21.06.10.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He lured me up Chalkpit Lane, Titsey Hill, Crockham Hill and the fearsome White Lane, the setting for the annual Bec CC Hill Climb event. I think it also feature in the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Greatest-Cycling-Climbs-Cyclists/dp/0711231206" target="_blank">100 Greatest Hill Climbs book.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White Lane was a challenge too far and as the gradient ramped up near the end I made a doomed attempt to get out of the saddle a la Contador/Horner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had to walk the last 50 meters but I remounted in time to fool Nick into thinking I made it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He snapped me attempting to look fresh as a daisy:</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-82jCe4bg24cVvi8-drn8nqjYuh9gNPmn1NvuIhz0nc7gNjBLaErZ0WnhQkzTOtXld6qZJe7gF5X2b3xTdxCeU-rAheoMD78IYBBPjymBotwG5zh7offJz9bZQ0X5OjenReO9qrkq0QI/s1600/2013-11-05+20.12.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-82jCe4bg24cVvi8-drn8nqjYuh9gNPmn1NvuIhz0nc7gNjBLaErZ0WnhQkzTOtXld6qZJe7gF5X2b3xTdxCeU-rAheoMD78IYBBPjymBotwG5zh7offJz9bZQ0X5OjenReO9qrkq0QI/s400/2013-11-05+20.12.58.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note the bulging quads</span></b></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-11978421826207114602013-09-09T14:45:00.002-07:002013-10-11T00:33:16.494-07:00BRADLY WIGGINS TIME TRIALLING MACHINE<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bradley Wiggins' stated targets for the remains of the 2013 season are the Tour of Britain and the World Time Trial Championship in Tuscany on 25th Sptember.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just found a few photos from back on 1st July 2012 at the London Olympics, when Wiggins followed up his historic victory in the Tour de France with time trial gold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Great memories.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZUgcLyweLFrc7Yd_uNCo4tyt7C4yEv6wh2rbrT5q6jna-iNYLhOvi3LR3rdTUiFXqQmYRBNYaPPFnlgs1CNe529veTlOoi4MyUPrBr3a1R0UjV-PyWoaT8C5tBvRvnZwpASlqtb9iH0/s1600/Bradley+TT+Gold+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />I was filming for ITN on the day. I cycled from my home near Clapham Common to the centre of the course with my camera gear in paniers, and filmed some interviews, atmospher shots and vox pops with the crowd after Brad's victory. With ITV being non rightsholders I wasn't allowed to film any of the action. In fact I wasn't even allowed to film any part of the course, even without the cyclists on it, virtually on pain of death! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also filmed a quick piece for Channel Four News who seemed to have a thing about Wiggo's sideburns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was so full of adrenaline after a momentous day, that on my way home I took on, and just about held my own against, a group of roadies riding round Richmond Park, heavy bike with paniers and everything. Mind you, it nearly killed me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-xFuXuqp-OpIn9_7TOChI2Toe8xLXNEskFLzYO1Fp_L7Cj3rc71CfOJZVDJxR_aWAkUVtvmvULfq467vxZi8kRXpaZlY-8NLloOPwU1UIilHCW6JHQx5eBiRfQowAzsVpNVkbeqwSIs/s1600/IMG_0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-xFuXuqp-OpIn9_7TOChI2Toe8xLXNEskFLzYO1Fp_L7Cj3rc71CfOJZVDJxR_aWAkUVtvmvULfq467vxZi8kRXpaZlY-8NLloOPwU1UIilHCW6JHQx5eBiRfQowAzsVpNVkbeqwSIs/s400/IMG_0556.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bike Cam. Surly Crosscheck, 10 GEARS - Tiagra</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the euphoria of 2012 this year has been a bit of a comedown for Wiggins, but here's hoping he'll finish the season on a high (or two). Which ever way you want to take that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-89093089345165844912013-06-14T06:28:00.002-07:002013-06-14T06:28:50.298-07:00POSH PEOPLE LIKE BIKES (BUT NOT CYCLISTS?)<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A recent visit to the Chelsea Flower Show revealed a surprising number of bikes dotted around exhibits and stands. Not a lot of carbon fibre around, but some nice city bikes/tourers!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-41641101430539091662013-06-08T08:32:00.000-07:002013-06-14T06:32:05.947-07:00GRASS TRACK RIDING ON CLAPHAM COMMON<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The Clapham Common parks gardeners got the lawnmowers out and have (possibly accidentally) created a grass track bike race circuit on Clapham Common near the Bandstand Cafe. My son Tommy discovered it and we spend a happy 20 minutes doing circuits. Enjoy it while the weather is nice! There´s a lot more than the part of the track that appears in the video.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tommy was on his Beinn 20 Islabike and I was using my wife´s Giant Avail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_F7sE_WGmjSJCAqziZ3qGLdrXAXeLsA1P2ImBcJDidx-4C-I5vC3SLCdUgU0WShg08TwOHO0Jq6EMwf9wHDRisl3rd6zs8LG514q5IszNZSB7HPU8JWtLpxVjDyJvohh6txw_p4r94k/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_F7sE_WGmjSJCAqziZ3qGLdrXAXeLsA1P2ImBcJDidx-4C-I5vC3SLCdUgU0WShg08TwOHO0Jq6EMwf9wHDRisl3rd6zs8LG514q5IszNZSB7HPU8JWtLpxVjDyJvohh6txw_p4r94k/s400/photo(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also this week I was re-aquainted with the Trott family at Buckingham
Palace where Laura received her OBE. They´re a great bunch, and it was
nice to meet road racer Emma who races in Europe for Dutch women's
professional team, Dolmans-Boels. She deserves more credit for what she
is achieving in the very competitive world of women´s bike racing which
is badly in need of more television coverage. There´s a video of Laura Trott shwing me how it´s done on the velodrome (outdoor) in the right hand column ....</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-29860507142409470632013-06-01T14:33:00.000-07:002013-09-02T02:50:48.256-07:00WHEELS: CAMPAG ZONDA v. MAVIC KSYRIUM SLS<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a miserable spring I waited until 29th of May 2013 before getting the new 'Summer' bike out of mothballs. Of course after I'd gone about five miles the heavens opened and for the next hour it poured down. No big deal, but not ideal for a test ride. I only managed about 20 miles before I called it a day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd just recovered from two weeks of (proper) flu, followed by a chest infection, followed by a couple of weeks where I was off work after 'putting my back out', so it was impossible to draw any conclusions about the respective merits of the two bikes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Canyon is certainly a lively ride and has a more aggressive riding position than the Tifosi. With the new Mavic Ksyrium SLS the only thing slowing the bike down was me and my lack of fitness after the enforced time of the bike. I took it very easy but was pleasantly surprised to see that I set a PR for the Bathgate Road climb on Strava, when only a few weeks before I'd attacked the climb full gas to set my previous record. The ride is <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/56950796" target="_blank">here</a>, although somehow Strava switched itself off after 12 miles or so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Zonda hubs are very good but the Mavic hubs are excellent, and the build quality is exceptional. The SLS are also a little stiffer than the Zondas, something you notice the most when climbing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>WEIGHT</b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I weighed the SLS and Zonda <b>front wheels</b> and the results are below:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvmbhxAxQMqNhGkj6rB_Ph0rl4vI7In9URkND9bDj8mKXkihP4euPQoV6g48GsUYDO9v3XQ8JIZ1g8cnDYzjtOq_-7Duk5xg_hiWGU2Vcbv0YZftwlLQ4oZHtqAwhnGLehoGH1PjqiGQ/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvmbhxAxQMqNhGkj6rB_Ph0rl4vI7In9URkND9bDj8mKXkihP4euPQoV6g48GsUYDO9v3XQ8JIZ1g8cnDYzjtOq_-7Duk5xg_hiWGU2Vcbv0YZftwlLQ4oZHtqAwhnGLehoGH1PjqiGQ/s320/IMG_2472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mavic Ksyrium SLS front wheel including Mavic 23mm Yksion Pro tyre: 976g</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mavic advertises the wheel at <b>875g</b> with tyre, but some of the increase is the magnet from my Blackburn Atom bike computer. But only a little. That's quite disappointing (as punk band 999 used to say - remember them?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPXLYpo2vCpOZjh9eaY_vmqOUU4T0ojjVS8nZY8geuUJ87HjytrEnfTVpygqHfabnoZ6Si3LDxgFcylZg0rxPWMXAsWkDIvftr00xtgQAJFp_djQc2321qvpMCgiiu0LAc7fNM3tc_S8/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPXLYpo2vCpOZjh9eaY_vmqOUU4T0ojjVS8nZY8geuUJ87HjytrEnfTVpygqHfabnoZ6Si3LDxgFcylZg0rxPWMXAsWkDIvftr00xtgQAJFp_djQc2321qvpMCgiiu0LAc7fNM3tc_S8/s320/IMG_2471.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhsUIMRgj34GFcuzNPJreFFRaQQgyRIkfDesKmCx3-ImEWLiNpdSmBzhbA7SaGC-jSrb-h_pZhuULYtEw1_WeEi4PPmmUVXPcVv8mfZk7QqoyhTipvnoYQH9yr4QDUKAT11oI-UU6qsQ/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhsUIMRgj34GFcuzNPJreFFRaQQgyRIkfDesKmCx3-ImEWLiNpdSmBzhbA7SaGC-jSrb-h_pZhuULYtEw1_WeEi4PPmmUVXPcVv8mfZk7QqoyhTipvnoYQH9yr4QDUKAT11oI-UU6qsQ/s320/IMG_2470.JPG" width="240" /></a></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Zonda front wheel with 23mm Continental Gatorskin Hardshell tyre: 1059g</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there's </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">only around 100g</span></span> difference between the SLS and the Zonda front wheels.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Swap the Zonda's Gatorskin Hardshells with Ultremos and the difference would probably be negligible. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Mavics SLS cost over £700 per wheelset (including tyres) whereas the Zondas cost just over £300.00 without tyres.</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Mavics are clearly in a
different league than the Zondas in terms of build quality, especially for the more competitive
cyclist, but the Zondas are excellent value for money, especially as
they can be bough for under £300 if you look around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll weigh the rear wheel next, and it's quite possible that the difference will be greater. I'll tweet when I add that info to the blog. (@elprezcyclismo)</span></span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-20462043337880232622013-02-11T10:25:00.001-08:002013-06-10T13:45:10.856-07:00WHEEL UPGRADE<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**LATEST**</span></i><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><i>Have swapped to Ksyriums SLs and the bike, with pedals, now weighs 7.94Kgs (large frame). My only other change will be to swap the bars for my spare 42cms ProVibes, which should also shave off a little more weight.</i></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Canyon Ultimate AL Di2 came with Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels, and fine though those wheels are, I'm tempted to sell them while they're still brand new, and upgrade to something a little lighter. I'm going to want to upgrade at some stage, so it makes sense to get the best price for the Equipes.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm probably looking at Mavic Ksyrium SLs but have recently read some good reports of the Velocite Gram SL wheelset. The hubs are supposed to be excellent and the wheels are well built and easy to maintain.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At 1400g they're extremely light and they cost just £569 according to the Velocite <a href="http://www.velocite-europe.com/gram-sl-wheelset.html" target="_blank">website</a>.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKj3_oz1tCOLXwectRY9VF5p-pQK8JLjVOqdJc8YK4niDQi3i7EvfTV5v1TJKuuFqQoltrlNFJ-YDP7Ac-nYY-TeiIFrZzpDjmgmlJRFVUqoOMlzkeP5-4Hcrgh5yU9gblxAjnj9ACoVA/s1600/gram+sl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKj3_oz1tCOLXwectRY9VF5p-pQK8JLjVOqdJc8YK4niDQi3i7EvfTV5v1TJKuuFqQoltrlNFJ-YDP7Ac-nYY-TeiIFrZzpDjmgmlJRFVUqoOMlzkeP5-4Hcrgh5yU9gblxAjnj9ACoVA/s320/gram+sl.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They are well reviewed <a href="http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/gear-reviews/velocite-gram-sl-wheelset/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"First ride out of the box was stunning, the hub bearings are
ridiculously smooth and spin like silk yarn – super smooth. Against my
other wheelsets, the Gram SL’s float along, this alone had me chuckling"
</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll update the blog as I delve back into the arcane world of wheel selection.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm also interested in<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Campag's Neutron Ultra (£680, 1529g)</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HED Ardennes SL (£760, 1450g)</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Strada Handbuilt<span style="font-size: small;"> (c.£700<span style="font-size: small;"> c.</span>1530g)</span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cero AR30 (£449, 1400g) </span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">but will research other options.</span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-29902327795457345932012-12-08T05:15:00.000-08:002012-12-11T01:11:32.637-08:00TEST: SRAM RED VERSUS CAMPAG VELOCE<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've heard a lot about the new <b>SRAM Red</b> groupset.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHbuUu1ekJJSybhhIoJl_aubIoRNqHHKsRQW4Uk4FaFUtxdM03WZgCQSQhyoe-2nohm74SRhlyvtkQUW7MIOk1hkl5kPCAw_1PP3C1-LOv3c6S57acWdwUKFnyPbl7LPFmJ7irj2J9vs/s1600/RED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHbuUu1ekJJSybhhIoJl_aubIoRNqHHKsRQW4Uk4FaFUtxdM03WZgCQSQhyoe-2nohm74SRhlyvtkQUW7MIOk1hkl5kPCAw_1PP3C1-LOv3c6S57acWdwUKFnyPbl7LPFmJ7irj2J9vs/s400/RED.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've heard that it <i>'represents the pinnacle of road racing technology and
delivers countless performance advantages to the professional and
enthusiast alike'.</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've also heard that it weighs 1730g and costs £1,400.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've heard that you can change gear and that most of the time the chain doesn't come off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are also familiar with our old friend, the <b>Campagnolo Veloce</b> groupset.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It weighs <b>2454g</b> and it costs <b>£342.00</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can change </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gear and most of the time the chain doesn't come off.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgtpCC4hTXqZZdNotRnS50tRI0AHvwgs30dm7lt_5VQecW7q8kJYVm-vnRcZcDPDY7lZbWXVbp9mx6FIne5CD2mMjSLq0mK0ktmW2axUj2-nE-aCg6U0EMtYnGJbDjQbf2vGAGKiuGOU/s1600/veloce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgtpCC4hTXqZZdNotRnS50tRI0AHvwgs30dm7lt_5VQecW7q8kJYVm-vnRcZcDPDY7lZbWXVbp9mx6FIne5CD2mMjSLq0mK0ktmW2axUj2-nE-aCg6U0EMtYnGJbDjQbf2vGAGKiuGOU/s400/veloce.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've thoroughly road tested bikes with Campag Veloce and SRAM Red both on the road and our laboratories* and can confirm that they're exactly the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The weight difference of <b>724g</b> is all in the mind. If you think the weight matters you could try drinking two pints less per week, which should see the three quarters of a kilo falling off nicely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Your bike will also look much nicer and your mates won't think you're crazy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Campag Veloce, gram for gram possibly the best groupset.....in the world.**</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">* Possibly not true</span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">** Possibly</span></span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-13277717039668461632012-11-22T12:42:00.001-08:002013-06-14T06:35:47.345-07:00TIFOSI WEIGHT REDUCTION<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The <b>Tifosi CK7 Veloce Audax</b> bike has arrived!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX6Zkt9QdTg503cIuRA1arabJr3qCk2pIvXykMhCNztHWISwOmyTBno7wgxjLRdyzTs1T0U9jCIWYqMZvcJX_9rWq6QOlb2-7TK0FcVC76vSjPf0oYfa9o01GeYYl6Fm1fKkuTE079Rc/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX6Zkt9QdTg503cIuRA1arabJr3qCk2pIvXykMhCNztHWISwOmyTBno7wgxjLRdyzTs1T0U9jCIWYqMZvcJX_9rWq6QOlb2-7TK0FcVC76vSjPf0oYfa9o01GeYYl6Fm1fKkuTE079Rc/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For £750 (sale price) you get a triple butted 7005 alloy frame with mudguard and rack eyelets, a carbon fork, Campag Veloce shifters and <span style="font-size: small;">dérailleurs</span>, a Miche compact chainset and brakes, as well as
Miche Reflex wheels.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The original weight was <b>9.6Kgs</b> so I raided the basement to see what weight we could lose by swapping components.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-ZcAmROr1i4rudMZAWqAjVQa0sLM1Oqesx1x2OT6B4ISVYPV00_m8OWu14UR6JQCsimj59FcSYBHRaXOw6o6DNYWKvfIYGUfBYD_u3O87u66S9LC6Dq9PYWPl4sJMcoVGm2pMGNa30/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_-ZcAmROr1i4rudMZAWqAjVQa0sLM1Oqesx1x2OT6B4ISVYPV00_m8OWu14UR6JQCsimj59FcSYBHRaXOw6o6DNYWKvfIYGUfBYD_u3O87u66S9LC6Dq9PYWPl4sJMcoVGm2pMGNa30/s200/DSC_0011.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The o<span style="font-size: small;">riginal alloy <span style="font-size: small;">seat-post</span> and </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Selle Italia X1 saddle weighed <b>620g</b> but I ha<span style="font-size: small;">d a <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PZ </span>27.2mm carbon post and Fizik Aliante saddle that <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">together </span>tipped the</span> scales at <b>420g</b>, quite a decent weight saving to get things started. Weight now <b>9.4Kgs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The next and most obvious weight saving (over half a kilo) came from swapping the wheels & tyres.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aJZY258dv9VenwGVK7CKAzPtfRLvtpJWLa1YNxYfblsoEW8CJdJRI9FwA1-UDE4IA23WBAmccVVuF-WcWyTZXw0AxdXOcDlL5FtCsggiSALiQJQMln5OXAAlnwbmJ7mXbfr83fuEGtM/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aJZY258dv9VenwGVK7CKAzPtfRLvtpJWLa1YNxYfblsoEW8CJdJRI9FwA1-UDE4IA23WBAmccVVuF-WcWyTZXw0AxdXOcDlL5FtCsggiSALiQJQMln5OXAAlnwbmJ7mXbfr83fuEGtM/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Miche reflex front wheel including Zaffiro tyre was <b>1.56Kgs </b>and the rear wheel <b>1.68Kgs</b>, making a total of <b>3.24Kgs</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once I'd swapped them for my Zondas (with Continental 4 Seasons tyres) the weight of the bike came down to <b>8.86Kgs</b> (without pedals) a further reduction of <b>0.54Kgs</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>8.86Kgs</b> is reasonably light for a winter bike. Apart from helping with the hills it also helps getting it up and down the narrow stairs to the basement. This was a virtually impossible task with my heavy old hack, a few years back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I went straight out for a test spin and found the bike lively and responsive - and quite comfortable too. A really nice ride and even better than I was expecting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNkiJuXC14h2cmAH52kzVn015s-jnvRePpv3zI9yfO2chVDByCjHeiYuj1o3P3ILCTqW_VfQN6J-c1_nlnd3KPamm1w10f2qULLdaX5pLr0H-j8D9oXwcoLxYIDUGJDPUq6174Oc9g8E/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNkiJuXC14h2cmAH52kzVn015s-jnvRePpv3zI9yfO2chVDByCjHeiYuj1o3P3ILCTqW_VfQN6J-c1_nlnd3KPamm1w10f2qULLdaX5pLr0H-j8D9oXwcoLxYIDUGJDPUq6174Oc9g8E/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" width="194" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One reviewer of the bike mentioned being able to 'feel a bit more of the road', saying fatter tyres would help, but I think that problem was solved with the use of my PZ carbon seat-post which really reduces road buzz. The only thing I might change in the future would be the bars as I have a few spares sitting around that might suit me better - although thicker (and less flesh coloured!) bar tape might help as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My issue with the front chainring shifting will go on the back burner during winter. On my test ride I shifted between the Miche big and little rings a lot without any problems so fingers crossed (I've got a couple of dodgy left hand fingers, so it can be an issue).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdePm5hc58kTa-9m3HEtvmX-za3tdjewH5MxUXZf0gRX5PUL-SgxvCnhNzRWsciU4BsJmxyzZlUgMCAkw1jG6luI9EFTf8P3wKlMBkMTpp8ICeZD5a2kSp5uifna53vTKk1-_OT-vmKA/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdePm5hc58kTa-9m3HEtvmX-za3tdjewH5MxUXZf0gRX5PUL-SgxvCnhNzRWsciU4BsJmxyzZlUgMCAkw1jG6luI9EFTf8P3wKlMBkMTpp8ICeZD5a2kSp5uifna53vTKk1-_OT-vmKA/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Take a look at the <a href="http://bikebuyer.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bike Buyers Guide </a>and you can compare weights and prices of most best selling bikes currently on the market. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT68PEdxct0GQetJO7XTvmhV0PkWC-OO90ZUSzkUSXdXiJ-06qyRm5KLxJjz9P_QtMOiBBCru8wE-mwBW8mKigkwSVF2JS4HkWAvJocmySbOzpqc57zh0JetXqZcJcRW-FPq6e6yjqHRQ/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT68PEdxct0GQetJO7XTvmhV0PkWC-OO90ZUSzkUSXdXiJ-06qyRm5KLxJjz9P_QtMOiBBCru8wE-mwBW8mKigkwSVF2JS4HkWAvJocmySbOzpqc57zh0JetXqZcJcRW-FPq6e6yjqHRQ/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Veloce shifters have the benefit over Shimano Sora and Tiagra of having under bartape cable routing. Much neater! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'll change the tape to black once it's a bit worn out.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">**LATEST**</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Changed bars to ProVibe 42cm. Another small weight saving (and more comfortable for me).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've also totally solved my front chainring shifting issue. I've learned to ease off the pressure just before the shift, and the chain is now changing from one ring to the other without a problem. It's taken me long enough to sort that out!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall I'm a big fan of this bike, but the wheel change has been the key. The Miche Reflex are fine if you just want a hack, but if you want a bike for sportive riding, winter training or fast commuting I'd highly recommend an upgrade.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT68PEdxct0GQetJO7XTvmhV0PkWC-OO90ZUSzkUSXdXiJ-06qyRm5KLxJjz9P_QtMOiBBCru8wE-mwBW8mKigkwSVF2JS4HkWAvJocmySbOzpqc57zh0JetXqZcJcRW-FPq6e6yjqHRQ/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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</xml><![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1226654293022445947.post-68067527099554994922012-11-14T14:42:00.001-08:002012-11-27T03:45:58.970-08:00THE PERFECT NUMBER OF BIKES?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK I think I may finally have stumbled across my perfect number of bikes. Not perfect as in N+1, but a practical arrangement that takes into account that I have to share my house with my wife and two rapidly growing boys - and limited space.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it wasn't because of a cunning plan or months of research, but because it was raining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To recap, I sold my Ribble with the SRAM Red groupset (frame and groupset sold separately) as well as my Rossin rebuild. And with the proceeds I bought a Canyon Ultimate AL 9.0 Di2, in the sale, for £1684.00 - and had a few hundred quid left over.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNTERQpYk6IWttsoQTK47zZrLFruTCuaDnpKe84_ikcAzfBI5uhvCROwr3g_66zuPdny6cjVERTzbXMrVNjuX8sXNM_thg10l7x9s3w_1Wqnbs7jVGCOOSICcP1fjug00VIeSNwH0fcE/s1600/ultimate-al-9-di2_c1037.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNTERQpYk6IWttsoQTK47zZrLFruTCuaDnpKe84_ikcAzfBI5uhvCROwr3g_66zuPdny6cjVERTzbXMrVNjuX8sXNM_thg10l7x9s3w_1Wqnbs7jVGCOOSICcP1fjug00VIeSNwH0fcE/s320/ultimate-al-9-di2_c1037.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The electronic gears have solved my front chainring shifting issues caused by having shorter middle and ring fingers on my left hand (Serbian mortar bomb during the Bosnian conflict). The shifting is incredible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there is a downside. When I was asked if I wanted to go on a Sunday ride with the St John's Hill Cycling Club in the pouring rain I realised that the Canyon isn't the bike for a ride like that. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The frame is white (black wasn't an option in the sale) with white bartape and a white saddle. It all looks very pretty I think, but not very 'weather proof'. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what I needed was a 'winter' bike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now it's easy for the casual observer to conclude that no, you don't need a winter bike, you just need some clip on mudguards and away you go. Well no, I'm not going down that road, and here's my <strike>excuse</strike> reasoning:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The Canyon is here to stay for as long as possible. With electronic shifting and a weight of just 7.5Kgs what more could I want from the bike (wasn't it Bike of the Year 2012 for goodness sake?). If I can't get on with this one I might as well pack it in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Using this bike throughout the year would drastically reduce its life expectancy. It doesn't have the thick paint and anti-corosion treatments of an audax/winter bike, and although electronic gears are supposed to be reliable enough, I think exposing them to a lot of rain, grit and salt is not a good idea. And clip on guards are never as effective as full length ones. It's not even a top end bike - I'm always amazed when I see a Cervelo or the like battling through the rain and the traffic. But the Canyon deserves to be treated with respect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. A good winter bike will be designed to take everything that the weather can throw at it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually dug out a few reviews collected from the cycling press before making my selection. It actually ended up as a choice between a </span><a href="http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbg/road-track-bike/ribble-winter-training-audax-bikes?sub=conf_BBRW&type=RIBMO" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ribble Winter Training Bike </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the </span><a href="http://www.tifosi-cycles.co.uk/ck7-veloce.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tifosi CK7 Veloce</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ribble in its most basic form didn't appeal (not a massive fan of the Sora groupset) and equiped with a Veloce groupset it worked out at £750.00. The Tifosi is supposed to retail for £989 but a quick search online found one available for just £750, with slightly better componentry than the Ribble. It's also a much prettier bike IMHO, and that, combined with a couple of favourable magazine reviews tipped the scales in its favour.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXCtxYQRjtHqIAgV2kNUAXteKJsTlpBIVN16krFDo1Bb-kG5AOEUDmPJh99nOGBw6Pd0dx5WkSqHsSqlySLKNCYjN-iCUZrSXgdTwbaJzIbYRrZe0lbNzFFP_rxvJvQFkPAE1sSiPIO0/s1600/ck7v_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXCtxYQRjtHqIAgV2kNUAXteKJsTlpBIVN16krFDo1Bb-kG5AOEUDmPJh99nOGBw6Pd0dx5WkSqHsSqlySLKNCYjN-iCUZrSXgdTwbaJzIbYRrZe0lbNzFFP_rxvJvQFkPAE1sSiPIO0/s400/ck7v_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Frame: Tifosi triple butted 7005 alloy<br />* Forks: Tifosi carbon<br />* </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Groupset: </span>Campag Veloce/Miche <br />* </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wheels: </span>Miche Reflex <br />* Cinelli handlebar and stem<br />* Vittoria Zaffiro tyres<br />* Cinelli alloy post</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall a pretty decent deal, and weighing in at 9.5Kgs, not too heavy either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll swap the wheels for my Campag Zondas left over from the sale of the Sportive Bianco, which should reduce the weight to below the 9Kgs mark (I'll let you know when I've weighed it).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In theory, both bikes should arrive next week and my cunning plan is to leave the Canyon in its box in the basement, to be brought out and built in March or April, at which time the Tifosi can be locked up safely in the secure underground bike park at work. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I seriously think that buying the winter bike saves you money in the long term, as it'll stop you exposing the pricier bike to the worst of the elements, meaning it'll last a lot longer (or be worth more when you sell it).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this setup my chopping and changing days should be over, for a couple of years at least.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MY PERFECT SETUP</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Commuter bike - Surly Cross Check 10 speed - flat bars for London traffic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer bike - Canyon Ultimate AL 9.0 Di2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter bike - Tifosi CK7 Veloce</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0