The Cycle Hub

Lost in the Cotswolds, again

Posted on 22 July, 2012 by doug

Wallie and his odd socks somewhere in the Cotswolds

Maybe it’s the effect of Wallie wearing odd socks. Perhaps it was the unusual sight of the sun going to our heads or Wallie’s complete aversion to riding along any kind of A road, especially the A40 as it runs through the Cotswolds. We took a few wrong turns which, considering the Cotswolds are a fairly compact area and where we have cycled many times before, is a bit of a mystery. We nevertheless found ourselves looking at the map quite a few times.

Normally I like to cycle and run on my own. I do this for all kinds of reasons but the most important is having some space and time to myself and being able to think a few things through, to work through problems and other things bugging me. However, going for a bike ride with an old friend like Wallie is different. We’ve known each other since the early 1980s and enjoyed many things in common: cycling being the one that has stood the test of time most of all.

There’s something nice about meeting up with a friend and ambling around country lanes, not racing each other or trying to out-do each other. No, just enjoying each other’s company. Naturally we do our Victor Meldrew impressions but of course we’re far too young to be grumpy old men.

This is something we do once or twice a year. Each of us taking a day from our respective work and driving from opposite directions to meet in Burford. Burford, by the way, is an absolutely ideal base for a day’s ride around.

Those miles just drifted by as we talked, chatted or just listened to the sound of our bikes whirring away as we ambled our way along. Not that we were alone as the only cyclists about. Each time we do this we seem to spot more and more which, for me, is a real encouragement. This is such a great way of getting some exercise because it doesn’t feel like it at all: there must always be a place for a gentle amble in any training or exercise regime, surely.

A new tradition is also developing as we do this. Once we’ve finished our ride we treat ourselves to afternoon tea in a Burford cafe. All very nice but to be honest, a bit of a rip off. Next time we’ll do something different but still frightfully nice, what o?

Posted in cycling | 2 Comments

LBS -v- Wiggle, Evans, Chain Reaction…..

Posted on 14 July, 2012 by doug

I think it is quite a tricky thing sometimes trying to decide between supporting a handful of Local Bike Shops (LBSs) or enjoying the likes of Wiggle, Chain Reaction, Evans and so on.

The nice thing about the mail order gang is the convenience of being able to browse through a gigantic store which is full of everything (almost) you could ever need for cycling (Wiggle also do running gear, amongst other sports) and then place your order. Then, as we all know, it turns up a few days later: couldn’t be easier.

Right now the balance is tipping away from its normal neutral position and swinging towards one of my LBSs. Here’s why. I popped in this afternoon for a couple of stainless steel bolts. The only ones they had were too long.

“No problem” Ian said, I’ll cut them down for you. And so he did, plus finishing them off on his grinding wheel to keep the thread in tact. All free of charge. He knows that while he’s giving away something, he also knows I’ll be back to spend money there in the future. He’s pretty knowledgeable about all kinds of things in the cycling world and we shouldn’t forget the skills in being able to undertake repairs and servicing pretty quickly.

I am fortunate in having a well positioned couple of LBSs nearby plus others not for from my office and I know that’s not the case for all my readers. Could be that for many in the UK all they can access is a Halfords which might struggle to be described as a LBS.

With so many High Streets going through a tough time alongside Wiggle et al bringing lots of competition, it’s a tough choice sometimes. So, which do you prefer? LBS or Wiggle?

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

This evening’s rainy bike ride

Posted on 12 July, 2012 by doug

I haven’t cycled much lately, what with one thing and other. In seeking a bit of inspiration I watched the Tour de France highlights on TV this evening (first time for many, many years) and couldn’t resist going for a quick blast afterwards.

It was raining. I hesitated.

“Becky, do you think I should run, cycle or stay in?”

“Go for a bike ride Dad”.

“And you Hannah, what’s your view?”

Hannah replied (with her daft question look) “Bike”

“Rachel?” I gently enquired.

“You decide” was the firm reply.

And so it was. Quickly changed and I was off. Just a quick blast covering 8 miles in the rain and I loved it, almost following my favourite hilly running route, but not quite.

Here’s a few highlights:

hardly any cars on the road once outside the town
at one point the road was flooded. I couldn’t go into the middle of the road because I was about to be overtaken. As I hit the water it was so deep it felt as if I’d pulled the brakes on hard
a car then overtook and showered me with a huge deluge. For half a second I was annoyed and then I felt exhilarated!
clocked 39mph on a fast downhill stretch
got reminded of how versatile the Thorn Audax really is
felt fabulous

Some lowlights:

reminded that my Montane Featherlite jacket is NOT waterproof
my Specialized Sonoma shoes soak up so much water it’s like wearing diving boots
forgot brakes don’t work very well in the wet….

My cycling in the rain guide

Posted in cycling, Thorn Audax | 1 Comment

Fairhaven Wholefoods, Letchworth

Posted on 10 July, 2012 by doug

We knew of this place from our friends Rachel and Steve who had mentioned it a while back. Since we were in the area a few days ago, it was worth checking out. I had a feeling there was a blog-posting-ramble in the pipeline, so here goes:

First impressions
Fairhaven Wholefoods is an independently owned shop in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. It’s a “one off” and not part of a chain and I do like this kind of shop!

Finding it was not too difficult even though it’s in a bit of an unlikely place – on a trading estate with lots of other small businesses around them. A great feature is plenty of free parking and we just pulled up outside and walked a few yards to the door. None of this tricky supermarket manoeuvring around random minded trolleys, Mrs Lard with her 99 kids, tiny spaces in which you are almost guaranteed to drive away with another scratch on your car or even the dreaded car parking charge. No, you just drive up and park outside. Simple as that.

What’s inside?
The shop is dedicated to whole foods and geared up to the vegan or vegetarian. You can see from the above photograph, it’s a fairly basic shop with few frills. Amazingly they stock over 3000 different lines – wow!

Browsing around was really interesting in a few different ways. Firstly there were loads of things I didn’t recognise and a fair few things I had no idea they even existed in the first place. Perhaps the most unexpected find was a range on underwear made from bamboo. Yes, that’s right, bamboo. Amazingly soft. No, I didn’t try them on! These have intrigued me and so you never know, they may feature some other time. Helpfully there’s a wide range of leaflets, flyers, recipes and other things from local organisations available.

There’s a wide range of wholefoods on offer; right from organic fruit and vegetables through to local honey, nuts, interesting teas and a great range of Ecover which includes larger sizes and the option of saving money by returning the original container for a refill.

There are various top brand natural health remedies on sale together with gluten free, dairy free and wheat free ranges. The range of things on offer was impressive. Amongst the things we couldn’t resist was a jar of local honey (a later blog post?), a block of beeswax, a funny kind of novelty hat which caught Hannah’s eye (she now looks like a green frog) and a good selection of sprouting seeds.

Prices
You might be thinking all this organic healthy food is too expensive and you’d rather support the questionable Tesco or Asda. Think again. Interestingly it doesn’t seem too bad, particulalry as you can buy larger quantities of some foods there – muesli, chopped dates and dried beans amongst many others. We all know that buying in bulk normally works out cheaper and involves less packaging and less hassle.

Speaking of less hassle
It is a long time since I have been into any kind of food shop and been able to just amble my way around, looking at this and that. The whole atmosphere is unhurried; you go at your pace and you are very unlikely to encounter any trolley rage or argey-bargey with other customers.

The staff are only too happy to help. While I didn’t have any queries, I got the impression they’d go that extra mile to help. When we got to the check-out I accepted the kind offer of packing everything into a cardboard box rather than a plastic carrier bag (sounds very environmentally friendly to me!). It was then I was asked “can I carry it out to your car?”. Now that’s good service.

They go further: there’s a delivery service operating as well but we didn’t need to try that out. You might assume it is just a small local delivery service, just within a 3 mile radius. Not so, just check their website and I was surprised to see they cover quite a wide area. That’s cool.

Who owns Fairhaven?
While I was there, I got talking to Neil Timms, the proprietor. It is his business and bought it as a going concern a few years back. Neil explained he’s a local man and before buying the business he was a regular customer.

It was while he was having a spell as a house husband, away from the busy cut throat world of IT in London he spotted the opportunity when the business was up for sale and bought it. Instantly my mind took me off into those very realms myself: I can tell you working for an arm of the Ministry of Justice is great but there comes a time when leaving all those hassles behind is so tempting.

So really I admire Neil. He not only comes across as a very socialable, friendly person with a good approach to business but I really admire him for taking that step. There must have been an element of risk but one which looks like it’s proving a welcome and worthwhile step for the wholefood community around Letchworth.

Overall
This makes such a welcome down-to-earth change from supermarkets which are increasingly growing almost everywhere in the UK. To come across a shop that is independent, operates a fairtrade ethical approach with no frills is so welcome. Yes the shop is basic (I bet it’s a bit chilly in the winter) but you’re not paying for huge shareholder dividends or Limos for the boss.

Finally, this is where they are, so you can pay them a visit yourself….
Fairhaven Wholefoods Ltd
27 Jubilee Trade Centre
Letchworth Garden City
Herts. SG6 1SP

Tel 01462 675000

http://www.fairhaven.co.uk/index.asp

Posted in food, health | 2 Comments

Care for a Brooks B17 Saddle

Posted on 9 July, 2012 by doug

A Brooks B17 saddle will last for decades if looked after .

Regular readers will know I have two bikes and each has a Brooks B17 saddle. I think they are very comfortable, timeless, good looking (if somewhat eccentric) and long lasting. Like a good pair of shoes, they do need some care to maintain the leather in tip top condition and ensure it remains comfortable. This is my approach (and very similar to the official Brooks instructions):

Buy some Proofhide

This is the only leather dressing Brooks sell or recommend. Whilst it might be possible to use alternatives, I don’t know what there is to gain. A tin costs £7.95 and lasts for years.

Apply Proofhide underneath the saddle liberally when the saddle is new. It is easy to do this before it if fitted to the bike. Don’t polish it off, simply allow it to soak in and feed the leather. Also apply a smear of proofhide to the top of the saddle frequently when the saddle is new. Use a clean soft piece of cloth and allow it to dry off over night. Remember to “buff” it before you ride it – just like polishing a pair of shoes.

Buy a tension spanner

Again, it is not impossible to find another way of completing this task, it is easier when you have the right tool for the job.

When a saddle is new, it needs to be tensioned fairly often in the early stages. I used the spanner and turned the tensioning nut one quarter of a turn every two or three weeks. It might be tempting to do more but you run the risk of stretching the saddle too much and too far. Just take it easy – if you over tension the saddle, it won’t shrink back so please be conservative with it.

Once the saddle has “broken in” and moulded itself to your shape, it will be a really comfortable saddle that should be a joy to own. This will take a few hundred miles to gradually complete this process. Once it is broken in, I think only very occasionally should you ever need to tension the saddle. Remember to only turn the nut by 90 degrees at a time.

Keep it dry

It is best if the saddle can be kept dry and so you might want to consider protecting it if it’s likely to be left outside for any length of time – i.e. at a campsite, on a car rack etc. If it does get wet, let it dry out naturally – NEVER use a hair dryer or anything like that. If you do, you might as well buy a new saddle! Also, if at all possible, try to avoid using it if it is very wet. Once dry, that should be a prompt to give the top a smear with Proofhide.

Experiment with the position of the saddle

This takes a little while in my experience to get right. It involves a bit of trial-and-error and well worth persevering with – getting the tilt right along with the forward / backward position.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Church picnic 2012

Posted on 3 July, 2012 by doug

It’s now turning into a bit of a tradition at our church to have a picnic sometime in the summer, straight after a Sunday morning service. Now to put things in context, you have to remember we’re talking picnics in the English summer and there being no guarantee of a dry day. We have had our fair share of soggy sandwiches and grumpy kids but this year it all came together so nicely.

These are the ingredients:

Church service as normal

+ Reminder for everyone about picnic

+ Free lunch for anyone who has forgotten, didn’t know etc

+ Promise of lift there

+ AND back

+ Just 7 or 8 miles each way

+ Raindrops on window – sermon extended – hmmmmm

+ Fire alarm drill afterwards – gets everyone out efficiently

+ About 100+ people drive

+ About 10+ people cycle

+ Pastor spotted with knotted handkerchief on balding head

= a good time for everyone

Being together

Being together or “fellow-shipping” in church lingo is a good thing to do and particularly nice to be in beautifully relaxed surroundings. A chance also to chat to new people, or maybe with those where there’s not been much opportunity recently.

People watching

I like doing this. After we’d all scoffed our picnic lunches, a game of rounders got organised. Unfortunately I was too engrossed in chatting to secure a place in a team but it was good to watch nevertheless. This was probably to everyone’s relief as I know I’d be hopeless. You know there’s quite a few cool batters (is that the right word?) with one or two shots going so high and far you’d wonder whether anyone would ever find the ball. Then there’s the “trip up an elder” challenge…. elders is another church term for leader in the church. They don’t have to be elderly men but funnily enough they’re grey or greying. Still a good sport to watch!

That tandem!

The centre of attraction this year was Andrew’s tandem. Everyone wanted a go with shrieks of laughter as people wobbled away. We were not immune from this….

Hannah, Poppy and myself having a spin on Andrew’s tandem!

Why don’t more people (Christians) cycle?

On the picnic last year, I cycled there myself (and the first to arrive!) and this year there were about 10 -15 of us. That was brilliant! So, next year…..? We’ll wait and see.

Cycling seems such a lovely way to travel to church – a simple, easy and reflective thing to do, no fuss or hassle. Great for the whole family to do. I know bicycles don’t get a mention in the Bible but there must be some principle there to say cycling is a good thing to do – travelling under your own steam in a thrifty kind of way. Surely….?

Posted in cycling, cycling with others, family, people | Tagged attitudes, family, friend | 1 Comment

Sorry for not blogging lately

Posted on 2 July, 2012 by doug

Hannah and myself on a friend’s tandem

I am really sorry for not being able blog about my ramblings; June has been quite a hectic month. As you may have picked up from a recent post, we did do the C2C ride which was good fun. Family life, trying to stay on top of a prolifically growing garden and work (now including longer commuting times) have all distracted me. But, but I have carried on with some running and a little cycling – just enough to maintain some level of fitness.

You now, one of the effects of not being quite so active is those old stress levels starting to rise a little.

I have some blog posts lined up including a Guest Blog from our friend Natasha who blogs about nourishing food. I have some other posts whirling around in my mind. So with a bit of determination and no planned trips away from home, I hope to resume my normal rambling now.

Besides, I got reminded of all those good reasons to keep blogging by today’s post from Tejvan Pettinger’s excellent Cycling Info blog (on why write a cycling blog).

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The horrendous spectre of UK obesity

Posted on 24 June, 2012 by doug

Perhaps even the dog looks overweight?

Here in the UK the National Audit Office reckons the NHS spends £500M a year on obesity related problems. By the time that’s factored to include the impact on the wider economy, the figure grows to £2Bn. By any measure that is a huge amount of money.

I want to bring some encouragement to the blogosphere world on the point of obesity. There is a way out of this problem which includes changing lifestyles, changing the national diet, the way food and beverages are taxed (or not as the case may be) and offering real help that really works. I’m not an expert on this, moreover I’m just an ordinary person but it is something that concerns me, having once weighed 13 stone 8lbs in 2003. For the last few years I have been a steady 10 stone 7lbs (BMI 21.5) so perhaps I have had a narrow escape and a bit of an awakening.

The main thing is not to ponder the negative aspects of obesity too much, although these are important and I’m going to mention these below. The main thing is to grasp the belief that obesity CAN be overcome, the result will be fantastic and if it applies to you, you will never want to go back to that old lifestyle again. Please read that last sentence again and absorb it before you go any further.

Yesterday we were out and about; a normal Saturday afternoon thing for us. We stopped and had a little snack at a “beauty spot” which was no big deal. In fact, here’s Hannah enjoying hers:

What sticks in my mind was seeing a woman on a nearby table. Clearly obese she was eating a burger with all of the trimmings. Perhaps she was eating then out of habit, perhaps out of seeking some comfort or maybe a whole load of other reasons. While the food may have tasted nice to her, it could only have given her some brief pleasure, if anything at all. She looked as if she was hating it and taking no pleasure from eating it, perhaps it was tinged with some guilt.

While obesity can take hold at any time in life, perhaps for many the middle-aged obesity problem is a big issue. I mentioned earlier I was over weight a few years ago and thankfully never made it to the realms of obesity but it could so easily have been the case for me. I remember it crept up on me. We often joke about “married contentment” when we notice our friends becoming a little more cuddly and we’ve been the subject of that banter ourselves. It is so easy for people in their 30s or 40s to continue eating as they did in the 20s but the waist line grows in such a gradual way it is never noticed until, well, you notice it with a shock. The fact is, for many people, our metabolism changes alongside our lifestyle becoming more sedentary which in turns leads to those extra pounds and kilograms.

As I said earlier, there has to be that solid belief that it can be overcome; changes CAN be made which are effective and the effect will be so wonderful you will never want to return to those baggy clothes. People who do lose that surplus weight have so much more energy and ability to get out there and have some enjoyment. No more wheezing, panting or struggles in doing simple things. Do remember as you improve your weight and fitness, the more you achieve the easier it becomes to achieve even more (does that make sense?).

We all know the basic reasons for obesity: the wrong foods in the wrong quantities and not enough physical activity. Wrong foods mean, put simply, foods with too much sugar and fat. Not enough physical activity means a sedentary lifestyle which does not include some kind of exercise which gets you out of breath 3 or 4 times a week.

In 2009 here in the UK it was reported that:

60% of adults were over weight (22% of men were obese, 24% of women were obese)
31% of children were over weight

Good things to look forward to by losing weight:

You will probably live longer and enjoy good overall health
You are less likely to suffer from diabetes and associated problems – eyesight, problems with feet and circulation etc
You are less likely to have heart disease
Your blood pressure will be normal
You will look good, feel more confident
Your mental health will be better with a better chance of avoiding depression, or anxiety problems
Your fertility will improve
You are less likely to suffer from certain cancers
You are less likely to suffer from arthritis, indigestion
You won’t snore as much

The amazing 39 stone cyclist

Posted in health | 9 Comments

Active parents = active children?

Posted on 23 June, 2012 by doug

Becky, my 13 year old daughter riding my bike!

I know that my first responsibility is the well being of our two daughters – to provide, love, nurture and prepare them for making a good contribution to society when they grow up. For me, this is probably the most difficult job in all the world.

One of the things we are determined not to do is to fall into a modern parenting trap. The trap is raising kids in sterile plastic bags, while wrapped in cotton wool. Another thing is ensuring they’re not lazy and ought to have a bit of independence as they grow up: self confidence and reliance. There seems to be a mentality around about not climbing a tree because you might scrape your knee, or not to risk going outside because there’s a chance it may rain.

Kids don’t seem to cycle very much these days

Earlier this week I took my kids to school and happened to notice another parent unloading a bicycle from their car. Naturally this caught my eye and this was soon followed by bumping into an acquaintance (Chris) who is a Bikeability trainer (in “old money” this is the Cycling Proficiency test). We had a brief chat in which he said he’d come to do the cycling training. Out of one class only 3 children were doing it (and I think that was Year 6 – an ideal age). This is depressing and sadly it is not unusual. I remember when our girls did this training, there weren’t many others doing it.

The vibes I pick up is around the kind of excuses parents sometimes use to justify their own lifestyle. Some of these are paraphrased as:

The roads are too busy
There are too many potholes in the roads
Bikes are too expensive
We don’t have enough time
There might be a paedophile lurking out there somewhere

Why is this so important?

Physical fitness

I was at a conference earlier this week at Bristol (Social Investment in the public sector) and it was mentioned the NHS spends 10% of its funding on Diabetes related issues. Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem which, it could be argued, can mostly be attributed to modern lifestyles with their poor diets and a lack of exercise. Children tend to follow the example of their parents, often picking up many traits of their lifestyles and attitudes. While I was in the West Country I went to see my parents at the coast and it is appalling seeing young adults waddling along the sea front so heavily. Many were over weight and you could see plenty of “man boobs” wobbling around under football tee shirts – there were so many! It is not helped by the number of candy floSome wise wordsss, chip shops, fizzy drinks etc that could be bought in many places. There were middle aged people who were clearly obese needing walking sticks and then some older folk needing huge battery powered wheel chairs which were almost the size of a small car.

Surely it is important that our children, who are still growing and impressionable, grow up being physically able (wherever possible) and fit and healthy. Their habits, interests and past times now will probably have an influence on their adult lives, so let’s get this right now.

Confidence

Rising to a challenge takes some confidence and I think it’s good to stretch our children from time to time. There’s something about that self belief, confidence and willingness to rise to the challenge – isn’t that a quality we need in society, in commerce? Then there’s something being able to accept things when we fail, when we don’t quite make the distance. That happens in life and knowing how to handle that is important. Being able to reflect is important too, to learn from our mistakes and errors, to consider our impact on others around us in our communities.

How do we know our limits unless we try; unless we push ourselves to the limits and then just a little bit further?

Pushing boundaries

Children can push boundaries in all kinds of ways and I think that’s all a part of growing up, no matter how trying it is for parents at times. To be honest, there are some boundaries that get pushed which I don’t find helpful (like my patience at times!) but other times with school work and what can be achieved is positively encouraged. Surely so many things have been achieved by the “greats” of history when boundaries, accepted conventions and beliefs have been pushed to the limits?

To be imaginative, to dream

Just imagine how dull the world would be without art, without music or an outlet for our feelings and emotions. Just imagine a world without people with vision, without courage or conviction to do what is right. We must nurture our children to be like that but vital to do it with the right value base – to know what is right and wrong, just and unjust.

Some wise words

Surely the age old saying of “healthy bodies, healthy minds” must have much going for it. That’s just a saying but in the Bible there is the book of Proverbs (which I often find myself reading or recalling) and in chapter 22 it says:

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it (verse 6)

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!” (verse 13) For me this means we shouldn’t be lazy, thinking of excuses and reasons why we shouldn’t do things.

You might like to check out a blog I enjoy – the Family Adventure Project – now I don’t know if they’re Christians or have any faith (I honestly don’t know) but I do admire them. They also cycle, amongst other things, as a way of raising their kids in a wholesome way. Very readable, sometimes funny, sometimes reflective, inspirational and always worthwhile.

Cycling to school a previous blog ramble from April 2011.

Posted in confidence, cycling, health | 3 Comments

Carrying bikes on cars

Posted on 11 June, 2012 by doug

Transporting bikes by car is a tricky business and one that I don’t enjoy.

At best they always look as if they’re wobbling a bit, causing air turbulence which sounds too loud or worse still it is an accident waiting to happen. Once we had a close shave when a roof mounted bike fell sideways – thankfully the straps holding the wheels in place prevented the bike from falling off completely. I think it was the girls in the back that spotted the bike falling over and said “Dad your bike is flying outside the window!”. Nevertheless we still had to stop quickly on a dual carriage way near Oxford to fix the problem and later touch up the car’s paint. Last year when the above photograph was taken, we were just setting off from Cumbria to return home and look at the way the car is weighed down, not helped by those bikes!

Our trusty old VW Vento (long lived and very practical) was replaced quickly owing to a slipping clutch and a few other niggles. It was replaced by a Toyota Avensis (boring but smooth and reliable).

We have tried roof bars with a bike adapter on the Saab we once owned but it was a very fiddly process getting the bikes securely fixed and ready for driving away. That’s why we prefer the rear type of rack. If you’re thinking of equipping your own car ready for transporting bikes, here’s a few things to consider:

we use a lot of extra fuel with the three bikes on the back. At motorway speeds (a steady 65-70 mph) we reckon to lose about 10 miles per gallon.
with the boot fitting racks, it is impossible to open the boot with the bikes on. Luckily we have folding seats so we can access the boot (“trunk” for USA readers!).
normally these racks can be switched from one car to another fairly easily
they are not too expensive – i.e. about £100
it is easier to lift bikes on to this kind of rack, rather than up on to the roof
we can still use our roof box if we need to (i.e. carrying all the camping stuff)
although our bike rack is designed for three bikes, it always feels like we’re pushing it to the limits – three bikes are quite a weight
tighten up all the straps evenly i.e. a little bit at a time and then again once the bikes are loaded. Worth checking once again after a few miles once everything has settled into place
make sure the bikes are clear of the lights and number plate. Likewise make sure they are not hanging too low – on our way back from the C2C we saw a trendy Mini with the bike so low the exhaust was going to melt the bike tyre
be careful reversing – you can’t see as well and remember your car is a metre longer. For roof rack types, try to avoid driving into car parks with low barriers designed to stop vans and lorries, for obvious reasons….
if you’re buying a new car, try doing a deal with the garage for some custom bike rack. Potentially this is eye-wateringly expensive but could be the most secure way of carrying your bikes.
the friends we went to do the C2C ride with had a tow bar mounted rack which looked pretty solid and had the advantage of being low down, so easy to load and I reckon it was more streamlined. A disadvantage is having to have a tow bar fitted but worth considering….

Now come on, have you had any disasters? Just leave the confession in the Comment box below. I promise nobody will laugh or snigger at your stupidity…..

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C2C Coast to Coast

Posted on 9 June, 2012 by doug

Becky, just before dipping our back wheels into the Irish Sea

Here’s the ingredients of our C2C cycle ride, from Silloth to Tynemouth….

In numbers:

Miles: 110 Punctures: 0
Days: 3 Travelodge nights: 4
Kids: 3 Adults: 2
Back-up Mums: 2 Sun burnt: 0
Cycle Route: 72 Days we got wet: 2
Wrong way: 2 Steep hills walked: 0

Hannah, Kate & Becky. I just can’t remember what Dave was getting them to count.

Day 1

We stayed the night before the start at the M6 Travelodge called Southwaite, just a few miles south of Carlisle and started the C2C ride from Silloth. We maintained the tradition of dipping our back tyres into the Irish Sea before we left and although we felt a bit daft climbing up and down with our bikes, we drew some comfort in knowing the local folk must be used to this kind of spectacle. Once on the road it took us a little while to get into the right pace i.e. not too fast or slow and a few minor adjustments to saddle heights etc.

Dave had worked out the route beforehand as he knew I would easily get us all hopelessly lost at least twice each day. We aimed to keep off any main roads as much as we could and this worked fine throughout.

The first day was about 42 miles heading inland. Not too hilly although Hannah maintains she had ” Mum I cycled up at least three mountains today”. We finished at Brampton which is about 10 miles east of Carlisle. Rachel and Ruth picked us up and took us back to the Travelodge before getting us there for an early(ish) start the following day. A few comments about sore bottoms but everyone was keen for…..

Day 2

In Brampton, ready for C2C Day 2

That’s me in the middle. You might be wondering why I’m on a mountain bike which is too small for me. Answer: girl (Becky) on right hand side who is hankering for a new bike and wanted to have a go on mine, the Thorn Audax Mk3. Before we set off I lowered the seat, swapped the pedals and tilted the handlebars up for her. She loved riding my bike and I hated riding hers – a neat reminder of why riding a bike with the seat too low is hard work and painful.

This day contained some fantastic scenery having progressed from gently undulating countryside in Day 1 through to a more rugged and exposed landscape as we climbed out of Henshaw and past the Chesterholm Roman site up onto some stunning scenery. Going up was quite a struggle for Hannah (12) and not a very experienced cyclist. She’s not alone in leaving it too late to change into a low gear with a steep climb ahead and then grind to a halt when the low gear doesn’t click in time. Her solution? Go back down to a flatter part and do it again: I really admired her for that. Although the ascent was slow, she did it with a fair amount of “Daddy how long will this mountain take?” and singing made-up funny songs.

Once we made it to the top, it seemed we had several miles of gentle free wheeling before we descended into Hexham, where we finished our second day. While we were going down, man did the heavens open? It was fantastic! Talk about raining cats, dogs and stair rods! It felt like we were cycling down a river at one point!

Day 3

Hexham to Tynemouth was easy on the Sustrans Cycle Route 72, so no need for Dave to keep an eye on the prepared route and no chance of me getting us lost (well, not much).

This was a ride of real contrasts. Firstly it was very different to the previous day and secondly within the ride itself we had some lovely riverside pastures and right through to the metropolitan areas of Newcastle. Not many hills (or Mountains) for Hannah to sing her way up.

And then we made it to Tynemouth for the tyre dipping ritual once again. Rachel and Ruth were there waiting for us with hugs, cheers and praise for the girls having made it. I had previously promised Hannah and ice cream once we’d finished and the one and only ice cream van drove off as we arrived! Nevertheless, the mums had a really nice hot meal lined up for us in a near-by pub where we could all reflect on the miles and smiles of the C2C route.

We made it!

Will we do this kind of thing again? Yep, hope so!

Posted in cycling, family | 4 Comments

C2C training: the funniest ride!

Posted on 31 May, 2012 by doug

Even before we left home, there was a flat tyre on Hannah’s bike. I fixed it but not well enough, I didn’t put the patch in the right place! Just 2 miles from home, the tyre was again flat and here we are fixing it.

I might need to work on her road safety skills (when on proper roads with cars etc.). She’s quite a comic at times.

Here’s Hannah flaked out upon arriving at Grandma’s house, after 10 miles. C2C is next week, not sure now how well we’ll manage!

Posted in cycling, family | 2 Comments

Keeping my bike clean?

Posted on 29 May, 2012 by doug

When I got the Thorn Audax in January last year, I felt like an excited school boy with a new shiny racer. It’s always nice to have a beautifully maintained and lubricated bike but I became very self-conscious in the early days with spokes glistening in the sunlight.

Soon I saw it differently and have continued to keep a certain amount of dirt on the bike. Here’s why I keep it with a little dirt on:

Attracts less attention from would-be thieves, blending in makes me feel a little more modest
Maximise cycling time, instead of fiddling around keeping it clean
It’s good to keep the chain extra clean: this will really reduce the rate of wear and extend the life of the chain and sprocket
Not setting myself up as an expert cyclist
Becoming more interested in the mechanical side could turn out to be expensive…. “ah I could do with upgrading X and while I’m at it I might as well do Y at the same time. Then I’ll need special tools for doing this and a workshop stand” and the list goes on and on….
BUT I am less likely to spot something that’s worn or about to fall off
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

What about you? Do you clean your bike?

Posted in Thorn Audax | 4 Comments

More Coast to Coast training

Posted on 21 May, 2012 by doug

As you know, we are planning to ride a Coast to Coast route during the fast-approaching half term break. So here’s a couple of snaps on a recent Sunday afternoon cycle ride to get limbered up a bit. Getting Becky and Hannah up and out took some doing but they were reassured the ride was only 4 miles. Well, I can tell you, I got that completely wrong and seriously under estimated the distance. They were none the wiser and didn’t complain a bit once I’d relented and agreed to buy an ice cream for each of them (not that I really approve of Sunday trading).

Look Dad, this frame really is too small….

Hannah enjoying a bit of “me” time

Becky trying out my bike

Becky has had her eye on my bike for several months, knowing that with the seat down a bit she can ride okay. While she can ride it, it really is the wrong size reach etc. A real laugh seeing her in my cycling shoes that are too big, even for me! She is wanting a new bike for her birthday in July. A women’s specific bike 50-52com frame or thereabouts, perhaps with a triple chainset, would be absoluetly ideal. Any suggestions or offers?

Just leave me a comment and maybe we can discuss further?

Posted in cycling, family | 5 Comments