Buying a new cycle helmet in Evans Cycles

Posted on 21 July, 2011 by doug
Stuart in Evans Cycles (Milton Keynes) making sure I had a good fit

I have always been a bit ambivalent about wearing a helmet while cycling but have persevered in wanting to set a good example to B&H.  My existing helmet is one that I’ve never been happy with, just not fitting right.  So for a while now I’ve had in mind the idea of getting a new one.  As the old one never seemed to be a good fit, the chances are its effectiveness would be limited in the event of a crash, not to mention being uncomfortable in the meantime.

Having been unimpressed with my LBS in selling me the old bad fitting helmet and their approach, I decided to pay Evans Cycles, Milton Keynes a visit today.

I’ve always quite liked the attitude in Evans by the staff.  Willing to help but they’re happy to let me browse.  So when Stuart, pictured above, came over to ask if I needed any help, I asked him to help me choose a new helmet.  He asked what kind of riding I do – i.e. road or off-road.  This makes a difference in the kinds of accidents cyclists have, apparently.  I started trying on different helmets as Stuart explained the first step in getting the make and size, which is:

Stage 1.  Get the right size.  Put the helmet on with the adjuster wide open.  Make it tighter by, in this case, turning a wheel at the back to bring the plastic straps in closer.  Once you have a snug fit, lean forward, like you’re a keen new solicitor bowing when entering a Court room.  The helmet should stay on.  If it doesn’t, try a different make.

Stage 2.  Providing the helmet is snug, it’s time to adjust the straps.  The “junction” should be just under your ear lobe and slightly forward.  Getting this right was a real fiddle.

Stage 3.  Get the chin strap right.  You should be able to just squeeze two fingers underneath the strap fairly comfortably.

Stage 4.  Is it comfortable, does it sit right?  Does it wobble around?  If yes, try a different size or make.  Otherwise it’s a good fit which is worth fine tuning a little more once at home.

I tried on about 3 or 4 until I got this one which was the one I bought.  There was absolutely no pressure to go up in the price range, even though I was prepared to.  Stuart explained the more expensive helmets are just as safe as the cheaper ones.  The extra cost is for extra ventilation and different designs, perhaps a little lighter.

The deal was done, 10% CTC discount granted.

Back home I compared it to the old one.  Interestingly it’s the same size and make – Specialized – and a similar looking helmet at (from memory) a similar price.  The fit was completely different.  The design of the straps etc are clearly a big improvement leading to a nice comfortable fit.

Specialized Echelon helmet, £49.99 , available in various colours

Anything else?
Yes, a couple of things.  Firstly I get really bugged when retailers have different prices between the store price and the on-line cost.  On checking the Evans Cycles website , the cost is £10 cheaper on-line compared to the in-store price.  This is irritating, please stop it!

The second point is about the life span of a helmet,  Ideally helmets need replacing every 2-3 years; partly because of wear and tear and also because of the integrity of the construction will degrade.  Perhaps a bit of sales talk with some truth mixed in?

Overall….
I’m happy with it so far.  Anything on the old helmet is a bonus.  Going to ride into work with it tomorrow morning so I might report later on the comfort having had it on for a couple of hours.
(PS nice cool run early this morning)

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Thoughts on food

Posted on 13 July, 2011 by doug

Since I have been taking better care of myself during the last few years, I’ve paid attention to what I eat.  That attention comes in a few different ways and here’s some of my thinking:

Quality of food
I try to discipline myself into a bit of self-talk with food.  It’s along the lines of asking myself if that jammy doughnut is either good or bad for me.  Gradually I’m making sure everything I eat is good for me and I’m gaining a picture of how different foods benefit me.  So with each meal or snack, I try to make sure it is of use and not just allowing me to scoff away because I feel “peckish” – that is an easy route to becoming over-weight again.

Going around supermarkets, it’s now clear there’s so much rubbish, nicely packaged to appear attractive and tasty.  And yet it is often highly processed food with all kinds of additives which are not helpful with a balanced diet.

So, I’m trying to ensure everything I scoff fits with a healthy, varied diet and contributes towards:

  • My 5-a-day (but in reality my 9 or 10-a-day)
  • Good varied selection of vitamins and minerals (I believe these particularly make a real difference for immunity and long term health)
  • Good fats, not saturated fats
  • Sufficient carbohydrates and proteins
  • Sufficient fibre (need to keep things moving!)
  • Sufficient fluids
Ethics and food
Perhaps the subject of another blog post but I believe GM needs avoiding wherever possible.  Not necessarily just for nutritional reasons but for wider conservation and food chain ethics.  By messing around with DNA (i.e. creation), introducing new “features” we’re dabbling with things we can’t reverse when unforeseen consequences happen later on.  What right do we have?
Also, how can I justify eating, say, spring onions flown in from Kenya when knowing there is an impending famine in the horn of Africa?  Talk about air miles, carbon footprint, exploiting the third world, being so lazy we’re not growing enough food in our gardens!
I have become a vegetarian this year, albeit with a few lapses.  For me, in our society it seems the right thing to do although it does make meal planning more difficult for Rachel.
Quantity
I am sure I’m not alone when I mention the more I eat, the hungrier I tend to feel later on.  With the UK’s expanding waist line and the rise of type 2 diabetes, this is a trap to avoid.  For myself, small meals with snacks works better than bigger, less frequent meals.
Wrapping up
I am no expert in nutrition or food production but I am picking things up as I go along.  I’m not advising you to follow what I’m doing but please do give these things some thought – some of these issues are profoundly important for the 21st Century.  You might know more or have helpful views; please feel welcome to post a comment below….
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Cycling in the summer

Posted on 11 July, 2011 by doug

Stunning summer scenery at Bison Hill, Beds.

Stunning summer scenery at Bison Hill, Beds.

Since I have been cycling over the last couple of years, I’ve come to appreciate the different seasons we have here in England even more.  I plan to do a blog post on each season but only when the season itself comes.  So, it is summer right now, here’s my observations of cycling at this time of year.

I can’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t like cycling in the summer apart from the obvious question of heat, too much sun and the risk of dehydration.  Apparently dehydration of just 2% equals a 20% loss of performance – if you start to feel thirsty you are dehydrated.

As I mostly early in the morning and occasionally in the evening, the risk of overheating is small.  There are, however, so many other compelling reasons to enjoy running in the summer:

  • In early July there’s enough light to cycle for 16 hours a day, perhaps more.  That opens up lots of possibilities
  • The countryside is at it’s peak – especially grasses as this shows me cycling through the Chiltern Hills – particularly lovely in the summer
  • I like the hazy pastel colours in certain conditions
  • Hedgerows are full of flowers
  • At dusk I love the sensation of cycling into those pockets of cold damp air and then out the other side just a few seconds later
  • I like the warmth and yet appreciate the cooling properties of modern technical materials
  • Seeing insects buzzing around flowers
  • Summer rains – especially after a long hot spell – sometimes you can almost smell the rain coming.  When it does it’s so invigorating
  • It’s nice to explore new roads and other routes at this time of year
  • Saves money – why pay a gym membership when you can exercise and run outside?
  • Most of this applies to running as well!
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How many bikes?

Posted on 9 July, 2011 by doug

If you’re a regular reader you will already know I’ve got a couple of bikes.  The oldest is my 1984 Dawes Galaxy and earlier this year I added the Thorn Audax Mk3.  To be honest I have been feeling a little guilty about having two.

A while back I thought of selling the Dawes in order to save a little room in the garage and recover some money.  Then there’s the thought of not hoarding and being too materialistic as it could be argued that goes against the simplicity of cycling.  The Dawes has 27″ wheels which are obsolete nowadays, the gears are vague, stiff and not indexed, the chain is worn.  Both of these bikes have a fair bit in common, so surely there’s duplication and what’s the point in having both.

During the last week I’ve had the opportunity to cycle to work on 3 days, each using the Thorn Audax and covered almost 90 miles and it was on one of these rides the question of how many bikes occurred to me.  Bearing in mind it’s a brilliant day ride bike with a light touring capacity, a training bike, a shopping bike.  I like it, why would I need anything else?

Then this evening, I needed to pop out for a Sainsbury’s visit: this is not the weekly grocery shop but more of a “top-up” and I used the Dawes – and that’s when the penny dropped.  Yes it’s fine to have more than one bike, providing they get used.  These two bikes handle very differently and I like them both because of that.  As one is elderly, the Dawes lends itself for local trips only, keeping the Thorn for longer rides.

So as these bikes have a slightly different purpose, does the footwear principle apply here?  I have two pairs of work shoes so I can avoid wearing them on consecutive days, a best pair, a worn out scruffy pair for messing about outside, a pair of wellies for when we have snow, a pair of hiking boots, a pair of SPD cycling shoes, a pair of sandals and flip flops (for holiday), two pairs of running shoes and – but don’t laugh – a pair of slippers.

Given that analogy, having two bikes seems very restrained!

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Are raspberries good for you?

Posted on 6 July, 2011 by doug

I love the summer months and even more when we have raspberries from my Mother-in-Law’s garden.  Fresh, free and flavoursome!

I’ve always enjoyed them and had in the back of my mind that they were not just good, as all fruit is, but had that “something extra”.  So a quick look around on the Internet and with reference to a really good book we have at home, yes, they really are good.

  • Vitamins B2, C and K
  • folate
  • niacin
  • magnesium
  • fibre
  • phenlic phytochemicals
All this leads to raspberries having excellent health giving properties.  This includes antioxidants being in good measure and this is helpful in preventing cancer and adding to heart disease protection.  Raspberries are also known to have a detoxifying effect through a self cleansing effect.
While the raspberry season is short, we do have them in abundance and freeze the surplus but there’s nothing to beat that ‘just picked’ freshness.  This all helps develop a taste and determination to consume a wide variety of GOOD food in REASONABLE quantities.  REASONABLE means SENSIBLE / MODEST quantities.
Here in the above photo, the raspberries are prepared for my (now) famous “A Cyclist’s Breakfast” which is proving very popular.  click here to follow the link back to the blog on 29th January 2011.  This surely must be a great all-round breakfast.
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Long term review – Endura Hummvee Baggy Shorts

Posted on 5 July, 2011 by doug


Many reviews tend to be based on short term impressions.  This review is based on three years use, adding up to thousands of miles, several washes and general wear and tear.  Overall, it’s a pretty positive story.  Read on…

Cost
They cost, at the time of writing, £45.99 from FW Evans Cycles who I rate quite highly, they deserve some success on the High Street.  I reckon I paid about the same in 2008, so they’ve not been hit too much by inflation.

Description
They’re available in any colour you want, so long as it’s black – nothing unusual here then.  They are made from 100% nylon.  That might be the case but there are clearly different types of nylon used. There’s an elasticated waist band which a good number of belt loops. The fly is a normal zip with a press popper at the top.

In terms of pockets, there are two map pockets, just the right size of an Ordnance survey map.  On each side there is a reasonably deep pocket, closed with a zip with a helpful cord, as you can just see in the top left on the photograph.  There are two further pockets, towards the lower part – one is zipped and one is Velcro.

For warmer summer months, there are zipped ventilation sections on either side.

Additionally there is a key clip, which could be very useful.

Also supplied are some inner shorts – racy black Lycra with a padded seat and to complete the set a simple webbed belt.

They’re available in a wide range of sizes from Small to XX Large.  The inner printed label gives washing instructions (and it hasn’t worn off yet) and declares it is made in China.  With so many horror stories concerning supply chain ethics, pollution and worker’s rights, I am lately more concerned about the ethical nature of their manufacture.

Living with the shorts
In general I’d say these are very good but not quite perfect.

The belt seemed unnecessary and got mislaid a long time ago.  Probably useful for tying something onto a rear pannier rack (perhaps for an unexpected impulse bargain that wouldn’t fit anywhere else).

The shorts came with Lycra inner shorts.  As I’m not too versed in these it is hard to comment.  I’ve worn them a couple of times and found the padded seat really comfortable.  Otherwise a bit clammy and a tight fit.  Subsequently discarded.

The actual shorts themselves is clearly where the money has been spent.  I’d say they’re very practical indeed (especially the OS size map pocket), good high waist and satisfactory overall fit.  I know it’s a question of personal taste but I think they’re a little too baggy but this is perhaps nit-picking.

Conclusion
Tough, very hard wearing.  Practical and great for day rides with all those pockets.  Style is okay.  Considering they’ll last for many more years, they must be seen as representing excellent value for money and £46 seems a fair price.

On the positive side, they seem almost indestructible, they really are very hard wearing and definitely up to the job in my eyes.

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Cycling at night

Posted on 25 June, 2011 by doug

Just as everyone was going to bed last night, my friend Wallie and I were unloading our bikes, ready for a ride through the night around the Salisbury Plain area.  Most people think I’m mad for doing this kind of thing but actually it’s kind of fun and something a little different.  For eagle eyed readers, we did something like this about a year ago and because we enjoyed that so much, we decided to do it again this year. Click here for 2010 link.

The original plan was to ride through the night and then marvel at the sun rising.  Instead we had the issue of continuous rain with no improvement being forecast.  We were tempted to postpone it but decided to have a shorter ride instead. We’ll have another go on a clear night while we’re still in the mid summer period, all being well.

What’s different about riding at night?
The quick answer is loads of things.  I find the way I sense things will become different at night time.  Have you ever noticed those pockets of cold, damp air when you’re riding through the countryside at night?  Sometimes you’ll hit them in a dip, or perhaps in a wooded area.  All very atmospheric, perhaps spooky.  That also applies to the mist you’ll sometimes encounter and then there’s the scents you can smell – wow!  Both of us last night were struck by the beautiful smell of pine as we rode through a wooded area.  Sounds are different, as are glimpses of wildlife.

You can’t see the gradient in front of you so easily, so suddenly you find yourself speeding up or slowing down but the road looks flat.  Of course it isn’t but you just can’t see it, but you can feel it.

Other times when we’ve had more visibility, the landscape takes on a different quality that can be very beautiful.

Riding with a friend also brings a certain camaraderie and pleasure in sharing the experience.  Sometimes we’d go a mile or two without chatting, just riding alongside each other savouring the ride.  We are fortunate with our natural pace being virtually the same, so we’re very comfortable riding with each other – this really helps.

Isn’t it dangerous?
No not at all, providing you take a few precautions and take care.  By that I mean having some decent lights, which is obvious really.  That’s lights to see the road ahead and to be seen by other traffic you might come across.  Don’t forget riding on dry tarmac will bounce far more light back than compared to wet roads.  LED lights these days are pretty bright and they have the advantage of not having a bulb to blow in the normal way.  Batteries last a lot longer as well.  Wallie, as I have come to know over the years, has a keen eye on being thrifty at times but sometimes this doesn’t pay off.  He’s lost 2 el-cheapo rear LED lights because of flimsy brackets.  So it’s really important to get good lights which fit the bike well.  We both had head torches, though mine only came out later when I had a bike problem (see further below).  Again these are available with traditional bulbs or LEDs.

Worth considering whether you prefer to blend in or stand out with your clothing – both have their advantages…..

We found there were only a handful of cars around and those were easy to see coming because of their headlight beams shining from a mile away.  That gives a feeling of security in knowing there’s no nasty surprises and allows you time to go single file (and for me, to get on the correct side of the road).

Hazards include wild animals.  Last year we had the odd startled badger run out in front of us.  Country lanes will inevitably have pot holes and these can be difficult to see in time, especially if you’re blasting down a hill.  Another country lane hazard is gravel on downhill stretches (this is my worst) which can so easily cause a skid – a front wheel skid is almost impossible to control.  When you’re going fast downhill, allow some distance and don’t be blinded or dazzled by the rear light in front of you.

Other times it helps to just have some kind of understanding or communication about who goes first or hangs back when you’re not riding alongside each other.  For us, this just seems to happen with the minimum of words.

“Wouldn’t it be a shame if we had a puncture on a night like this?”
Yes, Wallie, it would.  It’s just as well I’m not superstitious because no sooner had Wallie said that, a few yards on I felt my back wheel go over a bump differently.  And then another and then there’s a continuous vibration.  I had a puncture.

Bloody Panaracer Tourguard tyres!  Shysters!  Is this bad luck or the norm?  This means I get one puncture every 350 miles nowadays.  This is not good.

Getting it changed was fairly straightforward but interesting to note that out of the handful of cars that went passed, no body stopped to ask if we were okay. The nearest we got to that was a Police car slowing down for a look and then carrying on, presumably we didn’t look too dodgy.  Times like this are a reminder of why it is vital to carry one or two spare inner tubes, plastic tyre levers, a pump and maybe one or two other tools.  It was also a time for my LED headlight to prove invaluable and for me, a pair of glasses.

Know where you’re going
Last year we had Wallie’s green lane diversion (anything to avoid an A road!) which was “fun”.  This year’s diversion was planned and involved pushing our bikes over a foot bridge to avoid a ford about 15 feet wide and goodness knows how deep.  This was okay this year, Wallie knew where we were going!

Just imagine being in a strange area and having to put your reading glasses on every few minutes to check a route.  Then it rains.  Paper maps and water do not mix very well.  Besides, it’s easy to get cold with frequent map-check stops; better to keep pressing on if you can.

Fuel for cycling
Night riding is all very well and you might be enjoying yourself but your body is used to being asleep at this time, not huffing and puffing up hills for several hours.  Important to start off with a “full tank” and of course carbohydrates is the fuel of choice; a slow burn source of energy.  To keep us going we had some bananas and Blackfriars’ flapjacks (cut in half size doses).  One of those every 60-90 mins with a drink of Lucozade or plain water is about right.

Stopping for a snack on a convenient bench – white spots are raindrops caught by the flash

It really is important to keep eating and keep moving to avoid getting cold.  Feeling cold also slows your reactions which you can’t afford to allow.  Besides, just stopping, turning off your lights and then just listening to the countryside, is sometimes a wonderful thing to do!

I could “wax lyrical” about this forever but I’ll just step back here.  If you’re tempted to try a rural bike ride, I can recommend it!  Pick a nice dry, still and calm night for the best experience.  Be open minded, allow your senses to wallow in all the new things you’ll experience.

Just to conclude:

Your kit

  • Bike checked in daylight before.
  • Take at least 2 spare inner tubes (plus a pump and tools). Be sure you can fix a puncture at night time
  • Good bright lights with new batteries (as primary light source or back-up for a dynamo).  Consider 2 front and 2 rear.
  • Map, glasses, headlight
  • Mobile phone for emergencies
  • Identification

Your clothing

  • Yellow reflective jacket is best. Ideally waterproof and breathable
  • Gloves (maybe mitts) even in the summer it can get really cold at night
  • Decide on shorts or trousers

Other

  • Tell someone where you’re going if your alone
  • Spare car key, if applicable
  • Ride quietly – do not get people worried as you pass their houses at night
  • Food – be prepared to hit the “wall” in the small hours.  Take it easy, have something to eat and drink.
  • A camera.  In spite of these really uninspiring shots, there are some great opportunities – especially at dawn
  • Check out local cycling clubs or CTC groups for an organised ride
  • Remember you’ll need to catch up on the missed sleep, so plan for that and avoid driving if possible
  • Allow your senses to wallow in a whole new experience!
Posted in cycling, cycling at night, great rides | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Recovery 4

Posted on 19 June, 2011 by doug

Following on from some blog posts in March 2011 where I talked about my injured hand, sadly I’m still not completely healed.  There’s also been a certain amount of denial on my part.

It all started at the end of January when I was out running, early on a Sunday morning.  I had a fall, caused simply by tripping up on some rough ground which was frozen rock hard.  I landed by squashing my hand under my chest, so the little finger side hit the ground first followed by hand hand curving in on itself.  Hope you can picture that.  Following two trips to the hospital, one x-ray and a follow up visit to my Doctor’s surgery, the general opinion was I had damaged some ligaments or tendons and these would take longer to heal than bones.  The Doctor did make a half comment, suggesting the Hospital where I had the x-ray carried out wouldn’t necessarily spot a broken bone in a complex structure like the hand.

It is still painful and I’m not sure what is wrong, so I have an appointment tomorrow at the Doctor’s surgery.  I’m managed to get an appointment with another Doctor there, one that I’ve never seen before and who I hope will be a little more interested.

I am now recognising that cycling does aggravate my hand, as does a number of routine ordinary tasks (the worst is drying my hand with a towel – agony).  Consequently I’ve not cycled for the last two weeks.  I really do miss riding and have withdrawal symptoms kicking in.

So I’ll hopefully give an update tomorrow evening.   I’m not sure how interested or concerned the Doctor will be, so I’ll consider what the best approach ought to be other than “Good evening Doctor, my hand hurts, I’m not sure what is wrong but please can you fix it?”.  We hear a lot about NHS reforms, GP Commissioning Consortia against a history of falling standards and rising costs.   I don’t think treating me will assist in the achievement of any public health target (I have learnt much about this fascinating subject over the last year from a professional standpoint with offender health needs), nor am I suffering a chronic debilitating disease.

I am astonished that this injured hand of mine has stopped me achieving what I wanted to do this year.  In February and March even my running was affected but not so now.  I’m disappointed that I’ve not been able to train for some day-long rides (100+ miles) as I know this is otherwise very achievable.  Once again it is, for me, a matter of trust.  Though I don’t necessarily understand the reasoning for this set-back, I must believe it is for the right reason.  I still enjoy running and for slightly different reasons.  I also find myself looking at things more easily from a longer term perspective.  My hand WILL heal; 2011 is just one year.  I trust I will be blessed with many more years to come where I can enjoy cycling more in the future.

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Thorn Audax Mk3 – my first 1,000 miles

Posted on 4 June, 2011 by doug

Disclaimer
Please be mindful that I bought just the frameset from Thorn Cycles / SJS Cycles and had it built up at a Local Bike Shop (LBS).  The LBS used some components that may differ from the complete bikes supplied by Thorn but it is a long similar lines.

Before I go into all the details, I’d like to say that this is a really great bike and without doubt a good choice for me.  Secondly I’m really disappointed in myself for not being able to clock up more miles in the last 5 months.  If you’re a regular reader you’ll know how an injured hand caused me to stop riding for several weeks and it still prevents me from riding as much as I should.  That’s the challenge: it’s a fantastic bike that begs to be ridden and yet I know I have to allow my hand to heal properly.

I digress, back to the bike.  Here’s a review which I hope will be of use to anyone interested in this kind of bike.  It’s worth bearing in mind that there are a number of alternatives which I’m sure will have their merits; the light touring bike seems to be popular these days, though probably terms such as “sportive”, “audax” or “training bike” may have more street cred with some cyclists.

The frameset
The frameset, the heart of the bike, is where it all springs from and I reckon it’s worth spending an appropriate amount of money to get this right from the outset.  Please click here for Thorn Cycles for all the technical details.  It is supplied complete with a headset and a seat post which contribute to this being good value.  Before I rode the bike I looked over the frame.  It was flawless.

I like many of the thoughtful touches.  There are a number of braze-ons which are all very worthwhile:

  • Pump peg on the seat stay
  • Two sets of bottle cages
  • Four point fixing for a rear pannier rack
  • Low rider fixing points on the front forks
  • Slotted cable guides
  • Mudguard eyes

I was impressed to find the mudguard mounting is threaded; not just for the eyes for the stays but also on the bridging tubes on the seat and chain stay tubes – this is nice as well as functional in avoiding the use of those nasty mudguard clips.  Again, a lesser bike manufacturer could economise there and you’d never think to ask about this in the shop (well, I wouldn’t!).

I appreciated the small bottle of touch-up paint and I’ve already had to use this.  I have also found the gear cable casing rubs against the head tube (just because of the natural curve) and so I’ve used a little gaffer tape to stop any more paint wear.

It handles beautifully overall.  It has a nice lively sporty feel compared to my 1984 Dawes Galaxy.  Also it’s nice and stiff, useful when stomping down hard on the pedals.  And yet it’s not too sporty either; it’s stable on fast down hill swoops (I’ve hit 38mph a few times) and yet has that steel frame springiness to make long rides less jarring.

Transmission
I’m pretty sure this is the same as what is offered by Thorn as a complete bike.  Deore chainset with 48, 38 and 26T chainrings, combined with a 9 speed cluster of 12-26T.  The mechs are Shimano XT at the front and Deore at the rear.  The shifters are the bar end type, indexed for the rear only.  The chain is a 9 speed KMC with a quick link.

The performance is impressive.  It changes so fast and smoothly (compared to what I was used to) and remains the case.  It has retained perfect adjustment with only the need to tension the rear cable once.  The range of gears is lovely, though in practice I’ve not had much need to use the 26T chainring but it’s nice to know it’s there.  I’m sure there will come a time when I appreciate it being there.

The choice of shifters was something I dithered about.  I got put off STI shifters because of their complexity against the long term simplicity of the bar end alternative.  They work fine though it still does not seem a completely natural place for shifters to be.  The STI ones seemed really comfortable when I tried them.  Perhaps for this comfort reason, I might go for those if ever I need to replace the bike in the future.

Wheels
I have the same 32h Mavic Open Sport rims.  After the initial bedding in period they were trued and have remained perfectly true for hundreds of miles (including a few bumpy trails, fully loaded).  The Miche hubs are different and a suggested upgrade by my LBS.  These are fully sealed cartridge bearings, replaceable of course.  They’re light, ultra smooth and reckoned to be better than the Shimano equivalents.

The Panaracer Tourguard tyres are fine with nice handling and grip.  They’re not heavy and I’m confident they’re a good choice.  I have, however, had two punctures but looking at the offending glass and thorn I think they can be forgiven.

The tyres are perfect on the rims and at 28c they’re a sensible size for all round use.  I doubt if there’s much scope for wider tyres though,

As for wear, you can see just a little wear in the picture but that’s after 1000+ miles on the rear.  So therefore I guess there’s another 3000 miles.  You can get cheaper tyres but it’s just not worth it over that number of miles.

Contact points
The LBS used Cinelli bars and stem with the sizes based on those in the brochure, with the offer of changing them free of charge if the need arose.  No such need cropped up and they’re fine, though a little wider than what I was used to.  These though are, I’m sure, the correct width.

The pedals are the Shimano clip less, carried forward from my old bike.  They’re fine apart from being single sided.  Even though they cost, from memory, £35ish, and have done thousands of miles, they’re still smooth, in perfect adjustment and therefore good value.  I hate the Specialized shoes but that’s a subject for another time.

I went for a Brooks B17 saddle as I already had one on the old bike.  I just like it and appreciated being able to still get something like that.  The LBS doesn’t usually stock them, “no demand” they say.  Shame. If people think a cheap squishy plastic saddle is the route to comfort, I reckon that’s a mistake.  I also like taking care of the Brooks saddles with an occasional wipe of Proofhide – a kind of ritual.

Brakes
These are the standard issue Shimano ones and are fine but only adequate in terms of their stopping power.  Maybe better pads would help.  They have stayed in perfect adjustment.  One other observation is that the pads are at the bottom of the slot and only JUST sufficiently far down enough to miss the tyre.  Another 1 or 2mm wouldn’t go amiss.

Other bits
I had a Cateye Strada wireless computer for my birthday, a while after I got the bike.  It’s great, I love it!
The Nimrod rack is too flexible and will be replaced before too long. I do like having a proper fixing plate for the rear Cateye light, so that’s good.  Yep, I’m disappointed in this rack as it seems to be made with a one-size-fits-all approach which is undoubtedly useful on some bikes but not this.  It just sways from side to side too much.   The mudguards in the top photo got replaced as they were too wide for the forks and flapped around – I went for some narrower SKS mudguards with two sets of stays.  I think the original ones were Blumels Commuter type, grrrrrr. Nothing less will do and they’re not expensive.

Conclusion
This bike is great, no doubt.  I’d buy another if it got nicked, crushed or whatever but I’d ponder some of the details once again.

As for the elusive question of whether it has that certain “something” where I feel totally in tune with it, I’d have to say “no, not quite, not yet”.  That is partly due to my injured hand, naff shoes and whether STI levers would be more comfortable.  But they’re only details which can be dealt with as-and-when.  This bike holds great promise and I look forward to getting my money’s worth over the next 25 years.

Any comments, questions?
Just leave me a Comment below….

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DW Sports Fitness review

Posted on 31 May, 2011 by doug

A while back I gave notice to the gym that I was quitting and yesterday was the last visit, hence my review.  The reason for quitting is simply a result of my hand injury and I’ve hardly been in the last few months.  In previous years I have put my membership on hold for the summer months, which I could have done this time but decided I could save some money instead.

For the busy reader – my review is positive….
  • Would I re-join?  Maybe, probably.  Next time, I would check out their competition more thoroughly and maintain the balance right between cost and quality
  • Value for Money?  Yes providing you make the most of what’s on offer.
  • Is it any good?  Yes I reckon, definitely but I have no experience of other gyms
  • Any draw backs?  Yes but probably not too serious
The details…..
Positives
  • In the gym there is a really good selection of machines including muscle building, cardio etc. Also “Easy Line” equipment which I think is for less able people , or just starting out
  • The staff are trying hard to develop the business (most of them)
  • Equipment appears well maintained but not perfect
  • Normally fairly clean
  • They seek feedback and seem to act on it
  • Most staff are friendly
  • Climate level is about right
  • Steam room is a nice feature
  • First Aid response – once I witnessed the alarm going off as someone had had a mishap in the pool area.  There was an announcement over the tanoy system and all the staff responded at high speed.  Reassuring.
  • Good selection of classes (which I regret I haven’t tried)
  • Good opening times
  • Good fitness plan and reviews (changed since I joined)
  • Pool and especially the steam room
  • Some people find it a very sociable environment as friends go together and enjoy training together.  I don’t operate like that…. I go there, do my stuff and go.  I like being an anonymous face if I want to be like that
Negatives
  • Sometimes it gets really crowded (especially Monday & Tuesday evenings)
  • Public service discount not mentioned when I joined – I found out by chance later on.  Could have saved quite a lot of money
  • Bad behaviour of some customers, bad language, aggressive atmosphere in men’s changing room sometimes
  • Mobile phones still get used in changing room, despite the prohibiting notice
  • Loud music which is mostly the same dribble.  Sometimes it’s so loud, I have to turn my own ipod up so loud I fear ear drum damage
  • Trainer role is unclear having changed
  • Not always very clean in the showers and changing rooms towards the end of a day
  • The shower gel provided sometimes runs out
  • Signs of wear and tear not fixed quickly enough – blown light bulbs, broken locker keyrings, some gym machines

Other observations

In 2008 when I started at DW Sports I was over weight and stressed out, as you will have seen elsewhere in the blog.  There were lots of other people like me who were there already and so, although I may have felt a little self conscious there first of all, I must have blended in easily.
In the early days I met with one of the trainers who gave me a programmes to follow, it was personalised for me and I was shown how to use the various machines and the weights, times, number of reps etc were all suggested.  I think the trainer had me sized up well as I had to work really hard then to do the exercises.  I suppose it involved a little bit of everything – cardio, resistance and so on but using a limited selection of machines.  I remember being told some of the machines were in pairs to work sets of muscles, also to warm up properly and cool down for a very gentle 5 minutes on a cross trainer.  With her approval, I would ignore that if I cycled there as it served the same purpose.  I guess it was this initial session that might have been crucial in giving me an all-round programme together with starting to understand some of the basic principles of fitness which opened the door to finding out more in the future.  So a big “thank you” for that.  I hope this still happens with the more recent changes at DW Sports.
From my initial general fitness programme, I found that it was running I like best of all (the rest follows from that) and pounding literally hundreds of miles on treadmills was very helpful.  On one level it is incredibly boring but there are advantages which I’ll cover in another post sometime.  It also gave me a “people watching” opportunity where I would be mentally putting people into various groups – posers, would-be iron men, the flirters and so on.
The group that was the most fascinating were the newbies and I could see myself amongst them in the early days.  They’re in new sports clothing, fashionably modest.  Purposefully striding from one machine to another, while drinking from their sports water bottle.  Probably with a small towel and an MP3 strapped to their left arm.  The most obvious give away was them being in their 30s or 40s and over weight and moving awkwardly and with a real effort when it came to treadmill running.  They’d often do 10 minutes or so and then go onto something else, looking somewhat flushed and red faced.  I could see myself in them so easily!  And yet it must have been an encouragement for me – that was me a while ago and a chance to reflect on my progress.

Conclusion
  • DW Sports were very important in facilitating my progress but I only realise that now
  • You can only get something worthwhile out of a fitness club like DW Sports if you’re prepared to put the hours in.  For someone who has enough time, maybe 10-20 hours a week, I reckon you could make some serious progress in 6 months to shift that surplus weight and transform yourself.  Ignore any niggles there (better still, report them), rise above them and just concentrate on getting fit, burning away those calories and flab.  Don’t let any niggles be an excuse not to go and get fit!
  • I regret not making the most of the facilities – especially the classes which are free once membership is paid
  • I might re-join in the winter (instead of running and cycling on cold, dark, icy roads)
Website link

Disclaimer
These are just my views as an (ex) customer.  I’m not a qualified fitness instructor and it’s just based on my experience.  If you’re reading this and want to get fit, it is for you to decide how best to go about this but I recommend taking proper advice as I did.  For some, it might be wise to talk to your Doctor first.

Extra – 29th August 2011  I just wanted to add I have on a couple of occasions tried to get a response from DW Sports about this blog post – just to make sure it is factually correct and to help me avoid misleading anyone.  They have not responded which I think is a poor show and disappointing.

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Cycling in the Cotswolds

Posted on 27 May, 2011 by doug

Yesterday my friend Wallie and I had another great ride in the Cotswold Hills.  For us it’s a brilliant place to meet up (equidistant from our homes).

Any rumours about us being like a pair of grumpy old men is just not on, right?  We don’t need injunctions, super injunctions or anything like that because it’s just obvious – we’re not grumpy old men and not even middle aged grumpy men either.  Naturally we did a fair amount of “putting the world to right”.
Wallie on his 1980’s Claud Butler Dalesman
Anyway, here’s a few bits from the day……
Bikes.
Our bikes were perfect for the day and it was the first time Wallie had seen the much-talked-about Thorn Audax Mk3.  Naturally I’m very proud of it.  It’s uncanny how similar our bikes are despite the age gap of 30 odd years between them and just goes to show how timeless and useful a traditional touring bike is.  Makes me wonder why people go and buy Mountain Bikes, especially those flat pack heaps of junk sold in supermarkets.  They’re useless and cheap for a reason and I’ll have another rant about those some other time, we don’t want to spoil a nice Cotswold ride, do we?
The weather.
The month of May is always a fantastic month in my book, the nicest month in the whole year.  May is characterised by lengthening daylight, nice warm weather and beautiful clouds.  It also strongly hints at the coming promise of summer.  For us, we managed to pick the wettest day of the week for our ride!  It was almost like a dose of April showers with squally gusts of wind, horizontal rain, all mixed with sunny intervals and a rise in air temperature.  Consequently we were wrapped up all day in our waterproofs and I’m having mixed feelings nowadays about my Altura jacket – I feel a bit of a ‘Kit review’ coming on but some other time.  Back to the weather which links neatly to the wonderful clouds…
The Clouds
These were fantastic to watch through our ride.  Fast moving, sometimes threatening, or dramatic and brooding.  
Becky our eldest daughter is, I’m pleased to say, genetically programmed to be a day dreamer and we think it’s a very good thing to do; it can be a means of sorting out all kinds of problems.  One regret I do have is not knowing all of the different names of the clouds we enjoy.  Perhaps another reason to check out the Cloud Appreciation Society one of these days.  
The landscape
We always did like the Cotswold Hills and they’re brilliant for cycling – nice gently rolling hills, a few sharper ones, beautiful colours and picturesque villages.  The different seasons all have their own treats and reasons to make each visit so memorable.  Wallie was the first to spot these colourful thistles:
The ride was gentle and at an easy pace, so we could talk easily.  We covered all our usual topics including what old friends are up to and I enjoyed telling Wallie all about my friend Dee (Hello Dee) who’d been in touch from California after break which has been too long.

We also started to talk over what our next ride could be like, having both enjoyed an all night ride last year.  We could once again do a tour of the Cotswolds but I was wondering if we could do some kind of A to B ride (we’d need to sort out the practicalities of maybe planting a car in the right place) and I’d appreciate there being a nice Cafe at the destination.  So we’ll have to mull that one over.  I’m tempted with the Black Mountains and being up high (Hay Bluff?) for sunrise – that would be fantastic but tricky to organise especially if we’re working in our respective jobs during the day.  Watch this space.

At Eastleach, where we stopped for our packed lunch.  No, I didn’t fall in.

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Quote of the Day

Posted on 21 May, 2011 by doug
“Does hot chocolate count towards my 5 a day?”

Hannah, aged 11
Hannah could never be described as a lover of fruit and vegetables, not uncommon with other kids.  Besides, I think she’s following in my own footsteps as I have memories from childhood where I’d have a game of wits with my parents about how much cabbage I’d get by with for Sunday lunch.  Of course I’d always loose.
Nowadays I have a different taste and really do enjoy a wide variety, especially fruit.  Sometimes I eat 10 portions a day quite easily; I have to to keep my digestion moving.  Often for breakfast, I’ll have a large Innocent Smoothie (counts as two portions) and then other fruit with my cereal – normally two from the fruit basket.  You might like to click here to see a Cyclist’s breakfast).  It’s really nice having a wide variety and I do enjoy shopping for these and also of course are the clear health benefits.
The contents vary but typically include:
Melon (Gala, Water Melon or Cantilupe)
Pear
Banana
Kiwi
Orange
Plums
Nectarines
Peaches
Blueberries
Etc.
The goodness in these is extraordinary: all those vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals – all wonderful health giving properties and helpful in strengthening our immune system to guard against cancers and other diseases.  For my working lunch, often it needs to be suitable for eating on-the-go as eating in between meetings is the only option, so one-handed car-friendly packed lunches are the order of the day.  I always pack a small plastic box with a couple of prunes, figs and a handful of nuts.  These could be Brazil, Almond, Walnut etc.  As I said, just a small handful to go along with maybe an apple or banana.
I’ll blog again soon about WHY these foods are so important for me in trying to stay in good shape.  In the meantime, I think we’ll have to work on our lovely Hannah in coaxing her to enjoy some of these wonderful foods!
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Some cyclists are nice

Posted on 20 May, 2011 by doug

This proves some cyclists are nice.  You might remember I blogged a couple of times in April about the friendliness of other cyclists and runners, or to put it another way, the indifference that some show to their fellow cyclists.  It’s sometimes like you’re invisible.  Again I had my faith restored today by another cyclist while riding home from work.

Jason was a real Road man – a really fast decent bike and he had the appearance to match.  He caught me up (which wasn’t difficult today) and we rode alongside each other for a few miles.  We talked about the usual things; the weather, why we liked cycling and so on.  I mentioned my disappointment with some other cyclists who appear a bit snooty or aloof and wondered whether it was because my appearance doesn’t quite fit the scene.  I should mention that today I was wearing my baggy cycle shorts and a stripy Landsend polo shirt.
Jason knew exactly what I meant and said he and his clubmates know them as New Age Cyclists.  These are generally reckoned to be middle aged blokes who have seen a bit of the Tour de France on TV and fancy some of the action themselves.  It then often follows they’ll blow some of their city bonus on a classy bike with all the gear and think they’re “it”.  This all made sense and I was reassured I’m not the only one to get the cold shoulder.  Jason reckoned it’s nothing to do with your appearance or what kind of bike you have, it’s just old fashioned snobbery I guess.
I was having to work hard in keeping level with Jason, especially as I had a pannier bag with my papers for Monday inside.  After a few miles our routes diverged and we wished each other well.  So there you go.  This encounter was another significant step in restoring my faith in other cyclists, cheers Jason.

Today has been fine for me at work.  A pleasant meeting this morning – I’m leading on the Environmental Strategy and we have a local Action Group comprising of some great colleagues working alongside me.  Also I’ve been working on another piece of work which finally came together which was promptly emailed to HQ.  Felt like a burden was lifted off.  Felt good, especially at the end of a mixed week.  Looking forward to a great weekend and I’m really looking forward to my next blog post already.
So, Jason: many thanks!  You’re a brilliant cyclist – your accomplished riding style, the club run etiquette and for the reflections on those New Age Cyclists.  Really sorry if I held you back!

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Today’s ride

Posted on 15 May, 2011 by doug

Not the best photograph I’ve ever taken, nor the most flattering but it’s about as good as it comes today I’m afraid.  Have you ever tried to photograph yourself while riding along?  Not easy, is it?

Anyway, this afternoon’s ride was pretty good.

I did 52 miles over a reasonably flat terrain today as I wanted to clock up some miles.  Having treated myself to a new Ordnance Survey map I’ve been exploring some new areas.  All frightfully English and this was helped today by seeing quite a few vintage cars (don’t ask what kinds as I don’t know but I’d guess and say 1960s or earlier) having an outing, perhaps there was some kind of a rally on.  Picture postcard villages, cricket on the green, village ponds and “gated communities” all provided the backdrop.

There were a few other cyclists around and again I made it my business to greet them in some way (nod, smile, “hi there” etc).  Pretty much everyone responded in a positive way and one or two beat me by greeting me sooner.  This is amazing, especially after the rant I had (click here) and it got me wondering what has changed.  Perhaps the weather improving helps?  Perhaps I’m not quite as scruffy nowadays?  Maybe it’s the sight of my kness?!?!?  Which ever it is, I appreciate it.

The kind of anti social cyclist which remains indifferent are those Lycra clad fellows, wearing dark wraparound shades and who do their best to ignore me.  They’re normally riding in the opposite direction, on decent looking road bikes

I have been plotting a ride of about 125 miles in my mind.  How will I get on?  Can I make that distance right now?  Extra training?  I was thinking about doing it in a few weeks time; maybe I’m biting off more than I could do?

Just a quick word about the bike, my Thorn Audax Mk3.  I still really like it, handles nicely.  The honeymoon period has now concluded and I’m up to 870 miles (I got the Cateye on a couple of weeks after I had it).  I’ll do a proper review when I get to 1000 miles and there’s a couple of things which could be improved on.  The LBS who built it for me used a cheap nasty rack and mudguards.  The latter of which got replaced and the ack isn’t looking that good either.

I have faired reasonably well, legs a little tired and I’ll sleep extra soundly tonight.  Just the thing for setting me up for the week ahead, which tomorrow includes attending some of the SMT awayday.  Might be scary but I’m determined to make the most of it.

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