Hail and hurty

With little prospect of the weather settling down and lots happening at work I am finding myself  bike commuting on days I might otherwise have decided against. This means I have also had to become resigned to the fact that I will be getting a soaking now and again. That's not really a problem as its good practice for a rainy race day. However....

This Monday tested me a little more than expected. I didn't mind getting wet but then the rain turned to hail, quite big hail. It was being lashed around by the wind and ( not wishing to sound like a whimp) it was beginning to hurt a bit. I was cycling into a headwind so I suppose that increased the impact speed a bit too. In the end I had to admit defeat and shelter under a tree while the worst of it passed through.

When it cleared there was a fantastic rainbow, which all goes to prove cycling is always worth it in the end.

Blood, sweat and gears

It's official I'm scared.

After seeing Paul Maxwell's lean physique and rippling muscles at the Optician Awards I decided my bike needed a few more gears.
I had a week at home last week (chores mainly, great weather) but I squeezed in some time to give the bike a good tinkering with. First on was a ludicrous 12-32T rear cassette. Despite frantic fettling with the B screw on the rear changer it just wouldn't get onto the big cog so I had to invest in a longer cage derailleur.

Once arrived and fitted I took the bike out into the hills. It changes like a dream and the range is incredible. But is it enough to keep pace with the Cheltenham Flyer?  We'll find out on June 2.

Pictures and Garmin print out to follow.........

Isn't she lovely...

Although we haven't made it to the track just yet I thought it was about time the fixed had a bit of a mid-life update. It all went pretty well apart from removing the bottom bracket which took a Black and Decker Workmate and a socket set to shift.

After such a successful bit of fettling on the fixed I then subjected the blue Pearson to the indignity of chunky tyres and mudguards. What a thing to do to a bike that has many triathlons (includng an Ironman) the Alpe d'Huez and the vatternrundan under its belt (saddle?)

Saggy Brooks

I'm getting slightly concerned about my Brooks Swallow saddle

Old gits on bikes

It's autumn and I'm not as young as I used to be. Getting a soaking has never really bothered me that much but this year I thought enough is enough. As I sat in my fairisle sleeveless pullover, brown leather brogues, moleskin trousers and Harris tweed feeling rather comfortable I realised it was time to bring some of that comfort to my commute. The mudguards that came off of the blue Pearson when I first started my dalliance with the whole Ironman thing back in 2007 went back on.

 The Brooks saddle that was on the Carbon bike for the Le Mans 24 hrs  then took a trip onto the fixed wheel bike and is now on the blue Pearson too. The handlebars have been double wrapped with bar tape to cushion my old hands and there are more lights on the thing than there will be on Heathrow's runway three (when it's built).

The bike is looking as it was intended to be used. A old man's bike suitable for touring amd leisurely commutes. The next thing we know the rack will be going on --NEVER!!!!!

When the mid-life crisis get too much for me I just reach for the fixed wheel bike and burn some rubber.

Transitions SBR shirt makes it into the Tour of Britain

Spot the Transitions jersey on ITV4's coverage of the Tour of Britain? With the summer of cycling almost over (the world championships start later this week)and with yet another major cycling event on my doorstep I made one last trip out into the Surrey countryside to cheer on Cav Wiggo (well perhaps not) and the new boy Jonathan Tiernan-Locke. I chose the short, but steep, Crocknorth Road which had the peloton almost stopped in its tracks. In the end both Cav and JTL did the business. I think my shouts to JTL of 'come on Jon do it for Devon' clinched it. If anyone would like to recreate the climb with the SBR team before the winter sets in just let me know.

Match the backside to the bike ride