How to murder a Brooks saddle

I've always loved my leather Brooks saddle. Until I got my latest carbon bike I always rode with it. It's done several Ironman triathlons long rides, commutes, trips to the coast, Alpe d'Huez, vatternrundan. More recently it has lain alone in the shed. The carbon has a nice white saddle that was Cyclefitted to me, the old blue Pearson is ridden by son No 2 who hates the Brooks and the fixed has a cheapo saddle as the Brooks is too bouncy. So ( see last post) when the fixed's cheapo sadddle broke its was time for a new lease of life for the Brooks. It looks great but straight away it was clear the leather was stretched and there was no space left on the end of the tension bold. So should I: A: retire it gently B: beat it with a bseball bat, run it over in the car and then set fire to it? In the event I did something much worse, I Googled what to do. Part II to follow.........

I got those Father's Day, bicycle maintenance blues

With the return of the summer I have been back on the fixed wheel bike for the daily commute. This has been fortunate as I haven't really been out for longer rides at the weekend and commuting is a great way of clocking up those miles in readiness for the big event. Alongside all of the decorating, ferrying kids around and gardening I haven't really had much time for training rides but Father's Day opened up an oasis of me-time in this desert of chores. A little sad I know but I decided to tinker with my bike as a treat. Needless to say I wish I hadn't. I found out that the brake blocks were worn out, My saddle was split so I replaced it with my old Brooks which has reached to end of its life too. I also noticed that I can't see the wear line on the front wheel any more. I think I should have just held out for a new bike!

Stormy weather

Having ridden the North Downs in blazing sunshine and spent the next week clocking up even more miles in the heat the Jubilee weekend brought a big change in the weather. Last Tuesday Bank Holiday morning I managed a small ride out with son number 2 around the newly-smoothed surface of Box Hill. I'm still in full decorating mode so I kept it short thinking I'd been on the bike again later in the week and back to work. Think again. The weather has been shocking. Despite being prepared to suffer a soaking there just hasn't been a day when I felt it was worth it or safe. I softened the blow with a little retail therapy, purchasing some nice new road shoes. Perhaps I'll get chance to use them sometime.

After last Sunday's King of the North Downs ( see previous post) I thought I would need a rest but this week has turned out to be anything but.

Workwise the four day Jubilee weekend has ment getting out an entire issue in three days. The rain has meant lots to do in on the allotment ( I strimmed for 2 hours on Monday evening) and on the house there is still more decorating to do........arrggghh. As far as the bike goes the KOTD was about 115 miles, though the hills made it seem a lot more. I left the bike at home on Monday but have ridden each day since. That's another 100 miles. I'm rather pleased ( OK smug) 220 miles, all hills in five days is not bad. The legs are tired and the undercarriage a bit sore but otherwise good conditioning. Possibly good enough for 24 hrs in the saddle???