SPDs for everything here, including last weekend’s uplift day at the Forest of Dean

And I kept the saddle at normal pedalling height throughout.

SPDs for everything here, including last weekend’s uplift day at the Forest of Dean. I’ve been riding SPDs for so long I just don’t feel safe on flats. On the very rare occasion I ride a short distance using the flat side of the touring pedals on my commuter I feel very vulnerable.

I’m rather liking having the ability to explore off road and get to and from the start and finish with all the speed and efficiency of a road bike on my CX/Gravel-Racer, whatever-you-want-to-call-it.

Forest of Dean uplift with friends. The uplift and cycle centre have both expanded in the two years since I was last there, which is good to see.

If you think your cx tyres are bad off road consider how bad your road tyres would be there.
If you think your cx tyres are bad on the road consider how bad your MTB tyres would be there.

If you’re going to use the same bike for on and off road you’ve got to compromise somewhere. Personally I’m loving my Halo Twinrails as a light road and hardpack biased tyre, but I wouldn’t push them as hard either on or off road as a single purpose tyre.

Sorry, no pictures but back in the late eighties when I didn’t have a car I towed my road bike from Winchester to Swanage for the triathlon behind my Honda CB250RS. Front wheel bungeed to the side of the bike and handlebars strapped tightly to the rack on the back of the motorbike. By rights I probably should have had a number board and lights but the copper I passed didn’t pull me.

I always look at it in hope…………..

But I can’t remember the last time there was anything there I got excited about.

50 this year and don’t appear to have slowed down significantly although my knees and hips have been dropping occasional hints that perhaps I should singlespeed a little less.

I like the idea of Audax but spending that amount of time away from the family would be unfair so for now I’ll stick with two hour ‘rip my legs off’ rides.

CX for me too. It’s been the most ridden of my bikes so far this year.

EDIT: But having only one bike is never going to happen.

Shimano disco slippers and winter boots here. Both pairs have at least 10000 miles behind them and are a bit scuffed but perfectly functional.

One way ticket to Parkhurst for some VERY naughty people?

We’ve had problems with them in the sandy soil round here. They seem to work better in some types of mud than others, a bit like Hope Hubs. They need stripping a couple of times every winter when used locally.

From what I see the safe money for LBS is in selling and fixing commuter bikes, and generally catering for those who don’t want to to know how to fix their own.

The above works for me. It’s not the glamourous end of biking but it pays the bills. It’s sometimes frustrating not to have nice stuff to show to more enthusiastic customers but I’ve long since learned that round here anything pimpy is more likely to be a liability than an investment.

I cycled 400 miles in Japan in a week in 1998. Would love to go back for more.

There are soft bike bags about. I used to sell one that packed up to the size of a shoe box and could be easily carried with you. If you use one of these make sure all delicate parts of your bike are protected inside the bag.

+2

Even if we all said ‘no’, I’m sure he’s post pics of it anyway.

Rigid or short-travel hardtails are also easier to jump and hop but I’m not sure that has much relevance to trail riding

It’s plenty relevant down here with all the fallen trees.

bigger wheels were better for folk who liked to roll over stuff and smaller wheels were better for those who preferred to jump over stuff.

Just for once a big manufacturer says something sensible.
And on that bombshell……………………..

Age 49 and I may have already bought my last bike, a CX last autumn.
I’ve now got 7 bikes to choose from and can’t see any likely riding requirement I haven’t already covered. The more personal history they acquire the less inclined I would be to ditch any of them and I’m not bothered by new technology so for the forseeable future they’ll all get ridden and maintained.

CB500s are like VW Vans in that they all seem to command far higher prices than similar vehicles with a different badge.

£500 really isn’t very much when it comes to buying a motorbike. I recently sold a 25 year old grey import VTZ250 with new MoT for £625 and I think I may have been a bit hasty in accepting the first offer. If you can increase the budget to £800 to £1000 you’ll have much more choice.

Mine.
The spec is a bit individual but I’d thoroughly recommend the Kinesis 5T frame and fork.

😀

So good that a couple of years ago me and Wifey both bought it as a Christmas present for each other.

A few years ago I regularly escorted my son to school along a local cycle path. One morning we passed a pair of mums with small daughters on bikes going the other way as usual, only that morning the youngest was lagging behind having fun weaving side to side across the path not looking where she was going. I stopped and called out to her, just one word “HEY” as she was heading straight for me. She looked at the last second, just missed my wheel and rode into my leg. Mum looks round at last and mumbles an apology. No harm done though and we’re all on our ways.

Later that day, on the way back from school with my son the mum from the morning stops me and very publicly accuses me of shouting abuse at and kicking her 5 year old daughter.

In the last 5 years my stems have got shorter and my bars wider. Apart from that not a lot has changed. I’m still riding the same trails and getting the same results in the handful of events I enter each year.

Go to several bike shops and try every low-mid range model you can to see what sizes fit you. All roadie sizing varies.

Then sit on eBay searching for “x” model in size “y”.

One reason I don’t bother stocking road bikes in my shop any more.

I’d like to say ‘my Chris King singlespeed hub’ but that would be a bit of a lie.

Club Roost front hub — still on the original bearings after 8 years.
Salsa Delgado rim — it’s survived some very sideways landings.

Start work early, finish early

One of the few things I miss about conventional employment.

I spent a few years importing used motorbikes from Japan. The error rate on the V5s when I registered them was apalling, close to 50%. Errors ranged from simple typos to wrong colours, wrong chassis numbers. One even came back registered as a Toyota Starlet but with everything else correct for the bike.

I spoke to Tom yesterday about an unrelated matter and he apologised for having a year long waiting list. I can see why.
Black cranks? I hope you’re not a heel scuffer. I am so I have silver on all my bikes.
So what is it? Rigid singlespeed 29er?

Another vote for Vapours here. Plus, they’re available in red or blue if that’s your thing. I got red.

The Stranglers are currently on their 40th anniversary tour with three out of the original four still producing studio work and two of the originals on stage. Jet Black’s health isn’t up to touring now.

Thanks Nick for the info.

Triathlon tried smaller front wheels in the eighties for a more aero tuck but they’re not about now and getting parts for any survivors is difficult. Personally I don’t think there are any more quantum leaps to be made in cycling.

Inbetweeny wheel sizes, multiple bottom bracket and headset standards and mainstream manufacturers diving into niche markets (fatbikes) are all evidence that bikes really are about as good as they can be and manufacturers are struggling to come up with anything genuinely new or better.

“Look at the height of the parents! The wee laddie isn’t going to be the jolly green giant is he!”

I’m 5’9″ and Wifey’s 5’8″. Our 12 year old son is now 5’11 with size 12 feet. Brain of a Spaniel, body of a Great Dane.

That my commute’s only a mile and any attempt to vary it necessitates going against the flow into at least one of four local schools at dropping off time.

A genuine Option 3 has arisen.

Not long after we booked the holiday for my son and I, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. She was adamant at the time that her misfortune shouldn’t interfere with the rest of our plans. Earlier this month she was given her first chemotherapy appointment for the Thursday we were due to be away but once again refused to consider me cancelling the holiday, saying that she has plenty of mates who will help out if needed. She’s now suggested that the chemo would be a valid reason to claim on the travel insurance and that we look for a deal in a couple of weeks once she’s over it. The insurance company have said that we have a valid claim so that’s now the plan.
Oh what a lovely wife.

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll be following those links tonight.

Started at Romsey. There are a couple of BIG trees across the path just south of Belbins.

EDIT: Just checked the map. The bit from Romsey isn’t the Test Way. I picked it up at the Bear And Ragged Staff.