Be careful if your bars are old

Snapped handlebar
Originally uploaded by cyclingbob

These bars were probably 25 years old and I guess that the tiny grooves in the bar where it was rotated into the stem acted as stress risers. Needless to say the consequences were sudden and painful. Can't remember much about it but at least it happened at about 15mph and not 45 mph. No cycling for me during the rest of bike week :-( I'll be nursing my injuries for a little while yet.

Do I look cool in this?

Do I look cool in this?
Originally uploaded by cyclingbob

Went for a pootle along the Chesterfield Canal to escape the hassles of work and enjoy a bit of warm sunshine. Lots of canal boats out traversing the numerous locks between Shireoaks and Turnerwood and it made me consider some of the rules of canal boating:

1. Never leave a windlass on the paddle gear spindle of a lock when it is being used.
2. Keep right when passing other boats.
3. All dogs MUST wear neckerchiefs!

Ouch

IMAG0003
Originally uploaded by cyclingbob

Just part of the aftermath of coming off yesterday. This is starting to scab over now and looks horrible. I also have marvellous grazes on my arm and hip and, for some reason, a painful heel that I can't put weight on.

Bike isn't too bad - ravaged bar tape, knackered brake lever, few scratches and the like. My cycling jacket is ruined though.

No cycling for me for a few days.

Misty morning on the Chesterfield Canal

Misty morning on the Chesterfield Canal
Originally uploaded by rob.appleyard

Taken very early on Saturday morning on my way to Sheffield. Between Worksop and Shireoaks.

Creative hedging

Seen recently on a ride out east. Can't recall where exactly but I think it was somewhere near East Markham. There were a number of others too, including a rabbit and an owl.

Windy Winnats

Cycling up Winnats Pass is hard at the best of times but going up recently in to the teeth of a stupidly strong headwind made me question my sanity. It probably would have been almost as quick to get off and walk but Look pedals and cleats meant that wasn't really an option. Grinding, gurning and gritting of teeth were all required.

Muchos credit to my mate Pete who made it up (without stopping) with his arse on this:


And whilst I was 'honking' on the pedals, he was 'honking' on this :-)

C-C-C-C-C-Cold

Well below freezing on the commute in this morning. The combination of clear blue sky and fields covered in white made for a beautiful ride but by golly it was cold. Fingers and toes numb for a while afterwards, and as for the skin on my cheeks ... The cold does encourage you to ride faster though.

Forecast is for it to be about -3 on my way back to Worksop later this evening and about -8 tonight. Nice.

Bl**dy farmers

I knew I shouldn't have replied to Ian's email about his spate of punctures! I'm actually no believer in fate but its usually better to keep your counsel when talking about stuff like that. The sunny weather in the early part of this week didn't just bring out more cyclists. It also brought out the local farmers with their flail hedge cutters. Now if anyone else decides to chuck vegetation all over the road then I'm pretty sure that, at best, you'd be yelled at and, at worst, be fined (heavily) for littering. So WHY do farmers think it is perfectly OK to leave decimated hawthorn hedge in their wake and not clear it up. It was so bad near Kiveton that it was impossible to pick a way through it all. The only small silver lining was that by leaving all the thorns in the tyres I could get back and fix the punctures at home. GITS.

2008 cycling goals

OK, I'm going to commit this to virtual paper. This year I plan to:

• Ride an average of 600 miles per month
• Ride at least four 200k audaxes (plus whatever BP's I can fit in)
• Go touring for a week somewhere in the UK (camping and on the cheap)
• Do the Esteli ride in July
• Do the Phil and Friends ride in August
• Join a club, do a 10 mile TT and then do another one trying to beat my time
• Do a night ride

First ride of 2008

Back at work tomorrow and the nasty cold I've suffered with for a week had just about gone so off we jolly well go. Decided on a circular route of sleepy Nottinghamshire villages and lanes that would keep me occupied for about 4 hours or so. Route here if you are interested. 56 miles in total.

It felt really cold and the wind on some of the more exposed sections was fairly stiff. My midriff was bright red when I got back despite wearing a fleece and my 'boil in the bag' cycling jacket. The watery sun did put in an appearance of sorts in the latter part of the ride though. Keeping moving was the key. No cafe/pub stops today although I did sit in a bus shelter in Bothamsall to eat some sandwiches. Blimey I felt cold and stiff when I decided to get going again.

Most of the route was lovely; largely quiet, narrow lanes lined with hedges and woodland to keep the worst of the wind away. Only the busy drag between Retford and Worksop on the last leg sapped at my high spirits.

An enjoyable ride but it felt tougher than it should have done and my knees were a bit stiff and sore afterwards. Suppose I could blame the nasty cold I've just got rid of but in reality I'm just unfit having been off the bike since a week before Xmas. I aim to put that right though.

Damn wind

Nothing like as bad as yesterday but still very blustery this morning and I was pretty knackered after a 20 mile commute into the teeth of it. Came down Gleadless Road this morning and it was actually quite tricky staying upright and in a straight line going down the steep 1 in 6 bit. Scary. Also realised that my front brake blocks had somehow loosened a bit and had turned through about 30 degrees. Basically braking against the tyre sidewall!!! Lucky it didn't cause a blow out. All sorted now and looking forward to being blown home this evening.

Pannier racks with disc brakes

I've been under the misapprehension that fitting a rear rack to a bike with disc brakes is virtually impossible. I came across this adaptation on a bike locked up outside my work. Looks quite ingenious although I'd worry about it being a bit unstable with 2 well loaded panniers.

Seen near Waitrose

I recently saw this lad grinding along on his bike; grinding being the operative word here as it was making a horrible noise as he struggled along. He stopped and chained it up near Waitrose supermarket and walked off. Me being me, my curiosity got the better of me and so I wandered over to have a looksie.

Oh dear! Maybe I should have left a note.

Becoming a 'happier' cyclist.

Sometimes its easy to forget about enjoying cycling for cycling's sake. I do that too often so have come up with a (far from exhaustive) list of tips/stuff to do that might lead to happier cycling. I think we should all try to do at least some of these once in a while.

1. Don't attach a cycle computer to your bike.


2. Just pootle. What's wrong with doing a 15 mile ride that takes 3 hours because you've stopped at a cafe and a pub? Nothing.


3. Say 'hello' to people as you pass them/they pass you.


4. Ignore the temptation to chase down the cyclist 200 yards in front of you. Just chill.


5. Similarly, if you notice someone behind you who is trying to catch you, don't try and speed up.


6. Fit some cheap platform pedals to your bike and go for a ride in an ordinary pair of shoes.


7. Go for a ride on a good bike in 'non-cycling' gear.


8. Don't think that spending £200 on a particular component will make you go significantly faster (or even faster at all).


9. Stop and take photos regularly.


10. Go for a ride in a the pouring rain.


11. Own a bike that you don't mind riding in a downpour.


12. Learn how to build a wheel (it really isn't difficult).


13. Always take a pump, spare inner tube and repair kit on a ride.


14. Feel comfortable about mixing and matching stuff on your bike(s).


15. Always stop and ask if another cyclist is OK if they are stopped at the side of the road.


16. Do a time-trial on a touring bike with panniers attached :-) At least you'll beat your time next time out.


17. Vary your commuting route often.


18. Just GO for a ride one morning and don't come back til dusk. No planning. No maps. No GPS. Just follow your nose.


19. Go for a night ride.


20. Go cycle camping for a night.


21. Make sure you spend (much) more time riding your bike than cleaning/fettling it.


22. Never sneer at another person's bike.


23. Ride down a big hill with your feet off the pedals, shouting 'wheeeeeeee'.


24. Buy stuff in your local bike shop(s) rather than from t'interweb.


25. Resist the temptation to become obsessive and a 'cycle-bore'.

Love your backside

What makes a cycling tour comfortable?
Originally uploaded by rob.appleyard

Saddles are definitely personal but for me the Brooks B17 is the only thing I'm happy sticking my arse on. I can cope with other saddles up to about 50-60 miles but I can ride on one of these all day with NO problems whatsoever.

I'm lucky in that I find them comfortable straight away - even before they have moulded themselves properly to my backside. OK, they aren't light, they need a modicum of TLC and I HATE it when I get them wet but look after them and they last years. Why sit on anything else?