New bike alert....

So no.1 bike is on the road and for all sense and purpose it is a budget build. A great example of how to build up a top-line frame with standard parts in relation to overall price. As ever, the S-Works Tarmac is simply stunning to ride on all terrain. Fast on the flat, punchy on the short stuff, rhythmic on the long stuff and a monster descender. The wheels perform admirably for a £400 set of factory wheels. Shod with 24mm turbos these new race tyres from Specialized are fast and supple with excellent grip based on the gripton tech found on the small tread pattern not too dissimilar to Mavic's in-house tyres. The Ultegra group-set is both fast and quiet and personally, I cannot determine a difference between this and 7900 though the weight of the bke overall determines that it is likely a smidge heavier.  Mileage wise I am getting some good stuff in. As before, the late summer attack/purchase on the pedals is there already and I am attaining solo rides at 19.5 mph now. I need to push on and get some longer miles in as I had a strange thought on the bike the other day when I realised we are in the 5th month of the year already and Le Sportif and Bristol > London will soon be upon us. Mileage wise, the barometer to which I measure each year is doing well. I was 130 miles up on last April with 400 miles banked which equates to 25.5 hours in the saddle with huge winds being prevalent this past month. A lot of bike riders ignore mileage and equally ignore or use 'time' but for me it is a simple measurement via Garmin Connect for self reference. I think that is good going what with work rest and play all being factored into modern life. I  also spent an hour in the dentists chair having my face pushed and pulled with a tooth being salvaged by the Spanish lady dentist. Sadly she cannot hook me up with EPO unlike every other Spaniard out there.

Finally I have just got some Mavic Zxellium race shoes with the huge carbon sole. Finished in banana yellow these things are going to be a joy to behold in the summer sun with circles turning circles.

So that is the latest. I remain as ever an average bike rider but at the moment, I am enjoying being out on my machine. Long may that continue.  Love to all X

Another year older....

Another brief summary on whats been happening on the bike. I have for the most part completed 120 miles a week since March which is giving me a really nice base mileage bank account. As before, this is a real turnaround on the slow and ploddy riding of previous years as I have by choice been riding steady Eddie in to awaken the legs and then hammering it home. I am attaining average speeds of 18 mph for 15 miles going home which I am pleased with considering my modus-operandi is still the single speed with a decent gearing ratio of 48/16. Spinning out on that on the flat too and last week we had terrible winds which actually gave me a tailwind speed on 25 miles an hour without pedaling which was nice. As before, I have found my verve and attack is there already, just need to push out the distance now - still waiting on my no.1 bike, but should be here soon enough. I have had the odd jaunt onto the Mendips on the old Langster which can also be a lot of fun.

Picture wise, I love Instragram. Others it seems do not, but thats life. The quick processing is a blast though when you look at the image up close, due to the fact they were taken through a milk bottle lens camera phone they lack detail and bite, but still nice to record memories as after all, that is all we have. I think my nutrition is also better by a country mile thanks to the input of my awesome girlfriend. Still get sore legs, but that is the nature of the sport. Hot baths, protein and recovery are a god-send.

Quick, quick, slow.

So another month passes by and finally actually getting some good daily repeat miles aboard the single speed bike which continues to excel and excite me. The weather has bitten hard again. Cold fresh and wet, but running a bike sans gears is great. Low maintenance, efficient and fun to ride. I have actually been rapidly getting fitter on the said single speed with times coming along nicely. I find this year to be a complete reversal of both fortune and form on the bike. Last winter I over trained, ended up with shingles quite badly in the last week of March and that had a knock on effect to the point that I feel I only really recovered by August as I can recall rides last summer where I was simply devoid of legs on the bike. I am an average bike rider at best, lets not forget that, but one knows oneself and there were days when I felt like I was pedalling squares with diving shoes on.

The difference this year is my cadence is up. I am riding more, but less in so much that my daily commute if ridden is 30 miles where as before I was riding 1 x 30 and 1 x50/60 miler a week. So attaing something like 100-130 commute miles. Much the same, but a different way of getting the miles in, with lesser gap between turning the pedals. I have to say that there is nothing like riding a bike to get you better at riding a bike. Customers often ask us about the hidden secrets of riding and the stock answer is ride more. So, presently hitting speeds of 17 mph on the single speed with gearing at 48/18. I am spinning out on the flat now and could eek more speed with a 17 or 16 on the back. It is something I am mulling over.

In conclusion I have had a good few weeks on the bike. My 'best' bike is yet to be built and I await that with baited breath. I am still enjoying taking pictures on the bike, doing so with my camera phone and instagram. A potent combo.

I hit 41 this week. I have two bottle cages, two tyres and a mini pump coming. Happy days.

In the meantime. Love to all x

The long and the short of it....

Winter 2012/13 is nearing an end. It has been a long time coming but I think us bike riders say that every year. This year has seemed longer, colder and tougher than ever with some very fresh weather biting hard. Just today the BBC confirmed both facts that the winter was unusually cold and today could mark the last day of winter.

However, the biggest paradox of this winter for me is that I feel stronger, fitter and fresher on the bike than at other points on which Spring has sprung in the past. Several reason I feel. Rest, nutrtion and repeat base miles approaching something like 60-100 miles a week commuting, based on feeling and how the legs are doing. Case in point this week. I have had one day off work in ten days so this week I rode Monday and Tuesday but opted to furnish the train ticket machine with some cash yesterday and today. I now have four days away from work so might sneak a little ride in, but again let the legs recover.

Bike wise I have been through my usual compendium of choices, non starters, dream bikes and silly ideas. In the end I narrowed the choices down to three bikes. A Cannondale Supersix EVO, Specialized SL4 Tarmac and a Specialized Venge. After sitting on a Cannondale and taking one out, as nice and light and as fast as it was, I felt the bike looked a little thin for me. I like new world order on my bikes. Massive head tubes, oversized bottom brackets with nude carbon shimmering in the light. The EVO was akin to 1990's geometry; tall, thin and very traditional. I could have ridden one all day long, but I was neither fish nor foul on both a 54cm or a 56cm. Again, the foibles of bike fit reared its ugly head and whilst both bikes 'fitted', neither were cock on. So what with working for and with the big S I felt it only right to represent and again after demoing another Venge I concluded that the SL4 Tarmac is indeed the best bike I have ridden. The Venge was flat out fast. The perception of speed was monstrous and it rode well but to me the bike just lacked something at the 14-18mph juncture. Once north of 18 it goes like shit off a shovel but we live in Bristol and our roads roll at best. The thing I love about the Tarmac is it dances on the short stuff. It rides like the best titanium bikes out there, spring in the bottom bracket pinging your pedals back and forth but with gusto and stiffness and ability like no other bike. We are talking Tour De France level race machine here though. The Venge on the other hand felt stiffer, but that was due to there being no deflection on the bike, thus enhancing the feeling of being stiffer despite the Tarmac being proven stiffer in lab tests. Ideally I would have both and maybe one day I will though oddly, I ride a 56cm Tarmac whist I loved the little biddy 54cm Venge with a donkey cock of a stem. It looked PRO with a capital P.

Spec wise, the bike is getting brand new running gear. I have plumped for Ultegra glossy 2013 on the advice of Pinky from Madison/Shimano who advises that mechanical Ultegra outperforms Dura Ace 7900 as the trickle down tech dictates that latter grouppo, namely Ultegra is actually better in so much that Shimano put right the wrongs of 7900. I did consider electronic but frankly, the mechanical kit is ideal ad I got a complete grouppo for just £500 smackers. You cannot sniff at that. Best wheels come in the form of Roval SL35 - a great set of fast light aero wheels with a nod to Dura Ace C35 apparent. Alloy braking means clean bibs in the rain too and a little bit of 'give it some more' on the nice fast descents found locally. My hand built open pros' will no doubt be used to great effect on the days I need to do hill repeats and climbing work ready for Pips ride. Oh and I have finally binned the trick TRP brakes. Light as they were I remembered how good it was to have some stopping power and the Shimano calipers brakes are just superb. You pull, you stop. Happy days.

I will no doubt post some images once built but for now 2013 bodes well and I could have a very strong year on the bike. My usual goals apply with Le Sportif (Pip) and Bristol > London taking precedent over anything else. These are my targeted rides training wise..

In the meantime, dont have nightmares

Single speeding along....

October can now be put to bed. I finished a solid 60 miles up on last year which was a great result. Spent most of the month pushing 48 / 16 ratio wise too, so some very solid miles. Really enjoying my single speed bike. It has a 74 degree seat tube, which to me, cuts the mustard. Steep tubes suit my style of riding, forward, over the bottom bracket, offsetting my diddy legs. Cannot complain about anything on the bike at the moment, feeling powerful, lean and fit. Long may it continue. Next year I have the simple objective of beating my London time. That is all.

Away from the bike, things continue to be a mixed bag. I have been attaining good feedback from my past as a photographer working with and for UNiCOM sports agency. For those not in the know, I sort of packed in taking photos due to ill health both pyhsically and mentally. But, occasionally, I get the urge to get out there and start shooting again. I might do next year if it feels right. I never want to force the issue and blogging about bike riding and taking images has been very cathartic to me and it has helped me survive the legacy of divorce, which in turn had a profound effect on my mental health. But, this cat is still strong and who knows, maybe one day soon I will just go out with a camera and shoot for myself. Not for kudos, not for pats on the backs, but for the fact I enjoy it again and I am good at it.

I suppose I cannot say Livestrong anymore after they took Lance down, but in the least, stay strong people, stay strong. Love to all. x

 

Winter is but a heartbeat away....

Into October now and the dark nights and fresh mornings have swept in. As ever this means a reduction in quality miles which is usual for the UK road scene at this time of the year.  I hate to see my 'best' bike clad in lights but needs must.

As an aside I am still getting some solid miles in commuting and dropping into Yatton and I am only 50 miles shy of my October target (a mere 200 miles) despite it only being the 11th today. I set myself a goal each year to equal or in the least surpass the previous years mileage which can be tough but is doable. Is it enough ? I dunno, but I always have a less is more - slow equals fast mantra when it comes to winter based on Rob Lee and his coaching advice re: the dark months.

My single speed bike is due to go live in the next couple of weeks and I will be stripping down the Tarmac and giving it a bloody good clean ready for spring 2013. I would dearly love to treat myself to some new hand built wheels with Chris King R45 hubs for the rebuild ! Lets see what happens.

The double bubble mileage of single speed should put me in good stead for next year too, though I am actually quite happy stepping away from the bike of late which again is related to a good years worth of quality miles and events. Cycling can be and has been an all consuming sport which we all love but we all know that balance in life is great and I look forward to the usual winter regime of riding less, but staying fit with alternative options and getting back on those well worn roads next year. 

No pictures today, I have completed a nice 40 mile bimble around the Mendips and whilst the weather was lovely from the front door, a murky wind and rain swept in on the top on the Mendip ridge so cameras are from experience best left at home on days like today.

Somewhat bizarrely, I am really enjoying having short hair again under the helmet. I was looking like an unkempt badger with my pepper pot beard and mane. As ever look sharp, be sharp.

Love to all. x

End of the summer....

So summer it seems has come to an abrupt end with torrential rain, howling winds, ill health and a small dose of laziness thrown in for good measure.

I am at 300 recorded miles for September, which paradoxically is up on last year given my Elvis' Presley holiday in 2010, is no real surprise. I am also a stone lighter on the climbs which is due to the support of my incredible girlfriend and some solid base miles commuting from Yatton quite a bit. I have to say that NOT consuming donuts for breakfast is a good place to start but in reference to being in Memphis which is hard to believe was a year ago I think "when in Rome Rodney, when in Rome".

I was due to ride the Specialized Belter this Sunday just passed, but due to ill health elsewhere, I bailed in the morning. To be honest, it was no bad thing as I had feedback today that multiple people were swept up due to hypothermia which is usually the case. I love seeing new bike riders appear on the scene and 450 rolled out of the Grand Depart in Bristol, though some clearly need a little education on what to wear on a road bike in the rain. The parody is less can be more, but once you are cold it gets into your bones, locks in and eats away at your energy as your body is burning twice as much fuel to stay warm. Inevitably this leads to issues on the bike. That said, it is a good way to learn and credit to people for getting out amongst it on what was another lamentable day in the South West.

In reference to the Mendips, I have been snagging some lovely images out there of late. Loving the sun this time of year, it is ethereal in the Mendips, falling beautifully, creating shadows and light nicely. A few here. Finally, I had my Bradley Wiggins mane shorn today. I wonder if I will suffer due to this now. Somewhat bizarre given I grow my hair for summer and bin it in the winter. But then, I am a bike rider and we never do things normally.

In the meantime, all the best. At the bottom of the page is a video our Media team put together from Sundays ride....I am in it somewhere, like a bad sitcom extra. Honestly, I did not know they were filming....!!!!