Back on the saddle...
Discussion
It's been a while since I sold my "Stupid New Years Resolution" bike and I have been recovering from my shoulder and chest injuries.
Taking into account the lessons I have learned (some the hard way) I knew I didn't want 26 inch wheels or suspension. I still don't want a Lycra bike, no offence to any lycraists out there but it really isn't for me. I'm not spending anywhere near as much this time either. £1,695 for a commuter is ridiculous. The point of the Camber Comp was to use off road at the weekends but because I associated it with work I couldn't face it on my days off.
Garish colours are out this time as it attracts unwanted attention.
29 or 700C?
£400-ish budget?
Future upgrade potential.
Lightweight.
Road gears so I can beat my old record times.
Flat bars.
I was looking at the Boardman Hybrid range and 29rs at Halfords when I spotted a 2013 Carrera Gryphon reduced from £399 to £349.
Basically the same bike as the Boardman but with visible welding (as an engineer I prefer to see the working out). 700Cx28 with enough room for 34's if these aren't pneumatic enough for Norfolk roads. Grey and silver, cable disc brakes that can be upgraded to hydraulics later, solid looking wheels, granny bike looking seat (I'll road test this before replacing it) and a quick calculation in my head suggested the bike should be 8-10mph quicker than the Camber.
According to their computer they only had one in the store and it would be the display one. Ah-ha time for a bit of a haggle.
Nope they had one in a box as well and the computer was wrong, but as it has been superseded by the 2014 version I asked "How much is it now?"...
£279
That sold it.
Boardman quality at almost half the price.
Typically when I got up this afternoon for work and started to put the new bike together we had a minor torrent and the roads were flooded for the first ride.
As usual I have added a bit of reflective tape...
...I like to think I'm just about paranoid enough.
More later.
Taking into account the lessons I have learned (some the hard way) I knew I didn't want 26 inch wheels or suspension. I still don't want a Lycra bike, no offence to any lycraists out there but it really isn't for me. I'm not spending anywhere near as much this time either. £1,695 for a commuter is ridiculous. The point of the Camber Comp was to use off road at the weekends but because I associated it with work I couldn't face it on my days off.
Garish colours are out this time as it attracts unwanted attention.
29 or 700C?
£400-ish budget?
Future upgrade potential.
Lightweight.
Road gears so I can beat my old record times.
Flat bars.
I was looking at the Boardman Hybrid range and 29rs at Halfords when I spotted a 2013 Carrera Gryphon reduced from £399 to £349.
Basically the same bike as the Boardman but with visible welding (as an engineer I prefer to see the working out). 700Cx28 with enough room for 34's if these aren't pneumatic enough for Norfolk roads. Grey and silver, cable disc brakes that can be upgraded to hydraulics later, solid looking wheels, granny bike looking seat (I'll road test this before replacing it) and a quick calculation in my head suggested the bike should be 8-10mph quicker than the Camber.
According to their computer they only had one in the store and it would be the display one. Ah-ha time for a bit of a haggle.
Nope they had one in a box as well and the computer was wrong, but as it has been superseded by the 2014 version I asked "How much is it now?"...
£279
That sold it.
Boardman quality at almost half the price.
Typically when I got up this afternoon for work and started to put the new bike together we had a minor torrent and the roads were flooded for the first ride.
As usual I have added a bit of reflective tape...
...I like to think I'm just about paranoid enough.
More later.
CoolC said:
I'm looking forward to the new blog.
I'll try not to rant as much this time. Johnny if you're anywhere near the Democratic Republic of Norfolkistan (North West Norfolk) you can put a couple of miles on my bike to see how you get on.
I've not been out today waiting for my new arrival to turn up and working on my Panda.
Watchman said:
.S. I missed this... I'll go looking for the thread but might be worth linking to it here. Sounds awful.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&f=174&t=1095288&mid=152801&i=0&nmt=Stupid+New+Years+Resolution%21+&mid=152801This one?
Bloody Hell twenty pages of mostly moaning about the weather, poor drivers, potholes and members of the traveling community.
Pre-Curio I used Marathon 26 x 1.50 tyres.
I went for Curio as they were starting out and I thought bold colours would make me more visible.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CurioUKshop?_trksid=p2047...
Really nice guys and local-ish based in Norwich.
This is the 29er/700x38 version of the tyre I tested for them and they added the reflective strip on the side wall and changed the tread pattern so there is constant grip as you lean over. What I called "tread transition" at the time.
I went for Curio as they were starting out and I thought bold colours would make me more visible.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CurioUKshop?_trksid=p2047...
Really nice guys and local-ish based in Norwich.
This is the 29er/700x38 version of the tyre I tested for them and they added the reflective strip on the side wall and changed the tread pattern so there is constant grip as you lean over. What I called "tread transition" at the time.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Monday 14th July 22:36
Keep you goals realistic and you'll be fine. Jelly legs to tree trunks in six months is ambitious to say the least.
I only have one target this time and that is to beat my 26 inch times. I won't be hitting the commute as hard either as it's not a New Year thing, maybe a prelude to a 2015 resolution.
I only have one target this time and that is to beat my 26 inch times. I won't be hitting the commute as hard either as it's not a New Year thing, maybe a prelude to a 2015 resolution.
Put in a few evening and morning runs just in time for Hurricane Bertha.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301142150615?ssPageName=...
What do we think of these?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301142150615?ssPageName=...
What do we think of these?
R.I.P Redelite I 1999-2014...
...hello Redelite II
So the latter third-ish of 2014 light will be...
Redelite II and cheap solar powered eBay light on the back.
Redelite (shouldn't it be a White-e-lite?) II and 1200 Lumen eBay light up front.
I'm thinking of painting the frame a more visible colour (Focus green maybe) with a reflective lacquer but that can wait until I see how visible I am now.
I don't like grey, black or matte bikes on the road but this one was very cheap for what there.
...hello Redelite II
So the latter third-ish of 2014 light will be...
Redelite II and cheap solar powered eBay light on the back.
Redelite (shouldn't it be a White-e-lite?) II and 1200 Lumen eBay light up front.
I'm thinking of painting the frame a more visible colour (Focus green maybe) with a reflective lacquer but that can wait until I see how visible I am now.
I don't like grey, black or matte bikes on the road but this one was very cheap for what there.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201134166734?ssPageName=...
Could be nice.
Riding to work has been delayed until Sunday now as I've been gearing up for night shifts all weekend (staying up late and such) but have been asked to do tomorrow and Saturday day shifts instead!
So I won't be able to sleep tonight and will have trouble staying awake at work tomorrow. I need a new job.
Could be nice.
Riding to work has been delayed until Sunday now as I've been gearing up for night shifts all weekend (staying up late and such) but have been asked to do tomorrow and Saturday day shifts instead!
So I won't be able to sleep tonight and will have trouble staying awake at work tomorrow. I need a new job.
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/sirrus-sp...
Same spec', almost the same colour and Specialized want £600
My Gryphon is looking more like a bargain.
http://road.cc/content/review/50149-carrera-grypho...
I'd agree with most of this but the hand grips are a little harsh and the pedals need to be wider for my size elevens.
Same spec', almost the same colour and Specialized want £600
My Gryphon is looking more like a bargain.
http://road.cc/content/review/50149-carrera-grypho...
I'd agree with most of this but the hand grips are a little harsh and the pedals need to be wider for my size elevens.
I didn't cycle to work last night as I took my X1/9 cylinder head with me so I could clean the valves and ports before fitting it to my car later this week.
Today I've spent my paint budget on mudguards. If the rain doesn't lift I'll be driving in again on the grounds that I can't be arsed to sit in my office for twelve hours with a wet bottom.
Today I've spent my paint budget on mudguards. If the rain doesn't lift I'll be driving in again on the grounds that I can't be arsed to sit in my office for twelve hours with a wet bottom.
Watchman said:
Liquid Knight said:
I didn't cycle to work last night as I took my X1/9 cylinder head with me so I could clean the valves and ports before fitting it to my car later this week.
Today I've spent my paint budget on mudguards. If the rain doesn't lift I'll be driving in again on the grounds that I can't be arsed to sit in my office for twelve hours with a wet bottom.
I love my bike so much more without mudguards but it would rarely get used in this country.Today I've spent my paint budget on mudguards. If the rain doesn't lift I'll be driving in again on the grounds that I can't be arsed to sit in my office for twelve hours with a wet bottom.
I just realised a disadvantage of my 700c's. No nobbly option (as yet).
Celtic Dragon said:
If you want visable, get a set of these, I kid you not they are bright and side on, other road users cannot claim they didn't see you. I have them fitted to my MTB for that very reason.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-CJP-Car-LED-Light-Bik...
These have issues...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-CJP-Car-LED-Light-Bik...
1/ They're not road legal in the UK
2/ They add weight to the valves causing them to peel off.
3/ My bike isn't a Vauxhall Nova and it isn't 1998
Have you seen the ones that illuminate your spokes with the speed you're going?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuze-Wheel-Writer-Motion...
I don't know how accurate they are but considering I was stopped twice for speeding in my last blog the last thing I need it a chuffin' great neon sign as well.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuze-Wheel-Writer-Motion...
I don't know how accurate they are but considering I was stopped twice for speeding in my last blog the last thing I need it a chuffin' great neon sign as well.
Good morning.
Cycled into work for the first time since my off. Sore shoulder but thirty six minutes is only two more than my old record. I'd like to say it's because I kept my cardio' in check during my recovery but it is mostly due to my new bike being much better suited to the task. Hills were a lot easier without the suspension giving way and even though I could tell you how many spots the ladybird I ran over had the tyres weren't as uncomfortable as I expected. I used top gear briefly down hill but kept mostly to the top four. taking wheel and crank size into account this third from top is roughly top gear on my old bike. Running 45PSI up front and 50PSI rear for a little pneumatic suspension on the way home made a noticeable difference in rolling resistance.
Panic stations around midnight when the fog cam in with the tide but it had all but cleared by dawn. As usual my commute home was more sedate. Stopping a few times to help a fellow commuter who had a puncture, picked up today's gutter tabloids for the folks and slowed to an almost dead stop because a road next to a field had been much spread over night. I said before that stuff that may make you shrug your shoulders or roll your eyes in a car are the most irritating things in the world on a bike, because you are a lot more vulnerable and have more time to dwell upon them. This morning I was too knackered to worry about all the drivers who were stupid enough to have no lights on even though at half six it was more than dark and misty enough. I even ignored most of the drivers too doltish to have cleared the condensation from their windows and mirrors.
I can't imagine that lasting long.
Realistic goal time. I want to beat thirty four minutes by Christmas.
Cycled into work for the first time since my off. Sore shoulder but thirty six minutes is only two more than my old record. I'd like to say it's because I kept my cardio' in check during my recovery but it is mostly due to my new bike being much better suited to the task. Hills were a lot easier without the suspension giving way and even though I could tell you how many spots the ladybird I ran over had the tyres weren't as uncomfortable as I expected. I used top gear briefly down hill but kept mostly to the top four. taking wheel and crank size into account this third from top is roughly top gear on my old bike. Running 45PSI up front and 50PSI rear for a little pneumatic suspension on the way home made a noticeable difference in rolling resistance.
Panic stations around midnight when the fog cam in with the tide but it had all but cleared by dawn. As usual my commute home was more sedate. Stopping a few times to help a fellow commuter who had a puncture, picked up today's gutter tabloids for the folks and slowed to an almost dead stop because a road next to a field had been much spread over night. I said before that stuff that may make you shrug your shoulders or roll your eyes in a car are the most irritating things in the world on a bike, because you are a lot more vulnerable and have more time to dwell upon them. This morning I was too knackered to worry about all the drivers who were stupid enough to have no lights on even though at half six it was more than dark and misty enough. I even ignored most of the drivers too doltish to have cleared the condensation from their windows and mirrors.
I can't imagine that lasting long.
Realistic goal time. I want to beat thirty four minutes by Christmas.
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