Blogs

Continuing my earlier theme of good road etiquette, let us reflect upon the strange nuances of driver behaviour. Coming from the perspective of cyclist, motorcyclist and car driver, I long ago dismissed the simplistic pop psychology surrounding road user behaviour. (Although I found Richard Ballantine’s quick reference guide strangely accurate, if over simplistic).

Not strictly a commute, but massively enjoyable all the same and a fantastic way of exercising the dog. I dusted off a fat tyred bike and flashed around my local country park. In the summer I am going to ride around on my crosser, TT the dusty tracks with dog in tow. For me cycling is so much more fun than walking and I only run when being chased, so this seems a great option for my crazy dog.
Next I have to attempt this with my son in the cycle trailer at the same time, should be interesting!
 

Up for grabs this week is a full set of signed postcards of the Cervelo Test Team riders, including Carlos Sastre, Thor Hushovd, Roger Hammond and Heinrich Haussler who's giving a good account of himself right now in the Paris-Nice. And loads more, there's about 20, we ran out of room on the pic so what you see is most, but not all, of what you get. Sastre's even signed his in gold, the big show-off.

On the way home this evening I saw something I have never seen before! A Kingfisher! What an amzing sight, the cobalt blue and brilliant orange diving into murky canal water.

What a contrast! One of the benefits of cycling and not being sat in a car.

Flo K

ps is it possible to bonk on an 8 mile ride? Tonight I could barely turn over the pedals.

The Dwain Chambers story is a circus I know. Too many people getting hot under the collar, but love the fact that after Lord Coe called Chambers a cheat, his retort to the 2012 tsar was 'yeah?, well you had an affair with another woman, who is the cheat now' hmmmm, hmmm!!? Childish...

Anyway, it seems that Dwain is still working with the good Dr. Conte http://www.insidethegames.com/show-news.php?id=5190 (all clean now of course) with the use of a hypoxicator (pictured in case you were wondering what it was), and its the choice of many a pro cyclist.

Is it polite to leave a little heartfelt "OIL ME!!!!" note on the bike you've locked yours next to? Or merely righteous and just plain rude?

Yes spring has definitely sprung. The milder temperatures have seen home brewed corrosion inhibitor liquefy, belching from both the Univega and tag-along’s bottom bracket shells upon our return from a mid morning saunter through the lanes.

If I am going out on a Saturday night, a rare occurence, for 8.30pm then I can get out of my chair at 8.00pm have a shave and a shower and grab something to wear and out the door.

Going out for a ride always takes longer. Always a bit of making sure I take precautions and have tools, bars, pump etc and then what to wear! Will it cover the likely weather conditions, does it all match up, no clashing of logos's and colours. Helmet has to match as well.

I have just discovered Oury grips from the States, introduced to me by my fixie riding American "buddy". If you are riding flat bars, riser or are a singlespeed  / fixie rider, then these could be the grips for you!  They are better for those with larger hands as they are thick, so much so that it actually feels like a small amount of suspension at the end of the bar. They are very comfortable and come in a massive range of colours from baby blue to shocking pink. There is even a "day glo" set, I shall have to get some for summer dusky rides.

Well I knew that track pump left at work would prove useful! Today it was used by another rider, who also has a like for coloured tyres!

It's been a quiet few days commuting the only notable thing apart from the great weather was being sprayed with car windscreen wash! I really must take more care when overtaking traffic.

Flo K