Flo K's blog

My CX bike is the ultimate escape bike. Trail, road, park, tow path or tarmac is there a better go to bike when you wish to escape?

Grab one bike and go out the door...

If I had to get rid of them all (heaven forbid) and keep one, would it be the CX?

I think it would, for commuting, fitness and just "space finding". It's my deer chasing forest friend.

Flo K

I have been deliberating for a while now whether to take off my mudguards on the road bike? They have never really come off since last year (which says a lot about riding this summer), yes they are practical and useful for commuting but they do spoil the lines and are (in my opinion) a faff to fit and maintain on a conventional 700c road bike. I have just got back from a lunch time spin for an hour and while I appreciate not having a wet arse, they did rub on the entire ride especially when out of the saddle, so off they have come!

Still loving these, yes they take the space of one poor unfortunate car but they offer the potential of 25 less cars on the road. 

Looking cool, space for 25 bikes (ish) and in practical positions.

With the large number of bike thefts in my area recently I have been taking security even more seriously (If that is possible...is my paranoia protecting me or inhibiting me?).

These are the measures I take and it's sad that I have to...

Never leave an expensive bike unattended anywhere.

Tape over logo's etc on my commuting bike, make it look like a "loaner"!

When possible use a bike with bolt through axles, bolted seat collar and no qr's anywhere...make the thieves bring tools!

Buy the best lock you can!

I have been wearing Shimano (other brands are available) spd sandals for commuting.

Wrong yet strangely right?

Flo

This morning on a 12 mile commute into a strong head wind another rider sat on my back wheel for 9 miles, don't you just hate that; no offer of taking a turn! For the last 3 miles I really dug in, pushed as big a gear as I could in order to break him, but alas, all of the work I had put it had paid a toll and he sprinted past me just as we reached our destinations. I thought this was commuting, not the last 12 miles of a race or 12 mile TT. Bring it on again tomorrow!     

Sunday I rode the Endura Lionheart Sportive…the route was amazing, 100km of traffic free, picturesque Somerset lanes. Starting in front of Longleat House we rode around the Safari Park before heading out to Fresh Water lake and then onto Kingston Deverill for the 1st food station. The lumpy route continued through breathtaking scenery past the villages of Bruton and Stourton, before finishing again at Longleat.

 Well it's a trike and he loves buying these kind of crazy things, he'll probably do it up for cycling with the ageing Labrador or something?

Well what is it, can't quite see the head badge, but it's definitely not a spesh, ignoring the stickers!

Flo

 My Sister-in-Law has been creative on my new lid with a famous Lichtenstein image...