VecchioJo's blog

Strange things seen on a ride.

#7 Woodpecker

Strange Rare things seen on a ride.

#6 Roadside Porn

 A long lost but not forgotten piece of dusty cycling history has just found it's way into my possession, an item that time, memory and rose-tinted Oakleys had elevated to some sort of two-wheeled folklore, spoken of only in hushed and wondrous tones whilst peering through steamed-up cafe windows.

    You have finally died.

 We’re stood halfway down a steep bank that is both slippy and sticky at the same time, waiting. Suddenly a wave of sound breaks from the left and creeps louder as it follows the lead riders round the course, the air tingles electric and as the wall of cheering crashes onto us they’re right there and riding down the muddy, chopped, rutted bank as if doesn't exist. Heart-rates quicken, and not just the racer's.

Strange Sad things seen on a ride.

#5 Sign.

There's a story here, but we'd prefer not to know. I'm quiet and pensive for the rest of the ride.
 

    Day 3 of a week of random 'cross bike riding shenanigans with friends and Ride 2, a day late after it was hastily cancelled when someone had grumblysquirty issues that threatened certain chamoimplosion over very few miles, a handful of speed bumps and one panicked toilet stop. Planned pedalling was therefore ditched in favour of a tour of the many and varied cultural and caffeinated emporia in the city, all within easy reach of public conveniences.

    Day 1 of a week of random 'cross bike riding shenanigans with friends and Ride 1 of The New Bike. A spin towards the coffee-shop start of the odyssey and there's a few things that a quick flick round the block on New Bike don't quite reveal; this saddle that was fine on the other bike feels quite pointy on the seat bones now, I need to be sat about an inch further back and the Conti Speed Kings that come as stock are "really quite fast" on tarmac.

    That last one should have been a sign.

Fit a more hill friendly chain-ring chuck chain-guard flip the stem change the bars to favourites swap the brakes round chop the steerer put new seatpost and saddle on slot in long-drop cable-hanger and no need to use the set-aside in-line cable-adjusters as the brakes have these built in (we like this, a lot) tighten "Don't Cry, Pedal" ahead cap on fit bottle cage tyre logos already lined up with valves (good work) put blue valve caps on wrap new bar-tape.

On the day the weather broke and it's suddenly cold, grey and drizzly the new bike arrives for the cyclo-cross season.

How apt.