Recent comments

I would love to see/have a 700c single speed version of their classic RC200 frame with the square tubing. A bit like what SE Racing did with their 700c version of the classic PK Ripper.

The Oxford revolver lock has insurance up to £500 on a bike for a £10 registration fee

Their national champs are labelled as "open". I guess the first Australian across the line get to wear the green and gold banded jersey for the next year?

* Opening my charity by mid febuary. Aimed at helping Under 18's into cycling, supporting disadvantaged children into sport, Promoting exercising and healthy eating, Providing support and funding to those under 18 so that they can achieve there sporting dreams. (for example to this, I'm using my "cycling the world" as proof as to what can me achieved for those under 18)

* Raise the £25,000 for the global race, then focus on trying to secure a support car and driver id there's time.

*Cycling with Durham's Chief of police, to all 42 Police headquarters in the UK in the summer, starting from Durham of course. asking each HQ to raise money and donate the charity and funding for the global race/trip)

* finishing college in June, and do nothing but planning and training for the global race in February.

*Start my First race season this year.

*lots of big rides, covering big miles

Reporting on actual offences by hauliers and using camera footage is a good way to monitor the activities of firms - it'll give the cops something to go on and is well within the law.

M&S were good - though I last had bikes insured in hte UK in 2009. Once bikes were specified in policy coverage available for more than £2000 if needed. Underwritten by HSBC I think but M&S had better conditions & were cheaper.

12 miles each way, 3 to 5 days a week. Whitley Bay to Newcastle via Shiremoor, Battle Hill, Wallsend and along the river to the Quayside. I could ride the C2C route and avoid the traffic but the glass and possibility of a chava ambush doesn't appeal.

re: showers, luckily our place has installed some so that's made things a lot more pleasant. No decent bike parking though so bikes end up stacked around nooks in the office. There's a definite 2 tier system of those who care about their machines and those who don't. Most bikes end up in a tangled pile in the kitchen but the 'do cares' have colonised a few choice spots where you can be sure you won't get your carbon scratched off someone's rusty apollo.

Fionnghal - what else do you want to know? We've listed everything it does.

We'll give you all the info and tell you how it performed - but we can't decide how you spend your money for you, I'm afraid. Although, personally, if I couldn't see any reason to upgrade, I wouldn't.

I can honestly say this is the worst brake block i have ever used. In wet conditions they are an absolute liability, certainly not fit for purpose.

steer well clear, they look good value at £13.99 a pair (wiggle) but believe me you'll want to swap them out within a couple of rides.

he said...

" I have to have a specific reason to claim it back, like a committee meeting. If I just cycle in to do a bit of work then head off again I don't claim for that."

and as Simon mentioned, Council work is probably not his main job, so to get in for extra meetings and such they are allowed to claim. Seems fair enough to me, they dont do it for free. Its the stupid claims like duck houses that we should be shouting about, much of what gets plastered about the papers is perfectly fine if you catually realise what/how there work is organised.

There is something we can do, if you ride with a digital camera or a camcorder with a time stamp on it and you see a Thames Materials lorry (or any other for that matter) which has its numberplate obscured or is covered in mud - both of which are traffic offences take a picture of it and send it to us with any other details of the offences. We'll gather them all together and pester the relvant people with them and see where that gets us.