Being nowhere is a good place to start from as your likely to always get somewhere.
Navigator Wallace soon had us on GPS lock and after agreeing the general direction we were going to take we quickly stumbled across a cycle path that yes! Would bring us back to NCN1.
My relief was immediate as I really didn’t fancy backtracking to where we were certain of our route and then pedal again against the cutting wind to only get back to roughly where we were. Continue reading
Famished and physically quivering like a badly misfiring engine, Wetherspoons to me seemed like the Fat Duck gastronomical paradise of Bray except this was Sittingbourne.
To be honest, anything would have done but Wetherspoons do cater for so many different ‘difficult’ food groups with a great range of beers and being value for money. I mean where else can you get two fish & chips and two pints for a tenner? Continue reading
A timely trip to Reading and London would allow me to leave my bike with Bikehut Brighton so they could rebuild my rear wheel whilst I was away and would allow me to ride ‘fixed’ for the first leg of this epic coastal journey.
Dropping off my bike, confirming my instructions and parts I was supplying, Dave, another Bikehut Technician began quizzing me as to the type of wheelbuild I’d like. “Laced 3 or 4 cross?” I bumbled I was not versed in lace terminology and explained what the wheel needed to do. Continue reading
A hastily received short call during a meeting in the afternoon confirmed the bike was ready to collect however there had been some unplanned but necessary changes.
I hadn’t time to ask what had happened. Roger affirmed they had to be done and all would be explained when I turned up.Some hours later, I arrived at Mosquito’s, and began scanning the premises before eventually spying ‘Frank’ waiting for me by the workshop entrance.
Blimey. Frank? Continue reading
If my bike was to be serviced and ready within a day – I’d need to get Frank checked in the day before in order to avoid an early morning rise and exorbitantly priced train tickets that probably wouldn’t allow Frank to travel with me in any case.
Over the weekend I had also decided since Mosquito’s would be doing the bulk of the work then it made total sense they did the rear-wheel rebuild at the same time however forgot to mention this to Roger when talking to him about handlebar setup.
I gave Mosquito’s a call before I set off to check if they had a new Surly flip-flop hub in stock. The answer was no. Damn. What was Plan B? Continue reading
It seems my itching for new parts has got the better of me but for good reason.
My typical ride is but a few miles each way per day. I do love ‘Frank’ my bike but I’ve never been totally happy about the comfort of my trusty steed because when I go that little bit further – I can feel that I’m not enjoying the ride as much.
The thought of attempting so many miles has made me focus on what ‘it’ is that makes a comfortable ride and it comes down to two key contact points. Bum and hands. Continue reading
What was originally planned as a ride for one day and with the date of the first proposed leg rapidly looming so has the need to turn preparation ideas into fact.
I emailed dates for the four day ride over to my co-rider. The reply was ‘good, we’ll get much further along Stage 1 than was planned’ .
Planned? Alarm bells softly rang as I went and checked T’s first post in this blog. It said 190 miles. Continue reading
A fear began.
There isn’t that much time to prepare! Decisions need to be made swiftly and executed quickly particularly as I realised the bike will need a service. Mosquito Bikes have a policy of free lifetime servicing for custom builds they make which means I’m of course going to take it to them and I might as well entrust the wheel-rebuild to them.
I’ve also been considering the length of the journey and the importance of being comfortable on the bike during the ride. The idea after all is to enjoy ourselves! Continue reading
I tingle when I take my bike into the local bike shop in Brighton for damage assessment. Techies crowd and coo, “We like Surly’s” (which is the frame I’ve based my bike on) and I swell with pride as I explain the thinking behind the bike, all attention on me – well, actually the bike. It made me remember what it’s like to own a custom build.
Its agreed the damage to the hub thread is quite serious to the point that I’m looking at a new hub so that will be *kerching* sixty pounds please. Continue reading
My dear friend Mr T and I have for some time been talking about taking a cycling trip of substance.
I quite fancied a small weekend jaunt to Dieppe, France being that I do not live far from Newhaven and liked the idea of taking the bike, hopping onto a ferry to soak some fine weather, culture (including beer and wine) you know, something different for a weekend. Continue reading
