what cycling boom?

Sad news – my local bike shop (LBS), 'two wheels good' is closing its crouch end shop. For the last three years its been my saviour. Quite often something happens and i panic (like seriously fret) "my club ride is tomorrow" or "meeting is in town" and i dont have that tool to fix that. On such occasions i visit my lbs. Ive just been in on a typical visit, my single speed threaded headset came lose after hitting a pot hole last nite. i dont have the wrenches to do it myself so popped down the road to have it fixed on the spot. And two weeks ago they fixed a spoke in my winter wheels that broke, again on the spot as i made conversation. Both jobs individually cost less than a pint and a bag of crisps (or coffee and cake is more apt for crouch end) and certainly less than a well own high street cycle chain store. The well own high street cycle chain store in central london charges over twice as much for minor repairs than its same store services in other parts of london and UK. (note: i dont use them i looked online). And charges you £14 it fix a puncture. Now i agree with this one charge as if you're riding a bike you should be able to do that one yourself. but £14 is more than both my lbs service charges together. Now some of you may be thinking thats why they are closing they should charge more, but if you know anything about bikes, they is only so much you can charge for a spanner going clockwise a quarter turn in front of your eyes. Good news is that 'two wheels good' still has its stoke newington shop (please visit). Bad news is i kinda liked those guys, we'd say hello at races or events and i'd tell people at the club to use them. Crouch end has so many cyclists i just dont understand. Bad Bad news is you know the shop will be turned into another cake shop. Crouch end is the cakey-ist place on earth and doesn't even have a cake named after it. To the people of london i ask you to put down your banana loaf and support your lbs.

Roll up Roll up

Tour down under

Problem with following the tour down under is makes this time of the year even worse. Juicy pro bike pics from cycling tips – thank you. Felt F1 equipped with Shimano Di2 and Dura Ace C-50 wheels. This one is Marcel Kittel of Argos-Shimano 2012 steed. Notice the sprint shifter a la campag.

God's own Country

So as you'e heard 2014 edition of the tour will start in Yorkshire, Stage 1: Leeds > Harrogate Stage 2: York > Sheffield and Stage 3 will grace some of my training roads of Epping and Cambridge before finishing in that London. In honour of this and as Marmotte training a couple of us have signed up for the Etape du Dales ride in May. My Yorkshire side of the family are getting very excited and its true those Northerners come from tough stock. Brian Robinson (from Hudderfield) was the first British rider to finish the tour and win a stage in 1958. Riders still say doing the tour takes five years off your life, note pictures above are from 1958 and present day.

i need a cx bike

cheers steve

Hammer I Miss You

Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. (May 1, 1980 – January 13, 2010)

Lovely photography

by Emily Maye

cycle of muscle

Been meaning to post this for a while and just been reminded. a chart i saw while at La Beau Velo for a bike fit last year. a nice illustration that all the muscles take there turn expecially the butt muscle, so remember to stretch out the whole of your legs after riding not just the quads.

"for guys like you and me life means riding a bike"

Have been reading about the great rivalry between these two greats, its so heartwarming that while cyclists are racing as individuals there is also this pack bond mentality which extends out to pro life, we saw it to lesser extent last year with wiggins and Nibali hand shake over the line.

Inter-club crit race

Dipping my toe in the world of crit racing with an out-of-season inter club affair at cyclopark in Gravesend. After a spot of coaching from British cycling/sky coach Nathan Hazledene – we went on to the main show/smash fest which is crit racing. The course is a beautiful 2.9km circuit with one especially tricky fast 180° corner and a lovely descending quick right follow by sharper left which i loved smashing down in the drops. I was obviously in the scratch starters having never raced before, it wasn't text book by a long shot, couple of soldiers were left taking way too many turns on the front, while most of my efforts were closing gaps at the back of the bunch so was out of puff when it came to maning up and leading out. Before it started I wanted to make a Voeckler style break and chose the peak of slight hill last lap to go for it only to be pulled back to 4th over the line. Super day. Picture by Kate Morton.

Happy New Year

So how about some new year resolution talk. As per the last few years in January i'm off the booze, last year (remember 2012?, i barely can) i stayed off til May, but we'll have to see, and certainly i'll only be drinking red wine if i do crack, apparently choice of pros for its antioxidant properties and good way to relax muscles after a big ride.
2013 will be the year i ride box hill – weirdly i've riden the alps but not box hill, i dont expect it to be that tough and not as bad as its neighbouring chalk pit lane which i have completed a few times, but just wanna tick it off the list along with ditchling beacon.
I'm making the tougher club ride my default choice and seeing if i can kept up with the strength of local hero PoS. The guy is a machine and a good benchmark if nothing else sticking to his wheel will make up for lack of good hills for Marmotte training.
Time to embrace the fluoro.