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Midweek blast round the greenway
Having spoken to a few members over the last couple of weeks and also watching strava, it seems that night time stealth laps of the Letchworth greenway are somewhat the de rigeur method of night time winter training.
OK, so I've invested in some lights, have a heavy cross bike and am up for tearing up a lap of the green way around Letchworth later this week -probably Thursday from 7pm weather permitting.
If any of you are interested in a lap in the dark, whisper me and we can arrange a rendezvous
Refreshments in one of the local hostelries en route may also be an option. Carb replacement guvnor!
Jamie
OK, so I've invested in some lights, have a heavy cross bike and am up for tearing up a lap of the green way around Letchworth later this week -probably Thursday from 7pm weather permitting.
If any of you are interested in a lap in the dark, whisper me and we can arrange a rendezvous
Refreshments in one of the local hostelries en route may also be an option. Carb replacement guvnor!
Jamie
Comments
Happy for anyone to join me even if you are a fictitious character from a long dead children's TV show that even i'm not old enough to remember.
Went for a supposed 4000 lumens 3x cree light for the bike and head torch thing. Arrives Tuesday according to eBay!
J :-)
4000 lumens is Eddison LightHouse brightness I reckon...I've just ordered a 1200 lumens Light & Motion Taz, which apparently you have to dip for oncoming motorists...so you'll have plenty of sunlight I guess!
Jon at Kinetic was great, hinted that the CCA discounts may be able to be extended into his Hitchin store. Was also very clued up about kids bikes given his links to Welwyn Wheelers.
How is you arm? Are you on the road to recovery?
J
Arm is still in plaster...now 8 weeks since I fell off the bike, so all summer form gone! Plaster should come off this coming Wednesday. Luckily, Kinetic have an on-site physio/trainer, also called John, who's going to give me an MOT and rehab plan to get me back towards fitness. Apparently he also does training plans, core exercises, Pilates type stuff, plus they will do fitness/VO2 style maximum testing in the studio they have. Sounds great, in my opinion.
I won't be out on the Greenway this Thursday, as I intend going to the Kinetic opening, 6-8pm...refreshments provided! And yes, he also mentioned a possible 10% discount for CCA members.
J
I am thinking that something a little lighter may be in order to use for my next target - the Paris Roubaix sportive in April next year. (n+1 and all that!!)
My choices are somewhere between a:
Specialized Roubaix (maybe with discs)
Cannondale CAAD X 105 or Synapse 105 discs
Focus Mares AX 1.0 - with Sram hydraulic discs
Jon suggested the Whyte Suffolk
Loving the temptation that the bike to work scheme offers!
J
Personally, I'm looking for a frame that's responsive, not too heavy, can cope with winter filth and has mudguard eyes. I already have a lightweight Condor steel bike, but the frame can't fit mudguards, even Crud's Roadracer II, as the clearances are too tight. So, I intend taking all the parts off the existing bike and transferring to the new one. The Genesis Croix de Fer might fit the bill, but as it fits disc brake compatible wheels, I'd also have to buy new wheels and brakes. Which makes it all a tad expensive, as the Genesis frames alone each cost well over £1,000. I think I'll end up with another Condor, probably the Fratello all-rounder, considerably cheaper, made of steel and I know the geometry works for me, they're good quality and the only additional cost would be some SKS 'guards.
Good luck on your search
J
how about the boardman team cx, apex gears? i think its £899 and being a Halfords bike is available for bike to work schemes. you can also get 10% off as a BC member.
It has full mudguard eyes and rack eyes but the geometry is quite racy. ive been really impressed with mine, it got me round the 3 peaks and i use it mainly for cx races ( allbeit with some fancy carbon wheels in that dont seem to help much!) yes, you would have to get some road disc wheels but thats no great problem and the bike is such good value that wouldnt be too much of a strain. you would then have road and off road wheels making it very versatile.
the stock bike was about 10 kg but i get it down to about 9.3 with the carbon wheels. probably a bit less with road wheels. I personally think its quite a good looking bike as well.
just an idea.
T
J
I have seen one on lfgss that was stripped of paint and the head tube welds are there under filler. But for the money i cant fault it. It got lobbed over several walls and fences on the 3 peaks and ridden down stuff that no bicycle should have to go down. Still works perfectly.
Decisions, decisions......!
J