Time For Focus

I've been having lots of fun over the last few days looking at what I can get for my money when I hit target and splurge on buy a new bike. I have scoured several cycle magazines and many cycle related websites. The bikebuilder site from Preston based company Ribble is a great find. You can choose from several Ribble frames and spec them as you want - opt for a less expensive groupset and upgrade the wheels and tyres, etc. 

This has been an education in itself and the bikes also get some brilliant reviews. I have been basing my choices around a Ribble Sportive Bianco. I like the look of the bike but would really want to test ride one before I could consider buying. As Ribble is a web based company (although they have a shop/warehouse in Preston) the chances of doing so are going to be limited to say the least.

That's the problem with buying from t'internet I suppose - you are relying on the opinions/advice of others. Or is it? Wiggle is an internet based company and I've used them a lot for various small cycle related  items. Their service is excellent and prices very competitive (I declare I have no connection to them apart from being a satisfied customer).

I was browsing through some of the bikes they offer and found I could buy one, have it delivered, test ride it for up to 30 days, return it (for free), get a full refund and then do it all over again with a different model - the 30 Day Test Ride. Brilliant! They want it back clean and with only normal wear and tear but that is the least I can do. So, I have ordered one. An Ultegra specced Focus Cayo 2.0. It should be here next week. Really quite excited.

This is purely in the interest of research you understand. I am not going to make a final decision until I have tried a few different bikes and will not make a final purchase until I hit target. But you can't be too clued up really can you?

A Focus Cayo 2.0 compact

Becoming a MAMIL

I think it's going to happen. Maybe not this year but likely quite early in 2012, I will join the ranks of the MAMIL's! (Middle Aged Men In Lycra). Gasp, Shock, Horror!!

The Blackpool cycle was the turning point. There are three reasons. 1. I now know I can hold my own with many club roadies out there, 2. I had a great time cycling in a group, and 3. I want to get under 4 hrs for the Blackpool cycle next year. 

The only place I can ride with lots of cyclists on a regular basis is by joining a local cycling club for weekend runs and also entering organised rides and that means a road bike. If I am going to increase my average mph I also need a lighter bike. A nice carbon bike is therefore required/justified and that means lycra to match it. No team colours though. I draw the line at that!

I have set myself a target before I make the leap though. My fitness has increased incredibly since I started cycling but my weight loss has become static over the last few months. I have decided I must lose 15 kg before I can treat myself. That will be 1 kg for every £100.00 I am willing to spend on the bike. This is the bargain I have made with the missus.

Now can I lose the 15 kg by Christmas? I've done 2 kg already this week but know it will slow down in the coming weeks and months. By going public I hope to motivate myself in the dark seasons ahead. Your support will be appreciated.

What a motivation though. Do you want to see my early possible contenders for a road bike? Going to show you anyway. Any other suggestions more than welcome. Happy cycling everyone.

The Cube Agree GTC Pro

The Boardman Team Carbon

The Felt Z6

Blackpool Cycle Video

Blackpool Cycle Report

A great day cycling the 63 mile Manchester to Blackpool ride, despite the 06.30 hrs start.

Two of my five colleagues didn't turn up on time and so started later. I set of with three + one guy we all know who is a roadie. He planned to "take it easy" as he was cycling there and back so he left us behind very quickly (he did the 126 mile trip in just over 6 hrs!). We four soon found our own paces and split up, meeting at regular intervals along the way. We lost one but knew he was meeting his brother on the ride so felt we could push on. 

The two I completed the trip with had never done more than 10 miles before and both were on less than ideal bikes. We got into the pattern I would go ahead for 8-10 miles and then wait for them to catch up 45 mins or so later. They tended to be within a few minutes of each other as they would meet on any incline where they would get off and push. They both kept apologising for holding me up but it was my suggestion we do the ride, so stopping for them and offering some words of encouragement was the least I could do. Anyway, I was having a great time watching the thousands of people of all sorts on abilities go past and when I cycled ahead had a brilliant time overtaking some guys on nice racing bikes and holding my own with several others. I could hear the exclamations and exertion to catch up as I went past on my pannier laden tourer!

We got heavily rained on once which was not too bad except for the fact some motorists were trying to muscle into the throng of cyclists and heavy rain + lots of cyclists + impatient motorists = a dangerous mix. Luckily no accidents from this I was aware of but I did see two roadies come off on the wet and heard of a cyclist whose back pack strap dangled into the rear wheel causing her to come off badly losing skin almost down to the bone - ouch! The rest of the weather was very pleasant, mainly overcast with a slight breeze.

The guy we lost early on finished OK, the two who started late crossed the line around 18.00 hrs after 10 or so hrs in the saddle and the two I finished with are very sore but happy. We finished around 16.00 hrs making it a 9.5 hrs ride at an total average speed of 6.6 mph. I knew my average moving speed was around 14 mph so I could have done it in under 5 hrs but that was not the point of the ride. I now have several colleagues who are bicycle riders and some more who want to do the next ride and that is a great result. And me? Well I feel fine and am wondering about getting a nice racing bike for next year!

Blackpool Cycle

05.00hrs and just ready to set off to meet several colleagues at Old Trafford for a 60 or so mile sponsored cycle to Blackpool. Most of them have never cycled more than 10 miles and one only got back on a bike for the first time in 14 years last week - at the same time as giving up smoking! What trouble have I got myself in to?