Coast and Castles

My week long Summer cycling tour 2011 has been dealt a fatal blow. First put back from June to August it has now been ruled out completely. Family commitments, work schedule and the fact we have limited annual leave to juggle with (because we are having a 5 week tour of the USA early next year!) means I just cannot fit it in. However, I am managing a three day tour elsewhere and it starts...in two days.

I'm catching a train to Edinburgh on Tuesday morning and will then cycle the Coast and Castle route towards Newcastle before veering off to family at Morpeth. I am going in fully loaded mode with the tent, Trangia, headtorch, noodles, etc. Hope the weather stays nice.

Fully Focused

Done about 35 miles on the Focus Cayo 2.0 test bike to date. I've now got it well set up for me and it is a lovely, lovely ride. I thought about using it today when I went out with the family but that would have meant leaving it on the car for 3-4 hrs and chancing the weather. I decided to take the Travelmaster instead for a 15 mile return cycle from Hollingsworth Lake.

The bike will be packed up and returned next week. If I continue using it it's going to get scratched or blemished and then I would have to keep it. I think it may well be the bike I get in the end but I want to try a few out first and anyway, I can only spend what I lose - 1 kg = £100.00. So far I can only afford £300.00.

A few things have been confirmed. I know I'm more than happy with a compact ring rather than triple and have got used to integrated brakes and shifters. I've also found the correct position for the handlebar for me (it's a small sweetspot!). For the next test bike I'll choose one with 105 groupset rather than Ultegra. For the fun/club riding I intend I very much doubt, for me, that Ultegra is worth the extra premium. But I'll see!

More Fun In The Park

Me, the Missus and Golden Child went for a family bike ride today. We cycled to Heaton Park, cycled around and around, went to Simister for a drink and then returned home. The Golden Child did brilliantly and the Missus is getting better too!

Fun With The Golden Child

Don't worry. It's not all carbon road bikes from now on. I am still just as enthusiastic about other types of cycling.

I've been having fun the last few days with my daughter. She is so close to losing the stabilizers IMO but balks at any suggestion I remove them, even for a trial period. Difficult to bargain with a 5 year old when her mind is set and I'm not going to force her to give them up. She is happy with them and that is the main thing for me. I am disappointed because I would like to go for family bike rides with her and the missus, particularly while we have some Summer left. She used to love riding in a trailer buggy when she was smaller, which we hired on a couple of occasions, but she is getting too big for these now and I certainly don't want to buy one. 

My brother in law had a 'tagalong' to take his youngest out for rides. It is a saddle on a single wheel driven via a standard pedal/chain arrangement but no front wheel. Instead, at the front comes a pole which sports a handlbar. There is a hinge at the end and a clamp which fastens to a seatpost on an adult bike. The hinge moves up and down and left and right. I say he had one because his youngest has outgrown it and he got rid of it, luckily he did this when I asked him if I could borrow it. He just gave me it and said he was glad of the room! Thanks Andy.

My Marin hardtail has been chosen as the steed to pull this rather than the Santos. I miss being able to throw a pannier on for picnics, etc, but know I'm mainly going to be using it on trails and tracks with various grades of mud and stuff but generally in good weather. I can still take a small picnic and toolkit in my trail/hydration backpack. I also didn't want to have to move the seatpost mounted light on the Santos. I cut up an aluminium can to make a shim for the seatpost as it was a little loose without but apart from that and putting some air in the tyre it was ready to go. 

I suggested to the Golden Child we had a ride and she said yes (cautiously mind you. She's like that). We ventured to the park down the road from us and she loved it. Just a short trip the first time but when I asked her if we go further the next day she was over the moon. We went through a local park/clough and picked up National Route 6 along The Outwood Trail through Ringley Woods all the way to Radcliffe and back - a trip of 10 miles. She had a cracking time, pedalling some of the way and singing her heart out most of it.

View Tagalong Bike Ride in a larger map

The whole assembly with child handles much better than I expected. We have been leaning into corners and she isn't getting worried when we are going slowly. I thought it would wobble a fair bit but have not really found this an issue. I can pull it quite easily and only needed the small ring once to climb the hill up to the motorway bridge. I see it as good training really. Tissington Trail here we come. Just have to get her Mum as enthusiastic now!

Having an ice cream in the park

Focus Cayo 2.0: Initial Impressions and Test Ride

Well Wiggle have lived up to their normal, great reputation. The bike was delivered on Saturday - two days earlier than expected. It came well packed but was ready assembled bar putting the handlebars on and adding some pedals. It looks great and tips the scales at 8.4 kg. I had one short ride on Sunday evening to set up my position and then did a few miles tonight.

The last time I had a road bike was as a teenager - 24 years ago. I am familiar with dual position, 'safety' brake levers and having the gear change levers on the downtube. Getting used to combined gear and brake levers on the drop bars and using SPD pedals is ensuring I am taking it quite cautiously at the moment. The brakes/shifters are very slick in action (Shimano Ultegra) but just don't feel second nature yet.

I am finding the drop position OK but am used to being more upright so know this will feel strange for the moment. Some reviewers say the bike has a 'race' rather than the slightly more relaxed 'sportive' geometry. I have no comparison to make at the moment but know if all the bikes I try are similar to this I will be using the hoods and tops for most road riding and keeping the drops for when really needed.

Anyway, onto tonights ride. I followed a route I am familiar with which includes a longish incline (the A56 through Whitefield). The bike handled the road surface really well. It delivered good feedback and the steering is very responsive. The carbon frame really damps down the crap that passes for roads around here - I generally try and avoid potholes, drain covers, etc but some just have to be ridden across. I expected to be shaken to bits and was amazed not to be.

On the climb up the road on my tourer/commuter (Santos Travelmaster 2.6 Alu) I normally settle in at 8-9 mph at the steeper start and then manage 11 mph on the longer section as the angle lessens. I was concious not to go 'hell for leather' and then try and compare performance/speeds, so I kept some power in reserve and settled into a comfortable cadence. The bike felt quicker but the speedo confirmed it as I sailed up the steep section at 12-13 mph and the faster section at 14-15 mph. Going downill was more comparable to the Santos at 22-25 mph, which is not a surprise really. 

I am hoping to get a ride of 20 miles or so at the weekend if the weather stays nice. This will really give me more of an idea if I am going to find it comfortable and a definite possible for the road bike I will finally get. As it is at the moment I really like it though.