Had a rather wonderful weekend, and much of it relates to cycling, but not in an exclusive way (I hope!). Finally got around to washing both Derek and Voyager, which was well overdue. Derek had also worn his chain through, and a replacement KMC 99, per the picture, had been bought and was fitted on the Sunday.
Last night I took advantage of the last night of the year when I could take my road bike to [[Herne Hill Velodrome]] for a spell on the track. I arrived early in the foolish hope that I'd be able to get more time on the track, only to find a school session with track bikes was beginning, so since road and track bikes simply do not mix I had to wait my turn. …more
isn't she lovely?
will you look at the back tyre on that!
Hello, my name is Paul And my father is an alcoholic (hit the wall)
I dream of my father's death and it is still his problem (take a breath)
Hello my name is Paul And my mother is dead (hit the nail on the head)
the title says it all - I heard about the situation there from a "Save the Children" spokesperson on Radio Four this morning - and the images haunt me still...
I have developed a coping strategy for my cycling... well for the times when I feel danger has been inflicted upon me, for want of a better expression.
My normal experiences of this are depressingly abusive towards myself - for example recently I was cut up by a driver, quite badly as she turned left despite my loud proclamation, "Please do not cut me up!" an don drawing level with her at the traffic lights she discarded a fag butt in my general direction and told me to "F**K Off" before I could even ask if she knew she had cut me up (obviously it was intentional). I was left feeling shitty despite my best efforts to drop her aura of shittiness all over me.....
But then a couple of days ago things turned out with a most expected outcome... …more
Tomorrow - eleven AM - I am booked in for a ride on the FIRST BAMBOO BIKE in London! More to follow soon , but I am extremely and unreasonably excited....
WOW! More details to come soon - but it was something else - a real blast! If I had unlimited money and enough space in my house/life for another bike this could very well be one I would choose!
It has been a very Spring-like time of late.... rejuvenation of bicycles under varying conditions and the thrill of a third (drum brake on Derek). Also out diary has been very full, happily with some entertaining into the mix. Pictures are to follow above this post which will shed some light on the subject line!
Voyager can has tail light!
If there is one phrase that has become the signature or catch phrase for this year it is "I can't wait until Christmas!". Fortunately it is spoken with such charm and variation in inflection and with a certain sense of timing that it has not become TOO wearing (yet!).
OMG baby,,,,
I seem to have been able to spend so much more on a digital device that I shall be waiting many moons and more to ever see such a device from Comm-Tech
and then there is the official secrets act …more
How to offset the cycling obsession?
Icy weather is likely to make a natural intervention sooner or later at this time of year. It is a time to look towards making things special for the ones I love.
For the first time I can remember I seem to have actually bought all the presents for Christmas before my birthday! …more
Just read the shiny specs next to the picture here and you get some idea why it may be a dark and murky pre-dawn morning, but I have no time to write here, I need to go ride again!
MY new bike! His name is "Voyager", one week old - no time to write, got to ride now!!
Be careful son, my father would say I tell a lie
If I died he would not cry
When his dog dies I watch him cry
When his dog dies I hate myself for crying
But the dog, what of him?
He just sees two lost souls
and, for pities sake, when the dog dies
I see three.
What about you?
PAW ALL SOUL's EVE 2011
Poetry, doggerel, or therapy, you decide.... All comments welcome and, if I know you, I'll take it up with you in the appropriate manner.
Yes, father I am perfectly serious - you are old enough to die of shock now.
Over and out
Basically I need to find a book by [[Henry Miller]] or [[Arthur Miller]] which was mainly biographical but heavily about his years in New York and his relationship with bicycles as much as women.... I am going to use these wikilinks and then (eventually) update the post with the didactic, if you chance upon it before then and what I have said so far interests you then you may want to
…moreWe still managed to take a break with our trusty tandem and the fabulous Aero has hit upon the idea we should give our rides "titles" to make them personally memorable after all if riders "en masse" can enjoy the "[[Dunwich Dynamo]]", say, then why not have "The Sydenham Slam" or something for a great ride we enjoy? I think you get the idea.... so coming to the title of tis post... …more
Well... not content with cycling the byways of Northern Normandy, Derek returns and has ambitions to cycle as far back as he can without recourse to a passport. In fact within sight of the very cliff tops visited by Rory, to the island of Guernsey. …more
Not only that but pictured at the crossroads of a "voie verte" with identifying signing and the typical architecture replete with mandatory geraniums. …more