New wheels

 

Next weekend will be the first time ride on my new wheels. I bought them during the winter; I had planned to have them setup on the bike in April, when the weather usually starts to improve. The intention was to compete in some TT races. That's not going to happen this year, or at least it's unlikely. Regaining lost strength and fitness is going to take me a long time. I may change my mind after I get back from Cornwall depending how tough I found it. Sponsorship link.

They are made from carbon fibre, supplied by Kinetic One: Link to the builder. It's another upgrade to what was a fairly low spec bike in 2012. I bought it second hand a few years ago, from Ross Cycles. Looking back, maybe I should have bought a better bike instead. But I wasn't as committed to road riding at the time. The frame fits me well, but the rest was poor, especially the brakes. It's much improved and the wheels are the icing on the cake.

How do I feel about them?

They look good. The previous wheels had a deeper profile than the originals. These are a step further. 

original wheels

 

Vision 35mm wheels

kinetics one wheels

They are more aerodynamic. No stats to show how much better, but it's proven they will reduce drag and help me maintain speed. One potential downside is that they can be affected by side winds more than shallower wheels. I did talk to Andy the owner of the company and builder of the wheels. He said I shouldn't notice it too much because they are designed to minimise this. I'm a light rider so I hope he's right. My weight means going deeper is not a good idea. If you want a little techy info click here.

They are lighter. This will help climbing and acceleration. My bike is on the heavy end of the scale for a road bike. The Vision wheels saved a little, these have reduced it again. Any more upgrades would definitely be in the diminishing returns category. The only solution may be a new frame. Maybe I'll look at this option; transferring everything from my present bike.

The real test will be as I get stronger; I can then compare them more fairly to my pre crash rides. 

Being able to talk to the wheel builder is a big advantage. I initially sent an info request some months before I was considering a purchase. Andy called a few hours later. I had a few concerns: one was braking with carbon wheels. They tend to be worse than alloy in the wet. He did say I would notice a difference, but it's not as bad an issue as it once was. We talked for a long time about what I should expect, and cycling in general. This wouldn't happen with one of the big manufacturers. At best I'd be talking to a customer services person, and not the builder. We spoke again when I'd decided to buy the wheels. It helped me to be confident I was making the right decision.

A big test will be Cornwall; 500 miles over six days. Any advantage I can get will be welcome.

On the road again

Last Thursday I finally got confirmation that I could ride on the road. There were some nerves as I started off. And I wasn't sure how far I would go; any direction has hills I'd have to climb on the way back.

It had been a long time in the garage on the trainer; I'd been riding it since the 24th April and completed 413 miles. I wasn't sure how much I'd lost since February, and how much had been regained. It will probably be a few more months of hard work to get to where I was.

So what was my first ride and to where? With the club, alone or with Matt?

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I went to Tatsfield village. There is only one hill of note in each direction along fairly quiet lanes. I took the mountain bike; it's very low gears and the big tyres gave an easy and compliant ride. And met Matt for coffee.

coffee in tatsfield

Sunday was a little longer ride; to Westerham. It felt great. I know I'm not yet as fit or as strong as I was. But I'm not as far off as I thought.  

Chatting to Matt, he asked if there had been a time when I thought about cancelling my ride to Cornwall. I replied, "no". I admit I was unsure during the first couple of days after the crash. The surgeon said there was a chance the blood supply may have been compromised, and a potential for nerve damage. Once I was moving around the ward with a walking frame, and the swelling started to reduce it never entered my mind that I wouldn't do the ride. Albeit with a reduced daily distance. 

Having completed these two rides I am even more confident it's within capabilities. With the bank holiday weekend coming up I'll be riding with my club. It'll be a chance to ride further, to test my endurance.

I went to the office in London on Friday; walking down to the station in the valley and then from Victoria to near Oxford Circus, and back. I awoke Saturday morning with an aching hip, or to be more precise two. It had been a long time since I'd walked so much. With errands to do this was not good news. Once I got moving though everything freed up a bit. The cycling makes a big difference, helping with flexibility.

I have also signed up for a local hill climb event. I've done it twice before;  it will be interesting what I can achieve this year. Link to my previous efforts.

A link to my dad

Whilst rearranging storage to make room for my home office I opened a box that contained three film cameras. One is mine, the others belonged to my dad.

I have not used them in a very long time.

Film is hard to buy, few places stock it. Luckily I have a camera shop near me that had some, but not for dad's cameras. They are medium format and use 120mm film. I'd have to order it, processing would be another challenge. They are also far from straightforward to use, with shutter and aperture settings spread around the lens rather than on the camera body.

Film has been in decline for a long time. Many people will never have loaded film into a camera, instead they would have insert a memory card. Taking a picture and not seeing the results until the roll was developed would be also be a weird experience.

I have mentioned this before; my dad was an avid photographer when we were kids. He developed the film too. We have many draws full of prints. 

Using his cameras will kind of linked us both again.

When I bought the two rolls I asked if rather than being printed they could be supplied digitally. Yes was the answer; saved to a CD. Who has access to a computer with a CD drive nowadays? I asked about a USB drive, and they said if I bring one they will copy onto it. Surely a better way would be via download from web storage. It's the way I deliver pictures to people.

I wish now that I had been more involved with my dads photography when I was growing up. And that digital had come into my life earlier. 

As I took the pictures in this post it really hit me what a missed opportunity it was to not to have been part of his hobby.

I did use my film camera a lot, until my late teens. And then I rarely took a photograph; maybe the occasional holiday snap. Another regret.

I often think about my dad. Photography focuses me. This film project more so.

They are an Agfa Isolette L and an older Ensign Selfix 820. Both being completely manual, not even having a rangefinder. I do remember seeing a device that clipped to the top to measure distance for focusing. But I don't know where it is now. The newer one does at least have a light meter.

My camera is the FED 4, is much more modern. I say my camera; I don't remember if it was bought for me, or I borrowed it.

I'll just use the FED 4, searching online for their history the other two could well be seventy to eighty years old. Unfortunately the leather case of the Ensign partially came apart as I opened it, so it and the Agfa will be going back in cupboard.

I can't walk far at the moment, so the photowalk will have to wait. I want to revisit locations where I've previously taken pictures with the digital camera.

Watch this space.

 

A year in pictures

I ride after work, along very familiar roads. The passing seasons are on view for most of the route. I chose a location that had a reasonable view, and was close to home. I try to take them at roughly the same time of day, during my after work ride. But the winter months presented a challenge, so sometimes it's earlier.

May

 

June

 

 

July

August

September

October

I had to lean the bike against the fence to include the sunset in the shot. It's getting dark very quickly in the evening.

November

The clocks had gone back, it's dark before I left the house. I used the log that was a prop for the bike as a light stand. Look at the light pollution in the distance, it seems never to get fully dark.

December was more of the above, so during the week I was in the garage on the trainer. It wasn't until near the end of the month that I took this one. On the way back from a short post Christmas ride.

December

The bike got so filthy everytime I went out, the previous day had been a long ride in nearly continuous rain. I got home soaked, but not cold. It had been very mild for a week or so. The solstice had passed, so the days were getting longer. But it was still dark before I finished work.

misty January morning

February

February's picture was taken very early in the month, and in the morning. I didn't have much time so it was a solo ride. I did stop at Flower Farm for a hot drink though. It didn't look it but there was a chill in the air. Still warmer than a typical day at this time of the year. The grass was frosty when left the house, melting before I reached my photography spot.

March

After coming off on ice at the end of February my steed for March was the above.

April

April saw a small improvement. Still no ride to the photo location, and it's too far to walk at the moment. I have to be satisfied with the garage bike for now.

On my bike again

 

I'm moving forward again. Previous highlights were having the stitches removed. Then the all-clear to put a bit of weight on my leg and start physio. Now I've ridden for a couple of times, albeit in the garage.

I knew I'd lost a bit of strength and fitness, but I wasn't prepared for how much.

The good news is that it didn't hurt to get on the trainer. It hurt to bend forward to the bars.

I started on the lowest resistance, warmed up and cranked it up a bit. My heart rate climbed quickly and my leg muscles started to complain

During the next forty-five minutes I turned the dial up and down, to see what I was capable of. Torn between pushing myself and not wanting to do any damage.

I've been doing half an hour after work during the week, and two sessions each day of the weekend.

Things are improving: leg strength, fitness and the hip pain.

I will soon be riding with Matt and Oxted CC again. It is dependant on the next hospital appointment at the end of May.

Antisocial?

 

My enforced break from cycling has been tough. I've been watching even more youtube videos chronically other people's cycling adventures and challenges. The last one was about two childhood friends completing the Great Divide (GD) route, North to South across America. From the Canadian to the Mexican borders.

It reminded me of the two multi day rides with Richard and Matthew. Although London to Paris and the South Downs Way are a long way short of the 2400 miles they rode. The shared memories mean a lot to me.

Then there are the rides with Matt and Oxted CC. A few hours when we are just in the moment and other stuff takes a back seat.

I have mentioned this years ride to Cornwall - sponsorship link at the top of the page. And my plans for next year and beyond.

I have some questions.

Do I invite others? 

Does anyone want to join me?

How will having companions affect the trip?

The first question is partially dependant on the second.

The third has two answers. The trip will be improved and made more complicated. Arranging more people's calendars' can be tricky.

It also depends what bikes other people have. The terrain has to be suitable and accessible. Daily distances need to be achievable for eveyone.

If it's just me, I can go when, where and as far as I want. Very simple.

Am I antisocial to want to be alone sometimes?

If anyone does wants to join me for a mult-day ride next year; what do I have planned?

I will ride my mountain bike to Bristol over two days, stay overnight. Then take the same amount of time to do this route created by Will Cycle. Returning home the same way. Why the MTB you may ask. The Will Cycle loop is a mix of cycle ways, green lanes, gravel and road. He says a road bike could do it, but I have a bike more suitable. The ride to Bristol will be on the road , 65 miles a day is okay on a MTB.

I would like also like to do a WW1 inspired ride in France. It's partly the reason for me learning French. But that may be for another year.