Tub glue

Tue 20 October 2009

So, I was gluing on some tubs yesterday. In fact I was gluing lots of tubs yesterday. I can’t help but feel that Rob and I had been over exposed to the fairly toxic glue:

My track wheels are finally finished – and looking quite tasty:

Managed to wrestle one tub on yesterday – It was a mission, and I now have blisters on my thumbs. It is no surprise that Tubs are un-common these days.

4 layers of glue on tub, 4 layers of glue on rim. Lots of wrestling.

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Cervélo S2 with Fast Forwards

Tue 20 October 2009

Ohh Snap!

Check this out:

Cervélo S2 with a custom blue paint job from Argos. Some Fast Forward wheels. (also custom blue) and full Campag Chorus.

Now that is a weapon!

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Rotafix - Tighten sprockets without a chainwhip

Sat 17 October 2009

Now, I use a Miche sprocket on my fixie / track bike – these have a carrier so you don’t really need to mess with your sprockets very often.

However, I saw this done the other day after a chain whip broke. I thought it was pretty cool.

So here:

GIOVANNI PETTENELLA sprocket tightening method

Dont forget to use a bit of cloth / t-shirt or something soft on your bottom bracket shell – otherwise you will mess up your paint!

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Cervélo T1

Thu 08 October 2009

Oh my,

Having been on my Cervélo S1 for the whole summer – which has been fantastic! – I’m now looking at the winter. I’m going to be on the track hopefully for the majority of the shit weather.

Well, on the track and on my Strada Fixation.

Anyway, this came through the other day – and Mike was kind enough to taunt me with it.

The Cervélo T1!

UPDATE: My Cervélo S1 is for sale!

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Muscle Cramps

Thu 10 September 2009

I don’t know about you, but I get some killer cramps after rides/runs or during swimming.

I read this very interesting study/discussion from The Science of Sport blog on muscle cramps and how (according to this theory) that they have nothing (or very little) to do with Electrolyte levels in your body.

Very interesting read! For those of you that cannot spare the time, forget about Electrolyte replacement drinks (sure, put back what you loose) but stretch more before and after, train properly and you may well find that you cramp less.

I’ve been putting it to the test for a couple of weeks, doing the same rides, at the same pace, with and without taking in electrolytes. Both with and without stretching before and after.

Put simply, on the hardest rides – without stretching – I cramped with or without electrolyte replacement. But with 15 minutes of stretching before and after (focusing on the tired muscle groups) – even the toughest rides have left me cramp free.. Others make take more convincing, but it works for me.

Part I: Theories and fallacies of muscle cramps

Part 2 explains the previous theory of Electrolyte depletion.

Part II: The electrolyte depletion model of muscle cramps

Part 3 is really the crux of the argument, quite technical, but very well explained.

Part III: A Novel theory for Exercise-associated muscle cramps

Part 4 takes us to the evolution of the theory

Part IV: An explanation of the evolution of science

I’d recommend reading all the comment strings as well. Its a good couple of hours read, but if you cycle, run, swim. Then this concerns you.

Also very interesting, an article on Fluid intake

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New season, new rides around Bristol

Thu 23 April 2009

It’s been ages since i’ve done any updates here.

So far this year, my first frame (most of the story below) was stolen. It was on it’s way up to Liverpool to have some Chroming done on the fork crown and lugs – the couriers van was stolen!

So it’s been lost forever it would seem.

Gary @ Argos Racing Cycles has agreed to let me build #2 frame in their workshop. Thanks Gary!

As a temporary replacement to ride throughout the summer – I’ve bought something completely different to what I built in Colorado. It’s an Aluminium Cervélo S1. I wanted something as far removed from my first frame build – so I did not feel so bad about it.

So far, it’s been amazing – it is arguably one of the best Aluminium frames you can get. It’s a weapon basically. Stiff, comfortable, climbs well, descends well – Great!

Scotland & 7DS

I’ve been to Scotland and rode a stage with Rob Lee(he is a machine) in his 24hr Endurance challenge for his 7 Deadly Spins series Which was great fun.. He managed to do all 7Staines red routes and all the road in between them ( about 180 on road and 90 offroad ) in 23hrs 13min. Totally Insane.

Bristol rides.

Apart from that I’ve got back on the shop rides with Strada Cycles on Saturday mornings and now the daylight has come back, on Tuesday nights. This was last Tuesdays route:

This sunday, i’m going to do a longer ride – to try and extend my range up to 90mile rides. I’m currently only generally going between 30 and 60 miles:

Then around May 12th I’m going to attempt my first Century ride to Barnstaple:

That is almost certainly going completely destroy me – the elevation over Exmoor looks horrible, and i’d like to complete it in under 7 hours riding. I’ll let you know how that works out for me.

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End of first week.

Sun 19 October 2008

Ok I’m writing this after the fact, because, well I had no computer or internet until the end of the first week.

It was great, sunny weather (freezing in the mornings) tons of tube mitering (my least favourite task) a few blisters, burns and cuts later – we had our front triangles brazed up and ready for week two.

Shown here jigged, not brazed on Wednesday or Thursday.

Friday night was also great, Barb and Koichi invited us for a lovely BBQ medly – in which we heard lots of tales of bikes and jollies from years past. Just gave a bit more context to exactly how long Koichi has been making bikes.

Saturday brought a small hangover and stem building class. More jigs, mitering, filing, sanding aligning and brazing. with a very nice stem to finish off.

Sunday was great, a few beers and a nice drive around the GAP state park. Great scenery, some climbers around the place, we visited a fishery (you are leaping with excitement I can tell)

Firstly, on the way out of Rifle – we came across this:

Kum & Go. Dubious no?

Then some really nice scenery

Then some beers

Then the fishery, yay.

Then more lovely scenery

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Crouching lion, Hidden english

Thu 16 October 2008

Day 3 of the frame building.

It’s been below freezing every night and the camp site was way further away from town than I thought.

So I’m staying in a motel with Matt (who is on the course as well)

We’ve been drawing our frame blueprints, mitering tubes, practicing brazing with silver and bronze, filing. Koichi is a legend! his knowledge and experience is incredible. I will post pictures asap but there are world cup winning bikes everywhere here.

We’ve made brazed lugs, fork crowns, and tacked some tubes today. The frame is starting to take shape nicely.

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Lovely Sunday

Sun 12 October 2008

Went and setup the tent today. Nearby is a family in their RV. Its getting chilly but I’m snug in the sleeping bag.

Despite the warning of bears and lions. I’m told that they stay away from where I am.

The jetlag has gone, and i’m about to walk to the Yamaguchi’s house to say hello.

The course starts tomorrow AM. Very excited!

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Rifle Saturday

Sun 12 October 2008

Breakfast at Base Camp was nice, with deer heads on the walls and bandana clad oil worker types, the 6am crowd was thick.

Nicole, Kyle’s friend and our waitress for this un-godly hour is smart and friendly, her sense of humour makes banter in the cafe good fun.

Prepare to camp

Testing the stove, due to extreme incompetence i’ve nearly set my leg on fire with petrol-type fuel. But it’s all good, I know how it works now.

Going to goto the Yamaguchi workshop tomorrow befpre I setup my tent on park land.

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