Tales of cycle commuting

Travel information reminder

2012-01-17T23:22:00.003Z

I recently received an email from Transport for London:

I am writing to both cyclists and drivers to remind them to take care on London’s roads.

Cyclists are reminded to:
Be aware of blind spots all around large vehicles. It’s often safer to hang back
Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they have seen you
Not ride through red traffic lights. It’s dangerous and you can be fined £30
Allow space between you and parked vehicles. Doors may be opened suddenly
Cycle training courses are available in most London boroughs.

For more information, please visit tfl.gov.uk/cyclesafety

Yours sincerely,

Ben Plowden
Director, Surface Planning

I decided to compose an addendum to that letter:

I am writing to both cyclists and drivers to remind them to take care on London’s roads.

Drivers are reminded to:
Be aware of cyclists approaching a junction or a parked vehicle. It’s often safer to hang back than try and overtake at the last possible instant and potentially cause an accident
Make sure to look out for cyclists and pedestrians
Not drive through red traffic lights. Do not wait in the ASL box. It’s dangerous and you can be fined £30
Allow space between you and the cyclist in front. When overtaking give enough space to your left.
Driving training courses are available all over London.

For more information, please visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/freight/hgvs_and_road_safety.aspx

Yours sincerely,
Wokingham Cyclist

The bottle cage that is not a cage (Vincero Design bottle cage)

2012-01-13T16:35:00.002Z

I just saw a report from the London Bike Show 2012 where a new kind of bottle 'cage' was presented: the Vincero (italian for 'I will win') bottle holder.

http://www.vincero-design.com/

What I like about this bottle holder design is that it is exactly what folding bikes need: the compact design allows mounting a bottle which can be quickly detached without affecting the overall folded package.

The bottle is held in place by a strong magnet and the shape of the slot on the bottle. Similar to the Dahon Magnetix system that holds my folding bike folded.

The only draw back I can think of, for now, is the fact that only a Vincero bottle fits this design of bottle holder.

But if the design catches on, and other manufacturers decide to produce compatible bottles, then this has the potential of satisfying quite a range of applications.

I am impressed. But what do you think?

Time to fit winter tyres, again...

2012-01-12T23:06:00.000Z

I had winter tyres (Schwalbe Marathon Winter) fitted for most of December 2011 and it didn't snow. It was icy at times, certainly cold enough to justify having winter tyres fitted, but I had yet to experience the beauty and joy of riding on snow covered roads this winter.

As the weather got milder during the Christmas break, I switched back to the tyres I regularly ride on all year round.

This week end though, the BBC weather forecast is promising a dip in temperatures in the South East, well below freezing.

I have just finished fitting the winter tyres back on my folding bike, and I noticed that one of the studs has nearly fallen off:

I manage to reseat the stud back in the tyre, which was originally mounted on the rear. I had already lost two studs in just over 100 miles from the front tyre, but fortunately none from the rear yet. As there are more than 160 studs on each tyre, I am not too worried at the moment. Please bear in mind these are 20 inch tyres, and are therefore under a lot more stress and need to be kept at higher pressures than their 26 and 28 inch cousins.

I really hope it is going to snow soon, I am really looking forward to some fun this weekend!

Dahon Mu P8 performance tweak: brakes

2012-01-11T00:50:00.000Z

Right from the start, the brake pads on my Dahon Mu P8 were quite noisy.

Initially they were squealing when the rim was cold and wet, just like it would with almost any brake pad.

But more recently, roughly after riding 150 miles, the squeak increased to a point it was becoming embarrassing when stopping at junctions.

I tried aligning them a couple of times to try and reduce the noise, but I just couldn't silence them enough.

Luckily, Dahon fitted standard V-brakes to their folding bikes.

So I went online and purchased a set of pads that could not just reduce or eliminate the noise, but also perform a bit better, especially when the rim was wet.

I bought a set of BBB BBS-14T brake pads from online retailer Wiggle

The actual rubber pads can be replaced without the need to remove the supporting shoe.

I then proceeded to install the new pads by first removing and examining the old ones:

And installed the new pads both at front and rear:

Taking care of aligning them to the rim and centering them to the wheel, so as to give the best performance:

The black finish of the shoe happens to complement the looks of my bike quite nicely too!

Performance

The BBB BBS-14T brake pads resolved the squeal problem completely.

Their braking performance is also vastly superior to the original equipment brake pads, especially in the wet.

I am satisfied and will purchase replacement pads when these ones wear out.

Steve Jobs on bicycles

2012-01-09T22:41:00.002Z

I love computers, and I love bicycles. I am a cycling geek. For that reason, you won't hear me quoting Steve Jobs often, but here is a pearl of genius...

"I think one of the things that really separates us from the high primates is that we’re tool builders. I read a study that measured the efficiency of locomotion for various species on the planet. The condor used the least energy to move a kilometer. And, humans came in with a rather unimpressive showing, about a third of the way down the list. It was not too proud a showing for the crown of creation. That didn’t look so good. Then somebody at Scientific American had the insight to test the efficiency of locomotion for a man on a bicycle. And, a man on a bicycle, a human on a bicycle, blew the condor away, completely off the top of the charts.
And that’s what a computer is to me. A computer is the most remarkable tool that we’ve ever come up with, and it’s the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds.” ~ Steve Jobs

Vittoria Open Pave Evo CG review: Jan 2012 update

2012-01-07T20:41:00.002Z

It's been over a year since I fitted a pair of Vittoria Open Pave Evo CG to my Kiron Scandium road race bike.

The tyres have been great in all the conditions I face throughout a typical year of British weather and roads.

It is a very comfortable tyre, very grippy in the wet, predictable even at freezing temperatures, and so far very reliable. But I haven't done many miles on it: I have only covered about 1,500 miles on this pair since Oct 2010.

The only information of interest to potential buyers is that the tyres, as already mentioned, has a very soft tread which obviously is subject to be cut more easily by road debris.

This is a cut on the rear tyre, caused by some barbed wire I cycled over on a cycle lane in Wokingham, which didn't result in a puncture.

The tread pattern is worn but there is still plenty of rubber underneath.

This cut on the front tyre was the result of a flint embedding itself in the tyre and did cause a puncture.

It happened after riding a mile on a detour through a gravel path: more cyclo cross than road riding.

A similar puncture happened with my previous pair of Continental GP 4000S, also caused by a flint caught on a gravel path.

20 inch Schwalbe Marathon Winter studded tyres review

2012-01-04T00:40:00.000Z

I recently fitted a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Winter tyres to my folding bike, in size 20x1.6

These tyres are suitable for use in icy/snowy conditions and generally when the temperatures drop below 3C.
Compared to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker I use on my hybrid, the Marathon Winter are intended for road use only, and are meant to be run at higher pressures.

When riding on ice clear roads, a pressure of about 60 to 80 psi is recommended, since that will ensure the studs make minimum contact with the tarmac. Even at those pressures though, these tyres are quite noisy.

The studs look very similar to the ones on the Ice Spiker, but in just under 20 miles I had already lost two studs:

The picture above was taken after covering more than 100 miles at temperatures between -1C and 6C.

I am told Schwalbe send a set of spare studs free of charge to whomever happens to lose some. I don't think two studs out of 160 is really significant. Incidentally, I only lost studs when I was running the tyres at higher pressures, and only from the tyre fitted at the front.

UPDATE: When fitting them again in January 2012, I noticed one of the studs was about to fall off the rear tyre too.

Riding Impressions
The Schwalbe Marathon Winter, on dry or icy surfaces, behave very similarly to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker. Therefore I invite you to read my review of that tyre to know more about these wonderful safety tool!

Fitting to a folding bike
The size is similar to other 1.6" wide tyres such as the Schwalbe Marathon Supreme fitted as standard to my Dahon Mu P8:

Once fitted, the mudguard clearance on my Mu P8 is quite good:

I just had to make sure that the front mudguard stays didn't interfere with the studs and avoid the consequent rattling:

Tern folding bicycles: question about cable routing

2011-12-29T12:52:00.001Z

I have recently seen a video review of the Tern Link P9 and what concerned me about the new folding mechanism is the routing of the cables over the handlepost.

With my Dahon Mu P8, the folded handle post fits in between the two halves of the frame. The cables are therefore routed within the frame itself. They do not stick out and make the folded package quite neat (not Brompton neat, but quite neat).

As you can see from this picture (extracted from my post about intermodal commute), this particular requirement is very important for intermodal transport:

Now, from most pictures I see of 20" terns, the cables seem to stick out from the folded package. This would be quite an inconvenience: any train passenger standing or passig by the folded bike will likely catch into the cables.

I found one picture online where the cables weren't sticking out but I wonder if there is a tecnique to get this particularly neat routing:

One difference I found between the Dahon Vector and the Tern Verge series, is that the Vector's handlepost folds forward: this naturally routes the cables over the handlepost latch in a neat way.

Also, I found that Terns used by most reviewers have had the front brake calipers mounted at the back of the fork; but on their website, Tern shows the front caliper mounted at the front of the fork.

The fundametal questions are

What is the current cable routing like? Are there any pictures clearly showing it?
Is there a way to achieve the cable routing I found a picture of?
Do production Terns have a brake caliper mounted in front of or behind the fork? Why the inconsistency between the pictures on the website and what is available in the shops?

I am not yet able to see a Tern in person as they will only be available in April here in the U.K.

But since I need to plan how to spend my money, in the era of the Internet, one would expect pictures to reflect reality, and information to be available online.

You might consider the issue of the neatness of the package as a minor issue. But in and around London, public transport is essential, and it is very busy: I take a train at 5.56 in the morning and by the time it gets near London (around 6:45AM) it is nearly packed with commuters.

At the moment, the size of a 20" Dahon is just about as big as you can fit without conflict with other passengers.

Yes it does ride better than a Brompton, but that is not to say that a Brompton rides badly. Bromptons are made to be as neat and transportable as possible when folded. They still manage an OK ride and their quality is high. Unfortunately, because of their design, their application is rather limited if compared to bigger wheeled alternatives like Dahon and Tern.

I am currently waiting for an informed reply, with pictures.

Tern Link: Video review collection

2011-12-25T17:14:00.002Z

The first professional video review of a Tern Link P9 by Peter at NYCE Wheels, a bicycle shop in New York City, dedicated to folding bicycles and intermodal sustainable transport solutions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3DwLVAaYz4&hd=1

The Tern Link P9 is the Tern equivalent to my Dahon Mu P8.

It is a very nicely made bike: it is the way Dahon bikes should have always been like, or maybe not?

This is instead a simple yet effective video demonstation of a Tern Link D8, the Link P9's cheaper cousin:

Tern Link D8 from priblizovadla on Vimeo.

My favourite remains the Tern Verge X30h: a portable race bike, which would enable me to enjoy fast long rides (50miles or more) in the beautiful places I sometimes visit with my family, without the need to worry about luggage space.

http://www.ternbicycles.com/bikes/verge-x30h

Packing a folding bike, being so convenient because there is no need for a bike carrier, makes the whole "going for a ride in the morning while on holiday" a lot less cumbersome and more spontaneous.

Update on MET Forte review: after 18 months of use

2011-12-23T21:41:00.001Z

After my review back in July 2010, I have been using my MET Forte cycling helmet nearly every day since. Recently I have also used it for my intermodal commute.

I have been very happy with the fit and performance of this helmet in regards to comfort. It is now showing some signs of wear and tear, plus a few accidental knocks during transfers.

The parts that suffer the most are the ones not protected by the outer shell.

The inner pads, after a just few washes, started to change appearance. They maintained their overall shape and have been performing well, but at first I was worried they were going to come apart. Fortunately they haven't yet; I might though buy a replacement set just in case they get discontinued.
Maybe investing in the MET Fortissimo, with its gel pads, is not a bad idea!

Commuting with a folding bicycle

2011-12-19T23:49:00.000Z

As I mentioned in a previous post, my commuting regime has changed considerably.
Not only I am cycling a longer distance on a very busy route through Greater London; I am also making use of what is commonly known as intermodal commute, using a Dahon folding bicycle.

In essence, when I take a train, I use my folding bike to cycle between train station, office, and home.

I stay at different locations at the weekend and during the week, so I use both South West Trains and Southeastern Railway services.

Travelling on the train
When I travel on South West Trains between Wokingham and London Waterloo, I board the very early 5.53AM train. I am therefore one of the first passengers to get on board. I usually sit in the very last carriage and occupy a seat that allows me to place the folded Dahon Mu P8 next to me without causing trouble to other passengers:

(In these pictures, you can also see the set of Marathon Winter tyres I recently bought)

When the train is full, or can't get a seat next to the bike, I usually park my bike by the side of doors:

I usually park my bike on the side of the doors matching the direction of travel: if the train brakes suddenly, my bike will not fall onto someone's feet!

Bicycles on trains policy

Other passengers are generally accommodating of me taking my folding bike on the train. And both Soth West Trains and Southeastern have bicycle policies which allows folding bicycles at any time of day.

One thing to keep in mind is that some train companies insist the bike is folded before entering the station. I have been asked a few times, at London Waterloo, to fold my bike before going through the manned gate; this only happens during peak times (i.e. before 7PM).

Saving time

The greatest advantage of combining trains and bikes is the incredible flexibility that this offers. Train journeys are mostly quite pleasant, unless a train is delayed or overcrowded.

When taking a folding bike, not only we reduce the total time to destination, but we also gain the flexibility of choosing different routes or simply cycle a bit longer and reach other destinations.

Dahon Mu P8: Hints and Tips

2011-12-12T23:15:00.000Z

After riding my Dahon Mu P8 for a few months and over 200 miles, I have a few hints and tips to help prospective buyers and fellow owners.

Folding and unfolding the Dahon Mu P8 is quite straightforward, after a bit of practice. I can now fold/unfold it in just under 15 seconds. Ten seconds if I am going to miss the train!

I find that if I I turn the saddle back to front when folding, I have a much better grip when transporting the folded package:

The front light does not need to be detached when folding: the handle bar twists so that the light is out of the way, just like the brakes:

The Magnetix system that holds the two halfs together when folded works for me, but there are two caveats to be aware of to make sure of that:

the telescopic handle post must be raised all the way until the red dot is visible;
with the kickstand fitted, the handle post must be raised an inch more, just so that the handle bar bracket doesn't interfere with the kickstand.

The handle post folding hinge also needs to be greased or lubed in order to prevent a creaking sound when pulling onto it while pedaling.

The bike can be rolled on its wheels when folded, but it is not the most comfortable way of transporting it I must say. I now prefer to just unfold it and push it.
Or, if going shopping, placing it in a shopping trolley! Picture to follow...

Occasionally the handle bar hinge needs to be tightened, to prevent the handle bar to twist when operating the grip shift.

I also find it useful to mark the preferred seat post and handle post height with a marker pen. I also mark the 'straight ahead' position with a dot to make it quicker to position the saddle.

The handle post can sometimes twist along its axle: this is due to the telescopic handle post design. There are several techniques to stop this from happening; I simply tighten the handle post quick release very tight and lube the quick release shims so that it is easier to tighten: I only had to do that once and never had to tighten the quick release again.

The SRAM 8 speed grip shift is perfect for a folding bike: due to the process of folding and unfolding, the gear shift cable tends to have some slack which affects the alignment of the rear derailer. Fortunately, the SRAM grip shift comes with a barrel adjuster positioned immediately to the front of the handle grip, in addition to the more standard barrel adjuster at the derailer end.
If after unfolding, the shifting to higher or lower gears is not as precise (it either skips a gear or fails to engage), then one or two quarter turns of the handle barrel adjuster is usually enough to rectify the situation.

Dahon Mu P8 review

2011-12-05T23:11:00.000Z

In September this year, I decided to upgrade my ageing and cheap Pyramid 16 inch folding bike to a Dahon Mu P8.

The specs are available on the Dahon website, and they are specific for each country. In the UK we get Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 20 x 1.6 tyres, SKS mudguards, Ergon-like grips, the ArcLite pannier rack and a kickstand. The folding pedals are also supplied and I believe are made by Wellgo.

I fitted a set of Smart Lunar lights,

and an Altura landing strip to attach my Altura Dry-line rack bag.

I was pleased to find out that my enormous 56 litre Altura pannier bags do fit with minimal pedal interference:

What's it like to ride a 20 inch Dahon Mu P8?

Riding a Dahon Mu P8 does not feel any different to riding a more upright and smaller 26 inch hybrid.

It does though give the additional benefit of smaller wheels which help when negotiating stationary traffic.

The 20x1.6 Schwalbe Marathon Supreme are excellent tyres, which if inflated to the recommended 80 psi rear / 60 psi front, give very little rolling resistance and still provide cushioning from most pot holed road surfaces.

The shifting is very positive, the rear derailer is quick to engage cogs and ground clearance is enough that getting too close to kerbs is not going to be an issue.

I find that if I down shift to cog 3 when stopping at junctions, I get a very quick acceleration off the line and I can then quickly shift to cog 5 or 6 for normal cruising. The two additional cogs (7 and 8) are great when engaging in a bit of SCR or simply riding a tail wind or a gentle downhill.

Upgrades

Brakes could be better: I am planning to upgrade the pads to Shimano XT style pads which would improve performance and reduce noise considerably.

The stock saddle, a Biologic Aria, is tailored for comfort on short journeys.
To improve the handling, comfort and pedaling efficiency, I am planning to upgrade to a saddle more suited to me, such as the Selle Italia C2 currently fitted to my hybrid commuter.

I have also compiled a list of hints and tips for fellow owners and prospective buyers.

Change of commute

2011-11-15T22:39:00.001Z

No more commuting on blissful Berkshire country lanes for me. Not any more.

I now commute in the hustle and bustle of Central London.

I got a new job in June working for a financial software company in the City.

But I haven't stopped commuting by bike.

My commuting regime now involves a 1h 10' train journey from Wokingham to London Waterloo early on a Monday morning, and a return train journey on a Friday evening.

I ride my folding bicycle from home to Wokingham station, which takes 5 minutes, and then ride from London Waterloo station to the office in the City, which takes between 15 and 20 minutes. I am in the office by 7.30 AM.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, I ride my hybrid from Orpington, where I stay during the week, all the way into the City, and back. A return trip of around 32 miles which takes me through Chislehurst, Blackheath, Greenwich, and London Bridge. In total my journey takes 1h 10' each way, but it is under 1h of cycling; the rest is made up of waiting at junctions and filtering through heavy traffic. I still get to work by 8 AM.

I absolutely love it!

Cycling in Central London is great; I am so involved with all the traffic around me, buses, vans, black cabs, lorries, pedestrians, and the few fools in private vehicles; I get to work and I am buzzing!

The folding bike I bought for the Monday morning/Friday evening commutes is a not so compact but ever so fast Dahon Mu P8, of which I ~~am going to describe a few features in a follow up post~~ wrote a post about recently.

track pump showdown: Tesco Via Velo floor vs. Bikehut Performance track

2011-11-15T21:21:00.001Z

Last week I bought a Tesco Via Velo floor pump with gauge for GBP 18.00

I tried it on both my hybrid's Presta tubes, and on my folding bike's Schrader tubes.

In both instances, the head would not seat on the valve properly; with the Presta valve, the pump's head got stuck and nearly ripped the valve core off. Attempting to remove the head from the valve caused loosing several psi's worth of inflation.

With the Schrader valve, the head would not stay on the valve at inflations higher than 60 psi. Reaching the required 80 psi was a struggle!

Needless to say I returned the pump the next day for a full refund.

Very disappointed.

On the other hand, the Halfords Bikehut Performance track pump I bought nearly three years ago for GBP 30.00 is still working well and can pump the Vittoria Open Pave' tyres on my race bike up to 140 psi effortlessly.

A rigid fork to improve the ride (Kinesis Maxlight XLT review)

2011-11-03T23:54:00.000Z

Back in May this year, I replaced my old suspension fork with a rigid fork, a Kinesis Maxlight XLT.

The improvements are outstanding!

The Ride
The ride quality of my hybrid has drastically improved since fitting the fork.
The front end of my bike is now so light, I have noticed improvements during climbs and changes of direction.

The feel for the road is much more vivid, vibrations are still dampened somewhat by the steel from which this fork is made, but it's all very lively.
It is not the most rigid of forks, so under load you can perceive a certain degree of flex. Nothing that would make the ride less safe, just comfortable.

I have now put about 1,000 miles on this fork and can recommend it to anyone thinking about switching.

I have recently ridden a hybrid with front suspension and would never dream of riding one again on tarmac!

Fitting
In the picture above you can see both forks side to side.
The old fork (left) didn't even work as intended anymore, being mostly semi-rigid and clunky. It also weighed nearly 3 Kg (8 lbs).
The new fork (right) weighs less than 1 Kg (2.2 lbs) and that's with a full length steerer, which I had to cut down.

Once fitted, my hybrid looks as if it was always meant to be fitted with one. The fork's paint scheme matches the frame's; the geometry is spot on, the Kinesis fork being suspension corrected.

To cut the steerer I used quality tools: a steerer tube cutting guide, secured to a vise. A quality 32 TPI bladed saw, and a curved file to remove any sharp edges left after the cut.

I reused all the existing components on the new fork: the headset and the crown race.

The original headset was still in excellent condition and there was no need to replace it. All the bike shops I asked would have charged me for a new headset, which I didn't need.

The crown race, which is the metal ring supporting the headset bottom bearings, was easily removed from the original fork.

Unfortunately, one thing I completely forgot to buy was a steerer crown race setter tool, to set the old crown race on the new fork.
It was not easy to let a very tight fitting and delicate ring of metal go straight on to the new fork. It required a very steady hand, and the use of a flat head screwdriver and a hammer to gently but securely knock it into place.

The one thing I needed to buy was a new star flange nut. Instead of a traditional nut, I decided to buy a reusable and easier to fit nut, a Hope Hed Doctor headset adjuster.

This nut allows itself to be unscrewed and reused. It is compatible with carbon, aluminium and steel steerer tubes.
One thing to remember when fitting it, is to read the instructions carefully and ensure that the nut body falls easily into the steerer before tightening.
Another thing to consider is that the job of the head nut is to simply pre-load the stem onto the headset in order to allow the stem to be tightely fitted at the correct height. It is the job of the stem to utlimately press it all together. You should be able to remove the head nut completely once the stem is fitted.
If you read any reports where people have stripped the head nut bolt or have concerns about its ability to stay tightly pressed, ignore them.

One last note: the Kinesis Maxlight XLT is compatible with v-brakes and disc brakes, but does not come pre-drilled for mudguards. This is probably a reflection of the intended audience of such fork.
I therefore installed a rubber cap in the bottom of the steerer tube, allowing my SKS mudguards to be secured to the fork:

Kickstand

2011-04-08T11:17:00.002+01:00

Soundgarden knew what they were talking about, when they wrote their song Kickstand.

So I bought myself a kickstand for my commuter.

I didn't know which one to get, so I popped into my local Halfords and bought a centre/side adjustable kickstand. Probably one of the cheapest on the market.

I fitted it in minutes, and to this day (2 months later) I am still reaping the benefits.

The benefit of not needing a wall to stand my bike against when loading and unloading my panniers.

The benefit of:

being able to easily attach and detach my son's trail-gator;
knowing that my bike won't just fall off when waiting for me outside in the rain;
not leaning my bike against the corners of my garage walls scratching the leather saddle;
being able to stop just about anywhere and take a picture of my trusty steed.

If you were ever wondering if a kickstand is worth the extra (but negligible) weight, let me tell you that it most definitely is!

Schwalbe Ice Spiker review

2010-12-16T22:59:00.002Z

I recently reported my first impressions riding the Schwalbe Ice Spiker on dry tarmac.

Now I can finally report about their performance on ice and snow covered roads and paths.

What do they feel like to ride

On dry tarmac, once you have dialed in the inflation pressure, after the first 20 or so miles of run in period, they feel just like any regular knobbly tyre. Although very noisy!

On fresh snow, they perform just like any mud tyre with excellent clearing properties.

On compacted snow, they just glide effortlessly, occasionally giving a sort of sliding sensation but always grippy. The 50 TPI carcass definitely helps here.

On sheet ice, they are fantastic! You get a sort of slip-grip effect, which once you get used to it, becomes positively reassuring.

With these tyres, I can achieve the same average speeds as my usual winter commute, around 16 mph, without ever worrying about falling.
Top speed on ice about 30 mph, downhill. 18 to 20 mph cruising, on sheet ice, is something to be experienced to be believed.

If when braking hard front tyre locks up, it will still track straight, and won't slip from under me. It is a huge safety benefit.

The studs are very durable: I have so far covered about 150 miles with these tyres, out of which 100 on dry tarmac. They are made of steel and tungsten carbide. They also appear to have sort of flat head rather then a pointy one (such as found on the Ice Spiker Pro).

I know most people will probably think I am nuts riding on snow and ice covered roads.
But who is the real nut? Me or someone driving on icy roads without winter tyres?

The picture above was taken, on my regular commute, the morning after most of the snow had gone. Roads were still icy.

Schwalbe Ice Spiker preview

2010-11-25T22:42:00.009Z

NOTE: There is an up to date review of these tyres.

Over the last few days, the UK has experienced colder than average temperatures.

This is apparently due to a stream of cold air from Scandinavia which is going to persist for a few more days, possibly weeks.

It has already brought snow to several parts of Scotland and Northern England. It is expected to bring snow down South too.

In preparation for the possibility of snow and ice on the road, I decided to invest in a set of studded tyres.

Out of the few available on the UK market, I selected the ones that, due to my experience last winter, were likely to be the most suitable to the road conditions around where I live.

I therefore purchased a pair of Schwalbe Ice Spiker.

They have deep knobs and plenty of studs (just over 300), which are distributed over the entire footprint.

The reason for choosing these over more conventional and less aggressive ones, such as the Schwalbe Marathon Winter, was dictated by three factors: availability, price, road conditions.

Most studded tyres are in stock but in low supply in the UK, so unless you purchase them when they are in stock during the summer, you might be unlucky and need to wait for them to be back in stock, by which time the weather conditions might have already changed.
The Schwalbe Ice Spiker were in stock and I didn't want to risk being without.

The price was also a factor: studded tyres, being a niche market, are expensive! These were £45 each. Not the most expensive, not the cheapest.

The third criteria was road conditions: last year we experienced a long cold spell, and the repeated thaw/freeze cycle, together with compacted snow and ungritted roads, resulted in a great variety of conditions on several routes.

I travel on pavements, cycle tracks, residential roads, and main roads, all of which had a layer of ice with uncompacted and compacted snow on top.

If I had to have just one set of studded tyres, due to price and availability, it had to be the one that could deal with the worst conditions found on unplowed roads.

The tyre had to be able to shed off snow, therefore a mud tyre design. And it had to have studs all over the surface to deal with ice in all conditions.

The Schwalbe Ice Spiker ticked all the boxes.

They come with instructions which recommend a run in period of 25 miles of gentle riding (no hard braking/accelerations) on dry tarmac.

Therefore, last night I fitted them to the spare set of rims, and this morning I set off for my commute to work, which incidentally is exactly 25 miles.

The tyres felt a bit slippery at first, but that was most likely due to the pressure I pumped them at initially: 40 PSI front and 50 PSI rear.

My previous experience riding on snow and ice tought me that lower pressures make riding on slippery surfaces more predictable. So I let some air out of the tyres, down to maybe 30PSI or even less, and the ride became quite enjoyable.

You can tell there are bits of metal between you and the road, especially due to the loud noise! These tyres are very loud.

So far, my conclusion is that, until the weather gets worse, I will probably be better off using regular mud or cross country knobbly tyres on my daily commute until February, just in case I have to ride on fresh powdery snow on my return journey from the office.

Unless that is, it snows overnight at which point I will definitely switch back to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker and will keep them on until the road conditions improve so far that ice is not an issue anymore.

Sportful winter cycling gear review

2010-10-17T21:15:00.010+01:00

Sportful is an Italian make, and I have been purchasing their items ever since I found them to be the most comfortable and best value for money.

I have tried other brands, and have found alternatives to be suitable, but when I am in need of some new item and don't want to waste time browsing the catalogues, I just log on to Wiggle.co.uk, search for 'Sportful' and just buy whatever fits the bill.

I have purchased several items over the past couple of years and I could review them all, but since this is a blog and it is coming to Winter, I will review the most recent and most suitable items I recently purchased:

This is a combination I would recommend for looks and performance.

The Sportful Axiom windproof jersey is tight fitting, has a high neck, and uses thermodrytex at the back and Gore WindStopper fabric at the front.
It is very comfortable and although close fitting, you can still wear the 2nd Skin base layer underneath to bring extra warmth.

I wore the Axiom jersey today without any base layer, and was satisfied it was able to shield from the freezing wind (8C ambient temp. + windchill factor) and any sweat was quickly removed and the fabric would dry very quickly during a descent.

The zip comes with a flap at the back which stops cold air getting through to your chest.

I wore it together with the Vuelta 2 bib tights. The red Axiom jersey and red Vuelta 2 bib tights look like they complement each other really well:

The Axiom jersey is so nice and warm, I don't know whether the Axiom jacket, with its heavier weight WindStopper Pursuit+ fabric is really necessary for cycling in the UK.

The Vuelta 2 bib tights are not windproof, but they are certainly warm and on cold but sunny days provide all the protection necessary, such as it was needed today.

The Axiom windproof bib tights have wind proof panels at the front, making them slightly warmer. I will certainly use those on my commute to/from work since the sun is down and I need extra warmth.

As mentioned, the 2nd skin long sleeve base layer provides extra warmth without bulk: it is very thin but finely weaved, and it is similar in feel to the Adidas Tech-Fit line, of which I have a short sleeve summer top. The Sportful 2nd skin layer provides extra warmth though and also dries slightly quicker; in addition, it has a cycling specific cut covering most of the back.

The merino socks are great: slightly thicker than the other Sportful Meryl fabric socks, they are also much warmer, and although not windproof, they are excellent for the daily commute.

The last item I would recommend for Winter from the Sportful range is the Sportful WindStopper helmet liner.
Thinner than most caps, it sits snug on your head, wrapping your ears fully, yet without adding any bulk on top; I don't need to remove the pads from my helmet when wearing this cap, and the fit is very similar, meaning I can simply remove or put the cap on mid-ride without having to fiddle with the helmet adjustement straps.

I own a pair of Specialized Deflect windproof gloves, which although suitable for spring, struggle in colder late autumn/winter weather.

The Sportful liner gloves fit very close to the skin, and provide the additional warmth required when the temperatures drop below 8C. Yet they allow you to wear thinner gloves which give added sensitivity and control.

My palm measuring 9 inches, I purchased both sizes and decided to keep the larger (2). The smaller size (1) fitted ok but was a bit tight and I was concerned that might have restricted blood circulation and provided less protection from the cold.

The left hand liner comes with a Sportful logo to make it easier to recognise in the dark, for example if you need to put them on half way on a late night commute.

I wore them on my commute this morning (just under an hour at 4C) and they performed very well, keeping my hands warm but not sweaty.

Exposure Lights Strada review

2010-10-16T22:59:00.008+01:00

I recently purchased the 2010 Exposure Lights Strada.

I was originally going to wait for the 2011 mk2 model version of this light, but the light was not going to be available until November.

Being commuting daily (and nightly!) I needed a light sooner.

I managed to get hold of the mk1 Strada for £180, which was a fair price.

The light arrived with all the accessories, including the remote switch, same as the mk2 model.

The only difference is that for 2011, Exposure have included their USB-compatible mains charger, which can be purchased separately anyway.

The mk1 model emits 480 lumens at full beam, compared to the 600 lumens of the mk2.

They both have similar road-oriented optics, which spread the light horizontally over the whole lane rather than in a torch-like spot.

And that's where I can recommend this light over any of the competition at this price point.

Dual Beam optics

These pictures will hopefully show you how the beam is spread horizontally. The pictures were taken with the light pointing at a wall 2 feet away in dim daylight.

The two pictures show the beam at full (maxx) and mid (ride) intensity:

As you can see, the spread is very wide. On my regular commute, on unlit country lanes, the spread of light from the medium (ride) setting can easily cover from side to side of the road, for about 10 yards in front, with excellent visibility.

Performance

The _ride_ setting, roughly set at 240 lumens or so, takes advantage of the excellent optics to spread the beam sideways, yet still give a good depth of view thanks to two LEDs.

The light can run in this mode for up to 10 hours on a full charge, with a builtin fuel gauge to alert when running low on juice.

Charging from near empty takes around 6 hours for 90% charge. The final 10% is trickle charged and takes a couple of extra hours.

The best thing about this light is that not only it spreads its light beam horizontally, in a manner that is considerate to fellow riders and drivers, but also it is so bright that drivers do see you and stop upon your approach to junctions, because they are tricked into thinking you are a much larger vehicle than you are.

With my other lights, even though I didn't have too much difficulty in seeing directly in front of me in the evenings, I always struggled to see enough to avoid some potholes, and more crucially, they weren't bright enough to convince drivers to give me right of way at junctions.

The other lights were also not bright enough, so drivers would not lower their full beam when approaching, not give me right of way at some higher speed junctions, and I would also find it hard to see clearly in heavy rain.

With the Exposure Strada mk1, all of those problems have vanished.

It has made a huge difference to my commute habits, and I feel a lot more comfortable and safe in the knowledge I have a reliable source of identification with me!

Fitting

The handle bar bracket provided fits handle bars from 25.4mm (STD) to 31.8mm (OS).

Unfortunately my bar is much narrower, at 21mm. I had to use the spacers provided plus additional rubber spacers which I happened to have kept from other light brackets.

Fortunately, tightening the retaining screw enough, provides a sure installation even on those thin bars.

The remote switch is very useful. I find the cable to be long enough to position the switch just where my thumb would be on both my commuter and my race bike.

Clank from freehub?

2010-10-15T10:11:00.005+01:00

Incidentally, this happened to me too recently.

Was the clanking accompanied by a slight skipping? As if the chain and cassette weren't mating properly?

That's what I thought initially, and blamed it on the KMC quick link I had installed on my Shimano 105 chain.

Eventually I discovered if was gunk in the freehub socket.

The reason for the clanking was the pawls were not engaging fully, due to too much gunk in the freehub socket in the wheel (Easton EA50 2008)

I took a couple of pictures (before and after cleaning).
This was after 18 months use and regular cleaning, which I obviously need to revisit...

Vittoria Open Pave Evo CG review

2010-10-15T09:56:00.007+01:00

I recently fitted a set of Vittoria Open Pave' Evo CG to my race bike.

I previously had a set of Continental GP4000S which I was pleased with in terms of reliability and handling, but never found particularly comfortable on British chipseal roads.

I was looking for a more compliant ride, with the same road holding characteristics in the wet, and the Vittoria's tyre description seemed to be what I was looking for.

I have now done about 300 miles on them, in wet and dry weather, and I can confirm that they are *exactly* what I was looking for.

Their section is ~24mm, which obviously varies depending on the rim section and inflation pressure.

They are just as tall as the GP4000S, so the overall circumference when at their nominal inlfation pressure is very similar, at around 2120mm

Fitting them on a set of Easton EA50 was troublesome at first. The front tyre, which I fitted first, took me a long time to fit, and was much more difficult than the GP4000S.

While fitting the rear tyre, I tried a different technique: use the tyre levers not to slide the tyre's side wall on, but to literally lift it into position, using the exact same movement as when initially dismounting a tyre, but in the opposite direction: the tyre wall does not _slide_ onto the rim, but instead I make it pass _over_ the rim, one bit at a time.

This technique allows me to mount and dismount the tyre in a minute or so.

Handling

The tyres handle beautifully. They can take much higher pressures than the Continental GP4000S; where I used to inflate the front GP4000S at 90 PSI and still find it harsh and nervous, I can inflate the Open Pave' at 110 PSI and still find the ride compliant, predictable and sure footed.

The tread is soft, just like the GP4000S, but not slick: it has dimples which apparently improve grip on loose surface roads (white roads) and on slippery stone surface (pave'), but do not seem to increase rolling resitance noticeably (if at all!)

In fact, I find I can ride faster on particularly bad surface stretches of road, because the more compliant ride quality, combined with higher pressures, ensures I do not get tired by the vibrations transmitted to my body and I get better grip.

Technical data

The Open Pave' weigh 250 grams each (240g declared). That's quite an increase from the GP4000S which weighed between 205 and 225 grams each.

What you lose in terms of rolling weight though, you gain in terms of performance.

If you look at the GP4000S, you will notice it has a _preformed_ deep rounded tread which probably gives more rubber and some puncture resistance, but it also renders the tyre less adaptable to the surface. On smooth tarmac, with fine chipseal, this might be less noticeable.

But on British coarse chipseal roads, it is very noticeable especially when climbing.

The Open Pave' instead has a flat rubber tread glued on to the casing, which is much more malleable and adapts to the road surface, giving increased grip.

The 320 TPI casing of the Open Pave' does make a difference compared to the lowly 110 TPI casing used in the Continental GP4000S.

Looks

As you can see from the picture, the green stripe in the middle of the tread does give an obvious sense of purpose to my red and black race bike.

The relatively inconspicous Vittoria labels also add to the _pro_ feel of this tyre.

Barclays Cycle Hire scheme key and leaflet

2010-07-25T08:35:00.002+01:00

I registered for the new Barclays Cycle Hire scheme in London on Friday.

I got my Membership Key and information pack in the post on the Saturday morning!

The information pack includes a fold-out leaflet: on one side information on how to hire bikes and best practices on how to cycle in London.
On the other side, the map of the 400 stations covering the whole of London's Zone 1.

Continental Grand Prix 4000S review

2010-07-21T15:26:00.006+01:00

I currently use a set of Continental GP4000S on my race bike.

I recently had a series of punctures to the same tyre. The first puncture happened when the tyre was mounted on the back.

At the 2k miles mark, I decided to swap front and rear.

Unfortunately, I got a puncture to the same tyre, now at the front. Fortunately this happened on a quiet bit of road.

Three punctures to the same tyre suggest something is not right. After 2k miles, the tread wear indicators didn't seem to indicate the tyre needed replacing:

but the cause of the repeat punctures was to be traced back to a hole in the centre of the tread:

Whatever caused the hole, was able to penetrate the tyre and vectran belt and puncture through to the inside casing:

I decided to replace the tyre with yet another GP4000S due to its performance, especially in the wet, up to that point.

I must admit though that these tyre are not the most comfortable when run at their recommended pressure.

I am therefore thinking of replacing them with a set of Vittoria Diamante Tech 220TPI when these need replacing.

For future reference, the tyre circumference when new is 2122mm.

That's the number you should tap into your bicycle computer.

Ergon GC2 grips review

2010-07-20T21:20:00.002+01:00

A great improvement to my daily commute has recently been replacing my old and consumed Specialized lock-on XC grips (light, thin and round) with some beefier Ergon GC2 grips, which come with stubby bar-ends.

The idea of fitting bar ends came after a couple of days when, by grabbing the end of the bar (palms facing inwards, not downwards), and tucking my elbows in, I was able to hold a much more aerodynamic posture for a couple of hours, and increase my best average commuting speed from 19.0 to 20.5 mph. Consistently.

The Ergon’s stubby bar-ends are great because they are small enough not to be in the way, but just enough to grab onto with thumb and middle finger.

The grips themselves are also excellent: a wider platforms relieves the pressure a great deal when holding the bar palms facing down, and don’t let the wrist rotate downward on long rides.

Thoroughly recommended.

A helmet is for life...

2010-06-26T20:51:00.001+01:00

... but should be replaced when broken!

Excited about the new cycle hire scheme in London.

2010-06-24T11:31:00.002+01:00

I think the cycle hire scheme is an exciting opportunity to see London from a different point of view, something known as 'bike speed'.

Yesterday I tried out a potential commute between Waterloo station and Moorgate between 8am and 8.30am. Then again between Moorgate and Paddington via Oxford St. and Marble Arch between 10 and 11.

I was thrilled by the experience.

Traffic was generally accomodating, I can see bendy buses being an issue for their length, but they can generally be approached safely.
I have also been left hooked by a taxi dropping someone off, and the event made some turists wonder if I would make it out alive.
But the sheer lack of wind, the flatness of the roads, and the general good quality of the surface, combined with mostly wide lanes, made my journey a pleasure.
Riding a 16 inch folder made the experience even more thrilling.

I am still smiling from ear to ear from being able, with my tiny 16" folding bike, to overtake pretty much everything and everyone on my way through the centre at peak time.

It also cuts down on transport cost and time: faster than the tube on most short journeys, cheaper than a bus ride.

And what a buzz is being able to cut through sections of stationary traffic and generally feeling "free" in a town that sometimes can feel rather cramped.

I am very excited at the opportunity to visit London in this new way: Marble Arch will never look the same to you again!

A very motivating video from the Mayor Boris Johnson:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/12449.aspx

MET Forte review

2010-06-17T17:35:00.003+01:00

After my Limar 757 (777) helmet broke, I replaced it with an MET Forte (of which I recently posted an update on its performance after 18 months of use)

The MET Forte is an exceptionally light helmet for the price (£54.00 from Halfords): only 230 grams with all the accessories.

It features large apertures at the front, which channel the air over the head and towards the back of the head.

It is wholly made in Italy according to the literature, and the craftsmanship is on par with the other helmets.

The most important thing when looking for a helmet is that it fits well.

This helmet comes in only one size: 52 to 59 cm.

I am between 57 and 58 cm depending on my hair style and whether I wear a cap during the winter.

That means this helmets fits me perfectly well and is close enough to my scalp to ensure greater safety on impact yet allow the air channels to function properly.

It is also the right shape and there are no protruding parts inside.

On the contrary, I found all the Giro and Bell helmets in the same (and higher) price range to be uncomfortable, due to either their shape or the sizing mechanism at the back.

The shape is certainly modern (it is a 2010 model) and gives an aggressive racer look. It does not come with a visor option. It sits low enough on the forehead yet does not interfere when tucked in to an aero position.

The Safe-T light adjustment at the back is not as good as the Limar's, but it is a tried and tested option which I know won't break as easily.

It also sits lower round the back, which fits my head shape better.

Update on Limar 757 (777) - Broken retention system

2010-06-17T08:56:00.005+01:00

I am disappointed to report that the helmet I purchased and reviewed recently, is broken!

It broke not because of a fall, but due to some manufacturing defect.

As you can see from the pictures below, the retention system at the back, snapped at the hinge. This happened mid-ride.

I promptly sent it back to Wiggle, who refunded the cost of the helmet and postage.

In exchange, I bought a completely different helmet, the MET Forte, reviewed here.

Daniele can ride a bike!

2010-04-14T23:02:00.005+01:00

Daniele learnt to ride a bike on Sunday 11th April.

It all happened in a matter of days.

He had already been riding with stabilisers for a long time.
We got him his first bike as a Xmas present in 2008, when he was 2 and a half years old.

An Apollo Bumblebee bike, with 12 inch wheels and front v-brake, bought for £10 (ten!) at the local Halfords.

Over time he became very proficient at pedaling and also understood the function of the brake lever. We have also been taking him on the back of our bikes and recently got a trail-gator, which helped him follow us on cycle tracks.

Now a 3 and half year old boy, he was relying on the stabilisers too much, and leaning on his side when pedalling hard: not very good when it comes to balancing!

We then went for a trip to the Isle of Wight a couple of weeks ago, where we really enjoyed cycling as a family.

On our return, I unpacked the bikes, but decided to give the 'scooting' method a try.
I told Daniele I had forgotten the pedals and stabilisers on the Isle of Wight and that I would have had to order a new set.
I asked him if he would try scooting on the kitchen floor so I could take measure of the new pedals.
He really liked the idea!

Within minutes, we were down to the local recycling centre where we used to practice cycling before, and off we were, scooting down the little ramps:

We did a total of three one-hour sessions of scooting, during which Daniele really gained confidence and started getting eager to go faster and further!

So, on Sunday 11th April, I decided it was time to put the pedals back on.
A quick trip down to the local recycling centre again, and after a first couple of minutes scooting around, I put the pedals back on, and to my amazement, Daniele was riding all by himself!

It is superfluous to say I have now ordered the best bike a dad can buy for his kids: an Islabikes Cnoc 16: a very lightweight aluminium bike, with 16 inch wheels, but a smaller frame suitable for kids 4+, and with the best in class components, including a threadless steerer, a steering limiter and slick tyres.

It is as much a present to him as it is to my pride!

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/cnoc16.html

Altura Dry-line panniers review

2010-04-09T23:57:00.005+01:00

An Excellent combo line

Pros: Adjustable, Attractive, Durable, Good Fit, Great Value, High Quality, Lightweight, Rugged, great package in combination with dryline rack bag

Cons: Limited Color Choices, no shoulder straps supplied

I purchased a pair of these Dryline panniers after a year testing an Altura Dryline rack bag on my daily commute.

The Dryline rack bag has survived a year of commuting in all weather, including thunder storms and snow storms. It has proven to be completely downpour-proof.

The same Dry-line technology is employed for these panniers, which not only feel well made, but are also light for their size.

I purchased a Tortec Expedition pannier rack, with 10mm rails, and the combination of that rack plus the Altura Dryline pannier and rack bags is just so neat!

The Expedition rack has an offset rail for the panniers, which means these panniers, 28 Litre capacity *each*, do not get in the way when pedaling.

It also means the pannier's fixings and handle is offset from the rack's top shelf, where the rack bag's quick-release strip is mounted.

The fixings on the pannier's rails can be moved to accomodate different rack layouts. The fixings on the pannier's top rail seem to fit the Tortec Expedition just fine. The bottom bracket had to be shifted back to hook onto the rearmost rail. That took a mere 5 minutes to set up.

The fixings on the bags are set up for 10 mm tubes, but they can be quickly adjusted for 8mm and 13mm tubes simply by removing and reinserting the grey plastic tabs. A neat feature.

The bags don't come with shoulder straps, but they do have D rings to attach one if desired.

UPDATE:

After nearly two years of use, the set is still in fully functional order. Completely rain proof, nothing falling apart or broken.
I even managed to fit the set to my Dahon Mu P8 folding bike.

Trailgator review

2010-02-27T20:45:00.003Z

Today Daniele, Geeta and I went for a ride.

The cool thing was, Geeta was able to pull Daniele's bike thanks to the Trail-gator!

The Trail-Gator is a device that attaches to the adult's bike and allows a child's bike to be pulled behind.

First I went with Daniele for a quick ride down the road. We then rode back home, where Geeta got to familiarise herself with the setup of the two bikes being connected together.

Geeta and Daniele were then off for a ride together.

Once we got to the recycling centre down the road, Daniele wanted to ride on his own. We quickly detached his bike from the trailgator and he was then free to go where he wanted.

The great thing was, he is now starting to understand how to balance his weight on the bike, and he pedals very fast. He even managed to pedal up a steep hill all by himself.

He still needs the stabilisers but they are lifted from the ground and only touching when he leans to the sides.

We took a couple of videos of it and published them on YouTube:

Inside-Out London

2010-02-22T21:55:00.004Z

I have just finished watching the Inside Out: London programme on iPlayer.

I think the programme, in 10 minutes, highlighted one thing which I think can't be dismissed: most people taking up cycling in recent years do need some further training.

I am disappointed they didn't mention two resources that are readily available to all cyclists: Cyclecraft and BikeAbility.

One huge failing of the presenter, Adrian Simpson, was to ignore the fact that four police officers were able to stop one cyclist running a red light, but could not be arsed to stop the 3.5 ton lorry driver who also ran the red light at the same time as the cyclist!

You can see that at 5' 54" into the video.

Of course the presenters have mostly concentrate on the bad cyclists in their footage. They have been somewhat fair in mentioning that the vast majority of cyclists do not behave this way, and are pretty safe.

I also think it would have helped if they had shown the traffic situation from the point of view of a law-abiding cyclist rather than footage of 'critical mass'.

A more balanced view, especially if the presenter had been a real commuter himself, would have been more appropriate.

Video of Sustrans National Route 4

2010-02-20T21:36:00.003Z

First attempt at taking video of the NCN 4 cycle route.

The NCN 4 connects London to Oxford using a mix of cycle tracks, rural roads and main roads.

This section is a couple of miles between Woodlands Park and Brunel Road in Maidenhead.

The video is a bit shaky and was taken using a Sony camera attached to the handlebars with a Joby Gorillapod.

Sustrans National Route 4: Maidenhead: daily maintenance...

2010-02-03T22:14:00.003Z

On a cold, icy morning...

I rode my bicycle to work!

Not trusting the icy roads, I pushed the bike all the way to school, with my son on the child seat, and then cycled back. Fortunately I left some air out of the tyres, which helped with traction.

On the NCN 4, at the A404 under passage, I found this:

A child's electric trike!
It was left on the cycle track by some one who obviously didn't think of the danger it might have caused.

Because I was going at some speed, I waited until I was at the other side of the underpass and did a u-turn.

As I was cycling back to the underpass, I got caught in some overgrown bush!

It turned out this bush had thorny branches and I think again, this was quite dangerous.
So I parked my bike like in the good ol' days, using the pedal on the kerb:

And I ripped the thorny branch away from the bush, and away from the cycle track for that matter!

Yes, I did move the child's abandoned and broken electric trike.

It was still there, on the side, on my way home!

Limar 757 (777) helmet review

2010-01-30T23:00:00.006Z

I recently purchased a new helmet, a Limar 757, to replace my old one, an MET Velo.

It also recently broke; and therefore decided to buy an MET Forte.

I purchased the Limar 757 from Wiggle for £62, although the list price was £70.

Limar makes helmets for a variety of sports. They are based in my home town: Bergamo in Italy. The helmets are designed and tested in Italy, but are made in China.

Limar currently makes the lightest helmet on the market, the Limar Pro 104, which weighs in some configurations as little as 170 grams, that's including all accessories.

The Limar 757 is their mid range MTB model, which is identical to the Limar 777 road model.

The Limar 757 comes with a detachable MTB style visor, a 2 year guarantee and a 3 year crash replacement offer.
The Limar 777, available in a different selection of colours, doesn't come with the visor, but can be retrofitted with one since it has the same clip-on holes.
The holes on both helmet models can be covered with plugs, supplied in the box.

Of the several colours on offer I chose matt black, which I think gives the helmet a more upmarket look and will show scratches less.

But enough of the boring details; here is what it looks like when I wear it:

I think it looks pretty neat, modern, and slightly smaler than most helmets.

The claimed weight, as stated on the box and on the helmet's literature, is 260 grams.
Limar claims this is the weight of the helmet with all the accessories included.

Let's see if their claim is true:

That's 250 grams, including the visor. Well done Limar for not lying to your customers!

Without the visor, as in the 777 road version:

237 grams, all in! That's a very light weight helmet, even amongst top of the range models.

In comparison, my old MET Velo, with a claimed weight of 260 grams, without a visor, doesn't fare well:

265 grams is not bad at all, but it's a 5 year old model, and according to literature, helmets should be replaced every 5 years just in case.

As you can see from the pictures, the pads in the Limar 757 are made of CoolMax, which is a thinner padding that helps remove sweat but does not retain it.

By contrast, the padding in the MET Velo is simply foam, quite thick, and does retain sweat.

The Limar 757 also comes with a pad on the chin strap, which in my experience makes it more comfortable.

The strap's lining is also slightly softer on the Limar 757, which adds to the comfort factor.

Comapring the MET Velo to the Limar 757 side by side, we can see how five years in the market have made and impact on not just function but looks and comfort too:

The vents in the MET Velo are bigger at the front, but the shell is shaped in such a way that it doesn't scoop air in, it rather let's it fly by.

To be honest, according to independent tests, there is very little difference between the coolest helmets and the not so cool ones, but the Limar 757 does feel slightly cooler and there is less turbulence which means less noise while cycling fast.

The rear exhaust vents on the Limar 757 also help dissipate heat, and give it a more open feeling.

MET helmets come with a reflective sticker at the back. Limar helmets don't, although the white detail on the red knob at the back seems to be reflective.

Comfort is much improved on the Limar 757 compared to the MET Velo.

On the MET Velo, like on some other MET models, two clips, one on each side, called Safe-T Lite, allow you to tighten or slacken the retention system.

This requires two hands, and can't be safely done while on the move. Any adjustments must be made at a standstill, which can be rather annoying when making progress at high speeds.

By contrast, the Limar 757 comes with an exceptionally effective retention system called Perfect-Fit, which allows the rider to adjust the helmet one handed while on the move:

Just twist the knob clockwise to tighten, and counter-clockwise to release. It is that simple.
This allow a much finer level of adjustment and is extremely easy to use.

It comes with a quick-release button in the centre of the knob, carrying an On/Off symbol: if pressed, the retention system completely disengages, a safety feature which is very much appreciated should any hair be trapped by it.

The Perfect-Fit retention block can also be placed at different angles, to accomodate different hair styles or head shapes. A nice touch.

Last but not least, a nice touch present on all Limar helmets, not just the 757, is the insect net on the front eight vents, to prevent undesired guests compromising our rides:

Wokingham bicycle parking facilities have been improved.

2010-01-29T21:23:00.003Z

I went past Wokingham's train station last night at around 10pm, and was pleasantly surprised.

The bicycle racks are now sheltered, and most importantly, they are in direct view of the CCTV security cameras!

That's good news for anyone wishing to park their bikes at Wokingham.

Riding the Sustrans National Route 4

2010-01-25T23:50:00.005Z

Today I rode part of the NCN 4, a cycle route which connects London to Oxford.

The part I describe in this article covers the Maidenhead section.

I purchased the cycle route map from Sustrans, the charity responsible for designing and maintaining the National Cycle Network.

If you want the real deal, I'm afraid you will have to purchase the map from the Sustrans shop.

Alternatively, you can use the freely available interactive cycle route planner, CycleStreets.

My commuting route from Wokingham to Maidenhead follows the country roads to Woodlands Park, passing through: A321, B3034, Maidenhead Road, The Straight Mile B3018, The Street through Shurlock Row, B3024 Broadmoor Lane, White Waltham.

My usual route then continues from Woodlands Park onto Shoppenhangers Road all the way to the centre of Maidenhead.

Shoppenhangers Road is a busy section which crosses the A404 junction and several busy roundabouts.

Being an experienced cyclist, I don't mind the route that much and I prefer it to the A4. But I always wondered if there was a more quite and secluded path connecting Wokingham to Maidenhead.

Although it was raining, I decided to take a few pictures on route.

At the junction between Cannon Lane and Woodlands Park Road the new route, using the NCN4, diverges from my original route:

There I turn left onto Cannon Lane and then follow the blue NCN signs indicating the direction to follow for the NCN 4.

These signs are placed at the most important or confusing junctions and can mostly be relied upon.

This is the very first sign you will see on this section, which shows the two directions, one towards Maidenhead, the other towards Knowl Hill.

The route is signposted quite well: some parts are more obvious than others.
For example this is a clearly marked cycle track:

And this is another:

The route also crosses the A404 using an underpass that is interdicted to cars, off Cox Green Road, exiting onto Kendal Place:

The underpass is quite nice, and lit, which is an extra safety at night (I appreciated that on my way back tonight):

At the end of Kendal Place, you must take care of following the signs to the right, then cross the road and turn left:

This is where I found the recent snow and rain have ruined the path and made it potentially unsafe: mud covers part of the track.

Just be mindful of pedestrians and keep right.

This is the junction between Norden Road and Desborough Crescent:

The last picture shows how some signs need to be improved: the photo was taken in the direction away from Maidenhead. Seen from the direction I was travelling, it looks much better:

The route then becomes much more pleasant and easy to follow: it goes past Desborough Park

Then follows the cycle tracks towards Maidenhead railway station and town centre:

Be careful at the tight right turn ahead: I missed it on my way back in the dark tonight, fortunately I realised I made a wrong turn soon after.

The next section is also a very pleasant cycle track between Brunel Road and Ludlow Road, running parallel to the railway track:

The NCN 4 follows Ludlow Road: approach with care, since cars will be parked along the side and traffic will come the opposite way, leaving very little room. It might be wise to use the pavement at busy times to avoid any accidents with distracted drivers.

The cycle route then joins Shoppenhangers Road and passes by the railway station's exit:

Take extra care as you are supposed to be on the road approaching the Taxi parking zone: keep a fair distance from the taxis parked on the left.

As you approach the set of traffic lights immediately following the Station's exit

you have two options:

if the traffic light shows red, or if there is a queue of traffic waiting at the lights, you are probably better off using the cycle lane, and then turn left towards the station;
if the lights show green or there is no traffic and you feel so inclined, you can join the on road traffic, making sure to use the primary position to defend yourself from drivers who might left hook you when turning into the station's car park.

My preferred choice is to join the traffic flow, position myself to the right and then follow the offside kerb onto King Street.

This way I am optimally positioned to cross the main junction opposite the Three building:

I hope you found this route and the pictures useful and I hope you too will use the NCN 4 for your future commutes.

Twyford railway station's parking facility

2010-01-16T10:36:00.006Z

These are a couple of pictures of the parking facility for bicycles at Twyford Station.
They were taken at 9.30AM on a snowy Monday morning.

As you can see from the pictures, the bike rack is sheltered, and offers adequate space for the current cycling population. It is also apparently secured by CCTV.

It is obvious to me though that, as cycling will become more and more popular over the next decade, more cycling facilities, including parking ones, will have to be put in place.

The parking lot is usually quite crowded, especially in the summer, and especially so after 9 AM.
But don't despair, as there is plenty of hard furniture at the station where you can lock your bike.

Just for reference, the bike rack is between platform 4 and 5.

Access is currently available from Station Road, but it is perfectly possible to carry the bike on the bridge from and to Hurst Road.

Using the bridge might be preferable to negotiating traffic at peak times.

Those of you who like me travel to and from Maidenhead off-peak, will be glad to know cycles are permitted on the trains.

Trains from Twyford to Maidenhead leave from platform 4, which is directly accessible from Station Road, where you will also find self-service ticket machines. At Maidenhead the doors will open on the same side you climb on at Twyford.

When travelling from Maidenhead, the train will arrive at platform 3. This requires you to be able to carry your bicycle up the stairs on to the bridge.

I haven't yet explored other options such as using the lift for disabled passengers, so please check with the station manager before you arrive.

Shopping at Morrisons

2010-01-07T23:25:00.003Z

Today I went shopping for food at Morrisons, using my trusty commuter equipped with pannier rack.

I ensured my tyres were deflated, to gain traction on ice, especially at the front, and I used my front and rear lights. I also wore a hi-viz jacket for added safety although not essential.

To understand how deflated the tyres were, let me say that the front had no more than 10PSI and the rear no more than 20PSI.

This is a picture of the rear tyre under medium load, notice the slight bulge:

This is the front tyre under medium load, again notice the bulge and creases:

Being under-inflated, the tyres have much better traction on loose surfaces like mud, soil and indeed snow. In particular, the additional flexibility increases traction on snow covered ice patches.

From my house, I chose to ride up the 'no cycles allowed' underpass between Brook Close and Mill Close.
More on this below.

Then, I crossed the road and stuck to the Woosehill dual-carriageway which by now had only a single lane of traffic:

I then arrived safely at Morrisons:

That's the bicycle racks at Morrisons: they are right in front of a large window which allows customers inside the store to peek at their bike while shopping. It increases safety from wannabe bike thieves or vandals. A very good thing in my opinion!

Once I had done the shopping, I simply loaded my pannier bags (a bargain set from eBay for a mere £5), and was on my way back home.

On the way back, I chose to ride on the paths between Morrisons and Rotherfield Avenue.

They are pretty safe, except for two issues: dog walkers and nettles.
Dog walkers occasionally don't keep their dogs on a lead, which means dogs roam free, a danger in some cases to small children who are afraid of dogs (such as my son), and allows them to poo in the middle of the path, which is revolting.

Nettles are found to the left, soon after this little bridge:

This bridge can be difficult to negotiate at night, or when loaded with shopping. Today though it was no trouble pedaling up it, thanks to the reduced rear tyre pressure.

After wards, I rode down the underpass between Rotherfield Avenue and Reading Road.
The underpass requires negotiating a couple of metal barriers.
It is interdicted to cyclists, but I ride on it every time.
More on the reasons below.

Finally, we arrive at the underpass (under the railway that is) between Mill Close and Brook Close:

This is interdicted to cyclists, similarly to the underpass between Reading Road and Rotherfield Avenue.

I understand why they have decided to disallow cyclists access to the underpasses: most inexperienced or undisciplined cyclists might not take care when riding and might therefore cause problems for pedestrians.

You must take extra care when the leaves fall, since wet leaves can reduce traction and will therefore pose a risk to any pedestrian on your path.

So my advice is that you should be descending very slowly and be alert of any pedestrian who, quite rightly, might not expect you to ride. In particular, give way to pedestrians.

Having said that, the underpasses are very safe and a preferable option to the main road, especially if traffic or road conditions suggest so. In particular, I ride the underpasses when taking my son to the child minder, since he is on a child bike seat and I feel it is safer for him to be away from sleepy drivers.

Let it snow in Wokingham!

2010-01-06T01:26:00.009Z

Well, it was more like the whole of Berkshire, but it made my bicycle journey back from work rather interesting.

This picture was taken on the bridge over the M4 on the A321.

The journey was pretty safe, cars gave plenty of space when overtaking and the road conditions were good: fresh snow just settling but no ice fortunately.

Commuting from Wokingham to Maidenhead

If you are thinking about commuting from Wokingham to any of the destinations along the First Great Western railway, I suggest you consider taking up cycling to Twyford.

For example, my journey from home to Twyford takes around 20 minutes. I then take the train from Twyford to Maidenhead, which takes a further 10 minutes and costs £3.60 return.

The same journey not cycling, would see me walking 15 minutes to Wokingham station, changing at Reading and arriving in Maidenhead 40 minutes later and £7 poorer. A total journey time of just under 1 hour.

Changing trains is also very risky since any delay has serious knock on effects. Moreover, Reading is a busy station with a number of platforms.

The bicycle journey to Twyford on the other hand is unaffected by traffic or weather conditions, and the local train connection is pretty reliable.

Loading and unloading the bike on to the train at Twyford or Maidenhead after 9.30 AM is also without problems.

I have flexible working hours, which means I can take advantage of the cheaper train fares without the disadvantage of the reduced service frequency.

If I need to commute at peak time, I simply lock up my bike at Twyford, which has an excellent bike parking facility on the platform, secured by CCTV.
In the summer this parking facility can get rather busy, but I have never had a problem locking up my bike to some other station furniture, like benches or drain pipes.

I have also considered cycling to Wokingham station, which would reduce the 15 minute journey on foot to a mere 5 minutes. But unfortunately the bicycle parking facility at Wokingham station is nowhere near as good as at Twyford station.
I would not leave my bike there unattended for any length of time.

This is an areas where I think Wokingham should improve its service to cyclists, by improving the security with, for example, CCTV and a restricted access area, preferably on the platform.

Maidenhead's bike parking facility suffers from the same problem as Wokingham, and most bicycles parked there for any length of time end up being stolen or severely damaged.

To understand the consequences, imagine leaving your car parked in an alleyway at night: I doubt you would sleep soundly and I also doubt you would find your car again the next morning. Now you get my drift.

From this point of view, Twyford station is to be taken as the example to follow. They recently refurbished it too, which has seen the introduction of a lift service, which can be used by cyclists to transport their bike from one side of the station to the other.

Gear details

What gear was I wearing in freezing temperatures for my journey from Twyford station to Wokingham?

A pair of Sportful fleece-lined bib longs, which provide insulation from the cold, some wind protection and are generally water repellent.
I was also wearing a short sleeve Adidas Tech-fit compression base layer, excellent at wicking away sweat. This is important as wind chill effect is worse when the skin is wet.
A further long sleeve base layer was also needed due to the temperature.
On top, my winter/autumn do it all top, a Ground Effect Frosty Boy, probably the best top money can buy, directly from New Zealand.
I chose to wear Sealskinz waterproof socks instead of using overshoes for convenience.
Due to the falling snow, I also decided to wear my trusty Polaris waterproof feather-weight jacket, which packs in its own pocket for convenience and adds the extra layer of insulation to any top in all seasons.

My advice is that if you can't keep dry you must try to keep warm. Several light weight layers help wick sweat away from the body and allow it to breath.

If you are wondering what sort of lights I equipped my bike with, I used a pair of B-spoke 1 watt lights at front, and a pair of B-spoke 1/2 watt rear lights. These are sufficient to see ahead of you and make you visible to drivers up to a mile away.

It is better to have a pair of lights than a single one, since you don't want one of them to fail unexpectedly and make you invisible to drivers.

Those lights have been extremely reliable, especially under heavy rain and in sub-zero temperatures.

As to my bike, here it is:

It is a Saracen Rufftrax 18" MTB, ready for the snow: a pair of Panaracer Fire XC Pro (2.1" front, 1.8" rear), running at low pressure; a Selle Italia CX saddle; SKS MTB mudguards with clearance for knobbly tyres; a Tortec Expedition rack and (not in this picture, but in the one at the beginning of this post) the brilliant Altura Dry-line Rack bag, which is waterproof and extremely convenient.

The only drawback of the Altura dry-line rack bag is the lack of a light loop, which would be very convenient for mounting lights.

Welcome!

2010-01-05T16:44:00.001Z

Welcome to this blog!

As the title suggests, I am a cyclist living and commuting in and out of Wokingham, UK.

I was inspired to write this blog by the sheer amount of blogs about cyclists from all over the world, who not only details their adventures, but highlight what they and their local community does for or against cyclists.

I live in Wokingham and that's what I am going to talk about here.

In 2007 Halifax estate agents ranked Wokingham as the number one place to live in the UK.

Whether that is still the case or not, hopefully I will be able to help you decide for yourself whether Wokingham is the number one place to cycle in the UK.

I will post articles about anything that is Wokingham related, and cycling related, including pictures, movies and maps.

Please read my profile page to know more about me and the kind of cyclist I am.