@VeloViewer : making Strava loads more interesting

If, like me , you use the Strava to clock your miles and review how badly you're going but want a bit more info, then I can highly recommend the superb VeloViewer website.
I've not delved fully into it yet but essentially it takes all the info that the bog standard version of Strava produces and collates it all in one place for your surgical dissection at a later date - good eh?
Well, yes, it is good, very good in fact.

All you need for a quiet night in...

What's more it is priced very keenly at £0 and 0p - but there is an option of making a donation so the guy who's put it all together and given you access to it out of the goodness of his heart, can buy a pint or whatever.
Once you've logged in with strava deets and uploaded your routes, a whole new world of data fixation awaits you - dive in and see what you can find!

New year, same rain

It's amazing how quickly your fitness evaporates when you don't do much riding isn't it? 
Having not ridden my bike since before Christmas - happy new year by the way dear reader - I was back on my trusty steed this morning fresh after a winter overhaul.
New chain, cassette and wheels in place, it was great to be back on two wheels but far too hard for my liking!

Get cape, wear cape, ride

It's lashing down now too - welcome back to the world of cycling in the UK's north west in January...

I were right about that saddle though

Its the time of year to roll out the yellow pages ad from the early 80s and keep my fingers crossed for the unlikely gift of a new bike  tomorrow.

How many miles cycled in the last year?

I think I've ridden more miles this year than any other. My trusty Strava app tells me I've clocked over 3,500 miles which aint bad.

I reckon I've done over 4,000 adding in all the little pootles to the shops and that. Happy days.

Ride safe

Hardknott pass descent...on front wheel only...backwards...

This is really impressive and fun stuff. I think its Hardknott at 3mins 44 - but then the lake in the distance doesn't look quite right... 

Whatever, it is mental really. If I was from the America, I'd probably say 'Awsome' (aarrrr-somme) then whoop a bit...

@gmcycling goes for membership growth in 2014

The lovely people over at Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign have just issued the winter edition of its member's newsletter - your truly has even delivered a few - by bike of course.
As part of the ramping up of activity for next year, the campaign wants you - want's you to become a member that is.
And, being the generous souls, new members are being offered the first year's membership for nowt.
The campaign exists to champion the cause of cyclists in Greater Manchester and act as an independent voice on matters effecting the two-wheeled brethren.

The more members GMCC has, the greater weight the voice carries - so if you care one jot about riding, infrastructure, safety, traffic etc in Greater Manchester, you should join.
It costs a tenner to be a member - the cost of a couple of inner tubes - so, what ya waiting for?
Click here for deets.

Posties on Pashleys

If you, like me, keep your eyes peeled for cycling related stuff going on around you, you'll have noticed some new additions to the streets of suburban Manchester in recent months.
TNT, the Dutch based courier service, has rolled out a fleet - not sure how many you actually need to constitute a fleet but they have more than two so a fleet it is - of postal delivery bikes as they continue to undercut Royal Mail.
This is the first time - to my knowledge - that a company other than Royal Mail has delivered to the door in the UK - the 'final mile' as it's known.
You may recall that Royal Mail dropped its own bike fleet a few years ago which was very bad news for Brompton which was its exclusive supplier. I seem to recall than heath & safety was spuriously trotted out as the reason to ditch the bikes in favour of those idiotic red chariot things the posties push around these days.
Anyhoo, the TNT bikes are orange - as you would expect - Pashley Pronto cargo bikes and very nice they are too.

Is that a 7 or a 9?

If there is a more suitable vehicle for the delivery of those 'sorry it wouldn't fit through your letterbox' notices than the bicycle, then I'll eat one of the 300 punctured tubes I have knocking around.
Good to see.