Winter? Pah!

It's May and it's beautiful outside. Still a bit chilly first thing in the morning with that weird cold air / warm sun arrangement. Makes it difficult to know exactly what to wear.
One thing's for sue is that the overshoes, snood, thermal tights have been abandoned to the bottom of the 'drobe for another year. Yes, spring is finally here.
As it turns out, winter wasn't as bad for cycling as you'd expect. According to this piece on BikeBiz from the cycle to work alliance [whoever they are] cycling commuter numbers were actually up year on year to 'unprecedented' levels.
They reckon they have the evidence for it but, call me a cynical old fool, sounds like a bit of PR puffery for the alliance members to me - most of whom are bike retailers.

I mean, how would they know, really know, that 20 per cent more people cycled to work this winter over last? And this is on top of a 9 per cent growth reported the previous year.
Logistically, it's just impossible to understand behavior in that detail in my humble view. 
Ah, but its based on statistics, probabilities extrapolated to provide an answer within a margin of error either way. Well, maybe, but I'd like to see a bit of the data behind the headline before I start believing everything I read. 

Dave Quinn rides again

I'm always astounded with the difference in feel between two, ostensibly very similar, bikes.  Having just had my winter bike rebuilt following fork disasters which I've covered earlier on this blog, my first ride in anger commenced on this morning's commute.
It felt really odd being on a different bike after riding my 'summer' bike for the past few months.
With the new forks expertly put in place by the wonderful Mr Xander at Dead Rats and a few little tweaks for me to do to complete the job, I set out on my first proper ride.
Wow, talk about twitchy! The new forks give the bike a much more aggressive feeling.  I have a feeling I'm going to begin a long process of adjusting handlebar and saddle heights until I get it to where I want it to be.

Ready for winter

It's great being back out on the Dave Quinn machine, it's a lovely bike which is a joy to ride.  There's a few Dave Quinn bikes knocking about and a bit about them online. Dave 'Quinny' Quinn is the bloke who owns The Bike Factory in Chester.  I gather he no longer puts his name on frames - well, it's fallen out of fashion really hasn't it.  Shop's still there though, although I've not been in there for ages.
Ride safe

Mudguards for road bikes

With the weather turning, leaves dropping off the trees and chilly mornings  it's almost time to start thinking about sorting the winter machinery to see me through to the end of March.  There's one aspect of 'the winter bike' which is always the most difficult to master: mudguards.   
Finding mudguards to fit nicely on to a road bike is something of a minefield.  Having tried various types over the years, I've never been taken with the 'race blade' type which do little to keep either you, or the person riding behind you, dry.
The ones I've settled on now, and are pretty bloody good, are the Crud RoadRacer Mk 2.
I particularly like the section on the rear guard close to the bottom bracket where it flares out keeping your front mech clear - very nice touch.

Crud: anything but

So, with these little beauties on, it can rain as much as it wants - within reason.