This was my first proper ride out on the Specialized Transition. Not sure I'm going to do another 30 mile ride on it but it was great fun!
Showing posts with label Specialized. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Specialized. Show all posts
Friday, 13 March 2020
Friday, 6 March 2020
New Wheels on the Specialized Fleet
Too wet & windy to ride so just finished swapping the FFWD wheels around on the Specialized fleet!
One set acquired last year have just seen daylight for the first time. Roll on summer!
One set acquired last year have just seen daylight for the first time. Roll on summer!
Monday, 2 September 2019
Bike Fit #3, Bike n.5
Like busses as they say ... you wait 5 years and then 2 bike fits come along in as many weeks! But why so soon, when the Venge fit was such a success just a few weeks ago?
Yes, bike n.5 has been acquired. Having made it known to my cycling buddies that I may be in the market for something more suitable to ride next year's Time Trials, I was pointed to a couple of cycle buy and sell FaceBook pages. Deja Vu the Venge purchase, as what should appear on my screen during a random browse ... a Specialized TT bike. It was not the new Shiv with the eye watering 5 digit price tag but a model I had not previously come across. It was a bike frame called the Transition, and advertised for not only a "come and buy me" price hard to ignore, but more amazingly it was for sale in North Devon and in my size!
The die was truly cast. Another day trip west was planned and the outcome mirrored that experienced with the Venge almost 4 years ago, I handed over the crisp notes in payment and loaded the bright red, Specialized Transition Pro into the bike transporter!
Being a total TT bike novice, in the extreme, I didn't dare test drive it; to have fallen off would have been very bad form! So, the first thing I had to do .. well after renewing the bar tape, fitting some pedals and changing the saddle .. was to get a proper bike fit and thus back to Tony at Tribe Cycle Solutions I went.
When I had my first ever bike fit, the technician confirmed that on a flexibility scale of 1-10, I was probably close to zero, therefore, getting into a most unnatural superman position, while pedalling at the same time, felt as alien to me as the visitor from Krypton must have been to the people of Smallville!
At least, however, I now know how this craft should be flown and my plan now is to hit the turbo as many week day evenings as possible through the winter in a vain attempt to mould myself into the personified TT superman, I need to be to ride this thing faster than the Venge in next year's events. Oh my!
Yes, bike n.5 has been acquired. Having made it known to my cycling buddies that I may be in the market for something more suitable to ride next year's Time Trials, I was pointed to a couple of cycle buy and sell FaceBook pages. Deja Vu the Venge purchase, as what should appear on my screen during a random browse ... a Specialized TT bike. It was not the new Shiv with the eye watering 5 digit price tag but a model I had not previously come across. It was a bike frame called the Transition, and advertised for not only a "come and buy me" price hard to ignore, but more amazingly it was for sale in North Devon and in my size!
 |
| 25th August 2019 bike n.5 |
Being a total TT bike novice, in the extreme, I didn't dare test drive it; to have fallen off would have been very bad form! So, the first thing I had to do .. well after renewing the bar tape, fitting some pedals and changing the saddle .. was to get a proper bike fit and thus back to Tony at Tribe Cycle Solutions I went.
When I had my first ever bike fit, the technician confirmed that on a flexibility scale of 1-10, I was probably close to zero, therefore, getting into a most unnatural superman position, while pedalling at the same time, felt as alien to me as the visitor from Krypton must have been to the people of Smallville!
At least, however, I now know how this craft should be flown and my plan now is to hit the turbo as many week day evenings as possible through the winter in a vain attempt to mould myself into the personified TT superman, I need to be to ride this thing faster than the Venge in next year's events. Oh my!
Sunday, 18 August 2019
Bike Fit #2
It's hard to believe that it was 5 years ago that I had my first and only bike fit. This was the day that I picked up my new shiny Specialized Tarmac, bike n.3, from the Bike Shed in Exeter. My cycling and riding position has improved considerably since then and on reflection, I probably need another fitting as my body has taken on a more pro cycling form .. in my head anyway!
But this was not the reason for me heading over to Tribe Cycle Solutions in Bovey Tracy last Friday with Clive, my fellow Pedaller and recent time trial coach. The shots of me participating in the recent local TTs, sitting in a way more like I'm out on a gentle Saturday club run than in the aero tuck required of a time trial, has made me think of purchasing a dedicated TT machine or at least look to convert my Venge into one. The visit to Tribe was therefore to assess the suitability of the Venge and fit my self into a more aero position for the 2020 season.
After a day's pure bike pampering in a sweaty room behind a quite idilic cycling cafe on the edge of Dartmoor, I now have the Venge in a much more, power, aero and comfort maximised setup. Since I purchased the Venge, it has always been a challenging bike to ride; so stiff, so compact and skittish. Now I feel I have the measure of it and may be will save the ££££ in upgrading or purchasing a new and give 2020's TTs a blast with this new setup.
You'll have to keep tuned to see if this happens, or whether the n+1 card is played, as I can't believe it's close to 4 years since bike n.4 joined the family!
But this was not the reason for me heading over to Tribe Cycle Solutions in Bovey Tracy last Friday with Clive, my fellow Pedaller and recent time trial coach. The shots of me participating in the recent local TTs, sitting in a way more like I'm out on a gentle Saturday club run than in the aero tuck required of a time trial, has made me think of purchasing a dedicated TT machine or at least look to convert my Venge into one. The visit to Tribe was therefore to assess the suitability of the Venge and fit my self into a more aero position for the 2020 season.
After a day's pure bike pampering in a sweaty room behind a quite idilic cycling cafe on the edge of Dartmoor, I now have the Venge in a much more, power, aero and comfort maximised setup. Since I purchased the Venge, it has always been a challenging bike to ride; so stiff, so compact and skittish. Now I feel I have the measure of it and may be will save the ££££ in upgrading or purchasing a new and give 2020's TTs a blast with this new setup.
You'll have to keep tuned to see if this happens, or whether the n+1 card is played, as I can't believe it's close to 4 years since bike n.4 joined the family!
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Atlantic Mountain Biking
November is the month of my wedding anniversary and traditionally this has been a time when we head off for a relaxing break in a small cottage somewhere on the British Isles. For 2014, it was decided to be the turn of Cornwall and a converted barn, just outside of Padstow. This year I also had the wherewithal to bring along the Crosstrail, chosen in favour of the Roubaix due to the mile long dirt track leading from the barn to the closest piece of metalled road.
It was great to be out on the Crosstrail after spending most of the spring and summer months on the Roubaix. It was a wonderful holiday feeling free to splash through the potholed puddles and slide through the muddy lanes, proving there is still a place for my hybrid in my ever growing collection of road bikes!
Much of the week was dedicated to some fine walking along the coastal paths and was not until five days into the holiday that I got the opportunity to lycra up and hit the lanes around Padstow. My afternoon's cycle was a one which took no set path, it was more a case of following roads until I hit the sea or a no cycling sign!
At one point I came across a herd of bullocks being driven down the road towards me. "I'd pull off the road and out the way", I was advised, "they don't like yellow" one of the farm hands commented ... with me there all decked out in AVP colours!
At Trevone, I even made an attempt at cycling on sand but I soon saw why those bikes I've seen with the big tractor styled tyres are so designed; even the thick Crosstrail's tyres were brought to an abrupt halt in the looser stuff!
It was great to be out on the Crosstrail after spending most of the spring and summer months on the Roubaix. It was a wonderful holiday feeling free to splash through the potholed puddles and slide through the muddy lanes, proving there is still a place for my hybrid in my ever growing collection of road bikes!
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Bike Shed Deja Vu
Do you remember April 2013, when after a BikeShed service my Crosstrail had to be returned for a warranty fix on the front shocks? Can lightening strike twice? I didn't think so, when I took my Specialised Roubaix in for its first service.
Along with a request for them to replace the white handle bar tape which was by now very grubby, I asked them to check out a noise in the hub or gear environment - I'm no expert - which had developed and had got increasingly worse over the last few months. When I collected it on 26-Feb, they confirmed it was a "Noisy Freehub" which should be OK.
A couple of rides later .. check back on my blog entries you'll see just 3 on the Roubaix ... the fee hub expired today and I had to walk home! Deja vu and poor show BikeShed! and Specialized really, as these are not cheap rides.
Determined to get a cycle in while the weather remained clear, I switched to the Crosstrail and who should I bump into while heading out of Colyton but Andy returning from his King of the Brother's ride! It's been a couple of weeks since Andy and I have been out on a ride, so it was fortuitous and a real coincidence that we should meet up in such a way. If I'd been able to get out on the Roubaix, chances are our paths would not have crossed.
I, thus, joined Andy on his return ride and completed what was a reasonable 10 mile circuit, shorter than planned but just what I needed - although I could have done without the Roubaix problem. So, it's back to the BikeShed next Saturday and another weekend without a long ride.
Determined to get a cycle in while the weather remained clear, I switched to the Crosstrail and who should I bump into while heading out of Colyton but Andy returning from his King of the Brother's ride! It's been a couple of weeks since Andy and I have been out on a ride, so it was fortuitous and a real coincidence that we should meet up in such a way. If I'd been able to get out on the Roubaix, chances are our paths would not have crossed.
I, thus, joined Andy on his return ride and completed what was a reasonable 10 mile circuit, shorter than planned but just what I needed - although I could have done without the Roubaix problem. So, it's back to the BikeShed next Saturday and another weekend without a long ride.
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Day 327 - Saddle Sore
When cycling it should be no surprise that you spend a good deal of time sat in the saddle and as such this is a key piece of bike furniture which should, I feel receive more attention than I've given it to date.
In the 11 months that I have owned my Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc, I have spent 4 saddle sore days rolling over 1100 miles of potholed Devon lanes. In that time, I've just assumed that bikes are naturally uncomfortable and one just has to get on with it. The Crosstrail comes with a Specialized BodyGeometry Targa Sport 155mm saddle .. this is the larger of the two versions available and retails for around £35. More recently, now averaging 20 miles a ride, I've been finding it to be far from comfortable and when I saw one of my favoured eBay sellers with a new Prologo Nago Evo X10 Pro T 2.0 for sale, I wondered whether this would be a suitable replacement. This saddle was said to have come Christmas Day on a Felt F5x cyclo cross bike and was removed and replaced with his own saddle before the bike left the house.
After a bit of on-line research, I learned that this saddle is very versatile, being recommended for both MTB and road bikes. It thus seemed the perfect match for my hybrid. Also, at a retail price of £135, I felt, I would certainly notice an improvement in quality and comfort over Specialized's standard offering. Yes, it was a bit of a punt but with a low maximum bid placed, it seemed a safe bet and if I won the auction, it would be a low cost option to test out how a quality seat performs. I am now the proud owner of a new X10 Pro for less than the price of a Targa Sport! Don't you just love eBay ;)
My Crosstrail was in need of a service, its gears were missing badly, so I thought I'd get it serviced before fitting the new saddle. Monday this week the service was completed and Tuesday was the day I set about fitting the saddle. Our first real outing was on this Thursday's AVP evening ride. The X10 is a little narrower than the Targa and so I initially thought it would take a bit of getting used to, but no, I found it surprisingly comfortable. It provided cushioning support where needed and a reduced friction surface resulting in a smother ride and less effort required when moving out of the saddle to make steep climbs. So far, I am very impressed and pleased with my punt of a purchase.
I'm now keen to have a look at my Roubaix, as I've never found that very comfortable either. I don't think, in this instance, that it is the quality of saddle which is at fault, but rather its positioning. The Roubaix has a BG Toupe RBX Sport saddle retailing for around £90 and looks very similar to the X10 in design. What I feel is needed, however, is for me to move it forward a few cms so that I connect better with the padded area.
So, as I get more familiar with my bikes, I'm starting to understand what works and what does not and what needs to be changed. I am even considering a professional bike fix for me on the Roubaix, before that is, I embark on my year of sportifs, as I feel I'm still not getting the best performance I can from it. I will keep you posted on whether I go ahead with this and on any results of me making those fine saddle adjustments.
In the 11 months that I have owned my Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc, I have spent 4 saddle sore days rolling over 1100 miles of potholed Devon lanes. In that time, I've just assumed that bikes are naturally uncomfortable and one just has to get on with it. The Crosstrail comes with a Specialized BodyGeometry Targa Sport 155mm saddle .. this is the larger of the two versions available and retails for around £35. More recently, now averaging 20 miles a ride, I've been finding it to be far from comfortable and when I saw one of my favoured eBay sellers with a new Prologo Nago Evo X10 Pro T 2.0 for sale, I wondered whether this would be a suitable replacement. This saddle was said to have come Christmas Day on a Felt F5x cyclo cross bike and was removed and replaced with his own saddle before the bike left the house.
 |
| Prologo Nago Evo X10 Pro T 2.0 Saddle |
My Crosstrail was in need of a service, its gears were missing badly, so I thought I'd get it serviced before fitting the new saddle. Monday this week the service was completed and Tuesday was the day I set about fitting the saddle. Our first real outing was on this Thursday's AVP evening ride. The X10 is a little narrower than the Targa and so I initially thought it would take a bit of getting used to, but no, I found it surprisingly comfortable. It provided cushioning support where needed and a reduced friction surface resulting in a smother ride and less effort required when moving out of the saddle to make steep climbs. So far, I am very impressed and pleased with my punt of a purchase.
I'm now keen to have a look at my Roubaix, as I've never found that very comfortable either. I don't think, in this instance, that it is the quality of saddle which is at fault, but rather its positioning. The Roubaix has a BG Toupe RBX Sport saddle retailing for around £90 and looks very similar to the X10 in design. What I feel is needed, however, is for me to move it forward a few cms so that I connect better with the padded area.
So, as I get more familiar with my bikes, I'm starting to understand what works and what does not and what needs to be changed. I am even considering a professional bike fix for me on the Roubaix, before that is, I embark on my year of sportifs, as I feel I'm still not getting the best performance I can from it. I will keep you posted on whether I go ahead with this and on any results of me making those fine saddle adjustments.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Day 167 - Moving to the Next Level
It had to happen. I've been thinking long and hard recently about moving to the next level in my cycling and perhaps next year buying a road bike to both achieve the speeds of my fellow pedallers on the Thursday evening rides and to increase my distances. I have also been mulling over the AVP 100 Mile Ride scheduled for Sunday 15 September and whether I wouldn't be better acquiring a new set of wheels now rather than waiting for next year .. as a) I'm already at the stage of needing to make the move and b) I'm not getting any younger so why delay! So, yes, it had to happen, a trip to the Bike Shed saw me striking a great deal on a 2013 Specialized Roubiux Sport Compact model 90E3-6152 in carbon, charcoal and white. I'm still pinching myself!
The weekend started, however, with a quick 9.5 mile ride over my three hils and a circuit of Colyton. I've remarked before on how this is a perfect mix of flat and hills and all this can be done in less than an hour. I need to record it on my Garmin as a lap so that I can track my performance from one day to the next while actually on my ride, I am sure I can do this, I'll have to dig out the manual again. Having completed this Saturday circuit on my hybrid in a reasonable 45 minutes, I had wondered what the same would be on my new road bike, so a re-run was on the cards for Sunday afternoon.
Two things were however against me on the Sunday, not even counting the unfamiliarity of my new racer - yes you can see I'm managing your expectations here - an afternoon in a seaside town in holiday season meant the roads were crowded with lost tourists and my legs were still killing me after my over ambitious attack on the Thursday hills. So, first impressions. I was very impressed with its initial pickup, carrying considerably less weight that the hybrid and it made the first rise up Seaton Down Hill with ease. I found that in the high speed down hill sections, I had less confidence than on my steed, the racer being lighter and more skittish, than my seemingly invincible hybrid, is going to take time getting used to. I was, however, amazed with how it soaked up the bumps in the road. I guess this is a combination of the flexing built into the frame, its lightness and the extra padding in the handle bars; it is really designed for our Devon roads!
Overall, the racer covered the same distance in 42 minutes, a 3 minute improvement. Many of my split times were not as good and the top speed was slightly down, but the average speed was an extra mph quicker overall. So I can see great potential, I just need clear roads and a return to fitness.
Stats:
Sat: 9.5 mi, 45m :24s, Avg 12.6 mph, Max 36.9, 503 kcalSun: 9.5 mi, 42m :01s, Avg 13.6 mph, Max 32.7, 504 kcal
 |
| A new stable mate for my steed, the new Roubiux |
The weekend started, however, with a quick 9.5 mile ride over my three hils and a circuit of Colyton. I've remarked before on how this is a perfect mix of flat and hills and all this can be done in less than an hour. I need to record it on my Garmin as a lap so that I can track my performance from one day to the next while actually on my ride, I am sure I can do this, I'll have to dig out the manual again. Having completed this Saturday circuit on my hybrid in a reasonable 45 minutes, I had wondered what the same would be on my new road bike, so a re-run was on the cards for Sunday afternoon.
 |
| My steed, my trusted hybrid Crosstrail |
Two things were however against me on the Sunday, not even counting the unfamiliarity of my new racer - yes you can see I'm managing your expectations here - an afternoon in a seaside town in holiday season meant the roads were crowded with lost tourists and my legs were still killing me after my over ambitious attack on the Thursday hills. So, first impressions. I was very impressed with its initial pickup, carrying considerably less weight that the hybrid and it made the first rise up Seaton Down Hill with ease. I found that in the high speed down hill sections, I had less confidence than on my steed, the racer being lighter and more skittish, than my seemingly invincible hybrid, is going to take time getting used to. I was, however, amazed with how it soaked up the bumps in the road. I guess this is a combination of the flexing built into the frame, its lightness and the extra padding in the handle bars; it is really designed for our Devon roads!
Overall, the racer covered the same distance in 42 minutes, a 3 minute improvement. Many of my split times were not as good and the top speed was slightly down, but the average speed was an extra mph quicker overall. So I can see great potential, I just need clear roads and a return to fitness.
Sat: 9.5 mi, 45m :24s, Avg 12.6 mph, Max 36.9, 503 kcalSun: 9.5 mi, 42m :01s, Avg 13.6 mph, Max 32.7, 504 kcal
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Day 146 - Maintenance Day
I had to forgo a ride out this morning to spent a few hours stripping my Specialized Crosstrail Sport back to its frame for a deep clean .. chain and cog de-greasing, hydraulic brake fluid top up and wax application. The build up of grime and oil which over 600 miles of dusty lanes and rough cycleways had caked itself to the wheels, chain, hubs and chainrings needed to be cleaned away.
Wheels off, I took the opportunity to remove my long mudguards, which with the absence of the rear wheel finally afforded me access to one of the previously hidden bolts. It now looks considerably more sporty, but rest assured the guards will probably be reaffixed later in the year when it undergoes its winterisation.
A can of engine de-greaser spray and 3 in one oil was procured for this delicate operation. The morning also saw my first attempt to remove the rear wheel .. daft as it may seem, this was something I had not been looking forward to. I spoke 12 days ago about the Bike Kitchen which had opened in London to help people get to know their bikes, assisting them with maintenance and build projects and this would have been perfect for me. Being a little too far from Devon, however, I turned to the next best thing, YouTube! Here I found a knowledgeable guy who showed me the steps to take - easy when you know how.
The degreasing agent worked a treat and the previously thick black oil coated chain has been returned to its former silvered finish with just a light internal coating of oil where it is needed. I also noticed the rear brake unit weeping a little hydraulic fluid and the leaver noticeably spongy. Back on the web, I learned of a very complex way to bleed and refill the reservoir, reminding me of my car maintenance days. I had, however, no 'bleeding kit' so popped the top of the reservoir and applied 3 applications of my 3 in one which, whether right or wrong, returned firmness to the leaver. This is something I am going to have to keep an eye on and get checked out when next in for a professional service. This also got me thinking. When I used to spend hours under the bonnet of cars, before they became 'smart', I'd refer to the very handy Haynes Workshop Manual. While I can find no such manual for the Specialized model itself and probably there's no need for such a specific publication, I have come across Haynes's The Bike Book: Complete Bicycle Maintenance which may be quite a useful general reference. I'll have to add it to my birthday wish list!
Finally, and mainly for my future reference, I've copied my full bike features & specification below to save me scratching around for this at some later point.
SPECIALIZED CROSSTRAIL - CROSSTRAIL SPORT DISC 2013
Features
Finally, and mainly for my future reference, I've copied my full bike features & specification below to save me scratching around for this at some later point.
Features
- A1 Premium aluminium frame plus custom 60mm-travel alloy Suntour NEXi lockout fork for lightweight confidence on any surface, with mudguard/rack braze-ons for versatility
- Specialized Trigger Sport 700x38c tyres roll fast, yet have enough bite for the trail
- Triple-ring crankset has all the gears necessary for varied terrain, with protective chain guard to keep clothes clean
- BodyGeometry XCT grips are anatomically designed to keep hands pain-free and comfortable on long rides
- Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes with dual pistons and forged callipers assure precision braking and durability
- Sporty yet comfortable BodyGeometry Targa Sport fitness saddle
- Durable, double-walled 700c alloy rims roll fast and can handle varied terrain
Specification
| COLOUR | Graphite / Black |
| SIZE | Small |
| FRAME | Specialized A1 Premium Aluminium, w/ mudguard and rack braze-ons, forged dropouts, kickstand mount |
| REAR SHOCK | --- |
| FORK | SR Suntour NEXi Coil, Aluminium lower, custom integrated fork crown, mechanical lock-out, 60mm travel |
| HEADSET | 1-1/8" FSA Ahead, semi-integrated, 8mm cone spacer |
| STEM | Melt-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 10-degree rise, 25.4mm clamp |
| HANDLEBARS | Specialized 25mm XC alloy riser bar, 25.4mm, 8-degree back bend |
| GRIPS | Specialized BodyGeometry XCT Men's, dual compound |
| FRONT BRAKE | Tektro Draco, hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor |
| REAR BRAKE | Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor |
| BRAKE LEVERS | Tektro Draco hydraulic brake lever |
| FRONT DERAILLEUR | Shimano M390, top-swing, dual-pull |
| REAR DERAILLEUR | Shimano Acera, 9-speed |
| SHIFT LEVERS | Shimano SL-M390, Rapidfire |
| CASSETTE | Shimano 9-speed, 11-32 |
| CHAIN | KMC X-9, 9-speed, reusable Missing Link |
| CRANKSET | SR Suntour, XCR, 9-speed, square spindle, w/ chainguard |
| CHAINRINGS | 48/36/26, w/ chainguard |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | Cartridge bearing, square spindle w/ crank stop right side, capless bolts |
| PEDALS | Composite plastic body, loose ball w/ reflectors |
| RIMS | Alloy, double-wall, DISC, 32h |
| FRONT HUB | Disc hub, double sealed, ground race, dual lock nuts w/ 17mm contact side, 5mm QR, round disc mount |
| REAR HUB | Disc hub, loose ball, double-sealed, ground race, dual lock nuts w/ 19mm contact side, QR |
| SPOKES | Stainless, 2.0mm (14g) |
| FRONT TYRE | Specialized Trigger Sport, 700x38c, 60TPI, wire bead |
| REAR TYRE | Specialized Trigger Sport, 700x38c, 60TPI, wire bead |
| INNER TUBES | Specialized Schrader valve |
| SADDLE | BodyGeometry Targa Sport, 155mm |
| SEATPOST | Alloy, 2-bolt head, 12.5mm offset, 27.2mm |
| SEAT BINDER | Alloy clamp |
Saturday, 20 July 2013
Day 138 - Saturday Morning Ride
Up early and what better thing can there be on a warm sunny morning than taking the bike out for a pleasant and gentle ride. Well that was the plan when I set out at 06:30 am this morning. The truth of the matter was that I really did not know when to stop!
I headed up Seaton Down Hill, that steep one mile climb out of the Axe Valley, and onto the main road towards Sidmouth. I had it in my mind at this stage that I would return through Beer and then call it a morning. However, there is this memorial along the main road, apx 3 miles from the top of Seaton Down Hill, that I've passed over the years but have never had opportunity to stop the car to see what it is all about. I thought, 'I have time this morning', so on I peddled, past the turning for Beer.
The memorial, I now know, is to a Dr Thoms Gilbert-Smith, who "on this spot at half past nine o'clock after watching the glorious sunset of August third, 1904, fell dead from his bicycle thunder and lightening immediately followed. Thus closed a noble life spent in the service of his fellow men. He never turned his back on duty, but faithful to his motto 'dare and do' remained undaunted to the end". What about that then? I hastily remounted my bicycle and dared to venture on towards Branscombe.
I've not cycled out to Branscombe, where in 2007 the Napoli came to grief shedding containers of motorbikes and nappies along the beach, since first doing so with the AVP a few weeks ago. The route in to Branscombe is a beautiful down hill ride past the old church and wonderful watering holes. The route out, however, is a killer. As they say in the cycling world, what goes down must come up - OK so I made that up, but it is certainly true! I now know how Foome must have felt the day before yesterday in the TDF when he broke all rules in order to take an energy gel. It felt as though I had two punctures, I just had no juice left in the tank, I even got off to check both tyres were still inflated!
Once out of Branscombe, having finally made it up that 400 ft climb, the road smoothed out to an easy drop down into Beer followed by another more gentle up and over back into Seaton. As if those 10 miles were not enough of a 'gentle' circuit, as time was still on my side I though that I'd continue on to include one of my week day morning extended Colyton circuits.
My planned gentle Saturday morning ride turned into an almost 2 hour, 20 mile tour of the local villages ... I must learn to sleep in! That said, my calorie burning Tour de Fitness is starting to pay dividends, as at last I'm seeing a few more pounds fall away, and I don't just mean those spent on new jerseys!
I headed up Seaton Down Hill, that steep one mile climb out of the Axe Valley, and onto the main road towards Sidmouth. I had it in my mind at this stage that I would return through Beer and then call it a morning. However, there is this memorial along the main road, apx 3 miles from the top of Seaton Down Hill, that I've passed over the years but have never had opportunity to stop the car to see what it is all about. I thought, 'I have time this morning', so on I peddled, past the turning for Beer.
The memorial, I now know, is to a Dr Thoms Gilbert-Smith, who "on this spot at half past nine o'clock after watching the glorious sunset of August third, 1904, fell dead from his bicycle thunder and lightening immediately followed. Thus closed a noble life spent in the service of his fellow men. He never turned his back on duty, but faithful to his motto 'dare and do' remained undaunted to the end". What about that then? I hastily remounted my bicycle and dared to venture on towards Branscombe.
 |
| Memorial to Dr Gilbert-Smith 1904 |
I've not cycled out to Branscombe, where in 2007 the Napoli came to grief shedding containers of motorbikes and nappies along the beach, since first doing so with the AVP a few weeks ago. The route in to Branscombe is a beautiful down hill ride past the old church and wonderful watering holes. The route out, however, is a killer. As they say in the cycling world, what goes down must come up - OK so I made that up, but it is certainly true! I now know how Foome must have felt the day before yesterday in the TDF when he broke all rules in order to take an energy gel. It felt as though I had two punctures, I just had no juice left in the tank, I even got off to check both tyres were still inflated!
 |
| Branscombe Church & my Specialized Crosstrail Sport |
 |
| Specialized Poser |
My planned gentle Saturday morning ride turned into an almost 2 hour, 20 mile tour of the local villages ... I must learn to sleep in! That said, my calorie burning Tour de Fitness is starting to pay dividends, as at last I'm seeing a few more pounds fall away, and I don't just mean those spent on new jerseys!
 |
| Check out those Branscombe Hills! |
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Day 92 - Has Summer Arrived?
I looked out of the window at 6:30 this morning an thought, at last, could summer now have arrived. Beautiful blue sky as far as the eye could see was what greeted me and I pondered where to ride out to this morning. With such weather, there could be only one destination, Beer and this meant that I would be having to make the long climb up Seaton Down Hill, but I knew it would be worth it!
Suited and booted I started my climb, wearing for the first time a new pair of Oakley sunglasses that were performing an absolute treat, such an improvement on my narrower everyday glasses. At the top of the hill the view down the valley and across the sea was, as always, spectacular.
From the Quarry, it was a steep drop then down into Beer, where a visit to the beach was a must. Beer beach is very different to any other in the area. It is covered with boats, fishing gear, walkways, deck chairs and cafes - although, disappointingly, none were open at this hour. I passed around ten fishermen preparing for a day out in the bay, but otherwise, the beach was deserted and the sea was as calm as a millpond, almost like glass.
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| Suited and booted over looking Seaton |
From here, it is a gentle ride along the main road to Stafford Cross and then cross country past a stranded boat in a field and Beer Quarry from where the stone I referenced yesterday was sourced.
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| Stranded boat in a field! |
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| Beer Quarry & my Specialized Crosstrail Sport |
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| The sea as calm as a millpond |
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| Beer beach, with boats, fishing gear, deck chairs and a bike? |
I returned to Seaton along the coast path, calling in at Janice's Cliffside Cabin for refreshments only to find that also closed, no one catering today for the early cyclist, although the view from the terrace was in itself worth the detour.
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| Janice's Cliffside Cabin |
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| View from Janice's terrace |
I had then planned to make my way over to the Harbour cafe but time was now against me and I'd still not done the distance I'd wanted. It was a tough decision, another circuit out to Colyford or a bacon butty under the warm morning sun. Unbelievably, I headed out to Colyford, the butty would have to wait another day!
Stats: 11.9 mi, 1h 14m, Avg 9.6 mph, Max 29.8 mph, 823 kcal
Stats: 11.9 mi, 1h 14m, Avg 9.6 mph, Max 29.8 mph, 823 kcal
Friday, 26 April 2013
Day 56 - We're Back
After 10 days, which seemed interminably longer, without my steed, we are back on the road!
As planned, I collected my Specialized from the Bike Shed last night. It's such a great service that they have late opening until 8:00 pm every Thursday and what perfect timing with all the repairs having been completed that morning.
Fast forwarding then to this morning and with the sun breaking slowly through the morning mist, I took my long awaited morning ride down to the sea. We climbed, as we've done most mornings, up hill to complete a 'stall turn' into Marlpit Lane, to then dive down hill, following Marlpit, Sea Lane into Sea Hill and levelling out onto the Promenade .. bliss!
To settle back into the groove, we completed a few mile circuits of the Promenade before heading off across the park towards the wetlands. I can't believe how big the lambs have grown in the last 2 weeks .. so cute!
As planned, I collected my Specialized from the Bike Shed last night. It's such a great service that they have late opening until 8:00 pm every Thursday and what perfect timing with all the repairs having been completed that morning.
Fast forwarding then to this morning and with the sun breaking slowly through the morning mist, I took my long awaited morning ride down to the sea. We climbed, as we've done most mornings, up hill to complete a 'stall turn' into Marlpit Lane, to then dive down hill, following Marlpit, Sea Lane into Sea Hill and levelling out onto the Promenade .. bliss!
To settle back into the groove, we completed a few mile circuits of the Promenade before heading off across the park towards the wetlands. I can't believe how big the lambs have grown in the last 2 weeks .. so cute!
At the 4 mile mark we leave the Cycle Route and return back into suburbia, steadily climbing back up hill, threading our way through the lanes and cycle paths home.
Two observations from this morning's ride, first I'm talking here of 'we' when there is just myself and my bike and doesn't the route outline below look a little like a gnome sat fishing? Hmm, I think it's time for work!
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Day 51 - Minus 6
As I move to within a day of having been without my bike for a week, I'm still on a high following the Bike Shed's Friday call informing me that parts were now on order with Specialized. The warrantee repair has obviously been approved.
With a following wind, I am hopeful that I'll be able to make use of their Thursday night late opening to collect my steed and be back in action on the Seaton roads for Friday. Can't wait!
Friday, 19 April 2013
Day 49 - Minus 4
Not expecting to hear any news of my steed today, so sitting here reflecting on a week of little biking activity. I did venture out last night for a brisk walk and thought I'd do the same this morning but alas I can't get up the enthusiasm. There is something special in the whole preparation for a ride that I just don't get in grabbing a coat and putting on shoes for a walk.
The clothing, day-glow or lycra; the gloves, full or fingerless; is the air warm enough now to forgo the cap, or will leaving it behind induce that 'ice cream sandwich' headache; fixing the headphones for my latest audio book read; tightening helmet in place, small screw at the rear and chin strap secure; pre-flight checks, lights on or off, starting gear correct, water bottle full or not required; Endomondo engaged, 10 second countdown; takeoff!
Missing my steed.
The clothing, day-glow or lycra; the gloves, full or fingerless; is the air warm enough now to forgo the cap, or will leaving it behind induce that 'ice cream sandwich' headache; fixing the headphones for my latest audio book read; tightening helmet in place, small screw at the rear and chin strap secure; pre-flight checks, lights on or off, starting gear correct, water bottle full or not required; Endomondo engaged, 10 second countdown; takeoff!
Missing my steed.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Day 48 - Minus 3
Update from the Bike Shed. My steed in on its way to Crediton for shipping back to Specialized. So much for me hoping on a quick fork replacement in time for a sunny weekend. This is doing my fitness plans no good.
Bike Shed say 'we'll call you in a couple of days with an update'. May be, as has been suggested, I should take up morning power walks while I'm grounded. It's something to consider.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Day 47 - Minus 2
Keeping myself from calling the Bike Shed from first light today has been a real challenge. Luckily I was snowed under with work, so the day flew. By 5:30, I'd just about given up and you'd probably be reading a rant now had the mobile not vibrated into life.
The very matter of fact update was that photos of the damaged fork had been sent across to Crediton to get confirmation as to whether they can proceed with the warrantee repair or whether Crediton need to have the bike shipped to them. Not sure how long it will take to make that decision. Meanwhile, my legs have stopped that aching, so that's one positive outcome but I'm missing my morning workout and had got used to having an ache or two about me!
I've dug out a few pics I took of the offending forks. The broken adjuster switch and the damaged flange.
I've dug out a few pics I took of the offending forks. The broken adjuster switch and the damaged flange.
Tomorrow, will be day 3 without my steed or knowing when I'll get my Specialized back and after this weekend, I'm concerned that I'll not be able to get over to collect it until the wrong side of the bank holiday. I can't currently comprehend that situation, so think positive, all will be sorted soon.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Day 46 - Minus 1
Today is day 46 of my 'Tour de Fitness' but really this should read 46 minus 1, as this is the first day that I've been without my bike following the disaster that befell my trusty steed yesterday .. or may be it was the Friday before.
Anyway, this is not going to be the ranting blog of a disgruntled customer as that would just be a bore and a little too tabloid for my linking. So, without being able to tell you of my latest outing on two wheels, I suggest I update all on the progress of its fix and return. Well, I would that is, if I knew.
You may recall from yesterday's blog that the Bike Shed have a very formal way of dealing with warrantee claims, in that it is the Crediton branch which takes the lead. This is primarily so that there is a single point of contact and it avoids confusion for the customer and the staff over who is dealing with the repairs. By late afternoon today, having still had no call from the team, I thought I'd better check in, just in case I'd given them the wrong mobile number. Their response, however, defied all logic .. today was the guy who deals with warrantees' day off!
I shall say no more, tomorrow's another day and I'm sure it's all in hand.
Anyway, this is not going to be the ranting blog of a disgruntled customer as that would just be a bore and a little too tabloid for my linking. So, without being able to tell you of my latest outing on two wheels, I suggest I update all on the progress of its fix and return. Well, I would that is, if I knew.
You may recall from yesterday's blog that the Bike Shed have a very formal way of dealing with warrantee claims, in that it is the Crediton branch which takes the lead. This is primarily so that there is a single point of contact and it avoids confusion for the customer and the staff over who is dealing with the repairs. By late afternoon today, having still had no call from the team, I thought I'd better check in, just in case I'd given them the wrong mobile number. Their response, however, defied all logic .. today was the guy who deals with warrantees' day off!
I shall say no more, tomorrow's another day and I'm sure it's all in hand.
Monday, 15 April 2013
Day 45 - Breakdown!
Shock horror, the worst of all disasters!
As I previously reported, on Friday, my steed returned to the Bike Shed, Exeter, for it's first service; this is when they tighten cables and check it over for safety. Over the weekend, persistent rain and other activities - decorating! - kept me away from the bike, and so it was not until this morning that I was finally able to return to my training.
We made good progress climbing Seaton Down Hill but on turning down Marlpit, the somewhat potholed lane, an awful rattle became very audible from the front of the bike. I initially thought it to be cables which had worked themselves lose, but no, there was nothing obvious there. In fact there was nothing visibly wrong anywhere, but the knocking was becoming quite disturbing. I made it down to the Esplanade where I pulled up to give it a further looking over. Dismounting to get a better view, there was still nothing obvious and I wondered whether it could have anything to do with the adjustable shocks in the front forks. There is a small plastic switch on top of the shocks which, coincidentally, I remember examining on collecting the bike on Friday as something did not quite look right but nothing came of it then, tragically this morning, however, with one turn - to see if this could be the cause of the rattle - it sheered off! There was also a broken flange around the left shock. This made me believe, without doubt, that the forks were at fault, something catastrophic had obviously happened. I was left with no option other than to nurse the bike home, drawing an early close to my morning ride.
If like me you hate having to return faulty goods, you'll appreciate my feelings making that early morning call to the Bike Shed. My view was that on Friday the bike was running perfectly and on Monday it has a rattle and visible signs of damage and the only change between these days had been the service. Why did I not spot this, you may ask - I did - on my way back to the car on Friday afternoon? Well. Exeter is a whole lot noisier on a Friday afternoon than sleepy Seaton at 07:00 am, also, my attention was focussed on finding my way along a very unfamiliar route. I reserve commenting on the Bike Shed's view for now, as just as your car insurance company advise not to admit liability in the event of a knock, it is safe to say that the sales team were adopting the same approach with me today, both on the phone and when I dropped it off in my lunch hour.
I was hoping to hear back from the Bike Shed this afternoon on how long it was going to take to fix, but alas no call was received. They have, it was explained to me, a very formal way of dealing with warrantee claims, only the Crediton branch can deal with these, so they were unable to tell me how long a fix would take but I was promised that they would call me later in the day. I always believe that you only see the true quality of a great retail outlet by the way they handle complaints. How the Bike Shed now perform will be of most interest to me. Their lack of an update call this afternoon, when they could see how anxious I was to get my 6 week old bike back as soon as possible, has not been the greatest of starts!
Saturday, 2 March 2013
To the Start
Saturday 2nd March is the day that my Tour de Fitness commences with the purchase of my first bike in about 30 years! After much deliberation over supplier, bike and financing (self or work plan) I came away today, from Exeter's Bike Shed with a new shiny, Specialised Crosstrail Sport Disc -2013.
This afternoon, I took it for a gingerly two mile familiarisation ride down to the beach and back. I can't believe how unfit I am. The rest of the afternoon is spent lying on the sofa watching Top Gear on iPlayer .. I love cars!
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