Hello from West Wiltshire

[GazK]

Hello all! I'm new to this forum - been lurking for a while since blowing the dust off my bike.

This is my fast* hybrid in all it's mongrel glory:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45306032@N04/sets/72157623713059524/

It's a bastarised Raleigh(cough) M-Trax M3, used for weekend hacks and (sometimes) a 10 mile commute. The bike is a weird mix of roadish geometry and MTB components (have you seen that fork? and whats with the downtube?) but I quite like that, and it was all I could afford at the time. It certainly gets a lot of puzzled looks.

Soon after buying it I realised that the wheels (1 cross fashion nonsense, weird graunching noises) were from the Beijing Fromage Corporation, so I got a copy of "the bicycle wheel" from my local library, and spent some money at Roseversand.de (the exchange rate was better then). The result was my first (and only) set of handbuilt wheels - 36 hole Open Pros on DT and Shimano XT hubs. And they're still true after 2 years! The rest of the kit is so-so, but it's reliable and gets me around. I have however got my eyes on a Brooks...

*speed depends on engine condition

 

[catalan chris]

Welcome to the forum (from Bristol - just west of you) - you'll get tons of good advice (mixed with a few ounces of dodgey views!).

 

[bauldbairn]

Welcome to the CC forums GazK.

It doesn't matter what type of bike you've got or what it looks like.

I agree about engine condition - mine has been lying around doing nowt over Xmas() and now my bikes so slow compared to last summer. -

 

[GazK]

Welcome to the CC forums GazK.

It doesn't matter what type of bike you've got or what it looks like.

I agree about engine condition - mine has been lying around doing nowt over Xmas() and now my bikes so slow compared to last summer. -

Mine too. Think I need to get some Ultegra to take my mind off it

PS Did 15 miles yesterday, the second half into the wind. At least my legs know where they stand now!

 

[bauldbairn]

Mine too. Think I need to get some Ultegra to take my mind off it

PS Did 15 miles yesterday, the second half into the wind. At least my legs know where they stand now!

That's cheaper than my solution - I'd decided I needed another bike!

I did just under twenty miles around the outskirts of the town where I live - the wind was in my face all the way around. How does that work, surely it should have been behind me at some point? -

 

[GazK]

That's cheaper than my solution - I'd decided I needed another bike!

I did just under twenty miles around the outskirts of the town where I live - the wind was in my face all the way around. How does that work, surely it should have been behind me at some point? -

Aah, thats the famous circular wind which often gravitates as a mini weather system around out-of-shape cyclists. I have one which follows me everywhere.

 

[catalan chris]

Aah, thats the famous circular wind which often gravitates as a mini weather system around out-of-shape cyclists. I have one which follows me everywhere.

Fantastic! I guess it's like the see-saw weather system that seems to operate in West Country on work days for my commute. Strong southwesterly in the mornings (= headwind) swinging around by late afternoon into a strong northeasterly (= headwind) for the cycle home.

 

[GazK]

Fantastic! I guess it's like the see-saw weather system that seems to operate in West Country on work days for my commute. Strong southwesterly in the mornings (= headwind) swinging around by late afternoon into a strong northeasterly (= headwind) for the cycle home.

Sometimes round our way is veers from southwesterly to northeasterly and back again in the time it takes me to navigate a roundabout

 

[catalan chris]

This could fast become a parody of the Monty Pythons Secret Policeman's Ball sketch that goes something like ' You think you had it bad...when I was a lad we got up an hour before we went to sleep...etc'

 

[Globalti]

That looks like a well-sorted bike. Don't put a Brooks on it though, that would be like putting a leather sofa in the back of your Ferrari. Have a look at Charge saddles, they look luvverly and are dead comfy. The Spoon is leather too, if I recall.

BTW my family are from Salisbury. Mum lives in Downton.

 

[HJ]

Hallo and welcome

 

[GazK]

That looks like a well-sorted bike. Don't put a Brooks on it though, that would be like putting a leather sofa in the back of your Ferrari. Have a look at Charge saddles, they look luvverly and are dead comfy. The Spoon is leather too, if I recall.

BTW my family are from Salisbury. Mum lives in Downton.

I was thinking of one of these:

http://www.brooksengland.com/en/Shop_ProductPage.aspx?cat=saddles+-+touring+%26+trekking∏=B17+Special

rather than one of these:

http://www.brooksengland.com/en/Shop_ProductPage.aspx?cat=saddles+-+city+%26+heavy+duty∏=B135

PS Its not a ferrari. It's more like a Mk2 Ford Escort Ghia with furry dice.

 

[fleetey]

Welcome from Westbury!

 

[Globalti]

It's your decision but I bought a Brooks Swift a few years ago and was deeply disappointed with it; it weighed a ton, was horribly hard and uncomfortable and looked as it had been beaten together by a medieval chastity belt maker. It was out of the same West Midlands era of industry as the poor old Land Rover, which is assembled with a crowbar and big rubber mallet.

I'm sure that if I had persisted I would be on here now telling you it's as comfy as a feather bed. Try to get a look at one before you buy.

 

[Darkmarkster]

Hello and welcome!