+5°C, sunny & strong onshore breeze

Better than I thought. The handling is fine, it’s reasonably nimble, though I didn’t push it on those wet black muddy Lancashire roads. the only problem I can think of is that the gearing seems rather tall. I shall get a 17 tooth cog & try it. It’s always a compromise when you only have one ratio but at least the cogs are cheap & easy to experiment with. The landscape was swept by strong westerly winds though: they’re always a struggle. I totalled 60Km with the speedo set to a 26″ wheel. Have yet to work out the equivalent 700x28c

Lancashire is a pleasant surprise, at least the planes around Formby & Southport were. The place often reminded me of the Somerset flats, the black soil, deep straight drainage ditches and the roads that follow field patterns so that there are numerous right-angle corners.

2°C, and dropping. snow tomorrow.

Damned icy this morning, yesterday’s rain froze overnight so no cycling. Not good.

This evening rode around on the fixed; it’s weird! Kicking off and clipping in while the cranks are turning is odd. I’ve got used to coasting to a stop & standing on one pedal to get off the seat. That’s how I’ve done it over the last 25 years. This bike keeps your feet turning and it’s odd, that pumping up & down is odd and wrong. May the gods allow me to learn this without falling off. Can I learn new tricks?

-2°C, light cloud.

Last day, bit of a rush. Fit in a tight schedule, but I may have a new bike by the end of the day: if it fits. Rode 40 miles yesterday, more today if it’s no too cold.

Later: Did 38 miles today, the cold air softened after midday.

Okay, so I got it:

It needs a bit of customising- the stem is too short, it needs lights and probably mudguards. I rode it a bit and it seems very nimble, so far I’m impressed. Well, I did buy it.

+2C, rain & sleet. Melting.

I have a new place to put videos- Vimeo. It’s like YouTube, but rather more grown up. That’s most obvious in the comments columns; so far I have not seen any of the Tourettes comments that is the norm on YouTube. Have a look here

Kona do a single-speed that may be just right. I only found it today, supplied by Evans. The frame is square- meaning the toptube & seat tubes are the same length. With a change of stem, this could do the job with its 23.5″ top tube.  It even has mud-guard ‘eyes’. I’m trying it out next week; in the meantime, think over where I’m going to store it.

Kona Paddy wagon

12°C, clearing, ENE winds:

Should I order a new bike when I get that winter bike back? I’m considering a frame with track drop-outs which mean it would have a hub-gear (like a modernised sturmey-archer) or even a single speed rear wheel. With such a frame it’s easy to swap wheels to get a change of gearing- it’s even possible to use a fixed wheel. the big advantage is reliability and a large saving in weight. Dérailleur gears are over a kilogramme heavier and less reliable. So, it’s fairly easy to think up reasons to get one. The next problem is where to get one- mine needs a 59cm top-tube. Otherwise my knees hit the handlebars or toes catch the front wheel.

Single speed bike

Fixed wheel bikes are dead trendy right now-especially in London ( but it is flat there- so a natural choice). All this machine needs is a change of bars, add a rack/guards & it’s ready to go.
Shopping round it’s priced at £350, if it fits, I’ll have one.

13°C, heavy rain

‘Smelly’ cyclists asked to leave New Forest pub:BBC. How did they manage to stink after only 6 miles. I’m not even going to ask why stop for a break before they’ve warmed up. I can only guess that one of them was wearing a wiffy jersey from their last ride.