The day dawned wet and raining, well at least it did when I pulled back the curtain at about 7:30am and looked out the window, so I went back to bed, it looked as though the forecasted severe weather was right…………wrong. The heavy rain during the day never arrived, light drizzle and one heavy shower, by mid afternoon the sun had broken through complete with white fluffy clouds and blues sky. By late afternoon we went for a walk along the river bank. OK it was windy and the wind was cold but where was the severe weather??
A couple of post ago (this one) it was suggested that I speak about what kit I have got and that got me thinking how much I have amassed since I started riding bikes again in Oct 09. Back then it was a simple case of lets buy a bike and it will help with the weight loss. I knew I wanted a mountain bike, I had had a “Race Bike” as they were called when I was younger, a white 10 speed derailleur with drop handle bars and those extra arms on the brakes levers so that you could activate the brakes while your hand were on the top section of the handle bar, all mod cons in those days. And lets be honest, “Race Bikes” are built for anorexic stick insects, not somebody weighing just under 19st, at least that was my reasoning back then. Walking into the bike shop for the first time was an eye opener, the placed was packed with bikes and customers and some of the prices………. After about an hour I left having purchased a Cannondale F5 for me and a Specialized Myka for the wife, some lights, crud catchers and a helmet for the wife (I had a helmet at home I was intending to use).
It was not long before I was back at the shop purchasing a new helmet for me (I had forgotten why I stopped wearing it). This was quickly followed by a pump, puncture repair kit and water bottle & cage. Next on the shopping list was a track pump and some cleaning gear and lubrication. As anybody who has owned a bike will know how the list went on.
It was not only the ancillary bits that I was buying, the first item to change on the bike was the handle bar grips, I fitted a pair of Ergon GR2 handle bar grips. Due to a warranty issue I had to have a new frame, but the same frame was no longer available. So a better compatible frame from there F2 range was sourced from the USA, apparently the European F2 is a completely different bike to the American F2 and is a better frame than the F5. Just before I found out that I needed a new frame I ordered a new pair of Recon Race single air front forks, thankfully they went on the new frame. Since then I have changed the pedals to get a better grip, the handles bars and seat to improve the riding position. I keep telling the wife I am building another bike by stealth……..
Here is my bike as it stands today
My bike after a wash and service
and here is my old F5
My bike having a scenic rest
Not a lot of difference when you look at the pictures but it is a completely different bike now, a lot lighter.
The one aspect of biking I have not bought into yet is the clothing, the price of some of the kit really scares me even more than the price of bikes. I currently ride with a base layer top and a pair of lycra running trousers, a pair of normal shorts over the top, an old fleeced jacket and a pair of hiking shoes. The only concessions I have made to biking clothing is a pair of gloves and a pair of seal skin water proof socks.
While I was writing this I did thinking about adding up what I spent on cycling to date, I decided very quickly that it would not be a good idea……..
