Yesterday I had a grand day out with a handful of leather nuts to the Brooks saddle factory in Birmingham, UK. We were split into 2 groups and had a tour on the factory floor. Where we could see, hear and smell the production of these beautiful leather saddles. The whole production is done in true industrial style, e.g big and noisy with oil and steam (ok just added that last bit for effect).
I do have a weak spot for old industrial craftsmanship, ok CNC, robots are great but each …

I finally had the chance to cycle in the snow with my Surly Long Haul Trucker. What can I say, it is sooo easy.
I have done my fair share of cycling in the snow and snow storms where I couldn’t see further than 50 metres ahead. Quite often I had to stop to remove the snow out of the wheels and away from the brakes. The most “fun” to ride on is when there is one layer of snow that have plenty of tracks from people moving about on bicycles …

Last year took us to Scotland (Grand tour of Edinburgh) , Wales (3 wet days loop), Surrey Hills (3 days tour with TEA), Isle of Wight (one small wet ride), Pyrenees (more up hills than you can shake a stick at) and Denmark (flatter than flat rides) and a few more day trips and pootles here and there.

I managed to change the dead ball bearing in the HOPE hub and what can say.

The other day while cycling home from work. I heard and felt the loud noise of what seemed to be a screwdriver being put to a bench grinder coming from my rear hub.

Yesterday was a three legged test ride. We went out in the dark to Richmond Park in London around the “off road bit”, well the walking path.
Part I : As you know I got the SuperNova E3 but I haven’t really tested the light, a bit hard in central London. Too bad last night we had a bit of cloud cover which did give a bit of glare in the park. So I think that I could cycle around the “yellow brick road” without any light. Though I would …

I tried out the Dinotte 600L light this summer and it was just too bright, the reflection of the road was like looking at the light of an oncoming car, even at a medium setting!!! And other lights I looked at looked a bit “flimsy” and couldn’t easily be detached.

I’m not a big fan of standard drop bars. The main reason is that I don’t feel I got a good grip when it comes to braking when you are riding in the hoods.

Today I passed the 2000 miles mark on my little Tank the Surly Long Haul Trucker \o/ Why haven’t I listened to others before, kinda kicking myself here, when they talked about a touring bicycle. Because it is such a joy to ride. Worth every penny.

I was cleaning the Tank, the surly long hall trucker, the other day and noticed the scratch on the seat tube. I have no idea how and when it happened. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there when we got home from Croatia. And I never dropped it either, hmmm.
Well it is the first one to “break” the bicycle in, so everything is all right again :)