Last Tuesday I went and had a little meet up with other bicycle touring mad people, some clearly madder than me, just. Alastair Humphrey’s came up with the idea of a bicycle tourist meet up. We took over the top of the pub and had a good old natter, oh and a few beers was drunk.
It was great to meet Friedel of the travellingtwo.com fame, if you are thinking about jumping on your bicycle for a world tour or just a weekend away their website ain’t a bad place to …

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 …

After a little clicking around on the Brooks website I think I figured out that they are a B66 and a Team Pro.

Alastair Humphreys: I will be on the top floor of the Iron Duke pub in Victoria station, London at 6.30pm on Tuesday March 9th until about 9pm.

Today is the sad anniversary of the departure of Sheldon Brown two years ago.
I have never met Sheldon but I have heavily used his website and learned a lot from reading it. If I’m asked where is a good place to learn about bicycles and how to maintain a bicycle, I always send them to Sheldon Browns website.
We are all alive just so long as someone remembers us.
The above quote I totally agree with and I will use and will pass on Sheldon great work to others, thank …

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 always find something to use them for. Like strapping our tent to the rack on our bicycle or our sleeping bags onto our day pack.

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.

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.