Split second timing

After a ride the other day and a few close encounters with trees, rocks, roots etc - it dawned on me what a difference a tiny input to the steering or a split second in timing can make in life - and especially when riding. I found these two images a while back and I think they illustrate the point rather well!

What are the chances that this did not end in disaster. Would like to know what wheels are on that bike.

Photo credit http://cheezburger.com/6491023616

A good illustration of why obeying road rules is a good idea for cyclists. Lucky, very lucky!

Photo credit http://cheezburger.com/6462123520

Another good free online magazine

Another really nice and free MTB magazine that I found on the net at www.issuu.com

Issue 18 of free online mountainbike magazine 'Wideopen', featuring Iceland with Chopper and Pilgrim, Malaga with Roost DH, Brechfa Frostbite 40, The British Downhill Series Round 1, British 4X Series Round 1, Steve Parr, Josh Lane, TIm Sadler, The Empire MX6 and the usual Regular, Longtermers and Gear

Find out more at http://www.wideopenmag.co.uk

Open publication - Free publishing - More cycling

Video: Extreme Crazy Mountain Bikers

Extreme Crazy Mountain Bikers was the title of this video on youtube - and having watched it I have to agree. Fairly terrifying stuff (in what I think is the French Alps) - not only for the two riders in the vid - but also the slower riders that they are bearing down on at high speed with not much space and rather large cliffs! 

Get a grip.

It seems Karma has been lurking patiently in the shadows, waiting to give me a little pay back for well over a decade.

Many moons ago I watched my little brother crash his bike. As he went off down the road and into a bend, the right hand grip slid off - sending him spiralling into a sign post. I will admit, I laughed my ass off at the time (after checking he was ok obviously) - and there was much mocking about being stupid enough to let you handle bar grips fall of etc etc - but today it turns out its not so funny when it happens to you!

The rain today was torrential, and it must have found its way under the ageing grips on my trusty Saracen, and as I negotiated the torrents freely flowing across the tarmac I felt it start to move. A split second later I was all over the place, one hand on the bars and one flailing wildly holding a perfectly formed, if not completely detached grip in it.

Luckily I did not end up in the drink, and after some crazy running while seated on a bike, managed to get it all collected. To the bike shop. Pair of lock on grips purchased.

Karma must have been almost satisfied with this, but one final sting - Only a few hours later I had to call my brother to let him know I was going to be late for our now weekly expedition into the wilderness and had time to relate the whole sad sorry, allowing him to return a little of the mocking from all those years ago while he helped me finish fitting them to my ride.

Concept reality

We have all seen the amazing concept bikes that have wheels that are sporting the clean lines of spokelessness - they look amazing - floating - and in theory they should work, but could they in the real world. I certainly have not seen any of these super stylish rims at my local bike shop yet - but...

... As the video below proves, they can work - and they look even cooler when on an actual bike that is moving down the road!

Cyclisme quote of the weel (7)

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.  Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.  Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.  
~Iris Murdoch, The Red and the Green

Cycle commuter slang - 1

Captain Dashboard: Cyclist who has grown a forest of doodads on his handlebars. Bells, lights, mirrors, brackets that go to gizmos that are now broken. See also, Handle Bar Ent. 


Bike Ninja: This is the guy who sneaks up on you at night because he has not one iota of reflective gear and his bike is void of lights and reflectors. These people frequently appear out of nowhere and scare the bejesus out of me.


More at http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2010/03/dictionary-of-bike-commuter-slang.html

How fast have you ever been?

Speed, its exhilarating and as a species we crave to experience it, get addicted to it and some have given their lives in pursuit of its ever increasing thrill!

Speed on a bike is like nothing else, probably the closest thing we can get to that other elusive obsession of flying.

The fastest I have ever traveled on a bike (that I know of) was last week. Using the map my ride app on my phone I recorded a top speed of 47mph (thats 75kph for all you cycle purists out there). To achieve this momentum I required a very long very steep hill (and I think the colossal weight of my bikes frame (and some of my own) may have helped!)

It was great fun and a little terrifying. I was surprised that I had managed this speed - especially as I have rather wide off road tyres on the machine, but the app has been very accurate so far, so I am going to go with it!

I was rather chuffed that I had managed this speed, but it made me wonder what is the fastest that a human has traveled using pedal power alone.

A quick scan of the net informed me of the following:

World speed record for a bicycle on a flat road

Sam Whittingham	2009	133 km/h (83 mph)	Flat surface, unpaced[1]
Barbara Buatois	2010	121 km/h (75 mph)	Flat surface, unpaced (woman)[1

That is on a flat road (there is a video that shows the kind of custom machines used for this below).I

f you want to go gravity assisted like I did then you are talking about over 130 mph. Terrifying stuff - a reminder of just how terrifying in the video below!

Stay safe out there speed freaks!

Close roads to open opportunities for cyclists

A health expert from the University of Tennesse has made a recomendation that roads in UK city centers should be closed to traffic on sunday mornings to promote cycling, walking and other health activities. The idea seems to have worked in other places in the world - but would uk drivers be ready for such a plan? There is a very interesting article about the subject that appeared on The Times website the other day, to read the full details click here.

Olympic cycling and what it takes

There was a documentary about Victoria Pendleton - the worlds greatest female track cyclist - played on the BBC the other day.

It follows British cycle racer Victoria as she prepares for the up-coming Olympics in London (2012), her final competition before she retires from an astonishing career in track racing.

The program gives a glimpse of what it takes to compete at this level, both physically and even more importantly the mental state that an athlete must be in to even take part.

In the documentary she talks very openly about the career that she has almost accidentally fallen into, its  fascinating and well worth a watch.

To watch it on the BBC iPlayer please click here - but hurry, the program will not be there for ever!