Time Travel Machine
Felt DA - Time Trial Bike
aka - The Show Pony
circa £5k new, mine for £950 courtesy of eBay
Same bike as last year but armed with slightly more money and a barrel load of enthusiasm, it's been tweaked from last year. FastForward disc wheel and tri-spoke front wheel.
aka - The Show Pony
circa £5k new, mine for £950 courtesy of eBay
Same bike as last year but armed with slightly more money and a barrel load of enthusiasm, it's been tweaked from last year. FastForward disc wheel and tri-spoke front wheel.
MOUNTAIN BIKE
Giant XTC3
aka - The Mountain Goat
£300 from a bloke at work
There's a new pony in the stable, which is good and bad.
Bad points: It's 2nd hand, bought with little research and leaves me with no excuse not to get out and about.
Good points: Got a lot of bike for the money, it instantly makes you feel like a kid again because you can jump on with minimum preparation, hop on and off kerbs, whiz around outside the house doing wheelies and big tail slapping skids and finally, it completes the range that I've been trying to build for a couple of years and now there's no excuse not to get out and about.
The hope is that I can mix up the mileage and terrain. Aiming to use it for the West Highland Way (if that trip goes ahead?) in February and carve up the trails throughout the summer when you just want a bit of fun. Also a great way to see the countryside!!
aka - The Mountain Goat
£300 from a bloke at work
There's a new pony in the stable, which is good and bad.
Bad points: It's 2nd hand, bought with little research and leaves me with no excuse not to get out and about.
Good points: Got a lot of bike for the money, it instantly makes you feel like a kid again because you can jump on with minimum preparation, hop on and off kerbs, whiz around outside the house doing wheelies and big tail slapping skids and finally, it completes the range that I've been trying to build for a couple of years and now there's no excuse not to get out and about.
The hope is that I can mix up the mileage and terrain. Aiming to use it for the West Highland Way (if that trip goes ahead?) in February and carve up the trails throughout the summer when you just want a bit of fun. Also a great way to see the countryside!!
HYBRID
Trek 7200 Hybrid
aka - The Trusty Steed
circa £350 - Alpine bikes in 2007
This bike was bought to jump kerbs, commute around town and get fit. Shortly thereafter it took on a new challenge which was to get me from Oslo to Bergen around the North Coastal Route (Blog on that adventure to follow). It's been a brilliant purchase and never let me down.
aka - The Trusty Steed
circa £350 - Alpine bikes in 2007
This bike was bought to jump kerbs, commute around town and get fit. Shortly thereafter it took on a new challenge which was to get me from Oslo to Bergen around the North Coastal Route (Blog on that adventure to follow). It's been a brilliant purchase and never let me down.
ROAD BIKE
Boardman Road Bike
aka - The Work Horse
circa £650 from Halfords (Tip: always 10% off on bank holiday weekends)
It goes up hills very well (thanks to the compact chainset and the 11x32 cassette), it doesn't mind being taken apart and thrown in a bag, it gets me back and fore to work like a dream and it looks pretty good.
This is what I do 90% of my mileage on. This year it has been to Shetland, Mallorca, the Caledonia Etape and many a B-road around Scotland.
My opinion about cycling has changed over the last 6 months. Before, this was all the bike I needed, now it's a trusty winter bike / commuter. I think 2014 might see a new thoroughbred in the stable for Road Races and hillier/technical TTs.
aka - The Work Horse
circa £650 from Halfords (Tip: always 10% off on bank holiday weekends)
It goes up hills very well (thanks to the compact chainset and the 11x32 cassette), it doesn't mind being taken apart and thrown in a bag, it gets me back and fore to work like a dream and it looks pretty good.
This is what I do 90% of my mileage on. This year it has been to Shetland, Mallorca, the Caledonia Etape and many a B-road around Scotland.
My opinion about cycling has changed over the last 6 months. Before, this was all the bike I needed, now it's a trusty winter bike / commuter. I think 2014 might see a new thoroughbred in the stable for Road Races and hillier/technical TTs.
Indoors
BH HiPower H925 Duke Magnetic Spin Bike
aka - The Leg Burner
circa £900 - Never again
I bought this thinking I would use it every day through the winter and because it's magnetic it's very quiet so I can spin away while the family watch TV and I won't upset them too much... that was the theory. There's actually no reason why that can't still work, I have been using it a bit more of late. Next time I'll just get a nice turbo trainer I think.
I'll update in a few months, this winter looks like it could be a long one so it might get a chance to redeem itself. I suppose, on the plus side, it doesn't spray mess off the tyres onto the walls, it's easily moveable on wheels and it doubles up as a nice coat stand in the kitchen when not in use.
...Months later - Yes good investment but disappointed that the computer has broken. Will try to get fixed. Was used often in the long cold winter.
aka - The Leg Burner
circa £900 - Never again
I bought this thinking I would use it every day through the winter and because it's magnetic it's very quiet so I can spin away while the family watch TV and I won't upset them too much... that was the theory. There's actually no reason why that can't still work, I have been using it a bit more of late. Next time I'll just get a nice turbo trainer I think.
I'll update in a few months, this winter looks like it could be a long one so it might get a chance to redeem itself. I suppose, on the plus side, it doesn't spray mess off the tyres onto the walls, it's easily moveable on wheels and it doubles up as a nice coat stand in the kitchen when not in use.
...Months later - Yes good investment but disappointed that the computer has broken. Will try to get fixed. Was used often in the long cold winter.