Thursday 24 May 2012
Tour of the Reservoir - Bike TLC with team Rapha Condor Sharp
Above is a recent video taken at The Tour of The Reservoir. This gives you a small insight into final preperation for the race.
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Pedros Tutto
I have been using the new chain tool from Pedro's for over 2 months now. It has been used constantly within that time because we change chains very often indeed.
What attracts me to the item is its attention to detail. If you need one chain tool to do a numerous amount of different chain types then look no further. Indeed there are prettier chain tools on the market but the Pedro's Tutto ( meaning all types/ everything in Italian ) has the perfect balance between function and form in my opinion.
Yes the price is a little expensive, at £95 RRP, but considering the Campagnolo chain tool retailing around £150 the Pedros Tutto is a bargain .
The Pedro's Tutto is well built and offers a solid interface for the chain pin to be implemented.
With the capability of all chain tools in one very tidy package the Pedro's Tutto Chain Tool is very hard to beat. A proud addition to my tool box.
http://www.pedros-europe.ch/Pedros-Europe/Chain_%26_Cassette.html
What attracts me to the item is its attention to detail. If you need one chain tool to do a numerous amount of different chain types then look no further. Indeed there are prettier chain tools on the market but the Pedro's Tutto ( meaning all types/ everything in Italian ) has the perfect balance between function and form in my opinion.
Yes the price is a little expensive, at £95 RRP, but considering the Campagnolo chain tool retailing around £150 the Pedros Tutto is a bargain .
The Pedro's Tutto is well built and offers a solid interface for the chain pin to be implemented.
With the capability of all chain tools in one very tidy package the Pedro's Tutto Chain Tool is very hard to beat. A proud addition to my tool box.
http://www.pedros-europe.ch/Pedros-Europe/Chain_%26_Cassette.html
Tuesday 15 May 2012
A Career in Korea
10ish hours on a plane involved watching several movies and did not involve much sleep. Not that sleep wasn't priority just that I have not found the skill in sleeping upright so waited until fatigue knocked me out. We landed and never have I felt more relieved to be off a plane walking to the baggage carousel with hope of the luggage being there.
We arrived at the first hotel which was at the side of a large shipping port as the veiws below dictate. A little bit of a logistical nightmare but a very nice place to be.
Supporting a race team jet lagged with bike storage 14 floors up with 500 other folk wanting their piece of the lift does have an effect. But like embarking on a journey, with lots of pit falls and obstacles to encounter, once you get there can be the most rewarding of feelings.
Korea is mental and a good mental at that!. Like most places in the world you get different cultures but with all of us connected by the Internet and global social awareness you don't see that much of a difference as it would have been pre- internet time ( if you catch my drift ). The country is amazing and is worth the time involved getting there. Culture is still there in abundance but lots of cash injection from a thriving economy a new culture is being born.
When you get off the beaten track you really see how amazing this place is. The land is mostly privately owned with family temples built into hillsides with landscaping and stone arcitecture. On the flip side the new Korea is very Americanised, to an acceptable degree,with one of the favourite sports being Baseball ( no Nascar ). The people are really friendly with a relaxed attitude - my cup of tea!
On with the race and the first few days it was like racing through a building site. As with most cycling events sponsored by local councils. With the booming economy most of these are still under construction. The remaining stages were around the south of the country which was my favourite part with well establishes roads meandering through excellent mountain passes leading to beautiful places like Gumi.
On these days I saw how strong our team was with attacks being made and led which gave me a bigger respect to the teams capabilities. They showed great style in doing so which to me is a strong factor. On big stage races like these I believe they bring out the character in a rider and this did so in all the team. The impression attracted attention from all opositon that stood up and congratulated the brave and talented.
Aside from the tour using large hotels we were graced with using Love Hotels. These are customary in Korea as traditional families are living in one house so to get down to "business time" can require you to use these facilities. They do make some of them very seedy but that added to the humour of the trip.
On the last day the race charged into Seoul and I charged into being 40 years old so had to make the most of it once the evening came around. The team was attending signing sessions at local sponsors Watts Bikes and then we were treated to a Bulgarian dinner supplied by the propriators. Awesome food,wine and people.
After a long night in Seouls clubs we were ferried to the airport for a pleasureable trip (not) back to the UK.
Korea done but not forgotton. Love ya!
We arrived at the first hotel which was at the side of a large shipping port as the veiws below dictate. A little bit of a logistical nightmare but a very nice place to be.
Supporting a race team jet lagged with bike storage 14 floors up with 500 other folk wanting their piece of the lift does have an effect. But like embarking on a journey, with lots of pit falls and obstacles to encounter, once you get there can be the most rewarding of feelings.
Korea is mental and a good mental at that!. Like most places in the world you get different cultures but with all of us connected by the Internet and global social awareness you don't see that much of a difference as it would have been pre- internet time ( if you catch my drift ). The country is amazing and is worth the time involved getting there. Culture is still there in abundance but lots of cash injection from a thriving economy a new culture is being born.
When you get off the beaten track you really see how amazing this place is. The land is mostly privately owned with family temples built into hillsides with landscaping and stone arcitecture. On the flip side the new Korea is very Americanised, to an acceptable degree,with one of the favourite sports being Baseball ( no Nascar ). The people are really friendly with a relaxed attitude - my cup of tea!
On with the race and the first few days it was like racing through a building site. As with most cycling events sponsored by local councils. With the booming economy most of these are still under construction. The remaining stages were around the south of the country which was my favourite part with well establishes roads meandering through excellent mountain passes leading to beautiful places like Gumi.
On these days I saw how strong our team was with attacks being made and led which gave me a bigger respect to the teams capabilities. They showed great style in doing so which to me is a strong factor. On big stage races like these I believe they bring out the character in a rider and this did so in all the team. The impression attracted attention from all opositon that stood up and congratulated the brave and talented.
Aside from the tour using large hotels we were graced with using Love Hotels. These are customary in Korea as traditional families are living in one house so to get down to "business time" can require you to use these facilities. They do make some of them very seedy but that added to the humour of the trip.
On the last day the race charged into Seoul and I charged into being 40 years old so had to make the most of it once the evening came around. The team was attending signing sessions at local sponsors Watts Bikes and then we were treated to a Bulgarian dinner supplied by the propriators. Awesome food,wine and people.
After a long night in Seouls clubs we were ferried to the airport for a pleasureable trip (not) back to the UK.
Korea done but not forgotton. Love ya!
Normandy Raid
After over 60 years since the Armies of England marched onto the sands of Normandy a brave bunch of youngsters headed up by a few greyer haired ( or not so ) followed in a more friendlier fashion to show these Euro types how a bike should be ridden.
The boat over was a level or 2 above what our ancestors would have endured but I am sure if they were around today they would have something to say about the early morning call from the ship's staff... I tell you!
After being thrown off the boat we headed over to a Cafe or Restaurant ( 2 French words) and attempted to eat flaky pastry and drink rediculously small cups of coffee. Our stomachs were teased and onwards to our hotel we drove.
The usual method is by one team car ( Skoda- super rapid- Superb ) Soigneurs Van ( Ford - not so rapid - Transit) and the team van ( VW - get out of my way fast- Crafter). We tend to travel in convoy and try not to loose each other as 3 Sat Navs are never alike.
We reach the hotel and first thing for me is to locate power for the team van along with water to fill the washing machine and to connect the hose for bike washing. This has to be done with military speed to ensure you do not get infiltrated? by other teams.
After the madness of unloading we get the bikes ready for the lads to ride asap as hours sat in cars does nothing for race legs so needs are a must.
So on with the first stage which was a short time trial. So short I would have done another lap for the sake of putting my kit on. 2 mechanics were on this trip so we took turns in taking the back seat of the car while our team manager, trained by Nigel Mansell, tested the capabilities of German/Scandinavian engineering, which to me is one of the reasons I like this job. You can be on the edge on sharp descents, corners etc.
Aside with all the riding though you learn that one the differences between the French and the English is that they look with their hands and not their eyes. Not good if you need to keep the bikes shiney.
The next day the team was back on their standard race bikes for a long day in the saddle. The roads are tough in Normandy and the competion was fierce with a fast pace and was a serious test for any pro rider. We were lucky with the weather too as this race can be rife with strong cold winds carrying rain and hail. It was graced with sunshiiiiine! and was a joy to work on.
With us travelling from one hotel to the next we took turns in driving the transfers and wish I took more pictures but need to find a camera that I can use whilst drving ( the search continues). Normandy really is a nice place and would recommend it as all the holes have been filled in from the war so no danger of falling down one.
After many days in the saddle ( 8 in total ) the riders and staff headed back to the boat for a kip on a shelf ( believe me) then a quick dash for home.
If you need any more info on the race try http://www.tourdenormandiecycliste.fr/
The boat over was a level or 2 above what our ancestors would have endured but I am sure if they were around today they would have something to say about the early morning call from the ship's staff... I tell you!
After being thrown off the boat we headed over to a Cafe or Restaurant ( 2 French words) and attempted to eat flaky pastry and drink rediculously small cups of coffee. Our stomachs were teased and onwards to our hotel we drove.
The usual method is by one team car ( Skoda- super rapid- Superb ) Soigneurs Van ( Ford - not so rapid - Transit) and the team van ( VW - get out of my way fast- Crafter). We tend to travel in convoy and try not to loose each other as 3 Sat Navs are never alike.
We reach the hotel and first thing for me is to locate power for the team van along with water to fill the washing machine and to connect the hose for bike washing. This has to be done with military speed to ensure you do not get infiltrated? by other teams.
After the madness of unloading we get the bikes ready for the lads to ride asap as hours sat in cars does nothing for race legs so needs are a must.
So on with the first stage which was a short time trial. So short I would have done another lap for the sake of putting my kit on. 2 mechanics were on this trip so we took turns in taking the back seat of the car while our team manager, trained by Nigel Mansell, tested the capabilities of German/Scandinavian engineering, which to me is one of the reasons I like this job. You can be on the edge on sharp descents, corners etc.
Aside with all the riding though you learn that one the differences between the French and the English is that they look with their hands and not their eyes. Not good if you need to keep the bikes shiney.
The next day the team was back on their standard race bikes for a long day in the saddle. The roads are tough in Normandy and the competion was fierce with a fast pace and was a serious test for any pro rider. We were lucky with the weather too as this race can be rife with strong cold winds carrying rain and hail. It was graced with sunshiiiiine! and was a joy to work on.
With us travelling from one hotel to the next we took turns in driving the transfers and wish I took more pictures but need to find a camera that I can use whilst drving ( the search continues). Normandy really is a nice place and would recommend it as all the holes have been filled in from the war so no danger of falling down one.
After many days in the saddle ( 8 in total ) the riders and staff headed back to the boat for a kip on a shelf ( believe me) then a quick dash for home.
If you need any more info on the race try http://www.tourdenormandiecycliste.fr/
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