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Monday 28 October 2013

Would a celebrity endorsed bike be your first pick?

A few years ago I met a bloke from Halfords who was involved in the marketing of their bike range. We were chatting away and got on to the subject of their offer. He asked me what my view was of Halfords and what they should do to improve their lot. They'd clearly seen the growth in Bike sales happening but were lumbered with the association of being a car accessories store which sold bikes on the side. At the time I think I muttered something about 'improve the product cos people think it's shit'.
It's interesting to look back at that time and see what they did do: got celeb endorsement to drive sales.
And so was born the Boardman bike range.
Now I'm sure Halfords and Chris Boardman would stress that Chris had a huge hand in the design and development of these bikes and he probably had some to the extent of saying 'I'm not putting my name to any old rubbish'.
It's clearly worked for them both: the bikes are very nice indeed and they sell like hot cakes. 
More recently, Evans Cycles has taken the same approach and reeled in Chris Hoy to back up their range. Looking a bit further back, Greg's Trek-made Lemond range came a cropper when he slagged off Lance and there are of course the Merckx bikes which have been doing the rounds for a good few years.
So, do the moves by Halfords and Evans signal a significant change in the approach of big retail?
Well, yeah, but as the two other examples show it's nothing new. 
There's something about celeb endorsement which just fails to excite me. I guess the idea is that, if Chris Boardman is willing to put his name to something then it must be OK for me to buy and ride.
And, for me, that's at the heart of everything that's wrong with the approach. If you are unwilling to spend a bit of time looking around two or three bike shops, asking a few questions or using the web for research, then you're probably not really that interested in bikes and cycling. So, in my view, the celeb approach puts off as many as it attracts. But I'm probably wrong, it probably puts off far fewer.
There probably is a bit of snobbery on my part here and I would undoubtedly ride any of the bikes mentioned above, they just wouldn't be my first pick.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Strava killed the bike computer

In 1979 Buggles told the world that video had killed the radio star. In fact, they were wrong as they'd failed to consider the fact that it wasn't then, and still isn't now, possible to drive a car and watch telly at the same time. So the radio survives to this day mainly in cars and kitchens.
Technological advancement is not lost on the average cyclist of course: the excitement when you first switched to clipless pedals the game-changing STI gearing and LED lights. Huge steps forward that many riders can't now do without.
It seems to me that bike computers will soon go the same way as the pre-hyperglide pressed steel sprockets and be sacrificed at the alter of advancement by the most powerful cycling superhero: Strava.
Just consider this: if you had the option of spending £500+ on a GPS for your bike today, would you bother? Or would you just think: well, my phone does that so I'll do without and buy those wheels instead.
I think we know the answer.
Yes, I used to have one of those on my bike in 2010

I've been searching online for some details of the sales figures for GPS systems but cant find much data out there. Last year Bryton were predicting strong growth on Bike Biz but there's been little follow up.
While the cheaper end of bike speedos might survive, I reckon the expensive end has been sewn up by the Stravas of this world. How they change the free users into paid for subscribers is another matter for another time.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Are very bright LED lights dividing cyclists?

With the night's drawing in, lights are being dusted off and re-strapped to bikes around the country. It's funny but bike lights can and are causing issues between cyclists - as I discovered yesterday.

While riding home in the pissing rain some guy riding the opposite direction shouted something like 'disco bike' at me. He seemed pretty hostile and was a bit flustered that I had my front lamp set to flash - I wasn't bothered by his light at all. Apart from what the fu*k it had to do with him, I've noticed a few times lately that riders are having a go at one another due to the brightness of lamps.
The new Cateye Hiroshima
I've only had this one I hasten to add but I've heard people complaining that others are riding with lights. No matter how good bike lights have become since the development of LEDs, they are not as bright as car headlamps and cyclists never, usually, complain about car's lamps. Bike lights are admittedly higher and are not dipped but you'd think a cyclists having a go at another cyclist for using lights would be a rare thing - apparently not.

Later on the same ride I had to have an argument with some car knob who, after pulling out on me, had his fat wife tell me I didn't have my lights on! Cant win! I've reported him to plod anyway - yes I can remember a number plate the length of time it takes me to get my phone out of my pocket to make a note of it.

Anyway, cyclists, what do you think? Are uber bright LED lights a problem?

Monday 14 October 2013

Cycle? Live in Greater Manchester? Want to win £100?

Faced with questions like these there's only really one answer isn't there? Yes.

So when the offer to take part in a survey about cycling and by doing so I could trouser 100 of your earth pounds, I was hooked immediately.

Something called the Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit in association with BikeRight, is entering all the people who take the survey into a draw to win the hundred notes. I'd imagine the usual data protection rules apply.

Who's in? *not really
The study 'aims to improve understanding of the barriers to utility cycling and to find ways to improve the uptake of cycle training by adults' and 'should take you between 10 and 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the questionnaire, you are given the opportunity to volunteer to take part in a focus group to discuss adult cycle training further, but this is entirely optional.'

Here's the link to the questionnaire  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cyclesurvey2013 
you have until October 27th to enter. Good luck*
.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

23mm or 25mm tyres?

I've just ordered another pair of Continental 4 Seasons - to get me through the winter. Having punctured twice in three days - on different tyres mind - I thought it was about time I got some new boots.
I was chatting to the Continental guys at the bike show the other week who confirmed that the pros all now prefer 25mm tyres over 23mm or smaller. 
I'm old enough to remember having 18mm tyres the thought of which at 120 PSI just fill me with dread now!

So 25mm are the tyres of choice for 'a better roll' apparently.
These things tend to go around - no pun intended - and I'm sure a few years from now we'll all be told that 24mm is the optimum tyre gauge. For now its 25mm unless you, like me, refuse to conform and it's 23mm! How much difference can 2mm really make?

Monday 7 October 2013

Head, set and match

There's a certain level of commodity fetishism in cycling isn't there? There are few better feelings than receiving some piece of finely honed and crafted steel / titanium combination which will soon adorn your trusty steed.
I managed to get this frisson of excitement this morning when an absurdly large box appeared in work containing a perfectly formed 1" threaded headset by Ritchey.
Check the shine on those balls!
I'm not really happy with the one which is on at the moment since the bottom race of bearings were changed - there's a bit of play in it which manifests as serious 'chatter' under braking at speed - when descending! 
So, I've very hopeful that this littler belter will sort out my issues and provide years of trouble free riding.
Now, where are my headset spanners?
Ride safe.

Friday 4 October 2013

Connect to poetry - on your bike this weekend

There's something very romantic about swanning around on a bike, probably wearing a voluminous white shirt while noticing the beauty of nature. 

Depending on the time of year you might say 'Isn't the blossom splendid' or, 'Don't the autumn leaves look magnificent this year'.

Of course, travelling by bike means that you can take time to appreciate what's around you while covering enough distance for it to remain interesting.
And its for these very reasons that the connect2poetry project is taking to two wheels tomorrow to get creative juices flowing.

Two groups of cyclists will start out on two separate two-hour rides guided by a poet to discover inspiration. Details of start points and times are below or follow the link above. 

Sounds good!



Thursday 3 October 2013

10 mins with @peterwalker99

Guardian cycling blogger and all round good egg, Peter Walker was kind enough to answer a few questions I posed to him recently. All about cycling obviously. Here's what he had to say.

Do you get out on your bike much?

Most days to and from work. Sometime longer rides at weekend, but not as often as I'd like

What was your first and current bike(s)?

First bike - can't remember. Some kids' bike. 

Currently:
  • a very practical Gazelle with basket & child seat
  • a much less practical Planet X carbon-frame bike with flat bars for commuting
  • a Klein road bike
  • a Klein mountain bike

The greatest cyclist of all time is…

Graeme Obree

Do you think we've passed the tipping point for greater acceptance / participation in cycling in the UK?

Not yet, but we're getting there

What would your cycling utopia look like?

A bit like Vauban in Germany 

Do sportives encourage greater participation?

I think so. They give people something to train for, and thus gets them out on their bikes.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Bella in sella with @chorltonvelo

As you might well know, vain Italian cyclists have a saying - bella in sella - which literally translates to 'looking good in the saddle'. Looking good as in striking an attractive figure as opposed to looking comfortable or accomplished as a rider. 

I guess if you said it about somebody else then it wouldn't be so bad - if not a bit weird - but saying it about yourself would leave you open to the criticisms of vanity which I indulged in in the opening line of this blog.


So, with all that in mind, check out the new Chorlton Velo cycling kit which has just arrived from Swedish manufacturer Craft.

If you spend any time noticing cyclists around Manchester, then these colours will become very familiar to you
over the coming months and years. It think you'll agree, it looks superb although I'll look like a bag of spanners in it obviously.

It's been designed by two club members to take the best bits of the original kit and 'jzzuge' it up a bit for the modern rider. It retains a family resemblance to the original but looks a whole lot better.

Maybe one day it'll be as recognisable as the classic Manchester Wheelers colours.

Bella in sella indeed.