Leading up to New Year, I
defaulted to my rough stuff tourer and lots of mixed terrain riding. For the
uninitiated “Gravel” is an endurance discipline, where riders tackle unmade
roads on bikes that are, crudely cyclo cross machines with bigger clearances
and disc brakes. It’s a genre of cycling that really appeals to me.
Some would say (aside from my
fondness for cyclo cross machines) I’ve just been swept up by its burgeoning
popularity. Can see that argument but I’ve concluded it’s a similar pull to
mountain biking 30 odd years ago.
Machines that were lightweight,
yet strong and exciting to ride-anywhere.
In many respects “Ursula”; my
Univega has morphed into the sort of machine that fired my imagination back
then. The first drop bar mtb build I recall seeing on these shores was Muddy
Fox‘s trailblazer, which I spotted in the March 1987 edition of “Bicycle”
magazine. That was pretty much the last I saw of it too.
A few, long serving bike journalists
shared a vague recollection, some suggesting Muddy Fox’s ability to bring
concepts to production did not match their enviable marketing prowess.
Periodic bouts of curiosity revealed a few drop bar Trailblazers of 1989 vintage but I’ve got to admit, they’ve lacked the magical allure of the original build.
Periodic bouts of curiosity revealed a few drop bar Trailblazers of 1989 vintage but I’ve got to admit, they’ve lacked the magical allure of the original build.
I’ve a soft spot for the 1990
courier comp but otherwise, I wouldn’t pay “Investment” prices, not even for a
pretty one. Yes, I like retro, yes its cool-some of it any rate but frankly,
for some of the asking prices, I’ll enrol on a frame building course and come
away with something custom made from Reynolds or Columbus.
Drawing parallels with human
relationships, vocations etc. I’m a whole heap older now. While exploration is
fun and development, a must; by the time 40 strikes, you should have a pretty
good handle on what makes you tick.
With all this in mind, Ursula’s
chain was degreased and treated to some Siberian chain lube. Being a pour n’ go
formula, we hopped out the door and left the world behind-albeit it with
smartphone and long zoom compact camera en tow.
Along the backroads we went, Schwalbe
Marathon 365 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-gt365-tyre and Kenda small block 8 beating out a rhythmic patter on
the asphalt. At least until I got curious, turning right and into a strange,
seemingly parallel universe.
Abandoned houses, orthodox
churches, spooky lanes and an equally unsettling feeling of being watched were
interspersed with totally unmade roads. The odd satellite dish with very Soviet
lines also fired my curiosity, not to mention suspicious glances.
I should point out, I was not
trespassing. However, discretion is, apparently, the better part of valour.
Therefore, I flashed a “California” smile, engaged a lower gear and sprinted
off.
Three hours later, Ursula needed to see a sudsy bucket and jumbo car sponge I, some more coffee. Nonetheless, we’d escaped and returned with a very different perspective.
Three hours later, Ursula needed to see a sudsy bucket and jumbo car sponge I, some more coffee. Nonetheless, we’d escaped and returned with a very different perspective.
Regrettably, it seems my hunch
about postal theft was all too real. Thanks to Royal Mail’s seemingly
protectionist policies, tracing intercepted goods/making formal complaint
proved futile.
Thankfully, several suppliers,
including Smoove lube’s uk distributor www.cyclorise.com are graciously sending replacements. Steve has
been very impressed with Pro-Vis Sportive Waterproof gloves https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/proviz-sportive-waterproof-gloves
We’ve also had a new batch of
Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.com https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine/ mugs arrive from the stationers.
Just in time too, since the kitchen’s long serving coffee receptacles needed pensioning off! Right, well I’ll leave it here, having succumbed to a nasty case of Sabre Tooth man flu-a very serious condition that needs exorcising before next Wednesday’s studio shoot.
Just in time too, since the kitchen’s long serving coffee receptacles needed pensioning off! Right, well I’ll leave it here, having succumbed to a nasty case of Sabre Tooth man flu-a very serious condition that needs exorcising before next Wednesday’s studio shoot.
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