Bicycle Maintenance Company

Spirit of Olympic route May 13th

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:13:21 +0000

Booked the date two months ago, and most fortunately the sun came out and some warmer air drifted into the riding zone. Sixteen of turned up in Muswell Hill at 07.15 a.m to ride the bones of the Olympic Road Race route, taking in the iconic and beautiful climb of Box Hill.

The route is comprised of quite busy roads, but takes in Richmond Park and Bushey Park, Walton and Byfleet before heading south on picturesque lanes via Ripley to West Horsfield. We headed over Ranmore Common in preference to the official course on the A25 via Shere and Dorking. http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView/2?id=511326

There’s a tough climb at Crocknorth Road, and the vulnerability of cyclists was graphically spotlighted by a bad accident on Ranmore Common Road, resulting in a police road closure. Cyclists on mainly bling bikes were swarming up Box Hill in the sunshine. The sausage rolls and cake from the cafe are to die for. The guys who were suffering replenished their energy levels and we had a most enjoyable ride back to Muswell Hill via Buckingham Palace.

One split tyre fixed with a tyre boot, one impact puncture and two dropped chains were the only minor mechanicals en route. Great vibe, wonderful company. We’ll have to organise another ride soon.

Merida Speeder S1

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:57:02 +0000

21 speed hybrid suitable for trails or road. Can be fitted with mudguards and carrier rack for commuting purposes. Attractive, lightweight and functional bike form Merida

£349

Dahon Folding bikes

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:01:31 +0000

In stock, Dahon ECO 7 £350
Specifications:

Speeds: 7
Weight: 12.1 kg (26.7 lbs)
Folded size: 33 x 80 x 66 cm (11.7″ x 31.2″ x 25.7″)
Frame sizes: 1
Gear inches: 37″ – 73″
Front hub: Aluminum
Rear hub: Aluminum, freewheel

Belgian Ardennes Easter 2012

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:09:43 +0000

Just couldn’t make up my mind which bikes to take along, so ended up with the tandem

the Anthem X 3

and the Stephen Roche Special Edition… to cover all bases!

Managed 150kms in three days with over 3000m of climbing including three consecutive ascents of the Stockeu http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Col-du-Stockeu&MountainID=200 and Mont le Soie
http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Mont-le-Soi&MountainID=909 on three different bikes.

Great place to ride a bike, loads of off road, on-road whatever you like. Nice bike shop in Vielsalm, great beer, tempting bakeries and of course ‘frites’.

Raleigh Clubman

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:24:24 +0000

This is a smashing looking steel framed ‘audax’ style bike with wide Tiagra gearing, Brooks saddle and a great feel. Well done Raleigh for putting this one together. £950

Suspension Fork Service

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:21:43 +0000

Most brands of fork : Cleaning, Oil change from £50
Specific parts at cost.

We will examine the forks to give an accurate diagnosis and costing.

Montecorto training camp

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:50:14 +0000

This was a truly superb 5 day break @ andaluciancyclingexperience Montecorto, near Ronda.
Sensational roads enjoyed in the sunshine, escaping the icy clutches of snowbound London.
Beautiful mountain villages, or rolling valley tarmac. I cannot praise this area enough.
Some videos to be going on with:

Raleigh Flyer Fixie

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:15:05 +0000

Raleigh fixie 2011 stock. Reduced from £250 to £199.

The Poor Student 205kms

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:37:11 +0000

Saturday 7th January 2012.

Traditional post-Christmas morale destroying ride.

‘Balmy’ is not the first word that springs to mind when loading bikes onto the van at six o’clock on a January morning. However, after the strong winds and squally conditions experienced earlier on in the week, the three musketeers were all wondering if they were slightly overdressed for the 200km plus ride ahead.
Fortunately, it had cooled down by the time we set off at 8 a.m. from Oxford into a nagging headwind which lasted all the way to Malmesbury, some 80 kms distant. The pace was quite furious and we all three had to dig deep to stay in touch with some of the familiar, faster ‘faces’.
After a break we headed north to Chipping Campden another 65kms ride away. The first 20 klicks took us along quiet, idyllic lanes to Cirencester. At this point we joined the ancient Whiteway which climbs a couple of hundred metres gradually and serenely into the Cotswolds. Then the fun really starts. The taster is a double bump of a hill before a vertiginous descent into Compton Abdale. By this time we were really warmed up for the long, twisty climb up to the A40. The last bit is 50 meters of strength sapping tarmac.
The very hard part taken care of, we were then treated to another 25kms of short, sharp climbs and descents through glorious countryside and picturesque villages before reaching the comforting haven of the Bantam tearooms in Chipping. On our way we experienced bucolic scenes typical of British country life. Shooting parties made up of tweed bedecked folk, and hunting parties comprising magnificent horses and their riders. It has only just struck me that all this is dedicated to killing. Paradoxically, the images seemed comforting at the time.
The bacon and brie bagels and soup in the tearooms were to die for, and suitably fortified we cracked on back to Oxford via a rolling route which contained one or two nasty little upward surprises before levelling out toward the finish. En route, we met up with and passed Judith Swallow who last year was awarded the rare honour of being appointed ‘ride captain’ on the allure libre version of PBP. Whether the surprise of this encounter caused us to go off route at the next turn will never be known.
Many thanks to my two companions for the day, ‘Supersuds’ and the ‘Turbo-diesel’, who are training to ride 5 consecutive stages of the Tour de France this summer.

Part of the route here:-
http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView/2?id=257874

Apres Christmas outing. 29/12/2011

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:18 +0000

The weather forecast was not great, wind, rain and a bit cooler than recent days. I was expecting about ten to show up, but it was like the lyrics from “Message in a Bottle”, 21 washed up on the shore!

It was especially delightful to see some unfamiliar faces. There was a fair selection of vintage steel frames mixed in with some carbon, aluminium and titanium efforts. We set off at 9 a.m. in the direction of Barnet Hill and made it to just past Potters Bar before the first inevitable puncture. Apparently it took just 4 1/2 minutes to remedy, and then we were on our way again to Essendon via Brookman’s Park and Welham Green.

With such a large group it was likely that splits would occur, and so it happened that the faster guys missed the turn up hilly West End Lane. (Or did they just not fancy the climb!). We regrouped and set off for Letty Green, Tewin, (another puncture for CD, only 4 minutes this time), Bramfield and finally back to the outskirts of Hertford, before Phil HJ punctured twice and we diagnosed a sharp valve hole as the culprit. SR had already departed near Letty Green to fulfil family duties.

This episode cost a fair amount of time in the cold and damp conditions, so understandably 13 riders set off for home. Poor Phil HJ had to get the train home from Hertford but lives to fight another day.

The remaining six stuck together in quite miserable conditions via Bayford, Newgate Street, Carbone Hill and Northaw, where yours truly, anxious to be part of the drama, picked up a sharp piece of flint. We fought our way back to Amici’s cafe in East Finchley and were duly rewarded with coffee and cakes.

Quite a tough day out on the bike with 1100m of climbing in 73kms. A wonderful mix of people who all behaved impeccably and helped to lighten the murky atmosphere. Thanks to all.