Archive for September, 2011
Tikit ready to go
Just about ready to ready off to Lands End for this year’s Folding Bike Challenge. This handlebar shot shows:
- Non-matching brakes – following an emergency replacement of the front (LHS) set up following the SLX caliper starting to leak oil onto the rotor
- Handlebar mount for GoPro camera
- Rixen Kaul stem mount for map holder
- Cat Eye computer with nearly 1899 miles on the clock
Just got to spend a day on the train to the start now.
PBP 2011
Fabulous video – almost makes me want to take part in four years time. But then the video is only 14 minutes long, unlike the event…
Tout Terrain Metropolitan – First Impressions
For the last week I have been getting used to the Tout Terrain Metropolitan which I have got from Bikefix. I got the bike as part of my search for the ultimate commuter – by which I mean a bike I can ride 52 weeks a year when I am doing my short commute. [My short commute is 8 miles daily using bike-train-bike] The bike has a number of features which lend it regular commuting:
- An internal hub gear – in this case an Alfine 11 speed
- A hub dynamo
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Fitted mudguards and plenty of clearance
However the two features which specifically attracted me to the Metropolitan are an integrated rear rack and even more importantly, a Gates carbon belt drive.
I have made a number of immediate modifications to the bike. I am unlikely to use the integrated stand so I removed it, together with the Tubus Racktime clamps as I already had an Altura rack. That saved a grams. I then swapped out the rather broad Selle Royal saddle Read the rest of this entry »