Posts tagged cycle

I wonder what sparks a passion for two wheels? Bicycles and motorcycles are often passions we have from a very young age and passions which tend to stick with us for a long time. I don’t remember when I first got interested in motorcycles, but I do recall my first two wheel experience.

Obviously when I was a kid I had kids bikes, with and without stabilisers. They were usually encrusted with poor rip-off paint jobs of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or some such. My first real bike though, the first one I chose came later.

I don’t know how old I was, or where I was but I do recall being upstairs in a blue carpeted cycle shop with my parents. At one end of the room were mountain bikes (MTBs) and at the other were road bikes. Early on I spotted a beautiful white road bike with dropped bars, skinny tires, light-weight frame and ten gears if I recall. It was built for speed, and it was cheap. I pleaded for hours with my parents to get it.

They weren’t convinced. Instead they tried to talk me into a black, bad-ass looking mountain bike. 21 useless gears, straight bars, made for giants and heavier than a bloated rhino. “You’ll grow into it.” I remember them saying. “It’s more fun, more versatile…” More tiring more like.

Eventually I caved and got the more expensive MTB. I loved it. I rode it everywhere. I wasn’t quick, didn’t venture too far off-road and I didn’t care. I was free and my medium pace coupled with my never-ending desire to keep going no matter what got me far. Even though I could barely lift it, and certainly couldn’t straddle it properly, a passion was born. A passion which quickly grew.

I rode that bike for years and years. It was the only bike I owned until it was stolen when I was 18. Later, I began riding motorcycles in it’s place. I’ve owned a few bikes since then, but I’ll never forget the white road bike that never was. I regret it to this day.

There I was, on my longest ride to date on my new bike, way out in the middle of no-where, two thirds of the way around the ambitious circuit and feeling great. Suddenly something feels wrong—I’ve got a puncture!

Only then did I realise it was raining. Pushing it home I realise it’s so flat that even going up and down pavements is risking the rim. As I get back into Cheltenham I try a few cycle shops, but—being Sunday—they’re all closed.

Thankfully one was open—Leisure Lakes Cycles (LLC)—and they did a great job of fitting me straight in for a new tube fitting. I just had time to wander to Starbucks for some refreshment and to try and find a boutique shop I’d read about (which still evades me now).

All in I’d lost the mojo, but LLC had saved my mood at least. Riding home in the rain felt good. It occurred to me that £15 for a replacement tube (fitted) is a lot better than the £200 it cost me last time I had a flat on my Ninja.

Regardless, punctures suck.

It appears I have a passion for all things 2-wheels. As anyone who’s spent time with me will know, I love motorcycles. I always have. Sportbikes to dirtbikes, it’s all part of the fun. The best thing I’ve ever bought was my Ninja—twice!

Recently however I have decided it’s time to try something else (as well). I’ve purchased myself a bicycle and I wanted to record a few intial thoughts, so bare with me.

I haven’t ridden a bicycle in nearly a decade, and I certainly haven’t ridden a road-bike before. I am used to mountain-bikes (MTBs) that are way too big and heavy for me. I’m used to 21 gears, massive brakes and straight bars. What I bought, age 26, is a single-speed road bike.

My new Kona feels tiny. It’s tall but oh so slight, weightless, and initially unstable. Quite different to the Ninja before peddling. I grew used to it quickly of course, but relative lack of off-the-line power and heavy braking takes a little longer. Hopefully my legs will grow powerful enough after years of neglect to use it properly.

Single-speed seemed interesting to me, and it is. It stops me from going too fast at times, makes it really tough for longer climbs and all round helps me work out (I think—not being an expert). It doesn’t seem easy anyway, which I guess is how it should be.

I’m exploring locally, really local. I’ve seen parts of Cheltenham already I had no idea existed. I’m getting an idea why people here don’t ride on the bike paths, footpaths or anywhere else without dual suspension. I’m quickly learining the terrain isn’t as flat as I imagined but I’m building quickly and enjoying it.

I hope to write about some of this in more depth as it’s interesting to me how little I knew [still know] about my local area and what treats there are if you bother to look. Until then, ride safe, whatever powers you.