New year...New Stuff

Well It’s a new year and several other new things. First up I got a new bike. The Kona “Honky Tonk.” It was the most affordable all steel, nice riding, retro looking bike I could manage to lay my hands on. I’ll do a long term test/review once it’s done a few weeks of my daily commute and a couple of Long uns...

Which leads me on to my next project. I have joined a group of complete strangers to cycle from Lands-End-to-John- O’Groats (LEJOG) using the CTC youth hostelling route. Not content that this may be a challenge (nearly 1,000 miles), I was initially attracted to the idea as it combines my one of my other passions. We are going to be playing a gig at around 13 of the 15 stops, as part of busking cancer (A cancer research initiative). I’ll be taking the Uke, the Banjo Uke, and maybe a couple of oddities to play. We’re sticking to covers at this point as booking hostels in july for 10 people, planning the route, training and rehearsing may not leave us with much time for writing.

I hope to take some wicked photos (pinhole landscapes at dawn, Scotland, Cornwall etc)

We did our first training ride on Sunday. Assemble at an address in Brixton at 12:00. Great but that’s an 11 mile ride from mine. Everyone in high spirits despite a pre-start trip to buy a new innertube. All I can say is that Ken picked a cracker of a route. Over to Tulse Hill, up through Anerley, Out into Kent. Up a massive hill!!! In fact I didn’t realise how high we’d climbed until we got to ride the same route back. Very quick!

Back at Ken’s we popped out for a post-ride pint. Much deserved.

Then the cycle home... got lost... went via the houses of parliament and thereby adding about 3 miles extra.

Feel fine today... we might just pull this off... next week band practice...tonight Ukulele night.

Happy New Year

After a trial week of commuting in mid December, and my Christmas commuting happening by bike. Thanks to a generous top up from my nana I am able to purchase a shiny new bike in the next couple of weeks...

Wish me luck...

WTF (reprise)

If it is not only appalling that the life of a cyclist, killed by a driver who was clearly in the wrong, is worth next to nothing (Is a £200 fine and three points on your licence an appropriate punishment for killing a cyclist on the road).

We now get the indignity of this

Apparently the fact that Matthew's parents didn't make him wear a helmet, is mitigation for the following behaviour...

"Weaving was found guilty by a jury in December 2008 of manslaughter and other charges after the court heard he had driven at 83mph in a 45mph zone in Connecticut. His record showed that he had been arrested on five previous occasions for drunk driving."

...and it's the lack of a helmet that is causing the mental anguish?

British Customer Service

Don't ask!

Ukulele Fun

I went to the Stoke Newington ukulele group upstairs at the lion last night. Good fun all round and a lovely mix of people and songs. I had serious Uke envy though because unlike the work related meet-up, everyone had lovely little instruments (ooer)



I will be going again!!

bike loan...

I am currently the recipient of a loan bicycle from my friend Isa (similar to the picture on the left). It is a 1970's ladies road racing bike in champagne gold. It is a little more glittery than my usual choive of steed, but I'm finding the step through frame (reminds me of the brompton) helpful. I know Jarvis Cocker rode around Paris on a ladies cycle... but it got me thinking. I have a lovely 1980's Raleigh Superb (ladies) at my parents house... Could I... Should I?





Are ladies bikes just for ladies? What if I find this more convenient?

Long time no post...

I have been quite busy with un-bike related things... like trying to perfect the ukulele. Anyway, as the nights draw in and the summer cyclists put away their steeds I thought I'd add a post of the lovely bikes that I have seen over the summer.

sustainability

Prince charles today, set out to persuade his subjects to go green by travelling around in a train powered by chip fat. I kind-of-get-it, but I'm becoming sick of celebrity greens travelling ostentatiously whilst trying to get me to wear horsehair. Why not try this

tfl hates the banjolele - it's official

I saw this yesterday whilst perusing the paper. Outrageous. I was looking up Nigle Birch to see when he was playing near me next, and then this...

And a picture of my soon to be fixed banjolele

weekend wondering

I managed to miss the London Skyride this last weekend (due my bike still being in pieces after a recent attack by vandals). It is an amazing experience. For those that have not been before, it is cycling through a traffic free loop of central London with thousands of other cyclists.

My concern with this event however is indicative of my general concerns about the mayor and tfl. Why the sponsorship... the money (I know). We now have a Skyride and a Barclays bike hire scheme. Why can’t we do anything without a massive corporate logo on it. I wouldn’t mind, but the mayor’s office has branded the bike lanes in barclay’s blue. It won’t be long before all bike lanes, racks and signage is branded. We can build motorways, but painting the road for bikes requires a sponsor.




After a very dignified tea party for Jess’s 30th birthday... we had a very undignified evening in Barrio North. Noisy latin themed cocktail bars aren’t normallt my thing, but when the mojhito’s are this strong I found I soon got into it.