Monthly Archives: July 2010

Out for a spin on the Hemlock with Al this afternoon round a route I’d not ridden for about 7 years. Last time I rode it I crashed and knackered my arm, however since then it’s tamed itself down a bit, and what was once a rocky muddy track with 2-3′ gulleys caused by the stream is now a decent fast rocky descent.

The best part of the ride is that the Cotic Hemlock was virtually silent. All the creaking has gone, all you are left with is occasional tyre rub when climbing in a low gear, something that could be cured with a slightly narrower rear tyre.

After getting slightly annoyed with the Time Impact pedals I’ve been running on the road bike for the last few years, I have now made the swap to Time I-Clic Racer pedals.

I always had trouble clicking into the Impacts, and after changing shoes and cleats last year, had even more trouble releasing from them. Ian had been extolling the virtues of the I-Clic for a while, so as it was payday I decided to make the jump.

The pedals are superb, very easy click and release action, the only downside is that the cleat bolts are made of cheese, I stripped the head off of one of them without even trying. I should probably have gone for the I-Clic Carbon version though, they’d suit the colour of the bike better.

Back to the extended commute to work this morning, the first for a few weeks. I was out of the door on the Bob Jackson just after 7, reached Bitton around 7:30 where I met Andy, and then rode back along the track with him to work at a far more leisurely pace. I did the 12.25 miles in 50 minutes or so, and am now sat at my desk drinking a bottle of Nuun and summoning up the enthusiasm for a day of meetings.

After a couple of weeks without a proper ride I turned down an afternoon visit to the cinema in favour of a spin on the Bob Jackson. The plan was simple, head out along the cycle track until I’d finished off my first bottle, then turn round and come home again. I made it as far as Fishponds before my bottle of Nuun was empty, had a 10 minute break, then turned round and headed home via a quick visit to Cadence to order some completely unnecessary bling for the bike. As it was, I hardly touched my second bottle on the ride back, so could have pushed on a bit further, however it gives me something new to explore next time.

24 miles in 90-something minutes and back for a bottle of chocolate milk and a shower. Is there a better way to finish off a few days away from work?

A shiny new white 75th anniversary SKS Rennkompressor track pump arrived today, it almost makes it a pleasure to pump up tyres. Far better than the Blackburn I recently bought to replace my 10 year old Joe Blow Sport which is pretty worn out.

Now I just need to rewire my brain to work in bar and not psi.

I’ve already done more miles this year than I managed in 2009, although to be fair that wasn’t a particularly difficult target to beat.

Not a huge amount of riding this week, I did the long commute on Tuesday then fell foul of a summer cold for a few days, but finished the week off with a quick 50 minute run out to Bitton and back tonight. I’m not going to set any time-trial records, but a 16.2mph average isn’t bad for a fat bloke on a moderately geared fixie.

The Jackson is still impressing me, comfortable to ride, and nice and responsive, it kept forcing me to go faster as I span back in along the A36 on the final few miles of the ride.

If I get up early it’ll be an off-road ride with Al and Andy tomorrow, if I have a lie-in it’ll probably be another spin on the Jackson before the TdF coverage.

After waiting for the postie to deliver a new stem this morning and then fitting it, I headed out on the Bob Jackson Vigorelli for it’s first proper ride. I took a gentle spin out along the cycle track to Warmley and back, then looped round town top it up to 25 miles. A couple of minor adjustments to the bar angle aside, the bike feels fantastic. The gearing at 46:18 is slightly higher than anticipated making the hills slightly more painful, but it’s noticeably faster on the flat.

It’s now fully built, and rides like a dream. Thanks to Will and Jonny at Cadence for sorting it all out.

Spec:
Frame: Bob Jackson Vigorelli (24″ semi-custom)
Fork: Bob Jackson
Wheels: Paul Components High Flange hubs, Mavic Open Pro rims, 18T BLB sprocket.
Tyres: Conti Gatorskin, 700x25c
Brakes: Campagnolo Centaur Skeleton
Cranks: Shimano Dura Ace FC-7400, 46T BLB ring
Levers: Cane Creek SCR-5
Headset: Cane Creek 100 Classic
Stem: Thomson Elite X4 110mm
Bars: Easton EA70
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Saddle: Charge Spoon Ti
Pedals: Shimano M540
Weight: 20.8lbs

More photos: Bob Jackson Vigorelli