The Flandrian cycle to work scheme

There was a negative (what else would you expect?) piece in the Evening Standard this week about how the Velib scheme is being underwritten by disgruntled Parisians due to 8000 being trashed or stolen and another 18000 needing repairs (so that means it's probably more like a third of that figure in truth) and how this would be the same when the scheme is launched in London. I despise (a strong word but chosen with thought and first hand experience) the negative sensationalism of most of today's newspapers - in a city of nearly 12 million people and over 16 million tourist visitors every year it's a pretty low percentage by my reckoning and one well worth paying. However, you do have to wonder where the stolen ones end up so hence the true motive behind today's post. The picture wasn't taken on a trip to Flanders (but oh how I wish it had been), no it was taken in London - it's either somebody who has the world's longest commute or another burden to the Flandrian tax payer.

Designer's bikes

Another (particularly) busy week over and yet again I find myself having not managed a new post for 7 days. Never mind, I'm here now and this week amongst an exhibition opening and a trip to see the local maternity ward (modern and clean but also stuffy and with that classic hospital smell which reminds me of Horlicks made using bleach) I somehow found myself at the Royal Designers for Industry annual shindig (obviously there as a guest rather than on merit). It was a true galaxy of the great, the good and the egocentric of the design world and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the reasons for this was that I sat next to one of this country's leading lights in product design, Sam Hecht (or Sam Hecht RDI to give him his official title on the evening). Knowing that I could not bluff my way through dinner by solely speaking about design related topics (which would have most likely got me no further than the bread roll before the starter) I cunningly turned the conversation to cycling and, in particular: was Sam a cyclist? Indeed he was (although he did look a little lost when I mentioned the name Colnago - I ask you!) and I can't tell you how relieved I was to have found some common ground before we'd reached the main course. His bike of choice? The Trek District. One might sigh 'quelle surprise' at this choice as if ever there was a 'designer's' bike then the District has got to be it (in the same way that for a brief period in the mid 90's every designer seemed to ride an Aprilia Moto). However it is undeniably a great looking bike and totally practical for the urban commuter (especially if your commute is from Primrose Hill to Clerkenwell - moi? envious? oui!) being single speed and belt driven - which is something that I cannot understand why more manufacturers are not producing, although I know that a new single speed belt driven Moulton is in the offing (purrrrrrrrrr).

Vive l'Youtube

I don't want to bleat on about it but since the weather turned and the pro season ended I am seriously struggling to put my mind to writing this blog. Partly busy with work, partly preoccupied with a certain forthcoming event (think pink, wrinkly - no, I'm not talking cold weather riding - I'm talking baby!) and partly because I only really want to write about things I have experienced or discovered. Whilst I fight my way out of this general malaise I will try and keep things ticking along with little vignettes and today's takes the form of the great bloggers back-up - Youtube. I have yet to work out how to embed a clip on this site so the link will have to suffice. It's worth clicking on as to me it sums l'humanité française in a nutshell - gruff, nonplussed, barefaced liars (well, perhaps that's a bit harsh but the last guy does make you think) and very, very funny. Merci, Nick.

CLICK HERE FOR EVERY WEEKEND CYCLIST'S DREAM

PS - In the words of Jon Bonjela - Keep the faith - there's life left in the old blog yet

Time to hit the shops (and tidy them up a tad)

Ouch, it's getting cold out there now - a few weekends off the bike and my how things have changed in the temperature department. Whilst it's not quite icicle on the nose type weather it's certainly chilly enough to notice on the tootsies and make me start to think about some new winter kit which, as with any bike related purchasing, fills me with both delight and trepidation. The delight comes from being able to purposefully stalk the internet looking for (what I perceive to be) cool kit, the trepidation comes from the commitment and trust that has to be made when buying clothing on the web. It's nothing to do with credit card fraud, it's simply that unlike mechanical equipment which you know will fit (even if you don't know how you will fit it), you simply haven't got a bloody clue how any cycling clothing is sized which means that you either order the same things in 3 sizes and then lose the benefits of free delivery by spending £20 on sending the wrong sizes back or you take a guess and, if you don't strike it lucky, embark on a relay of return and reorder. Wiser souls might say just to pop along to your local bike shop, try on what you want and then order it cheaper on-line (this method has been brilliantly picked up on by the poster ads for dixons.com - genius!) and I have not been averse to this method for many a purchase both bike and non-bike related (I am still carrying the guilt of 2 free-of-charge hours spent with the Peter Jones 'nursery advisor' helping us compile a list of essentials that we then proceeded to use as a blueprint for what we needed to look for in the, shall we say, less expensive shops). However, the only problem with the try then buy on-line method is that, despite living in a major international city, the selection in nearly every shop is exactly the same - Altura, Endura, a bit of Assos (to give the pretence that they are a 'pro' shop) and now the, sadly-not-as-good-as-I-had-first-thought Mavic and it's all lovingly jammed onto rails on plastic hangers with the care and attention of a closing down sale in Cancer Research. Condor are bravely bucking this trend but surely there is a big enough market in a city of 7 odd million to justify a few more shops with a decent selection and a bit of love shown in the display department?

Ain't got my mojo workin'

I've had a bit of break from the blog over the past week or so. It's not been a conscious decision, simply a result of not having ridden for over 10 days and therefore suffering a complete droop in the blogging mojo department. Like Team GB (and seemingly every other athlete these days regardless of winning or losing) I am trying to focus on the positives and put the negatives behind me. The back is feeling better though by no means back to normal which leaves me with the dread (and expense) of making my first ever visit to a physio and, God forbid, an osteopath. The thought of breathing deeply whilst somebody cracks my body around without the slightest idea of whether it may damage me further and more permanently fill me with total dread (not unlike a few years ago on a trip to Morocco when I went to a 'spa' in the middle of nowhere where a burly masseuse told me to 'reeeelaxxxxx' as he poured paraffin on me and then proceeded to double bend my knees as if they were made of Playdoh - 'reeeelaxxxxx' I did not). Sorry, I digressed from my positivity. I'm rested, relaxed and itching to perch myself on the PM and get back into the groove. Winter riding awaits and, despite the end of the continental season, I'm sure there will be plenty to keep these pages populated for my legion, nay garrison of followers. Keep the faith dear readers - please? pretty please?