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By Herring (Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 11:40:29 AM EST) (all tags)
With pictures. That doesn't moan about work.

Sometimes I think I need a mountain bike.

Done some things this weekend. Yesterday, we all went to the Look Out Discovery Centre. This was mainly because Mrs. H. wanted to check it out with a view to taking her pupils there, but also because it looked interesting. For those of you who have seen the basement of the Science Museum, the idea is the same except less like a vision of hell because it's not hot, stuff, underground and there aren't so many screaming kids. It is fairly small though. SB (who is Mrs. H.'s guinea pig - whereas Sam is SB's guinea pig and ... nevermind) seemed to enjoy it.

Anyhow, the place is set in a huge forest. Despite the address being Bracknell, it's actually quite picturesque. There was lots of people riding mountain bikes through the forest and it looked a good thing to do with SB. Sometimes I think I need a mountain bike.

Today, on a whim (and because the weather looked OK), I looked in a Surrey Cycling book that I picked up a while back. It suggested that along the River Wey (not the one in Dorset) would be a good thing so I got SB and our bikes into the car and headed out.

This was also picturesque. Small boy crossing a weir:

Narrowboat:

There was a pub en-route, but there were hundreds of people outside (Sunday lunchtime, sunshine) so didn't stop for beer. There were also some fairly confident swans and cygnets:

Towards the end, the noise suggested we were pretty close to the M25 (Google Earth confirms it) which takes the shine off a peaceful cycle ride.

The good thing about towpath rides is that they're flat. The bad thing (apart from people blocking the path) is that you have to go back the same way. OK, you don't have to, but if you've not brought a map and want to keep SB off the roads you do. I managed to take one picture while riding

This isn't a very good idea though as SB has a habit of slamming on the anchors at any sign of trouble.

It was good, but some of the terrain was a bit bumpy and/or soft so 700Cx19mm wheels are not perfect. Sometimes I think I need a mountain bike.

In other news, I've been thinking that I need a mountain bike. I don't need anything extreme, just something that wont fall apart doing woodland paths, bridelways. I know Halfords are evil and rubbish, but they have what appear to be incredibly cheap deals. I don't really care too much about rear suspension (front suspension wasn't invented in my day) or stuff being super lightweight. Just something strong enough to carry a fat bastard through a forest. Price is, definitely, a factor.

Also, it might get me out a bit more often (without SB). The thought of race gearing Surrey traffic does put me off using my road bike. And there are plenty of off road routes around here.

Any comments anyone?

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A diary | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
Nice pics by cam (4.00 / 1) #1 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 12:27:54 PM EST
so green.

cam
Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic


It's the rain [n/t] by Herring (4.00 / 1) #2 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 12:30:57 PM EST


Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge - Charles Darwin
[ Parent ]

Halfords do one... by Metatone (4.00 / 1) #3 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 01:04:38 PM EST
I looked at a while back that comes on sale periodically and is great value at that time.

Edinburgh Bicycle do a good value basic as well, but I don't think they have any shops down your way.



If you're just going to be cycling with SB by nebbish (2.00 / 0) #4 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 01:17:31 PM EST
You can get a cheapo mountain bike for peanuts. Ebay's good for cheap bikes that are a bit rubbish. My mate got a tourer for £20 - it weighs as much as a house but it does the job.

Good motion photo. Would have been better if it was a bit skew-wiff cos you were falling off your bike at the time.

--------
It's political correctness gone mad!


Falling off into the river ... by Herring (2.00 / 0) #5 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 01:21:00 PM EST
If I get one, it will be with the intention of doing some myself. And now I've seen some photos (scroll down), the idea of going out and riding properly is much more appealing. Actually to hit off road routes, I can do that from home.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge - Charles Darwin
[ Parent ]

Halfords by hulver (4.00 / 1) #6 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:36:10 PM EST
They are not just shit, they are lying toe-rags of the highest order.
  1. They tried to rip me off by changing the price of a helmet between my taking it off the shelf and going to the till (this is illegal) and then denying that it had been on sale previously. This was the last straw, and I've not used them since.
  2. Bought a small kids bike for D2 some time ago their so called "safety check" where they go down this checklist to make sure the bike is ready had three things on it that just hadn't been done. Doesn't take a genius to work out that they hadn't done any of it.
  3. Bought D1's current bike from them (more fool me, this was before item 1). They tried to sell it to me with knackered gears. I refused to leave the shop until I had tested it, and it's a good job I did because I found 3 other things wrong with it (see point 2) that the slowest idiot who looked at the bike could see.
  4. Was riding home one day when I saw a bloke limping along at the side of the road covered in blood and pushing a bike. Stopped to see if he was OK. He'd just picked up a brand new mountain bike from Halfords and was riding it home when the handlebars had come loose and he'd fallen off the bike in front of a bus. 30 seconds with my bike tool had fixed it, but they are supposed to check that shit.
So, if you buy from Halfords, you are a fool.

You'd be better off trying to find a cheep second hand bike locally, or finding a local bike shop not staffed and run by retards.
--
smart, pretty, sane. pick two - georgeha


Heh by Herring (4.00 / 1) #8 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:45:53 PM EST
I did actually get SB's current bike from Halford - because it was insanely cheap and he'd grow out of it soon (like now). Seeing the staff in there, I checked and tightened everything myself before he used it.

I wouldn't trust them to set anything up, but that's a job I'm quite comfortable with.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge - Charles Darwin
[ Parent ]

Cyclocross by LinDze (4.00 / 2) #7 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:44:15 PM EST
may work for you if you're used to road bikes and those trails are typical of what you would ride. In the states Bianchi sells the Volpe for $800US which makes a great cross/commuter.

If you're going for a new mountain bike on the cheap look for rigid front and rear. This will get you much better brakes and drivetrain instead of a crap front suspension fork. Right now there are a tonne of these kind of very basic, but decent, mountain bikes over here. MSRP is usually in the $600-800 range for something that I'd actually ride.

-Lin Dze
Arbeit Macht Frei


IAWTP by MillMan (2.00 / 0) #16 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 11:57:01 PM EST
I've been impressed with how well the cross-check handles dirt paths.

When I'm imprisoned as an enemy combatant, will you blog about it?
[ Parent ]

My favorite ride is a towpath by georgeha (2.00 / 0) #9 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:34:31 PM EST
on the updated Erie Canal. No mules, though.




Yowza by ad hoc (4.00 / 1) #10 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:34:48 PM EST
19mm? That's thin enough to split asphalt.

Try some 35mm and pretend you're on a cyclocross bike. That may get you there. If you like that, you could get a real cyclocross bike (more relaxed geometry, more ground clearance for the front cog, etc).

Or you could get a mountain bike. I personally don't like full suspension. Front only is fine.
--
The three things that make a diamond also make a waffle.


Imagine the grip by Herring (2.00 / 0) #11 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 04:44:29 PM EST
when they're at full pressure and it's slightly wet.

I recall coming down the Downs oe time when a woman in an X5 decided to pull out of the golf club in front of me (one action, so many prejudices confirmed). I realised what the real use of the foam pad in the shorts was.

Thinking about it, I am definitely against rear suspension. Mainly because:

  • I don't have much money to spend. Cheap rear suspension -> teh broken
  • I might want to stick a pannier rack on one day and go camping with SB when he's less S.
  • Suspension is for girls.
Some do suggestion that front suspension is good when you want to go for a burn through a forest. Which I do.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge - Charles Darwin
[ Parent ]

Front suspension by ad hoc (4.00 / 1) #12 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:42:19 PM EST
I find it valuable when coming down a hill on loose rocks (rocks, not gravel). It tends to even out the path so it's less likely your hands get jarred loose when your wheel comes to a sudden stop. Gives you a bit of time to recover rather than doing an instant header.
--
The three things that make a diamond also make a waffle.
[ Parent ]

I was never a fan by debacle (2.00 / 0) #15 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 10:25:57 PM EST
When I got my first front suspension bike, I hated it. It grew on me, but when I got my second bike without it, I sort of stopped using the first (though it was in better shape and lighter) altogether.
"I'm very responsive to certain stimuli, and pain is pretty much at the top of that list." - BadDoggie

[ Parent ]

Also by ad hoc (2.00 / 0) #13 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:44:04 PM EST
my point about trying the 35mm tires is that it's cheaper to try that than buying a whole new bike. But it supposes that your bike can handles tires that wide. It may not be able to.
--
The three things that make a diamond also make a waffle.
[ Parent ]

Don't think 35mm would fit the frame by Herring (2.00 / 0) #14 Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 05:51:01 PM EST
And it would be wrong. It's an actuall Raleigh bike actualy made in England from actual Reynolds 531 tubes. Probably a rarity now.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge - Charles Darwin
[ Parent ]

When I were but a wee scrap of a lad by Breaker (2.00 / 0) #17 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 06:22:12 AM EST
I used to ride my bike in the woods, before they put in that bloody big tourist trap they call the Lookout.

There's also Coral Reef flumes & pools just down the road if Mrs H wants to have something else to do with her class outing.

I once saw Princess Diana make a phone call from a parked car on the road in to Coral Reef.




Bracknell ... Tourism .... by Herring (2.00 / 0) #19 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 08:01:35 AM EST
I don't see it myself.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge - Charles Darwin
[ Parent ]

Surprisingly by Phage (2.00 / 0) #18 Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 08:00:48 AM EST
The best hands on science centre I have ever been to is in Canberra. But that's a little far to go.

The Czar of Accounting. No Nit Too Small To Pick


A diary | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

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