Part of the paisley peleton, kidding on to be a cyclocrosser as it is more socially acceptable than a roadie?... not enough much dirt, but way too much tarmac :-) my bike is often found outside coffee shops around renfrewshire or gleaming on the trails when it should be proper muddy!

FS. New Vredstien Road Tyres

Got a pair of new Vredstien fiammante duo comp 23c folding road tyres, came off my new track bike (thanks Alpine!). But as these are actually winter/training road tyres and not ‘track legal’ I have taken them off and selling cheap to fund some proper track tyres. Colour is black with white duo compound, look ace – they get great reviews and ideal for all year round riding, tough enough for scottish roads 🙂

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vredestein-fiammante-duocomp-folding-tyre/

Wiggle got reduced to £18 each, call it £20 the pair and they’re yours. Can be collected from Crookston or can maybe drop off depending on location.

Stephen

Urban rat race – keeping safe

There have been some emails going around about lights and gear to keep safe as well as techno gloves!!! I do the Hamilton to Crookston urban rat run 3 times a week – to be honest, about 15 of the 20 mile trip home is OK until you get to Paisley Rd West where you have to pray and hope for the best! In terms of clothing – don’t see Fluro stuff as an asset unless it is the short period of time when it is just getting dark, so if you ride between 3 and 4pm go for it. Reflective stuff – yes. I do confess to wearing black, but with plenty of reflecive highlights – the planet x overshoe has some nice tabs on the reverse to replace pedal reflectors. White is best colour at night as it shows up well in car lights – so if you have some bling Assos kit, you are sorted. Lights – 1 watt smart light on chainstay (very bright indeed), a less bright 3 led cateye on seatpost as backup and a trek helmet LED – I find this a must as when you thread through traffic it is only you bonce cars will see!  I run a dealextreme front light on medium – this seems good enough and not bright enough to dazzle on backroads. I’d avoid anything too bright on front – a dazzled and angry motorist is not your friend! My latest weapon against side road chancers are the Nite Ize Spokelits from Amazon (see pic) – pop 2 of these on front wheel – ignore the camp ‘disco’ version and get green ones – unique colour gets noticed and bike looks like it is from Tron. I now have very obvious side visability – £18 quid well spent. In terms of the gloves – I had some Northwave skeleton gloves that had reflective ‘bone’ fingers – Ideal if someone chooses to ignore the fact you are lit up like an xmas tree. Best gloves are sealskins though – they have some reflective bits too.
Only been knocked down once, on purpose, nothing to do with my visibility which seems to work well, in fact it may have made me an easier target!,,, but keep safe out there 🙂

FS. Rockshox Pike 454 coil fork with 20mm maxle

Mint condition, although I have had these a while I only ride very occasionally and clean these after every ride so they look almost new, no marks on stantions and very few marks elsewhere. Have been ridden twice since last service by alpine bikes so work perfect and are smooth. These are the top of range coil Pikes, can be adjusted from 95 – 140mm and have lock out / motion control with an alloy steerer too. Being coil sprung they are a little heavier, but also tougher, smoother travel and require less maintenance so I think it’s a no brainer – these are the best Pike forks! Also included are two spacers to convert a hope XC/PRO hub to 20mm (note: these will not fit a QR hub unless it can be converted to 20mm), but the benefits of using a bolt through 20mm axel are amazing, especially on tougher trails. The Maxle works like a normal QR too – so just as easy to take wheel on and off. Fitted with a firm spring (for riders of around 12 stone plus) I am 11 stone and preferred a stiffer fork so uprated the spring, but I also have the stock medium spring I can give away too.

I had a look round what these are going for on the forums – about £180 seems a fair price (my fork was better condition than ones I have seen!) – they cost over £450 new.

Georgetown cup – 1 September

Simon road a stormer on his classy fixed flying scot, Alan, Lyndsey and I all had a go on the 7.2 mile course and set a few PB’s, 160 folk turned out an raised a ton of cash for accord hospice… but highlight of the day was jack from thomsons cycles ripping along the course on a penny farthing in full aero kit – even pulled a tour style victory salute at the end – 28 minutes (course record is 14.17).

Jack tearing up the course – retro style

One for the roadies… and calling flying scot owners

On saturday the 1st September it is the Georgetown cup – a team time trial held at Inchinnan, need to get 8 riders in each team, entry only £8, all money to charity. It’s a popular event and plenty time for some sneaky practice.

http://www.glasgowcouriers.com/the_georgeotwn_cup.html

I am entering with (whispers) a roadie club, but I am sure there are plenty of GMBC riders that could get a good time on the 7.2 mile course – all flat. There will be some catering and drinks – again all for accord hospice. The losing team gets the ‘Georgetown Pie’

In addition they are trying to get as many flying scot owners to show off their bikes, money will be collected from people putting in a bucket for each of your favourite bike (for charity) and the winning bike gets a prize too… so [cough] simon h [cough] if you have a classy bike, get it shown off, or come for a lookie!

 

For sale – hardcore 80mm stem and Maxxis tyres

Making my bike much more xc friendly and selling a nearly new easton havoc stem 80mm for OS (normal) bars so fit most current bikes, very tough, light and stiff, it is the older model in black – current stem is £79.99 accept £30 – it is mint!

Also have a set of 2.35 Maxxis Ardents – ideal for trailcentres, light, tough (only punctured once) and in excellent condition. Folding bead – cost about £30 each new – accept £30 pair.

Can bring to club or be collected from Crookston area.

Southside Roadride – Thursday 9 August

A small group leaving Crookston at 6.30, traveling down Crookston Rd and through Renfrew at about 6.45 (don’t mistake us for ‘the bunch’ who go about 30mph). Pass Inchinnan about 6.50 then on via Bishopton, Langbank, over behind Gleddoch to the resurfaced Kilmacolm singletrack road, then home via nice roads and cyclepath via Paisley. 30-35 miles total, one big climb with great views of Firth of Clyde. Pace, steady but not too fast, bring a rear LED just in case. Should be home well before 9.

Southside roadride – Thursday

Leaving Crookston around 6.45pm (Barrhead Rd / Crookston Rd) junction about 6.50pm. 25 miles via Barrhead, Gateside, Braes, descend to Howood and return via Paisley. Any takers? there will be at least 3 or 4 on ride so far, pace quick but not fast if you know what I mean! 🙂