About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Tredz game - a new record

It’s time for an update on the high score in the Tredz Dangerous Dave and Brutal Bob game. Played all over the world (our web statistics are quite exotic), we receive regular emails telling us of personal records. This week we were informed that the record has been well broken since the last claim to fame by Mike C. with a score of 1561 metres.

Thierry in Belgium achieved a record 1840m and sent us a screenshot to prove it. We dare not ask how many practice hours it took him to get this score, obviously training in any sport pays off eventually. Get on yer bike!! :-)

Any contenders to beat this record? Let us know.

 

New Year's Resolutions

I read the other day that over 90% of the population write New Year’s Resolutions. Common sense says these resolutions are more about announcing dreams than setting real goals to aspire to. Well, I decided to start thinking about putting a goal of two forward regarding my cycling abilities.
I was thinking about a jaunt at Mountain Mayhem and the odd sprint triathlon when Jody Cundy (profile page here) called in the office and told me about his plans for 2007. Ashamed may not be the right word but I definitely didn’t want to compare lists. His reads like this:

2007 Cycling Schedule:
Jan – training camp Melbourne
Feb – Australian National track champs (Sydney)
Mar – home training
Apr – home training
May – Paralympic world cup (1 day event, Manchester), European champs (Newport)
Jun – training camp La Parma
Jul – prep camp World champs (Manchester)
Aug – Paralympic World Championships (Bordeaux)

I don’t know about you but I certainly can’t match that. Perhaps you’ve not raced before but have always wanted to join an organised comp but never plucked up enough courage to sign on? Check out the BCF calendar to find an event that tickles your front mech and dive in. Come on, raise the bar a bit and set yourself a challenge.

Yoga for cyclists

We received details of some new cycling DVDs this week. I confess to raising an eyebrow to Yoga for Cyclists. Their sales spiel goes:

Avid rider and yoga teacher Andria Baldovin brings you a set of exercises designed to strengthen and stretch the area of a cyclist’ body that need it most to improve your endurance and enjoyment on your bike!

If you’re more of a Disorder fan then this 3 minute trailer is more likely to float your boat...

Bike orders go to plan

Thanks again for your excellent service. I know that this time of the year is extremely busy for you and appreciate it very much that you contact your customers directly and try to find a way to get orders processed quickly!
Best wishes,
Christian

Triathlon Lesson - Swimming 4

I've now finished my 'beginners' swimming lessons at the National Pool of Wales.... so did it help? Well, yes. Over the 10 week course I’ve learnt the basics of the front crawl, breast stroke & back stroke. We did have a few attempts at butterfly but I think this was just for comedy value for the coach. Although I could 'roughly' swim enough to save my life, I really wanted to gain water confidence and learn how to breathe properly. By golly I think I've sussed it.

I’ve been to the pool a couple of times since the lessons have finished and felt confident that I can just get in the pool and swim properly without people staring at me 'cos they think I'm drowning. The technical elements of each stroke have been really easy to remember and I’m able to enjoy going for a swim now. I have to say that anyone wanting to learn the basics for fitness or fun it's definitely worth signing up to proper lessons. Having completed the beginners course I'm going to practice what I have learnt and gain some water fitness before signing up for the Intermediate Course in 2007. All I need to do now is find a cool pair of racing Speedos. Maybe I could get some like my friend here?
Posted by James

Trek Mystics don't come from Santa

We have just taken delivery of a new Trek Mystic for my daughter - excellent service thanks - other than the delivery guy telling my daughter how lucky she was to be having a bike for Christmas as she met him at the door !!!
(He may as well have gone on to say there's no Santa and no point putting your loose teeth under the pillow - no harm intended I am sure).
Jeff

Shimano Screensavers

I've been passed a couple of Shimano screensavers that advertise the pure craftsmanship that goes into their XTR Range. If you're that tight you might even be able to say it's a Christmas present!

There are two to choose from:
- the 3D XTR shows the components that bear the XTR branding and demonstrates how they're assembled and work;
- the Shimano XTR shows the newest edition to the XTR component group and has a pretty nifty lightning effect.

Help yourselves...

3D XTR Screensaver.zip.zip (12 MB)
New Shimano XTR Screensaver.zip (6 MB)

1, 2, 3 awwww

Who said my posts are immature? I’ll have you know I’m one today, thank you very much.
Posted by Abbie

Steam bike from Santa

Fancy this bike for Christmas? I found this mentioned on BoingBoing. Personally I'm not sure anyone under the age of 75 would be too interested. And if they were, would you hate them enough to let them ride it?

Lance Armstrong running injury

TredzTalk recently posted about Lance Armstrong running an excellent sub 3 hour New York marathon. Well it turns out he did on a fractured leg! Just when I thought this guy can’t go up in my estimation any further he shows he’s even more super human.

Lance’s site shows a mini interview from ThePaceline.com:

"I knew I had shin splints from training, but I certainly didn't think there was anything broken, and I just attributed the pain to the amount of effort it takes to complete a marathon." No wonder he thought it was more difficult than any Tour he’s ridden.

We’ve all got two opportunities to race him next year: the NYC marathon again next November and the Leadville 100 mile bike race in Colorado in August - if you want to travel to the States, that is.

I am a watch whore

I love them. I have more watches than trainers – and there’s many a pair of size 7s in the wardrobe. I’m not sure if the obsession is because:

a) I’m incredibly anal about time (if I’m not 10 mins early for a everything, I’m late);
b) they’re the only jewellery a guy is encouraged to wear from a young age (apart from my wedding ring it’s all I’ve ever worn); or
c) I’m also a brand freak and there are definitely the Specialized, Kona and Trek of the watch world (not that I can afford them!).

      

Tim Jackson, aka Masi Guy, another self confessed watch whore, posted about lusting after Festina watches for 15-20 years before actually purchasing one recently. His Tour de France edition is on the left and looks very top-end to me. Festina used to sponsor the Specialized road racing team and lidle-ol-me was given this Specialized edition titanium Festina watch (on skiny arm to right) a couple of years back. Needless to say I was over the moon at the time. But what a disappointment. I find the face is easily marked and the strap is pretty useless – it opens every time you move your hand upwards. Thankfully I didn’t pay for it. I’d be devastated if I’d psyched myself up for years about the purchase. Better luck with yours Tim, you deserve more with what it must’ve cost you.

Note to very generous readers: I'd love to add a Tag Heuer Monaco Sixty Nine to my rather more down-market collection – if anyone wants to splash out a deluxe Christmas present that is…

Tredz at Sports Personality of the Year

Tredz rider Jody Cundy will be in the NEC on Sunday at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. He’ll be rubbing shoulders with the cream of British sport. And deservedly so. My bribery attempts to let him take me as a chaperone have proved fruitless. I've never been closer, bugger. Obviously, we want Jody to win but despite the shortlist being increased to ten this year, it doesn’t hold his name – or any other disabled athlete for that matter.

My favoured personalities in the line up would have to be Joe Calzaghe, Jenson Button and Nicole Cooke. I’ve seen the undefeated super middleweight World Champ fight in Cardiff and you can actually feel the power from 20 metres away – awesome. Jenson won his first grand prix this year at Hungary (only wish I’d been there to see that!) but I fear he’s an outsider for even 3rd on Sunday. Cooke has retained her World Cup crown and led Univega to the team title as well. Yesturday William Hill had Calzaghe at 10/1, Button at 80/1 and Cooke at 50/1. Just looking from a strictly research point of view you understand.

Chris King calendar

Chris King Components, known largely in the UK for their de rigeur headsets, is launching a limited edition 2007 calendar. As ever, anything this company produces reeks of quality and their calendar appears no different. Mr King's disciples say:

It features many of our favorite components cast together with a reprise company of actors and models from 2004 depicting the strange and curious language of cycling.

We’d love to say Tredz has hundreds in stock, but unfortunately their one and only print run is available at the BikeCraft Bazaar today – in Portland, Oregon!

Not quite Northshore

Tredz rider Ed has been pretty handy with a shovel for a few years now. He's built dozens of jumps but is now turning his hand to carpentry by building northshore runs anywhere remote. This is how not to ride them...

More security on Tredz.co.uk

We’ve upgraded your online payment security by signing up to Verified by Visa (VbV) and MasterCard SecureCode (MSC).
What’s it all about? You attach a personal message and password to your card. This is then asked for by retailers when you shop online but they don’t get to see your password and message – VbV or MSC simply authorise us or not.
How do I register? You can register two ways: a) with your card provider, or b) at the time of purchasing from a registered retailer.
What does it mean for my shopping? Your card use becomes far more secure, period. Shamefully I’ve only just registered myself. It only took 30 seconds.

I copied this from Visa’s site - It’s this simple to shop:
• Choose what you want to buy
• Go to the check-out page
• Enter your Visa card details as usual
• The website will indicate whether or not it offers Verified by Visa
• Your personal assurance message tells you that the bank or organisation that issued your Visa card is asking for your password
• Enter your password, click 'submit’
• Your identity is confirmed
• Job done

Info links (some with demos): Visa, Mastercard, Barclaycard, Card Watch

Trek bike highly recommended

A nice start to the week:

Hello,
I'd like to commend everyone at Tredz for a first class service - I am very pleased with the bike [Trek 7100] and will highly recommend you.
All the best,
Colin

Trek bikes go rideabout

Our sales contact at Trek Bikes has gone. The helpful Angela has not just moved jobs, but continents as well. Her and a mate have buggered off on a ‘round the world adventure on a pair of motorbikes. They’ve been doing their Michael Palin bit for a week now and are in Delhi (I think) at the mo. Catch up with the (brave?) lucky sods at their blog, Two Wheels Whirled.