About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Happy New Year

Christmas is over! Halleluiah!

Only kidding, we’re not grinches here at Tredz (the resemblance is no more than skin deep), but it’s good to see the back of the annual battle to buy presents and look grateful for stuff that’s already gathering dust.
Our New Year Sale is for YOU. When you can kick back, look through our bargains and pick something at a knock down price that’ll actually be used in 2008.
Here’s hoping that all our customers, readers and colleagues have a great new year.

MTB photo's

The British Cycling Organizations MTB photographer, Joolze Dymond, has chosen her favorite MTB pictures from her (frankly lush) collection of photos from 2007. A timely reminder of how good a year it's been and how much we missed. New years resolution? Ride bike more often.

Ride solo; it’s better for the soul

I’d love to tell you city folks that this view is a 3 hour drive from home and an hour out of the car park. Sorry, but my house is just down there on the right (unfortunately not the farm). This loop is usually my last resort of MTBing. You know the sort – everyone has shied off cos of family/work/pub commitments and you can’t be bothered to drive too far to get the miles in.

It’s surprisingly technical in bits, has real stamina-sucking climbs and at least 3 guard dogs that act like they’ve got advanced-staged rabies (and make me wet myself every time). It’s either this or a 10k in trainers. Thing is, I’m always chuffed when I’ve made the effort to pedal solo and this view lifts my spirits every time (ok, perhaps I’m a miserable loner as well).

Fitty's Commencal Furious 08'

This is our man Fitty (real Mauri name longer than this post), outside our Cardiff bike shop. You'll normally catch him kicking about on a GT BMX. Well Mrs Fitty must’ve had a stroke or something ‘cause she’s let him blow £2k on this stunning Commencal ’08 Furious. Absolutely nothing to do with him sulking for 4 months I’m sure.
This thing looks more reliable than gravity and I'd love to nick it and get over to Cwm Carn to test out the 180mm  travel at both ends, unfortunately Fitty isn't prepared to let go of it quite yet (a man really shouldn't take his bike to the toilet). Anyway I'd be petrified of scratching the paintwork on that beautiful Cedric Gracia signature frame.

Happy Christmas!

From all of us here at Tredz we wish everyone a very happy Christmas! Now I'm off to go and sweat out some of those mince pies on my bike.

£10,000 Bike

When I bought my last bike for six hundred odd quid I remember being told by certain, non-cycling, friends that it was "a waste of money". Well I've saved the money in petrol several times over already. Not sure how many times I'd have to cycle to work on this bike from engineering specialists Beruf1systems to make it worth it's while. For an astonishing ten grand you get a ride that is the “ultimate training tool, combining innovative design and advanced electronics to record and analyze biometric data."
Gotta have that biometric data.

A wee tour

After the Tour De France 2007’s successful prologue in London, the Scottish are looking to prove that they can do anything the Sassenachs can.
Seeing as how it was a great event that really pulled in the crowds and did wonders in raising the profile of Pro cycling in this country (not to mention earning London a reported 120 million quid), it really makes sense to try and prise the Tour Prologue back to this side of the channel again.
It won’t happen for a while at least as the Tour begins in Brittany and Monaco in the next two years, but hey, we’re already dreaming of being able to eat a deep fried Mars bar and wave a little Scottish flag at the finish line.

Tredz Trumps: Gareth

	GARETH (DOWNHILLER)
Suitability: 4/10	He's riding a Charge Blender with Pike Forks, Singletrack Rims and Shimano DX pedals on mostly roads and a bike path...
Style: 7/10	His dirt lid, On Fire hoodie and Shimano MT51 cleats keep it real. Bro.
Desirability: 7/10	Yup, nice bike, nice bits attached to it. I'd nick it.
Lighting: 7/10	He isn't wearing any in the photo, but most of the time he's got a Cateye Compact Opticube and a Frog rear light.
Safety: 3/10	Well he is wearing his SixSixOne Dirt Helmet, but apart from his main lights road visibility is going to be poor.
Weatherproofing: 0/10	Que? Gareth is obviously confident that it isn't going to rain (this is outside our Swansea shop).
Speed: 2/10	I've seen Gaz ride down sets of steps on his bike stupidly quickly, but the Charge isn't going to set any records on the bike path or the road.

Tredz Trumps

I think it was the recent Commencal catalog, that rated it's bikes Top Trump stylee, that inspired us to come up with our own rip off. Most of us (most) cycle to work every day on a variety of bikes, with a quite spectacular degree of suitability. Some of us have absolute harem’s of bikes with one to suit every occasion, some of us just have a couple. Our boss just waits for Specialized to send him a test model of their latest top spec in his size for his run-around.
It's the range of bikes and riders we've got at our disposal that we wanted to show off, so what better way than giving anyone who's game ratings where it matters: style, suitability... So starting tomorrow, Tredz Trumps!

How to look cool on a bike

It's been absolutely, shrivellingly freezing on the way to work recently. There's been some ice around and my morning commute is becoming every sketchier, culminating in a fall last friday. Nothing too serious to me or my bike, the only thing that really got bruised was my ego as I somehow managed to slip when the bike was stationary at some traffic lights - surrounded by cars and pedestrians.
The shame.
As the drivers laughed, the elderly man walking the dog asked if I needed help and I floundered on the floor trying to detach myself from the bike I realised something: I'd still rather be cycling in to work and if I'd been in one of the cars watching a cyclist do his best bambi on ice impression, I'd only be gutted that I wasn't cycling.
I only wish that I'd read Bikesnobs recent blog post before friday. I could've done with the advice on how to look as if you intended to be on the floor...

Gus weight loss - the end

For those of you waiting for an update on Gus and his cycling weight loss program… Well he didn’t make it. Quite spectacularly as it turns out, missing the original target of 16 stone by about two stone.
Our boss (who incidentally weighs about as much as Gus lost in a good week) is none too impressed, Personally I think he’s done pretty well considering all of his other commitments: At the finish Gus is clearly in much better shape through cycling and has already achieved a lot, just not a new iPod.
And he hasn't really finished. His real goal of being able to ride our local trails again is still easily doable.
Keep it up mate.

Sustrans wins lottery!

Heyyy, you do care! Sustrans got fifty percent of the vote in the £50 million national lottery giveaway.
In addition to the fifty million quid prize, Sustrans have also managed to squeeze out an astounding £100 million extra from local councils to help support the individual projects.
Work starts in January 2008, but apart from velvet toilet paper and Evian water on tap at every bike trail toilet block what else is the money going towards?
I was pleasantly shocked to hear that the money won’t just be going to urban cycling paths (worthy a cause as they undoubtedly are), but also towards improving rural trails, like… mine! My very route to work is being improved, much needed since there’s only been half a cycle path there for the last ten years. So this is a very personal thank you to everyone that voted for Sustrans.
From the looks of it though we’re all of us, from MTBers to commuters, going to benefit in a big way from this.

Bike paths paved with gold

You voted didn’t you? Well, it’s all over now. Voting for The Peoples £50 million Lottery Giveaway has finished. Find out who won by tuning into ITV news later tonight. We’ve heard rumours that the viewing figures for Sustrans’ cycling project were much higher. Online rumours being what online rumour are, we don’t want to get prematurely excited (maybe more people just watched to see Lorraine Kelly on a bike), but hey, we’re getting prematurely excited. Fingers crossed for tonight.

Bike beats car (again)

When will Top Gear learn eh? This time some insane BMXers racing James May in Budapest. And winning:

Gus weight loss - the final week

It's getting close to the final weigh in for Gus. Whilst you're reading this over breakfast, Gus is busy pedalling like some kind of demented two wheeled Rocky through the mean streets of Swansea in a last ditch attempt to hit his weight loss target.
Juggling a family, a hectic work schedule and his cycling weight loss program, he’s found it pretty tough this last month. Suffice to say he’s been running short of his target, even the reduced weight loss target we set recently.
Well the buck stops this Wednesday and we’re all about to find out if Gus is a hero or a hopeless bum, whether he’s deserving of a shiny new iPod or an unbuttered cucumber sandwich and a kick up the arse.

Cycling Paths

Sometimes I cycle in to work via a cycle path. To be honest I’m lucky enough to live in a part of the world where it’s not always necessary, where the roads aren’t always heaving and where other road users don’t treat the cyclist as target practise. Often. The few times I do use cycle paths I’m generally amazed that anyone puts up with them, as they usually seem to been designed with the ethos “get them off the road” rather than “encourage them to cycle”.

The few near me are often flooded, in poor condition and badly signposted. One I regularly use, hilariously, has official spray on graffiti to direct you. Did the council run out of money or was it an attempt to get down with the kids? I’m pretty certain the spraypainted ‘slow’ or ‘bikes turn here’ were supposed to be temporary, but it’s the general half arsed attitude towards cyclists that seems so prevalent.

And now, in celebration of this half arsed attitude towards cyclists a book has been released. Called “Crap Cycle Lanes” it veers between tragedy and comedy and is sure to keep any cycle path user swearing and laughing in equal measure.

Timely Night Vision Jacket

It's absolutely hammering down outside as I'm writing this and I'm desperately hoping that the rain will have passed by the time I cycle home. Yup, I forgot my jacket. So I can certainly empthasise with Mr Harrison who was happy to receive his Night Vision Jacket:

Hi there,
Just writing to say it arrived today, just in time as the rain is coming in over London.
Thanks
Mr Harrison

Enjoy your safe, dry and comfortable ride home Mr Harrison. Just spare a thought for the soaking dishevelled blogger...

Pan Wales Bike Ride

Being a Welsh based bike shop, it goes without saying we like cycling in Wales. We also like good causes, so this Pan Wales Holyhead to Cardiff bike ride: The Lôn Las Cycle Challenge 2008, in aid of Bobath (the charity for children with Cerebral Palsy in Wales) certainly floats our boat. Just think, 254 miles of stunning Welsh scenery with the odd shower and mountain range to liven things up. Interested? Read on for the event's press release.

Sustrans reminder

According to my advent calender (never too old) it's the fourth of December today. As well as meaning that I get another chocolate it also means that you've only got six days  left to vote for the Sustrans bid in the £50 million national lottery give away. Yep the other bids are worthy, but nope they ain't as worthy as creating a better cycling network in this country.
If you're struggling to make you're mind up then watch ITV tonight at 11:05.
Rest assured we'll remind you again on the day; £50 million quid towards better cycling routes would be an absolutely brilliant achievement. If the disparate cycling communities pull together there's absolutely no reason why we can't win this.

EL-600RC Single Shot Review

I bought a new light a couple of weeks ago. Until then I'd been relying on an old head light LED (it lit 10 metres ahead of you) and a couple of safety lights. Great for being seen on the road, but the cause of some seriously scary near misses. The worst being when I was cycling home from work in the dark and suddenly and suddenly found my self surrounded by a herd of cows. Safe to say that at the fifteen odd miles an hour I was doing I would have come off worse than the cow.

That and several other incidents (mostly involving hedges and ditches) convinced me to stop being such a cheapskate and splash out on something that was definitely needed.