About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Customer feedback

We got a Giant Yukon sent to Andrew just in time for the bank holiday...

Hi, Just a quick message of thanks. My Giant Yukon arrived safely today. I haven't had a chance to go out on it yet, but have a ride planned for the w/end and can't wait! A hassle free and very professional experience - I've already ordered my next bike from you, and have recommended you to a friend who is looking to buy 2 bikes. Thanks again - I'll be back in touch soon for my next purchase!

Cheers Andrew! Hope you had a blast on the Giant last weekend.

Tour de France finish line

The Tour de France (2006) finishing line has been pushed back ever so slightly again. Which is great. More fast flowing bike action (I mean sitting still in a courtroom), from Floyd Landis et al (I mean just Floyd Landis) to see who has won the greatest cycling event (I mean joke), in the world.

Just have to wait till June now for the final decision. Feel the tension...

Specialized clothing 2008

Specialized have launched their 2008 range of clothing and accessories recently. As well as the customary range expansion we've come to expect from Spesh their also introducing some seriously cool features. Not least of which 'Cocona'. Carbonised coconut shells. Yeah thats right, coconut shells.

Check out our guide to the 2008 Specialized bicycle clothing and accessory range. We've explained our favourite new features and shown some typical products that hightlight these.

Spring cycling guide

Spring is in the air. the perfect time of the year to get back into/start cycling since you get some great weather (some!), with less traffic on the road than the summer.

Our spring cycling guide has some great tips for mountain bikers, roadies and commuters to ensure they get the most out of riding.

Which is all well and good, but the best reason for checking out the page is to see more pictures of the Adonis to your left.

More 2006 Tour News

Some exciting Tour de France news for you. 2006 tour news that is, as Floyd Landis is entering the final court of appeal over his drugs ban.

Maybe we can then finally look forward to seeing who gets kicked out of the 2008 event...

Transport for London ad

Another cool video from TfL promoting cycling safety.

I didn't see it!

Fat cyclist

Fat Cyclist has recently won the Eight annual weblog (the Bloggies), award for best sports blog.

Combining his general bemusement with the pro racing scene, occasional forays into his personal life and his week to week riding anecdotes it's almost always funny and heartfelt. Pretty much a must read for cycling blog rookies like me. Well done fatty (I'll see you on the podium next year).

The Woman who stops traffic

The Woman who stops traffic series is over and despite not really making an impact in Boston (where traffic actually increased), Kris Murrin achieved a great result in Durham city on one of the wettest days of the year. Getting 80% of local kids to school on foot or bike and increasing the usage of the park and ride by 25% was very impressive.

A fitter population, less congestion, more use of public transport... Shouldn't local councillors country wide be clamouring over this woman?

How to make someone happy

Send them a Specialized Rockhopper Disc!

I received my Specialized Rockhopper Disc 2008 today. Just a quick thank you for your fast, friendly and efficient service, can't wait to try it out at the weekend now!

Regards,
Ben

No worries Ben, we promise you'll love that bike!

Bicycle helmet law

We’ve had a few queries recently regarding the specifics of bicycle helmet law. Here’s the basic gist: It’s not compulsory. At the moment neither you nor your kids have to wear a bike helmet by law.

Not law. But a really, really good idea (not a close relation to law).

Wooden bicycle

They don't make these yet, their still being tested. But my god they're beautiful...

Have some company (Renovo Hardwood Bicycles), blurb:

• Hardwood delivers a magically smooth ride thanks to wood’s unique ability to dampen vibration. You feel it immediately.
• At the same time, the frame is stiff. You may be surprised to learn that weight for weight, wood is as stiff as high-tensile steel.
• So you get crisp, tight handling, great climbing and fast, sure-footed descents coupled with an incredibly smooth ride, because wood doesn’t trade stiffness for smoothness.
• The hardwood frame withstands greater abuse than butted metal or carbon Hardwood has a fatigue life that rivals carbon and is substantially longer than steel or aluminum. It’s an heirloom quality frame, not just another disposable product.
• Oh, and it’s light. A complete bicycle weighs from 16 to 19.5 pounds depending on size, specific wood, and components.
• The Renovo bicycle is environmentally friendly. Wood is sustainable and we finish it with environmentally responsible coatings.
• And finally, wood is warm, beautiful, complex, deep and sensual in ways that man-made materials can never match.

No details on cost yet, but I'm already pricing my kidneys in anticipation.

Specialized Roubaix for Shearer and Chiles

Whilst we're sure that you know by now of the Sport Relief event that Alan Shearer and Adrian Chiles are doing, we just got a press release from Specialized detailing what bikes they're going to be doing it on.
The jammy pair are riding Specialized Roubaix Experts on their 335 mile journey. Anyone familiar with the Roubaix Expert will know that their journey suddenly seems a lot less arduous. It's one of the very best endurance roads bicycles available.

They'll also have a great selection of Specialized 2008 accessories like Uracco glasses, 2D helmets and Equinox gloves to help them.

Still 335 miles in a day is a very impressive effort for two rookies, especially when you consider the furthest distance travelled in a day on the Tour de France is 149 miles.

Cycle to work

Our boss is constantly on the move. His frequent long distance commutes make a car a necessity most of the time. But he still manages to cycle to work when other commitments don't tie him down. And when it's not raining. Or predicted to rain. Or if he gets a 'bad feeling' about the weather. But aside from commitments, the weather, ill potents, the weather last week and needing a safer method of transporting his £20,000 iBook he does cycle to work pretty regularly.

I'll shut up now (I like my job), and relate in his words why his cycle to work this morning both rocked and sucked:

What rocked about my cycle to work this morning:
Beating the commuting traffic,
beautiful fresh air,
feeling alive at your desk (Ed: that must have worn off by the time I saw him).

What sucked:
Forgetting my beanie and getting chilled ears,
stopping at work and not getting 20 miles in.

I love my car but I know my Specialized Rockhopper is faster, more economical and a damn site more enjoyable.

Commençal Meta 5.5 XT at next test day

The good people at Commençal have given in to some heavy duty pestering and let us have two of their Meta 5.5's at our next test day. They will only be available for the next test day in Cwm Carn on the 16th March. You want to test the Commençal Meta 5.5 XT? The bike that some people consider to be one of the best 5 inch travel full suspension trail bikes around?

Better phone us quickly on 01792 702555 before our two Metas get booked out for the duration.

If you can't make Cwm Carn on the 16th March, you'll miss the Commençals, but as our test bike day website attests, there's plenty more bikes and plenty more test dates still to come.

Bike routes on Google maps

There's a gathering movement of Google botherers, trying to get the company to include a 'Bike there' function on their hugely popular maps feature.

I cycle to work and I'm still not sure I cycle the best way. I avoid the 'as the crow flies' route because of the amount of schools that way (schools= school kids running in front of bike, school kids throwing stuff and shouting at ridiculous looking cyclist and SUV's blocking out the sun). The bike path that covers some of the route is littered with glass and is freeeezing in winter as it's right next to the river, whilst the route I take is probably the most traffic heavy.

I would love to have choice without having to find out the hard way. I'm sure many riders would feel more confident in their daily cycle commute if they could pre-plan the route to avoid the worst of the traffic.

There's a Facebook group kicking around somewhere and a direct petition here.
 

SRAM components

There's a good article on the Business Week website about bicycle component manufacturers SRAM. It has some interesting comparisons between Campagnolo - the 'Ferrari' of the bike component world, Shimano - the 'Lexus' and SRAM - the 'Porsche'.
Best of all you get a glimpse behind the scenes of life working at SRAM, where most of the employers cycle to work, the manager works in the middle of an open plan office and there's a beer machine, where stressed employees can help themselves to a cold one after five.

You reading boss?