About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Bike Radar Live

What an awesome weekend for cyclists. As well as the Big Welsh Weekend on our doorstop we're also getting more and more excited about the upcoming Bike Radar live event being held at Donnington Park.

Admitedly, we can get excited about the lamest of things; the latest glove technology, new developments in gear cables etc, but for once this is something that normal people could get a bit excited about as well.

Bike radar promises to be the biggest “festival of cycling” the UK has experienced; and about time we say. It’s shaping up to be a weekend of demo’s, expo’s, racing across all disciplines, partying (we’ll be in bed early, of course!) and generally celebrating all aspects of pedalling.

We're trying not to get carried away, but the US has the ‘Sea Otter Classic’ which is one of THE biggest events on the world cycling calendar and (I hope I’m not proved wrong) we get the feeling that the hope is that Bike Radar Live becomes the UK equivalent.

Whatever it turns out to be, a few of us (those who aren't keeping it local) will be there, running around like kids in a candy store. Hopefully see you there!

Anti bling?

Top marks to Dominic Wilcox for thinking outside the box. He's come up with one of the more novel cycle security solutions ever seen; stick on scratches!
 
The theory goes that passing thieves will think your bike is scratched and old and therefore not worth thieving. Nice idea, but in my experiences bike thieves are just too thick. If it isn't nailed down, they'll pinch it, regardless of value, model or condition. They'll only flog it in the pub for £20 anyway.

But perhaps I'm too cynical and maybe this realy is a good idea, whatever the case, it'll never be a substitute for a good lock. Still, ten out of ten for originality.

Fresh from the World Cup...

Jody just got in touch with us following his successful Paralympic World Cup. As always we're sharing it with you, as always it's well worth the read:

Hi Guys,

I saw you put a few bits up on the site about the world cup, but thought I'd let you know how it went from inside the track centre!

Big Welsh Weekend

One of the biggest mountain bike events in the UK is happening right on our doorstep on the weekend of May 30-31st.

The Big Welsh Weekend takes place once again in the stunning Margam Park, literally over the hill from the Afan valley.

This great location will host round 3 of the national XC race series and the British Marathon championships (100km!).
 
As well as the serious business of racing there will be a whole host of events including ‘led’ rides, under 12s races, good food, parties etc. In fact everything the whole family will need to enjoy a cracking celebration of all things fat tyred.

Add into the mix, the events proximity to the Afan and Glyncorwg riding centres and there is no excuse for any serious trail riding fan not to be there.

If that gets a bit much, you could always pop to Swansea (30mins) and visit the poor unfortunate staff in our shop who will be tirelessly serving yourselves instead of enjoying the sun (fingers crossed) and fun at Margam.

Hopefully we’ll see you there.

Paralympic World Cup

The Paralympic World Cup has gone very well for the Track team. Including, it almost goes with out saying, Mr Cundy:

"I've won every cycling race I've competed in at the Paralympic World Cup so it has been a good event for me".

A born winner. Congratulations mate (you must be getting sick of us saying that!).

2012 watch out. 

Fancy a ride in Cwmcarn?

Our first jolly to Cwmcarn with our fleet of test bikes is taking place this weekend.

We promise a great range of full suspension bikes and an awesome place to ride them. It even looks as if the weather is going to pretty good this bank holiday weekend too.

Interested? Get in touch with our Swansea store (01792 702555) and book the bike that most interests you. You could always just turn up on the day (check our bike demo day site to check what you'd need to take), but you might be disappointed if you wanted a specific bike.

And finally plllllease don't break the Stumpy. I want to borrow it next weekend.

Shiniest bike bling yet!

We always enjoy having shiny new products turn up on our desks but rarely are said items quite this shiny.

We’ve long been a big fan of El Gallo products. Plenty tough enough, without being too weighty and just different enough to stand out from the crowd. Their new stuff more so than other.

Anyway, their new kit comes in the usual colourways of red and black but also, and more interestingly they come in a stunning polished finish.

Our favourite is this ‘ CG’ stem. The CG stands for none other than Cedric Gracia. The 'look at me' finish suits Garcia down to the ground. 

This is one lovely piece of kit. Remarkably light,  it feels bombproof and the quality of finish is simply stunning.

If you are in the market for a new stem, fancy something a bit out of the usual, AND want to be able to see your face in it, look no further.

We’ll be getting these up on the site as soon as possible.

A clean bike = happy riding!

All round nice guy and mountain biking legend, Nick Craig has just paid us a visit.

Nothing too important, just a cup of tea (our coffee machine is rubbish, sorry Nick) and a chat, keep us up to date with what’s new and exciting from Scott (everything, obviously) and probably just because he’s nice like that.

Anyway, as ever He’s been busy having followed consecutive fell running races on Friday and Saturday with competing in the Merida marathon in Crickhowell, a mere 100km slog in horrendous weather. It didn’t surprise me that he looked so fresh and neither did it that his Genius was spotless. But it’s this that should be a lesson to us all; how to care for your bike.

Far too many of us would have left our bike in a shocking state, caked on mud and rapidly seizing cables. Nicks ride was spotless, smooth running and ready to ride. And before you whine about how he’s probably got a personal mechanic, or full factory support, he hasn’t, he just rides a lot and knows that a clean bike is a happy bike and a happy bike equals happy riding.

Simple really. Keep your bike clean, and it’ll work better, for longer.

Jody Cundy back in action

174 Bejing Paralympians are confirmed for the Paralympic world cup taking place from the 20th - 25th May in Manchester.

Masses of events from various categories will be taking place, but the best action will be taking place (as always) at the velodrome.

Not least because adopted local boy and multiple Gold medallist Jody Cundy MBE will be there, beginning his route to 2012. We've no doubt he'll be proving once again he is one of the fastest men in the world on the track.

The track racing kicks off tomorrow and runs till Friday, featuring Sprinting, Pursuit and some Kilo action. The action will be fierce and simply awesome to watch.

We expect great things from Jody. It's his fault for continually pushing back the boundaries of his sport with world record after world record. He is, quite simply, one of our hero's.

We will of course keep you up to date with his performances.

Go Steve!

Steve Peat is the venerable statesman of downhill racing. One of the most successful and perhaps more importantly, popular racers of all time. He is a big reason that the UK is so successful in downhill racing and has mentored many of the new breed of UK racers. At 35 he is now one of the oldest racers on the circuit and whilst being far from written off, it was felt that it was time for the likes of Gee Atherton and Brendan Fairclough to take over the reigns. 

 
Anyway, after recently becoming a father for the second time, Steve is obviously as hungry as ever for competition and has taken back-to-back wins in the last 2 rounds of the 2009 UCI Downhill World cup.
We just want to add our congratulations, go Steve, a 2009 overall title? Wouldn't put it past him.