ASL

…you know ASL, those little boxes at junctions with badly thought out hazardous filter lanes into them which enable cyclists to navigate a junction with “increased safety” by getting ahead of the game?…
Well from what I can see they just show how many drivers of cars, lorries, vans and motorcycles would rather be on a bike, since none of them can resist entering into them, blocking them from their intended purpose.

Now the The Highway Code’s rule on advanced stop lines (Rule 178) says that drivers and motorcyclists

“MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g. if the junction ahead is blocked.”

The Code also says that if a vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, the driver (or motorcyclist) must stop at the second white line, even if their vehicle is in the marked area. The relevant legislation is the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 36 and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 10, 36(1) and 43(2).

So it could be argued that a car in such a position has been caught out by traffic and light changes, and that is fair enough and reasonable… but not in the case of this serial offending White Astra Driver… KY04 TLK

ASL Offender KY04 TLK

ASL Offender KY04 TLK

I reckon the best thing this driver can do is give into the natural urges, dump the car and get on a bike, then she can enjoy using the ASL in the way it was meant to without any guilt! Ah one day all drivers will obey the highway code – you know that thing they constantly accuse cyclists of flouting?

The post The ASL shows how much drivers would rather be on a bike! appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

Due to his age, he was in the mixed u14/u16 race – bit tough when you are only a small 12 year old. I’m not sure who was more worried, him or me, as his fellow competitors towered over him and sported some exotic carbon.

I’m not one to be pushy though, and I just repeated to him to have fun, do his best and enjoy. This he did.

He got dropped early on as they set off at a high initial pace, but he stuck to it and the gap was held throughout the 20 mins plus 1 lap race.

At the end he was still only about 60 yds off the back, and I was dead chuffed for him and proud as anything.

Does he want to go again next week? You bet he does, great stuff

So it would seem that I am destined to spend my Tuesday evenings at the new Odd Down race circuit in Bath, carrying bottles of water and snacks, as he gets to grips with cycling as a competitive sport – no doubt leading to him dropping me on the weekend rides as he develops more speed and stamina.

Will it ever take over from his love of football… not sure about that, as his first comments at the end of the race were getting rested up for football training on Thursday

Crossing his first finish line of many, I’m sure.

The post First Youth Bike Race Day appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

Well they don’t stop growing, do they?!?! My very own young cycling star of the future!

So here we have junior on his new bike, a 48cm Decathlon Triban 3, churning out an hours session on the turbo in the front room. He’s building stamina nicely, and has already completed a couple of 35 mile Sunday rides.

Being lightweight I swear gravity turns a blind eye and he climbs really well – I guess he will only get better and in the future have me chasing his tail!

The bike has had a few initial customisations, white bar tape, his Bontrager white saddle, and now some white SPD-SL pedals. In addition he has added a new Bontrager cycle computer and an Elite bottle cage – white with red highlights as it’s all about looking the part, eh?

Aside from greasing the wheel bearings the bike has been fantastic, although this week I will be swapping the 12-25 rear cassette out for a SRAM 11-28 and adding a SRAM PG-971 chain, this should give him a bail out gear when the legs fade and make everything run smooth as can be.

Sunday rides have taken on a whole new pleasure, and it is fantastic to get out with the group whilst riding with my lad – a very proud dad indeed, and very much looking forward to Sunday, Fathers Day, and his first 40 mile plus ride.

The only bad side to it is riding behind him as he clocks 35mph plus downhill, making me pray to a deity I have no belief in!

The post Future young cycling star? appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

My lad has recently bought himself a new bike, a Decathlon Triban 3. He’s only 12 and not the tallest, but the 48cm frame is spot on, and a smashing bike at a brilliant price point it is too. Certainly £300 well spent. He’s been on the turbo with it a few times, and has been out the last two Sundays with a local group, and his climbing and legs are developing nicely.

Given his love of riding, I decided the time had come to make the switch from flat pedals with little toe clips used with training shoes, to road shoes and pedals for him, and without hesitation I placed an order with Wiggle for some Shimano SPD-SL pedals and DHB road shoes. I’ve ordered a load of stuff from Wiggle over the last 5 to 6 years, and always been perfectly happy with it, plus the DHB kit I  have bought has always been of a good standard and well priced into the bargain.

Well this time things didn’t go quite so well. The kit was ordered at the start of the half term with the idea it gave him plenty of time to practice with a clipless system whilst off school, but firstly Royal Mail tracking reported it was being “returned to sender” due to an unreadable bar code, then Wiggle informed me it was back with them a couple of days later – whilst at the same time it turned up on my doorstep! Well, ok, stuff happens and it arrived at least despite Wiggle not really knowing what was going on.

Unfortunately the shoes were tight (order a size up with DHB shoes), and so I used the return system and sent them back, ordering the next size up for next day delivery so that he would still have time to get used to them before the Sunday outing.

So the next day I set off to work leaving the rest of the family waiting in for the shoes to arrive – I am sure they would rather have been out in the sunshine, but hey ho!

They hadn’t turned up by lunch time, so I checked the tracking which said they hadn’t yet been shipped, and yet Wiggle said they had been – confused.com! A simple phone call would have given the answer, but Wiggle don’t want you to talk to them anymore, instead you can only email, and if you are lucky you get a reply in 48 hours! Customer Service at its worst.

I did manage to call the courier, and they confirmed the package hadn’t been collected as yet, and so despite next day delivery being selected and paid for, I wouldn’t see the shoes until after the weekend – not what I wanted to hear, but honest and truthful, and I appreciate that.

I sent Wiggle an email asking for the surcharge for next day to be refunded, and highlighting the lack of service – to be fair the refund on next day was processed, but here we are 2 days later and I still have no shoes! The tracking says they were signed for by a name that is unknown to us, and a card through the door said “Parcel OUT BACK”, but no parcel could we see.

Two days ago I brought this to the attention of  Wiggle, simply asking them to either refund me or supply the goods as per the order – honestly I’ve had enough of it… they acknowledged the email, but it has been radio silence from them for 24 hours. So as it stands we have no shoes, they have the money and the chances of me shopping with them again have rapidly taken a nose dive!

Indeed I shall be removing the links to them that I carry on the site as a favourite retailer, and I certainly shan’t be recommending them to friends any more – many of the cyclists I ride with have been appalled with the tale.

So, I will give it until this afternoon, and then I will start phoning any number I can find for Wiggle, and one way or another get this farce sorted.

Come on Wiggle, play the game, there is a 12 year old lad waiting on his shoes, it’s only been 10 days, eh!?!?!?!?!?!

rant over

The post Wiggle – what has gone wrong? appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

So out with the workstand, out with the grease and the tools and I set about the task.

I was rather pleased to find it a relatively easy job too, and made sure to give everything a thorough clean whilst I was at it. I also found a very useful video on the web, and it is well worth a watch if you are attempting the removal/service and refit/replacement of a HollowtechII BB.

So, maybe this will prove useful for someone else too… great video!

The post New BB Fitted! appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

I free wheel a while, no noise, spin up and the squeal grind starts up again. Oh dear, it would appear after 3 years of use that Scarlet’s Bottom Bracket is shot… poor girl!

Anyhow, I slowed up and nursed the squealing girl home, considering my options as I went:

1. Take bike to bike shop, get new BB fitted and get the headset bearings done, wheels aligned and a general service
2. Don’t be such a lazy git and do it myself

So I ended up on option 2, and those good folks at Chain Reaction Cycles are now dispatching my nice new Ultegra Hollowtech II BB!
I have the tool for the job, and reckon it will be a simpler task than when I did Betsy’s which is an older style Square Taper job , so watch this space!

In the mean time Scarlet gets to put her ‘feet up’ at home, whilst Betsy will once again commute.

The post There goes the Bottom Bracket! appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

This weekends mini tour to the Isle of Wight randonnee is going to be a soggy one for sure. Thinking of ditching the trunk bag and panniers for a good quality dry sack – a trip to the local camping and outdoor pursuits shop beckons this lunch time.

On a plus side I want to sing the praises of the Endura Equipe Helium Rain jacket! I bought this as a replacement for my Altura Nightvision. The Nightvision is a cracking jacket, but to me it is more suited to the cold as it is quite heavy and has a fleece lined collar – great in the cold but a bit too much when the temps rise.

I had a good scout round when choosing a light weight alternative, and the Endura Equipe Helium was the one that seemed to answer the needs best – lightweight, waterproof, ‘breathable’ (in quotes as I dont believe anything is truely breathable, but I dont end up clammy and sweaty in this jacket), a small packdown size, and most importantly for me – not too expensive!

So whatever the rain this coming bank holiday weekend, I am now feeling fairly confident that my core will stay dry and all I need to do is remember my overshoes!

The post Rain Rain Rain appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

A great little ride, leaving home and cycling to Lymington for the ferry on day 1, with a good meal out and stay at a lovely B&B in Yarmouth that evening.

Up nice and early for breakfast on Sunday morning, and then the main event, the fantastic Isle of Wight Randonee – think this is the third or fourth one I’ve ridden. No doubt it’ll be windy, rainy and grey, but it is great fun – even the south coast hills!

I’ve had the odd misfortune on the Randonee, one year coming off the night before the ride and ending up in A&E in Newport (Isle of Wight) with smashed in face (still handsome ;)) – still completed the ride the next day despite the concussion.

Then two years ago discovering – after a shower on arrival at the B&B, that I had forgotten to put any trousers in my panniers! Our fantastic hosts at the Windrush B&B furnished me with a pair and I was at least able to go out for some food

The mileage is good for three pleasant rides, being approximately 70 miles  day, so time to start praying to the sun gods to return us to the “drought” conditions, else I am going to consider the trip by kayak or ark!

The post Isle of Wight – a mini tour appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

Setting off in the morning with full fingered gloves, skull cap and long sleeves, only to ride home in short sleeves and mitts This has led to a couple of “heavy” return commutes, panniers loaded with the excess clothing on top of the usual day wear. But heck, wouldn’t swap this for the rain!

Gradually the pace is getting better for the 16 mile return leg of the commute, so far the quickest has been a few seconds over 56mins, and given the two long climbs I am pretty pleased with that – I’ll soon be back sub 54 mins that I was at last year.

The added daylight is such a bonus now the clocks have gone forward, and it does help with feeling a little safer, although the rear lights are always on for added visibility.

Enjoy the weather, enjoy the riding!

The post An early Summer… appeared first on Johnny on a bike.

But on a day when two cyclists have died close to home, it made me think that driver and cyclist education must be taken seriously. I know there are bad drivers, and I accept that some folk on bikes are asking for trouble, but there are plenty of times when my safety is placed on the line due to carelessness on the part of the person in the car/van/lorry.

An example from today…

At first the driver of the Hobbs van goes nicely wide around me as he comes off the roundabout… but it doesnt last and as he shuts the door on me I brake quickly to avoid being knocked off.

So was he careless? Distracted on the way home from work on a Friday? On the phone?

Who knows, but Hobbs of Radstock, your driver of van reg VE08 UKC needs to pay a bit of attention around other road users.

The post Closing the door… appeared first on Johnny on a bike.