Ride...

Its been a pleasant long easter weekend, and here in London we have been blessed with an abundance of sunshine and unusually warm Spring weather.

Long weekend's and bank holiday weekend's seem to involve lots and lots of drinking but being not much of a big drinker myself its nice to find other way's to enjoy your free time. Albert has drawn me closer to the roots of my original love for the bicycle, just riding for the sake of riding your bicycle, no destination, time, just the sheer joy of riding. No need to strap on a helmet, don the high viz vest, just a spare inner tube, a portable pump, a multi-tool and some tyre levers, simple!

Albert's seems to be happy with short to medium trips, anything longer than 10 mile trips and he starts to make peculiar noises. With the help of some lighter alloy rims for bmx bicycles he wont be complaining.

Im planning a ride through London's canals and waterways this week, from the Limehouse basin all the way North and North-west to Little Venice via - Mile End, Victoria Park, Hackney, De Beauvoir Town, Angel, Camden and then through Regents Park through to Little Venice. Anyone care to join me?

Introducing my 1977 Raleigh Stowaway

Here it is in all its glory:



Been riding the wee bike for a week or so now, and have to say very happy with it. As far as I know its 100% original, all I've done is taken off the loud stickers to minimalise its appearence and reduce the likelihood of turning heads and bike thieves attention.

Picked it up from Steve in Peterborough, a humble chap who spends his time circling the country looking for sturdy reliable bicycle transport which deserve a new lease of life, gives them a service, tightens the bolts, and sells them on ebay. This particular English classic cost me 75 pounds sterling plus a 24 pounds return fare from London Kings Cross to Peterborough to collect it. So for under one hundred pounds Ive got myself a wee gem I gather, which should get me around London on 10 mile trips maybe a bit more nice and comfortably thanks to its smooth running Sturmer Archer 3 speed gear. Spend most my time cruising in 2 gear which is spinnier than my previous fixed gear, gear of choice but more appropriate than the pretty tough top third gear, which I use in emergencies. The lowest gear im sure will rarely be required.

I can strap on a shopping basket on the rear rack when im off for grocery's or strap on my satchel when im off to college. It maybe small but thanks to its heavy steel frame can carry a fair load comfortably.

Im planning on keeping it fairly original, the late Sheldon Brown (my inspiration) pimped up numerous twenty's predominently into fixed gears. Im tempted but for now im enjoying the free-wheel and coasting thank you.

Id like to change the wheels to bmx alloy rims which will be much lighter and upgrade the braking set-up to somethin' more efficient and modern, but in the meantime Im enjoying the ride.

The recent Action for Happiness is providing us with several ideas and tips towards how to live a happier and more meaningful life, one of the things we are reminded is how materialism will not boast our happiness? I disagree in some respect, bicycles can make us happier and make our lives more meaningful.

My Raleigh Twenty has made me happier...