I got some new bartape for my singlespeed, white but with light blue bottom layer that shows through a pattern of holes. (Haven't put it on yet for a photo!)

All road bikes here, a Defy that lives in the back bedroom on the turbo, a Panorama that is used for winter/ commuting and the occaisional road trip and a Rose that is a lightweight climbing machine (even if the engine doesn't work quite so well). Usually cycling aound the three peaks area but enjoy the odd foray abroad to sample the classics.

I've just got a Jamis BosaNova 2015 model touring bike to replace a shag out old bike. A lovely bit of kit.

But as a word of warning, got my Jamis from Evans Cycles at Gatwick with a free 6 week health check.

So phoned up today to book said check up and was told " just drop it around mate and will look at it some time this week" a WEEK to service a bike is taking the p##s

My Octavia only takes 2-3 hrs so staying away from that bunch of monkeys.

I've just got a Jamis BosaNova 2015 model touring bike to replace a shag out old bike. A lovely bit of kit.

But as a word of warning, got my Jamis from Evans Cycles at Gatwick with a free 6 week health check.

So phoned up today to book said check up and was told " just drop it around mate and will look at it some time this week" a WEEK to service a bike is taking the p##s

My Octavia only takes 2-3 hrs so staying away from that bunch of monkeys.

Well, thats not exactly what he said, is it? Presumably they don't have a booking system like a garage will do, so they can't guarantee a slot, just that they will get it done, and presumably they are fairly busy. Not that that's in any way indicative of their competence - I'd never take my bike to evans/halfords to have work done. In fact I wouldn't take it anywhere to have anything done unless it was something I didn't have the specialist tools for. Compared to a car, bikes are such simple machines, seems crazy to me that some people even bother paying a shop to do some things.

OK shot down in flames. But still if you phone up a company as big as Evans Cycles you expect to get a competent person at the other end and book a slot as the 6 week service is in the deal when you buy a new toy, yes or yes ?

I've bought several bikes from Evans, I've never booked an appointment for a 6week check, I've always had to drop it off and collect it a few days later.  it is my understanding that they slot the 6week checks in around their scheduled work load. 

 

Its not uncommon and Evans aren't the only company that do this.

Anybody got any pictures of how they store their bikes their sheds/garages? Looking at just storing mine vertically, for a "quick getaway" but it takes up a fair bit of room. My dad suggested taking wheels off and turning the bars to run parallel to the frame. Granted it'll save more space, but what a hassle...

Garage: Two large hooks in the joists over to one side. Hang the bike down from them "bat like". Cover the handlebars or carpet the wall to prevent chaffing the bar tape.

OK shot down in flames. But still if you phone up a company as big as Evans Cycles you expect to get a competent person at the other end and book a slot as the 6 week service is in the deal when you buy a new toy, yes or yes ?

Yes and no. That SHOULD be the case, but I don't trust them as far as I can spit. They're pretty well known for their bad service. I'm not saying that that's okay, but don't expect them to be much good. When I took my old bike to Halfords for its 6 week service or whatever it was many years ago, it came back worse than when I left it. Another case for staying loyal to your local independent shop. It's the same argument as Kwik-fit vs your local independent VAG specialist. If you're not too clued up on bike mechanics or just don't have time, it's certainly worth the money taking it to a proper bike shop with someone that knows their stuff. However at busier times, a lot of shops can take a few days to get work done, depending what it is.

Edited 31 December, 201411 yr by samj2013

Yes ok have ordered a 'hopfully' good bike maintenance book and do most of the jobs myself, don't mind a bit of spannering anyway.

Keep my bike in the hall by front door and have 2, only a £ each, tea trays so that the wheels don't mark the floor.

Garage: Two large hooks in the joists over to one side. Hang the bike down from them "bat like". Cover the handlebars or carpet the wall to prevent chaffing the bar tape.

 

Will something like ladder storage hooks be sufficient, or am I needing something more "heavy duty"?

Yes ok have ordered a 'hopfully' good bike maintenance book and do most of the jobs myself, don't mind a bit of spannering anyway.

Keep my bike in the hall by front door and have 2, only a £ each, tea trays so that the wheels don't mark the floor.

It's mostly very easy stuff that you'll have most of the tools for bar a few specialist bits of kit anyway. Give us a shout if you need any tips/tricks. I work in a bike shop so like to think I know what I'm doing

Edited 31 December, 201411 yr by samj2013

My boardman hybrid that I use as a road bike. Had the wheels built with shimano mtb hubs and road rims by CRC and fitted some ritchey comp carbon bar and seatpost.

 

Boardman single speed I built from bits I had lying around.

 

Lynskey mtb. Treated myself to the frame as an early 30th present as I'm expecting my first kid in April. Slowly collecting Shimano XT groupset to upgrade the SRAM it has just now.

Those Lynskey frames are truly stunning

Decided to try and get back into cycling earlier this year after being bent back into the correct shape by the physio. Bought myself a Cube Analog 29er.  Went for a ride this morning, got it a bit mucky:

 

 

So I gave it a clean:

 

Will something like ladder storage hooks be sufficient, or am I needing something more "heavy duty"?

 

These will do it.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/utility-hooks-red-145mm-pack-of-2/82893

 

J.

Or these.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-8-january/product-detail/ps/p/universal-storage-hooks-1/

Looking forward to a bir better weather so i can get beck out on my bike.

Did the bike come with flat bars rather than drop bars or did you fit them yourself?  It's a good looking bike, the black and red is quite striking.

 

I see Planet X/On-One have a pretty strange bike in the form of their Frankenfat - their Fatty fat bike frame with drop handlebars and smaller tyres which I can't quite work out:

 

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBFRKFAT/the-frankenfat-no-ordinary-bike

 

John

Yeah specd with flat bars. I end up with a bad back if im on dropped bars.

That bike is wierd isnt it ha.

Charging up my lights, as long as its not raining its getting a run out.

My specialized mountain bike is on ebay (and clasifieds on here) and looking to buy a bike from Evans when it sells. Hopefully on ride2work and put some money towards for a ~£1500 full suss.

Matt

Is this event of any interest to you???

Saturday 15th November @ 14:00

 

'Fishermans Inn'

Waggon Lane

Bingley

BD16 1TS (for 'Sat-Nag' users)

 

 

 

http://www.bingleyharriers.co.uk/events/harriers-vs-cyclists/

Previous Results;

2007; 82nd/97 @ 54:16 (ride)

2008; 134th/149 @ 54:16 (ride)

2009; 66th/129 @ 48:12 (run)

2010; 63rd/146 @ 47:08 (run)

2011; DNF (branch in eye, so abandoned)

2012; DNS (family matters clashed)

2013; 136th/207 @ 49:44 (run, but, lingering unfitness, from Plantar Fasciitis didn't help!)

 

Well, I went to it, run it (new sections to course, due to liability insurance implications of racing on bridleways

Quite a good turn out, including a few, who appeared (by kit & saddlebags!)  to have just been riding past along the towpath & fancied joining in

it was the usual mad start, with wheels in the face up the hill, then 'calf-deep cow-****' for the next field

We even passed through this lovely bit of ironwork (running towards camera, on the 'out')  http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/563564

 

Some pics; https://plus.google.com/photos/110439573756197443848/albums/6082063865478087537?banner=pwa  (I had race number '1')

 

My eventual placing wasn't that good; 110th/230 @ 50:27

Things went wrong afterwards though

As part of the course was a (for want of a better description) a concrete railway sleeper farm-track), I hammered my heel, & it's not been right since

I've not ran properly (& without pain) since 18th/19th November!!!!

Thankfully I can still ride the bike though

 

Edited 11 January, 201511 yr by Richard A Thackeray

Looks good. A nice amount of CX bikes there

Took part in a mate's gravity enduro/birthday ride on Saturday. Properly fun, and I came 9th of 19, not too shabby!

 

110 out of 230 sounds very good to me but then I'm not very competitive, sorry to hear about the damage to the heel - is it going to take a while to get better?

 

9 out of 19 also sounds good to me!

 

I had a go at the CX race at the weekend, after a lot of callouts at work both early and late over the last few days I was in no fit state for it, the weather was terrible but I thought why not since it's local and rolled up in 4in fat bike amongst the skinny little CX bikes and riders in team colours.  The course was in terrible condition as it had been badly waterlogged the previous few days and my race was the last one so it was well churned up and perfect for the fat bike which just ploughed on through most of the mud. Just getting ready for the Strathpuffer 24 hour MTB now this weekend :S

 

I was going to try three cameras but didn't have time to get the rear one fitted as planned on the seat stays but there was so much mud there it would have been a waste of time, the helmet camera slipped too far forward but worked not badly when embedded within the main one:

 

 

16th out of 17th which I was actually pleased with as my target was just to finish the race so not to get last (I lapped the 17th place rider who had a shiny FS bike, (no mechanical)

 

John

Not my tyres,

but a friend in Norway is putting them on his Commuting bike this morning.