Modern Vespa

Sorry Jim.

Obviously the lifestyle he wanted was available, and he's got it Bill

A little lesson for us all - how many of us are not doing what we really want to be doing, because we're doing something else we think we should be doing, or somehow just ended up doing what we're doing?

*raises paw*

Good golly blimey, something of a change in the weather from yesterday. I was just about to set off for work when it started chucking it down and I had to scramble to get my helmet on.

Actually I quite like the rain - it washes away all the part timers off the roads.

So I don't ride in with lots of mamils or my leathers match my bike fools.

I spent at least 20 minutes of my usual 30 minute journey (=50min) standing under bridges or in bus-stops. I was cycling. Quite a few bikers stopped as well to avoid the pea-sized hailstones. To think it was 34 degrees yesterday

Oh I didn't get any of that, sorry to hear about the hailstones.

I did have a chap on 600cc Honda with an L plate ride behind me on full beam. What an arse.

This thing where you ride a much more powerful bike with an L plate seems very common now, but odd. Basically the L plate doesn't do anything but draw attention to you and the illegality of what you are doing.

Very odd - I've not seen an example of that numptiness yet.

Why on *earth* would you do that?

Hmm... Getting to genie's on Sunday will need some adjustment to my route - road closures due to the cycling event.

Easiest way for you Jim is round the North Circular to me and in the A12 to the Lea Interchange (the one after Green Man), then up Homerton Rd. Takes about ten or fifteen minutes from me. Other option is straight down the A10 to Amhurst Rd at Dalston.

'Mamils' is a new one on me, but it has a nice ring to it - what's it mean then, in case I'd like to add it to my (fairly small) list of riders abuse?!

The Lea interchange looks like the start/finish site both days.

Chiswick bridge is closed, so NC for a while at least...

Middle-aged-men-in-lycra (cyclists). Why oh why do they have to wear racing gear, when all they're doing is commuting to work?

Of course:

Middle Aged Men In Lyrca (normally riding some insanely hard work racing bike)

There was a little pelaton of them down the Walworth Road yesterday - particularly odd because it was so damn hot that cycling wouldn't have been all that pleasant. Today, when it is cooler, absolutely nada.

They never look happy. I blame the saddles myself.

Personally, I think that MAMILs think they look sexy in all that gear. Most of the time though, they don't. It's like the current trend for red trousers.

Confession: I own red corduroy 'jeggings'. I never thought I'd embrace that trend but they are so comfortable.

I actually meant men not women...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23530064

I guess that nowt can make it this weekend (today, actually) to Detroit then?

http://www.examiner.com/article/scooter-rally-preview-motor-city-shakedown-9

I have a feeling it's going to be fantastic (and yes, new tires and a functioning clutch cable on the Rally 180 pictured here in the recent past.)

I saw an asian guy in Kings Cross yesterday wearing a pair with a crisp white shirt, light stone fabric jacket with a subtle red thread in, a boutonniere (small buttonhole flower) and shades, and IMHO he looked awesome. But maybe thats just me.

It's not 'new', just like a lot of fashion, on old trend coming back for another go - red trousers like Nantucket Reds were essential preppy style at the US Ivy League universities of the 50s and 60s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantucket_Reds

Fashion, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I don't own a pair (I know my limitations, which is why I'm not a MAMIL either ) but I figure life's too short for everything to be grey and functional 8)

Interesting article, although I would contend that there's quite a difference (in shade, not in attractiveness: both look stupid) between Hipster Red and Cotswold Red.

Since I spend a lot of time at National Hunt races (where at least 50% of the crowd HAS to wear either red or yellow cords with their loud-check tweed jacket, by law, apparently), and also live near enough to Hipster Red zones, I think I can say that with some authority.

I think Hipster Red has more of a plum about it (in both senses), whereas Cotswold Red is more pheasant-blood.

It's not the lycra, its the gentlemen with a fuller figure wearing lycra that always makes me chuckle.

It's just wrong.

Bill X

What a wonderful day partaking in the Prudential FreeCycle Event in London.
Thousands of cyclists of varying abilities rode a loop of 8 miles from the City to Buckingham Palace with all of the route closed to motorists.
It was a little crowded at times but there were plenty of chances to overtake later in the day as it thinned out.
Sadly a few riders fell in front of us. One poor girl landed face down on the tarmac having been taken out by her riding partner who cut her up without looking behind.
I got called an idiot but an older lady who I had the front to overtake in a corner but hey ho I was in a rush.
I thought I was doing well but Genie can make a Brompton folding bike walk and talk.
A great day out.

Bill X

Lightweights. I ran 8 miles then rode 32 miles on my bike...

And I have to cycle with enough numpties on the London roads to put up with even more of them on a weekend. What is it with all the London riders who never, ever do a shoulder check before changing position?

they were all on the ride today it's a pretty safe bet that all of the accidents we witnessed were caused by exactly this.

i didn't do the ride for exercise, more for the novelty of riding across London with no cars on the roads. it was a bit rammed early in the day but the last loop we did, just before they re-opened the roads to traffic, was lovely

^^^^^
This.

Some old bloke did this the other day and responded to my growling-type (I think chalesm is the master of this) noise by saying "ding, ding". My response is, unfortunately, unrepeatable, but it involved the words arse, bell and shove....

Uhm, didn't you end up in court recently following one of these sort of episodes? Surely you have learnt to keep quiet by now?

Priceless.

Nicely played sir, indeed!

Yep, I just choose whom I respond to now a bit more carefully... or plan B, have a clear exit route planned before said response - a leopard can't change its spots... (PS - I wasn't the one found guilty of common assault )

Congratulations on the new scooter purchase btw!

I did 40 miles on the bike today. Felt fine at the time despite getting soaked, but am a little fatigued now.

The bony bits of my arse are sore. I think I need to buy a new saddle. I'm tempted by a Brooks, but not by the 1000 mile running-in period...

No, no, I represent that!

You know the bulge on the bow of ships that runs just under the surface? That increases the speed!

You have to know that those of us with the proper aerodynamic belly shape are faster.

I'm an OMIL. Old man in Lycra.

Doug, go for one. B17 Titanium. Have three! Best is now 8 yrs old ... as the saying goes "fits like a glove". We're well acquainted! Longest single ride 400 kms no sores, no nothing.

Doug, I know the guy that builds these bikes. He also does several vintage motorcycle rides I go on. Really nice work and a great person as well.

http://www.desalvocycles.com

Nice bikes Patrick.. I'm riding one of these at the moment with a big fat Rohloff in the rear hub

http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/van-nicholas-dutch-bike-redefined.html

Thanks Marty, seriously considering one.

.....into bicycle ownership yesterday. I bought a Claud Butler Odyssey as I've long since come to the conclusion that I'm turning into a fat lazy couch potato that needs to do something to stem the tide ASAP.

I also have a pretty bad case of the couch potato syndrome. A few years ago I bought a nice Gary Fisher mountain bike, but so far it hasn't helped.

My wife keeps hinting that I actually have to ride the bike to achieve the desired health benefits, but I'm not convinced. I'll give it another six months before making up my mind.

Bring it with you Trepp, I could make use of that.

Why don't I do your exercise for you by proxy ?

I won't even invoice you.

Bill X

Just like vespa ownership, it can become quite compelling and expensive once you get over the initial hurdle and start to want more and more.

No pedal-cycles here, but The Shed is finally ready for action: