Indian Summer

Today's ride for Day 27 of #30daysofbiking was to the dentist.

Thing is, my dentist is an old friend with a practice 20 miles away in Derby.  Usually I'd allow at least an hour to get there in the morning peak in the car but the 30 days challenge made me think I should give it a go on the bike.  The traffic is usually foul getting in to Derby!

The new bike is lovely.  I think she's quite pretty, in vivid blue as Peugeot would say and made in 1985 'ish.  This would be a good test.

I allowed an hour and a half to get there and pushed pretty hard at the start to make sure I would be on time.  I arrived, after an impromptued tour on Derby City centre, with 7 mins to spare.  Enough time for a coffee with my mate in the dentist's common room before getting down to the scaling and polishing.

The ride back was in the barmy indian summer sun.

Next appointment will be en velo, je pense...

Badger!

I saw a badger! First one ever, except road kill of course.

Dogwalker and fountain Dale ride tonight. Alone with radio 4 stock of podcasts for company. Fast and dry.

Still mourning the passing of Princess the commuter bike

#30daysofbiking Half Way

Spotted this idea on Twitter and thought it sounded like a good challenge.  To do a bike ride every day of September. 

It's my annual Lakes trip at the start of October so riding through September should put a good layer of fitness in for some big lakes rides while I'm away.

Rides have varied from fast night rides with racers, commuting for work, and little tootles to the park and toddler group with the kids.  So far it's all been good and the weather has been kind.

Seen a cracking tractor!

Also built up the Inbred for Lakes holidays in a 69er form.

Rides like a burly bike but a little creaky with a bit of a crack (scratch Kate?) in the seattube - It'll be fine...

Not as fast or fun as the Fixed Scandal though!

Totals this month so far - 231 miles (154 miles on the mtb)

Hoping for 500 miles by the end of the month

69er - Best of both worlds?

I'm always open to trying new stuff on the bike, as long as it works.

I tried Big Al's GF Rig 29er years ago and enjoyed it but couldn't stomach the extra weight when I decided on the Scandal Fixie, so that was a 26er lightweight - 17lbs.

2 years of enjoying the Scandal I thought it was time for a change and a chance tweet secured a front 29er wheel to test from Rich

I run a 420mm pace RC31 rigid carbon fork and the wheel fits in fine

Stem swapped and dropped from my usual high mast position to super low race position to counteract the bigger wheel and it's good to go.

Did 33 miles on it last night and the hand position feels just right.  So far the pros and cons are:

Pros

More stable especially downhill
More momentum - just keeps rolling
More front end grip
Makes you feel like a 24hr racer

Cons

Extra weight - 500gms extra
Slightly slower steering on very low speed stuff
Looks a bit funny

I'll keep riding it as it is then maybe think about lightening the wheel up a bit if I still like it