Oct 25
These shots are hottter than a curry chicken roti with pepper sauce and have just arrived from our caribbean correspondent, Rheta B in Barbados.
The 2009 Caribbean Cycling Championship took place today along Spring Garden Highway just outside the capital,Bridgetown. With an early start to avoid the main heat of the day the riders set off.
Rheta B, known to the media in Barbados,was invited to the presenters microphone to tell the audience about bikespotters.com meanwhile the team from Jamaica ( some from Yorkshire in the UK) are all keen to spot their shot on bikespotters.com.
Is it really worth asking the question where would you rather be??.
Excuse me, while I go and cry in the corner.
Oct 17
After discovering the green Army version of the Swedish bike (see last post) came across this specimen near Scotland Yard.
A passing road sweeper told us how he had moved it off the road where it been propped up on its stand in the early hours of the morning and put it against the railings, the lock and chain still furled around the saddle post. Unless the owner returns soon this will probably disappear into the 'abyss of lost bikes'. Seeing the Swedish plate we gave it the 'lift test' !!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Swedish alright and this one is equipped to carry a small person as well as the rider!
Oct 15
On the way to the Cycle Show last weekend came across Paco on his two wheeled tank!. It caught our eye and as it turned out Paco was heading to the Show as well so we rode together, chatting.
We stopped briefly to get a drink and have a closer look at the bike. It looked so solid and when we went to feel how heavy it was. !!!!!!!!!!! No wonder he complained about finding it hard to get up hills and with only 3 gears. It turns out to be a Swedish Army Bike. Probably bomb proof too!
Nice touch here, pump holder tube as part of the back pannier.
Oct 13
Something didn't quite feel right.
It was a pleasant enough day for riding, heading through town to go NW. Checking out routes to be featured on
bikespotters.com. we made our way north. We seemed to be labouring. There were no steep hills or fierce winds to fight, it just felt odd.
A detour sent us through some roadworks and out of habit we stopped to brush off debris from the tyres to reduce the risk of punctures from bits and pieces. You know what ! those tyres needed some air.
We spotted a local bike shop which fortunately was still open but unfortunately had a sign next to the air hose that said, there was a charge!
"We would like to buy some air!" we said loudly. The guy took the point and brought out the foot pump. He read out the pressure capacity with raised eyebrows "120?" he said. " yep, thats the way we like it!" we replied.
Now that was better. Floating over the road surface instead of being sucked into it. Man we were flying!.
Then without warning the road suddenly decayed into what seemed like the remnants of a bombing raid. We were dodging hole after hole , crack after crack and with the fading light it only made matters worse.
Caught in the rush hour traffic (traffic rushing nowhere by the way), we came up alongside a local lycra clad rider, we knew that he was local because he seemed to be picking his way through the craters as if he had been there before, and when we made mention of the state of the roads. He said " You should have seen it before they fixed it!" and we thought South London was bad!.
Note to self:Must remember to check the small print on the insurance policy that North London is not excluded.
Oct 9
The cycle show is on this weekend at Earls Court. Are you going?. Weather forecast not looking too good but hey! It is indoors so protected from the elements. Worth a visit to keep tabs on what is happening in the biking world and how it is developing.
How you getting there?. Bike, bus, train or walking?. Look out for us as we trudge through the streets of London to display ourselves to the masses. No bikes this time as we want ourselves to be able to maybe pick up a bargain and ride it home. Alright folks lets start counting the pennies!
Oct 8
From time to time raise your head, look forward and then look up.
Oct 6
Tom P moves south. Wayne B calls the shots at Uni. Rheta B goes paddling in warm water. Cherise B and crew head up the hill.
Oct 2
Wearing full protective clothing, dare I venture to comment that the plethora of images offered by every Tom,Dick, Harry,Sally ,Mary,Son and Daughter to be displayed for the globe's consumption on Flickr is that of the photographic equivalent of a landfill site!.
Piles of trash mixed in with the odd gem. Life is too short to spend it trawling through the digital wasteland of images that is Flickr.
Come on people!.Slash and burn through the use of an insightful comment and constructive criticism so that the many can think a little before submitting any and everything they happen to have picked up on the sole of their memory card.
Here endeth todays rant.
Oct 2
By the end of september the number of visitors to bikespotters .com has gone up 10 fold.
"We are more than pleased by the increase from a very quiet and humble beginning" says Wayne B of bikespotters.com.
"There is a lot more to come from bikespotters.com as we develop the site and engage with the increasing number of visitors".
Yes this is a promotional message but if you don't blow your trumpet no one else will!.
