Found a Frame!

Anybody that's read one of my previous post will know that I'm on a quest to build a classic racing bike using only the money we can generate by selling things. We had found a classic Raleigh frame, even built in Nottingham. But alas, the frame was far to big, even for a growing lad like me.

So, the search continued, with one hundred and ten pounds in our fund from sales we looked all over eBay. But there was no need, as a friend of my dads from the cycling club had a frame for sale. However, it wasn't a classic, but a more modern, Trek aluminium frame with carbon forks. By this time we had worked out that a classic frame would be much harder to build, as finding a frame in good condition and the right sized was proving difficult.

This frame wasn't going for free unfortunately, so we were told to make a sensible offer. We decided on eighty pounds. A few minutes later and the frame was ours. Woo! We had the basis of our bike. On closer inspection the frame had clearly been used as more of a winter training bike. Not that we really minded, as we were intending to be able to use this bike on rough roads and out to places were I would want to leave my 'summer bike' outside.

 

Lincoln Grand Prix 2013

Every year for the last couple of years we have visited Lincoln to watch the Cycling Race hosted there. We left later than before as we knew that there was no point seeing the start, as we would be hanging around for ages to see the finish.

We arrived at the course as the riders were on there second or fourth lap, and managed to park fairly close. After a wander up the hill we stopped a couple of different spots to watch them pass. By this time two groups had formed, with a significant gap between them.

We soon came across a little shop selling vintage clothing and, strangely, classic bikes. They looked pretty cool but we couldn't buy one, so me and dad had an idea. We could build one ourselves!

After a couple more minutes and it had started to rain. We trudged further up the hill to a cafe in the cellar of a tea and coffee shop. They sold nothing more than tea and coffee, juice, scones and cake. It wasn't brilliant but according to mum and dad it was a very fine coffee.

Refreshments over we continued on to the finish, with Tudor building and stuff either side. There were a few food stalls serving cake and fancy weird burgers. On the other side of the track stalls selling bike parts and advertising things had been set up.

The rain had begun to get a lot heavier now and we were getting a little bit cold. many of the riders had dropped out due to the weather. We watched the remaining few finish their last few laps and cheered them as the zoomed past the finish, before walking back through the rain to our car.

Bike Build

To fund our build we listed ten of our classic Scalextric cars on eBay. For that week we scoured eBay and the rest of the Internet and posted on the Beeston CC forums. Towards the end of the week we had found a classic frame from a member of the club, and for what price I here you ask? Nothing. Brilliant we thought, a sixty-four centimetre black Raleigh Sprint Record. Sixty-four centimetres seemed quite large, but 'I'm sure it'll be fine' we thought.

It was until we picked the frame up that we saw how huge it actually was. The frame wasn't in to bad a condition apart from the the small patches of peeling paint. That and the fact that all the paint had been corroded off the back forks from something-hydroxide. Even after a good clean it came out no better.

I was slightly disappointed but we got it for free so there was no loss. A couple of days later the eBay listing for our Scalextric cars, had finished. Eight out of ten cars had been sold, making a total of one hundred and ten pounds. The search for a suitable frame continues.

Dad's Injury

On our holiday to France, that you may have read about in the previous post, we took our bikes. Cycling in France is amazing, I suggest you all do it at least once in a lifetime. All through the holiday it was great, for every one but my dad, that is. About a week and a half through the holiday, my dad fell off. He had gone out on ride in the Sion sur L'Ocean direction while we were at the beach. After a few our at the beach we returned to our 'hut'. About twenty minutes later, my dad returned. The first thing he said to us as he stood at the steps to our decking was, 'Please don't be angry, it was only a little scrape.' See what you think.

Disgusting, Isn't It?

       He had picked up a puncture or dodgy valve while riding and as he leaned into a sharp corner on the dusty cycle paths he had lost all grip, causing him to collapsed in a heap as he slid to a halt, still attached to his bike. He had torn all the skin of his arm, leaving a bloody, raw patch of flesh revealed beneath. He had also torn the skin of his knee, which later formed a chunky scab.
       We gave it a clean and bandaged it up with the first aid kit we'd brought with us. From then on Dad wasn't allowed in the sea with us, which for him was probably a plus. The next day we had to change the bandage , although when we had but the bandage on the wound was still wet and raw, leaking with plasma, which meant when dried the bandage had form part of the scab. Because of this we couldn't just rip the bandage off (can you imagine that? Ow!) , we had to soak it in the sink for about five minutes, as if you were soaking a stamp off an envelope. We continued to do this every day until we ran out of medical supplies.
       We were, however, planning to go back to Saint Gilles Croix du Vie to buy some presents for family and for our last meal of the holiday. They had a couple of pharmacies in Saint Gilles. The first one we went into was in the centre of town and didn't have quit what we wanted, it had allot of natural cosmetics, botanical stuff and tubigrips, you know, the general. The one thing I had started to notice was that they didn't sell medicine items like stretch bandage on the shelves, you had to ask for it at the counter. A bit further out of town, across the river, we came across another pharmacy with a bit more of what we wanted. As we walked in the first thing we saw was a stall with various first aid items, and a 'bobo box'. The deal was, if you buy four items you get the bobo box free.

Epic!

     
      So we did. But what Dad really wanted was a sort of elasticated nett tube thing, to keep your bandage on. Apparently, they use them in the Tour de France. We had to use hand signals to get what we wanted at the counter as the man spoke no English, but we got what we wanted. And if you see my Dads arm now, it's completely healed.

Sorry!

Hey, sorry I haven't been posting for a while, it's not that I haven't been on any rides, it's just that I've been completely forgetting. But I will give you a rough idea of what I've been getting up to.
    In the summer holidays I've been going the usual BCC intro and family rides, nothing too wondrous happened. We went to France! Woo! We drove down to Portsmouth with our luggage in the boot and four bikes on the back. The ferry was only about three hours, so that wasn't the worst bit. We Got off in Cherbourg and we were staying in the Vendée, so as you can imagine, it was along drive, about five or six hours with time for only one stop. I think, that apart from the weather, beaches, food and people, that cycling is the best thing about France. We were able to do our food shopping on our bikes, cycle to the beach. cycle to a café or restaurant. Quite a few times we would ride our bikes to the nearest town, Sion sur l'océan, and from there to the larger town of Saint Giles Criox de vie.
    As you probably know, France loves cycling. And there were many examples of this. Every road had either a lane for cycling along side it or a path for pedestrians and cyclists. One the most extreme cycle paths was in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, where there was the road, parking, a path for cyclists, and cyclists only, and another path for pedestrians.
    Over all, one of the best holidays I think I've ever been on.

Sunday 25th March Beeston Family Ride

This was one of the usual family rides in the calendar, along with the introductory rides and social rides. I was riding my brand-new mountain bike which was given to me at Christmas, and it was perfect for the kind of terrain we were on. The route was taking us along the river Trent and to Holme Pierrepont. Everyone met outside Argos as usual and to my amazement twenty-three people and a dog turned up for the ride, a new club record! It included about eight kids and a load of adults as well as Hervé (aka Frenchie) and his daughter Gabrielle. We rode along a bit of the canal and through the nature reserve until we got to the embankment. At the embankment there were various stalls being set up for the Sport Relief Mile which was taking place later on in the day. As we continued beside the river and which was now running along side loads of disused factories, which was kind of spooky, and the super-expensive riverside penthouse apartments, the sort of place where everyone owned Ferraris. On our other side there was about thirty rugby matches going on in a massive playing field. 

Group photo on the steps

    When we did eventually get to Holme Pierrepont it took us ages to find a place to get some food and drink, as there wasn't an event on so non of the kiosks were open. We eventually found a cool little canoeing and kayaking shop which sold hot and cold drinks and some cake. Despite the lovely sun, my mum was freezing and got so cold she had to borrow a fleece body warmer off some twelve year-old to keep warm. We grouped together on the steps of the shop for a photo and shortly afterwards set off for the journey home. As we were riding back along the river we saw  a helicopter at the same place as the penthouse apartments but on the side of the river that we were on with its blades spinning, sitting not that far from the path. We stopped to watch it take off and the pilot waved to us all as it left. We carried on until we stopped at the embankment where instead of crossing over the bridge like last time we stopped to let everyone catch up and watch the hundreds of thousands of people doing the Sport Relief Mile. 
    At this point we all decided that when we got back to Beeston we would stop at The Crown Inn for a drink and some snacks. After a good chat we rode home through Beeston, completing our eighteen mile long bike ride. The next Beeston CC ride I'm due to go is on the 22nd of April, six days after my birthday, so keep checking my blog to see what I've been up to.

Sunday 26th Feb - Elvaston Castle

Group photo at Elvaston Castle

We set off at half eight in the morning and headed for Argos in Beeston, but my Dad decided t speed off ahead to make sure he got there first, as he was leading it. By the time time we set off, we were in a huge bunch of 17 people! The weather was brilliant, I felt as if I was gliding along, which I suppose I was, because that's what happens when your in a bunch. I was at the front for most of the time, just inches from my Dads back whell and getting a little tow, while listening to the various conversations my Dad was having with his mates. We did get beeped by some stupid driver, but life's full of idiots, so I ignored it. We took a left turn just before the main carpark entrance for Elvaston Castle and sneaked past a gate and up a small road. It brought us out right outside Elvaston Castle, but we did have to ride up a small, cobbled incline which was not fun. We lade all seventeen of our bikes against a wall and piled into the cafe to by various food and drink. After refuelling we gathered in front of the clock tower for a group photo. The way back was shorter, only eight miles, and we were near home in no time at all. People started peeling off to get home, and me and my Mum stopped at our house while my Dad went back to Argos to finish the ride. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next club ride I go on. We only did twenty miles but it was just what I wanted.

Friday 10th Feb - Wilne Loop

I've done this loop before with my dad when I first started getting into cycling. Check my photos page to see. It's not very long just 8 miles or so, but I wanted to get out on I as I hadn't been out for weeks, plus my Dad was taking it easy for his 'Leg Breaker', as it was officially called, on Sunday. The weather was sunny and I was feeling well up for it, but it was a bit chilly so I put my thermal leggings on. It wasn't a particularly eventful ride, through Long Eaton, along Wilne Road, past the explosives factory, back through Long Eaton and home. We had to do a few adjustments to my bike as I had grown a bit since my last ride on my road bike. Overall, a fairly satisfying ride.

Just a Quickie

Sunday the 5th of Feb, and it was just a short ride to my great grandmas and my grandmas with my Mum and brother. We set off towards Beeston, up Cator Lane, past Morleys and up a little alley I discovered with my mates. It brought us out by a load of big fancy houses, and we went down down another little alley bringing us right outside my great grandmas. We did the usual, say hello, listen to stories, eat smarties and go. We then rode over the fields and down a huge bumpy hill which was fine for my new mountain bike, although I did get caked in mud, which was great fun. We only managed about 5 or 6 miles, but it was a good ride.

Ride to School

As you might know by reading the About Me page, I ride my old little racing bike to school. And in the past half term of riding to school, I've managed to rack up 25 miles just riding to school! That's only 1 mile a day, but it all counts.

Erewash Trail

Half way stop to eat our cereal bars

On Sunday the 1st of January me and my family decided to go on ride around one of the nearby cycle trails, the Erewash Trail. This was also a good ride to test out my new mountain bike. The full trail was thirty miles, but as we had my younger brother with us we decided to about fifteen mile, taking one of the designated shortcuts located along the trail. The first couple of miles were on the road, and then we switched to the dirt paths. Most of the red was alongside the canal, which meant it would be fairly flat. The ground was quite wet, although the canal towpath ad been recently improved by concreting it and the poking lots of tiny pebbles into it, which made it a mud part the trail. Although, unfortunately, there was one area on the trail which went under the M1, and had huge muddy squelchy hill on the other side, and my chunky tyres lost all grip, meaning I had to walk to through the mud to the top of the hill. To get back home we had to leave the trail and ride alongside Toton sidings. By this time it had started to rain, but to get to where we wanted to be we needed to face a colossal, muddy covered in slippery muddy clay hill. Once again, my tyres started spinning meaning another walk up a muddy hill. I stood at the top, hoping that my Mum, who was following in her cyclocross bike, would topple into the wet mud. But alas, she did not. The rest of the ride was down hill and wet, much like the weather, with a coffee stop at my Grandmas house. It was a great ride, despite the weather, and my bike performed beautifully.

New Bike

Guess what everyone! For Christmas I got a new bike, this time it's a mountain bike so that I have I suitable bike to ride when I go on rides with my mates or my family. It's a RockRider, not sure which model, but it's got an aluminium frame and some nice front suspension. Plus, it's got twenty-one good quality Shimano gears, and RevoShift. I've already tried it out on Boxing day around the nature reserve near where I live and it performs beautifully. I'll keep you up to date with all my rides, so don't go away!

Sunday 18th December – Mince Pie Run

Just about to tuck into a lovely mince pie!

Last year my Dad did the Mince Pie Run, which is a ride from wherever you live to a village hall in Belton, where they have food, drink and a raffle with prizes donated by Halfords and cycling shops. My Dad mentioned that he was going to do it again this year, so I decided to do it with him. From where we live it was a thirty mile ride, fifteen miles there, fifteen mile back, my longest ride yet, but had a few big hills, including the dreaded Whatton Hill. It was absolutely freezing when we set off and I had to put on all my winter gear to keep warm. We kept a good pace of about thirteen fourteen miles an hour, until the last few miles after Whatton Hill. I refuelled with cake, a mince pie and some coffee as they had run out sandwiches. The way back was a lot easier, as I was able to freewheel down all the huge hills I had had to pedal up earlier. A great ride and I’m looking forward to the next one next year.

My CycloCross – Osmaston Park

 The 27th of November was my third CycloCross yet. It just happened to be my Dads birthday as well, so my Grandma and Granddad had come down to watch. The course looked fantastic, with many straights and twisty bits, the only bad bit being the biggest straight, which happened to be up hill. Despite the strong wind, the weather was perfect, although we wrapped up well to keep the wind out. I got off to a good start, but unfortunately today all the other competitors were much better than me, and despite having a lot of my family watching, I finished last. Not quite the high standards I had set my self in my two other race’s, but I enjoyed it and I’ll be able to come back in the new year with a fresh set of legs. Not literally, of course.

CycloCross - Sinfin Moor Park

Standing with my brother holding my medal

On the 12th of November it was my second CycloCross, and just like last time the grass was soaking. It was made even worse by the fact that it was long grass as well, except this time it didn't dry up. This was a real problem, as the combination of wet and long grass meant I would have to pedal twice as hard. As I started my race, I got just behind the leader and kept it for a while, until one of the other competitors just manages to squeeze past me. I thought 'Never in a million years' and at the first chance I had I sped past him in a blur. I finished with achy legs and covered in sweat. We waited for the presentations, and my name got called out again! Although this time it was only a third place, but you know what they say, room for improvement!