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Just before Christmas I had my bike stolen. You might remember me waxing lyrical about the wonderful chain wear gauge. Inevitably I had just finished fitting the new cassette, chain and middle chain ring. Of course this means the bike got a thorough clean, and a chance to make good all the little niggles. So it was absolutely perfect, my Trek 5000. And then it was stolen.
So I get to have a brand new shiny bike! Because we buy all our Chain Gang bikes from Trek, I took advantage of their ‘Staff Purchase Scheme’ and traded up to a Madone 5.1.
As Janice might say in the sitcom ‘Friends‘: “Oh. My. God”. I was looking to replace my Trek 5000, which was pretty special. Unfortunately as Pete says, it had “Steal me” written all over it. The guy I spoke to at Trek told me to trust him, take his advice, get the brand new 5.1, even though it was more expensive.
I don’t think it’s any lighter than my old bike - it may even be slightly heavier. But it goes so bloody fast! I don’t know why - I’m not expert enough to understand these bike reviews when they talk about frame stiffness, and the advantages of aluminium, steel or carbon. But is just feels so fabulous to ride.
This week, since Sunday, I’ve had 2 punctures. They’re not exactly the world’s heaviest-duty tyres, but I remember a comment I read by one of the columnists in Cycling Weekly, writing about using puncture-resistant tyres when riding in London. His view was ‘why would you buy a bike designed to go fast, train to ride it fast, and then deliberately fit tyres to slow it down?’ I’m with him.
Tonight was very windy, and pretty cold, but I was able to listen to The News Quiz on my radio while sat in the pitch black and the screaming wind, fixing my puncture. And when it was finished, there it was again. Beautiful. Well, not actually that beautiful, but bloody fantastic, and fast! Have a look.
Trek Madone 5.1 - Bernard's New Bike
January 25th, 2008
12:33 am
Italy
Last weekend I received a real bonus. One of the loveliest ladies we’ve ever had on a Chain Gang holiday was Yoko, from Hiroshima in Japan. She’s ferociously strong on hills - which she denies but which Hanna, Lisa, Gary, Steve, Sandy et al will support me on (I hope).
Anyway, luckily for me her new job means she has to visit all the cities outside Japan where her company, Uniqlo, has stores, which includes London.
Sorry Yoko, but when you email me, that means you get on the blog. Yoko’s second cycling tour with us was in the Dordogne, along with Laurie from New Zealand. Laurie moved back to New Zealand quite some time ago, but before she left the UK she worked for two of my closest friends, Chain Gang veterans from our very first year in 1997, and along with my Mum the only other shareholders in the Chain Gang (until some enormous travel conglomerate buys us all out).
Laurie looked after Cormack (my mate) and Fabian (my Godson), so Yoko knew something about Sean, Suzi, Cormack and Fabian before we went for dinner on Sunday. It was London in January - obviously it rained, it was muddier than hell, but there was a park so we walked in it.
I’m torn about waxing lyrical about the two boys and their brand new little sister Celestine, but they’re not a suitable subject for a cycling blog.
Last year Yoko went on a cycling tour in Tuscany with an American company called Cyclissimo, or something like that. On the night before she left London Yoko met Hanna, his wife Reme, and myself for dinner, and Yoko showed us her itinerary for the following week. (Hanna paid - it’s difficult to pay if Hanna’s around).
I tried to be supportive, and I think I succeeded, because I was determined not to rain on her parade. But a tour of Tuscany that doesn’t visit Siena? And doesn’t cycle through any part of Chianti?!?! Excuse me! Now she’s safely home she can take the truth.
What on earth is the point of travelling half way round the world to cycle in Tuscany if you’re not going to spend time in Siena or Chianti? And not see the frescoes in the Abbey of Monte Oliveto, or the Abbey that Charlemagne built at Saint Antimo. Charlemagne, for God’s sake - you can’t not go!
Since Yoko got back from Tuscany, I’ve hinted at this, but not so blatantly as here. I know Yoko reads the Chain Gang blog so I feel slightly disrespectful, but what on earth do companies think they’re doing if they drag people to Tuscany - but somehow Siena and Chianti aren’t part of the deal?
Anyway, of course it was fantastic to see Yoko as it always is, and I hope she’ll forgive me enough to let me buy her dinner next time she’s in town. Italian, naturally.
