New

Wow, its been ages.  New job is very great.  Steep learning curve, as expected, and no hiding among the team for a few months, either.  There is no team - so straight in at the deep end.

Been getting in to fine tea and learning to make coffee properly.  Milk is now used only on cereal and in white sauce for pasta.  More beverages, later.

New commute to work is practically a freewheel on the way in, and a steep sprint on the way home.  Met some great people recently.  People in to bikes, food, tea and coffee.  Going to pitch our tea to Lookmumnohands in a few weeks.  Shame the Tour has already finished.  But what a Tour?  Andy, you were robbed last year - but this year we saw some pretty poor character.  Nice one Evans.  Shame Wiggins crashed out.  I was hoping for a repeat of the '09 race, when it was like the Cav and Wig show.  Mr Thomas looks good for the future - but stay on the track for 2012, that's my advice.

New favourite teas:  Pouchong, Mi Lan Dan Cong, Roasted Long Juan Tie Guan Yin, Raw Puerh.
Still digging mint, too.

One day I'm going to learn to manual like a 4xer.  In the mean time I better learn to jump.

More Mountain Biking Videos
Video lifted from Hard Tail Nation.

Receipt Racer

receipt racer from d_effekt on Vimeo.

As found on Today and Tomorrow. Thanks to Boneshaker for the link.

Donhou at Bespoked

Short video showing the Donhou stand at Bespoked.

Donhou Bicycles - Bespoked Bristol from Dominic Yard on Vimeo.

More from Bespoked

I bumped in to a great project a few months back called The Bicycle Academy.  I read the blog and couldn't quite believe what I had stumbled upon.  Brian Curtis teaches you to braze bike frames, and in the process you donate the frame you build to those that need it.  The best Curtis frames are made from T45 tubing - which is used for making really high performance things in the Aerospace industry, and...lets save all that for another day - or maybe just have a look yourself?

No need to file

So, on Sunday, I met Andrew, who started the project.  I shook his hand and demanded that I be near the top of the list and pledged to give a donation.  This is the thing that I am most definitely going to do, and this here Blog is going to be the thing that makes sure I do it.

One builder I spoke to on the day said that he went to a course run by Dave Yates, and has been building hobby frames for mates for a few years.  He's now taking orders from real customers.

Kajak Custom showed this around-the-world-trip mountain bike.  Designed for Rohlhoff and gigantic mud tyres.

Titanium Burls - with gussets and bulging down tube.

Pipe bender at Downland Cycles

The Bicycle Academy - Coming soon from Facade on Vimeo.

 

More again, later in the week.

Sunday at Bespoked

Today I went to the Bespoked Bike show at the Paintworks, in Bristol.


Lee Cooper had some lovely Sturmey Archer 3sp Fixed-mobiles, with handmade wooden mud guards.

I chatted to Mr Paper Bicycle about his ingenious design.  Forgoing traditional chain stays in favour of a massively robust chain protector, and at the same time making a strong step through, for the Post Office.

Fresh Tripe had their bike parts on Butchers trays.

The Donhou stand was simply gorgeous.  I was quite surprised by the paint finish on one brand that I was looking forward to seeing, but Donhou surpassed themselves.  The scriptive logo on this frame is embossed under a few layers of clear coat.

I snapped this Paulus Quiros towards the end of my visit.  Wonderfully understated - especially compared to the Titanium mountain bikes on the stand next door.

Lots lots more to show and tell, later.