20 Feb 2016: The bikes are ready!
Here she is, pretty much ready to go. I’m still messing around with the freewheel, chain and derailleur to get the drivetrain working as smoothly as possible, but I think … Continue reading
Remarkable old blokes #3: Robert Marchand
Frenchman Robert Marchand started cycling in 1925 at age 14, but as an adult, his career (as lumberjack, firefighter and much else) occupied his time until he took up cycling … Continue reading
9 Jan 2016: winter fuel payments
Sorry for the long period of inactivity – I’m back from a long research visit to Melbourne, and have hardly been on a bike for a couple of months now. … Continue reading
Remarkable old blokes #2: Velocio
Paul de Vivie, who used the splendid nom de plume Vélocio, was born in 1853 in the Vaucluse department of south-east France. He was the great pioneer of French club … Continue reading
22 Aug 2015: A mini Tour De France
Just back from a holiday trip to Beaujolais in France – a cautious 900 miles in 22 days – and on a much more modern and comfortable bike than the … Continue reading
Remarkable old blokes: #1 Gustaf Håkansson
This is a tortoise and hare story. In 1951 (the year of my birth), 66-year-old Gustaf Håkansson decided he wanted to enter a Swedish 1,000-mile endurance event. The organisers refused … Continue reading
9 Jul 2015: Injury!
I’ve already identified navigation as one of the biggest potential problems for LEJOG, but I’ve now been reminded of another – injury. I felt absolutely fine immediately after the 116-mile … Continue reading
27 Jun 2015: A century ride
Riding a hundred miles is something that most cyclists want to do at some time. I’ve never gone that far before in a single day’s ride, so it was time … Continue reading
21 Jun 2015: Eroica Britannia!
Went to the Eroica Britannia vintage bike festival. A great occasion, with hundreds of wonderful old bikes on view and some bizarre appearances. My favourite – a Bianchi owner with … Continue reading
14 Jun 2015: The joys of research
I came across some old cycling magazines from the 1940s and 50s and hoped to find some ideas about components for the restoration of my reserve bike: the 1942 Claud … Continue reading
Old Bloke On An Old Bike 