Spotted in Cov

That'd be cool. This summer I'm gonna try to get some experience in framebuilding (already done a little bit of brazing and welding, not on bikes though). I'll let you know if I can help with making prototype frames.

That'd be cool. This summer I'm gonna try to get some experience in framebuilding (already done a little bit of brazing and welding, not on bikes though). I'll let you know if I can help with making prototype frames.

Maybe give Lee Cooper a shout, see if he's looking for any help in his workshop / could help you learn?

He's based in Marton, just off the cycle route between Leam and Rugby. Not guaranteed to say yes, but you never know....

Yeah that's an idea. The problem is that my girlfriend is from Bournemouth so we always spend summer there. Also I need a job, couldn't afford to do unpaid work... maybe if it was just one day a week it'd be okay.

My plan was to get a few old frames, un-braze them (easy enough to do) then braze them back together again. And also practice mitering and welding mild-steel tubes into a frame (chromoly is too expensive to practice on!)

Where's the cycle route between Leamington and Rugby?

Where's the cycle route between Leamington and Rugby?

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/leaflets/sustrans_lias_line.pdf

Just been eyballing the Sustrans interactive maps for cycle routes. I am definitely going to have a go at that Market Harborough to Northampton route as it's along the old railway line the whole way.

Anyone done it? I have seen loads of mountain bikers getting on and off that route but never any road bikes.

Maybe some fatter 32's would be good? Andy (rhb) and I did the Kenilworth to Berkswell path last summer, which is an old railway line. It was a little muddy or bumpy in the odd place but it was perfectly rideable.

I think a lot of the sustrans routes are gravel. I'd be up for some summer riding along some of these routes :)

You could probably survive any Sustrans railway path route on racer tyres if it's been dry for ages, but after rain some can be tricky.

Have ridden Kelmarsh to Northampton - but not the other section - and it's fantastic. One rider coped fine with skinny tyres fixed even though it'd been quite (extremely) wet that bank holiday weekend - end of august last year.

There's proper long railway tunnels, you'll be glad if you take good lights for those sections. Hauntingly beautiful if ridden slowly in the dark taking in the sounds and echos though.

The last bit into Northampton is a bit of a bodge of a path, makes it a bit more awkward in places.

Enjoy!

I've ridden the Daventry stretch of old railway which is smooth but very wet and muddy in the winter and that's been no problem. I have a tyre clearance issue as well and can't get anything more than a 23 on the front so skinny tyres it is.

I found the biggest problem on these paths are salmoning bike riders and dogs, especially small dogs on long leads.

I will definitely give it a go very soon.

Well if anyone organises anything, post it up on here, lack of riding buddies in Coventry over the winter is getting annoying!

Also I was reading Cycling Plus and they did a review of a canal route from Reading to Bath, 84 miles, only one little hilly bit so could probably do it fixed. Train to Reading (only about an hour from Cov), ride to Bath, stay in a youth hostel, cycle back to Reading the next day. Could be an idea!

I'm looking into starting a bike company up myself, so if any one fancies jumping on let me know

Building your own frames? I'd be up for that. I've done a small amount of brazing before, like to try it on a larger scale though

has anyone seen a bianchi pista with white front and orange rear?

has anyone seen a bianchi pista with white front and orange rear?

it belongs to someone at warwick uni, often spotted in earlsdon

I was in Cambridge yesterday riding around all day and didn't spot a single fixed gear bike. Not one out of all those thousands of bikes. All of a sudden Coventry doesn't seem so bad.

Spotted 3 dudes on fixies in town one guy had a fluorescent something or other the other was black with red wheels and something else with chrome drop bars. Also spotted a a white fixed all stickerd up locked up in pool meadow.

nah that bianchi is mine! good to know it's not going unnoticed haha

i just got an SE draft, im new to this, that any good?

i just got an SE draft, im new to this, that any good?

Which one you got?

this one

http://www.proboardshop.com/qsedr58wh10zz-se-bikes.html

saw a dude on an orange fw ss heading in to leam last thursday, pretty nice

yea, im new to the whole single speed thing so starting with the free wheel and might progress from there once i build up some leg power, what you ride?

I rode SS for a week and didn't get on with it so much, it just felt like a complete lack of gears. After getting used to riding fixed geared I generally prefer it :)

I'm hoping to ride to work most days this week (weather dependant) so if anyone's around Warwick Uni, keep an eye out :)

yea i am hoping to ride to work as much as poss, i wont get the bike till, thursday/friday this week, i only live about a mile from work, but still, and also weather permitting, ordered the bike when it was sunny, now its rainy i will finally get it :(

good fun to be had riding in the rain

Unless it's too work. Arriving at work soaking wet and cold kinda sucks :)