Birmingham to Berlin

Just finished a short promo vid

Birmingham to Berlin Promo on Vimeo

Thats great news neil/mg

Soooo excited!

legit

Got a support car?

Of course...

The reason I ask is because I'd LOVE to do this ride with you lot but I don't think Id be feeling riding with bags and panniers... a car to take the bits n bobs would be super-awesome.

Good point. I'd be so much happier (and faster) sans panniers!

I'v just got this vision in my mind of doing the 900 miles in a tshirt and shorts.

If you guys get some sponsorship forms printed off ill do the rounds at work......they will unline their pockets for a good cause.

^^Imagine the secenery dude, we're gonna go through some rad places.

Yeah I just did some online begging through Rapha, Brooks, my blog and some other stuff.

Brand new brooks + 900 miles = ( insert comedy here )

OUCH. I think Andy's will be worn in by then! Mine certainly is, wouldn't ride on anything else.

Gav are you at zine meeting on Monday? We can chat more then, there is talk of a support car, but it's how and where to start, and how much will it cost.

I plan to just do it in shorts n tee, but with a tent and a rack too.

matt, print off...raise you some coins!!

Cycling isn't touring without a rack and panniers. What are you, David Cameron?

Dan, can you do me a free bikefit? I might need to buy a 2nd hand racer for this and I want to know what sizes to be looking out for.

We charge 100 bones for a bike fit you cheeky sausage lover. Buy a bike from us and I'll sort you out!

Booked! boom.

Dan, can you do me a free bikefit? I might need to buy a 2nd hand racer for this and I want to know what sizes to be looking out for.

You'd probably be most suited to a 58cm in most brands, but the frame size is just the start of getting your bike to fit properly. For a tourer, you should be looking for a relatively upright riding posture. I'd never use drops for a touring bike - totally pointless in my opinion, so then you're back to mtb-style geometry... If I were you I'd get the geared dropouts for your humu and use that. It's as long as many barges, so ideally suited to touring.

Spend the money I just saved you on a proper polo bike!

What do you reckon for me Dan? 54cm? The surly's a 53cm but the top tubes 55cm and it feels just a tiny bit too big hence the rise stem and bars.

cheers for the advice above on the kona honky tonk ^

I've managed to find an ex demo one for £499 but i guess this will mean i won't be able to test ride :S
I'll phone up tomorrow..

What do you reckon for me Dan? 54cm? The surly's a 53cm but the top tubes 55cm and it feels just a tiny bit too big hence the rise stem and bars.

You're probably right, but using flats/risers confuses things. By far the most variation comes from bar/stem choice. Flats to drops changes reach by 10-15cm, short to long stems by 5-15cm. When you're talking about up to 30cm difference in your stem/bar choice, a few cm on the top tube is practically meaningless.

For me, bar height is at least as important as reach. Most recreational types (especially taller people) have their bars way too low in my opinion. If you're racing, flexible, with strong core muscles, sure, have a 10cm drop to the bars like the pro's. If you're none of those things you'll be sore and probably not even any faster.

This Dawes frame is feeling really comfortable at the moment, so I think the sizes must be fairly good, the drops I put on probably could to with being raised a bit like you mentioned dan, and the brake levers aren't holding to the bars when I tighten them? (any idea) I think I would like some new brakes, a new rear wheel, some fresh tyres, a new rack, and a new saddle please. (my bum hurts)

cheers for all the advice Dan

New rack definitely. My bum still hurts from that backie.

This Dawes frame is feeling really comfortable at the moment, so I think the sizes must be fairly good, the drops I put on probably could to with being raised a bit like you mentioned dan, and the brake levers aren't holding to the bars when I tighten them? (any idea) I think I would like some new brakes, a new rear wheel, some fresh tyres, a new rack, and a new saddle please. (my bum hurts)

cheers for all the advice Dan

The brake levers are pretty poor quality. I'd get some more modern, compact drops with flat tops which transition into the hoods better than the old-school things you've got and get new levers to go with them. For all those things, you're looking at £100-£300 depending how lavish you want to be.