I've moved to a new blog.

 I want to commute regularly by bike so I've started a new blog to try to stay motivated. I'm going to keep it simple, just a couple of photos and a little text, but make it regular. 

It's called 'A simple cycling blog' if anyone is interested.  

Friday 1st July commute.

 First day of a new month, so I thought I better make a start. It was pretty damp and miserable down at Belhaven bay, but brightened as I climbed over Pencraig with an accompaniment of skylarks. 

There was torrential rain in the evening so I stayed late at work for an hour, then got a dry cycle home. 

Lessons learned: I would like the bars a little higher but that means a longer front brake hose. The grips are ok but could be a bit thicker. That means expensive ergo grips but I'll try the bar change first. The panniers are just right with no heel strike. The rack bag is handy but isn't secure enough, it will go. I need to get some old inner tube or similar for the chain I lock it up with at work before I scratch the frame. 

Otherwise it all went well, I felt good and enjoyed it. 24.6 miles in total. 

Evening ride.

 

My commute to work has one long climb of just over a mile up Pencraig hill. I took the Ridgeback for a trial run this evening to see what difference the pedal assist makes. 

In eco mode you have to work, but it definitely helps. When I clicked it up to normal mode, I would compare the effort to walking briskly up hill.  High mode is embarrassingly easy, but it also seriously limits the battery range. 

It was a windy ride and my mind was taken up with all the new bike thoughts about ergonomics, handling and getting to know the little clicks and rattles. I spent time pondering how well I know the LHT. I built the thing, have serviced it and fiddled and changed it into what best suits me. The Ridgeback seems a bit sterile at the moment. I think the alfine hub is great but I don't really know how it works. The oversize headset is also alien to me. Having a key and an off switch just seems bizarre. 

I need to get the miles in and some oil under my fingernails.

I have swapped my Velo D2 saddle from the LHT and fitted some ergo grips and Wellgo flat mtb pedals. They're cheap, but I've never had any problems with them. 

The bars are a bit low and I could feel some pressure on my wrists. I've got an mtb riser bar that might be just right. If not, I'll try an adjustable stem. 

Overall, it's a pleasure to ride. If the weather looks ok, I'll probably cycle to work on Friday. 

New bike time.

I've had an urge to get the blog going again  although I'm not sure if anyone reads them anymore. 

Seven years ago I wrote that I would keep sailing, but I didn't. I eventually sold the Sona in a part exchange for the Ambition, which featured in various old posts, and enjoyed doing a bit of work on it but my heart wasn't really in it, and it too was sold on. 

A lot of other things then took up all my time and at the end of 2019 my work moved to a new hospital with decent showers and changing. I commuted a couple of times by bike but then, like the rest of the world, Covid came and everything went tits up. 

My LHT will be celebrating its 10th birthday with me in August and its still my favourite bike but a 12 mile commute takes time and it can be a really windy route. So I've done something I never thought I would do and bought this. 

It's a 2019 Ridgeback e-flight with 750 miles on it and a full service history. (Yes, I know, but ebikes record this sort of stuff on their computers). It even has the original spoke reflectors, which will be coming off! 

I'll do the usual mods, saddle, grips, pedals, fitting and luggage, then start with commuting when I feel up to it and see how it goes. 

I'm not putting pressure on myself, I'm just going to enjoy it.