Hmmm I don`t know who wrote this or where ....

I got it from but it makes me smile.

MOUNTAIN BIKE BLUES

I am a brand new mountain bike
My owner`s pride and joy
I`ve chunky tyres and umpteen gears
I am his favourite toy

I`m bright and clean and shiny
My owner`s joy and pride
And every weekend without fail
He takes me for a ride

He loads me on his Volvo drives
Fifty miles and then
He lifts me down to ride three miles
And drives back home again

There`s just one thing that puzzles me
The roads we ride are flat
They say that I`m a mountain bike
A mountain? What is that?

I always greet other cyclists with a morning or afternoon and a friendly wave.....

I also greet horse riders and walkers the same way. Motorist that give me the right of way even if I don`t have it and they don`t have to give it either, they will always get a a thank you and wave from me.
But some cyclists will past me without any acknowledgement whatsoever! Perhaps I`m not riding the latest carbon state of the art cycle or wearing the latest design cycle wear? Or maybe its my Saddlebag or toe-clips, which are old fashion among many cyclists today.

Another thing I find annoying is the way some cyclists will overtake me (most overtake me these days) a bit too close and then whip in front of me, what all that about? There`s a Road Safety Campaign going on at the moment telling motorist to give cyclists at least 1.5 metre clearance when overtaking us, perhaps some cyclists should also be told of this too!

I`ve always regretted giving away my.........

Dawes Galaxy which once again I brought from Rory O`Brien in 1980, I really can`t remember how much I paid for it. But in those days Dawes Cycles were manufacture in Birmingham Eangland, and with every new cycle you got a 22 page owners manual. Which covered everything from riding technique to the derailleur system, also it had your model name and frame number, the Galaxy  number was CJ5823.

The Galaxy was the start of my touring, with Rough Stuff weekend along the Southdown Way, camping weekends in Suffolk & Cambridgeshire. Week long Youth Hostel tours, plus I rode the Galaxy on most club runs.

I can`t remember the year I had it respray black or why black? But the saddlebage in both photo`s is still in use today unlike those every-ready lamps!

I gave the Galaxy away to a neighbour in I think 1992 I didn`t ask anything for it just that he as much enjoyment on it that I had, the neighbour moved away sometime afterwards so I don`t know what happen to it!

I don`t know who wrote this but it always makes me smile....

CTC WEATHER

When Sunday dawns and it`s time to go

The wind gets up and it begins to snow

Through floods and storms we make our way

For the C.T.C this is a normal day.                                             

I joined the Youth Hostel Association in 1985 when......

Essex had four Youth Hostels, they were Colchester, Castle Hedingham, Epping and Saffron Walden, today they have all gone! But it wasn`t just Essex that lost their Hostels it was all over the country that Hostels were disappearing! And because of that I never renewed my membership in 2010.

Colchester seen above was the first to go in 1996, while Castle Hedingham was the last to go in 2008.
I used all of Essex Hostels mostly as a starting point for the start of my tours or coming back from them. Plus long weekend breaks were enjoyed either on my own or with club mates.

The Hostel above looks a bit remote but its only 1 mile along a rough track to Coniston in the Lake District. Coniston Coppermines is a lovely Hostel and I really enjoyed my 3 nights I stayed there, after an 8 day ride to reach it!
But my all time favourite Hostel is or was in Suffolk and called Alpheton and run by a guy called Vic. It was just right for me to have a steady day ride from home to this Hostel and I spent many long weekends here. It was a very simple Hostel, no hot water so you had to boil the kettle up for everything. It alway felt damp inside there even in the middle of a heatwave! But loved going there and was shocked when Vic who wasn`t that old died suddenly and his family sold up and moved away in 2000.

Alpheton Youth Hostel gone but never forgotten by me.

Another change of handlebars but this time on my......

Raleigh XC which I normally used as a winter bike, which I bought in 1990 from Bikechain (another cycle shop which is no longer) in Ardleigh Green, Hornchurch. I say bought, I part exchange it for my Ridgeback which I got for cycling to work in 1989 from Rory O`Brien. Paid £368 plus extra`s like for rear rack and mudguards.

I can`t remember how much extra I paid for the Raleigh, but again I had to have a rear rack put on. Do you like those pink toe-straps?

Of course over the years I`ve made some changes, like replacing the Shimano Biopace (non-round) chainrings, with a normal one. Tell you the truth I never really found it any different!

And so here`s the Raleigh today with its new straight handlebars, which I hope will keep me cycling a bit longer!

On my ride yesterday morning...

I met a cyclist who asked if I was on tour? No I said just out for a short ride to stretch the old legs! What confuse him and it does to many cyclists I meet, is my large saddlebag. I`ve always ridden with a saddlebag unless camping then it would be panniers. When I told this cyclist what I carry in my saddlebag he seemed a bit shocked! As all he carries is a mobile phone and a energy drink, and if he gets a puuncture or anything a phone call to the wife and out she comes with the car to collect him!
I`ve met a few cyclists in my time that never carry spares and I`ve always like a mug stop to help them out if I can, and normally it one of my spare inner tube I give away!
Anyway what`s in my saddlebag, well I always have a waterproof strapped on the top of the saddlebag even in the middle of a heatwave. In my tool pouch which fits nicely in a side pocket: puncture repair kit,3 tyre levers, assortment of spanners & allen keys, small screwdriver, small pilers, small penkife, spoke key, chain link extractor, small tube of oil and spare gear/brake cable.
In other side pocket my wallet, mobile phone, then in the main compartment 2 spare inner tubes, disposable gloves & rag, first aid kit, camera, notebook & pen, spare glasses, and lock. If I`m out all day then a packed lunch even though I may go into a cafe/pub for lunch. But on all my rides I always carry a couple of slices of Soreen Malt loaf, which I find will keep the bonk or hunger knock away.