Ben Hayward Cycles: Cambridge Cycling Blog
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Cambridge Cycling Blog
A perspective on the Cambridge cycling scene
Car sharing
Posted Thursday April 3, 2008 by Rob Turner
Congratulations to the City Council for their recent initiatives encouraging car sharing.
But there is a long way to go!
A happy quarter of an hour, around 7.30 last Monday morning spent counting cars, boggled me. Arguably highly unrepresentative I’m sure, my sample streaming into Cambridge along Ditton Lane comprised 91% lone drivers.
Showtime!
Posted Saturday February 23, 2008 by Rob Turner
Category: The Shop, Cycling
Many miles have been traveled during January and February – many curled sandwiches eaten. Shows, seminars, launches, discussion groups, even some corporate hospitality!
So, does this mean we are ready for the Spring? You bet, fired up, awaiting new stock, informed, excited, aching for the warmer weather and to ride home in daylight.
Santos - your bike, our quality.
Posted Tuesday November 27, 2007 by Rob Turner
Category: The Shop
For some time we have been looking for a range of utility cycles, which raises the bar in durability, performance and quality. I believe we have found them.
Santos offer a stunning range of bikes in steel and aluminium. Choice of 24 colours and a custom build using derailleur or hub gearing.
It all looked good on paper and on the web (www.santosbikes.com), but there is so much more to Santos. A visit to their factory/showroom in Holland and a day in the company of their founder Robbert Rutgrink exposed the passion behind the brand and our shared commitment to customer satisfaction.
The detailing on the frames and detail of specification impressed in me how cutting edge the Santos design team are. Behind every feature is a reasoned argument and a striving for improvement in performance and longevity.
Our first Santos bicycles will be with us in January, come in to test ride and discuss your requirements. I’m brushing up on my cycling Dutch prior to the English website launch, crankstels and dragers make a pleasant change!
Long time no blog
Posted Friday November 16, 2007 by Rob Turner
Category: The Shop, Cambridge
What a summer!
Certainly not a scorcher, but one full of surprises, challenges and
pleasures.
The highlight, I think was London’s sucess with The Tour. We closed up shop on the Saturday and took the train down for the Prologue. I’ve never seen the place looking so good or as well humoured, closing down the centre to traffic allowed the city to breathe. While some of our party set off to sample the delights of the trade tents, I settled down by the Serpentine with a picnic and enjoyed, what from afar now seems like our one day of sunshine.
Trek have made a very bold move by not allowing their bicycles to be mail ordered. This is bound to lose them sales in the short term, but will enhance the reputation of their bikes, and strengthen the dealerbase that supplies not only the bike but the service of correct selling and maintenance. May other cycle distributors and insurance companies follow suit, realising that the interest of their customers is best served by “local bikes for local people”.
Royal Appointment
Posted Wednesday February 14, 2007 by Rob Turner
Category: Cycling, Consciousness
Cynically this was a reward day to keep the troops onside.
It worked!
I’ve just had a marvellous day with the Home Farm Trust.
An easy, on-time train journey to Kings Cross with our testride “Mezzo” folder. A site seeing ride down to Pall Mall, very pleasurable on a sunny day in congestion charged London.
Then lunch and conversation with Princess Anne and charity administrators, carers, recipients, patrons and volunteers.
My help to the group has been very limited, one day a year chasing a group of commited cyclists around rural, autumnal Essex – fixing their bikes, eating sandwiches and providing encouragement. It’s a great ride, as you will have gathered from previous posts, which I would encourage you to join, usually taking place first Sunday of October.
I’ve learnt a lot today, about the Home Farm Trust, their commitment and breadth of interest and gained a respect for their Royal Patron who appears to be a totally clued up tireless worker for the cause.
I’ll certainly be helping this October. Try the ride support the HFT.