Ben Hayward Cycles: Cambridge Cycling Blog
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Cambridge Cycling Blog
A perspective on the Cambridge cycling scene
Rollapaluza
Posted Saturday January 24, 2009 by Rob Turner
Category: Cycling, Cambridge
What a marvellous evening!
Perhaps not everyones cup of tea, but the adrenaline charged, sweat and beer drenched atmosphere of the Portland Arms last Friday was electric.
The format is simple. Two riders, firmly toestrapped, thrash around at impossibly high revs on front anchored, rear rollered bicycles. The race is over the equivalent of 500m, enough to see the combatants gasping for air and shaken by the effort.
The qualifying rounds against the clock, lead to a sudden death elimination pyramid.
What makes it is the crowd, all deliberatly partisan, supporting their team or favourite, loud hailers passed round to ensure that “pertinant coaching tips” reach the riders, and raise a laugh.
So what was I doing there, probably the least trained and certainly worst dressed of all the riders? My wife, having seen Chris Hoy compete on You Tube thought it was an appointment with a heart attack. But my commuter legs held up fine with an honourable if not glorious 30th place.
Car sharing
Posted Friday April 4, 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”.