Handlebar Wrapping

As I wrote in the post below, I want my bicycle to be an ongoing project, that I develop as I learn more (and earn more..).

It’s fair to say that I was relatively unimpressed with the white handlebar grip tape supplied when I purchased the bicycle. I’ve only clocked up just a few hours riding, but already the tape is losing its comfort and has become almost compressed through normal use. I invested in something a little more heavy duty, and went for BROOKS (again) perforated leather tape. I didn’t know a single thing about handlebar wrapping, so I read up a little about it and got my head around the pitfalls before I started. Most articles advised starting at the bottom of the bars, and working up to the brake lever, but I couldn’t understand how you could finish with a neat straight edge coming off the diagonal of the wrap. Most of the people who did this seemed to end up finishing the wrap with insulation tape, but that seemed a little extreme, plus I think it ruins the finish.

So, below is how I got on. Not bad for a first attempt – there are definitely areas that I am unhappy with, but hopefully these won’t be that noticeable at passing glance. I wouldn’t recommend the BROOKS bar ends though – mine split when I tried to push them in. I also enlisted the help of “Brad Smith”, but I wouldn’t recommend him either.

BROOKS England, Ltd.

I recently decided to take the plunge and join the world of London Cycling. I made this bold move because I am about to relocate to a new flat in a months time, and it means that I will be a lot closer to my place of work. I can cycle, save money, and avoid the sardine tin that is the tube. So, expect some rather geeky cycling updates in the next few months as I build my bike up properly.

I opted for a BROOKS saddle for my bicycle as they are comfortable, have a very traditional aesthetic, and I know a few people who ride with them and swear by them. I didn’t really know too much about BROOKS as a company prior to getting the saddle, but it came accompanied by a beautiful envelope containing care instructions, my guarantee and a history of the company.

The BROOKS company began trading in 1866 producing horse harnesses amongst other leather goods. The story goes that John Boultbee Brooks, following the death of his horse, borrowed a friends bicycle in order to commute to work. However, he found the saddle so uncomfortable that he decided that something must be done. The new product was a huge success, and a new line of business opened up for Brooks and his company.

Below is what I received when I bought my saddle.

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Time With My Parents

I am currently back in the Midlands for a couple of days to rest after my operation, and I am truly valuing my time here with my family. Yesterday, we went to HOMEBASE to have a look for wallpaper as my parents’ are re-decorating their bedroom sometime later this year. The trip was quite fruitless, but afterwards we decided to have a drink at a pub that we used to visit when I was merely a young boy. We talked quite a lot about our plans for Christmas during this drink. The Old Miner has always wanted to try something different for Christmas, and perhaps have the family go away on some sort of break, but The Duchess has never been as keen, preferring to be around the home comforts for the festive season. After quite a debate, I think that this year could be the one in which we make the break and try something different.

Following this drink, we moved on to a second pub that my parents’ went to when they were younger, ‘The Otter’ in Kegworth. We ended up staying here for longer than expected, and talked about a great many things. It really humbles me to remember just where my parents’ came from. My Dad came from an almost farm-type environment. He didn’t have the luxury of an indoor toilet until the age of 14. His parents’ met as my Grandfather repaired tractors during the war, and my Grandmother was a land girl, remaining at home to maintain the farm. The Old Miner let on that he would love to know of the exchange between the two of them that led them to ultimately get married and live together. The Duchess told of how her Father would painstakingly craft items for her and her brother around Christmas time, if there wasn’t any money for presents. One year he created a type of doll’s house for her, completel with minature coat hangers and working drawers.

This is quite an odd post for this blog I think, but following everything that has happened, perhaps I am embracing my reflective mood and also realising that no matter what, I never want to forget where I have come from and that I never want to take these times for granted.

Strictly Business

Strangely, to tie in with the below, these just arrived on my desk – I guess this means I’m in. I think that they were printed on 540gsm ‘Colourplan’ white board, from G F Smith, which is quite thick for a business card, but I actually quite like it – it feels like something quite substantial in the hand. I no longer need to doctor old cards anymore!

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More Steinbeck

Here Come the Girl Guides

The Museum of London Docklands are currently celebrating the history of the Girl Guides in London with the exhibition shown on the flyer below. From the website:

“Learn about London’s historic role in the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the UK and explore the history and changing identity of the organisation through the experiences of Guides past and present.”

The exhibition promises rare and exclusive original artefacts and looks to be quite a visual feast. It runs until 31st October, and entrance is free. I hope to post up some photographs from this once I have made the visit.

Snibston Miners’ Gala 2010

I have recently been away on holiday in Norfolk, soaking up the waves of the Broads with my family. Following the holiday I returned back to my hometown of Coalville before returning to London. Whilst there I spotted a flyer for the forthcoming Snibston Miners’ Gala event. I attended the first Gala back in 2008, and I am really pleased that this now seems to have become an annual event.

The aim of the Gala is to raise awareness of the mining heritage surrounding Coalville to the younger generations, whilst also allowing the older generations to reminisce about times gone by and reunite with old acquaintances. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) attend the event, selling various memorabilia and there are also performances by colliery brass bands and various displays throughout the day. The vegetable competition photographs I put up in an earlier post are from my visit back in 2008. I will definitely be trying to make it back to Coalville in September for this, and for anyone who is around the area at that time, I really suggest having a look. I think that this is a really healthy initiative to try to bring back the sense of community that many towns and villages have now sadly lost.

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Transforming your Tube

A new exhibition is being held in the now closed Aldwych underground station to highlight how the tube will be changed over the next 10 years. The improvements are set to be the biggest changes to the underground ever made to date.

You can find out more about the exact plans for each line at:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/10127.aspx

There is also more underground related ‘fun’ with a new scheme entitled ‘Tube or False’ (currently advertised around the tube carriages) in which various captions relating to the London underground are displayed with the reader having to decide whether or not they are indeed true or false.

The answers to the captions can be found here:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/modesoftransport/tube/history/