This is where you will find ramblings, news and photos from the staff about our recent builds, rides and other exploits.
Learn more about the dedicated team that makes up FutureCycles by clicking here Young Sam, one of the Saturday lads over in Forest Row, spotted this one. Click the photo for the full article
Safari London from Rick Symonds on Vimeo. So Dave and I have just signed up! DATE OF EVENT: 21/03/10 The Spring Challenge ride follows the route of the Springtime Classic Cyclosportive but takes a detour to avoid the hardest of the hills of our Classic route. This detour reduces the distance of the Springtime Challenge ride to 53 miles (85.8km). This 53 mile (85.8km) sporting course with 1193 meters of climbing will challenge your fitness and determination. It’s a good event to do to get into condition for future summer cyclosportives. This route is achievable for most club standard cyclists, but needs work as it passes through some tough terrain and climbs such as Pillow Mounds Hill and Kidds Hill better know locally amongst the cycling fraternity as “The Wall” and the infamous Cobb Lane Hill. With the scenic rolling roads of Ashdown Forest we feel sure you’ll enjoy this ride. The key event points are: A few weeks ago, George, one of the mechanics in Lewes had his bike stolen while on the train to Seaford. Still no sign of it so he started building up a new ride. If you are into 24inch jump bikes, come talk to him! So i am going to start a new weekly feature. So here we go.. Week beginning the 1st of February David Bowie – Hunky Dory – 12inch 1980 reprint £3 The Stranglers – Rattus Norvegicus – 12inch 1977 original £2 So that is it for this week! Oh My Word! This is more than just barrier cream. Just had a can through the post, decided to put it to the test. Put on a golf ball sized application, let it dry for a little while and then put it to the test. A few layers of copper grease, blue grease, chain lube, dirt.. rubbed it all in. The kind of stuff which would stain the skin. Then after a quick rinse off, any sign of the grease was gone. Amazing stuff! Never before have i been this excited about PPE! http://www.dermashield.co.uk/ These have been lifted from SportivePhoto And so the day arrived. With weeks of pretending to train behind us, Matt and I set out to Biggin Hill to take part in our first sportive. What exactly possessed us to enter the gruelling seven-major-climb-110km-ride-in-the-middle-of-winter, I can’t actually remember – but on our way to the start line there was no turning back. It was great to pull onto the open road and gather some speed to stick with a group that looked like they meant business. It was at that point that I got the unmistakeable feeling of a flat tyre. After ten minutes of faffing about with tubes all our momentum and enthusiasm had drained away, we set off to complete the remaining 109.5km. It was only after a short while of getting back in our stride that Matt disappeared up the second major climb of the day. It’s fair to say that since our last ride he has improved immeasurably. A slight role reversal had occurred and I now felt like I was holding up progress. From Hever to Hartfield the roads became incredibly icey, with some sections needing to be walked instead. This seemed to really annoy some of the more experienced guys, but to me it was all part of it and added to the challenge. The first feed station was in Hartfield where I was reunited with Matt after him waiting for “ages”. Tea, milk, three sugars, and back out on the road. Starting again after a stop was hard all day as you get cold so quickly. Still after five minutes all is forgotten, and you’re warm… apart from your hands, feet, and face. Next, was Kidd’s Hill AKA ‘The Wall’. We have a little competition going in FutureCycles to see who can get up it the fastest. You can forget fastest times though, it was all about not stopping today. It has never seemed so steep, and I was very please to get to the top and see all those who had arranged to see us there. A quick spin over Ashdown Forest and then a decent into Groombridge (and a climb out again). It was a very long way to the next feed station, and I think I took on about roast dinner’s worth of calories getting there. By this time Matt had dropped right back, and I had to wait “ages” for him. Matt would be the first to admit that he may have gone of a little hard to the half waypoint… There was the sudden realisation that I still had the same to do again. ….He may have died after Kidd’s Hill, but it’s fair to say that we have found our FutureCycles Cycle Team sprinter! From the second feed there were only 20km to go, and they took an hour. On the way to the finish we stuck together as we navigated the icy patches and final climbs back towards Biggin Hill. 110km in 6 hours 18 minutes 6 seconds, start to finish including all stops… and punctures, which added up to over an hour. Not bad for a first run, and even though my legs were burning at the end, it’s a performance we can both build on in the future… Yep, there’ll be more! - David While living in London I was quite an active member of the London Fixed Gear and Single Speed (LFGSS) message board. Both online and offline. We would regularly meet up for rides and drinks. In that time is met a truly great cycling gent. Paul Roantree aka 50/14. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with Cancer a little while before christmas. He sadly past away a couple of weeks ago. Being such a great community, the LFGSS members all got together and organised an amazing send off for him. Which involved a custom cycle hearse! RIP Paul So i will admit, i am a bit unprepared for this ride. The winter training regime hasn’t gone all too well. Too many pints and not enough electrolytes. Though Elete does work pretty well when used as a hangover cure!. 110km.. distance wise, not too bad. The hills, sit and spin up them. Easy with a triple chain set. The weather however.. Here is what metcheck has to say. \ Thats right… it will feel like sub zero! Pretty good going! Via BBC news A seven-year-old boy from London who was aiming to raise £500 for the Haiti quake relief effort through a sponsored bike ride has raised more than £72,000. Unicef is helping to provide water, sanitation, education and nutrition, as well as supporting child protection.
Taken from http://www.srs-events.cc
Sign on time 7.40 until 8.20am
Start time, be at the start area for 9.00am
Start and finish at The London meeds School.
2 feed stations at:- Forest Row Town Hall and Ardingly
Technical support
Event timing by SPORTident
10 mph average cut off speed broom wagon supplied
Emergency medical assistance
Goody bag
Since working in Lewes, i have had a chance to explore a bit more of what the town has to offer. Everything from independent health food shops all the way to vintage and retro bric and brac. It was just after christmas that i started to venture into the charity shops. i like buying records. Mostly alternative shouty punk bands from America, but more recently got in to the habit of buying anything that takes my fancy, be it Costello or Cash. (a few weeks ago i picked up a signed copy of Something Blue by the attractions for £1.50)
Contains classics such as Changes and life on Mars. Never been a massive fan of Bowie, only ever listened to him in passing. But i really respect the work he has put out over the years (apart from that awful Christmas song!) So i am hoping that a complete listen of this will help me see him in a different light.
The punk record that never was! From the start of their career they were often lumped in with the Punk scene. There are parts of this record that really do have a punk vibe, a slight vocal snarl, but otherwise this is straight up rock ad roll. I love the use of instruments other than guitars and the offbeat feel of Peaches.
Go and check your local charity shops for hidden treasures.
-M
Going to order some prints to put up in the shop, hang on my wall, place on my fridge, hand out to friends.. maybe a mousemat and a coffee mug as well?
Photo Credit: Diable
Seven-year-old raises thousands for Haiti quake victims
Matt : January 25, 2010 3:26 pm : The Basement
Charlie Simpson, from Fulham, west London, cycled five miles (8km) around South Park near his home to raise funds for Unicef’s earthquake appeal.
His call for support touched the hearts of people around the world after he put a message on the JustGiving website.
Unicef thanked him “on behalf of the many children in Haiti”.
On his JustGiving page, Charlie said: “I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives.
“I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti.”
Money raised by Charlie will go towards its Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal.
Along with donations, Charlie was flooded with messages of support.
One donor said: “Well done Charlie – you are an inspiration to us all.”
A donor who read about Charlie’s appeal in New Zealand described his ride as an “awesome” act of kindness.
Another donor said: “We’re cheering you on from Hong Kong.”
David Bull, Unicef’s UK executive director, described Charlie’s ride on Sunday as a “little seed” which had rapidly grown into something much bigger.
“This is a very bold and innovative gesture by Charlie that shows he connects with and not only understands what children his own age must be going through in Haiti, but is also wise enough to know that he can help them,” he said.
“The little seed – his idea – that he has planted has grown rapidly and his is a place well-deserved in the humanitarian world.
“On behalf on the many children in Haiti, I thank Charlie for his effort.”
