| Daniel |
| Alice *NEW PHOTOS* |
| Banshee |
| Mercury |
| Harry |
| Pegasus |
| Richard |
| Bob |
Born in Darmstadt, West Germany, on August 24th 1971 (at 8.40am, if we're going to be like that), I took to cycling at a relatively early age - frankly, everyone in Germany does. But I must confess that I wasn't very good at it to begin with. You see, I was scared of falling over. And I knew that if I stopped I'd fall over. So to avoid this problem I'd jump off before coming to a halt. Pain taught me that this was probably not the best tactic after all.
For my ninth birthday I got a new bicycle - up to that point I'd used cast-offs of my brother's. I was dead proud of this very first bike I could call my own. As I rode it round the block for the first time, I was completely involved with admiring my nice shiny new bike, so I didn't see that parked car until it was too late...Still, no permanent damage done (to me or bike; I didn't check the back of the car!). The bike served me well for the next 4 years, taking me on numerous adventures in the local forests and fields.
Upon moving to Britain, my cycling declined somewhat. St Albans wasn't particularly cycle friendly, so I wasn't encouraged to cycle (not that the place has become more cycle friendly since. On the contrary, the idiot in charge of highways now seems hell-bent on killing us off - every time I go back I see more death traps introduced as road safety schemes!). Only when I went up to Oxford did my cycling days return. In second year I bought a bike - a Raleigh Pioneer hybrid - to carry me out to the airfield every Saturday to go gliding. Happy days - 33 mile bike rides and a day's flying sandwiched in the middle. We also used to stage bicycle jousting contests in the back garden. When the warden was out. But all things have to come to an end, and the bike was nicked midway through third year. That summer I hired a tandem with a friend and took it down to Sussex. Great fun it was too - but I had nowhere to put a tandem, and no money anyway. Another cycling decline.
At this point I entered my most shameful period - very little cycling and heavy car-dependence. Well, Tübingen was not the most cycle-friendly place, being all hills, and anyway, the bike I bought out there was a little on the small side for me. I wonder if it's still in the bike shed in Amselweg where I left it some 10 years ago?
Shortly after moving to Hammersmith I decided enough was enough, I needed a bike. And another. And another...I soon appreciated that the only way to get around London is by bike. It's quicker and more fun than any other mode of transport, and it isn't nearly as dangerous as (non-cycling) people make it out to be. And for the ultimate adrenaline buzz, you can't beat Hyde Park Corner on a Brompton! So that is how cycling became something of a way of life for me.
Alice is my latest acquisition which I picked up in July 2001- gosh, this
means 2002 was the only year since 1995 when I didn't buy a new bike! Alice is a Riese und Müller Birdy Blue, a high performance
(the bike, not the rider!) full suspension folding bike with a light aluminium frame.
The Blue model struck
me as the most flexible, having 21 gears, whereas the more expensive, lighter
Black only has 9, and the lower spec red and green models didn't really attract
me either. Coincidentally she was built in Darmstadt (see above).
So why the devil did I need another bike,
let alone another folder? Well, need is always a relative concept, isn't it? The
truth be known, Harry is not the best bike for longer distances, while Banshee
is an awkward beggar when folded - way too large and unwieldy to take into the
office.
So Alice fits in between the two. besides which, full suspension is
becoming necessary on London's streets these days - over the last 5 years or so road
surfaces in town have deteriorated noticeably. And anyway, there are 7 days in
the week, and I still only have 6 bikes...
Alice is my main workhorse these days as she's a much better ride than Harry, with more gears, and the suspension definitely making a difference. Her main problems, however, are the fact that she doesn't fold as compactly as Harry, while her luggage carrying capacity is also somewhat limited. If anyone can tell me how to fit a computer to a Birdy I'd be grateful, although having said that, after years of computer and stat addiction I am finding having to guess how far and fast I'm riding quite liberating!
Banshee
is my previous acquisition, purchased in late 2000 - a Bike Friday
Sat-R-Day folding recumbent, in shocking yellow. With public transport becoming
ever-less welcoming of bikes (just look at the train lines replacing old stock
fitted with guards' vans with new sliding door stock complete with glovebox for
multiple bikes),
and my car not being the world's greatest bike transporter
(despite a roof rack extending its abilities somewhat), I
decided the best solution to multi-mode travel was a folder capable of covering
greater distances with more luggage - preferably a recumbent. Having
ridden the Sat-R-Day for about 3 metres I was convinced - it's comfortable,
handles superbly, and is generally an incredibly well-conceived bike. A twenty
minute ride later and I immediately ordered Banshee! All Bike Fridays are
custom-built, and carry an owner's plaque. it's a nice little touch, I find. But
then again, I'm a sad individual!
I opted for the basic model - already adequately
equipped, for my immediate needs. Sachs (sorry, SRAM) 3*7 gears and V-brakes
should keep me going for now. Obviously a rack and mudguards were essential
items, while I've fitted my usual spec - Cateye Enduro 2 computer (the same as I
have on Harry - the functions are exactly the same as those on the Mity 3s I
tend to use on my other bikes, while the more durable cable is essential on a
folding bike) and Shimano PD-M545 pedals (the same as the ones I use on mercury:
I like the large platforms which are more comfortable than little SPD pedals,
while the built-in spring mechanism means finding the cleat is a doddle).
Banshee
is an absolute screamer. I have taken her down to Winchelsea to try her out on my two
favourite circuits - one a 9 mile lap involving some heavily undulating lanes as
well as a three-mile flat straight alongside the sea wall (usually with a
tailwind), and the other a longer one on slightly larger roads, including a fabulous
descent at Brede, and ending up on the same beach road. While she clearly is
slower than Richard (see below), this impression might have more to do with the fact
that the first time I tried the comparison I had been ill just before, and therefore was nowhere near my physical peak.
Two things struck me about Banshee. One
is that she is the most stable recumbent
I've ever ridden. I'm convinced that this is the ideal beginner's recumbent.
This fact was borne out in the way a number of friends have been able to ride
her at the first attempt - in fact only one
person fell over at all when a whole group tried her out in a car park near
Reading a little while ago, and that was me when I was showing off and powered
around a bend at an unsustainable angle on the greasy wet tarmac... She's also quite nippy, making her better suited to commuting than
Mercury, who
can be a bit unwieldy. Another fact which soon became apparent was that I am
not enamoured with the seat. After just 20 minutes to half an hour I get nasty
twinges in my bum, and after 20 miles I get a distinct case of
"recumbent butt" - either
I need to train up some new muscles, or I'll
have to change the seat cushion. We'll see.
Although Banshee is a folding recumbent, she's not exactly in the same league as the Brompton. She completely fills the (admittedly pathetic) boot of my car, and folding is a bit of a hassle when the seat needs to be removed. Quick folded with the seat still attached she takes up a fair amount of space. She also requires two hands for carrying, which makes her a bit inconvenient to carry around the office and such like. The arrival of her carrying bag didn't make things much easier.
Mercury is a short wheelbase recumbent cycle with
front and rear suspension and under-seat steering. I acquired this bike in 
April
1999, and have so far done several thousand miles on him, including Land's End to
John O'Groats in June 1999, a few Alpine passes and the length of the Cote D'Or
in Burgundy in Summer 2002, and numerous other day and short trips around
England and Holland. Being more comfortable than a bike should be, Mercury is my
number one choice for all longer journeys. However, in town I prefer to use
other bikes which are more manoeuvrable - a SWB recumbent means a
more patient riding style as it's harder to filter when cars block the road.
While being seen isn't a worry, and being at the same height as most drivers
makes eye contact easier, the inability to see over parked cars makes
negotiating junctions that bit more difficult.
Let there be no doubt about it: Mercury is a poser, and proud of it. This has rubbed up some of his fellow bike shed dwellers the wrong way, especially as they see him as a young upstart who has stolen my attentions away from them. And they're right. But as I'm a bit of a poser myself, it's only natural that I'm drawn to Mercury. Mercury is a real speed freak, though I have never yet permitted him to exceed 48mph under full loading. I dread to think how fast he'd have gone had I not been applying the brakes at that point! Without luggage his acceleration downhill is less slingshot-like, but still pretty impressive. Despite that the 50mph barrier eluded me while I was in the Alps - and was I glad I'd upgraded the brakes to hydraulic Maguras for that trip, as a result I only overshot 2 hairpins...
The Brompton folding cycle is a design classic. So I
had to get one, in April 1998. Harry first enabled me to cycle when previously I might
have been dependent on public transport or cars (a task now also undertaken by
Alice, see above). Thus it is no trouble putting
Harry on a train in the rush hour, and if I want to go out drinking I can always
come back on the tube or by taxi without having to leave a bike locked up
overnight and then have to retrieve it the next day. It also saves the worry of
leaving a bike locked up in a dubious area - just take him with me. I can't
imagine life without Harry now.
These days, Harry is my main urban bike when I need his compact size and portability, such as when I want to put him on a commuter train or go shopping, or when I need to carry more luggage than Alice can cope with. Thus I have equipped Harry with all the best pieces of equipment for urban riding: a 110dB Air Zound air horn for dealing with errant motorists (never yet used in anger, thankfully) as well as a loud bell for gormless pedestrians who step out without looking because they can't hear any cars. And then there are my Lumicycle rechargeable front lights - 13.2W spotlight with a 22W backup should anyone look like they are about to pull across my path. The only downside of all these features is that the handlebars have got a little bit crowded (and this is my second set of bars - the first snapped, as older Brompton bars apparently were prone to doing prior to the introduction of the upgraded set - if you're a Brompton rider with an older bike, and still have the original bars, change them asap: I was lucky when mine snapped without warning as I didn't end up sprawled in the road, it could have ended much worse!). But together with lots of reflective tape scattered around the bike and my hi-viz waistcoat, I think I'm probably quite conspicuous, as no-one has yet dared to use the classic "Sorry, I didn't see you" line (or the even more classic "I didn't see you down there" to a rider lying in the road after being knocked off!). A while back I upgraded Harry to an L5 by replacing the 3 speed hub with a 5 speed, as I'd got sick of battling against headwinds and hills. I'd heartily recommend the upgrade to any 3 speed Brompton owner! More recently I've also changed the tyres to Schwalbe Marathons (so far, so good) as the old Raleigh Records had worn a bit thin (and I'd punctured twice in a week), and upgraded the front brake to the new twin callipers - a worthwhile investment, I believe. As was adding a little extension to the rear mudguard, so Harry no longer sprays my back full of gunk when it's wet. bearing in mind the weather we've had lately, I'm now contemplating adding some floats and a propeller!
The Brompton's folding mechanism is ingenious. It
can be parked by folding the rear wheel under the frame. This is is also starting
point for the folding process. In about 15 seconds, it will fold from being a
(near) full size to a small portable block, with the dirty chain mech kept out
of the way between the front and rear wheels.
Harry is seen as a bit of a softy in the bike shed, as he tends to sleep up in my flat rather than in the company of the other bikes. However, no-one doubts his guts in handling tight traffic situations, nor his willingness (out of all proportion to his ability) to tackle steep climbs and fast descents.
The first bike of my London cycling era, Pegasus is a Raleigh Pioneer Spirit hybrid very similar to the one I had stolen in Oxford. I bought him in May 1995. A bit agricultural perhaps, he has a heavy steel frame and rustic bottom-of-the-range Shimano gears. Nonetheless, I have customised him for my needs, and he serves his purpose as a London hack bike and tractor for my Bob trailer. I've added bar ends and a leather saddle for extra comfort, especially on longer trips, while a hub dynamo guarantees me a reliable light supply in the winter months.
Pegasus is a good-natured creature, but he's been a bit sulky about being left in the shed too much of late. He blames Mercury. This is probably true, though it has to be said that Harry and Alice also have to take a share of the blame, as does the fact that I moved jobs and Waitrose has opened up near my house so don't tend to shop by bike with trailer anymore. Having not that long ago exceeded 40mph for the first time, I suspect Pegasus might just develop a taste for high speed descents. But bearing in mind the feeble stopping power of his cantilever brakes, I hope not!
I'm a bit embarrassed about this one, to be honest.
I bought him as a bit of a toy in August 1997, just after Festina and Richard
Virenque's most successful Tour de France ever. He's a Peugeot Richard Virenque
limited edition racer. Maybe not quite so desirable these days, in the light of
the 1998 Tour scandals. Still, he's a nice little toy for zooming around country
lanes, which is what I enjoy doing. Sadly he only has a double chainring, which
coupled with my increased weight and lacking fitness meant my first attempt at
conquering an Alpine pass on Richard failed rather painfully - so much for
riding a Richard Virenque bike - King of the Mountains I was not!
Richard is seen as a bit of a poser and a pretty boy
in the shed (much like his namesake!), as he only tends to go out in nice
weather. This has led to some strife while my back has been turned, and in the
end the others had a vote and elected to kick him out. So I had to take him down
to my parents' house, where I use him for a bit of fun on the country lanes.
Taking him down there was fun - about 80 miles after I got lost at one point. It
now amazes me that pro riders can sit so cramped on upwrongs all day long
without getting back, shoulder and wrist problems - in future I'll keep
Richard's journeys below 50 miles a day, and use Mercury for longer rides!
Richard is a bit upset to be stranded alone in a shed with a rusty old folding
bike, so whenever I'm down there I have to make an
effort to show Richard that he is still loved.
The Yak Bob is an ingenious cycle trailer which I got in July 1997. Capable of carrying 32kg of luggage or shopping (or more, though handling is a bit tricky when at or above maximum capacity), its single wheel design means that it is no wider than the bike towing it, and it follows the bike's line perfectly, so it's ideal for use in town, while rolling resistance is less than on a two-wheeled trailer. The hitch is kept low, too, reducing the likelihood of the trailer dragging the bike over at the least opportune moment.
Bob has accompanied me on various cross country expeditions with sleeping gear, tents or stereos, as well as on countless shopping trips. However, Bob and Mercury don't get on at all, and a squabble between them nearly sent me straight into a parked car on a couple of occasions. They have not been asked to work together since.
Last Updated on Friday, 28 March 2003