HARO BIKES

There aren't many bike blogs that can out-alliterate Charles Dickens but at Mikes Bikes we like a little culture!

In "Tri, Tri, Tri Again"

http://www.aviemorebikes.co.uk/bikes/tri-tri-tri-again.html

I rolled out my excuses for not doing the Delny time trial but with The Nairnshire Challenge having passed I had run out of reasons not to try it out and almost two weeks ago I started my second 10 mile time trial in 5 years. The Tuesday night series on the A9 is organised jointly by Cromarty Firth Cycling Club and Ross-shire Roads Cycling Club on an informal basis with an inter club trophy being awarded at the end of the season.  Guest riders are welcome and everyone was friendly and helpful despite the initial trepidation of a 'newbie'.

http://www.cromartyfirthcyclingclub.com/

Are the conditions ever perfect for a time trial? The first half certainly was and at the turn at Culrossie roundabout my computer was showing a 25.4mph average. The return journey revealed the secret of my outward PB and I battled the headwind back to Delny to record a time of 27.53 - not fast enough to set the heather on fire but it kept me warm enough.

At the weekend I reported my time back to Mike's dad who gave my tale a split second's hearing before regaling me with an account of his sub 27 time trial earlier in the season. The scene was set for a return to Delny! Last Tuesday the conditions were as close to ideal as they get with a slight headwind facing the riders at the start. My tyres were inflated, the position of the tri bars tuned and, despite having been passed before half way by both David and Donald, my average speed was indicating sub 27 minutes without taking into consideration the favourable conditions on the second half. It will always be a case of 'what might have been' however as Donald had taken the time to become more closely acquainted with a Thurso bound 4wd vehicle at the roundabout. I must admit that the racer in me gave a little consideration to the idea that a PB was on the cards and it was just one less guy to beat but thankfully good sense prevailed and I stopped (I'm not sure Mike's dad would have stopped and now I'm worried that I'm just not hard enough to be a time trialler!). Decency prevents me reporting verbatim the conversation with the occupants of the car but suffice to say the SUV suffered no damage whatsoever. The bike seemed to be ok having escaped with some scrapes to the Shimano 105 rear mech but Donald will have to replace his helmet - it did the job it was supposed to do and saved him from far more significant injury. Shaken up and badly grazed he rode back to Delny reflecting (ironically) on how lucky he had been and worrying about the effects on his planned weekend time trial.

If you have been following Mark Cavendish in the Giro d'Italia and are looking forward to his appearance in the Tour de France you might be interested in the Mark Cavendish UVEX team Columbia/Highroad Helmet. It is all you need to make you just as fast as Mark and that makes the RRP of £119 worth every penny! (transformation to professional cycling's fastest sprinter is not guaranteed!)

Before I leave time trialling there are a couple of snippets to report. The Outland Tri Bars first mentioned in "Tri Tri Tri Again" are back in stock. So far they have been unchanged by price rises affecting just about everything in cycling. The Cycling Weekly review is displayed in Mikes Bikes alongside the £44.99 price tag - they won't be there for long!

I got an e mail from Jim Gresty recently, who first featured in "Small World"

http://www.aviemorebikes.co.uk/bikes/small-world.html

He told me "I finally rode the P2 Cervelo in anger on Saturday afternoon and managed 1.56 for a 50 so it looks as if it was worth the money" - not bad for someone who is entitled to use a free bus pass for the same journey!

I won't make the time trial tomorrow - I will be at the Scottish Universities Sport annual conference - but I'll get my time trialling fix on Thursday 11th June at 6.30pm at the  Mikes Bike 'Cairngorm Hill Climb'. The annual informal 'shop to the top' hill climb is this Thursday night with an opportunity to test three Ridley Bikes courtesy of Drew Wilson, former Commonweath Games cyclist. Times will be announced after the event in the 'Doo Below' over a cool, well deserved beer - spot prizes on the night!

At a time when the press is full of stories about childhood obesity and children and young people spending too much time on computer games or hanging around on the streets, it is nice to deal with the guys from Boat of Garten. It beats me why the press doesn't pick up a bit more on positive images of youth. Check out Dale, Ryan and Sean playing with the Raleighs (AT 30 and AT 40) and on the Diamondback Lex and Diamondback Bad Max

Boys who know what they are doing and what to do it on!