HARO BIKES

Etape Caledonia, punishment fits the crime, Raleigh AT40, Nairnshire Challenge, Shimano, Outland, Uvex, Bianchi, M-Trax 3.0, Team Avanti, Team Ashton, Diamondback, Sam Pilgrim

More on the Etape Caledonia last weekend - which has been the subject of much discussion at Mike's Bikes this week - a man has appeared in court charged with acting " in a way which showed complete disregard for the safety of competitors and pedestrians ". If you want to read more about this lawyer (he works for a personal injury legal firm!), rotarian, church elder and community councillor, click the link below

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6328018.ece

the general feeling here is not one of vindictiveness but opinion seems to be that the punishment should fit the crime. Perhaps he should be given community service with a specific remit to run cycling proficiency classes for local primary schools though my personal preference is that he should wash hire bikes - a dirty job that someone has to do every day at Mike's Bikes after the puddle pedallers have been out enjoying the local cycle tracks on our Raleigh AT40 fleet.

This weekend its the Nairnshire Challenge and I feel the least prepared member of the Mike's Bikes team. Its a classic case of "all the gear - no idea". No amount of carbon soled Shimano road shoes, Outland tri bars and Uvex race helmets is going to make up for the dedication I have put into not training for this event. In a last desperate attempt I've even had a pre race haircut done - though Mike is still more aero dynamic than me in that department!

We had a friend/customer/Cairngorm Cycling Club rider at Mike's Bikes yesterday who wanted it pointed out in the blog that Raleigh are the British Bianchi (or was it that Bianchi were the Italian Raleigh?) I suppose he was answering his own question as to why we don't stock Bianchi - Raleigh do it just as well, if not better. He also noted the amount of "product placement" in these blogs. Well, of course! No sponsored cyclist gets to do the tv interview without being fully kitted in the sponsor's gear. Similarly, Mike is a sponsored rider with Raleigh's Team Avanti and making sure the Raleigh brand is well known is part of the deal. Anyway, it is having the desired effect because Ian's daughter must be amongst the luckiest girls in Aviemore. When she is not out riding with Cairngorm CC on the roads, she can be found on the trails with her Raleigh M-Trax 3.0 - a bike I have just been fortunate enough to receive from Raleigh on a long term trial/demo basis. Initial impressions are very good - I haven't done much riding on it (more in later blogs) - but it is a stunning looking bike, particularly the carbon rear stays, a feature that Raleigh have managed to incorporate at a much lower price point than their rivals. The design team at Raleigh have got it right again! So, Ian, does that get the prize for mentioning Raleigh ten times in one paragraph?!

I wouldn't like you to think that Raleigh is all we do though! I want to do a bit more in future on the boys from Boat of Garten who bought their jump/stunt bikes at Mike's Bikes, hopefully with some photographs of what they get up to. Choosing Diamondback has put them up there with the most exalted company. When Sam Pilgrim was asked to ride with Team Ashton Diamondback he was quoted as saying

"After seeing the product design ideas and image it was a no-brainer. The product is going to look very cool and with all the rider input it will be very competitive"

and  Martyn Ashton, rider and team manager said

"Diamondback has a heritage in cycling that can rival that of any cycling brand in the world. I’m very excited about the opportunity; it’s a great privilege to be working with a company that has such a history"

Check out the activities of Team Ashton at www.ashtonbikes.com