kom op de fiets

Afternoon from Edinburgh. Glad to be joining such a broad and informed community of cyclists. I'm joining because I'm building a bike for the coming winter and need some specialist help. It's an 83 ALAN cross and I currently have no other parts (I guess tomorrow may be a little optimistic).

I gave up a 12km each way daily commute in April to work from home. I've tried getting a daily ride in through the summer but I could find no rhythm to the kitting up, getting out, getting back, cleaning up, it's been taking too much time out of the wrong parts of my day. The weather's turned bleak in my soul and I'm gathering mass in alarming places.

Once I have the bike ready my plan is this: Kit up and drop my wife at work and son at nursery and be back at the house by 8.00am. Then take the gravel rail trail west, climb the farm access roads to the reservoirs above the city and skirt the four of them before descending home to a breakfast of fruit, flapjack and Greek yoghurt. One shower later I aim to be reading my emails before it's a minute past 09.30am

I'm yet to work out the finer points of this route and it's exact timings but it is virtually car free and in the main, leafy and rural. What cars exist on the short connecting sections of road will be heading into town as I head out of it. I will enjoy looking into their canned faces.

I look forward to sharing a thread or two. Many hellos

Kom op de fiets

RollCNY

Welcome aboard. Sounds like you have a plan, and a great route. And if not tomorrow, there is always another one after that.

CbadRider

Welcome to the forum!

If you need help building up your winter bike, feel free to ask questions in the Bicycle Mechanics forum.

kom op de fiets

Thanks RollCNY

Think the route'll be great. I'm making good progress on the spec (currently just costing things out). I'm trying to keep the build Italian which isn't too cheap (mostly Campag) but I'm finding some good deals via Wiggle (Deda/Selle Italia). I'll hopefully have something more substantial to report soon. How's cycling in Central NY? Is that State or City?

kom op de fiets

Thanks CbadRider

Heading for the Bicycle Mechanics forum shortly. Might take a look at the thoughts in Vintage also.

I'm liking the pic and the exotic location, I don't live far from Brigadoon...

:0)

DEK

Welcome to BF. I'd love to see some pics of Scotland.

RollCNY

New York State.. Syracuse and the Finger Lakes. Great cycling country, gets fairly rural in a hurry. We have hills but not like a lot of the others on BF. But I have seen photos of some of the roads and trails in Scotland and Northern England, and I think you guys have idyllic down.

In the Italian front, remember that Fulcrum is Italian if you are looking for less expensive wheels. Of course, that may not help because I think they are the Campy shell to use shimano compatible hubs. You'll be Campy all out.

RaleighSport

Welcome to the forums btw, so how is the bike coming?

Jan Feetz

I just joined as well, Hello there "King of the Mountains on the Bike"