London Singlespeed Society » will

Xmas gift watch ’08

will — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:04:21 +0000

Anyone out there fast enough for winged trouser clips?

I’m definitely not nearly quick enough to wear them, and would undoubtedly look like a bit of a weirdo, but I still think they’re a great stocking filler.

Rapha kills tweed resurgence

will — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:20:29 +0000

Having arguably helped to spark the glorious comeback of tweed (which we have reported on time and again) for the modern urban cyclist with the subtle, but popular, tweed detailing on their shorts:

Rapha have gone all the way and produced a limited edition tweed softshell jacket. Like many things Rapha, I both wonder if the world really needs, for example, a £50 silk cycling scarf, but also really, really want one. The jacket:

beautiful as it is (proper pictures here) just doesn’t quite do it for me – I’m more of a traditionalist when it comes to tweed, and would have preferred a classic green or brown, as opposed to what looks to me much more like a business suit check. In any case, none of this matters since, at £450 (which looks even worse from my vantage point on the Western edge of the Atlantic) I’m not going to be able to afford one. Ever.

But I still want it.

Lobster claw brakes hit London

will — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:07:44 +0000

I had originally believed that the problem of stupidly placed brake levers had been hitherto confined to New York and other North American cities at the cutting edge of fixed gear trendiness. But I am sad to report that London has fallen foul to this latest craze. While wandering through the trendy East Central area of the capital I came across this:

It’s highly possible that there’s a good reason for this, which I can’t think of. Having fallen foul of poorly adjusted brakes on a number of occasions (mostly off road mind you) I am a bit worried about whoever rides this. If you’re reading, please stop the craziness!

Music powered bicycles

will — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:32:26 +0000

Travelling entirely by bicycle, carrying all of their instruments, accompanied by a two person film / support crew (with Buzz the travelling cat for company) and funding the trip entirely by playing concerts along the way, the Oregan based band Blind Pilot are touring the entire West Coast of the USA. Their blog Instruments Alone gives the scoop on the band’s progress, some great video footage and a photo gallery devoted entirely to Buzz. Particularly amazing is the upright bass trailer – surely proof that with a bit of ingenuity and some effort, an awful lot can be achieved using the humble bicycle.

The entire journey will eventually be turned into a film – we can’t wait. London Singlespeed wish Blind Pilot the best of luck on their incredible tour, and sorely wish we could be there to support them.

Yaks, yetis and singletrack

will — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:06:14 +0000

Well we’ve just got back from a tour of the Annapurna circuit, a commonly walked, but rarely cycled route through the Himalayas in Nepal. And no, of course I didn’t do it on a singlespeed, don’t be daft. The route is nowadays ridden as an annual race called the Yak Attack, but we were there as tourists. Despite falling ill, falling off the bike, smashing my rear derailleur clean off on a rock (an instant reminder of why singlespeeding is so great) and some altitude-related unpleasantness, the trip was unbelievable and I would highly recommend it to anyone. There’s a lot of un-rideable sections, mostly very steep rough staircases cut into the mountains, but when it’s rideable, it’s breathtaking. Despite mountain bikes and components being impossibly expensive in Nepal the country has some very skilled, and very strong mountain bikers, so if you ever go, expect to be humbled by the locals.

Marco crosses the landslide on the way to Tilicho Lake, the highest lake in the world:

Tenzing and Marco wait to cross the Thorung pass – 5416 metres above sea level:

Marco, Calden and Tenzing descend from the Thorung pass:

Check the London Singlespeed Flickr account for some more photos from the trip and if you want to know a bit more about it, do get in touch.

Save the Bristol to Bath cycle path

will — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:03:06 +0000

The Bristol to Bath cycle path is under threat. Having lived there for some time (though not now, obviously) I’d like to see the path survive so would hope everyone can take a couple of minutes to sign the online petition here.

Happy New Year!

will — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:06:14 +0000

Happy New Year singlespeeders!

Here’s a hilarious and very instructive article about the finer points of wheelbuilding – hopefully this will get you all excited about all the cycling you’re going to do in 2008…

Best bike sticker ever

will — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:11:45 +0000

While wandering the internet looking at bike stuff (as I all too often find myself doing) I came across this quite special bike sticker…

Anyone seen something that can top that?

Am I a total douchebag for riding a Specialized Langster London Edition?

will — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:41:40 +0000

I’ve never been convinced by the Langster, and the emergence of themed ‘city’ editions of each has made me even more unsure about them.

They’ve received a lot of stick all over the internet for the bikes and I don’t think I can do a better job than Bike Snob NYC of explaining all the things that are wrong with them (he’s talking specifically about the New York version) so here’s the link.

Good Friday at Herne Hill Velodrome

will — Sun, 20 May 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Photos are now up in the gallery from the 2007 Good Friday race meet at Herne Hill velodrome. It was a great day with hordes of shaven lunatics thundering around the track.

London Singlespeed abroad

will — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:00:00 +0000

London Singlespeed recently visited New York City. Luckily for them there was an alleycat organised for that weekend, and though too utterly unprepared to think about racing, they did go and watch… there are photos in the gallery for all to see.