Feb 23 2008

When I began this blog, I had rather pictured myself as writing to it every day, after assorted rides out. However it hasn't quite worked out like that. It is after all the middle of winter and for most of the time the weather has not been conducive to lengthy pleasure trips, and the every day rides about town have not seemed worthy of record. I do still expect to be writing accounts of pleasant picnic trips when spring arrives.

I am growing stronger, although not at the rate that I've had rather hoped for. But I realise now that I was expecting far too much. It is quite enough that I can now ride for half a dozen miles without my legs falling off at the end of it. And I have actually lost a few pounds in weight. Unfortunately what is required is the loss of a few stone! But I'm sure there is much to come.

I could easily have written an eulogy of TauTag daily. I don't know when I have been so delighted with a new thing before. And she has of course bedded down in several respects. I believe that the Pedelec unit is now running even more smoothly, and I have noticed that it no longer wants to take off at junctions with the mere weight of my foot on the pedal. The brakes also, as splendid as they were a right from the start, have definitely become even smoother.

My saddle experiences have been less happy alas, and I have now ordered a Brooks B-17 leather saddle, which from past experience I am more or less certain will suit me well. I have been impressed by the fact that the sprung seatpost has not objected to my weight and works very well. I have of course tightened it to the maximum as I have the sprung forks. I shall have more to say about these forks another time.

I sold another Agattu a few days ago (where do I apply for my commission I wonder) when a gentleman admired TauTag as I was unchaining her from a post. I had to work very hard to prevent myself from rapturising over her, and point out carefully that although the cost of recharging was virtually nil, the battery life was definitely limited and the replacement cost very high. But none of this deterred him and he spoke of contacting the supplier right away. I don't know him but if he does get one I'm sure we shall quickly become acquainted.

Reading Tony Fleccia's account of his Qbike I have bought the same small black battery horn that he uses. I hope never to use it, but the occasional antics of odd cars are unbelievably foolish. And I may say that it is not elderly drivers who are at fault in this respect.

Feb 13 2008

She's called TauTag. A nice Germanic name and I like the sound of it. It's good to have named her at last.

With a bit of fiddling about I managed to pop rivet my old saddle together this afternoon and to my surprise it looks as if it might work. I only rode about the town as it's half term and we have our grandson to see to and Mary was out.

I've also sorted out the bike bins into the best possible set up for them. They won't be as easy to take off and put on as they are designed to be but after all I have plenty of time. I tried out the lights again briefly this evening and was much impressed again. I love the hub dynamo which seems so simple and elegant one wonders why bottle types ever existed.

Here are pics of TauTag. I shall update them quite often.

http://www.axst45.dsl.pipex.com/bike/tautag/

Feb 12 2008

A period of consolidation during which I have written nothing. But although there has been nothing noteworthy to record I have still greatly enjoyed myself. I have pottered about the town a good deal and have taken one or two rides out a little further. On one of the rides through Falkenham and Kirton I covered 10 miles which is further than I have done for many years, and further than I had expected to do as yet. I am gradually getting stronger and more used to riding but my legs are still decidedly rubbery after a trip. I have now covered just over 100 miles which is further than I had expected to do as yet, although it doesn't sound very much.

I am pleased beyond measure with the Agattu which really is everything that I had hoped for. The Pedelec system that I was a little dubious about initially, has turned out to be quite perfect for me. Being without a throttle to think about has turned out a great pleasure. I simply pedal and the complicated electronics work everything out for me. It would be very easy to become blasé about the assistance, and I switch the power off from time to time to remind myself of just how good it is.

Rather small things continue to give me so much pleasure. The brakes for instance are very much better than anything that I have ever had before. Smooth progressive and powerful it is hard to see how any thing could be better. Similarly the gears are a great delight. They are perhaps a little low but this actually suits me perfectly and the range is sufficient for me very seldom to be in top. When I first understood how things work with the chain constantly moving, I thought what a waste it was not to have dérailleurs, but I had underestimated how very useful the ability to change down whilst stationary would be. Cruising to a halt at junctions without any thought of gears, and then being able to slip down is so very relaxing in town.

The saddle saga continues, and although I have found that the range of adjustment is greater than I had at first realised it still does not suit me. It's a big soft comfortable device which is very sensibly sprung underneath, and feels fine when one first gets on, but later very definitely does not feel nearly so good! It is certainly a waste for me on this lovely bike and I shall have to change it but as yet have no idea what for. Brookes saddles always served me very well years ago and perhaps that may be the best way to go. We shall see.

We have had several days of truly glorious spring weather which have of course been quite perfect for cycling. I am now completely confident in my ability to get eventually fit again, and the large investment in this bike which I was far from sure about, has turned out very well indeed.

In summary then the bike simply oozes careful design and refinement everywhere. All the cycle parts are strong and sound, and, which is not always the case nowadays, work.

Enough - I shall now ride out into the sunshine and perhaps have wonderful things to report on this evening.

4:00 pm.

The new prop stand arrived by the midday post and is fitted and OK. I daresay few people will have actually noticed the repair lashup but I did and it's really good to have my new Agattu pristine once again thanks to Lloyd of 50cycles.

Prop stand

I have been wondering whether the prop stand on the Agattu puts rather too much strain on the frame fitting for one to feel comfortable about it. The wringing stress at the end of that quite long lever must be very considerable. It's a great convenience to have one of course but not at the risk of damage to the frame. I wonder if I could get a double legged stand which would not present the same problem. I have been looking on the web but all that I can find are quite crude looking things. Something else to be considered.

Later - with the usual tremendous help from pedelecs forum, I've discovered that a nice looking double legged stand is available, but on inspecting the bike it's clear that there is no room for it to be fitted. In fact there is no room for anything at all in that position. It will have to be the same stand refitted when 50cycles send the new one, and I shall have to use it very carefully remembering the twisting forces on the frame. That means no use with full panniers I suspect. Which of course is just when it is most needed. Not a tragedy but nonetheless a shame.

Wed. Jan 30 2008

A pair of Bike bins in black and silver arrived this morning from the chap advertising on ebay and very smart they look. Unfortunately they are not a perfect fit on the Agattu as the carrier is not a flat plane on its outer surface. One arm sticks out and spoils things and although one can work around it to some extent it's a shame that the lovely simple fitting is compromised. It's hard to understand how the maker thought this strut sticking out was a good idea.

More palaver later as I tried to check the tyre pressures and pump them up. Nothing seemed to fit and nothing would read the pressure. Fortunately I found eventually that the pump of the car emergency starter would work with the Shraeder valve converter and both put air in and check the pressure. The good people on the Pedelec Forum tell me that what I have are wood valves, and they agreed that they are a confounded nuisance. Still at least I shall be able to keep the pressures up now, and would want to use the electric pump in any case.

I went into town a couple of times to do a bit of shopping and the bike bins worked very well although being rigid they do rumble a little on the back.

Tues, Jan 29 2008

I've been out a couple of times today but just on casual potters around the town. For this sort of thing the bike is quite superb. It's wonderfully pleasant to ride of course, but the extra urge definitely makes one feel safer, although I can't quite see why it should. Certainly getting away at road junctions and traffic lights that little bit faster is a great benefit. I think I'm probably doing the right thing in breaking myself in rather slowly. My legs are certainly getting stronger as I am aware of the process. Perhaps I can hope to do 20 mile trips with my camera when the spring really arrives in a couple of months. So much to look forward to.

No riding today

I've just been out in the car today (yuk - spit!) No riding at all. AND even the threat that I may have to do the same tomorrow! I don't drive myself and haven't for so many years that I've really rather forgotten what cars used to be like to drive. But I do at least remember that they were nothing like as simple as I now know they are from watching my wife drive our Honda Jazz with its incredibly simple and effective belt tranmission. Come along technology. You can do it. You have produced the Jazz. Now invent an entirely new battery that simply stores electricity in some sort of atomic sponge without using chemistry at all!

A pleasant email from 50cycles saying that they have the matter of my broken prop stand in hand.