Proofing Your Hide Before Winter

No bicycle ride today so I took the opportunity to feed the B67s with Proofide. I bought mine from eBay, but when in Keep Pedalling in Manchester I noted that they sold it too.
 It states that you should apply it underneath your saddle too and not buff that off. Any qualms about greasy mess under my bottom, whilst out and about, have disappeared. The thick gloop soaks into the English saddle hide quicker than you can apply it.

Applying to the underside as well as to the top helps to waterproof/weatherproof your saddle. I have applied a thin polish to the top, which I am leaving to soak in, before buffing off. They will be back on for a cycle ride tomorrow.

In Which I Revisit The Towpath...

Yesterday we had company in the form of Lil'Miss and her friend. The CH and I took them through the riverside gardens, over the bridges and into town. From here it was a short hop to the canal and a different part of the towpath. Let's call it towpath West. Last time we took a slightly hazardous route on towpath East, but on this stretch we had a nice smooth road and a flatter, wider towpath to choose from. We took a combo of both. I think this could well be a regular circuitous route for us. The only problem being the steps down to the towpath. We may well have to use the chandlery drive next time and hope they don't notice two very colourful bikes.

Using Protection!

Yesterday saw a flying trip to a fabulous bike shop called Keep Pedalling, in Manchester's Northern Quarter. If you ever find yourself in Manchester then this area is well worth a visit. Independent coffee houses mix with book shops, record stores and hip boutiques. For us it was a quick trip to pick up the only Mock Croc Sawako Furuno helmet to be had north of the M25...shocking really. This fairly small shop has a great collection of bicycles; I was particularly taken with something called a Surly Moonlander. They had an extensive Brooks leather display, not just saddles! Lots of accessories; I picked up two Basil seat covers, which have taped seams, essential for protecting your leather B67! I chose a red/white polkadot and lil' miss had a fetching pink/white design. No more wet botty syndrome. Great couple run Keep Pedalling and they certainly know their stuff. Visit, I know we will again.

Spot Me (In The Dark) Badge Fashion

Check out these lovely beauties bought today from Keep Pedalling in Manchester. They are reflective so glow in the dark. Anything that highlights me on the road has to be a good thing doesn't it? Trouble is that I want the other designs now too.

Just Want To Give...

...a shout out to these guys.

They are a fantastic one stop shop for all your cycling needs, plus they have lots of feminine cycling wear. No need to look like a lad in Lycra is there...

Today's Ride - Where I Test Out The Dorothy Cover

A shorter ride today, aka our usual jaunt into town and back. Lidl had their cycling items in this week and himself the cohabitant wanted a soft shell jacket, whilst I wanted the spoke reflectors. It was a good seven miles, most of the return being completed in hard driving wind and rain. I am pleased to say that my shopping basket plus items stayed dry, whereas my attire did not.

Consequently I have submitted yet another order to Velovixen for this...The Rain Wrap from Georgia In Dublin.

By The River...

ScuffsRUs

Owing to my clumsy dismount yesterday, I have scuffed the lovely Miss Cherry's frame, hence my new purchase of one of these...

Today's Ride - Along A Towpath

Mmmmm...when your other half, the co-habitant, decides upon a gentle cycle ride using the not so local towpath, say "no"! I did not and so we set off, me, him and daughter on what was to be a muddy, tree-root lined, bumpitty bump, skid, slide, oh CRIKEY ride out. The omens were not good to start with. Firstly my seat and handlebars needed raising. This took forever. Then daughter wanted hers doing too. This ate up some more time. Eventually we set off...thunderous sounds started to rumble. We rode by the river, missing the first entrance for the cycle path, which we subsequently found. Following the cycle route signs, we ended up down a dead end on a rabbit hutch housing estate (you know the ones - soulless Barratt Homes boxes).  U turns abound we went back onto the main route towards the cycle path entrance, located behind a pub. Prior to that we stopped for water and mints at the Co-op, where I bumped into an old school friend. She too was on a bicycle - seems we are all at it these days! Bidding her goodbye, we found our entry point for the towpath easily enough and negotiated mainly flat grass and dog walkers initially. Once we had left urban terrain behind it seems all thoughts for a continued flat run and dreamy, easy glide rides were but a distant memory. Puddles started to appear across our rather narrow track; deep ones at that. Marsh marigolds and reeds crept closer towards my nearside, blurring the edge of the canal. Brambles and hawthorn edged my offside. The more I concentrated on steering a straight path, the higher my paranoia at the potential for falling into the water. Tree roots across the track like sleeping policemen every few feet did nothing to aid my sore back. In fact by the time we reached our watering hole destination at our turn around point, dismounting became a rather unsightly tumble off onto legs that could barely stand; all in front of a fairly large crowd in the beer garden. Twas not good! A G&T later and feeling was starting to return to my body. Dinner was eaten and very pleasant it was too. We continued on towards home, declaring that returning down the towpath was not a good idea for the Pashley bicycles or our sanity. Several villages later and three exhausted individuals reached their end point.
Using the towpath was a great way to be traffic free. We also saw many points of interest, flora and some very nice properties fronting the track. Not sure what they were built for, but they reminded me of station houses alongside railway tracks. Rather substantial dwellings. Completely hidden away, unless you own a narrow boat. On the downside were all the other things mentioned. Would I do it again? Probably, but let's wait for my body to recover.

Poppy and Cherry Propped At The Green Man Inn

Dorothy Has Arrived From VeloVixen

Dorothy is here...

and guess what? Daughter wants one, in this colourway

Team GB Fever or Rule Britannia

Maybe it's watching Victoria Pendleton a few too many times around the Pringle track, or just maybe Pashley naming my bicycle Britannia has drawn me to conclude that I rather fancy this helmet.

Saddle Up!

Keep it quiet, but this beauty is mine...just won the auction on ebay and it has never been used...yeay!

Dorothy In Ruby Red

Take a look at this...

Introducing the Dorothy cover from Georgia in Dublin. I've just ordered mine in time for the Autumn weather. It should also prevent my bread rolls from bouncing out of my basket, on the return journey from town. RRP £20

Poppy and Britannia...

Introducing in pink, Pashley Poppy and in red, Britannia, better known as Miss Cherry!
Today they went shopping for ribbons, french bread and a case of Montepulciano D'Abruzzo...

Poppy belongs to my young daughter and is a perfect introduction to an adult bike. She flies across bridges and down the main roads. Her basket is smaller than her mummy's, but it carries her cycling jacket, water bottle, strawberry laces, ribbons for Doc Martens and anything else we can think of.
Cherry has proudly carried a french stick, veggies, water bottles, Tunnocks Teacakes and a full case of wine...hic. She also likes to take a break at this riverside pub.

Here is a close up of the Aldi shopping basket in the same fetching shade of red, which fits perfectly into Cherry's basket.

Here it is carrying dog food for Tansy and Rupert.

This also involved a coffee break, where much praise and admiring glances are de rigeur. Gliding on a Pashley is like taking a classic British sports car for a spin. Heads turn and when you stop for refreshments, conversations over the bodywork are inevitable. The leather seats on both bicycles are, of course the Brooks B67s...

The handles on the Poppy are cork grip with a straight handlebar. On the Britannia they are leather grips and bent as on the Princess models...

Quite simply they are...