In case anyone’s wondering how the recumbent build is going, at the moment it’s not.  I actually got it pretty much assembled over Christmas but never got past half way down the drive without something falling off – not exactly reassuring.  Then, I broke my welding mask and a week later, fell off my bike in the ice and chipped a bone in my elbow.

Ironically enough, if I’d been on a recumbent the fall would not have been as far so I may have escaped injury.

Then, after a couple of weeks out of the saddle, the front gear cable and rear gear cable snapped in successive weeks.  I totted up all the things that needed fixing on my Trek – both mudguards, front derailleur, front chain set, pedals,  rear wheel straightening, cables  (brake and gear) and decided that more was not working than working.

So, after 12 or so good years, I decided to retire the Trek and, since the recumbent was not going to be ready and I have concerns over its practicality and reliability, invest in a new bike.

I’ve been looking at new bikes for a while and decided on a Boardman Hybrid Team from Halfords.  Some people have concerns or maybe some snobbery issues with Halfords and prefer their “local bike shop”.  Personally I’ve had good and bad experiences with both.  Anyway, I chose this bike as it was large, light (at least compared to my old Trek 7200), excellent value for money – with £100 off - and had some great reviews.

My bike – with mudguards, rack and other accessories fitted.

I have not been disappointed.  Ride is incredibly smooth – both in terms of vibration which seems to be absorbed better by carbon forks, and drive and gears.  I am getting to work about 5 - 10% quicker on average.  Brakes are great – hydraulic disks – I’m used to old school.  Although they don’t really stop me any quicker – they don’t seem to need constant adjustment.  However, when they do need servicing it looks a bit more complicated but I used to bleed the brakes on my 1975 mini about once a month without too much problem – although they were still useless (drums).

Had 2 punctures in a couple of hundred miles but this is probably more bad luck than bad tyres as the glass shard that caused the first and thorn that caused the second were both pretty vicious.

So – the recumbent will be done later in the year – in the mean time I’m off for a ride.

Cut and weld, grind and weld, regrind and weld, weld, grind, curse, cut and weld.

Before you start you need a good pot of coffee.

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Having attached the rear triangle after the first weld it was time to attach the seat post and suspension. 

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I bought my trek 7200 hybrid about 12 years ago now. It’s a bit like the pick axe the man kept for 20 years with just 5 new picks and 7 handles.

OK – its not that bad – but certainly the back wheel has been replaced a couple of times, the chain, the rear cogs and derailleur and a few assorted cables.

Still rides fine but looking a bit battered. I’ve always felt it was a bit small – not low – but short. I fitted some bar extenders a year or so ago and this helped a bit.

I recently inherited some money. Obviously, my wife spent half of it before I’d got it but this left me with a few hundred pounds together with some birthday money which I have stashed away.

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