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Despit the snowy and frosty conditions, a few Firth Cycle’s regulars joined Jim and I for a jaunt around Calder Valley on Sunday morning. The route was led by Terry (his first and last - thanks for the tarmac memeories Terry) and went like this: started at the shop in Queensbury, then Ogden Water, Oxenhope, Leeshaw Reservoir, Bodkin Lane, Stairs Lane, down the side of Crimsworth Dean, Hardcastle Crags/New Bridge, up to Pecket Well then a monster road climb up Bedlam Hill on the Hebden Bridge road and finally a sneaky right onto the drainage channel back to Ogden and then back to Queensbury. 25 miles in total. A great trip out as you can see from the pics but the best news had to be that the Withens Pub is set to re-open in the near future and is currently doing tea and cakes which makes a nice stopping point.

We are planning to collate a mailing list of other like minded riders so if you would like notice of other rides please send me your email and i’ll add you to that list.

The BBC news said (amongst other things) that the budget would prove expensive for smokers, drinker and motorists. The best solution? Get a bike! (you knew that was coming right?). Give up the fags, drink less booze, buy less fuel and get out on your bike. Yeah drive a 3.5L V8 gas guzzling Landy if that’s your bag but commute on your bike when you can - balance it out. I get fed up feeling like I must ‘go green’ overnight but it isn’t practical for everyone to give up their cars tomorrow, if you ride your bike to work or to the shops once a week then it’s a start - and you’ll feel better physically and financially. Rant over.

Click on the picture for a few more shots…

We were so impressed with the recon job done on these PACE Air Force forks that we thought we should tell you all about it.

These beauties belong to Mr John Walker and are usually attached to his 1996 Bontrager Race Light which is currently in the workshop for some TLC (thats Tighten, Lube & Clean!). Since Pace forks were bought by DT Swiss they no longer service any models older than 2003 - a shame I know especially since (in my opinion) they are one of the limited brands that has a heritage that should be shouted about. Anyway, one man’s loss is another’s gain and that man is Tim Price who is now servicing the older stuff. He is based in Pickering, North Yorkshire, and be contacted on 01751 476815. Thanks Tim.

Made a New Year resolution to have more fruit this year? Well, here we have a fine nearly new Orange Patriot, which you might well be in the market for. Read on.

Click on the picture for more images.

The Patriot is without doubt the most versatile bike in the Orange range. Its all round ability allows it to ably perform as an all day all-mountain trail bike, yet it excels as a full-on free-ride rig in severe Alpine terrain.

The Patriot’s frame has been completely revised with new state-of-the-art folded down tube and swing arm sections. This ingenious new frame shaping gives a bigger contact patch between the CNC machined head tube and the down tube for a stronger welded join avoiding the need for unnecessary gussets. The addition of a CNC’ed shock mount on the swing-arm disperses shock loads into the wider area of the swing-arm’s body, reducing the stress at the shock’s connecting point.

Improved stand over clearance is provided by the lowered top tube, giving extra confidence when things get hectic. Adding a gusset at seat-tube/top-tube joint for extra frame durability.

RockShox Maxle on the rear drop-out is the icing on the cake, bringing a tool-free quick-release 12mm bolt through rear axle to the Patriot.

Single-pivot simplicity means reliability. The tried and tested Orange pivot design is rock-solid and easy to maintain. With the adjustable geometry feature, the Patriot is a breeze to set-up for any riding style.

The Spec

• Monocoque/Tube 6061 T6 Aluminium
• Colour: Orange (what else!)
• Fork: Fox 32 Float R (Optional Fox 36 Talas RLC)
• Rear shock: Manitou Evolver Air X4
• Rear Mech: SRAM X9 Medium Cage
• Front Mech: Shimano XT
• Shifters: SRAM X9
• ChainSet: Race Face Atlas All Mountain X Type
• Cassette: SRAM PG950
• Brakes: Hope Moto Raptor V2 with Vented Discs
• Hubs: Hope Pro 2
• Rims: WTB Dual Duty FR
• Spoke: DT Swiss Competition S/S Black
• Tyres: Kenda Nevegal 2.35
• Headset: Hope
• Seat Post: Thomson Elite
• Stem: FSA All Mountain
• Saddle: SDG Bel Air
• Handle Bars: Truvativ Hussefelt
• Pedals: Bring your own!

So what will all this cost you?…only £2200

£50 million is up for grabs from the Big Lottery Fund and it could be invested in cycling and walking across the UK but only if you really want it.

Sustrans needs you to vote for Connect2 , one of four projects competing on ITV1 in the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million Contest with the winner decided by public vote. Online voting will open on 26th November at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk and telephone voting takes place over the weekend 7th-10th December.

Do one of the following today so that they can remind you how and when to vote.

• Text CONNECT2 to 80010
• Complete the online form at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk (also has more information about the projects) or
• Call 0845 058 1373 to leave your contact details.

Go on then…..

Spent last weekend in the Scottish borders with a bunch of mates doing what we do best - breaking stuff!  We stayed here at the Criffel Inn and would recommend it to anyone (including families) who want to explore the 7Staines.  Great digs and food and the owners are bikers too so they understood our strange ways (mostly pre-ride fettling in the car park).  The photo above shows young Jim on the left, Andy Moore in the middle and Craig Tabiner on the right, check out more photo’s from the trip by clicking on the pic or just go there yourself.

Follow this link for information on ‘local boy done good’ story, Martin Ogden.  Also known as ‘Oggy’ he’s won a bunch of races and can drink a steaming hot brew in double quick time.  Vicebikes (here) and Oggy have been in cahoots over a beautiful 4X/free-ride signature stem which is available from the store at £50.  Phone for more details/availability.

The Moulton has arrived in the workshop for a strip down and an assessment of the integrity of the frame. I’m not yet sure it’s good enough to save so the project might stop before it really gets started. The plan is to replace all the 1960’s components with new shiny ones. The old stuff is going in the bin, unless a committed collector of all things Moulton wants them?

Feel free to email with any suggestions about which ’shiny bits’ we should consider using. The (very) basic plan is to build new 16″ wheels using a Nexus 8 speed hub with coaster brake on the back, and either a hub brake or Dura Ace calliper on the front. Another option is to braze on some disc mounts. Other than that, we’ll just suck it and see.

There are more pictures in the Flickr Set

Follow the link below to the online (.pdf) copy of the new 2008 catalogue.*  Bikes should be arriving in store before the end of September.  Please email for prices.  The few 2006/2007 bikes we have left will be going into sale as soon as we have new models to replace them so watch this space if you want to grab a bargain. 

*Firth Cycles will not be held responsible for any electrical malfunctions resulting from drooling into your keyboard.

>Bianchi 2008 Catalogue<

This 700c wheel (more photos here) has been given life using spare parts lying around in the workshop.  The hub is a Shimano Deore LX 36 hole in black laced onto a black Rigida SX 100 rim (36 hole - obviously).  Finished off with DT Swiss double butted spokes (2.0/1.8/2.0) with silver brass 12mm nipples.  Laced using a 2 cross pattern making it nice and strong yet lightweight and it also includes the Firth Cycles signature gold nipple.  This wheel and any other you might want building is for sale, please e-mail for details/prices.