BeingBikeminded

Rollapaluza time! #cycling

nielsencerbolles — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:00:00 +0100

SPINSPINSPINSPINSPINSPIN

Overall standing for Sunday. Friend several places down.

Rollapaluza time! #cycling

Learning the ropes

nielsencerbolles — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0100

So you’ve been through it all - your first bike as a child: that red Apollo with those knobbly tyres, the mountain bike as a kid thinking it’s the only kind of bike, then the hybrid, the road, and the fixed.

But what about someone who hasn’t experienced those glorious years of transition? What if that someone is your friend who has just learnt to cycle (well, barely) and you are annoyingly trying to get her on a bike because you want to share the fun?

Teaching an adult is far more difficult than a child because an adult knows his or her limits and will take necessary steps to avoid injury. I think this pretty much sums it up:

I need to get some stabilisers!

It’s not that she can’t cycle. She just can’t cycle confidently let alone on the roads yet. I mean, she crashed into a bush…whilst going at a pace that a toddler running could overtake her.On the bright side, at least it wasn

On my part, I’ve begun to get an insight on how cycle instructors teach pupils considering I had to adapt my tone, speed (duh), and patience in order to make a tutorial successful. Also on my mind was structure, considering I have a habit of flip flopping on things to do, so that needs addressing.

I think the most important way to structure beginner training would be:

Get pupil over the bike and give it a walk.
Show them how to use the brakes - gears will be taught later
Let them try peddling whilst staying with them in case they fall. Tell them to look up and straight.
Practise braking

Of course when it comes to cycling, nothing will be gained without taking a few drops. It’s part of cycling whether you’re a newbie, veteran commuter or Mark Cavendish.

And Unfortunately for her, she will be back on a bike even if she doesn’t want to. That’s what you get when your best friend is a cyclist with four bikes. :)

yesitsmeaaron: beingbikeminded: BLOGGED: New track bike. #cycling 48T. Richmond Park clockwise....

nielsencerbolles — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:10:21 +0100

yesitsmeaaron:

beingbikeminded:

BLOGGED: New track bike. #cycling

48T. Richmond Park clockwise. Nearly died. D:

If you’re going to have a setup like this, then just get a road bike. It’s not even a track bike anymore…

Not really a fan of the road bike; I prefer the no-nonsense style of fixed/track and mixed with a road flavour to compliment my style of riding.

BLOGGED: New track bike. #cycling 48T. Richmond Park...

nielsencerbolles — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:18:37 +0100

BLOGGED: New track bike. #cycling

48T. Richmond Park clockwise. Nearly died. D:

Saturday cycling - sunshine, ahoy! #cycling #London #sun

nielsencerbolles — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:41:00 +0100

Saturday cycling - sunshine, ahoy! #cycling #London #sun

Track-standing in the sun #cycling #London

nielsencerbolles — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:57:48 +0100

Track-standing in the sun #cycling #London

Repairing them all. So much effort. T.T #cycling #London

nielsencerbolles — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:45:26 +0100

Repairing them all. So much effort. T.T #cycling #London

And hello there, new road bike! #cycling #British #Forme

nielsencerbolles — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:33:49 +0100

Forme Longcliffe 4.0

Microshift shifters

Seat tube

Carbon forks

And hello there, new road bike! #cycling #British #Forme

New chain, new tyres - all blue! #cycling #London

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:45:20 +0100

New chain, new tyres - all blue! #cycling #London

The Return To Richmond The last time I was in Richmond Park, I...

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:41:44 +0100

My friend's (Jonathan) first visit to Richmond Park

Broomfield Hill - pic from GoingGoingBike

Conquered with my fixie!

Bruised finger - not pleasant for cycling!

The Return To Richmond

The last time I was in Richmond Park, I had my hybrid, the Pinnacle Neon Two, for a few months and my fitness levels were, aheh…..non existent. I told myself:

I’ll return to that park when I’ve built enough strength to climb, descend, and spin without stopping for a lap

On Thursday, my friend, Jonathan, called me in the morning inviting me for a lap around Richmond Park. I was still cooped up in bed in the warmth.

It’s perfect weather for cycling! - Jonathan

I opened my blinds and wham, sunshine. No arguments here - cycling gear on - bolt outside my door - pump road bike tyres - adjust brakes. Me and Jon both have the same road bike (B’Twin Triban 3 - really worth the £300!) and set off for Richmond. When we arrived, there was a plethora of cyclists with bikes that probably cost more than a car and my eyes green with envy began the lap of the park.

The clockwise lap isn’t too bad. There are a few mini climbs here and there and fantastic descents. Yet, there is one monster climb that physically killed me when I first did it. Broomfield Hill, you are a &(£($&)&^£%@&£. I think that’s the best way to put it. It’s not a straight up climb. It’s a zig zag climb and it BURNS LIKE HELL. I didn’t think Jonathan expected that but conquering that hill on your first try is amazing.

But I think conquering that &^$%^&*£($ hill on a fixie tops that. Later on that day, I took my fixie up that hill. And I conquered it. Not only did I conquer it, I actually got a personal best up the section and overtook a road cyclist on the climb.

On a fixie.

ON A FIXIE.

It’s certainly an eye-opener!

nielsencerbolles — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:01:46 +0000

It’s certainly an eye-opener!

My jersey collection is starting to get bigger. -The Team Sky...

nielsencerbolles — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:58:34 +0000

My jersey collection is starting to get bigger.

-The Team Sky jersey is a replica (£25). Like hell am I paying £140 for the official one!

-RideLondon jersey came with my rejection letter for the RideLondon 100 mile London - Surrey. Pretty cool consolation. :3

-Team GB jersey was last year’s birthday present!

-Primal jersey = best bargain ever. Normally £80+ but got it for £28. Really breathable and looks really cool.

Fix up, look sharp

nielsencerbolles — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:33:00 +0000

It has been a month since I first acquired my fixed gear Fuji and, without hesitation, I’ve never had so much fun on a bike in my 20 years of living.

It’s weird that I’ve never ever ridden one up until now. I’ve always found fixies a “hipster” accessory or an East End essential, both something I’m not (I can’t grow stereotypical hipster facial hair; West London born and bred). But it isn’t. It’s possibly the most simplest and exhilarating way to get around London:

One gear to rule them all - no need to worry about changing gear. You focus entirely on speed.
Which means less parts to clean since there are no shifters, front and rear dérailleurs, gear cables, 2 or three chainrings and jockey wheels.
Which means less parts to go wrong; you only need to replace the chain, brake cables and brake pads now and then. Around £30-£50 a year.
And it’s bloody fast! It feels genuinely satisfying blitzing past those carbon fibre Treks, Specialized on CS8.

What makes a fixed gear so enjoyable to ride is the fact that the drivetrain is directly connected to the wheel, meaning there is no freewheeling. Nope. Nada. Zilch. People questioned me about the kind of bike I ride into uni and usually the conversation leads up to this question followed by my answer:

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“A bit. But that means I have to be more alert. It actually helps regulate my speed and positioning on the road.”

You’re not meant to speed anyway. Which is weird since I just praised my fixie for its blazing speed. After first zooming around I learnt to take it easy and that’s what made my rides a lot more fun. Taking in the scenery with a sense of awareness. Plus, it teaches you skills you wouldn’t normally see a road cyclist utilise; track standing has become so useful when I’m at red lights.

When I hopped back onto my road bike the sensation of freewheeling again was weird. I mean really weird. The habit to constantly pedal was nailed into my head. But it felt good to have both 2 styles of riding into my arsenal.

***

3 bikes, 3 styles, one city

Fixie: Black Fuji Feather 2013

Road: B’Twin Triban 3 2011

Hybrid: Pinnacle Neon 2011

Amusing to see my new fixie easily overtake those on road...

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:36:30 +0000

Amusing to see my new fixie easily overtake those on road bikes. :3 #cycling

Cycling around Hyde Park. Quite a bad way to navigate that bend!...

nielsencerbolles — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:04:03 +0000

Cycling around Hyde Park. Quite a bad way to navigate that bend! #London

Got meself a #TeamGB cycling jersey

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 20:35:59 +0100

Got meself a #TeamGB cycling jersey

Richmond Park cycling

nielsencerbolles — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:48:42 +0100

Cycling with @kingsroadrocks & @jazkilmister in an empty Richmond Park

Nielsen Cerbolles: Critical Mass #2

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 23:32:17 +0100

Nielsen Cerbolles: Critical Mass #2 :

nielsencerbolles:

Police, sirens, kettling, blockades and pepper spray. Sounds like a recipe recipe for another English riot, which is apt considering the anniversary is only days away. Yet somehow, these words are associated with a peaceful, apolitical monthly mass bike ride which has been going on for 18 years…

Critical Mass route & total route last Friday

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:18:00 +0100

Critical Mass route

My whole cycle route for Friday

Critical Mass route & total route last Friday

Pics from yesterday’s road race

nielsencerbolles — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 12:13:37 +0100

Pics from yesterday’s road race