BeingBikeminded

A summer blockbuster with @BikemindedRBKC

Reel yourself into the world of cinema as Bikeminded introduces their Film Tour as part of their exciting summer cycling programme. Cyclists who join will weave through the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), learning about RBKC’s rich film history and locations.

Not only that, Bikeminded have also announced a film competition; grab any camera and make a 90 sec film of any genre as long as it includes the RBKC in a creative way. Once you’re done, simply post it onto Youtube or Vimeo along with the online application form. Don’t just sit there on your laptops or smarphones, get shooting!

See my blog post on Saturday’s fun ride here.

Tickets are only £7. Visit Bikeminded’s Cycling Tours page for more info.

First thoughts with the new bike

Looking for a new bike is and was hard. Really hard. With about….zero knowledge prior to my search, I had my work cut out researching all the bits and bobs in order to find the right bike (and, of course, have the money).

After a number of failed bids on eBay and no results on Gumtree, I resorted to Evans Cycles and talked to the mechanics. He recommended me this bike: the Pinnacle Neon Two.

For the ill-informed, Pinnacle is a brand owned by Evans. It isn’t as well known as Specialized or Trek but has the high quality parts as them. The fact that it isn’t a household brand means you can buy them at an affordable price, with my bike costing £350 - down from £500.

As for the bike itself, the Neon Two is a hybrid bike. Initially, I was aiming for a Brompton/ Dahon folding bike but knowing I’ll be challenging Richmond Park’s hills, I ditched it. It has 11 gears, road tyres, very lightweight and disc brakes. The concept of new brakes is new to me but it is said that they allow for better handling than your average-Joe rim brakes.

At a first glance, it’s a no-nonsense bike, designed what its meant for: speed. And my word, it is fast. Straight paths or excruciating climbs up Notting Hill, it does the job well.

What surprised me most was its weight. Just cycling with it felt as if you were just hovering off the ground. 

That is, if you avoid potholes and cobbled streets. The one problem I have with it is the lack of suspension. You aren’t covered when cycling over them, which gives your groin and arse a bit of a walloping.

Yeah, that’s about it after a few days giving it a thorough test drive. I think I’ll give it some proper judgement once I put it through the gruelling routes in Richmond Park. 

Bike Polo at Westway Sports Centre

Last Wednesday, Bikeminded with the London Hardcourt Bike Polo Association launched friendly games of Bike Polo at West London’s Westway Sports Centre. It’s a game where two teams of three are equipped with nothing but a mallet and a bike, battling with each other to win the ball and score goals. 

If you expect Bike Polo to be a classy sport for the upmarket types in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, think again. In all honesty, the game’s name is very misleading. It’s a combination of polo, rugby, hockey and jousting (in my head).

It’s not simple either. If you can ride a bike with one or no hands, you’ll find it easier to catch on but you still have to learn how to balance yourself, dribble, block, constantly be aware of your surroundings and make sure you don’t knock someone out with a whack of the mallet all at the same time.

And that’s what makes the bloody game thrilling! Don’t worry if you’re a newbie, though. Some of the people - including myself - were first timers and took it up pretty easily. Don’t have a bike and mallet? Bikeminded have some spares so you don’t miss out.

Mallets on offer. Image taken by Mina Zaher aka King’s Road Rocks. She was also at Bike Polo

Bike Polo is held every Wednesday at Westway Sports Centre. It’s a 3 minute walk from Latimer Road Underground Station and not far from Ladbroke Grove Station.