Re:
Out for a shakedown this afternoon, and very nice it was too.
The first six miles were on the road and with the tyres at 50psi F, 55psi R, I seemed to have plenty of grip and also a low rolling resistance. The gearing is spot on although I did need an 11th or 12th gear on a bit of a downhill, but I can live with the compromise.
Over a bit of the levels to Sandford and I picked up the Strawberry Line which runs for Yatton Station into the outskirts of Cheddar.
On the gravel.
Then it was across a road and onto a decent stretch, through Winscombe and the tunnel beyond all the way to the A38 at Shute Shelf.
I was going to stop in Axbridge for a tea and some photo's... but it was closed, so I carried on over towards Cheddar reservoir. I had no intention of riding right into Cheddar as on a damp Saturday afternoon in January there is not much going on or open, so I spun round a mile or so before the town and headed back.
People on the Strawberry Line can be a little odd. Dog walkers were universally considerate but some of the walkers seemed to think that I had no right to be there and if they just kept walking straight at me I would somehow disappear. No one said anything and I slowed down for every man Jack of them, but some of the looks I got, especially from the fat bird and her gorilla who I met both going to and returning from Cheddar. They were both stomping along looking at their phones, possibly counting out the number of steps they had to do before being able to return to the fish n chip shop for another cod lot and a gallon of Pepsi.
I also came across a small group of 20 somethings who were hanging about with their bikes just the other side of one of those narrow pass barriers which is just wide enough to let a bike though. As I approached, all three of them suddenly decided they needed to pass though RIGHT NOW! I stopped, waited and watched all three through and as the last one was level with me I said "You're Welcome!" I guess it was small comfort to know that the clothing they were wearing was totally unsuitable for the terrain they were about to encounter, smart slacks and woollen overcoats ain't going to do well , not when I was looking like this.
The King is superb; nippy, stable and stiff but at the same time able to soak up the worst of the trail buzz. The Gravel Kings were just that, and they also coped with slippy mud and tarmac with equal aplomb.
I now need to get over to the Forest of Dean and have a bash round the fireroads and old railway beds that criss cross the place.
Out for a shakedown this afternoon, and very nice it was too.
The first six miles were on the road and with the tyres at 50psi F, 55psi R, I seemed to have plenty of grip and also a low rolling resistance. The gearing is spot on although I did need an 11th or 12th gear on a bit of a downhill, but I can live with the compromise.
Over a bit of the levels to Sandford and I picked up the Strawberry Line which runs for Yatton Station into the outskirts of Cheddar.
On the gravel.
Then it was across a road and onto a decent stretch, through Winscombe and the tunnel beyond all the way to the A38 at Shute Shelf.
I was going to stop in Axbridge for a tea and some photo's... but it was closed, so I carried on over towards Cheddar reservoir. I had no intention of riding right into Cheddar as on a damp Saturday afternoon in January there is not much going on or open, so I spun round a mile or so before the town and headed back.
People on the Strawberry Line can be a little odd. Dog walkers were universally considerate but some of the walkers seemed to think that I had no right to be there and if they just kept walking straight at me I would somehow disappear. No one said anything and I slowed down for every man Jack of them, but some of the looks I got, especially from the fat bird and her gorilla who I met both going to and returning from Cheddar. They were both stomping along looking at their phones, possibly counting out the number of steps they had to do before being able to return to the fish n chip shop for another cod lot and a gallon of Pepsi.
I also came across a small group of 20 somethings who were hanging about with their bikes just the other side of one of those narrow pass barriers which is just wide enough to let a bike though. As I approached, all three of them suddenly decided they needed to pass though RIGHT NOW! I stopped, waited and watched all three through and as the last one was level with me I said "You're Welcome!" I guess it was small comfort to know that the clothing they were wearing was totally unsuitable for the terrain they were about to encounter, smart slacks and woollen overcoats ain't going to do well , not when I was looking like this.
The King is superb; nippy, stable and stiff but at the same time able to soak up the worst of the trail buzz. The Gravel Kings were just that, and they also coped with slippy mud and tarmac with equal aplomb.
I now need to get over to the Forest of Dean and have a bash round the fireroads and old railway beds that criss cross the place.
