Research on a bike for toughening up the buttocks

Choice did not tell me much at all.

Have looked through Woolys Wheels.
Have looked through Clarence Street Cyclery.
Have looked through Inner City Cycles.

Clarence Street is for people who are loaded or bike-snobs. Woolys stocks Giant brand, too, but at about $200 more than Glebe.

Inner City Cycles have a rudimentary web site, but the bikes are within my range and my level of detail. They also have a bike group that meets early each Saturday.

Not sure that my travelling partner sees the need to get tough by cycling. She wants just to do more strenuous walking. I think both will be essential. More as today progresses.

Getting the right equipment

Tim suggested I bring the old bike in and they would quote on fixing it. Then I could decide whether to do that or buy a new one. He said that by the sounds of it (new tyres, new saddle, look at the gears and the brakes) it would not be anything below $200. Heard that joke about the farmer's axe that has had 10 new heads and 5 new handles?

He showed me three bikes: a Giant (American) for $585 that had big tyres, ergonomic handles and turnoffable suspension; an Avanti (NZ) for $585 that had wide tyres and fixed suspension; and, another Avanti for $399 that had thin tyres and no suspension. The saddles were all the types with the holes (yay!). He did not go much into brakes and gears except to say they were similar to all three and that the main thing for me would be comfort.

Comfy in the saddle

Pushing straight over the poor focus, my saddle is showing the elements, with just a hint of gizzards pushing through in one spot.

Still a long way to go to reach the dizzy heights of the charmer below which was nonchalantly propped against a wall at the Royal Cruising Yacht Club at Rushcutter's Bay.


My son-in-law has just purchased a Gary Fisher bike for $2K so, on the assumption he is not just being profligate, I will ask him about saddles and padded pants.

We will fly out on Saturday 18th September 2010 and return Saturday 9th October. Two weeks beside the canal - with hired van and bikes - and a week in Paris.

Grander days

A thorough brushing of the cobwebs and dirt will soon have this looking better. However, I will need to have the chain and the gears looked at and both tyres replaced. I will check out the seat or comfort.

Preparing to cycle le canal du midi

Hopefully, this will eventuate September/October 2010. These images were made during 2008 in the Languedoc.



I am preparing the occasional post to sort out what I need to do to prepare the ageing body for two weeks cycling tow-paths. Need to have a bicycle renovation, first!