Cycle Sights

Very Old and Well Used Leather Saddle (Brooks?)

2018-11-20T15:28:00.004+02:00

Seen parked up near my home is this very old and well used saddle. It looks like a brooks make biit I couldn't tell as it had nmo marking from wear. If you think the saddle is old and well used, the bicycle it sits on is probably the same age. As with all things in Bulgaria, age doesn't matter as long as it works.

Early 1990s Giant T-Track MTB Renovated

2018-11-12T09:23:00.000+02:00

A a favour for a friend who had this bike parked outside for 10 years unridden, I decided to renovate it and get him back on the road again. After stripping everything, degreasing, cleaning and regreasing and fitting new cables and other bits and pieces here is the finished project. This retro Giant T-Rack was made in the early 1990s over 25 years old, but looks like new after the work I put in.

My Boardman Comp Bicycle in Bulgaria

2018-11-06T09:19:00.003+02:00

Brought over to Bulgaria with in in 2017, my 2016 model Boardman Comp purchased from Halfords in Cricklewood London has served me well over the last 18 months. Built for Cyclocross racing it is ideal for Bulgaria roads with their potholes and rough terrain. I don't' think a road bike would last on these roads here from my experience.

The Officially Verified Oldest Bicycle in the World

2017-11-23T18:24:00.000+02:00

Well it is recorded as the first officially verified oldest bicycle in the World. The bike belongs to German Baron Karl von Drais, a civil servant in Germany. It was made in around 1817 and was named Draisine by the media at the time.

Party Spoilers on the Cycle Bar

2017-11-20T15:36:00.004+02:00

This form of cycling has been around for quite a while now and a novel way have a party with friends doing something quite different.

However there have been moves to ban this form of socialising because it was becoming anti social. Groups get drunk and start abusing passers by. they are effectively a liability to the public on the highway.

There is something quite wrong about drinking and driving, albeit the driver is not under the influence. Shame that certain parties spoilt it for other parties so to speak!

Pedal Motorbike Styled Bike with Weird Extras

2017-11-17T18:12:00.000+02:00

Really don't know what to make of this. It has the feel of a pedal motorcycle but the only real motorcycle element if that front headlight and back swung handlebars. Love the raccoon mud flap on the front wheel. More a work of art than anything else I guess.

1992 Raleigh Kalahari stripped down Ready For a Facelift

2017-11-11T20:30:00.002+02:00

Well I've had this bike since buying it new from Halford in 1992. Put dropped handlebars on, gave it three coat os Hammerite and set it up for a hybrid tourer, two of which I completed up and down France. Brought it over to Bulgaria in 2005 and lent it out for over 10 years. Now back in my hands this year. Stripped it down today and will be giving it a new lease of life as a hop around town bike.

(Will post a picture when completed.)

Stylish Italian MBM Fold-up Bike

2017-11-07T21:20:00.004+02:00

Lovely little stylish fold up bike made by the Italian bike manufacturer MBM. Love the covered chain, pity more don't come with this option as it makes cleaning the chain less frequent and we all know how messy that is. Retails for around £180-£200. Italian Ferrari red is an eye catcher as well.

SPEC AS FOLLOWS:

Frame: steel folding h47

Fork: steel

Headset: 1”

Crankset: black steel

Bb set: cartridge

Brakes: polish alloy

Brake levers: alloy/resin

Free wheel: 18T

Pedals: w/ball

Hubs: steel

Rims: alloy

Tyres: 24x1.75 white wall

Seat post: steel

Stem: cp steel

Handlebar: cp steel:

Saddle: Selle Bassano T-kappa

Brompton for London but NOT Bulgaria

2017-08-23T19:41:00.000+03:00

Bought this in London and used it for commuting and many runs, ideal and loved every moment. My move to Bulgaria was the end of the Brompton Romance, it just would not have survived the ragged cobblestoned street that frequent the town I now live it. Some other Londoner is now enjoying the commute on my ex-bike.

My Boardman CX Comp in Bulgaria Now

2017-08-22T19:33:00.002+03:00

Cyclocross bikes are perfect for Bulgaria with the state of many roads. that is exactly why I brought this over from the UK now settled in Bulgaria permanently. I can safely say that this is the only one in Bulgaria as it cannot be bought in Bulgaria. The nearest agent in in Cyprus!

A 'Written Off' Bicycle

2015-10-14T22:12:00.000+03:00

My bicycle after someone hit me head on on the 7th September!

I commute to work on a daily basis in all weather conditions. This particular day was unfortunate on the road as I was hit hard and catapulted over a car that had been put off course by a rogue van!

After being shipped to hospital in an ambulance I am still recovering over a month later. Wouldn't wish this on anyone.

My Dahon Fold-Up Bike

2013-12-03T11:14:00.000+02:00

I bought this earlier in the year to commute to work and back and was the first time I had experienced a fold-up bike. The novelty soon wore off as climbing steep off road gravel hills just didn't hit the mark with this bike. It was clear the bike wasn't designed for this type of terrain. I subsequently sold it (for a profit I might add) which was a shame as I love the concept of the bike which was stored in the boot of my little Nissan Micra!

A Snow Bike

2013-07-04T12:38:00.000+03:00

Well it's mid-summer, but thoughts are firmly on how to get to work on my bike when winter comes. Weather is becoming more extreme, but it would never get tot the stage where I would require a snow bike like the on exampled here. I just wouldn't turn up for work rather than try and ride this contraption in.

A Dutch Bike in Holland

2013-04-29T20:10:00.001+03:00

No surprise to find this Dutch bike parked in a town called Amersfoort in Holland. It looks so natural there.

Animal Style Cycle Helmets

2013-03-29T10:35:00.000+02:00

Saw these for sale for around £35 quid, yes they are kids animal style cycle helmets if you look closely. Well anything gets them to wear them these might. Safety first, mind you they might scare a few people on the way past.

The Spectacle of a Cycle Race

2013-03-24T22:28:00.003+02:00

The spectacle of a cycle race never fails to excite, even though the sight might only last a few seconds before they have flown past. However capturing the moment by camera keeps that moment there as long as you want it. This was in Boxhill, Surrey last year during the Olympics (Daily Telegraph source)

Saddle Sight For Sore Eyes

2013-03-16T01:03:00.000+02:00

Well I certainly wouldn't want to be in the lead in this bike race as the best view is from behind! Many a soiled thong after a few laps me thinks and no rear lights to be seen.

Silly Bike

2013-03-03T22:39:00.000+02:00

Well the word that comes to mind here is, unnecessary. All this complication with the complex frame is just plain silly. The rider I feel is just looking for attention and certainly has that as he rides by. Keep going my man, you will come a cropper with failings with such a complex system. Simplicity is the mainstay of reliability, this is the opposite!

Silly Reverse Steering Bicycle

2012-12-03T10:59:00.002+02:00

Nice colours but this simple pedal bicycle is designed with reverse steering surely solely for circus and shows. There is a danger however of after riding this bike for a prolonged period to get into a car and steer in the opposite direction!

A Tricycle With A Loop Frame

2012-11-11T22:59:00.001+02:00

Interesting to say the least especially when you look closely and see that the seat and handlebars should be facing the other way round for this to be rideable. The bigger picture is, why on earth design a bike that can't be ridden, other than an art form I suppose?

A Tower of Bicycles

2012-10-31T21:40:00.000+02:00

A tower of bicycles with chains all over the pace but I assume it is ridable for two people, so technically a high rise tandem I suppose. Love to see a couple riding it though, looks like it would take a couple of heavyweights though.

A Bike No Good For Off Road For Sure

2012-10-24T12:26:00.000+03:00

Yes a novelty bicycle just for fun and another leaf out of a hippy era enhanced by the rider's fashion and hair style. Looks like and old Arsenal FC away top as well. Whatever the bike is for I certainly would ride it off road as my manhood could well be in compromised over the first bump!

An 1885 Rover Bicycle by James Starley

2012-10-18T12:33:00.000+03:00

James Starley's (English inventor) 1885 Rover is usually described as the first recognisably modern bicycle. This was probably the first design with the double triangle or diamond framed which is where the of the modern bike design still remains.

Kevin Muhilly's Chopper Bike

2012-10-16T14:09:00.000+03:00

This chopper bike is the creation of bike designer Kevin Muhilly from Los Angeles, USA. His website can bee seen at http://www.roadrecumbent.com. I like the idea of the slanted top bar whilst still keeping the saddle horizontal. Not really a bike I'd be seen on, but to heavy metal merchants it might be a thought from a different slant.

Invisible Bike - With a Shadow of Doubt

2012-10-07T18:00:00.003+03:00

As the saying goes, "Air we go, air we go, air we go!" Yes going somewhere on air it seems. But wait, it is not an invisible bike without a shadow of doubt as we can see. Someone has been using a picture editor for sure, so why couldn't they also get rid of the shadow for more intrigue?