Road Bikes

Happy New Year all.

We get loads of broken bikes through the workshop and sometimes they look like this poor thing:

Whether mangled by the elements or chewed up by the owner there’s something about the destruction that fascinates us, it’s like rubbernecking (Generally, any act of observation in a manner considered unduly overt or otherwise unseemly) for bike enthusiasts!

So based on this fascination of the broken we’ve started a collection of pictures on this theme and would welcome any pictures you might have, please email them in the usual way and we add them here:

CRUNCH Pictures

Wear your helmet but try not to use it.

At last, the waiting is over.

Firth Cycles now has an online store where you (yes you!) can buy lovely things for your bike. Click on the screen shot below to take you there.

Johnnie Walker and I hope you like it. Its simple clean layout means it’s all about the products and not about the interest free credit, special offers or adverts for mobile phones flashing up all over the place.

Firth Cycles is a real shop run by real people and we wanted the online store to reflect that a bit. One of the first simple things we did was to put the address and phone number on the bottom of every page so you can contact us easily should you need to.

We are listing more of our products every day (except on Sunday’s when we ride our bikes) so please keep checking the home page or alternatively let us know what you’re after and we’ll do our best to sort it out for you. All the prices on the site are the same as those in the store so no surprises if you want to come and collect in person.

Enjoy.

Click on the photograph for more…

A sad set of photographs of a beautiful Bianchi 928 CARBON L that kissed the front of a car at about 30mph. The rider (and still riding) suffered a broken back, several weeks in hospital and some metal pins to add to his biological mix. He avoided being speared by the broken ends of the tubing by going over the car but used the well known ‘tarmac/skin’ method to slow himself down – ouch. If you ever wondered why you should wear a helmet, have a chat with this guy and his family who are all glad he’s here to tell the tale.

The BBC news said (amongst other things) that the budget would prove expensive for smokers, drinker and motorists. The best solution? Get a bike! (you knew that was coming right?). Give up the fags, drink less booze, buy less fuel and get out on your bike. Yeah drive a 3.5L V8 gas guzzling Landy if that’s your bag but commute on your bike when you can – balance it out. I get fed up feeling like I must ‘go green’ overnight but it isn’t practical for everyone to give up their cars tomorrow, if you ride your bike to work or to the shops once a week then it’s a start – and you’ll feel better physically and financially. Rant over.

This 700c wheel (more photos here) has been given life using spare parts lying around in the workshop.  The hub is a Shimano Deore LX 36 hole in black laced onto a black Rigida SX 100 rim (36 hole – obviously).  Finished off with DT Swiss double butted spokes (2.0/1.8/2.0) with silver brass 12mm nipples.  Laced using a 2 cross pattern making it nice and strong yet lightweight and it also includes the Firth Cycles signature gold nipple.  This wheel and any other you might want building is for sale, please e-mail for details/prices.

Bike Radar has an exciting sneak peek at the 2008 Bianchi line-up. We’ll be taking orders soon and you’ll be able to see them in store mid-September. You’ll have get behind me for an Oetzi though!

Bianchi Sneak Preview Link