I’m not good with bikes.  By which I mean I like them, I like how some of them look more than others, I’m a magpie for shiny, and I’m a sucker for vulgar superbike carbon.  But I don’t really understand how they’re made.  I don’t understand gear ratios, groupsets, crank lengths, single speeds, fixies, lugs, headsets…all a bit beyond me.  So Bespoked Bristol – the UK Handmade Bicycle Show – probably wasn’t really my bag.  I mean I like looking at shiny new bikes, who doesn’t?, but I think it helps if you know and properly appreciate what you’re looking at.  On that basis, let’s do some looking…

ok, not strictly a bike...

well it's swish...

can't see the forest for the trees?

now that's a FAT wheel!

on to the weird...

...and wonderful?

Onto something I actually get.  And use.  Tyres.  I got to have a nice chat with the guy on the Schwalbe stand too, who advised me to try the Durano S tyre for sportive riding…though that may well not stop me opting for the Ultremo ZXs because they’re fast and pretty :).

And then finally, to carry on my continuing love affair with a certain brand…

Rapha Continental "Feather" bike

Best road frame in show too, by Ricky Feather.  There’s a whole philosophy going on behind it from Rapha Continental.  Most people buy their kit to match their bikes…maybe I could buy the bike to match mine? 😉 *grin*.  The show seems to have been a success – there were certainly plenty of people there.  Hard to be inside looking at bikes rather than outside riding one though – I wonder if the glorious sunshine brought people out to the show or kept them out on the road?  Or maybe, like me, they managed to do both in the same day :).