Kent Peterson

I love this blog because of it’s ‘good will’ nature, living apparently car free Kent has changed the way he lives, cycling everywhere and encouraging others to do the same via the Bicycle Alliance Washington and good internet presence.
An avid long distance cyclist Kent has a randonneuring page with some impressive mileages covered, generally on a fixed gear/singlespeed or small wheeled bicycle, but never anything run of the mill, for me however his crossing of the Great Divide a 2,500 mile route winding from Canada to Mexico along the spine of the Continental Divide (bear country!) on a singlespeed entirely self supported is by far the most radical (read: The way of the mountain turtle).
Although Kent comes from the other side of the pond he has that eccentric English gent touch as witnessed by his homebuilt mudguards, handlebar bags and panniers, a bit of a nutcase some might say, not me I think he’s pure genius. kentsbike.blogspot.com

Rad Dad

I just found out that my father is leading a double life, he is long retired and cycles every day on his Dahon folding bike around the leafy lanes of Epping, well thats what I thought anyhow.
But no, it seems he has been seen hanging around the local BMX/skate ramps getting some ‘radical air’, pulling ‘endos’ and ‘stuntin’ to impress the chicks - I’m so embarrassed, the least he could do was wear some baggy jeans and give the old beard a trim.

Richard fixed it

Richard has this Orbit America road bike thats been rebuilt so many times it’s like Triggers broom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSmSTpRUeLs

Since this post it has been rebuilt again and is now sporting a new concept known as ‘gears’, these apparently enable the rider to tackle any gradient with ease.

I eagerly await the next rebuild as the only next logical step is to use some carbon fibre parts to get the weight down.

The thing about Al...

Alan is a workmate and friend of mine, we work together in the motor vehicle dept of the local college, he is without doubt one of the most charitable, well meaning, easy going, unselfish, good samaritan, good humored type blokes I have ever met.
He works with students that have learning difficulties, - severe in some cases - and is tolerant to a point way beyond the call of duty, BUT...
...And here’s the thing, he is also bloody clumsy, whilst working together he has (not in alphabetical order) crushed my fingers under a car seat frame, banged my head on a car door, tripped me up and himself just for good measure, walked into walls and people, spilt boiling hot tea all over his reproductive bits, the list just goes on and on.
All these things have happened with a great degree of humor, but one thing is for sure, I’m glad we met because my job would be really boring without him.

The originals

This group of gentlemen cyclist are a fairly typical sight at the tea hut in Epping forest, although these are slightly different from the norm in that they prize the originality of their vintage bikes above all else, the bloke with the cap has a fine collection of unrestored - or rusty as we call it - classic machines dating back to the mid 19th century.

Green tin hut in the trees

Hi folks, do you drink tea?, do you like wheeled objects of any shape or description? (especially bicycles), do you dwell in the forested south east of London that we know as Epping Forest and the surrounding areas? - you do? - wooo hooo!, please feel free to help in this blog...