Went to Ilkley in Yorkshire today to JD Cycles to test out and make a final decision on getting a tandem bike. We had ridden a tandem in Key West and really liked the experience, but weren't fond of the bike (heavy monster, no gears, reverse pedal brakes (remember those from when you were 8?!) and no up-hill ability which is a must in northern England!). That ride lead to one of this year's Red Book goals which was a European Tandem Tour!
We arrived at the tandem shop and were having a look around. The tandem bikes were priced anywhere from 250 to 14,000! We stayed far away from the 14,000 side of the room! As we were wondering where to start, Jamie of JD Cycles came up and started to talk tandems and assess our knowledge (z-e-r-o). We said we'd been on one and liked it. So he took us outside to try one. He also gave us about an hour and a half's worth of instruction - did you know there is a special way to get on a tandem, that the rear rider never puts their feet on the ground and that there is a whole communication language between the 'Captain' and the 'Stoker'?!
We tried out two different ones, one with narrow 'road' tires and one with 'mountain bike' tires. Each had 27 gears and three different brakes. The lowest gear was so 'spinny' you could get up a mountain with it (which we will not be doing soon!). And we were able to find a frame whic
h fit Steve's 6'2" and my 5'4". The ride was far better than we had in Key West (very exciting to see how fast you go!) and the decision was made, we're having a bicycle built for two!
On the way home we took a drive through Yorkshire, which is gorgeous even when it is grey and rainy and February, and we stopped at the Angel at Hetton for lunch. I'm going to have a rave here and say that the food was fabulous! Ham with fois gras to
start for me, tiny sausages with a mayo mustard seed sauce for Steve and mains were pheasant and a wonderful soup des poisson. 20 years ago, England was regularly panned for its restaurant food - has that ever changed! England is a food mecca, bringing in and combining the foods of many cultures with its Steve is going to have a very difficult time getting me out of the UK this trip!
h fit Steve's 6'2" and my 5'4". The ride was far better than we had in Key West (very exciting to see how fast you go!) and the decision was made, we're having a bicycle built for two!
On the way home we took a drive through Yorkshire, which is gorgeous even when it is grey and rainy and February, and we stopped at the Angel at Hetton for lunch. I'm going to have a rave here and say that the food was fabulous! Ham with fois gras to
start for me, tiny sausages with a mayo mustard seed sauce for Steve and mains were pheasant and a wonderful soup des poisson. 20 years ago, England was regularly panned for its restaurant food - has that ever changed! England is a food mecca, bringing in and combining the foods of many cultures with its Steve is going to have a very difficult time getting me out of the UK this trip!
No comments:
Post a Comment