Back in 2013 when I decided I was going to do LeJog I bought myself a bike.  That bike was the Kona Dewdrop – a rather splendid bike that suited my style of riding.  Essentially I will cycle on everything from road to canal path to dirt track.   The Dewdrop is a hybrid bike with drop handlebars, Avid BB7 brakes and was bought 12 months old off ebay for £300.  The guy I bought it off had fitted carbon forks to get rid of the harsh ride that others have complained about.  In the 18 months of owning it,  it’s stood up pretty well to everything I’ve thrown at it, even a metal post!

Since owning it, I’ve slowly replaced bits to make it my own.   After hitting a metal post in December 2014 and sliding off whilst cycling on ice the other week, I was concerned that I may have bent the frame.  After taking it to my LBS (Red Kite Cycles) they reassured me that all was good and that the frame was straight.   What wasn’t straight was the pedal, the left crank, the handelbars, the left brake/shifter and bottom bracket.  The forks may need replacing as they don’t make a uniform noise when you tap them on the left hand side.

So now I’m busy replacing parts.  The new bits going on the bike are:

• Shimano 105 5703 triple 10 speed chainset.  I’ll get around to fitting the 105 10sp cassette and shifters later in the year.
• Shimano PD-A600 touring pedals.   The last set of Shimano SPD pedals were bought in 1998, so about time I bought a new set!
• Hope bottom bracket.  I was looking at the ceramic version, but my LBS said I would be wasting my money.

So I can see that possibly before 2015, I may end up replacing pretty much everything on the Kona Dewdrop.  In fact with the forks in need of replacement, I’m considering this….

The Genesis Crois de Fer frameset.    The hybrid has been good, but I’m eeking more towards a CX now.  This frame looks the business too.   Watch this space for further developments!

So I’ve started training for LeJog 2015 by cycling to work.  This is largely in response to Stovesy continually sending me little updates via mapmyride that every day he has cycled x miles.  My ride to work involves an 8 mile cycle ride through deepest darkest (it is very dark at this time of the year at 7.00am) suburbia into the centre of Birmingham.   Then it’s an equally dark ride bike home at 6.00pm at night.   Whilst I’ve got a particularly bright front and rear light set up, what I was noticing that I wasn’t being seen from the side.  Given that most car drivers are blind to cyclists, something had to be done.

I came across the Nathan LightSpur whilst browsing Amazon and thought I’d give it a go.   It can be used by cyclists and runners alike and it’s bright!  It gives off a particularly bright light and I noticed an immediate difference in traffic not trying to run me over.   The light is activated from the side and has two modes – flashing or static.

So if you fancy being seen at night – this will certainly help!