Bon Voyage

I bought my first proper, albeit old, road bike just under a year ago - I was doing longer and longer road rides, and I needed something more than my fixed gear. I had my heart set on a 1982 Raleigh Rapide (for some reason) and scoured classifieds and ebay until I found one in my budget and size. It had everything I was looking for; Reynolds 531 frame with classic geometry and horizontal TT, Brown bar tape & saddle, mint green paint job and even a sprinkle of Campy. I've had some good times on that bike, and I feel that the perverse experience of doing big rides and maintaining an outdated bike has taught me things about riding, about bikes and about myself, man, that have been hugely valuable.

But - almost inevitably - my riding has outgrown the limitations of a 30+ year old bike. I've upgraded - more on that later - and I'm slinging the Rapide back on ebay, in order for it to reveal some universal truths to its next owner.

I took it out for a quick spin and a glamour shoot today, so thought I might as well pop a few pics on here as a bit of a eulogy. Chapeau little Rapide!

Lake District Withdrawal

I was here - bikeless, alas, but with some good friends and good beer - at the weekend. Man I would kill to be back there now! Make the most of what's left of the Summer, gang!

Brooke Thompson Engraved Lighters

When I was a teenager my dad bought me a polished brass Zippo from an American army base he visited in Germany. I'm pretty sure I still have it, but it's buried amongst the stuff I've got boxed up in my dad's attic. I'm gonna go through that stuff real soon, and if I don't find that lighter, I'm gonna buy one of these sweet engraved versions, hand engraved by Brooke Thompson, and just launched at Wood & Faulk... if I can decide which design to go for.

Tenspeed Hero: January Prints Jersey

I'm a sucker for a bit of celeste. By luck or by design, both of my two bikes plus Miss PR's bike have ended being various hues of pistachio and peppermint, and when I got the idea to design a custom team jersey last year there was really only one logical option for the colour palette.

Tenspeed Hero are making some of the most stylish technical cycle kit on the market, and their Bianchi-blue inspired new January Prints Jersey is no exception. Even better, it comes in male and female specific cuts (and the design has gone down well with the SO) so we're seriously thinking about getting one each and hiring a tandem for the ultimate partner look.

These jerseys are limited edition, so be quick...