Hope in the future is rooted in the memory of the past, for without memory there is no history and no knowledge. No projection of the future can be formed without reference to the past. Past, present and future, memory and prophecy are woven together into one continuous whole. In a clear understanding of the past lies the hope of our future.
Year: 2013 (page 1 of 4)
I think I like the idea of Field Notes notebooks more than I like the actual notebooks these days, but this video is wonderful.
I love the idea that what you write in it becomes the soul of a notebook.
This is me on my first bicycle, a fourth birthday present and probably the last time I’ll get away with wearing a yellow jersey, not to mention those rather fabulous trousers.
I remember a number of other bikes from my childhood: a second hand bike that my Grandfather restored and hand painted blue and white, a Raleigh Commando from my Mum’s Kays catalogue and a series of bikes from now defunct UK manufacturer Viscount Cycles.
Two bikes of note from my Viscount era were a BMX manufactured by Shimano, yes that Shimano, and my first proper ‘racer’: a bright red, 10 speed, steel framed beauty. I remember thinking the rubber hoods on the brake leavers were the coolest thing ever — nobody else in the village had those. A quick rummage around the internet suggests it was probably a Grand Prix or Gran Sport.
As a child and a teenager we rode our bikes all the time. We’d get in from school, go straight out, come back for tea, go out again and then only come back in when we absolutely had to. In the summer holidays we rode so much I had calluses on my hands.
But I grew up and put away childish things, or so I thought, and moved onto what I then considered were ‘real bikes’: ones with engines. I learnt to ride on a Kawasaki KMX 125, then progressed to a Yamaha RD 350 YPVS F2, a Yamaha TDR 250 and finally a Honda CBR 600. Sadly a motor biking friend had a very nasty accident, I gave into family pressure, sold my bike and bought a car.
Obviously I was still feeling the need for two wheeled action, and the future Mrs Hughes and I both bought mountain bikes. I had a pearlescent white Diamond Back Topanga which I rode often, both on and off-road. We then started a family and for a reason I cannot remember the Topanga went to my Step-Father who still has it to this day.
A few years passed and it was time for a new bike so I could take my daughter out for rides, get fit and lose some weight. I bought a Specialized Rockhopper, I took my daughter out for rides, but I didn’t seem to get fit or lose weight. I’ve since learnt you have to actually ride your bike for that to happen.
Our garage was broken into and my Rockhopper went to the big car boot sale in the sky. Our insurance company sent me a Specialized Hardrock as a replacement. I thought the first bike was too big so exchanged it for the next size down — this was a mistake. I didn’t find the bike comfortable, I didn’t like the disc brakes I had thought were so cool, and so I rode it no more than a few times for a few miles with the kids.
As I’m sure you’ve noticed cycling has grown in popularity in recent years. Cycling is the new golf we’re told and a new species has been created — the MAMiL. I have a number of friends who are very keen cyclists and they naturally took to chatting about cycling on Twitter and elsewhere. Even with this peer group influence, I still didn’t get cycling, I didn’t understand their passion and obsession, and may have grumbled and muttered to that effect on occasion. Ahem.
Then came 2013.
Being tall and leading a ‘sedentary life style’ I have always had back trouble, and in February 2013 my luck ran out and I ruptured two discs in my lower spine. I’ve not experienced pain like it, and the weeks that followed were pretty tough.
The ruptured discs were pressing on nerves which initially gave me excruciating sciatica followed by issues with strength and sensation in my right lower leg and foot. Not being able to feel my foot or able to lift my toes was rather scary. Of course not being able to move my toes made walking very difficult so my meagre level fitness slipped further.
I saw a specialist who thought I’d need surgery but that we should start with a guided nerve root block, which is an x-ray guided injection into the affected nerves. I didn’t want needles or blades anywhere near my spine so I continued with extensive physiotherapy which luckily began to work well for me.
I knew following this that I had to get fitter, and discussed the best exercise with my Doctor and Physio – they both recommended cycling. There was no escape.
With my mountain bike being too small I was worried about aggravating the damaged discs again, so I purchased a correctly fitted and more road oriented hybrid Trek FX 7.4.
I thought about buying a true road bike, or racer as we used to call them, but was concerned that my back would not cope with the drop bar riding position. Given that I bought a full on road bike just a few months later some might question my decision, but I don’t think I’d have felt as comfortable in every sense on a road bike.
I remember the first proper ride on the Trek; it was the height of summer, sunny and in the mid 30s and my lack of fitness was brought home to me in no uncertain terms.
But I loved it – I finally got cycling.
I began to understand the obsessive nature of cyclists or so I thought – little did I know that I was just scraping the surface. I have always wanted a hobby that involved ‘gear’ but I had no idea quite how much ‘gear’ you need for cycling in the varied weather patterns of the UK – more of which in the future.
I slowly increased my mileage, determined not to overdo it and so put myself off. I quickly learnt why lycra and ‘padded pants’ are so important, and made the move to proper cycling clothing. At the same I took the plunge and went for cycling shoes and clipless pedals, which are fabulous and scary in equal measure – still.
As I went further I started struggling with numb hands and aching wrists, one of which I had broken in one of many motor cycle accidents, and wished for the multiple positions that drop bars would afford.
Then I received an email from my local bike shop Corley Cycles announcing their end of season sale, maybe here was a chance to pick up a bargain road bike. I went to look at a Specialized Secteur with 58cm frame and I found that I need a 61cm. The only bike they had in that size was a Specialized Roubaix, a carbon framed road bike, which I decided I’d try out just for size.
As the chap wheeled it outI knew I was in trouble – it was matte black with refreshingly minimal graphics. I rode it and loved it.
Being a 2014 specification model it wasn’t in the sale, but a quick deal was done and the order was placed.
The Roubaix has transformed my cycling; it’s faster, and more comfortable than the Trek – it’s a joy to ride. Last weekend I completed my longest ride so far, at just over 25 miles. I realise to most cyclists this is nothing, but given I was having trouble walking in the first half of the year I was rather proud.
Whilst I intend to cycle as much as I can through the winter, I long for spring and summer, and for the warmer, lighter days they will bring.
My name is David and I’m a cyclist.
October marked the tenth anniversary of this blog, and of the many iterations and designs it has been through.
I remember being excited when I heard about new blogging platforms such as Blogger, as they felt like a move back to the web as it had been envisaged by Tim-Berners Lee, and that entranced me so much in the early days: a read write web.
The web is now even more read write due to the rise of social media, and yet at the same time is arguably more closed and restrictive as those same social networks try to control and ‘monetize’ their users.
With the recent revelations of the extent of the NSA’s spying on all internet users I fear we will see the openness of the web eroded even further as nations and users attempt to protect themselves and their data.
The next ten years will be a time of profound change for the web and its users.
A little while ago Timbuk2 kindly offered me a chance to review their Command TSA-Friendly laptop messenger bag; I’ve been using it on my daily commute and found much to like about this great bag.
Design
The Command is a classic laptop messenger bag but with a TSA-Friendly twist. So just what is this TSA-Friendliness of which Timbuk2 speak, and perhaps more to the point why should we be TSA-Friendly when the TSA themselves are so unfriendly?
The TSA-Friendliness is essentially it’s an extra zip which allows the laptop section to open out and lay flat, which means your laptop can go through airport scanners without having to be removed from the safety of you bag and placed in one of those crusty grey bins. I haven’t flown in the time I’ve used the Command, but anything that saves me removing my MacBook from the safety of it’s sleeve sounds good to me.
The laptop compartment is on the rear of the bag and is accessed by a single zip. Inside the laptop section is an integrated sleeve to hold an iPad.
Opening the flap reveals the main compartment which is very large and can easily hold a jacket, headphones, books, files etc.
At the front of the main compartment is a divider which creates a slim pocket at the front of the bag, perfect for a book or Kindle. There is a full size zipped pocket on the front of this panel and four pockets plus three pen slots on the rear. One thing this bag is not short of is pockets; I love having a pocket for different items I carry – there are so many on this bag that I sometimes forget what was in each pocket.
Under the flap, on the front of the bag, are four more zipped pockets, including a ‘Napoleon’ pocket that can be accessed without opening the flap – very handy for keys and travel passes.
On top of the bag is a really good grab handle, which is well padded and big enough for my large hands.
One of the defining features of the Command is the use of metal hooks rather than the usual plastic clip buckles. They look great and add a degree of style to the Command although in use I found them a little fiddly and I would feel more secure with the usual plastic buckles.
The straps for the buckles are also rather long, with my usual commuting load of laptop, headphones and a book there was about 6 inches of strap hanging beneath the bag.
The Command also has optional velcro silencers which simply cover the velcro on the bag with colour co-ordinated nylon. They are a nice addition, but would be better still with the Rickshaw Bags style magnetic closures to keep the bag closed without needing the buckles.
As always Timbuk2 have a range of great colour schemes, although I went for a rather corporate black and silver.
Construction
Timbuk2 have a deserved reputation for producing well design and well made bags and the Command is another very well made and finished bag.
However there were a couple of areas that I felt could be improved.
For me the bag needs a stiffener across the top of the bag, underneath the grab handle, as even with a laptop in the bag it folds up on itself. Admittedly this was a 13″ laptop in a the medium bag which is really for 15″ laptops, and I also realise this is a personal preference, I can see that if you were using this in true messenger style on a bicycle you may want the bag to wrap around you more.
The strap is great with an excellent quick release buckle, however the strap and buckle are rather heavy, which in turn makes the bag feel heavier than in actually is. I’m sure the strap will wear well, but it feels disproportionately heavy in comparison to the lighter bag.
The padding in the laptop section is interesting being full of holes whack makes it lighter but appears to offer the same protection. I certainly had no qualms about carrying my MacBook and iPad in the Command.
I always think you tell the quality of a bag from it’s zips. The Command uses high quality YKK zips which are smooth and quiet in use and have excellent pulls on them. It’s amazing how many bag manufacturers cut corners on what is a vital part of any bag.
In Conclusion
The Timbuk2 Command is a great laptop messenger bag, very well made and should last and last.
The TSA-Friendly design should make airports that little bit easier, and the multitude of pockets and sections should mean you are never short of somewhere to put your gear, although finding it maybe another matter.
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.