Time for a new bike…….
10November 9, 2016 by welshcyclist
I’ve been riding my Raleigh Pioneer for quite a while, probably, at least seven years full time, as a commuter, and for leisure rides etc.. During that time it has virtually been rebuilt, new components throughout, and I wanted to renew them again now. Fortunately, my employer opened this year’s CycleScheme, a chance of a cheque for up to £1,000 for a bike or commuting equipment.
My presumption that it would allow me to purchase new components for my Pioneer proved wrong however. The scheme only allows us to purchase a bike and accessories, but components were a big no! It doesn’t make sense to me, but I am not going to argue the pros and cons of that, I want to tell you about my new bike.
Like my Pioneer, it’s a Raleigh, a Raleigh Royal 24-speed tourer to be precise.
I bought it in Tredz’s Cardiff branch, along with some new commuting gear, jacket, socks, overshoes, padded shorts, and rechargeable front lights. The staff there were very helpful, I must thank Duarte in particular for his input, because, despite me having been commuting for all these last 12 years or so, I am a complete novice at bike fit. Not that I have met the Royal in person yet, they had one in stock at the warehouse, which will be at the shop in a few days, and I will make an appointment to go and try it out, fingers crossed that it will live up to my expectations. I want a comfortable ride, I’ve always felt the Pioneer was that bit too big for me, leaving me with numb hands, because leaning forward too much i.e., stretching forward put too much pressure on them. I am quite a shortie, only 5’7″ with a 29″ inside leg, in the old money, Duarte said that constituted a small size 50 cm, why that can’t be in inches as well, I’ve no idea. Feet and inches input for the sizing formula produces a metric size frame, it’s all very confusing.
But, the excellent news is I’ve taken the plunge, and a new steed is on it’s way.
Sadly got to close now, but hope to provide pictures an more soon.
Cheers.
Welshcyclist's Weblog 
Good work. The bike sounds ideal for commuting. I look forward to seeing the pictures.
Cheers tootlepedal, I was thinking about a proper “fast bike”, but decided on a “slow bike”, I’m never going to catch you up! But the new bike has drop handlebars, we’ll have to see how I get on with them, because I changed my Pioneer Venture from drops to straight, just couldn’t work out how to change gears! But that was back in 2006, I believe, I’m too lazy to check the exact date, hopefully I will acclimatise myself quickly to the new discipline entailed with using drops, after all these years of riding bicycles? Fingers crossed anyway. Thanks for looking in, cheers again. I’m afraid I haven’t been keeping up to date with yours or anybody’s blogs lately, I will have a look soon. Say hello to Mrs. tootlepedal.
I have got drops but rarely use them as it is a strain on my back. I mostly ride on the hoods as they say. You wouldn’t have to go very fast to catch me up! I will say hello to Mrs T from you.
Happy new bike…. 🙂
Thanks jobby889
Good luck with your new bike. Getting a new bike is an exciting time for us bike riders but I am really surprised that you are changing your bike given your past blogs and the apparent love for your Pioneer. Will the Pioneer become a second bike or is it being “recycled”?
Interesting comment about your hands. I was measured for a new Trek last year and I have had some numbness in my hands on occasions.
Look forward to reading your posts about the new bike.
Hi Graham, I am getting the new Raleigh Royal via my employer’s Cyclescheme, originally I wanted to get all new parts wheels, crankset, gearing mechanism and so on, to virtually rebuild my beloved Pioneer, but the scheme will not allow you to do so. This is stupid I know, so I went for the only option available to me under the scheme, i.e., a new bike, but at least it allows me to get some new commuting gear as well. Thanks for popping by, cheers.
The Pioneer will, now, be gradually rebuilt, at least I hope so. Hopefully, I will, then, have three bikes that I love to ride, my Pioneer, the Royal and my single speed. Unfortunately, working shift work, I rarely get the opportunity to ride the rest of my stable, and have yet another bike dismantled waiting for rebuild, not that I am much of a mechanic. A Carrera Subway 8, which I bought years ago, under the same Cyclescheme. Sadly, I bought it from Halfords, who definitely, at that time had extremely poorly trained mechanics, who just couldn’t understand the internal Alfine 8 hub, in the end they gave me a Carrera Subway 21 as a replacement, which currently resides in my son’s shed, he tells me he does ride it now and then, and Halfords allowed me to keep the Subway 8. I dismantled it because I was short on storage space. But it’s waiting there in my shed waiting to rise from the ashes. Cheers.
It’s always a joy to hear about a new bike. My bluebell is still going strong, I still think about a fast road bike, but it’s too impractical for a lazy owner like me. Looking forward to your next post.
Still waiting to pick the new bike up, hoping it will re-energise my commute. Been rather lazy lately, ducking put of commutes for rather lame excuses, having said that my sciatica has been playing up. I’ve got to pedal through it, cheers