Katie Butcher

So when we got to Evans Cycles on Tuesday, they’d ordered me in a Specialized Rockhopper, but it was the man’s version. Oops, not what I wanted. I asked again if they could get a women’s, and also asked, while they were at it, if they could order me a Trek 6500 WSD. I’d noticed the night before on their website that the Trek 6500 WSD had just been reduced from £649 to £499. The assistant looked it up on the computer and it turned there was one left. It was a 14″ and would have to be sent from the main warehouse. He warned that since it was the last one, it might not be immaculate, but they would be able to discount it further if that was the case.

Tonight, off we went to Castleford yet again. The ladies Specialized Rockhopper in 13″ turned out to be ridiculously tiny. I’m not surprised that’s the size that is left – there aren’t that many ladies smaller than me, and even I was way too big for that bike. The Trek was great though, so I bought it. I couldn’t help thinking there was an element of fate that I’d managed to get the very last one which was being sold off at a bargain price.

It turns out that now is a good time to nab a bike bargain as the 2007 models are being sold off to make way for 2008 models. The 2008 model of the Trek 6500 WSD is £700, which I would not have been prepared to pay.

I have to say that I’ve been very impressed with Evans Cycles and would certainly recommend them. They were very helpful, and it was good of them to get those bikes in specially at my request (despite the mistake). I can even take my new bike for a free service in about 6 weeks time.

I now hope it doesn’t rain this weekend!

Had a great time last weekend going for a bike ride with Nigel and Bytey. We went down the road to Apperley Bridge and then joined the tow path of the Leeds-Liverpool canal. Going along the tow path we cycled through Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, past Keighley, until we got to Silsden. My ‘commuter’ bike was fine for most of the way, it was only when we got to the other side of Bingley and it turned into a mud track that I struggled a bit, as it was slightly rougher terrain than my bike is suited to.

Here is a map of the route of our ride out http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1322516. After we had an early lunch in Silsden we cycled back. Unfortunately Nigel managed to get a puncture, but it didn’t take too long to sort it out.

Now I’ve been trying to decide which mountain bike to buy myself so I don’t have to stick to roads or tow paths. I had no idea which frame size to get (or even if I need a ladies frame), so we went over to Evans Cycles in Castleford on Wednesday night, so I could sit on a few bikes. Unfortunately it turned out that they didn’t have a huge selection of ladies frames (apparently most ladies buy mens bikes) but I did try out one or two, as well as a small man’s bike. The smallest frame size they had was 15″, but that seemed to quite suit me in the ladies model. I felt particularly comfortable on the ‘Specialized’ branded models. I left having decided that I would buy a ‘Specialized’ 15″ bike.

The 2007 Rockhopper Disc has £100 off at Evans, so I ordered one on the website (they didn’t have any in store). Unfortunately they called me the next day to say they’d run out of 15″ models, and that as that model is being discontinued the only size they had left was 13″. I didn’t want to get a 13″ frame without having sat on one, so cancelled my order. I looked around the internet but anywhere that has that bike on offer, now only has 13″ frames left.

I called Evans in Castleford to double check if they had any examples of 13″ frames that I could sit on – for all I know I might find 13″ even better than 15″. As I suspected, they didnt have any, but the chap I spoke to was extremely helpful, and when I explained the situation he said he would order one of the 13″ Rockhoppers into the store for me to try before I buy. Now we’re going over to Castleford tonight so I can try it out. If I find it comfortable, than that’ll be great, but if I decide I do prefer 15″, then I’ll just have to decide on an alternative bike to the Rockhopper. But at least I won’t be left wondering if the 13″ would have been okay.

This historical ‘mystery’ is a mediocre ‘Richard and Judy’ recommended summer read. It felt very meandering and long-winded, and it took until the last 100 of the 600 pages to get to the point. The prose was nothing special – at the sort of level I think I could write at, which isn’t a compliment. I’m fairly surprised it managed to get published in the state it’s in, it definitely could have done with some harsh editing. But for a stop-you-getting-bored-laid-on-the-beach read that you don’t need to think about, I suppose it passes, just. I really can’t see why ‘Richard and Judy’ recommended this, unless it’s recommended for the lowest common denominator or something – I’m sorry to be a snob!

I bought this because I previously read Salley Vicker’s book ‘Miss Garnet’s Angel’ a couple of years ago and very much enjoyed it. Both books are beautifully written, I love Ms. Vickers style, she truly can paint a picture with words. ‘The Other Side of You’ is nicely paced, it’s never boring, but sometimes forces you to reflect and ponder on the wisdom that crops up throughout the novel and lingers in your mind. It’s an unconventional love story, moving and profound but never soppy or overly sentimental. One of my favourites so far this year.

An example of a quote that I found thought-provoking:

‘It is a commonplace that it is part of life’s tragedy that while it must be lived forwards it can only be understood backwards; but maybe it can only be appreciated backwards as well.’