Sideways Cycles

I had a big fire today to get rid of a load of tree branches and accumulated combustable materials. One of the things we burned was the old wooden sign that used to sit in the hedge out front. When I originally made the sign, I handpainted it with the logo’s of the companies that we dealt with back then. Crackling away in the flames went Ridgeback (who we dropped when they stopped making excellent value hybrids), Gary Fisher (who we dropped when they let us down with some warranty parts and then insisted on a silly size stock in order), DeKerf (who kind of fizzled out though we’d like to still be working with Chris – who knows?), Specialized (who we’re still doing our best with), VooDoo (which again fizzled out but has now, phoenix like, arisen from the ashes) and Mongoose, S&M, Standard and some other BMX companies (which all stopped, weirdly one weekend).

It was nice to sit and reflect on the ups and downs of the companies we’ve dealt with over the years and pleasing to realise that through it all, we’re still here, while Lily made mud and carrot soup nearby.

..this Thursday. Same time, different place – maybe we could rock the core side?

I’m off to see the wizard this week, to do very important web stuff. Here’s a chance for you to suggest anything that you’d,like to see on the ‘proper’ website www.sidewayscycles.co.uk. Plans include a gallery of random photo’s, pictures of bikes we’ve built etc.

Any thoughts for what else you’d like to see? What we could do better or differently?

Ta.

This week, Keele. Call for meeting point, but we’ll be riding at 19:30.

And hopefully in the pub by 20:30 😉

We will be doing Titus before too long, in fact if you really want one we can get them now – we just can’t afford to buy any frames for stock at the moment 🙁

As soon as we get them, we’ll have a demo bike built up for folks to try though.

Look at it out there, sunshine, blue skies, flowers emerging and dry ground – it’s a perfect day for a ride.

Instead I’m going to be fannying about doing all the shit jobs that need doing around the house. Ho hum.

Thursday night, as long as the place isn’t under a blanket of snow (apply London snow formula 1mm=1″), we’ll be there at 19:30ish.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Yay – that’s all sorted now, so we should have a shit load arriving sometime next week. I tried the Nevegal/Blue Groove combination a while ago at CyB if I remember and found them to do as folks say – actually grip, when the going was wet.

I’ll post something on the proper site when they actually arrive.

Thanks to Blair from Moore Large for getting us sorted.

You’ll have to talk amongst yourselves to fix this one up – I’m not riding. There’s many reasons (The insurance on the van has lapsed, I have a lot of work to do, I just can’t be arsed, I’d like to go and watch my children swimming for a change, etc…)

However, next week, we’ll definitely be riding and I fancy Llandegla. Any thoughts?

We have been using TNT as a courier, they have been good – no real delivery problems, they collect every day, the driver is a good bloke and their price has been sensible. Last week they write and tell me that due to the volume of business we’re doing at the minute, they are doubling our costs. Not just increasing, but DOUBLING!

Now, fair enough, I’d expect an increase in a quiet period, but that’s just silly. I arranged a meeting with my representitive, to explain that either they return the charges to close to the previous level, or I’m off to find a new courier. Guess what?

We’re finding a new courier – as a result, deliveries will be a bit shonky for the next few days.