Life on the frontline:
A rider’s perspective - Ian Harris

Words and images: Ian Harris

I feel seriously concerned for all the people in the cities, for all the businesses affected nationwide, for the workers, the essential workers and for the ways of life which are under serious threat (such as the traditional British Pub, I worry that The Lamb will never recover, it was the life and community centre of our small town) and there is a consensus that this virus will change the way we live. If that means fewer miles driven and more people on bikes then that can’t be a bad thing! So with due reservation for the plight of so many, and I feel guilty for saying this, the lockdown has been a delight.

We suddenly have the family back together again. We are a pretty good unit, a 19 yr old back from Uni, a 17 yr old creative who is making and doing and a husband wife team who get on pretty well too after 20+ years married! We are all active, both “kids” sail at a high level, there is a lot of Yoga going on and some serious “core” exercising for the hard fought for and now lost chance to compete in the 2020 World and Euro 420 dinghy championships that have been cancelled. I was furloughed almost immediately the lockdown began, the most bizarre situation and a lucky one too. It was so close to being a disaster but that’s another story.

We are lucky, we live at the foothills of the Mendips, Cheddar Gorge on the doorstep and the levels to the south. The “coast” is 12 miles to the west and 50 to the south. It is cycle heaven. The “droves” which are free mostly from any motor vehicle are now the place of family cycle rides. The access roads once impassable through heavy traffic are now easy to cross and safe once again. So the Motivation? Impossibly blue skies free from jet trails, no traffic, people being really nice to each other, staying socially distanced and responsible, it is simply fantastic, perhaps as quiet as it was a century ago.

I have shared rides with my son and even been out cycling with my wife. Rides ranging from 30km to 90km. With the weather being so good it’s been easy to get out and to enjoy our local environment. But with a caveat, how far is it socially responsible to go and how much risk should you take? There’s an awful lot of gravel on the roads, one of our club broke his arm in the first week of lockdown after riding through a patch, A&E isn’t where you want to be at the moment. So riding safe and not actually trying to set PB’s is my aim. 

Just before lockdown my titanium bike was fitted with the latest Di2 11 speed by 73 degrees of Keynsham, ready for the summer and perhaps to use on a tour of the Dolomites (now postponed). It is simply a fabulous bike and obviously after the investment I have been keen to try it out. Impressed by the new kit it has seen the most miles. I had also just finished building an old Lemond, an ebay find, with all the best bits of old parts that have been replaced over the last few years (I had a crash which broke my original Orbea in half, that has been the main donor). Handily this makes for an excellent bike for my son to ride with me. 

But my “special, sunny days and big adventures” bike, the Condor Legerro needed some work too. The headset bearings had perished after riding through Spain and Portugal last year and the chain and cassette needed replacement too, so what better time to do it? Seb and Greg at Condor were brilliant with parts and advice yet again, and delivered really quickly. I was lucky to find the Campagnolo 11 speed chain tool on ebay for a fraction of the new cost and serious thanks to the gentleman in Ayr who sent it so quickly. What an amazing tool! Typically Campagnolo, beautifully engineered, beautifully made, totally thought out, worth every penny of the bargain price (lots ££££…) The pictures of the Legerro are of it half way through its “service”. I really want to take it back to Condor for a full health check, I’m ok with the spanners but no technician, but Covid-19 and distance makes that really hard to do. Perhaps she too should go to Jim and his team at 73 degrees? They speak Campagnolo… Sadly whilst taking it apart I noticed some wear to the rear derailleur cage which was the result of a fall on wet cobbles in Portugal last year that slightly misaligning it. This caused some wear that I hadn’t noticed. I need to work out how to replace and realign the cage before riding it too much further.

On the subject of spanners, the X tools ratchet kit has been one of my best buys, I have used it on just about everything. Highly recommended for the home mechanic along with the Halfords bike maintenance set, it’s given me the confidence to maintain most of my bikes (bar the fitting of the electronic kit, I didn’t have the confidence to do that) Lockdown has meant that I am running out of some “essential” maintenance supplies such as chain lube and bike protect though. 

So, lockdown, furlough, and Somerset has been, and I do honestly appreciate how lucky I have been, a time to rethink the pace of life, what is actually important, to enjoy time with my immediate family and to enjoy being on a bike. I worry about my parents being so far away and impossible to be there for, for my wife’s family and for the situation of so many in the cities or those whose lives have been ruined by the economic crash. I worry too about my working life future, it doesn’t look too promising. But right now, without a bike lockdown it has been bearable out here in the countryside, with sunshine and clear roads it has been a delight.