I feel like I ought to stand up and face the group. I am Guy and I ride road bikes. Ridden them for longer than mountain bikes as it happens, mainly because my riding age pre dates the appearance of ATBs (as they were called) and certainly my ability to buy one. I mean it took me two weeks to save up for a Texan bar rather than getting a weekly Sherbert Fountain so I'd probably still be stacking up 7p contributions towards a Muddy Fox Courier or original Ridgeback.
Kid bikes are what Isla Rowntree is famous for though (yes that was a sudden leap of subject but stay with me here). Dropping her day job as a designer for Britains largest bike supplier in favour of fettling the ideal bikes for budding bike bairns she set up Islabikes. Actually she set it up again as she was building trailerbikes and her own championship winning race bikes previously under that name before. Blimey this is like a conversation with your nan.
Anyway Isla, amazing bike handler, National Champion again this year (MTB Vets, rigid 29er, hard as nails etc) took me right back to my routes touring grass centre green lanes round the Welsh borders. Fabulous too. stunning scenery, jaw dropping medieval architecture and ambience preserved magically by the remoteness from any big towns or bustling business. Plenty of miles covered before a pot of tea for three, loads of signposted bridleways logged for later exploring.
Three new colours of kids bikes too, as well as the achingly wonderful miniature track bikes for the ever growing number of urchins wanting to be the next Chris Hoy or Victoria Pendleton.
www.islabikes.com for details. Oh and the route will be in Cycling Plus at some point too. Probably with lots of green in the background. Our photographer Russ loves green. His daughter loves red though. Well hope she does cos that's the colour of her new half size, full performance road bike.Right that was too long a pause to be thinking of what to put next. that means time to put the kettle on. Seriously though road bikes can be great fun. Kids bikes are even better though. Especially Isla's.