Finishing off my mini-tour ‘shakeout ride’ on the new steel touring bike. Very different conditions to the previous day’s ride!
I was a bit nervous about getting back on the Brooks saddle for Day 2, especially as the emergency padded bib tights I had planned to bring were still in the drawer at home!
Day 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnS_Cbh5gBs
Happy cycling, folks!
well good morning good morning from a uh fairly Moody looking sky over Bridlington so we’re just about to uh set off on day two and um I book my train ticket this morning to uh from scabra back home so that’s the destination for today that was quite interesting without my glasses on so I hope I’m going home we’ll find out when we get on the train uh just packing up very Orange today uh the bike is just about ready to go and uh yeah another ride on the uh the new brook saddle which is going to be um interesting maybe I was a little bit harsh yesterday think sort of hinting that it was quite uncomfortable um actually I haven’t worken up with any discomfort there was no chafing or anything so um I think it’s just getting us used to you know not having a padded standard type saddle with you know gel in the saddle uh and kind of transferring to five or six Ms of very very tough leather um and it’s going to take a good few rides before it it properly wears in uh this is a B17 so it’s carved it’s got the cutout um I didn’t get it from Brooks because Brooks were out of stock um when I went to get the saddle so I got it from a different bike shop and it was the only one left um so I think it’s probably been set on the shelves in the store room for quite a long time um when I got it the leather was seemed overly dry overly sort of hard so uh I’ve put a good couple of doses of of proofide which is the sort of the special cream stuff you get from Brooks uh on it and that’s just starting to kind of soften it up a little bit um there’s no indentations at all from yesterday I think it’s going to take a good few rides before it’s fully broken in but then hopefully uh uh it’s a nice comfortable uh ride on the new bike and uh yeah what a great little bit of cycling history you’ve got to uh to sit on anyway enough bling uh we’ll check out and then we’ll hit the road making our way further up the North Coast towards uh scabra destination for today catch you in a second oh proper cold Icy February rain this what s today too okay first little climb done we’re on uh grenal Lane I think it’s called and I suppose today we’re edging that little bit closer to North Yorkshire so we know we near The Dales and the penins here but it’ll be a little bit more up and down today that’s the little bit of aoad riding finished and we’re on these little quiet roads hopefully for the rest of the day visibility is not too bad but uh yeah it looks for now like that rain is well and truly settled in I’ve warmed up a little bit going up that uh that little incline so all good so far and uh definitely having a better day than uh whoever it was that put that car there Wes [Music] [Music] buets great sunlight and Crystal rain one heart still the same cold citycape still Street sides we wake to pass through time it’s all suring around me breathe in the silent air sprad it’s lovely views down to the coast here little bit of a high spot I think for the ride today that’ll be really tiny on the GoPro but yeah that’s lovely I think the sun is trying to break through behind me definitely feels like it’s warmed up a degree or two very very welcome whether it’s strong enough on this uh February day to properly burst through we shall see it’s time for a little pit stop perhaps and uh Chucky bar I’ll do um as I think I mentioned on day one I’ll do a full run through the new bike and um all the components in a proper nerd out in a in a future video but uh yeah I’ve got um a Dynamo and I got splitter put in so I’ve actually got in here hopefully a chalky bar um but it’s also where I have my uh V charger so I’ve got USB charging on the go um on the bike as well so as I might have mentioned you know I’ve not made any compromises I don’t think think for for me personally and the sort of stuff I want on a bike and uh it’s really cool to be able to sort of charge up my phone or you know charge up a battery for this GoPro um while I’m pedling along it’s um most of the time unnecessary particularly in the UK cuz you’re always near a sort of a socket um well unless you’re bik packing in remote Scotland uh in which case take a power bank you know it’s not not essential but uh again I just Al those sort of nice to haves I’ve I’ve sort of built into the bike and um yeah again as I I think I said yesterday I couldn’t be happier with uh with the new touring bike so uh yeah anyway Kit Kat and then um back on the road it’s sort of sunny is it might be about as sunny as it’s going to get today uh it’s definitely helped and and kind of warmed up maybe into 6 or 7° rather than 34° uh yeah quick pit stop and then we’ll get back on the road I don’t know what’s happened between yesterday where I was really noticing the hardness of this Brook saddle and today where it’s actually super super comfortable still a little bit slippy but I think that’s it might be cuz I’m wearing waterproof trousers but uh I don’t know I might be one of those lucky people that manages to get on with our SLE after just one ride fingers crossed come on Sunshine Mak an appearance for us [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] well folks welcome to scarra the destination of the uh little mini tour you might just be able to make out Scara Castle just on the uh Cliff Toop the other side of the town and I think what we’re going to do is go down here it’s a bit grally but I’m sure the touring bike will cope and uh just trundle along the uh the seafront and make our way to uh big cup of tea somewhere because I could uh could use some lunch now what a place to finish a ride eh and uh that thing’s been where is it there been absolutely Flawless and uh yeah let’s cack on into town and find a place for a little pit stop I do need to go and get my I think I’ll go and get my tickets from the train station don’t for some reason when I use the train line app I always have to go and collect tickets when I book them at home on the desktop I always get them in my sort wallet my electronic wallet there’s some probably some setting I need to change but yeah I’m going to go to the station get my tickets so then I know um that’s all sorted and then we’ll um we’ll get a light lunch and uh nice big cup of tea or a cup of coffee and then start making our way home got to come back in the summer when it’s warmer I wasn’t expecting to get quite this close to the uh sea on this ride first trip to the beach on the towing bike oh wet sand well riding over that little bit of beach was not the best idea I’ve got a lot of sand on the wheels now never mind never mind well folks I’m not going to film all the boring stuff getting home uh and this seems like a really nice spot to sign off the video on the beautiful Yorkshire Coast Coastline the North Sea Coast and uh as ever if you’ve made it this far in the video thank you so much for watching uh day one and day two uh if you missed day one uh that’ll be up on the channel somewhere else but uh yeah two two great days cycling and not a lot of mileage but a great ShakeOut ride on the new bike and uh yeah me and this new Touring bike are really going to get along and I’m so excited to see where in the UK where in the world it’s going to take me yeah just remains to say from uh beautiful scarber sun’s not quite shining but uh it’s certainly a lot better than it was this morning uh stay safe out there take care of yourselves and uh Happy cycling I’ll see you out on the roads very soon no doubt bye for now [Music] [Music]
30 Comments
Some interesting choices on the new bike – straight bars – triple chainrings – disk brakes – look forward to the video with the full spec. I know Bridlington well – can be bleak in the winter. Thanks for the taking us along.
Did 3 years on a B17. Now gone to SMP-Trk and it's a good bit nicer..
Loved this tour, I grew up in Scarborough so it was nice to see that as your destination.
Really liking the new bike. Out of interest which station did you head out from?
Martin.
That is a well thought out and beautiful steel bike. I told myself that if I survived carotid artery surgery on the 13th of February, I would buy myself a new bike. I woke up in the ICU and immediately push the "PURCHASE NOW" button on what has turned out to be an amazing bike. The all steel SURLY Preamble.
Life is good. Your videos and the music are a real delight.
Thanks.
Frank in Indians US
Nice bike buddy
Saddle will take time but worth it in the long run
Cracking brace of vids, really enjoyed coming along with you on the ride. The new bike looks ace and I hope you have many happy and safe miles on it.
Well, being a Brooks, I’ve had a Brooks saddle on my bikes for ages. I love them and wouldn’t want to change,,, RIDE SAFE.
Another good video. Looking forward to the nurse out video on your bike. Thanks for taking us along Martin: Russ 👍🏼🚵♂️
Hi could you possibly do an in-depth look into your Dynamo hub Charging System please this is something I would like to add to one of my bikes
Really great looking bike 🤗
Ah, lovely seeing you end your new bike honeymoon with a big smile on your face.
My B17 took about 150 miles to break in, and that included a rainy day ride. After that it gave great service including on my 12 day Lands End to John O’Groats ride.
After a wet start the weather seemed to vastly improve, good old England 4 seasons in a day!.
Lovely spot to end the ride.
I have a Brooks saddle that was gifted to me. I'd heard great things about them and that after 'breaking' in they are extremely comfortable.
The saddle had been used before I got it so I reasoned some of the breaking in would have been done. I fitted it and tried using it for a fortnight. I found it very uncomfortable and had to stop frequently to ease the pressure/pain. After reading up about breaking in a saddle it's very possible the saddle already had a set for someone else's bum and different to mine. I may buy a new one in the future but it's a little off putting.
That touring bike looks like you could carry a heap of stuff if you so wish and don't mind the weight.
Have you any tours in mind or are you at the thinking stage?
You'd think being retired, getting away whenever I liked would be easy. Well it is in some ways but it seems as soon as a plan is made we've got visitors coming over. When we do manage it the time flies by far too fast.
Thanks for the video.
Hi,thank you for sharing your mini tour,I managed 2 short rides this week,first time in what seemed ages,glad the new bike works well,hope to see you out on the next ride,all the best Colin P.👍
Great video. The bike looks really good especially with the Brooks saddle. I've used one for a couple of years now and can't fault it. I look forward to the next time. ,🚴🚴
I think with that pristine bike I would have carried it over the sand 😂
thanks man
Nice bike, it looks like you are going to have some great rides on that bike. The weather is not great for cycling this time of year in the UK, but making the effort to get out is the hardest part i always say. You proved that just by making that step outside and getting on with it instead of finding excuses, thanks for another great video.
i have a Brooks saddle about a year now still breaking it in love it great saddle should last a long time.
😳😳😳😳Wet salty Sand on your new bike 🥲🥲I could sleep if it was mine😂Great filming editing and music It looked very windy and yet you didn’t moan that’s the hard hill training you do like water off a ducks back! Having had a dynamo as a kid in the 70s my recollection was it was a bitch to peddle and when you came to a junction not only did the lights go out it needed full on strength to get going again ! Hope yours is smoother 🎥🚴♂️👌🥇
I enjoyed the journey. I used to spend childhood holidays at Scab.
We used to scale the rocky cliff path up to the castle as kids. Now it's a wide boardwalk. Am I getting grouchy and old? 😂
Last year, I bought a 1974 Brooks Pro Special on ebay that had been on a tandem, so hardly ridden. Hard as a church pew, as comfortable as a pillow.
Stick with the saddle fella ,once worn in youll love it
Always cheers me up watching your videos.
Might be simpler to slip a gel saddle cover (£10) over the brooks until you’ve put in some more miles).
I think the rain helped to ease in the leather proofer.
Look forward to you reaching Montrose.👍👍👍
Great videos and a lovely looking bike – glad you’re happy with it. Looking forward to a more detailed look at it. How’s the steel frame working out? Folk tell me they make for a more comfortable ride but I’m always a little put off by the extra weight.
You've pulled out all the stops with the bike spec – ready for a round-the-world spin!
It's nice to have a bike for a specific job – something less to worry about on trips when you're fully extended.
In the 50s my dad raced on a 'B17 Flyer' which was a narrower & lighter model but he still had plenty of tales about breaking-in time.
I hope you're lucky with this one.
Thanks for great video! I am in SW Spain, have to use an ebike due to knees, but now present one coming up for 31000 km. glad your new bike is doing all you wished from it, persevere with the Brooks, they become like a bum glove! Enjoy your travels, stay safe, ? Fit a bar end mirror? Roger in Spain 77
I have B17 with hole. I use a Decathlon memory foam cover for rain and added bum protection. It works.
Hi, I'm thoroughly enjoying your channel. Great work!
A seasoned cyclist gave me some good advice for breaking in a Brooks B17. In addition to top of the saddle, apply the Proofide to the underside of the saddle with a suitable small brush once a year. This works beautifully in my experience. Cheers.
Hi. I just finish tpt route and went up to whitby just come home yesterday 6 day ride weather was good .
Spa Cycles actually sell their own 'Brookes type' leather saddle, and the leather is actually thicker than the Brooke's ones.