What a month - A camera up the rear and a New Bike Day.

The last few months, well I should rephrase that to most of this year, since May in fact I have not been feeling well at all. My diagnosis was confirmed last Saturday when I had to have another camera up me hoop.

This time I attended my appointment for a sigmoidoscopy. It was no less uncomfortable than my two previous colonoscopies, but hey the procedure needed to be done to try and get to the bottom of what is going on with me.

I have currently been placed on another 2 months of predisanone, steroids and at least when I am on these they help with my ongoing symptoms. Though I must hasten to add I still do not feel my usual self. I have been able to return to work on a phased return and this is a massive help for my mental health. There is nothing worse than being at home with loads of time on your hands, but feeling to ill to do stuff. It just gives you too much time to think of all the negative stuff and end up feeling sorry for yourself.

Anyhoo onto something more exciting and positive. As I have wrote in a previous blog post I had been waiting for a new Orbea bike to arrive in at Wheelbase, in Darlington. As I recall I placed an order for a Cannondale Mottera, then changed my mind and opted for an Orbea Rise M10.

Adam kept me informed about the delay in the delivery of the Orbea, however as the months passed by, no sign of the bike. This was down to Orbea and nothing to do with Wheelbase, something to do with the components I had asked to have on the bike I believe.

Eventually I decided to cancel the Orbea and was indeed going to put a new bike on hold, due to my ongoing health concerns. I then thought "No, you know what a new bike will inspire me to get out there". Did I need a new ride? Well Yes of course I did I am addicted to shiny new bikes. I have already got my eye on another one for if I am invited to take part in next years Artic ONE charity bike ride, around the Isle of Wight. I can't be seen cheating on an e-Bike now can I?

 

New Bike Day

Getting back in touch with Adam at Wheelbase I mentioned I had seen a good deal on a Santa Cruz Heckler SL and could he possibly do a price match. Adam said to give him a day or so, and he contacted the distributors, getting back to me with the good news, a bike easy available and he could price match. Great I placed an order and following my bike coming into the shop one of the workshop team fitted a Ridewrap protection kit, as I had requested.

Wheelbase Darlington

Wheelbase Darlington

I'm over the moon as my bike also came with a Fox Transfer Kashima Dropper seat post, and I am sure it has a lot carbon Reserve wheel set. Adam finished off the bike with some little trick Bugtec trick bits. A Bugtec top cap and, stack spacers.

A great choice of bikes from various manufacturers 

Santa Cruz Heckler SL

Santa Cruz Heckler SL

I am just on my way home now, with Ern. As my dad is driving us back I am typing up the very thing you are reading. A nice cup of tea when we get back and then I will fit a few parts to my new bike which includes  Rockgaurdz front and rear mudguards, plus a K-Edge adjustable stem mount bracket to hold the new Beeline Velo 2 I purchased.

K-Edge adjustable stem mount

I am looking forward to reviewing the Beeline Velo 2 as in communication with the guys who make the small device, they have been ever so friendly and helpful. Each of the back and forth messages made me feel like I wasn't just another customer. I like the fact that they listened to my feedback and where actually interested in my continued journey and cycling. So once I  get the chance to test out the new bike and give it a bit of an informal review from a non professional riders point of view I will also get around to reviewing the Beeline Velo 2. I am lexcited to seeing if the small Beeline will help with my atrocious sense of direction.

 

Looking forward to reviewing this little GPS and offering Beeline some feedback.

Ooh decided to pop down to Team Cycles to treat my bike to a Peaty's Fidlock bottle and mount. Got a chance to see a DJI Amflow in the shop. First one I have seen, looked canny. The rear triangle looked thinner than I thought, but overall a nice looking bike.

A Peaty's Fidlock  bottle

Thanks for reading. Best wishes to everyone for the coming holiday season, and a Happy New Year 2025.

New Bike Cancelled - New Bike Ordered

After much thought I decided to cancel the new Cannondale Moterra SL which I ordered from Wheelbase down in Darlington. Reasoning, well whilst checking out more bike porn I saw that the new generation 3 Orbea Rise had been released.

The reason I had opted for the Cannondale was because it was classed as a SL or super light, with full power of 85nm, and I originally liked the design of the bike. I wasn't to sure about the new real skinny flex stays on the rear triangle and at the point of ordering the bike there was no range extender battery available, however for bang for the buck the bike appeared to come with some good gear.

Upon reading a few reviews almost all riders had said the bike was great for descending, however it wasn't as capable in twisty technical sections. This is to do with the rather steep head tube angle.

Anyhoo as the Orbea Rise is a tried and tested machine, that has just got better and better over the years and when reading the few reviews that have come out so far for the 2025 model I started researching the model a little more, then made the decision to contact Adam down at Wheelbase to ask his opinion and to see if 

A. I could cancel the Cannondale and B. Order an Orbea Rise and, find out the time frame for delivery.

Orbea Rise M10 LT

Adam informed me that if I didn't go for a MIO build, which is Orbea's personal customisation of the bike, in that you can choose various combinations of colours for the frame and decals, then a bike maybe available as early as July. Where as if I wanted a full custom paint scheme the bike probably wouldn't be available until around December.

Well it was a no brainer really as I had used the Orbea Mio custom app on my computer and actually specced the bike up as an all gloss Black with gold decals, and the bike I could obtain from the factory in July was a Cosmic Carbon with Golden Sand details.

Adam suggested when I had time to pop back through to Wheelbase and we could then go over the details of the bike, so that is what I did earlier this morning. Heading down to Darlington with my dad to Wheelbase.

Orbea Rise M10 LT

At the shop, Adam ran through the various options that could be added to the bike, things such as different brakes, shockers, tyres, the seat post and a whole host of other items, even a range extender battery. I enjoyed the visit and  the chat whilst at the shop, it took my mind off how unwell and stressed I have been feeling over this yet undiagnosed whatever it is going on with me over the last few weeks.

COLOUR
Cosmic Carbon View - Golden Sand (Gloss)
SIZE L

CONFIGURED COMPONENTS

RANGE EXTENDER 

Orbea Custom Range Extender 210Wh
SHOCK

Fox Float X Factory 2-Pos Adjust Evol LV Kashima custom tune 210x55mm

HANDLEBAR
OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 35, Width 800

STEM
OC Mountain Control MC11 Alu SL, 0º

BRAKES
Shimano XTR M9120 Hydraulic Disc

ROTORS
203mm Front /180mm Rear

REAR DERAILLEUR
Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus

WHEELS
Oquo Mountain Control MC32TEAM

TYRES
Maxxis Assegai 2.50

SEAT POST
Fox Transfer Factory Kashima Dropper 31.6x541/210mm
SADDLE

Fizik Terra Ridon X5 145mm

DISPLAY
Shimano EN600 Cycle Computer

CRANK LENGTH       165 mm.
HANDLEBAR WIDTH 800 mm.

STEM LENGTH            40 mm. 

Having something to work towards and look forward to is something I really need at the moment. Imagining getting back out on my bike, taking photo's, maybe a few riding videos and doing a spot of bike packing and creating some new adventures and memories. All I ned to do now is sort out getting a new Bartlett Tendon Knee, as my old one is on its last legs...not sure if there is a pun in there somewhere.

A few people have suggested I try and crowdfund to help with the cost of a new prosthetic knee, something to think about I guess. I just think who is going to want to help me to essentially go out and play on a bike ?...