Candy Cranks

click this to view the video  ;) Glasgow bike shed

Hey its been ages since i’ve posted here , been soo busy ! sorry ;o

My friend Greg , Richard , Movie and I started the Glasgow Bike shed in july. Its a non profit organization where people donate old or unwanted bikes and we recycle them and their components. We run bike maintenance classes so people can learn how to fix and look after their own bikes and also take on volunteers who will eventually be put through their bike mechanics qualification after a week long course. Anyone can come in and use ours tools and stands to fix their own bike, we also have 2nd hand parts for very cheap that could replace the worn out parts of your bike  and if  anyone gets stuck we are there to help although we encourage people to do it themselves so they learn.  Its great for finding retro/vintage frames and parts and for somewhere to hang out . Its an amazing project ! everyone is very happy there… if your in glasgow fire down !

Full Metal Millport’s Happening this weekend thanks to our sponsors for providing us with gallus prizes !!

For more info use this link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=312630279130

A really stupid thing happened to me!

My chain jumped off the cog when i tried to stop, there was a huge lorry passing on the road . i was going to stop at the junction but because  the chain jumped i ended up heading straight into this Articulated Lorry! There was nowhere to go because the truck was so long, I remember hoping it would speed up so that i could dive under after the last set of wheels  ..it didnt .. I flew into it at the rear wheel’s,,  managed to push my head and torso away but the last wheel went over my foot and ankle!

I thought  No way ! that truck is soo big  i’ll probably have to have my foot amputated or something . I was taken to hospital and x-rayed but nothing was broken ..  a bit squashed and tissue damage  so they gave me crutches and a cast which i had on for a week,  it was painful for another 2 weeks but i could use it an by the 3rd week i could ride my bike again which was amazing because i thought i was gonna be crippled all summer. I was very lucky!

I later realised that my shoe had saved my foot ,  there is a huge crack across the solid nylon/ plastic  sole which took the force instead of my bones , and the strong suede  material held my foot together so that it didnt get all twisted and mashed. I think that if i had been wearing regular trainers that day i wouldnt have much of a foot left.

Thanks to Specialized for making this  tough  shoe it was the Womens Riata Mtnbike shoe they are seriously good!

The Yellow line is where the crack is .

By the way ! the reason my chain jumped off my cog was because my wheel had been kicked in and was warped ,  I wouldnt advise riding a fixie with a bent rear wheel and no brakes , deadly combo!

I had some gorey pictures of my foot but lost the memory card : (

For the first time in 30 years the canals of Glasgow were frozen so solid they could support the weight of a bunch of foolhardy locals and their bikes (or at least we hoped they did).

A race ensued, the first of it’s kind we believe in Glasgow. Huge thanks to all involved. It was a fantastic and memorable day.

Westcoast messengers annual event

Pre Event Friday 30th july – Park circus street keirin and silly sprints.

Millport is an old viking island with beutiful scenery not far from Glasgow , its famous for cycling round . Every year we have a Time Trial, lots of beer and partying. This year we are having a mini festival , time trial, skids tricks etc. It shouldnt take more than 30 mins to get round the island . If anyone wants to come, get in touch and we’ll sort you out some accomadation.

here are some photos of previous years

QA with Jenny, Glagow’s only female bike messenger

Where did you grow up, where do you currently live?
I grew up in Glasgow, Scotland and I still live there.

How long have you been riding for?
ive been riding bikes for most of my life, been riding fixed for just over 4 yrs.

What’s your favourite bike to ride?
Fixed wheel

Where is your favourite place to ride?
Around town, Kelvingrove skatepark.

You’re currently working as a cycle messenger, what city are you working in, how does it compare to other jobs you’ve had.
I work in Glasgow, its a good job because you dont have someone breathing over your shoulder all day and you get to be outside and do what you want when your not on call. Me and my friend James have our own courier company called FFWD>> Bicycle Messengers so we dont have anyone telling us what to do.

Are there any disadvantages being a woman in such a male dominated industry?
Not that i can think of ? but sometimes its hard to get women size bike stuff at local shops like shoes and smaller stems etc.

Are there any advantages being a woman in such a male dominated industry?
I dont know :s  ?

On average how many miles/km would you ride per day whilst working?
If  its quiet    10 + If busy 50 + miles

How do you keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter? In summer you need to drink more water, wear less clothing, the summers here arent ridiculously hot so it’s ok. The winters are either really windy, cold and wet or snowy and frozen.  Layers are what it’s all about. I wear  thermals undermeath, hoodie, fleece/bodywarmer, gore tex outer shell, gloves, hat, scarf and waterproof socks.

What bike do you ride whilst working as a messenger?
I usually ride my fixed gear but sometimes a single speed kona or geared racer.

Have you have any close calls, accidents or injures as a result of working as a messenger? I’ve had a few, one time I was hit by a bus whilst walking on the pavement cause I had a puncture and had ran out of patches, the bus must have overlapped the pavement coming round the corner! Another time a BMW pulled out on me and I ended up crashing into a wall with my arm fully extended, afterwards I couldnt straighten my arm and for most of a year it felt pretty sore, it’s ok now tho!

When was the last time you flipped the bird in anger?
Today when a taxi tried to crush me, I had to boot his door to warn him of my impending doom!

What do you eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner when working as a messenger?
For breakfast usually banana on toast, or poached eggs on toast at a cafe called Where the Monkey Sleeps, for lunch prob a good sandwich and dinner something home cooked, pasta, stew, fish etc.

What’s the best thing about Glasgow?
The people  and parties.

Where would you take an-out-of-town mate visiting Glasgow?
I’d take them a tour about the city, maybe visit Loch Lomond, then for a good night out, Mungos HiFi at the art school or pubs and  partys.

What do you get up to when you’re not working?
I like to go to festivals and parties, make stuff, build up bikes, at the moment I’m building up a good jump bike so I can do trails at the weekend.