Le soleil arrive

Finally, at the second attempt spring/summer seems to have arrived, the cross country skis will keep the spiders happy for 8mths!!!

Over the past few weeks the Cycling club has been out on thursdays with lights, warm clothing and Mountain/cross bikes. Its time to forget the winter! Mike has finally been able to test his Merida Ninety-Six 1000d (yes, it's a mouthful!), it is his third one in 8 months, as customers have bought the last two, before one was even ridden! This bike is the ultimate mountain bike: light, fast and agile on the downhill, it is a race bred full suss, which has full remote lock-out and is based on the bike ridden by world MTB champ Jose Hermida. If you are tall, mike might let you borrow it! At £1800, it is a bargain for a bike with full shimano SLX, Manitou air forks and carbon rear end.

However, what really brought cheer to mikes face was the chance to ride his new Raleigh SP Race in the sun, this award winning bike was 2nd in the Cycling Plus 50 best road bikes 2011, it is absolutely awesome, and has a spec to die for, full ultegra, BB30, full carbon frame, ITM fork, stem & bars, Sella itallia SKN saddle, Shimano RS20 wheels, and all for £1900. This has got to be the best value carbon race bike on the market. Its so popular that it is almost sold out in the UK. In addition it is bling in the extreme, finished it a retro white colour scheme.

Mikes Bikes prides itself on trying to buy British whenever possible, and it has now taken delivery of a range of the most exciting range of British bikes for 2011. Forme (french for fitness), aim their Road bikes at the Sportif market, their Mountain bikes at the fitness riding market, and their hybrid at the commuting/fitness rider. The bike frames are designed in the UK and manufactured by Kinesis (Makers of Bianchi, Cannondale etc), and the mountain bikes sport fast tyres, bar ends, flat bars and sporty geometry. Come in and have a look!!

As I mentioned the cycling club has continued, and even welcomed new members this winter, Hamish has shown us that years of exploration (Greenland, South America etc, ) & 20 yrs in Mountain rescue have not ruined his talent to get lost in a blizzard, within sight of Aviemore! In addition, the club chairman has honed his skillful avoidance of water, by using every bridge whilst everyone else cycles through the puddles!