I've always considered Awesom-O to be fairly safe from thieves because frankly, he looks a bit old fashioned (in a good way!). However, the new Giant is very colourful and modern looking so when I got an email from British Cycling offering 20% off registering my bike with Bike Register, I took a look. Bike Register is approved and used by the police every day so, for about £16, I decided to sign up.
Upon registration, you receive a document that looks just like a car V40 document with your bike details on it, a security sticker and a kit to permanently mark your bike with it's Bike Register details. The security marking and warning sticker should deter thieves and if your bike is ever recovered by the police, they know how to find you and the ownership document means you can prove the bike is yours. There is also an extremely easy transfer of ownership procedure should you ever sell your bike.
All in all, extremely good value for £16 I reckon!
1st February: Did the non-rural version of the local 22 today on the new bike. The wind was strong and in my face virtually the whole way around so not a fun ride but 21.3 miles to start February off.
4th February: I took the day off day because the wind looks like it's finally dying down a bit. My self-challenge for the day was to take a pic of the Giant at the end of Southport pier so I set off...
The outbound ride was doubly tiresome because the wind was howling in my face and the different riding position from Awesom-O was hurting the muscles that run up the front of my thighs so I was struggling to sustain a decent high speed cruise. Anyhow, the wind was bit better on the way back and I'm sure I'll adapt more to the Giant and it's another 33.4 miles in the bag.
7th Feb: Went out on the Giant and did the local 25 today. It was cold and grey but a lot less windy than it has been recently which was a bonus. So, 24.6 more miles for February and I really can't wait for spring to arrive and the weather to warm up!
11th Feb: Did the local 22 route tonight on the Giant. It wasn't as cold and windy as it has been for the last few weeks so it was less of a chore than usual. Mind you, I never normally eat much fruit or vegetables but I've started eating a lot of bananas recently so maybe that's helping? Who knows? Still, a fairly enjoyable 22.0 miles
15th Feb: Did the local 22 again today. I don't know if it's my legs getting used to the Giant or the fact I've started making a banana-based protein shake after each ride but I felt really good. I even beat my record for the first 3.7 miles up the bypass averaging 18.1 miles an hour.
Anyhow, it started off sunny and breezy and gradually clouded over and it was the first time this year it didn't feel properly cold. A quick pic of the new bike on the rural part of my route above and 22.0 more miles for February.
18th Feb: Did the local 22 last night in just my t-shirt and running top for the first time this year, roll on spring! I did it in a best ever average of 16.6 mph so I think I'm definitely adapting to the Giant. Anyhow, another 22.0 miles in the bag.
22nd Feb: It was raining today so I only planned on doing a short ride because I wanted to see what the disc brakes were like in the wet. The ride proved to be fairly enjoyable so I did my usual trick of heading along a road I'd never been down before, exploring, and ended up doing 19.1 miles. The brakes were pretty awesome but the front one did rub noisily for a few miles on the way home. I found out when I got in that it was covered in wet clay (the local farmer uses part of the cycle path to come out of one field and into the adjacent one) so a good hosing down and the bike's ready for the next outing.
25th Feb: Did the local 22 again tonight, once again wearing just a t-shirt with a running top over it. It rained most of the way round but because it wasn't cold it was strangely enjoyable (I'm beginning to suspect I have a rain-cycling fetish...) and I beat my best average time on the route again, this time averaging 16.7 mph. Another 22.2 miles for February.
28th Feb: Did the local 22 again today, again wearing just two layers instead of three. Did a bit of exploring so a total of 23.1 miles and 209.7 miles for February (and the new Giant!).
