It's broken again....

Well after getting B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light back in November 2014 we was fully dynamo'd up and thought we would never have to worry about batteries or lighting again.

Well we was wrong.

The first rear light broke after about a month of use. The "standlight" function stopped working so anytime we stopped the rear light would go completely out instead of staying on for about 4 mins. I sent it back and got a replacement (under warranty) just before Christmas.

B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light

After week the same thing happened to the replacement. From what people have told me is that with some rear dynamo lights component that stores the charge for the standlight function sometimes isn't held in place properly so with normal bike use after a while that component breaks loose and breaks its connection. It certainly seems the case for this one as you can actually see what I'm guessing is what's making the rattling noises and can see moving about inside the light itself. Other than the "standlight" function it still works fine.

Another member has had the non brakelight version of this for over a year without any problems.

We may just have really bad luck with getting 2 bad rear lights or maybe there was a bad batch from the manufacturers B & M.

I'll return it as I really do like this light as its pretty bright and the brake function is really cool too.

Maybe the 3rd one will be the charm?

A Chilly Eastward Bimble

We have missed a couple of the  pre Christmas rides due to work I was unable to go. My cycle partner suggested a ride this weekend. At first it was going to be a night ride but due to work changed to a day ride instead.

So with that in mind we arranged to meet up at Trafalgar Square 07:00 bright and early, ok not so bright ;)

Waiting outside National Gallery

Once we met up we headed towards St. Paul's Cathedral with the dawn following us.

Christmas lights infront of St. Paul's Cathedral

St.Paul's Dome

Mr. Orange in action

In front of St. Paul's was the Millennium Bridge to the TATE Modern.

As you can see the lighting was pretty awesome, sunrise seemed to take a long time which was fine with me as we was able to catch some pretty good shots.

The Shard & Tower Bridge at sunrise

Not many people where about at this time of the morning but there was other residents running about as you can see with this urban fox just ran right past us without batting an eye.

Hello Mr. Fox

As we continued eastward there where still Christmas decorations in different forms dotted around London.

Ceiling of stars

Global Christmas Tree

Been to this water feature next to City Hall many times and just had to get a shot but without getting wet.

The Legend within a water feature

I noticed that I seem to be drawn to the simple shapes of builds, especially if they where curved.

City Hall, London

Off we went towards & across Tower Bridge. I remembered one of my friends saying there was a glass floor when you went up the Tower and could see the traffic below. I mentioned this to my partner and made a mental note that we should come back at some point and go up and take in the view for ourselves.

Glass floor at Tower Bridge

Not far from Tower Bridge we came across a statue that I have seen a number of times on rides but the sun this time was so low that you could block the sun behind it. I thought this would make a different kind of shot and I was actually a little shocked at the results I actually got.

"Girl with a Dolphin"

Giant Sundial

Just before we got here, there was some EXTREMELY slippy decking. I slipped a little and just as I was warning my partner he also slipped quiet badly but like a trooper he kept on with the ride, just took it abit more gently.

Mr. O putting chain back on

Sneaking up on some seagulls

Mr. O & his shadow

On we went to Canary Wharf, I'd known there was a fountain here but never really took the time to take any photos of it.

While I was photographing the fountain I found these two characters.

HE & SHE

From what I could tell their are speaking sculptures & on the ground there was a website address you could scan to "hear" them speaking.

Canary Wharf was a basically a ghost town with the workers still on their Christmas holidays it was just us a few tourist & security guards. We pushed on to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel which again was pretty deserted compared to how its been in the past.

Almost deserted Greenwich Foot Tunnel

The dome of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel

The Cutty Sark was waiting for us at the other end of the tunnel and with the sun still pretty low in the sky it made for a great shot.

The Cutty Sark

We then decided to head to the O2 dome for a little break but just before we left I spotted this famous gentleman and couldn't resist taking a shot especially with the sun still so low in the sky.

Lord Nelson

Shadow of the legend

Mr. Orange, my cycle & photography partner

O2 Dome

When we reached the O2, we was abit surprised that it was quiet full. Seemed to be some kind of Frozen event going on as there was alot of Frozen Princess running about with parents.
We managed to find the "Slug and Lettuce" which wasn't too busy & had a pretty big all day breakfast which hit the spot. After our meal we decided to head back to Embankment via The Thames Clipper River Boat. I think my partner's knee was bothering him a little so was a good decision not to cycle all the way back. Seeing we had been over & under the Thames it seemed fitting that we went on it too. Not long after we got to Embankment we headed out separate ways home.

Ride Data: A Chilly Eastward Bimble

Once again its always good to ride with my cycling partner, Mr. OrangeBrompton, to slow it down a little to take photographs of this great city of ours.

Bring on 2015 I say.

The future is all around us....

Well Christmas is over and the new year is almost upon us.

I have to say 2014 has been a really good year for us here at the HiVE.

One of our goals was to do over 4000 miles which we have achieved on Boxing Day Bimble ride on Bixing day with the London Brompton Club. 

• Doing the treble at the Brompton World Championships was AWESOME and a MUST.

• Finally doing a century (100 miles) on a single ride which is something I have said we would do for this year. Had attempted it at the MITIE but that ride was a very hilly ride and only managed to do 40 odd miles before the "swiper" van came and picked us up :(
  
  Doing the St. Crispin's Day Ride which was over 100 miles was where we achieved our century goal.

• I decided to to upgrade BBB's gearing so it would be easier to go up hills after the failed attempt at the MITIE. This meant changing my standard 50T chain ring to 44T. Made much easier with the new Brompton spider crank.

• Going dynamo lighting which looking back I wish we did earlier as we really love having dynamo lights.

In the future we plan on going on many more rides as always. We may not be the fastest but we give it a damn good go. 

We would like to take this chance to thank everyone that reads this blog and for all the people we have rode with this past year and ofcourse in the future. 

Extra special thanks to my cycling partner in crime Mr. OrangeBrompton. Inspiring us to do better each and everytime we ride together. Without his encouragement we wouldn't be the legend we are today. 

David who is our chief navigator on many a club ride guiding us safely along & always giving us someone to attempt to keep up with.  

Anne for the great flapjacks, hug, smiles & beauty along the way. 

MickB who I have missed on our rides but is always there in spirit. 

Also our crazy Cyclious gang that we ride with who are just a bunch of crazy loveable nutcases. Love you guys

So what for 2015? 

What do we have planned? 

Well we have no idea, all we know is that it will be...




LEGENDARY!!!