New Carlton Thread

On the way home from work this teatime, I stopped for a quick interview with a guy from "Sustrans," who campaign for cycle paths and the signing of them. 

Well not so very interesting except, of course that he was equipped with a very nice modern cycle. But he saw the old Carlton and its Brooks saddle ...

His GF has been agitating that he should get her a "B 17" for her stead!

So I offered him a quick try out of a great old English cycle with a B 17, which he accepted with glee.

A few minutes later - I was confident he would return for his own much more advanced machine - he was wreathed in smiles! He offered the comment that the Carlton went like mad, and was smooth as silk, and the Brooks ....!

Well that would be nice on its own, but a few hundred yards earlier, I tied out a Pashley Roadster. To be honest it was a nail. Heavy, felt high geared, even on the first of five gears. Stable is a yes, but dynamic, definitely no.

Not a winter stead choice. I'd rather a trike!

ATB from George

Posted on behalf of George.

Knee one day before the operation

Knee during the operation

Knee 10 weeks after the operation

At lleast nobody can say that I am faking it!

Thanks George for posting!

Though I have my doubts that I'll ever go on an aeroplane again, I suspect that much metal might upset the security machine you go through when checking in - just a bit!

You can see the fracture quite clearly in the first picture, and you can still see the place where it exits into the "plateau" in the third!

ATB from George

George,

I read your other post about you 'fearing your knee would crumble underneath you' when you walk. Since I was in a similar predicament a good 18 years ago, my only advice to you is: do the exercises your physical therapist taught you. I know riding a bike takes care of things but those exercises are very specific if boring.

get well.

Mo

Dear MM,

They told me that the cycle is the very best way to improve things apart from swimming, which is not natural for me.

On the bike I am as if completely free of trouble with it, but when tired it is is quite painful even now, and the bone aches ... When tired, I cannot help but being lame when walking, though when in no hurry walk deliberately, and determinedly so as to avoid outward sign of lameness. I think one has almost to learn to walk properly again, so the discipline of walking "elegantly" is a good thing I would think.

They were also very complimentary of my improvement and I have 100% joint movement, and the muscle and soft tissue is really doing very nicely.

It is a question of patience.

Thanks for your thought on this.

ATB from George

They told me that the cycle is the very best way to improve things apart from swimming, which is not natural for me.

Absolutely George. The quadriceps, anterior thigh muscles, are the main muscular stabilisers of the knee and cycling is the best form of exercise for strengthening this muscle group. 

Keep up the good work George.

ATB

Steve

Dear Steve,

Yesterday [16 weeks to the day since the op] I did a silly thing really! I rode from here about two miles up the not inconsiderable Ronkswood Hill to the hospital as I thought to pay for my CD of X-rays! I went to the X-ray department and asked how I should pay as no invoice was enclosed with the disc. The lady smiled at me and said that it was nice that I was worried enough to call in, but that a bill would come in time, so no need to panic! 

A month ago I'd never have got up that long haul of a hill on the cycle, and all I had was a few twinges on the way up. Inititally I could not ride off the saddle, but a couple of weeks ago I found I could just do it. Now I do an increasing distance off the saddle each day going to and from work. Stretching the capacity a little more each day. Never enough to be painful, but enough to feel it.

It is just a question of patience really!

ATB from George

Dear George.

It sounds like you are making sterling progress. From your post it reads like you are riding on the public highway again is this the case? If so have you changed your mind regarding only using cycle paths for you rebilitation, or have I misunderstood your previous posts. If so PLEASE take care.

Regards Graham.

Dear Graham,

If the road is quiet, I'll use it, but the trip up to the hospital was anything but. So I could be seen as one those irritant cyclists hogging the footpath, or pavement. But this would be unfair. I get off if there is a pedestrian coming the other way. That usually raises a smile, which is nice.

I will not tackle urban roads again, preferring to walk, and I doubt that will change now. I am even thinking of getting a mirror to mount on the handle bar of a cycle that otherwise carries no superfluous weight. But even on quiet roads I now find that I wish I had eyes in my backside.

ATB from George

A recent happy time cycling by the sea with the Carltons. The ale wasn't bad either.

Adnams! As cycle rides go that was one that will not leave my memory as a happy day out!

Absolutely spot on!

ATB and thanks from George

George

I can't mix beer and cycling but I do need occasional refreshment.

ATB

Mick

Dear Mick,

I doubt if an ale would spoil my ability at the moment. And I have largely lost my nerve on big roads. But along country lanes it is still a great pleasure!

Fancy eating ice cream - I do! And I make the stuff for a living!!!

Lovely photo!

ATB from George

Ice cream .... um!

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are making several new "development" recipes! I have a new favourite. We call it "Dairy Vanilla with Seeds." I predict it will be very successful. Less heavy than our premium Vanilla with Seeds, it is less fully of double cream! Though lighter, it has that effortless smoothness that is a mark of great ice cream. I hope it is a prelude to other "Dairy" variants ...

Why it will succeed in the current climate of economic caution is that it is actually less expensive to make! But for me it has a similar quality to our other premium Vanilla [without Seeds] and the particular unique quality that our somewhat limited "Dairy" range - a smoothness that is unsurpassed. 

Tomorrow we are doing a double choc chip with real Belgian chocolate. Belgian chocolate of couse has a superb taste but it is quite hard when frozen at minus eighteen. Fortunately the chocolate drops a very small. I prefer this to the chocolate formulation currently used in premium double choc chip, which uses a kind of chocolate that melts at ambiant temperatures but is quite soft as frozen, but in my view tastes bland in comparision to the strong dark Belgian choc chips planned for the new recipe! I also like the sense of biting into the choc chips!

We are now able to to return to development of new lines after the busy summer season!

ATB from George

George

I do enjoy the aroma and tang of black cherries so was beguiled by a chocolate/cherry concoction in the USA some time ago. It might have been the commemorative Cherry Garcia. There was a very interesting peanut butter ice cream on the same trip.

In italy I enjoyed a lemon variety that was a bit like ice cream, sharp lemon curd and lemon sorbet folded together.

Chocolate is a bit too 'bulky' for me and I can only do a spoon or two at a sitting.

I think my favourite is pistachio although I'm a bit of an ice-cream tart and will try most flavours (but never again with cookie dough - seems senseless to me).

I assume the seeds you mention are vanilla(?)

Mick

We do a premium "pistachio!" We make duos of sorbet and ice cream. Especially fine is Blissful Blackcurrant - with a gently sweet blackcurrant full cream ice cream blended two to one with a tangy Black Currant Sorbet. 

We do a peanut butter cupped in dark chocolate with dark chocolate "cookie dough" - in deep dark chocolate ice cream. Actually we make the nicest ice cream that I have ever come across! It is sent as far as Northern Ireland, and Ipswich and Newhaven in the East, so though not famous it is well appreciated. 

I ought to be a fat git, bit I can eat anything and remain the same weight!

ATB from George 

George

Just searched on those flavours. Are you Bennetts?

BTW coincidentally, I live in the next village along (Blyth) from your bike's home of Carlton-in-Lindrick - although I suspect yours, being fairly recent, was built at the Worksop factory.

Mick

Are you Bennetts?

Yes!

Hehe! I love it!

ATB from George

PS: My Carlton is indeed from Worksop, but still nice!

I was riding a cycle five years before discovering the music of Elgar, who was born only ten miles from my earliest home!

Thanks George for posting!

ATB from George

Posted on behalf of George

Three nicely old watches.

The left one is a 1904 Eterna "WD" watch, which will be my nephew's when he is 21 in a few months. It keeps good time!

The middle one is a large pattern Ludgate Benson from 1880, which is going nowhere! It weighes just over three ounces ...

And the right hand one is an 1880s [Very small pattern Lady's] Benson with Longines movement that is already for my niece who was 21 last year. They all keep good time, but the old Ludgate will manage as good as one minute in a month, which is better than current Rolex watches can reasonably claim.

The sad thing is the colapse of the British watch and clock making industry!

ATB from George

Commuter transportation is crucial. Last week I split the front tyre on the Carlton - an economy 700-23c skick, and since gained a slow puncture. In late September do you replace the tyre or get a grippy winter pair? ...

Today I bought a pair of Schwalbe Marathons [700-28c] so as to save another summer tyre over the dirty autumnal conditions, and be ready for snow and frost. The tyre clears the forks with a couple of spare mms!

The rear wheel clearance is a bit more, but the Carlton looks nice with a big front tyre! When I have the back one fitted tomorrow, I try to post a picture!

ATB from George

Had a slow leak this morning on the commute myself. The 28mm Schwalbe is a good choice.

Dear Winki,

Just fitted the back one and off out for some fresh air on the old lady. In reality these tyres have ended the pretence that she can pass for a light weight. 1500 grams instead of less than half that for tyres! On the other hand she bounced nicely on these new boots!

But grip is more important at this time of year!

ATB from George