advertising for clobber, talk to me

So I’ve been riding to work now for about two weeks. It’s great, I’ve covered about 60 miles so far! However there are a couple fo probems; today I ripped my favourite shorts and I’ve got stitching coming out of my favourite shoes. But I’ve got a solution to my lack of clobber problem…

I’m a 6′6” guy riding approximately fifteen miles a day through some of the busiest areas of central London. As such I can provide, to anyone prepared to send me gear, about two hours a day of ‘air time’ for their chosen cause. Today I rode with a tee from Ribbit that they sent me and I estimate around 250 people saw their logo, maybe more. So if you want to send me any of the following items:

• Tee shirt
• Shorts
• Shoes
• Bandana (for the fumes)
• Glasses
• Watch
• Bike parts (no frames, forks or bars)

I will, for free, wear/use them for at least five days (non consecutive for fabrics) on my commute, from Putney to St.Paul’s, through the following areas:

• Wandsworth
• Battersea
• Chelsea
• Pimlico
• Westminster
• Embankment
• The City

I promise to cycle responsibly, as to not defoul your brand, and not to wear items outside of the above times (not a fan of branding honestly). If you’re interested leave a comment with your contact details (which will be removed before publishing) and I’ll be in touch.

This is either genius or idiocy… lets see what happens.

The Tweed Run, a must for all dapper chaps on bikes!

So I’ve decided a couple of things:

1) I’m not getting the gym time I’d like to be getting
2) I’m feeling more pasty and English by the week
3) this pring is looking pretty solid here in London

As such I’ve decided to buy a bike (if you’re interested a single-speed, freewheel cyclocross by Bianchi or Specialized) as my ride to work consists of a ride from Putney Bridge to Millenium Bridge, which is pretty sweet. However, bikes are expensive!

So I decided that my employer should help me as I’d be reducing their carbon footprint and I’d be a fitter, happier employee commuting by manpower. It would appear a few people in this sunny isle agree and as such someone somewhere, got off their arse and got the government on-side.

I’m talking, of course, about the cycle scheme: a government lead initiative to give employees the chance to buy a bike (and accessories), tax-free, paid as a spread over the course of 18 months via pre-tax salary sacrifice.

Now, personally, I’d put my employer in the catagory for anything like that but, shock horror, they’re not. Therefore I have taken it upon myself to review the situation and drum up the cash to get it started. So if you work for BT, you would like to commute by bike or you would just like to formally state your support for BT signing up to the cycle scheme then could you take 2 minutes to answer this 7 question survey.

Thanks

BenJam x

F*cking wet trousers!

So, I left work today knowing damned-well that the Macworld Expo Keynote was about to begin. ‘Ahh that thin MacBook, ah the iPhone upgrade’ I thought. I’m in the midst of trolling through MacRumours and apple.com but I’ve something more pressing on my mind. Now what could that be? I live in London and participate daily in a rain-sodden walk from the tube to my office, but today was a day like no other, oh no, today the pavement had it in for me. I stepped on at least five paving stones only to have the sodden content beneath squelch up my suit trousers. Up!? How the hell does that happen!? Ken Livingston, pull your finger out. Now I’m off to the dry cleaners… Anyway. On with the show.