Every year I plan to get out on plenty of rides in November and December, maybe do a few ‘cross races, generally ‘get the miles in’ bearing in mind the old maxim that summer races are won in the winter. And every year the same thing happens - the combination of work, the seemingly inevitable winter colds (having kids is a sure way to be exposed to every bug going) and the fact that the weather is so bloody miserable, conspire to ruin the best intentions.
I’m afraid to say this year is shaping up to be no exception and as I sit here on the train to work typing this rather than riding my bike, it’s getting me down! The thing is I never know when is a cold a cold and when is it just a psychological bar to riding? Am I alone in being racked with self doubt every time I forego a ride in the name of ‘being sensible’ I feel guilty and somehow less of a bike rider - surely the greats were never put off by mere aching bones and a few sniffles, wasn’t Sean Kelly’s response to such an affliction 10 hour rides in the Flemish rain?
So, when I awoke on Sunday to glorious sunny skies and the opportunity of a couple of hours in the Surrey Hills - I decided to act like a real cyclist and get out there. And, it was fantastic - clear frosty conditions, the Downs sparkling with morning frost, scores of riders out on Boxhill, views to the South Downs from the top of Leith Hill and the chance to re-acquaint myself with the art of riding on icy roads. I felt great, the cold was beaten, why had I been such a wimp to even consider not riding, a bit of fresh air never hurt anyone! Well the next day I had my answer - achy body, aching head, a cough to be proud of, in other words the real thing, and it looks like no prospect of repeating last weekeds ride this coming sunday. I suppose it will give me more time to put up the Christmas decorations, yippee!

After three days of intensive bike-fitting theory and practice, I had another important date on my American itinerary, a visit to the Independent Fabrication factory in Somerville, Boston, Massachusetts. After several days spent in leafy (and seemingly affluent) Saratoga Springs, driving into Somerville was a nice contrast - gritty, urban America like you see in the cop films!
Whilst on the bike-fitting course I had been shown around the Serotta factory, housed in a purpose built building, where the talk was of ‘vertical integration’ and frames were built in an almost pristine enviroment. The contrast with IF couldn’t have been greater! The IF factory space is housed in a fairly old red brick building in an industrial area of town. The only clue that you are entering into one of the worlds finest framebuilding workshops is provided by a fading Independent Fabrication sticker on the heavy duty metal door guarding the factory. However once inside there is an immediate sense of light and space, not unlike how one imagines an artists studio, which I guess is appropriate given the beautiful creations which come out of this place. I was reminded of visits to Dario Pegoretti’s workshop in Italy - hulking machines which almost seem to belong to another age but are in fact fully functioning and all part of the process of handcrafting frames individually.
Joe Ingram gave me a guided tour of the factory and then left me to snap away, no trade secrets here.Eleven souls work at IF and as an employee owned organisation there’s a good amount of democracy when it comes to decision making. Each member of staff specialises in a particular area; from Joe who designs the frames (in conjunction with Roger in our case) through tacking, welding, finishing, painting and finally despatch. I always enjoy watching craftspeople working and the hum of quiet industry was palpable.
As someone who sells this stuff it’s always great to go to the source and see where the frames begin life and as a cyclist who is lucky enough to ride an IF Planet Cross it’s good to know that the frame I ride was built with the same passion I try to put into riding it.

For a look at the pictures, go here http://mosquito-bikes.co.uk/blog/?page_id=68