Windfall

A neighbor now in her 80s told me that when she was a child in Co Kerry, every child in the parish would be up bright and early the morning after a storm. The storm would bring down tree branches and children would race to find them and get them home before someone else did.

I decided to follow this tradition this week and took my handcart out of storage to go forage for windfall timber in the aftermath of hurricane Katia which brought high winds to Ireland on Monday September 12th. Unlike when my neighbor was a child I had lots of time to find and collect windfall timber as no one else bothers.

Picture is a load of ash collected about 400 meters from home. Not a huge amount of firewood but it only took about 10 minutes and a little effort to collect it. On top of the load is my bow saw which I used for the job. For a small job like this the bow saw is far quicker than the chainsaw, it does not have to be fueled and started like a chainsaw.

The Raleigh Oakland Reviewed

Last June I bought a Raleigh Oakland, a low cost steel frame hybrid bike. The Oakland is not light, weighing in at 15.5 kg, but it’s a rugged, stable and comfortable machine to ride. It has 700c x 28 wheels, 18 speed shimano gears, mudguards, chain guard, and rear carrier. It has a upright riding position, and a comfortable saddle. The wide gear range makes it a good bike for hilly country.

In three months I’ve done over 3000 km on it, including a 500 km tour in the West of Ireland. I have ridden it at speeds of up to 53 kph over rough Irish back roads. I have carried up to 15kg of cargo on it. In all cases it handeled well.

On the first day of my tour with 15 kg of gear (and me at 70 kg) aboard, three back spokes broke. A new wheel cost 35 euro and after shedding 5 kg of gear I completed the tour with no further problem. Next year I will try touring again with 15kg of cargo.

The bike has not been serviced other than the wheel change, the front deralier cable was tightened, the back brake blocks replaced, and a drop of lub on the chain and after 3000 km it is still running well. It is now due a full service.

This bike is amazing value for money being available online for as little as 230 euro. 

So how do you sell a bike this cheap, by compromising on the chainwheels, which are poor. I have been very careful while changing gear and after 3000 km the chainwheels still have lots of service left in them. When they wear out I will replace them with quality components.

After 3000 km I love this bike. You could spend a lot more on a hybrid bike but I doubt you will beat the Oakland on value for money. There is a great Russian saying, the perfect is the enemy of the good enough, this to me sums up the Oakland.

Oakland Reviewed Part 2
Oakland Reviewed Part 3
Oakland Reviewed Part 4
Oakland Reviewed Part 5
Oakland Reviewed Part 6

Got mine from Clarkes of Cavan, ask for Stephen or Martin

To buy online

Raleigh Ireland

Specs

Frame Size: 19 inch and 22 inch

Wheel size: 700c x 28

Gender: Unisex Adult

Material: Chromoly Steel

Gearset: Shimano 18speed with Revoshifters

Brakeset: Powerful alloy V Brakes

Wheelset: Alloy rims running on 700c x 28c trekking tyres

Controls: Alloy adjustable stem with riser style handlebar

Finishing kit: Comfort spring type saddle

Frame: Raleigh steel trekking frame

Forks: Rigid steel unicrown

My Oakland on the Great Western Greenway, Co Mayo August 2011