Out riding today

[Arthur Clune]

Somewhat mixed....

Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny, shiny,
speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.

Then I snapped a spoke. Which wouldn't normally be a huge problem except
I was using a 22 spoke rear wheel (which of course snapped on the drive
side). Some lateral thinking later, I took the piece of electrical tape
marking the height of my seatpost and used that to stap the broken spoke
to the one next to it. Then I released the rear brake totally and rode
home slowly. It's amazing how huge a buckle you get when 1/22nd of
your spokes go! Still, nothing was actually rubbing after I'd finished
fettling.

So this afternoon has been spent working on bikes in the yard, swapping
over tyres (that I'd just put on the posh wheels yesterday...) onto some
nice 32 spoke, 3x handbuilt wheels. Reliability here I come!

I also popped into my LBS on the way back to show them the wheel and get
them to order a spare spoke. Apparently I should expect it to be about £8
a spoke. Ow!

Arthur


--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a
lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes

 

[Simon Mason]

"Arthur Clune" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for the first time this year. Nice, shiny, shiny,
> speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
> 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.

Quite few roadies about today. I've been on my summer bike for a couple of
weeks now. I only laid it up from 20 Dec to the start of March and that was
down to wet roads. Lovely ride into work at 0600 this morning into a eastern
sky getting light, only thing is, after the clocks go forward, it will be
dark again in the morning.

Glad I kept grinding away during those grim winter nights, battling home in
50 mph head winds. I can take full advantage of the improved weather fitness
wise. Hard work usually has its rewards


--
Simon Mason

http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

 

[Zog The Undeniable]

Arthur Clune wrote:

> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny, shiny,
> speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
> 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.

I did a 2-up TT. Unfortunately my riding partner has only been doing
slow CTC rides since last season (as have I, but they've been
supplemented by 52 x 17 thrashes on the turbo) and I had to stop and
wait for him - he blew completely and almost had to climb off. Still,
we did 28:51 so it could have been a lot worse.

 

[MSeries]

Arthur Clune wrote:
> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny, shiny,
> speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
> 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.
>
> Then I snapped a spoke. Which wouldn't normally be a huge problem except
> I was using a 22 spoke rear wheel (which of course snapped on the drive
> side). Some lateral thinking later, I took the piece of electrical tape
> marking the height of my seatpost and used that to stap the broken spoke
> to the one next to it. Then I released the rear brake totally and rode
> home slowly. It's amazing how huge a buckle you get when 1/22nd of
> your spokes go! Still, nothing was actually rubbing after I'd finished
> fettling.
>
> So this afternoon has been spent working on bikes in the yard, swapping
> over tyres (that I'd just put on the posh wheels yesterday...) onto some
> nice 32 spoke, 3x handbuilt wheels. Reliability here I come!
>
> I also popped into my LBS on the way back to show them the wheel and get
> them to order a spare spoke. Apparently I should expect it to be about £8
> a spoke. Ow!
>
> Arthur
>
>

I had #2RI out today for the 2nd time. went to York actually Arthur.
Only three layers, shorts + legwarmers, head band and no overshoes. 80
miles.

 

[LSMike]

Arthur Clune wrote:
> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny,
shiny,
> speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
> 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.

Oh yes, shorts and t-shirts, I have a mild sunburn now.

> Then I snapped a spoke.

Oh dear, and ouch at that price too, which reminds me, my specialized
DF snapped a spoke on Friday, I need to go get another one next week.

I did 80km on my recumbent today, lovely ride (well rides, I tacked on
40km to the end of my commute), I haven't had that much fun in ages!
Lots of great people interaction the whole way, apart from two snooty
roadies. (all the other roadies were nice though)

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, Arthur Clune
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny,
> shiny, speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes,
> hats, 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.

I too took the 'summer bike' out. I also wore my new bibshorts for the
first time, which was nice. Quick ride into Castle Douglas (8 miles),
into the bike shop for a cup of tea, meet up with Andrew-the-lurker,
and head up to Glenlochar, across the river, and down the west bank to
Tongland and back across the river into Kirkcudbright. From
Kirkcudbright back up the old road via Whinnieliggate and Rhonehouse
into Castle Douglas for another cup of tea in the bike shop. About
twenty four miles.

All this pretty briskly. It's really nice riding the Dolan - at once
light, fast, lively and comfortable; and it's really nice riding with
someone who is basically a lot faster than you are, because it
encourages you to go faster than you otherwise would. There was a thin
mist just about on the point of turning to precipitation, but not thick
enough to make our clothing damp and not at all cold. It did mist up my
riding glasses, but otherwise no problem. We didn't see anything
spectacular, and nothing exciting happened, but it was a thoroughly
nice ride.

After blethering for half an hour in the bike shop I headed for home,
knowing guiltily that I was going to be later than I'd promised, and
struggling with tired legs to keep the average speed up. Down the Roman
road via Kelton Kirk and Gelston, and really feeling my legs leaden as
I came over the top at Kirkland of Gelston. And then the long,
straight, fast downhill to Potterland bridge, where...

> Then I snapped a spoke. Which wouldn't normally be a huge problem
> except I was using a 22 spoke rear wheel (which of course snapped on
> the drive side).

!!BANG!! Hisssssssssssss..........

OK, quick rewind, flashie backie. About ten days ago I had a visit from
the Scottish[1] fairy. And I had, as one does, put my spare tube in.
And I had, as one does, hung the old tube over the workstand at home,
meaning to patch it. And I had, as one does, dropped into the bike shop
and bought a new tube. And I had, as one does, left it on the dashboard
in the truck...

I'd thought about when I'd been getting ready to set out. I'd thought,
'I must remember to get that spare tube out of the truck'. But I
hadn't. And I'd remembered it when I was in the bike shop, and thought
'I should get another spare tube'. But I didn't have any cash on me, so
I didn't (although I'm sure they'd have put it on the slate for me).

So there I am at the roadside with a very flat tyre. Oh bugger, thinks
I, I'll have to patch it. So I pull the tube out of the tyre, and start
to pump air into it to locate the hole. And nothing happens. _Nothing_
happens. It hangs off the pump like a piece of weary ribbon, as dead as
an old shed snakeskin.

Ooops.

Ok, I work my way round the tyre with my fingers doing a visual
inspection, and in moments find a big V-shaped cut in the /inner/ side
of the tube.

Ooops.

Well, that looks probably too big to patch with the patches I have in my
repair kit, but we can at least have a go. Dig in the bag for the kit;
don't find it, turn everything out of the bag....

OK, quick rewind, flashie backie. About a week ago, a knock on the back
door, and it's a kid from up the street. He's had a puncture, could I
help him fix it? So I did. And somehow, I must have forgotten to return
the repair kit to the bag.

****.

So there I am, three miles from home, with a bike I can't ride and shoes
I can't walk in. Needless to say I feel a fool. Take off shoes and
start to push...

> Some lateral thinking later, I took the piece of
> electrical tape marking the height of my seatpost and used that to
> stap the broken spoke to the one next to it. Then I released the rear
> brake totally and rode home slowly. It's amazing how huge a buckle you
> get when 1/22nd of your spokes go! Still, nothing was actually rubbing
> after I'd finished fettling.

... but this being rural Galloway, I hadn't gone quarter of a mile when a
car came past, stopped, and reversed back up to me. It was Billie the
Post, on his way home from work. Would I like a lift? Well, I said,
it's OK, I can walk... and five minutes later I was home, although it
was entirely out of his way. We have good people around here.

The tire is, needless to say, now fixed, but I still haven't found the
repair kit.


[1] Well, if the play you aren't allowed to name is the Scottish play...

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

For office use only. Please do not write or type below this line.

 

[Peter B]

"Arthur Clune" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Then I snapped a spoke. Which wouldn't normally be a huge problem except
> I was using a 22 spoke rear wheel (which of course snapped on the drive
> side).

Didn't the wheel come with the warning: "Caution! Only to be used in the
presence of support vehicle".

Pete

 

[Jeremy Collins]

Arthur Clune wrote:
> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny, shiny,
> speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
> 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.
>
> Then I snapped a spoke.

How annoying! Hopefully that's your share of bad luck done for the
season and you can relax now...

I managed a very pleasant 60 miles (av 16mph) on the hybrid yesterday;
apart from the fog for the first hour it was fantastic.


--
jc

Remove the -not from email

 

[Stross]

"Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> in message <[email protected]>, Arthur Clune
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
>> Somewhat mixed....
>>
>> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny,
>> shiny, speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes,
>> hats, 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.
>
> I too took the 'summer bike' out.
>

Must have been a day for it yesterday. I also set off yesterday on the first
outing of the year on the summer bike, heading from Glasgow (home) to Troon
(parents). Made it to Glengarnock before meeting the wee bastid puncture
fairy.

Luckily I'd actually remembered to swap the spare tubes being carried from
those for the hack to those for the roadie! So fitted a (patched) tube and
continued on my merry way. Got, oh, maybe 200 yards before discovering the
patchwork wasn't worth its weight in glue. So fitted a new tube.

Now, this would be the first time that I've actually had to use both the
spare tubes I carry. And still being a fair distance from the final
destination, I take the sensible option[1] and give up for the day. I head
for Glengarnock train station and a single to Glasgow please.

Not being a superstitious sort, I wasn't expecting these things to come in
three's. But on the ride home from Central Station - using the daily commute
I've done for a lot of (mostly incident-free[2]) years - I then hit my first
pedestrian. Luckily the bike was unharmed (I could have wept when I saw it
lying on the ground like that!), ped was more shocked than hurt, I was more
grazed than hurt. No doubt hightened by having more flesh on show than
normal.

I should have just stayed in my bed. Although it does look another nice day
out there again today. Hmmm.

<removes common sense>

Ach, let's do it.

<goes in search for more spare tubes to carry>

stross

[1] Okay, yes, the sensible option may have been to find the bike shop in
Glengarnock, stock up on more tubes, and be grateful for the practice (I'm
not the fastest tube-changer). But I didn't, because I wasn't. And I really
must get a better mini pump.

[2] Incident no.1 was just 6 weeks ago. Having just recently fitted new
front blocks, I knew they were sharp on the bite, but was using them gently
until they bedded in. This was forgotten during an emergency stop moment. An
impartial eye-witness gave a glowing account of the effectiveness of my
front brake - he'd never seen a whole bike somersault itself over its own
handlebars. Bike unharmed, I dislocated my shoulder. At least I've now
learned to bounce rather than grind aong the tarmac.

 

[wafflycat]

"Simon Mason" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>

>
> Glad I kept grinding away during those grim winter nights, battling home
> in 50 mph head winds. I can take full advantage of the improved weather
> fitness wise. Hard work usually has its rewards
>

Nathan is starting to notice the benefit of all those miles cycling to &
from college over the winter. He did a 10 mile TT yesterday and managed it
nearly 4 minutes faster than the same course in June last year. Good job
too. He's doing a 26 mile 2-up TT on Easter Sunday where the other rider is
his cycling mentor, who is fast - his team having won the RAAM a couple of
times and came third last year... I think Nathan will be learning a lot next
Sunday... trying to hang on to a back wheel. I may need to take an oxygen
cylinder to the finish line.

Cheers, helen s

 

[wafflycat]

"Arthur Clune" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Somewhat mixed....
>
> Out on the summer bike for hte first time this year. Nice, shiny, shiny,
> speed speed. And the weather was warm enough for no overshoes, hats,
> 6 layers of termals etc for the first time in ages.
>

I rode Luigi for the fist time this year yesterday. Luigi is a fair bit
lighter than Gino, as he doesn't have all the extras added. I was using the
big chainwheel all the time. Cor! Almost unheard of!

Cheers, helen s ;-)

 

[JohnB]

> Nathan is starting to notice the benefit of all those miles cycling to &
> from college over the winter. He did a 10 mile TT yesterday and managed it
> nearly 4 minutes faster than the same course in June last year.

Yes, its surprising how much traffic has increased over the past year ;-)

John B

 

[wafflycat]

"JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>> Nathan is starting to notice the benefit of all those miles cycling to &
>> from college over the winter. He did a 10 mile TT yesterday and managed
>> it
>> nearly 4 minutes faster than the same course in June last year.
>
> Yes, its surprising how much traffic has increased over the past year ;-)
>
> John B

Yes, it would be as another competitor remarked that it was the quietest
course, in traffic terms, he'd ridden in 20 years of time trialling.

Cheers, helen s

 

[JohnB]

wafflycat wrote:
>
> "JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >> Nathan is starting to notice the benefit of all those miles cycling to &
> >> from college over the winter. He did a 10 mile TT yesterday and managed
> >> it
> >> nearly 4 minutes faster than the same course in June last year.
> >
> > Yes, its surprising how much traffic has increased over the past year ;-)
> >
> > John B
>
> Yes, it would be as another competitor remarked that it was the quietest
> course, in traffic terms, he'd ridden in 20 years of time trialling.

Was this the Plomesgate event?
So what position and time did young'un achieve compared to last time?

John B

 

[wafflycat]

"JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Was this the Plomesgate event?
> So what position and time did young'un achieve compared to last time?
>
> John B

It was. Last time he did it was a different event on the course (Jun 04) -
so can't compare placings, but he was almost 4 mins faster this time for the
course - so that's a reasonable improvement. He's noticing the difference in
level of fitness as compared with this time last year too.

 

[JohnB]

wafflycat wrote:
>
> "JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Was this the Plomesgate event?
> > So what position and time did young'un achieve compared to last time?
> >
> > John B
>
> It was. Last time he did it was a different event on the course (Jun 04) -
> so can't compare placings, but he was almost 4 mins faster this time for the
> course - so that's a reasonable improvement. He's noticing the difference in
> level of fitness as compared with this time last year too.

So what was his time?

John B

 

[Jack Ouzzi]

> I did a 2-up TT. Unfortunately my riding partner has only been doing

> slow CTC rides since last season (as have I, but they've been
> supplemented by 52 x 17 thrashes on the turbo) and I had to stop and
> wait for him - he blew completely and almost had to climb off.
Still,
> we did 28:51 so it could have been a lot worse.

I was 'helping' the finish timekeeper today on an low key open 2up 25,
30 'teams' entered, won with a 54.48 ..... I was reasonably quick in my
time but how the f... can they do that in March ??

Sigh ... dream ....

 

[JohnB]

Jack Ouzzi wrote:
>
> > I did a 2-up TT. Unfortunately my riding partner has only been doing
>
> > slow CTC rides since last season (as have I, but they've been
> > supplemented by 52 x 17 thrashes on the turbo) and I had to stop and
> > wait for him - he blew completely and almost had to climb off.
> Still,
> > we did 28:51 so it could have been a lot worse.
>
> I was 'helping' the finish timekeeper today on an low key open 2up 25,
> 30 'teams' entered, won with a 54.48 ..... I was reasonably quick in my
> time but how the f... can they do that in March ??

I called into a '10' yesterday as a teastop where 9 riders did sub 21
minutes, including a couple of vets.
Vets made up the majority of the field while there were only two juniors
- but the fastest being 22.56.
I'd still be interested in Nathan's times, particularly as he's been
'tricing' it.
Seems I may have to wait for the result sheet, eh helen?

John B

 

[wafflycat]

"JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> wafflycat wrote:
>>
>> "JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> > Was this the Plomesgate event?
>> > So what position and time did young'un achieve compared to last time?
>> >
>> > John B
>>
>> It was. Last time he did it was a different event on the course (Jun
>> 04) -
>> so can't compare placings, but he was almost 4 mins faster this time for
>> the
>> course - so that's a reasonable improvement. He's noticing the difference
>> in
>> level of fitness as compared with this time last year too.
>
> So what was his time?
>
> John B

he did a 26.57 which is a good time for him at this time of the year.

 

[Arthur Clune]

Peter B <[email protected]> wrote:

: Didn't the wheel come with the warning: "Caution! Only to be used in the
: presence of support vehicle".

Ironicaly I've had these wheels for four years now (they're had new rims in
that time) and they have been totally reliable up till now. Hey ho. These
things happen

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a
lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes