J
Just zis Guy, you know?
Guest
I had the genesis of an idea the other day to foxtrot over to Bob's and get
a new pair of rims on the tourer, with wear indicators (I had been using
Shimano RimEater[tm] brake blocks).
So having trespassed on his goodwill to the tune of a wheel build left
uncollected for umpteen months, on Saturday I collected the wheels and last
night fitted them to the bike, along with new Kool-Stop Eagle pads. My word
but they are grippy! I wonder what they'll be like in the wet? Early
indications are that I might find out later today...
So today I rode the New Improved Tourer to work, only to remember why it was
that I bought the recumbent in the first place: strong gusting winds
alternating between againsterly and blow-you-off-the-bike. From genesis to
revelation, as it were. 17.5mph where yesterday it was 20.5; my time
estimate for the journey was more than several seconds out. So I think the
'bent might be back on the road tomorrow...
As an aside, the wind was sufficiently intimidatng this morning that I
actually donned my polystyrene foam deflector beanie in case the wind's
invisible touch caused the bike to exhibit a trick of the tail and go
sideways on me.
I'm thinking of swapping the cranks on the 'bent for fractionally shorter
ones (cf. earlier "isn't-that-boom-a-bit-short" conversation following the
Cyclefest pictures), so might transfer the long ones to the tourer. It has
a Stronglight / TA Cyclotouriste crankset which is showing signs of
impending doom after a mere 22 years. I blame this on the spindles of
sealed-bearing bottom brackets, as I never had a problem with the old
cup-and-cone jobs.
I had a nice chat with a bloke on the train who works at RAL; his journey is
somewhat quicker by car, alas, so he's only going to be an occasional
travelling companion, although there is a strong cycling culture there (but
not in IT, where this bloke works - why is everybody I meet a geek?). He
has what looks like an audax bike with a steel seatpin(!) and Campagnolo
screw-on freewheel for which he says parts are slightly less easy to obtain
than rocking horse manure, so if anyone knows where such might be had I'll
pass the info on.
Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University
a new pair of rims on the tourer, with wear indicators (I had been using
Shimano RimEater[tm] brake blocks).
So having trespassed on his goodwill to the tune of a wheel build left
uncollected for umpteen months, on Saturday I collected the wheels and last
night fitted them to the bike, along with new Kool-Stop Eagle pads. My word
but they are grippy! I wonder what they'll be like in the wet? Early
indications are that I might find out later today...
So today I rode the New Improved Tourer to work, only to remember why it was
that I bought the recumbent in the first place: strong gusting winds
alternating between againsterly and blow-you-off-the-bike. From genesis to
revelation, as it were. 17.5mph where yesterday it was 20.5; my time
estimate for the journey was more than several seconds out. So I think the
'bent might be back on the road tomorrow...
As an aside, the wind was sufficiently intimidatng this morning that I
actually donned my polystyrene foam deflector beanie in case the wind's
invisible touch caused the bike to exhibit a trick of the tail and go
sideways on me.
I'm thinking of swapping the cranks on the 'bent for fractionally shorter
ones (cf. earlier "isn't-that-boom-a-bit-short" conversation following the
Cyclefest pictures), so might transfer the long ones to the tourer. It has
a Stronglight / TA Cyclotouriste crankset which is showing signs of
impending doom after a mere 22 years. I blame this on the spindles of
sealed-bearing bottom brackets, as I never had a problem with the old
cup-and-cone jobs.
I had a nice chat with a bloke on the train who works at RAL; his journey is
somewhat quicker by car, alas, so he's only going to be an occasional
travelling companion, although there is a strong cycling culture there (but
not in IT, where this bloke works - why is everybody I meet a geek?). He
has what looks like an audax bike with a steel seatpin(!) and Campagnolo
screw-on freewheel for which he says parts are slightly less easy to obtain
than rocking horse manure, so if anyone knows where such might be had I'll
pass the info on.
Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University