bikes v cars

The route between the kayak club and home takes me along Leabridge Road. On the way home this afternoon there was lots of traffic in both directions, stop, start; so I was going at least as fast on my bike.

But it was drizzling.  My feet had got cold kayaking and hadn't warmed up. I was thinking of my friend's car with its heated seats as I peddled away!

Tonight I have the wood burning stove lit downstairs and only a quilted waistcoat on over my jumper and I feel fine. No heating on upstairs yet, and if it stays as warm I won't need it.

Weather forecast tomorrow heavy rain or sleet. We shall see.....

Third puncture in 5 weeks

Yesterday wheeled the bike out of the house to go to kayaking only to find the front wheel flat. So hastily wheel it into the kitchen, unload the gear, get the folding bike out of the dining room into the hall, reload gear, and off I go.

Tempted to just take it to the bike shop again, but eventually got the better of my lazy side and got the bike upside down only to find I couldn't undo the nuts to get the wheel off.

This morning wheeled the bike round to the bike shop to find it closed. Wondered if their other shop would be open so wheeled it the mile and a half there to find the sign that showed that shop doesn't normally open on Sundays anyway.

Hope I will have time to get puncture done Saturday afternoon as I find folding bike doesn't get up the short, steep slopes by locks and I would like to get out on the bike several times over the Easter weekend. It also keeps slipping its gears.

The main bike has the fancy tyres, but you never know about the punctures you would have got - just the ones you do!

Misty ride with mystery noise

This morning was very misty (or is it a fog?).

I rode my new bike for the first time (a Claude Butler). Unfortunately I can't have a front pannier on it, though I will keep a look out for a bag with straps. The bell it has is pathetic! I will take the old-fashioned bell off my old bike and use that.

I wished I had dressed up a bit warmer, particularly with leggings under my trousers, though several joggers were in shorts and short-sleeved t-shirts. My toes were very cold by the time I had finished my ride but my finger tips had warmed up!

As I cme out of the east part of Victoria Park there was a mandarin duck swimming in the Hertford Union.

My bike got a noise while I was in Victoria Park which continued until I was within a couple of yards of the bike shop, which now opens Sundays. I can come back within 3 months and they will make any necessary adjustments. I had correctly identified where my now-stopped noise was coming from (the pedal shaft rubbing against the plastic chain guard) and it took the guy two seconds to adjust with a spanner.

The Bike Shack is a nice bikeshop - pity it is so small so not a lot of stock.

Peter - I am impressed with the photo of how much you got off your allotment at this time of year!

B!@@%$ bycycle back wheel

Wednesday morning I moved by bike so I could get out the front door and realised the back wheel completely flat (why always the back wheel?).

So Wednesday evening I upturned the bike in the dining room and changed the innertube, adding the punctured one to the pile of 4 already waiting to be patched.

I usually have major problems getting the wheel back in place, each time I adjust it so the wheel is evenly adjusted between the brake pads, I then have to adjust it so it doesn't rub the mud guard, which then means it is no secure in the holding (can't remember technical term for where the axle goes), and when I adjust.....

This time I haven't even got so far - I can't get the back wheel in in the first place! There are lots of people at work who'd look at it if it was here, but that's no good when I have a one-wheeled bike back at home.

One more try this evening, seeing if I can get the chain really out of the way when I put it in. If it fails I will be looking for a second hand bike.

This one cost me £25 from a colleague of a friend plus a £30 service and I have had it for at least 3 years.