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How was your cycle commute?

Sumat up with my bike, some underlying fault that's yet to be addressed. What it is, right, there's something up with the freewheel mechanism - A few weeks ago I was rolling along all carefree and that when, without any warning, the back wheel seemed to sieze up, pitching me over the handlebars like an inept cowboy from a bronco. Anyway, I took it into the shop & the guy sorted it and didn't charge me anything, but tonight it happened again, except this time I managed to bring the fucker under control. Rolling along, then heard this kinda cracking noise and the pedals went all wierd. And when I was pushing the bastard home, the pedals were rotating as if it was a fixed cog rather than a geared bike.Dangerous as fuck though, it needs sorting - I'm half tempted to launch this bike into the canal and just buy another one, but I can't really afford to do that.
 
Not sure what a cassette means TBH :oops: It shouldn't be that worn though, the bike's only a year and a half old, and I've had it serviced in that time.

This is what kind of bike it is btw

glides5.jpg
 
21 speed ?

It could be a screw-on - so the freewheel is part of the sprocket assembly and replacing that would fix it.
You would need a new chain too - and a means of shortening it.

So maybe £20 all-in.
 
gentlegreen said:
21 speed ?

It could be a screw-on - so the freewheel is part of the sprocket assembly and replacing that would fix it.
You would need a new chain too - and a means of shortening it.

So maybe £20 all-in.
Click to expand...

Yeah 21 speed - Last time it happened the guy in the shop replaced the back block /freewheel thing with seven cogs on it, whatever it's called and reckoned that'd be an end to it. But it's happened again - That's what I mean when I say there must be some underlying flaw.
 
Frances Lengel said:
Yeah 21 speed - Last time it happened the guy in the shop replaced the back block /freewheel thing with seven cogs on it, whatever it's called and reckoned that'd be an end to it. But it's happened again - That's what I mean when I say there must be some underlying flaw.
Click to expand...


There's deffo something else going on, unless he put a cheap shit freewheel on. Take it back and say 'it's done it again, I paid for a new freewheel, please diagnose and resolve this' because it sounds like there may be something else up, maybe with the rear axle or the rear derailleur that's jamming the freewheel somehow.
 
weepiper said:
There's deffo something else going on, unless he put a cheap shit freewheel on. Take it back and say 'it's done it again, I paid for a new freewheel, please diagnose and resolve this' because it sounds like there may be something else up, maybe with the rear axle or the rear derailleur that's jamming the freewheel somehow.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm going to do mate, first thing tmoz. The bike shop is widely rated as a reputable one & I've had no problems with them previously, so I doubt the guy is purposely trying to have me over/fob me off. I think I have just been unlucky in that there's something fucked-up with this bike. You're right though, it needs sorting, as it is now, it's not safe to ride.
 
I was amazed recently to find you can still get a wheel for £12 - I was paying £20 20 years ago ...
I can remember my "cassette" "settling down" on the threads... presumably it's screwing up tighter than it should and rubbing on the spokes ?
 
Got in my 18 miles on the way home - wasn't up for full-on - not sure if it's physical or psychological.
I explored a more muscular aspect of the tango on the way back up - almost like horsemanship in places ...



Someone I know who practically lives on the Railway path has a thing about the hill that was created when they cut the ring road - complaining that average cyclists can't thereby do the whole path on a Sturmey Archer... well I've been sort of beaten up that hill by a 10 year old on a BMX - as it should be - what would a ride be like without at least a token hill ?

http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/bristol/cycle_track/s_g_c/cycle_track_new_hill_climb.html
 
Masses of flying things out tonight - I even got punched in the eye by a bumblebee and I swear I saw that it had a white behind. (I have a nest of white-arsed bumble bees in my lean-to ...)
 
gentlegreen said:
Masses of flying things out tonight - I even got punched in the eye by a bumblebee and I swear I saw that it had a white behind. (I have a nest of white-arsed bumble bees in my lean-to ...)
Click to expand...

Did you make the noise of a frightened little girl?
I did, the other week, when I got a 20mph smack from one :)
 
I did that hill with a Sturmy Archer no bother at all, gentlegreen .

It wasn't there last time I did it, which shows how long ago that was. It pissed me off though as it interrupts the flow of the track, and also it's an incredibly backwards move by planning to build a dual carriageway over a potentially useful rail formation, especially one also used as a pleasant, easily graded and segregated cycle/footway. What the actual fuck were they thinking? Did nobody challenge them at the time?
 
I had a weird one coming home yesterday. I was on a flyover bit of a dual carriageway which has a cyclelane with a shit surface separated from the two lanes of the road by a meter of solid hatched area. As usual I was riding out in the road, also because the cyclelane takes you on to a 90 degree bend onto a crossing, and I'm perfectly happy just to merge with the oncoming slip road at the end of the flyover rather than piss about. At this time of day traffic is sparse on this route as I'm heading into town when most commuter traffic is on the way out.

About a third of the way over I hear a toot behind me, and some dick is crawling along wildly gesticulating that I should be over in the cycle lane. They follow me closely for a good half minute at about 15mph despite the road being clear in both lanes and it being an easy overtake. I do a few hand waves (no rude gestures) without really being sure what I'm trying to convey. Fucking amateur cops, none of their fucking business where I choose to ride. Technically I'm not supposed to cross solid hatching (the entrance to the cycle lane is as convoluted as the exit, and accumulates grit and rubbish that is never swept) so they're encouraging me to break the rules of the road. Fuck that. I should have just given them the finger, shouldn't I?

This is why I hate crap cycle lanes and fear for how it will be when they build the 'superhighway' along the same route.
 
Back on my fast long distance bike after riding my low rider last week cos I hadn't been bothered to fix a puncture. It's so fast :) I think the roads are getting busier again for the end of holidays. I have squidgy breaks again, someone only tightened them up for me about a month ago.
 
DownwardDog said:
You're going to the Netherlands not Mongolia. There is a bike shop every 200m there. Just take 3 inner tubes and tyre levers, you don't need drag any more crap around than that.
Click to expand...


You are right, but three inner tubes may well be overkill. All I ever take on all rides are tyre levers, multi tool that has a chain tool built in, one inner tube, Tip top patches, mini-pump, bike spanner. It all fits into the saddle bag - and there's room left to store my lights in there as well. I also take elastic bands and it pleases me hugely when I find a uses for them.

I'm also quietly pleased that on each bike I have the same clip under the saddle so it's easy to move the bag off and on and between bikes.
 
Dogsauce said:
I did that hill with a Sturmy Archer no bother at all, gentlegreen
Click to expand...
But you're hardly an average cyclist.
You could probably do it on a fixie.
It doesn't bother me - I do it on my middle (38 tooth) front sprocket - I do however have a 34 tooth on the back...
 
gentlegreen said:
But you're hardly an average cyclist.
You could probably do it on a fixie.
It doesn't bother me - I do it on my middle (38 tooth) front sprocket - I do however have a 34 tooth on the back...
Click to expand...

It's not really about fitness - my Sturmy Archer is very low-geared (as an ex-factory bike) and I think most aren't designed for speed - the slowest gear (of three) is easier than getting off and pushing. You just have to take your time on the steepest ascents!
 
fredfelt said:
You are right, but three inner tubes may well be overkill. All I ever take on all rides are tyre levers, multi tool that has a chain tool built in, one inner tube, Tip top patches, mini-pump, bike spanner. It all fits into the saddle bag - and there's room left to store my lights in there as well. I also take elastic bands and it pleases me hugely when I find a uses for them.
Click to expand...

Don't forget cable ties, they're always handy. I rode for a few weeks with my back hub held in place by one after the bolt fell out that kept it aligned correctly (and ripped off the brake armature at the same time). Good for attaching stuff too.
 
I wear combats and habitually pop cable ties, twist ties, elastic bands, paper clips, self-amalgamating tape and the like in there when I'm tidying up.
My panniers have baling twine and galvanised wire in the pockets.
 
Dogsauce said:
Don't forget cable ties, they're always handy. I rode for a few weeks with my back hub held in place by one after the bolt fell out that kept it aligned correctly (and ripped off the brake armature at the same time). Good for attaching stuff too.
Click to expand...


I occasionally carry them but I don't think I've ever had a need for them.

Once my pannier rack broke in the middle of Czech Republic but there just so happened an engineering company next to where I stayed the night who welded it back together for free!
 
I was once glad I carried random junk with me.
The throttle pedal came away from the floor of the 2CV 100 miles from home. :D
 
Obligatory "nights are drawing in" comment ...

Bloody hell. Another 4 weeks of extended homeward commutes before I have to start finishing my extended homeward rides in the dark. :(
 
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