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How was your cycle commute?

Specialized did me a favour about 5 years ago by taking over the shop I used to take my bike to for fixing and turning it into a "Concept Store" - the shop was annoying enough in its previous incarnation ...

It was just the final shove I needed to make me start fixing my own bike.
 
Very mild today - was somewhat overdressed on the way in.
I'm half-seriously ticking off the ice / snow event dates of the past few winters ...

I've just ordered a new bottom bracket and a switch for the indicators I bought last winter, plus some RC helicopter batteries with the hope of souping up my cheapo video cameras - hopefully giving me a third one to attach to my helmet.
 
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I've stuck a pannier rack on my commute bike ahead of a spot of touring later this month, looks a bit ugly but it's nice and sturdy. Hasn't slowed me down much on the evidence of this morning's ride in.

I've also added my new Lezyne back light, and have another Creebay one in the post for the front. Next investment is some proper tights/leggings, though I keep getting outbid.

I'm spending a bit of cash on the premise that I'll be saving money on train fare by riding to my folks for xmas - though I'll have probably spent twice the train fare on bits for my bike by the time I'm finished! I guess I get to keep everything and it'll all come in handy for making me a bit more resillient on the winter commutes. The only downside is that I could have asked for half this stuff as Christmas presents and I'm struggling to think of alternatives.
 
I have the delight for the next couple of days worrying that I've ordered the right thing.
The Chain Reaction thing let me choose "Italian thread" - even though I'm told a 68mm long one is by definition "British".
This is why it took me so long to start doing my own repairs.

It's also an "upgrade" in that the spindle is hollow all the way through. :hmm:
 
gentlegreen said:
I have the delight for the next couple of days worrying that I've ordered the right thing.
The Chain Reaction thing let me choose "Italian thread" - even though I'm told a 68mm long one is by definition "British".
This is why it took me so long to start doing my own repairs.

It's also an "upgrade" in that the spindle is hollow all the way through. :hmm:
Click to expand...

Oh dear. You didn't order an Italian one did you?
 
Tonight's two-wheeled arsehole emerged from an unlit park with a hideous strobe light.
I then had to almost apologise to several sets of dog walkers who cowered on the grass with their dogs - so it's anyone's guess what speed he was doing.

blinding.jpg

What possesses these morons. ?
 
gentlegreen said:
No British - but the selector thingy thought it was Italian - I had to manually switch it back.

  • Shimano UN55 Square Taper Bottom Bracket
  • Silver, 68 x 110mm, English Thread
Click to expand...

weird, sounds like the right one from the description though, common axle lengths for an Italian B/B are 102, 107 and 111mm.
 
Oh well it had to happen.
Spotted an adult riding on the pavement and as is my wont sarcastically asked if it was now shared use.
Turns out it's someone from work - knew my name ... though he was masked up and I'm crap at remembering people anyway .. he caught up with me and insisted on bending my ear trying to justify doing something I pointed out I had never thought of doing in the 26 years I've been cycling on that road on a daily basis... he even insisted he "did his bit promoting cycling" blah blah ... we parted with him saying I was "losing his respect" (because I didn't accept his justification and that I would do exactly the same the next time I saw him) and me saying I didn't want the respect of someone who rides on the pavement ..

He seemed to think it made a difference that we were colleagues - or that cyclists should never tell off other cyclists.

I hope I would do the same if he was my boss or a family member ...
 
wtf, the radio this morning said it was going to be a mild day: 10c. I stupidly assumed he meant in the morning too. Nearly froze my face/head off!

Maybe he meant another part of the country :D I was half asleep when I heard the weather forecast.
 
girasol said:
wtf, the radio this morning said it was going to be a mild day: 10c. I stupidly assumed he meant in the morning too. Nearly froze my face/head off!

Maybe he meant another part of the country :D I was half asleep when I heard the weather forecast.
Click to expand...
chilly here too, I think it's time to buy a face mask to keep my nose warm.
the bad news was cycling home with a slightly soft front tyre yesterday. I pumped it up to 100psi this morning. I suspect it will be soft when I go back tonight. I am very tempted to just get the bike shop to put a new tube in. Sheer laziness
 
Misty and chilly here, and I felt like shit first thing - did a yoga class on sunday for the first time in several weeks and it's left me with aching shoulders and lower back. Had a few short sprints on the first half of the ride but then felt like I'd need to do a Paula if I carried on so I eased off a bit.

Winter commutes are taking about 37 minutes at the moment compared to typical summer times of 32-33 mins (fastest was just over 29). I seem to be hitting more traffic but think that's because I'm a bit sluggish getting up in a cold house and am leaving a bit later. The extra layers and extra caution needed in poor light also slow things down a bit.

I had someone start creeping out on me at a roundabout then just keep going this morning. The kids in the back of the car could see me (and my cross gesticulation), she didn't. I wasn't going fast so not dangerous, just rude. The car in the other joining lane also saw me quite late as she was on the phone but did actually stop. A low sun at that point wasn't helping, but if you can't see well then just slow down and look properly FFS.

I picked up a new BB cartridge a month or so ago (truvative ISIS one), but couldn't get it apart to fit it - had a few people in the bike workshop try too but nobody could figure it out. However, simply taking the old one out and then putting it back in again seemed to ease of some of the friction I'd been encountering so I'll leave the old one in for now, at least until after my little winter touring. I must remember to go back to the supplier and ask them how it's supposed to come apart though - nothing on the internet helped. I got a slightly longer one since I always ride on the big ring and it should give me a straighter line.
 
joustmaster said:
First proper cold fingers of the season.
the wintery bastard begins
Click to expand...
It's gone all mild down here.
Hoping to not have to worry until after the hostilities - by which time hopefully I'll have my prototype electric thumb-warmers installed.

My indicator switch arrived this morning so I have no excuse not to sort that.
 
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