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How was your cycle commute?

I've been yellow-bellied this week, bit ashamed to be on the bus for the last two days! There is ice all over the place, though I'd have mostly been on main roads. It's more tiredness than fear of the cold I think, though I had an iron infusion on Tuesday (bit anaemic at the moment) so that should pick me up a bit. Still haven't cleaned my bike, it's a mess. Something to do this weekend!
 
It's not been that cold really. I can understand avoiding cycling if it's icy and dangerous, or if it's windy, but otherwise, get a grip.
 
That's not very nice and he was being especially manly and everything.

Edit: Tch Tch.
 
Last edited:
ChrisFilter said:
Gotya. I guess the reducer itself is universal? Or will I need to match Hope with Hope, Ritchey with Ritchey, etc?

Thanks for helping me with all the noob questions.
Click to expand...

Actually, now I've thought about this the solution is obvious: buy another Cube Orbit Z-t headset to get the 1 1/8" reducer. Then you know you're getting one that's compatible with your headset. And you're getting a spare headset which you will use eventually. For now put it in your trophy cabinet of surplus bike parts.
 
Good call. Although to be honest I'm erring towards getting a full frameset off ebay. It won't be as good a fit for me as a Cube frame, but it'll do for the turbo trainer and the 2 x 35 mile a week commute I'm planning.
 
I found a new favourite bit of road this morning. Just over 5 miles long and with a tiny downhill gradient (about 0.4%), I got on the top chainset and really powered it on the beautifully smooth tarmac. My thighs felt seriously good once I'd done.
 
Bargain! That could well be an option. I think I'm gonna need the LBS though. I'm struggling with an ultegra rear derailleur. When the lever is in the highest gear you can't click back down and it feels like the cogs are all one too far to the right. Can't get into bottom cog and can shift off the top cog. Tried all sorts of combos of the H, L and B screws but no joy. Successfully indexed the front which is a first. I'm fucking useless!
 
Take the chain off, remove the cable from the mech and make sure the jockey wheels line up *exactly* with the smallest sprocket.

click 3 times on the lever from top, set the chain on the 4 sprocket and wind the cable adjuster all the way in. Make sure cable run is correct. Get the chain sitting on 4th sprocket and not skipping up and down as starting point, then its just a question of getting the limit stop on lowest sprocket correct. On some shimano mechs there is also the screw at the back of the mech parallel to the dropout - loosen this.
 
ChrisFilter said:
Bargain! That could well be an option. I think I'm gonna need the LBS though. I'm struggling with an ultegra rear derailleur. When the lever is in the highest gear you can't click back down and it feels like the cogs are all one too far to the right. Can't get into bottom cog and can shift off the top cog. Tried all sorts of combos of the H, L and B screws but no joy. Successfully indexed the front which is a first. I'm fucking useless!
Click to expand...
sounds like your gear hanger's bent - stand behind the bike and check how it lines up:

correct_size_3.jpg

LBS can straighten it for you if so
 
ChrisFilter said:
Bargain! That could well be an option. I think I'm gonna need the LBS though. I'm struggling with an ultegra rear derailleur. When the lever is in the highest gear you can't click back down and it feels like the cogs are all one too far to the right. Can't get into bottom cog and can shift off the top cog. Tried all sorts of combos of the H, L and B screws but no joy. Successfully indexed the front which is a first. I'm fucking useless!
Click to expand...

Check the cable guide that runs under the BB; make sure it's straight and not full of shit. Or just get Di2.
 
Just another note to big up TrainerRoad. It's seriously addictive. I've never managed to last more than 45 mins on the turbo trainer before, but last night I happily (sort of) sat through 90 mins of cadence work. The way it talks you through different intervals is really helpful and not at all patronising or overly American like some of these things can (I'm looking at you, Sufferfest).

Obviously I'd rather be spinning through the lanes of Kent, but as a winter training it's very, very impressive for £6 a month.
 
Back on the commute again this morning, only the second full ride in this year. Someone nearly killed me within the first few minutes (pulling out across a cycle lane into queuing traffic without bothering to look) which fired me up for a fairly fast time overall. Humanity recovered it's reputation slightly with the bus driver who acknowledged with an apologetic wave when he'd ended up stuck over the bike crossing when the lights changed, and by someone politely letting me where the short cycle lane rejoins the busy fast main road. It's nicer when it feels like you exist. Traffic lights were mostly against me, but I balanced this with fairly good times on the climbs, it's almost as if shitting away several kilos of bodyweight a couple of weeks back has helped me out.

Still haven't cleaned the bike.
 
I've got the most basic Tacx - Blue Motion - and it's fine but as above, I've got nothing to compare it with.

One day I'll save up and get the Wahoo Kickr.
 
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