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Cycling log - random events in the day of a cyclist II

Woodface said:
It is easy to get sucked into the admin side but I don’t attend any meetings, not even the AGM. I will martial at one of the club TTs to help a mate out but that is all.
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I've did a bit of marshalling and turned up for some of the club nights and club functions (Christmas party, awards night etc.) but wasn't interested in getting involved in the admin etc.

With that club I did a club run most Sundays as well as meeting up with folks midweek for training rides at the circuit (our club was associated with the Redbridge cycling track) - now I'd probably only be going out maybe once a month and would prefer a "social" pace for that.
 
BTW my bike count has now dropped by 1 as I've just sold one of my road bikes. I now need to refrain from building or buying another one!

I think I'll stick the cash towards some nicer wheels for my disc brake road bike.
 
I've got 2ManyBoxes, you must be 2ManyBikes. Although I think you wouldn't be alone in needing that name.

Saw an advert recently for some black latex cycling shorts with built in padding. However, the padding was bright red. This resulted in several possible looks: a) the baboon b) the huge prolapse c) the World Record pile d) the result of eating the tomatoes at that Spanish festival instead of throwing them. Good luck with selling those things :)
 
I acquired another the other day, simply because it was for sale literally only three streets away and I can't turn down a nice 80s bike.

Rather nice Gazelle with almost a full Campag Record groupset, hardly been used from the look of it. I will cannibalise the best of the Campag bits for either the fast bike project or to resell, replace it with a full Shimano 600 Tricolour groupset I have and then this thing can live on the trainer or go for an occasional spin outdoors, good score all roads up really as it will save me a fair bit of money.
 
I gave up on a cycle speedo/computer after I was sideswiped by a car on a roundabout, which resulted in a fractured tibia and two nice TI bolts just below the knee to support a fifteen inch vertical fracture, from just above the ankle right up to the knee joint ...

I knew that I would never rival my old speediness, and so it proved. I used to compete with my own previous performance, but never against anyone else. I used to be really good at hills, but less confident on down gradients. I was also good on the flat. Now I just enjoy doing as much as I can, while realising that my bike is far more capable than the rider!

I still cherish my old Carlton, and nobody but me will lay a spanner on it till I die ...

Best wishes from George
 
There's a lot of appeal to 80s bikes I think. You can dismantle them almost completely right down to the bearings. You can then clean it all and rebuild it at your own pace, taking time to adjust every bearing just so. I got a special satisfaction from then taking it out and really flying on it, the bike flowing smoothly and silently.

Modern bikes seem to deny you this, in the same way as modern cars.
 
SteveG said:
I've did a bit of marshalling and turned up for some of the club nights and club functions (Christmas party, awards night etc.) but wasn't interested in getting involved in the admin etc.

With that club I did a club run most Sundays as well as meeting up with folks midweek for training rides at the circuit (our club was associated with the Redbridge cycling track) - now I'd probably only be going out maybe once a month and would prefer a "social" pace for that.
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We formed a ‘splitters’ group that met on a Saturday for a training run, this was frowned upon as it took people away from the Sunday club run (which people were not turning up for anyway). The training ride then developed into a faster paced ride with a cafe stop, this was also frowned upon. The club reluctantly sanctioned it as an official ride once we refused to bow down.

All quite comical really. Our mid week chain gangs are attended by other clubs riders, bit more of a free for all. I can fully understand what put people off clubs;)
 
George J said:
I gave up on a cycle speedo/computer after I was sideswiped by a car on a roundabout, which resulted in a fractured tibia and two nice TI bolts just below the knee to support a fifteen inch vertical fracture, from just above the ankle right up to the knee joint ...
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Best wishes to you George, there but for the grace of God go I. I've never heard of a vertical fracture before, it sounds especially gruesome :eek: Good to hear that you can still ride but the knock to your confidence is completely understandable.
 
Woodface said:
We formed a ‘splitters’ group that met on a Saturday for a training run, this was frowned upon as it took people away from the Sunday club run (which people were not turning up for anyway). The training ride then developed into a faster paced ride with a cafe stop, this was also frowned upon. The club reluctantly sanctioned it as an official ride once we refused to bow down.

All quite comical really. Our mid week chain gangs are attended by other clubs riders, bit more of a free for all. I can fully understand what put people off clubs;)
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I could never have joined a bike riding club. The pleasure was never social for me except when riding out with a friend. Even then I would never compete. We would find a good corporate speed to enjoy the trip sharing the poll or following evenly. In the end I got good at mind reading!

I used to play music [as a double bassist] in amateur and "ad hoc" professional classical concerts. The part I disliked was that amateurs wanted to make a social thing of it. Fortunately the pro- musos simply wanted to get home ASAP after a concert, which suited me fine!

Of course some of the pro- musos became friends, so between the rehearsal and concert we would happily socialise and discuss how good or not the concert might be!

Best wishes from George
 
George J said:
I knew that I would never rival my old speediness, and so it proved. I used to compete with my own previous performance, but never against anyone else. I used to be really good at hills, but less confident on down gradients. I was also good on the flat.
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My primary interest in the Strava segments is knowing how much performance compares to previous times on that segment, as it helps me understand where my fitness is at. Unless it's one of those rare cases where a KOM is possible for me of course!

I also like looking at where the others local to me are riding as it can be good for finding new places to ride.
 
2ManyBoxes said:
Best wishes to you George, there but for the grace of God go I. I've never heard of a vertical fracture before, it sounds especially gruesome :eek: Good to hear that you can still ride but the knock to your confidence is completely understandable.
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I will say that fettling my old Carlton and keeping it squeak and rattle-free is a pleasure in itself.

I think the only time I am truly free of cares and totally happy is while riding a fairly aimless tour on the old thing! Apart from listening to great music.

I know that 99% of drivers of vehicles are totally fine, but it only takes one major crash to ruin your confidence forever.

I was told off the other day by an old guy for having my two headlights and powerful rear light on in the middle of the day. I pointed out that with these good lights no driver could claim the excuse of, "Sorry mate, I did not see you." I am not sure that the driver entirely saw the point.

Best wishes from George
 
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George J said:
I could never have joined a bike riding club. The pleasure was never social for me except when riding out with a friend. Even then I would never compete. We would find a good corporate speed to enjoy the trip sharing the poll or following evenly. In the end I got good at mind reading!

I used to play music [as a double bassist] in amateur and "ad hoc" professional classical concerts. The part I disliked was that amateurs wanted to make a social thing of it. Fortunately the pro- musos simply wanted to get home ASAP after a concert, which suited me fine!

Of course some of the pro- musos became friends, so between the rehearsal and concert we would happily socialise and discuss how good or not the concert might be!

Best wishes from George
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I am a social animal, I work remotely so my friends are very important to me.
 
Woodface said:
I am a social animal, I work remotely so my friends are very important to me.
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My friends are everything to me, but I don't want to wear the welcome off the mat with them. I ensured, even in the previous normal times, never to see any friend more than once a month.

Keeps things fresh and kind. You can overdo the company thing.

Best wishes from George
 
The narrow wide chainrings (a 34 and a 36 to give me options) I ordered to go 1x with the Soul arrived yesterday and the short chainring bolts that I needed to convert a Deore Hollowtech II chainset arrived today. As I was slightly bored mid-afternoon I decided that I'd remove the ancient squeaking octalink BB and chainset and, given I'd found a MTB Hollowtech II BB in the parts bin (quite a nice one - it's Hope or Superstar Components and in a shade of blue that matches the decals on the bike!), convert the bike temporarily to a 1x9 setup, with the 34t on the front and an 11:32 cassette. That's not going to have the low gears for any steep technical climbs but was fine for this evenings wander into the Pentlands (and in fact I didn't use the lowest 34:32 gearing). It was quite pleasant not to really have the gears to go fast so I just had a leisurely cruise around (no Strava PB's, not even 2nds or 3rds).

I've got bits coming to give me either 1x10 (with an 11:42 cassette) or 1x11 (with an 11:46) options and current thinking is that the Soul will go 1x11 with a 36t on the front and the 11:46 cassette which I think should be good.

The Soul has pretty much been rebuilt completely now, and once the 1x11 stuff goes on it then it'll only be the frame, headset, bars and stem and the seatpost and saddle that'll have survived from it's previous incarnation. The headset is a nice one (Hope), as is the seatpost (Thomson) so they'll be staying but I suspect the bars, stem and saddle won't as I'm pretty sure I've better stuff somewhere in the garage.

I always quite enjoyed building and upgrading bikes (which probably why I've built so many of them!) so it's been fun getting back into that.

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Yep, that's a bike I'd like to ride. I've never had a 1x, all mine have triples, yes including the roadies. I know, but I care nothing for fashion. The bitza is going to be 2x7, which will be great for booting round Leeds in a devil -may-care fashion. But that Cotic has the minimalist appeal.
 
stevec67 said:
Yep, that's a bike I'd like to ride. I've never had a 1x, all mine have triples, yes including the roadies. I know, but I care nothing for fashion. The bitza is going to be 2x7, which will be great for booting round Leeds in a devil -may-care fashion. But that Cotic has the minimalist appeal
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I've had a couple of road bikes with triples but for some reason always found indexing the front a bit tricky, so they've all got compact 50:34's on the front now, mostly with 11:32 or 11:30 cassette's as I find that gives a decent range of climbing gears (although there are times I'd love a triple and a granny ring!).

Other than the Soul my BFe is the only bike of mine that's on 1x 1x10 with something like a 11-40 cassette and 32t chainring. It's built up more as a fun bike than for XC although it's not that heavy.

I've got a nicer wheel set coming for the Soul as well so that and the other remaining changes should see it get down to something like a 25lb or 26lb build which I think will be ideal for it.

Cotic have just recently announced they're stopping making the Soul, which is one reason why I decided to revise mine. It's only of the earliest ones as well, but I'd also forgotten what a lovely frame it is.
 
sq225917 said:
Tubs are a pita. That glue will be knackered as likely will the tubs, they're at least ten years old. Inflate to 140psi and see how they fare for a few days, any tread cracks or lifting of tread from the carcass and bin them.

Clean old glue off with acetone. Applying new glue takes days, literally, 2-3 coats left to dry fully over night then one coat to rim and tyre left to tack off for an hour or two, fit them, partially inflate, check alignment and then fully inflate and leave overnight.

Honestly, inflate and use them for a bit, but expect to bin them off. Tyre sealant in a small aerosol can patch small holes and is safe to run on long term.

Unless you want to keep it period correct, I'd swap the wheels.
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The tyres held air at 140psi for a few days and I rode it around the block yesterday just to check the gears, brakes and fit. Today I deflated the tyres and they basically just fell of the rims - no sign of glue at all, the rims and tyres both look pretty much new - and the tyres and tape look in very good condition. I will now embark on the 3-day glueing procedure. Blimey what a faff!! I suspect the first puncture and we'll be back to the other wheels! But the bike did ride well, looks great and I'm in for just €50 on the project so far.
 
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