Having one of "those" days...

[scubadude]

I'm supposed to be training for RideLondon so of course in the last 8weeks I have had 5weeks of chest infection followed by 2 of a bad back. When I got on my bike again it was/is making a stupid ticking sound. Foolishly took it to LBS, it was hostage there for 2weeks. Got it back yesterday "Sorry mate, couldn't find anything wrong!"

Took it out this morning, ticking restarted after 1mile, in frustration set a PB up the next hill then headed home, ran into a cloud burst so sheltered in a Pedestrian/cycle path tunnel for 10mins.

Rain stopped so booted it up the steep exit ramp only to meet chap on MTB at the corner just before the top... we both hit the brakes and did the stupid go left, then right, then run straight into each other... it was wet and I was probably going a bit fast in anger.

He and his bike where fine, I punctured on his chain ring and twisted the bars but now have a lump like a golf ball on my hand and a bike broken worse than I started.

Ho hum- at least the forecast is for rain all weekend so I can sit inside trying to grease the pedals, remove the BB and generally tightening everything that could possible make an rpm linked noise with an icepack taped to my hand.

Supposedly my first century but the prospect of doing it with partially broken hand is dulling my already limited enthusiasm.


Apologies that was really just a rant- anyone else experienced the same spiral of disaster before a big event?

[anonymous-user]

Can i add this to the "another reason to ride an MTB" list??


too soon?? ;-) But as you say, somedays things just start badly and then get worse........!

[TwistingMyMelon]

Its hard for bikes shops to find noises, but they can check the usual culprits in an hour max/one day with bike, if they took 2 weeks I'd be nuts at them

Leave the noise alone some bits just click, heal up, get back on bike, ride defensively job jobbed!

[Daveyraveygravey]

If it helps Ridelondon is probably the easiest 100 out there - fairly flat course, closed roads, plenty of opportunities to draft and a cheering crowd to banter with. AND any training you might do in the next 8 days won't make a huge difference. Hope you heal up and get to enjoy the day.

[Mr Gearchange]

You should have manned up and not hidden from the rain.
Then none of the subsequent events would have occurred

[rhinochopig]

Chain ring bolts. Usual suspect.

[ALawson]

105 pedals?

See you next Sunday!

[scubadude]

Daveyraveygravey said:

If it helps Ridelondon is probably the easiest 100 out there - fairly flat course, closed roads, plenty of opportunities to draft and a cheering crowd to banter with. AND any training you might do in the next 8 days won't make a huge difference. Hope you heal up and get to enjoy the day.

Agreed, just wanted a few miles to harden the "sitting area" up abit after too long off the bike :-)


Anyway- quick update, did a flaming quick 50miles Sunday morning after tightening chain ring bolts and greasing pedals, kudos to LBS for lending me their Shimano pedal tool as they where too busy to look at the.
Feeling more confident now, fingers x'd on the weather and hand is still sore but in directions that don't seem impacted by riding, which is lucky.

[StarmistBlue400]

rhinochopig said:

Chain ring bolts. Usual suspect.

Thanks for the heads up, mine is making a similar noise and Ive only done around 200m on it. Will check those tonight.

[scubadude]

StarmistBlue400 said:

rhinochopig said:

Chain ring bolts. Usual suspect.

Thanks for the heads up, mine is making a similar noise and Ive only done around 200m on it. Will check those tonight.

Mine was a "tink" type noise exactly matching the rpm, needed Allen key and large flat screwdriver to tighten them, they where only a few degrees loose but it seems to have done the trick.