Stupid New Years Resolution!
Discussion
With these road bikes on my watch list I'm looking at these as well...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c...
What does the forum think of them?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c...
What does the forum think of them?
Some nice views home last night as usual...
..and as usual for a Saturday some seriously ropy driving. The highlight of these was a complete pair of idiots (rant alert) in a Hyundai Coupe. The driver decided to to open his door on my side of the road driving towards me. Closing the door at the last second because instead of moving out of the way I extended my leg to kick the door shut if we made contact. The same car overtook me a short while later and slowed so the passenger could throw a beer bottle at me.
The same car was on a driveway later with both driver and passenger looking very sheepish when I passed them. I reported all of this to the Police car, reg, driver description, passenger description, locations, address, etc and they said "they'd look into it" so hopefully they won't kill anyone in the mean time.
This morning was the usual pillocks who don't know how to dip their headlights and one who at a traffic calming junction decided he had right of way instead of me. That was another close call. Didn't get his plate as he had his fog lights on and no rear number plate lights.
..and as usual for a Saturday some seriously ropy driving. The highlight of these was a complete pair of idiots (rant alert) in a Hyundai Coupe. The driver decided to to open his door on my side of the road driving towards me. Closing the door at the last second because instead of moving out of the way I extended my leg to kick the door shut if we made contact. The same car overtook me a short while later and slowed so the passenger could throw a beer bottle at me.
The same car was on a driveway later with both driver and passenger looking very sheepish when I passed them. I reported all of this to the Police car, reg, driver description, passenger description, locations, address, etc and they said "they'd look into it" so hopefully they won't kill anyone in the mean time.
This morning was the usual pillocks who don't know how to dip their headlights and one who at a traffic calming junction decided he had right of way instead of me. That was another close call. Didn't get his plate as he had his fog lights on and no rear number plate lights.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Sunday 30th September 12:19
Last night my college decided to be over an hour late. Well it wasn't a conscious decision but he's still a pillock. So my understandable temperament and near gale force tailwind meant I have broken the thirty six minute barrier again.
35.39
There were two limiting factors to take into consideration as well.
1/ I was stuck a red light for ages (ended up jumping it as there was no other traffic and an aluminium cycle does produce a magnetic field to trigger the floor sensors).
2/ About half way home I realised I should back down a bit because I was going to have a near gale force head wind in the morning.
Sure enough this morning was an effort. Waterproofs on as it was cacking it down when I left. Annoyingly this had fizzled out to a drizzle by the time I got to work. Still horizontal precipitation and the head wind was enough for me to get out of the saddle a few times.
Tailwind tonight.
35.39
There were two limiting factors to take into consideration as well.
1/ I was stuck a red light for ages (ended up jumping it as there was no other traffic and an aluminium cycle does produce a magnetic field to trigger the floor sensors).
2/ About half way home I realised I should back down a bit because I was going to have a near gale force head wind in the morning.
Sure enough this morning was an effort. Waterproofs on as it was cacking it down when I left. Annoyingly this had fizzled out to a drizzle by the time I got to work. Still horizontal precipitation and the head wind was enough for me to get out of the saddle a few times.
Tailwind tonight.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Wednesday 3rd October 20:13
£30 chain and £10 petrol for dads car.
That's this months money saving gone.
Still with a breaking strain of 1,500Kg I've officially got legs.
Having said that. Driving to work meant two things. I felt rough yesterday and couldn't sleep so this morning's head wind was a bit heavier than normal.
That's this months money saving gone.
Still with a breaking strain of 1,500Kg I've officially got legs.
Having said that. Driving to work meant two things. I felt rough yesterday and couldn't sleep so this morning's head wind was a bit heavier than normal.
Zoned
I don't know if "Zoned" is the correct technical term for this but I've started to notice something. When I'm riding normally I set five or ten minute check points and aim to be at these points roughly in time-ish. When in a hurry (usually because I'm running late) the next corner is my check point. I see the next corner, work out how far it is and how much time it should take and try to beat it.
When drag racing I'm sure I can see the element in the green light phase up and once off the line I only see the bridge at the end of the quarter mile. When driving a handling course I can see the grain in the rubber footing of every single cone. Every blade of grass on the apex when rally driving. An artist can sit at a blank canvas for few hours and there's a picture in front of them they don't remember painting. Martial artists call it Chi. As I said I don't know if it's called being "Zoned" when cycling but that's what I call it.
So why bring this up?
A couple of weeks ago whilst running late I was Zoned, failed to recognise someone when our paths crossed, didn't notice her waving at me, didn't hear her shouting at me and because I kicked between two corners so she thought I was in a hurry to get away from her. I mistakenly made light of this and noted it on this thread. That entry has been deleted and this is not only a retraction and explanation but an apology as well.
Sorry.
I don't know if "Zoned" is the correct technical term for this but I've started to notice something. When I'm riding normally I set five or ten minute check points and aim to be at these points roughly in time-ish. When in a hurry (usually because I'm running late) the next corner is my check point. I see the next corner, work out how far it is and how much time it should take and try to beat it.
When drag racing I'm sure I can see the element in the green light phase up and once off the line I only see the bridge at the end of the quarter mile. When driving a handling course I can see the grain in the rubber footing of every single cone. Every blade of grass on the apex when rally driving. An artist can sit at a blank canvas for few hours and there's a picture in front of them they don't remember painting. Martial artists call it Chi. As I said I don't know if it's called being "Zoned" when cycling but that's what I call it.
So why bring this up?
A couple of weeks ago whilst running late I was Zoned, failed to recognise someone when our paths crossed, didn't notice her waving at me, didn't hear her shouting at me and because I kicked between two corners so she thought I was in a hurry to get away from her. I mistakenly made light of this and noted it on this thread. That entry has been deleted and this is not only a retraction and explanation but an apology as well.
Sorry.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Thursday 4th October 08:07
2.5'C when I set off this morning and my ears felt cold for the first time in ages. Running late as usual. Why is it still "running late" when you're on a bike? 
Anyway that "Zoned" idea; doesn't work very well in the dark. Instead of going from corner to corner or check point to check point I ride from pillock (cutting a corner so the racing line means we could collide head on) to pillock (who don't see me and fail to dip their lights until I ride in the middle of the road because I can't see where the grass verge is). Oh and pillocks who underestimate (or don't care) how fast you're going and turn left whist still attempting to overtake (left hooking t
ts). The ones I love to spoiler smack are the ones who signal they intend to turn left before starting to overtake.
I know it's silly o'clock in the morning and you've either done a night shift or are up to do a six 'til two standing at the end of some spirit crushing factory line with an egregiously pedantic supervisor and nobody English to converse with but still if you're not awake enough to see a florescent yellow and orange Christmas tree on a red and white bike with red tyres you shouldn't be behind the wheel.
Anyway that "Zoned" idea; doesn't work very well in the dark. Instead of going from corner to corner or check point to check point I ride from pillock (cutting a corner so the racing line means we could collide head on) to pillock (who don't see me and fail to dip their lights until I ride in the middle of the road because I can't see where the grass verge is). Oh and pillocks who underestimate (or don't care) how fast you're going and turn left whist still attempting to overtake (left hooking t
ts). The ones I love to spoiler smack are the ones who signal they intend to turn left before starting to overtake. I know it's silly o'clock in the morning and you've either done a night shift or are up to do a six 'til two standing at the end of some spirit crushing factory line with an egregiously pedantic supervisor and nobody English to converse with but still if you're not awake enough to see a florescent yellow and orange Christmas tree on a red and white bike with red tyres you shouldn't be behind the wheel.
Sorry for the rant, but because my shift starts at half six I get the Zombies drivers just after I set off, I'm late so the highway code doesn't apply to me lot a while later and the I've just done a night shift crew when I hit the outskirts of town.
As the nights are drawing in they are becoming more feckless every day. :soap:
Wow, funny mood today.
As the nights are drawing in they are becoming more feckless every day. :soap:
Wow, funny mood today.
A little bit wet this morning. Parts of the road were flooded and as I was up to the crank I needed to slow for a rat that was swimming across. Head wind blowing spay from my front tyre back to my chest and face. Typically the precipitation stopped thirty four seconds after I arrived at work.
Day eight of twelve so I'm two thirds of the way to fixing my bloody car.
Day eight of twelve so I'm two thirds of the way to fixing my bloody car.
Day nine of twelve and the weather's being a pest again. Yesterday the rain stopped at 06:31-ish and I basically got wet for nothing. This morning it was cacking it down again and I was fully prepared for it. My no longer (now I've washed it) waterproof jacket is on it's hanger as I decided to wear my lined one that is waterproof, waterproof troused over shorts and t'shirt. So; this morning it stopped raining half a mile into my commute at approximately 05:33.
Good news; bad news.
Good news, I've set another new record.
Bad news, for the amount of sweat I've perspired on the way to work.
Literally wringing my t'shirt out before I could hang it up in my little office (lucky I work alone).
I arrived at work with clear skies overhead and a nasty looking bank of cloud where I had come from and the night shift guy said "you're lucky that looks like a storm coming". I nearly said something rude.
Good news; bad news.
Good news, I've set another new record.
Bad news, for the amount of sweat I've perspired on the way to work.
Literally wringing my t'shirt out before I could hang it up in my little office (lucky I work alone).
I arrived at work with clear skies overhead and a nasty looking bank of cloud where I had come from and the night shift guy said "you're lucky that looks like a storm coming". I nearly said something rude.
Last night was eventful. The twilight hours are that weird time when you get nocturnal animals flying in your face. I counted twenty three bats on my way home. Some close enough to feel the draft from their wings. The disadvantage of quiet tyres I guess. This morning was just as eventful with two noisy owls near the Windmill and my friendly Barn Owl is back. 
The things you miss when you're sat in a car.
The things you miss when you're sat in a car.
As well as bats, bunnies and owls I noticed the bike start to wobble last night. I don't know what pot hole did it but my DT Swiss rear wheel is geoffed. There's a Camber Carbon on eBay running 29's and I'm wondering if it took any modifications to fit or if I can fit a pair of 29's to my bike. Two reasons for this. First; 29's would mean I have a longer ratio and therefore can go quicker. Second; there's a pair on eBay for less than half a replacement DT Swiss wheel.
A bit of a grumble. Whilst trying to straighten the wheel the soft anodised spoke ends chewed rather than moved. Making the whole process more problematic than necessary.
A bit of a grumble. Whilst trying to straighten the wheel the soft anodised spoke ends chewed rather than moved. Making the whole process more problematic than necessary.
Another two miles, run back and drive today. My DT Swiss rear wheel is officially fked! Annoyingly I'd spent an hour-ish straightening it out last night, now I've found a spoke key that doesn't shred the nipples and actually tightened and loosed the spokes instead. All was fine and I was making good time when I hit a bump in the road and it sounded like someone had strummed a harp. The stupid soft Aluminium spoke nipples had decided they don't need thread any more and the wheel is now more buckled than ever.
DT Swiss want £180 for a replacement wheel. fk that! I'll have a look on eBay for a pair of decent wheels instead.
ked! Annoyingly I'd spent an hour-ish straightening it out last night, now I've found a spoke key that doesn't shred the nipples and actually tightened and loosed the spokes instead. All was fine and I was making good time when I hit a bump in the road and it sounded like someone had strummed a harp. The stupid soft Aluminium spoke nipples had decided they don't need thread any more and the wheel is now more buckled than ever. DT Swiss want £180 for a replacement wheel. f
k that! I'll have a look on eBay for a pair of decent wheels instead. Day twelve of twelve and three were driven instead of cycled; not due to me wimping out due to weather but because various parts of my £1,695 bike broke.
Annoying doesn't cover it.
Got some work done on my Panda as I couldn't sleep and now I'm getting geared up for the first of three night shifts. I spent two hours getting the wheel straight-ish last night and it will be light enough to see the potholes this afternoon and tomorrow morning so I'll be back on the saddle.
Annoying doesn't cover it.
Got some work done on my Panda as I couldn't sleep and now I'm getting geared up for the first of three night shifts. I spent two hours getting the wheel straight-ish last night and it will be light enough to see the potholes this afternoon and tomorrow morning so I'll be back on the saddle.
So I made it okay. Forget turbo trainers and those miniature parachutes cycling with a buckled wheel the feels like you're towing a trailer with flat tyres. My legs are still smoldering. As is the temper of the black Volvo V70 driver who took a racing line round a corner, nearly hit me head on and objected to my opinion of his driving.
DN55 DNF - just checked with the DVLA and it's registered to a Vauxhall Corsa so false plates as well.
Bugger I'll have to wear my camera again for a while.
DN55 DNF - just checked with the DVLA and it's registered to a Vauxhall Corsa so false plates as well.
Bugger I'll have to wear my camera again for a while.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Thursday 11th October 08:11
Made it home without incident. I'm even getting used to the rear wheel. In the right gear and pace the wobble is in time with the pedal motion. Trouble is this is pootle pace and I'm easily bored. Bats as I set off and a Robin as I got close to home. If lovefilm.co.uk don't deliver my rental list today I may have to take my original Batman quadrilogy to work tonight.
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