The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)
Discussion
On Friday I had my first major off in 20 years. I have no one to blame but myself and a greasy roundabout outside a petrol station.
The net result was a broken collarbone and a bit of gravelrash. I am constantly playing over what I could have done differently:
1. Go a bit slower, I knew it would be greasy so I slowed to about 15 mph but I should have treated it like ice.
2. Not used Spds if I wasn't clipped in I might have been able to get my leg down and not taken the full impact on my shoulder.I might revert to loose fitting toe clips on even flats.
Sat at home now typing this with one hand trying to get some work done..
Be careful out there
The net result was a broken collarbone and a bit of gravelrash. I am constantly playing over what I could have done differently:
1. Go a bit slower, I knew it would be greasy so I slowed to about 15 mph but I should have treated it like ice.
2. Not used Spds if I wasn't clipped in I might have been able to get my leg down and not taken the full impact on my shoulder.I might revert to loose fitting toe clips on even flats.
Sat at home now typing this with one hand trying to get some work done..
Be careful out there
Get well soon batbuilder!
I learned 2 things last night:-
1. That I can't get away with putting a 23/25mm innertube into a 37mm tyre.
2. I also learned that you can destroy an inner tube with a Josta 2-tier bike rack as found at stations.
Having ridden down from the city, I put my bike into the 2 tier rack at the station in Croydon and the air just fell out of my tyre. Turned out the jaws that hold the rear wheel were interfering with the valve leading to the failure of the tube. I won't be making that mistake again!
You can see the little black fingers that hold the back wheel in place in the picture below (that is not me!).
I didn't want to be putting a new tube in the next morning so I took the wheel off and put one in. I only had narrow road-bike tubes (probably 23-28mm or something) but my googling the other week when I was packing my kit suggested they'd be fine. They are not. I pumped up the tube with my normal hand pump, but while I was putting the wheel back on the bike, there was the most almighty bang! The explosion blew the tyre off the rim and was quite exciting. I tried another because that's all I had with me and racked the bike.
This morning I got a mile or two up the road before the next tube let me down. I had a bit of a trudge to De Vere cycles in Norbury http://www.devercycles.co.uk/ which is a lovely shop and they had a tube of the appropriate size. It's always a pleasure to go in there, so I didn't mind too much. Was late to work though.
I'm sick of the gears slipping so I'm going fit a new cassette. £9.50 seems like a massive investment for this sacrificial £56 gumtree bike!
I learned 2 things last night:-
1. That I can't get away with putting a 23/25mm innertube into a 37mm tyre.
2. I also learned that you can destroy an inner tube with a Josta 2-tier bike rack as found at stations.
Having ridden down from the city, I put my bike into the 2 tier rack at the station in Croydon and the air just fell out of my tyre. Turned out the jaws that hold the rear wheel were interfering with the valve leading to the failure of the tube. I won't be making that mistake again!
You can see the little black fingers that hold the back wheel in place in the picture below (that is not me!).
I didn't want to be putting a new tube in the next morning so I took the wheel off and put one in. I only had narrow road-bike tubes (probably 23-28mm or something) but my googling the other week when I was packing my kit suggested they'd be fine. They are not. I pumped up the tube with my normal hand pump, but while I was putting the wheel back on the bike, there was the most almighty bang! The explosion blew the tyre off the rim and was quite exciting. I tried another because that's all I had with me and racked the bike.
This morning I got a mile or two up the road before the next tube let me down. I had a bit of a trudge to De Vere cycles in Norbury http://www.devercycles.co.uk/ which is a lovely shop and they had a tube of the appropriate size. It's always a pleasure to go in there, so I didn't mind too much. Was late to work though.
I'm sick of the gears slipping so I'm going fit a new cassette. £9.50 seems like a massive investment for this sacrificial £56 gumtree bike!
After years of despising them and vowing I'd never get one, my new hybrid arrived yesterday :
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-division-2-2016/
For the last 5 years I've alternated between my hardtail MTB in winter and road bike in summer, but both are suffering as a result. So my wife has bought me a hybrid for Xmas which will be solely for the commute to work, I can't wait to get full size mud guards on it, and perhaps even a rack.
Unfortunately as it's a present it's staying in its box until Christmas Day.
Lovely ride in this morning, near perfect conditions, just a bit of a slog on nobblies.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-division-2-2016/
For the last 5 years I've alternated between my hardtail MTB in winter and road bike in summer, but both are suffering as a result. So my wife has bought me a hybrid for Xmas which will be solely for the commute to work, I can't wait to get full size mud guards on it, and perhaps even a rack.
Unfortunately as it's a present it's staying in its box until Christmas Day.
Lovely ride in this morning, near perfect conditions, just a bit of a slog on nobblies.
batbuilder92 said:
On Friday I had my first major off in 20 years. I have no one to blame but myself and a greasy roundabout outside a petrol station. The net result was a broken collarbone and a bit of gravelrash.
I did mine on the Newport Velodrome just over 2 months ago, and was back on the bike in 5 weeks, and driving in a little less. I was lucky that it was seemingly not a complex break.Follow the advice of the medical professionals, the ones I had in Exeter, and the ongoing Physio more locally have been absolutely excellent.
I think the few days of proper rest I had early on really helped, so do try to rest as much as possible.
Learning to wipe my bum with the wrong hand was the hardest part though!
Get well soon.
Nice warm, fast cycle today.
But a mini-rant. Man on a road bike - why must you overtake me and then slow down? I look like a dick when I come past you again (and again, when a slight hill proved too much) without changing my speed! I know I'm 'only' on a hybrid, and therefore below your manly roadbike prowess, but I'm not unfit, or that slow.
But a mini-rant. Man on a road bike - why must you overtake me and then slow down? I look like a dick when I come past you again (and again, when a slight hill proved too much) without changing my speed! I know I'm 'only' on a hybrid, and therefore below your manly roadbike prowess, but I'm not unfit, or that slow.
Steve vRS said:
timnoyce said:
Yeah, I have done once a week for the last month! It's uplifting actually and the getting up gets easier! I've got a tight work and family schedule so fitting in long rides is pretty much impossible at conventional times. The dawn raid is great... quiet roads, great sunrises and a sense of satisfaction for the rest of the day!
Just twigged we've a mutual friend who you rode revolve with, Trevor. 
Maxf said:
Nice warm, fast cycle today.
But a mini-rant. Man on a road bike - why must you overtake me and then slow down? I look like a dick when I come past you again (and again, when a slight hill proved too much) without changing my speed! I know I'm 'only' on a hybrid, and therefore below your manly roadbike prowess, but I'm not unfit, or that slow.
. . . . or the people you've just overtaken, who then pull in front of you at the next red light.But a mini-rant. Man on a road bike - why must you overtake me and then slow down? I look like a dick when I come past you again (and again, when a slight hill proved too much) without changing my speed! I know I'm 'only' on a hybrid, and therefore below your manly roadbike prowess, but I'm not unfit, or that slow.
Christmas party last night, but got up at the usual time and forced myself out the door with a thick head. I had a sweaty moment about 300 yards into the ride and questioned my own sanity, but unzipped the jacket and carried on.
I wouldn't describe it as my fastest ever ride, but very pleased I rode in. They we giving away free bacon rolls in the canteen as hangover cures so I had 3...!
I wouldn't describe it as my fastest ever ride, but very pleased I rode in. They we giving away free bacon rolls in the canteen as hangover cures so I had 3...!
Maxf said:
JQ said:
. . . . or the people you've just overtaken, who then pull in front of you at the next red light.
Marginally better than the ones who sail through the red, only for you to have to start the process again.
timnoyce said:
Steve vRS said:
timnoyce said:
Yeah, I have done once a week for the last month! It's uplifting actually and the getting up gets easier! I've got a tight work and family schedule so fitting in long rides is pretty much impossible at conventional times. The dawn raid is great... quiet roads, great sunrises and a sense of satisfaction for the rest of the day!
Just twigged we've a mutual friend who you rode revolve with, Trevor. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff