Changing down to small cog ... sometimes yes, sometime no

[RichardWHardwick]

I'm in Killingworth, I'll have a look at it if you want, I'm a l qualified bike mechanic, from what you're saying it just needs a bit adjustment, cleaning and tweaking, maybe a new cable or its just down to cable tension and adjustment, and basically if you want me to service it plus any parts i.e. cables it'll only be a few quid, and I'll not bullshit you......

Hi Tojo - given we're only a few weeks away, I'd like to take you up on that offer. I've had a few things not done properly at the local bike shop and would like to find a local mechanic. Edinburgh Cycles in Byker is a bit too far away.
Let me know when is good for you. Love to ride it early Bank Holiday Monday if possible. If you can't do before then, I'll ride it and bring it afterwards.
I'm free most times at the moment as working from home for the next week or so.
My mobile is 07967 187 057 if you'd rather text me - thanks, Richard

 

[RichardWHardwick]

Just cleaned it, sprayed plenty GT85 on it - works perfectly but it does when there's not sixteen stone sitting on it. Tojo, I will ride Friday down to Tynemouth and back - do some hills by the priory, then do 50 miles bank holiday Monday up past Widdrington Station, see how it goes those two rides, then come back to you in tears. Hope that's okay ...

 

[annedonnelly]

Richard, I've just had my regular weekly e-mail from Watbike and they're offering bike maintenance classes too.

P.S. Let us know if Tojo does a good job - it's always worth knowing about good local tradespeople.

 

[Tojo]

Just cleaned it, sprayed plenty GT85 on it - works perfectly but it does when there's not sixteen stone sitting on it. Tojo, I will ride Friday down to Tynemouth and back - do some hills by the priory, then do 50 miles bank holiday Monday up past Widdrington Station, see how it goes those two rides, then come back to you in tears. Hope that's okay ...

Ok, no problem, if it behaves all well and good, if not you can get in touch

Hi Tojo - given we're only a few weeks away, I'd like to take you up on that offer. I've had a few things not done properly at the local bike shop and would like to find a local mechanic. Edinburgh Cycles in Byker is a bit too far away.
Let me know when is good for you. Love to ride it early Bank Holiday Monday if possible. If you can't do before then, I'll ride it and bring it afterwards.
I'm free most times at the moment as working from home for the next week or so.
My mobile is 07967 187 057 if you'd rather text me - thanks, Richard

Ive PM'd you have a look in your inbox.......

 

[Tojo]

Ok, no problem, if it behaves all well and good, if not you can get in touch




Ive PM'd you have a look in your inbox.......

Sorry, not sure if I have as its a bit spurious how you PM on this site....

 

[RichardWHardwick]

Thanks Tojo - you did write on my profile, though I couldn't see a way to reply to it.
It worked the vast majority of the time the last three rides - so hoping for the best.
It seems it works best if I change, and then back pedal just a few inches before going forwards again.
Not sure what's going on there, but happy to keep you in mind for future use as bike mechanic if that's a possiblity?
Wind is forecast to be 20mph on Saturday up in the hills there

 

[Tojo]

A new pair of jockey wheels may be a quick fix from what you've said in your last post.....

 

[RichardWHardwick]

Well then, the Wooler Wheel was canny tough for a cyclist like myself - 68 miles with 20-odd mph gusts throughout. But amazing scenery, great organisation and super friendly people all round. Will definitely be doing it again.
Hopefully this time the bike will work the whole way through.
I cycled the first 37 miles with the bike refusing to change down into the smaller cog. It didn't work once, the twat.
Going up those hills was hard, except for the two I couldn't actually get up, so stopped halfway and pushed, and that was hard too.
One of them, I stopped the bike, manually moved the chain and then got up. Another time my chain came off, my chain stuck and I nearly came flying off.
And then, after 37 miles at a food stop, I decided to wait for the Edinburgh Cycles man to see if he could sort it out.
Had to wait half an hour but it was worth it.
Bear in mind, this bike has been in the local bike shop in Whitley Bay twice in the past three months, and it still wasn't changing down most of the time.
I was getting beyond myself and after 20 miles of cycling into wind and up hills I was tempted to switch last moment and do the 33 miles rather than the 60-odd.
This bloke fixed my bike in thirty seconds - it worked beautifully the rest of the way. My legs didn't but the bike did.
The problem was that the derrailleur(?) was bent a little - outwards.
He pushed it in, unscrewed the inner screw a little and hey presto. What a man!
Not using the local bike shop again. Happy to have a working bike.
The steak pie afterwards was lovely. And then I got home and had four bottles of Workie Ticket and a Lamb Vindaloo