Shuv's 2-wheeled antics *SLOG

[sevenfourate]

Strangely, I never had that problem, even before I discovered recumbents. It was mostly everyday clothes, even more so now.

I guess it depends how you ride, how hard you push, how much you sweat and how breathable, comfortable and lightweight you like your clothing.

Irrespective of whatever bike and however fast you went - I’d have been interested to see you at the finish of my ride yesterday in street clothes……

 

[a.twiddler]

Time was, I was into the cycling club identity, all the colourful gear, group rides, the feeling of belonging which was very fulfilling at that time of my life. Never was too keen on the sweat and snot road racery stuff, more on the touring side. Nowadays, my life is different and I'm quite happy to ride on my own. You're bound to get a bit sweaty sometimes, but I've discovered a marvellous machine that washes clothes if that should occur.

 

[sevenfourate]

Nipples replaced on the rear wheel of the ‘old’ beater bike today. And wheel trued as good as it can be. And I’ve decided I’m deffo going to keep it going - to have kicking around. Even if that involves more time / effort / £££ than is ‘sensible’.

Did 12 miles on it tonight; just to get out. And irrespective of whatever else I’ve ridden recently - I still always enjoy this bike hugely 🙂

…………..So I’ve ordered new L/H switchgear (This bike is a 3 x 8. But only currently goes and stays in the lower two front rings as something in the switch is broken). Not really needed in use as such. Just bugs me !

Also going to strip, clean and re-lube the headset bearings as they sound and feel dry. I suspect the prolonged wet ride at the weekend accelerated and killed any remaining life left…..

 

[sevenfourate]

It’s all go in 748’s 2-wheeled antics…..

Last weekends first off-road / gravel adventures on the Carrera Subway 1: quickly showed me how messy an (Nylon webbing type) underseat tool bag gets. So I quickly ordered another matching bottle cage:

And a Medium (170mm tall) Zefal Tool Bottle for spare tube, multitool, CO2 canister, tyre levers etc:

I then thought - I have already: and will ride the Trek Hybrid in the wet too. And while cleaning it after is one thing. Getting dirt trapped under the seat, drying off a tool-bag, having wet gear etc is something else.

So……i ordered another, matching Carbon bottle cage for that also:

And another medium Zefal tool bottle too. Should make cleaning / drying after wet rides a wee bit quicker easier (Ie: Wipe plastic bottle with a damp cloth 🤣) . **It’s a long Winter in the UK to have to struggle with that….

Also managed to break the L/H / 3-speed front cog shifter on the Carrera. Won’t stay in the biggest gear - as something in the lever thats supposed to ‘lock in’ no longer is 🙄 Duly ordered too:

And hopefully will arrive and can get fitted by the weekend - as we’re intending to do some ‘local lane exploring’ - like literally seeing what we can find / scout out for future rides - and I’d like to take the beater for this task 😉

And thanks to a very kind member here alerting me to my favourite posterior perch ever being on sale at Treadz; I ordered not one but two. One for each of the new Treks. I’ve suffered slightly on the Hybrid. The MTB you’re out of the saddle a lot of the time. But will be nice upgrades - and nice to have both the same. Was only 2 left when I purchased. Or I’d have bought one for the Carrera too. Oh well……

Thanks for looking 🙂

 

[sevenfourate]

The Carrera Subway 1 Beater; had more love today. And sucked another chunk of £££ from the depths of my wallet…..

This afternoon on went a complete new headset (Original lasted 10+ years ! 😳) and another l/h shifter for the front 3 cogs - after I damaged the fairly new one and it wouldn’t stay on the biggest cog.

I also lubed a few other bits and bolts, adjusted the levers, re-tightened the front brake via resetting the lever adjustment and tightening the cable. I also removed / cleaned the axle and QR skewers, “fitted” the Cat Eye lights, checked and adjusted tyre pressures and generally made sure it’s ready for tomorrow’s ride. **If weather looks debatable. If it’s clearly going to be dry I’ll take the Trek.

The only thing I didn’t manage - was getting rid of the underseat bag - and swapping the ‘puncture / tool kit’ over to a Tool Bottle. Only because the bottle cage for it hasn’t arrived yet 🤷‍♂️

Looking forward to whatever 2-wheeled antics tomorrow brings 👌

 

[sevenfourate]

Post has been silly slow here. But the new bottle cages and tool bottles for both Treks are nearly all here. Ready for tools / puncture repair equipment to be bottle; not under-seat bag mounted….

You may also spot the first (?) of the Titanium bolts for the Treks. It’s NOT about saving weight. But about getting rid of ‘suppplied to a cost’ fixings that you know will start to corrode after a few washes. So with Ti: it looks gorgeous, means winter rides won’t take their toll - and I save a few g’s over Stainless Steel (If I’d have used those throughout) too. Let’s see how addictive this fetish gets….

 

[ColinJ]

Do those micro-mudguards actually do anything?!

I remember some road bikes having them years ago. I suppose that they might have kept gunk off rim brakes but you have disc brakes...

 

[sevenfourate]

Do those micro-mudguards actually do anything?!

I remember some road bikes having them years ago. I suppose that they might have kept gunk off rim brakes but you have disc brakes...

I made those myself out of sheet aluminium. Just a Winter boredom project really. On hindsight some more length would have been useful. So in answer to your question: probably not 🤣🤣

 

[sevenfourate]

F*%#+=ing, F#>$er, F*^k !

I still can’t get rid of this rear wheel ‘whir’ noise.

. Speed related (increases with speed).
.Hub / bearings have been stripped, inspected, greased and cone bearings re-set by local shop.
.Cassette removed, cleaned / lubed etc and refitted.
.Rear Caliper / pad-rub issues checked. Infact I also removed the Caliper altogether and went for a test ride and still had same noise 😡
.Noise heard whether under drive or freewheeling (So not crank or BB).
.Sprockets in good nick, chain is excellent and done but a few hundred miles since new
.All drivetrain is clean and lubricated.
.Wheel Q/R skewer has been tried tighter and looser than my ‘normal’.
.I’ve visually looked; can see nothing jammed, loose, rubbing or otherwise.

I’m at a loss now. Noise is pretty quiet. But not ‘normal’ - and it’s getting on my wick……

 

[Windle]

F*%#+=ing, F#>$er, F*^k !

I still can’t get rid of this rear wheel ‘whir’ noise.

. Speed related (increases with speed).
.Hub / bearings have been stripped, inspected, greased and cone bearings re-set by local shop.
.Cassette removed, cleaned / lubed etc and refitted.
.Rear Caliper / pad-rub issues checked. Infact I also removed the Caliper altogether and went for a test ride and still had same noise 😡
.Noise heard whether under drive or freewheeling (So not crank or BB).
.Sprockets in good nick, chain is excellent and done but a few hundred miles since new
.All drivetrain is clean and lubricated.
.Wheel Q/R skewer has been tried tighter and looser than my ‘normal’.
.I’ve visually looked; can see nothing jammed, loose, rubbing or otherwise.

I’m at a loss now. Noise is pretty quiet. But not ‘normal’ - and it’s getting on my wick……

It's not something like a shard of metal stuck in the tyre is it?

 

[sevenfourate]

Holidays for the next 12 days starts tonight in the cycling emporium 🤣

Titanium bolts fitted. Yup: you can’t even really see them. But I know they’re there…..😉

Centre cap fitted to fill the ugly hole in the middle of the crank on the drive side.

Under seat bag removed. Another Carbon cage fitted. And all puncture kit / tools transferred over to a Zefal tool bottle.

Charge Spoon seat fitted. “Luckily” the logo and trim are just the right matching colour 😄

And I found / made a small gap in the cave. So new bike on the Horizon 😎

 

[sevenfourate]

The plan was to now purchase a Trek Dual Sport 1 (£550) to use as the ‘beater’. And therefore have 3 (different) Treks as the main bikes. And I was planning and ready to do that as soon as back from Holidays on the 17th of this month.

But today I had reason to be near a Halfords with my wife. And so popped in specially to look at the modern Carrera Subway 1. Which is the model I’m currently using - but is suffering after 10-12 years use. Ok for short rides if I hand it back to my Son - but not the beating I’m giving it……

So its equivalent is on sale - and reduced from £345 to £276. And upon looking around it - probably looks more solid / stout than the older model I’m currently using for daily / wet / muddy / other duties. It’s got Aluminium frame in modern tubing profiles, 2x front gearing rather than 3 (An improvement in my eyes), same Tektro mechanical disc brakes, some chunky looking wheels and tyres - even the pedals are Welgo Alloy. I was seriously impressed for such silly money.

I’m now collecting one on the 17th Sept. The day after I arrive back……

 

[sevenfourate]

Took a short trip to the other side of my home Town; to see the Tour of Britain depart Lowestoft on Day 6 / the final day of the Tour yesterday. And grab some pics of course…..

This was my favourite photo. Yards after the start - and right on the promenade - where o ride through / past so often (You can see the handrailing / sea behind the riders if you look carefully).

 

[sevenfourate]

The new beater has made it to store…….also explains why when I was contemplating buying it was showing as ‘collect within 2 days’. After thinking for a day or so - and then buying online in the sale - it went out to 10 days.

I’ve today also bought long pants, thermal under helmet hat / liner, long sleeved gloves, arm warmers blah blah. Oh - and mudguards.

Looking forward to some crisp, clear Autumn / Winter rides. And generally can’t wait to get back in the saddle after a week abroad…….😎

 

[sevenfourate]

Credit where credit is due. Halfords have not done a bad job at all of building the new Subway 1: ‘beater’ - that I collected today after work.
Gears were faultless on the journey home, no brake rub, I can see copper slip on all the stem bolts, grease in the pedal / crank threads etc. Bolts had been torqued to spec. If I’m honest I’m a little shocked ! **I’m often quick to slate them - so here’s me being equally as quick to do the opposite 😎

Had time to fit mudguards, water bottle and cage, tool bottle and cage, change what bolts I could to Stainless Steel, increase and adjust tyre pressures; and turn seat clamp around 180 degrees.

I also had time to order some wider (720mm) riser handlebars. The standard items being too narrow for my Broad shoulders. And I think a small rise in height will help my posture too (Same as I did on the outgoing Subway 1). So I’ll fit the lock-on grips that are here waiting at the same time.

Also unwrapped the mats I bought - for where this bike will live in the garage. Found a nice sized pair on eBay for just £16 delivered….……that have a 30mm (?) high lip all around the edge.

So after coming back from a ride the bike can be washed, dried in the most part - stood over the mats / lubed as required - without it going everywhere…..