Shuv's 2-wheeled antics *SLOG

[sevenfourate]

Getting the 22” BMX ready for some Pump-Track riding. And these are meant to be “The Bomb” in that environment. Literally a Track weapon…..

This involves changing the gearing slightly; and fitting some Linear / Slic brake cables (Slick coated cable and liners) - as the front routed through the stem has a very tight turn in it - and some super soft; clear compound brake pads. That won’t last long, will ‘chirp’ like a budgie on acid - but should grip and ultimately stop like nothing on Earth…..

 

[sevenfourate]

Adulting sucked s#&t today 🤣

 

[sevenfourate]

Turns out 22” rubber is like Gold Dust here in the U.K.

So just ordered more S&M Speedballs. This time in a narrower 2.25” wide - compared to the stock 2.4” wide. Along with a few tubes and a new cover for my Helicopter landing pad 👍

 

[sevenfourate]

Garage mostly re-arranged after selling 9 BMX’s…..and then painting the floor again. Paint is ok to walk on in socks - but with colder temps this Oil-based jobbie does take a few weeks to go rock hard. ***They say cures above 12 degrees C….. so we are right on the limit at the moment. So i daren’t use it in earnest yet. Hence ’ll put the 22” Fit BMX and new entrance floor mat back in next weekend. Checkout all this space I’ve made myself though !!! 😳 👌

I did yesterday manage to replace l/h grip and bar end [From the Stores 🤣] on the Carrera Subway 1 beater: which I managed to mangle slightly a couple of weeks ago. And fit a slightly higher Lumen CatEye light 👍

 

[sevenfourate]

Little bit of incoming Cycling related ‘clutter’ yesterday:

Not quite true as the 65 Lumen ‘Halt’ rear light looks (Sic) really good. I actually saw someone with a decent / just the right amount of brightness and an eye-catching “changing pulse rate” pattern to it - rear light in use recently. And managed to ask them what light it was. Hence my purchase now !!

Grips are reproductions of 1980’s Skyway grips. Not sure how long Skyway are going to do these for. But seeing as I have them on all 5(?) of my bikes - I thought I’d get spares while feeling flush 😉

Also bought a can of freewheel degreaser - god-send to saving some time when cleaning up after a ride this stuff.

And a cage and bottle. For what was the old beater. That’s why 5(?) had a question mark after it above. The previous Carrera 1 beater was really my Sons bike. It was awesome and I loved riding it ! But was getting too uneconomical to run. So I bought myself a Brand New Carrera 1 in the Halfords sale. And very chuffed with it I am too…..

After my Sons getting quite a lot of use last early last year - I’d changed quite a few drivetrain parts, replaced the chain, new brake pads all round, new pedals, fitted wider riser bars, changed the grips, whacked on new l/h gear change mechanism, uprated Schwalbe tubes and tyres and fitted a new headset. But the main hang up was the wheels. They are tired - and spokes / nipples were breaking nearly every ride. And a semi decent replacement pair at £150-£180 is way more than the bikes value.

But having now grappling with the thought I really need to dump the bike / give the rest to a bike recycling place if it’s not going to be used - I’ve come to the conclusion that whilst not economically viable. It is emotionally. And I just can’t throw away in essence what is 90% a fab bike. So I’ve ordered *myself (Still my Sons bike technically !!) some new wheels yesterday. Hence why the question mark earlier after how many bikes I own. I guess in truth I own 4 - but now have direct upkeep costs of 5 🤣🤣

So that’s the real reason why the extra light - to make up another set to stay on the bike. And the additional cage and bottle.

Intending to do a 40 mile (?) off-road ride on the original beater this weekend as a last swan-song to the about to be scrapped wheels. Somewhere I’ve not ventured to before either. Looking forward to it hugely 👌

Live on Carrera Subway 1 beater !

 

[sevenfourate]

I'm new to being a 'Winter Cyclist'.

Doesn't take too many cold Morning's to learn hands and feet are where its (ie: Soon get cold and require some help) at ! **Being almost totally devoid of thatch uptop - i was already well aware i'd need a beanie / bobble hat on and had acted accordingly.

But yesterday - even my pretty expensive / supposedly Tech laden gloves had a couple of my finger-tips starting to feel it after a couple of hours outside [Strava said 5 degreees C.......feeling like -2 degrees when i left the house at 6.45am].

And my feet. They got cold quickly. And stayed cold = I'm about to start 'Shopping'...........

 

[Mo1959]

I'm new to being a 'Winter Cyclist'.

Doesn't take too many cold Morning's to learn hands and feet are where its (ie: Soon get cold and require some help) at ! **Being almost totally devoid of thatch uptop - i was already well aware i'd need a beanie / bobble hat on and had acted accordingly.

But yesterday - even my pretty expensive / supposedly Tech laden gloves had a couple of my finger-tips starting to feel it after a couple of hours outside [Strava said 5 degreees C.......feeling like -2 degrees when i left the house at 6.45am].

And my feet. They got cold quickly. And stayed cold = I'm about to start 'Shopping'...........

Make sure your gloves are nice and roomy then wear a pair of silk liner gloves underneath. Really helps.

 

[sevenfourate]

Make sure your gloves are nice and roomy then wear a pair of silk liner gloves underneath. Really helps.

Brilliant. THANKS ! *i'm on it already :-)

 

[sevenfourate]

Purchased some new 160mm rotors and Silver QR Skewers for the Subway 1 beater this Morning; in prep for the new wheels….

For the small cost - figured it would be nice to slap the new hoops on with new Skewers / Discs at the same time. Seeing as I’ve had new pads very recently - I now shouldn’t at least have to worry too much about the brakes for some time……

 

[sevenfourate]

Installing new wheels on the beater tonight. That’s also about my favourite ride ! Along with new discs and QR skewers. Only cheapies. But they’ll be better than those coming off……😁

 

[sevenfourate]

Mission complete: 4 day weekend here too - so hoping to get some gentle’ish off-road exploring in……

 

[sevenfourate]

Just popped to my LBS to get a new gear cable fitted / gears adjusted after new wheels went on.
Tip-top job by these awesome guys as always:

……...and as they had already promised to tweak the gears after fitting new hoops; the grand total for cable, fitting and adjusting was a bank busting £5 😳.

Ride there and back was uneventful. Other than I need to further adjust the rear brake Caliper as I do have the slightest of rubs….

**Having gone this far with the cheap beater 😉 - I have today ordered new Bottom Bracket, chainrings and front mech at same LBS…. Which are the new weak-spots on this bike. Being fitted Friday. Oh and I’ve ordered a Charge Spoon saddle from eBay - so that every bike in the fleet has the same perch. After this - it really should be better than good for quite some miles 👍

 

[Gunk]

Not really a beater far too posh, this is a beater. My son’s everyday bike - cost a whopping £15. Here in Oxford a filthy 1990’s 26er is the way to go, it doesn't stand out from the crowd. It has been run over, stolen and recovered, it’s like a two wheel cockroach , it just refuses to die!

yours looks lovely but you couldn’t leave that locked up here, it would be gone in about 5 minutes.

 

[sevenfourate]

Not really a beater far too posh, this is a beater. My sons everyday bike - cost a whopping £15

View attachment 754062

It’s becoming less beater’ish the longer I own it agreed…..

 

[a.twiddler]

It’s becoming less beater’ish the longer I own it agreed…..

Your bikes certainly look more new and shiny than anything I own! @Gunk just put into words what I'd been thinking.