Tales from today's commute....

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Supersuperleeds

Legendary Member
Location
Leicester
Not anywhere near as strong as last night, but the wind was bitterly cold this morning, despite my predictions (or more accurately the BBC predictions) I've not used the ice bike since Monday
 

BSRU

A Human Being
Location
Swindon
Chain kept on skipping yesterday evening and hopping down to the small ring. Thought it was just my front derailleur needing adjusting so was going to have a fiddle this morning but then noticed a chain link plate was missing on one side. Bit annoying as it's only been on the bike a few months and probably only done about 1000 miles. Managed to ride it to work but then noticed another plate on the opposite side of the chain is looking decidedly like someone has had a nibble as well eek!

Have ordered myself a new chain and chain tool. Hopefully I can figure out how to use them when they arrive.

But just wondering how long can I cycle on a dodgy chain before it goes kaboom and I end up flying over the handlebars? I'm spinning like a madman in a low gear on the small ring to put minimal pressure on it.
Mine chain is playing up and needs changing, chain wear tool indicates over 0.75 but still well under 1.0.
But it has done well over 5,000km(3,000 miles), even when I used Shimano chains they lasted over 3,200km(2,000 miles), 1,000 miles seems very short indeed.
Main problem with an old chain is it wears out other components faster, i.e. rear cassette and chain rings.
Changing a chain is very simple, just get the length right and join, even easier with a power link.
 

Shut Up Legs

Down Under Member
Out, damn'd Friday legs, out I say! :angry:

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The problem with 300 hilly commuting km per week is that sometimes the legs want nothing of it. My legs hurt.
 

Fiona R

Formerly known as Cranky Knee Girl
Location
N Somerset
Only two days ridden out of my four commute days this week, Mon and today.....only got a bit wet on the way in and it was still sort of light at 5.30 and a tail wind and no rain coming home. As good as it gets :biggrin:
 
U

User33236

Guest
Today's return journey was the first day this year I've got home before it got dark. Bring on more :smile:
 

BSRU

A Human Being
Location
Swindon
Commute in started dry but within 45 minutes strong winds accompanied by heavy rain arrived and it was cold.
Still enjoyable especially when filtering past all the cars^_^
 

Supersuperleeds

Legendary Member
Location
Leicester
Very weird in Leicester this morning. Set off in lovely dry conditions and not much wind, so I head out into the sticks. Notice it is icy so head back into town, then started to notice pockets of ice in town, I would ride by parked cars and they were thickly frosted, then a few houses down the cars were all clear, go down one street frosty road, next street completely clear and so on and so.

If the weather forecast is correct it is going to be a wet ride home.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Not the best of commutes.

Up and ready, porridge down the cake hole. No noticable ice, so out with the fixed. Meeting in Manchester, but had time to make a 18 mile route in. Got about 7 miles in and noticed the front had gone spongy. Bounced the front whilst riding, yup, slow puncture.

Right this will be fixed in 5 mins. Double checked tyre. Put in tube, fitted tyre. Ah, pump isn't getting purchase - long valve tubes weren't "long valved" enough for my new wheels (30mm deep) Argh. Fitted second spare, the same.

Pumped up punctured tube and found a tiny hole - not easy at the side of a busy noisy road. Out with the glue and a patch. Tidied up mess and slapped tube back in (glue still wet). Pumped up. By now I'd lost 30 minutes - argh never had such a bad repair.

Decided as was now late, and was running a dodgy repair, I'd head for the office instead. Repair held. I've fortunately got a brand new tube in the office that's 48mm rather than 42mm so it fits.

What a numpty. Should have double checked I still had long valved tubes after the pot hole snake bite a few weeks ago.

Oh, and the meeting in Manchester got cancelled after I phoned in - folk on leave !
 
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