Sunday 6th May 2007
A bit more bike building today. Trying to fabricate a support strut for the rear rack which I bought some time ago for bike 2, which is a Moulton APB. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Moultons, this bike is a small-wheeled job with suspension front and rear, which I was rather hoping would be comfortable to ride over long distances. I really like this bike. Unfortunately, it's got a number of non-standard features which have made modifying it to my requirements rather difficult.
For one, this model has no rear gear hanger, as it came fitted with Nexus 4-speed hub gears (actually the automatic version).
Secondly, the seat tube is larger diameter than standard and has one or two struts which make fitting and positioning front changer a nightmare.
Thirdly, the mounting points for racks are completely non-standard, so you are more or less tied to buying Moulton-specific racks.
I'll spare you the pain of reading about all the problems I've had till a later date (collective sigh of relief).
Tuesday 8th May 2007
Snubbed by the Rapunzels.
Yesterday was Bank Holiday, consequently no work, and no training over the long weekend. Today the weather is well and truly broken. Wet, wild and windy. Tries to blow me off the moorland road on the way to work. Icy rain driving straight into my right hearing-hole on the tops. I try to tell myself that it's only April showers come a little late, but that's no consolation. Not much birdsong under the rattle of rain on my helmet's plastic carapace. But then there's that crazy lark. How can he maintain station in such a buffeting?
Have bought a base layer vest, and used it today for the first time. I'm glad I had it on, as I needed to keep the cold wind and rain out. I still got sweaty, but it helped prevent me from chilling off in the wind on the downhill bits.
Rapunzel 2 takes pity on me as I drag myself in from the storm like a drowned rat (forgive me if I exaggerate for effect). But after my shower, it's a different story: I press the button to go up, and they both pass me by empty in quick succession on their way groundwards. Perhaps they've remembered the scene last Wednesday. After all they do overlook the courtyard where the taxi firm is based, and they must have jealously looked on as I acted the white knight with the car-crash damsel. I take the stairs.
Time out 1:01
On the return, something triggers "Forget myself" by Elbow, but I'm stuck on one catchy phrase which repeats over and over in my mind, for the entire journey.
Ragged dark clouds, running parallel to my course, and, thankfully, in t'other direction.
Time return 1:01 (no intentions of busting a gut today)
Wednesday 9th May 2007
Today oi 'ave mostly bin spotting Crows, Pheasants, Curlews, Larks and an 'Ouse Martin (in that order). Yes, the swallows, swifts and Martins have sneaked
past immigration control and are back here, helping themselves to our insect population from under the beaks of our native species, and burdening our already stressed eco-systems, bloody johnny-foreigner-types.
Seems like Rapunzel 2 has decided to bury the hatchet. But her sister is nowhere to be seen this morning. Perhaps Rapunzel 2 has had her taste of freedom (weekend work at Primark), decided it's not for her, what with all the chavs, screaming babies, old giffers etc, and decided the grass is not greener. Whereas Rapunzel has never seen the outside world, beyond that view into the courtyard, and very much continues to harbour a grudge. Time is a great healer, and I feel she will come down from her high tower eventually.
For those doubters amongst you, I've decided to keep a tally of which of the two Rapunzels arrives when summoned. Then you will perhaps agree that I am not just imagining it.
Time out 0:55 (surely shome mishtake)
Busy at work, so didn't get away till late. Not much to report on the return journey, except WET. Not a vicious soaking, more a “can't avoid it, let's just plug” on sort of rain. (The bike now standing at Halifax North Bridge is the 19:00 to King’s Drenching, calling at Cloudesley, Rainhill, and Wetwang. Passengers for Oxenhope change at Sodden-Under-Wear).
Time return 0:54 (at this rate, I’ll be arriving before I set off!)
Today’s tally:
Rapunzel (0) - Rapunzel 2 (3)
Thursday 10th May 2007
Today is the first day of Georgina’s finals. I send a “good luck” text. She will be finished on the 31st. This concentrates my mind on the fact that we’re less than 2½ months from start of the expedition, and still neither bike is prepped and LEJoG-ready. I’m starting to get a bit panicky.
Also I take a look at the Lead Balloon, and decide some maintenance is long overdue.
First the chain gets a thorough degrease, wash, WD-40 and lube with Teflon oil. The rest of the bike is washed, and I notice some of the paint coming away from the front fork brake mount, and rust showing through. (I did the Taiwanese a disservice last blog – this bike is actually Vietnamese.) Actually the welding in this area is beautifully done, but it’s the finishing that’s lacking. I put some rust-proofer on and wire brush vigorously. Will touch up with paint later. The winter salt has also caused the rear brake cable to look a bit rusty. I spray grease on it, and make a note to replace at a future date.
I have been thinking this bike is coming up on 1000 miles of commuting, and still no punctures (this thought process usually brings on a puncture). I don’t fancy having to repair a puncture en route on this bike, as it’s got some complicated linkages for the brakes and gears. So I inspect the tyres. Sure enough there are five or six tiny shards of glass embedded in the rear tread, and many tiny cuts where “low-level street crime” has been taking place. It’s impressive what a Kevlar belt in the tyre has managed to repel. In pre-Kevlar days, all that glass would have been terminal.
Memo to self: on LEJoG, need daily post-ride maintenance routine, to fettle bikes for next stage. Check brakes (pads and cables) & adjust if necessary, clean & lube chain and gears (check chain for excessive wear), inspect tyre treads, pressures, check steering for play in headset and wheels for play in bearings.
Fine tune Orbit front changer, and manage to get rid of some of the rubbing, but notice the chain is catching on some lobes on the middle chainring when the chain is on the granny ring. Thing I need to fit a different chainset. Let’s get this sorted, before once more turning attentions to the Moulton.
Also found out why the handlebars squeaked. Mountain-bike handlebars in a road bike stem are not quite compatible. Swapped the stem for a mountain bike type.
Oh well, at least I’ve contacted all the sites we intend to stay at, and either booked them, or been told “just turn up”. Just need to book the hotel we plan to stay at in Lancaster (for a little luxury at the half-way mark).
Friday 11th May 2007
Hotel duly booked. So that’s all the stops sorted. (I hope).
A bit more bike building today. Trying to fabricate a support strut for the rear rack which I bought some time ago for bike 2, which is a Moulton APB. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Moultons, this bike is a small-wheeled job with suspension front and rear, which I was rather hoping would be comfortable to ride over long distances. I really like this bike. Unfortunately, it's got a number of non-standard features which have made modifying it to my requirements rather difficult.
For one, this model has no rear gear hanger, as it came fitted with Nexus 4-speed hub gears (actually the automatic version).
Secondly, the seat tube is larger diameter than standard and has one or two struts which make fitting and positioning front changer a nightmare.
Thirdly, the mounting points for racks are completely non-standard, so you are more or less tied to buying Moulton-specific racks.
I'll spare you the pain of reading about all the problems I've had till a later date (collective sigh of relief).
Tuesday 8th May 2007
Snubbed by the Rapunzels.
Yesterday was Bank Holiday, consequently no work, and no training over the long weekend. Today the weather is well and truly broken. Wet, wild and windy. Tries to blow me off the moorland road on the way to work. Icy rain driving straight into my right hearing-hole on the tops. I try to tell myself that it's only April showers come a little late, but that's no consolation. Not much birdsong under the rattle of rain on my helmet's plastic carapace. But then there's that crazy lark. How can he maintain station in such a buffeting?
Have bought a base layer vest, and used it today for the first time. I'm glad I had it on, as I needed to keep the cold wind and rain out. I still got sweaty, but it helped prevent me from chilling off in the wind on the downhill bits.
Rapunzel 2 takes pity on me as I drag myself in from the storm like a drowned rat (forgive me if I exaggerate for effect). But after my shower, it's a different story: I press the button to go up, and they both pass me by empty in quick succession on their way groundwards. Perhaps they've remembered the scene last Wednesday. After all they do overlook the courtyard where the taxi firm is based, and they must have jealously looked on as I acted the white knight with the car-crash damsel. I take the stairs.
Time out 1:01
On the return, something triggers "Forget myself" by Elbow, but I'm stuck on one catchy phrase which repeats over and over in my mind, for the entire journey.
Ragged dark clouds, running parallel to my course, and, thankfully, in t'other direction.
Time return 1:01 (no intentions of busting a gut today)
Wednesday 9th May 2007
Today oi 'ave mostly bin spotting Crows, Pheasants, Curlews, Larks and an 'Ouse Martin (in that order). Yes, the swallows, swifts and Martins have sneaked
past immigration control and are back here, helping themselves to our insect population from under the beaks of our native species, and burdening our already stressed eco-systems, bloody johnny-foreigner-types.
Seems like Rapunzel 2 has decided to bury the hatchet. But her sister is nowhere to be seen this morning. Perhaps Rapunzel 2 has had her taste of freedom (weekend work at Primark), decided it's not for her, what with all the chavs, screaming babies, old giffers etc, and decided the grass is not greener. Whereas Rapunzel has never seen the outside world, beyond that view into the courtyard, and very much continues to harbour a grudge. Time is a great healer, and I feel she will come down from her high tower eventually.
For those doubters amongst you, I've decided to keep a tally of which of the two Rapunzels arrives when summoned. Then you will perhaps agree that I am not just imagining it.
Time out 0:55 (surely shome mishtake)
Busy at work, so didn't get away till late. Not much to report on the return journey, except WET. Not a vicious soaking, more a “can't avoid it, let's just plug” on sort of rain. (The bike now standing at Halifax North Bridge is the 19:00 to King’s Drenching, calling at Cloudesley, Rainhill, and Wetwang. Passengers for Oxenhope change at Sodden-Under-Wear).
Time return 0:54 (at this rate, I’ll be arriving before I set off!)
Today’s tally:
Rapunzel (0) - Rapunzel 2 (3)
Thursday 10th May 2007
Today is the first day of Georgina’s finals. I send a “good luck” text. She will be finished on the 31st. This concentrates my mind on the fact that we’re less than 2½ months from start of the expedition, and still neither bike is prepped and LEJoG-ready. I’m starting to get a bit panicky.
Also I take a look at the Lead Balloon, and decide some maintenance is long overdue.
First the chain gets a thorough degrease, wash, WD-40 and lube with Teflon oil. The rest of the bike is washed, and I notice some of the paint coming away from the front fork brake mount, and rust showing through. (I did the Taiwanese a disservice last blog – this bike is actually Vietnamese.) Actually the welding in this area is beautifully done, but it’s the finishing that’s lacking. I put some rust-proofer on and wire brush vigorously. Will touch up with paint later. The winter salt has also caused the rear brake cable to look a bit rusty. I spray grease on it, and make a note to replace at a future date.
I have been thinking this bike is coming up on 1000 miles of commuting, and still no punctures (this thought process usually brings on a puncture). I don’t fancy having to repair a puncture en route on this bike, as it’s got some complicated linkages for the brakes and gears. So I inspect the tyres. Sure enough there are five or six tiny shards of glass embedded in the rear tread, and many tiny cuts where “low-level street crime” has been taking place. It’s impressive what a Kevlar belt in the tyre has managed to repel. In pre-Kevlar days, all that glass would have been terminal.
Memo to self: on LEJoG, need daily post-ride maintenance routine, to fettle bikes for next stage. Check brakes (pads and cables) & adjust if necessary, clean & lube chain and gears (check chain for excessive wear), inspect tyre treads, pressures, check steering for play in headset and wheels for play in bearings.
Fine tune Orbit front changer, and manage to get rid of some of the rubbing, but notice the chain is catching on some lobes on the middle chainring when the chain is on the granny ring. Thing I need to fit a different chainset. Let’s get this sorted, before once more turning attentions to the Moulton.
Also found out why the handlebars squeaked. Mountain-bike handlebars in a road bike stem are not quite compatible. Swapped the stem for a mountain bike type.
Oh well, at least I’ve contacted all the sites we intend to stay at, and either booked them, or been told “just turn up”. Just need to book the hotel we plan to stay at in Lancaster (for a little luxury at the half-way mark).
Friday 11th May 2007
Hotel duly booked. So that’s all the stops sorted. (I hope).
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