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Confessions of a Cycle Commuter

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  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Went to fetch my lunch out of my pannier today to find my hands covered in an oily substance...

    Oh dear. Salad dressing EVERYWHERE - salad dressing I had made myself with the correct 3:1 oil:acid ratio, so pretty damn oily. Somehow the sealing lid on the box, with a rubber gasket and 2 snap-shut clips for the sides had failed to do its job, as had the plastic bag that the box was wrapped in.

    Fortunately (or not) I had a spare longsleeve merino rolled in the bottom of the pannier which had absorbed most of the oil, and my valuables were rolled in a small, waterproof stuff sac.

    The white Renner-Flanders musette courtesy laidback) which the spare tubes and whatnots are rolled in had absorbed most of the balsamic vinegar and was a nasty, blotchy shade of brown.

    The positive was that being an Ortlieb, once home I could remove 9 screws to release all the plastic stiffening components and separate the inner pocket from the outer, and was left with a big cordura sack that I could invert and give a proper scrubbing. The inner needed some patching anyway, so has been trimmed to a lock-friendly shape and size, re-sewn and washed. Goos as new.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Bhachgen
    Member

    Today’s Lesson. If you sense a “wobble” developing in your back wheel, avoid changing your rear mech into the largest sprocket. This way you will avoid putting the mech into the wheel, and so avoid causing the spinning wheel to grab the mech and rip it off. Thus you will avoid the chain pulling the rear mech into the front mech and mangling that too.

    You will avoid getting very oily dismantling the remains of the rear mech so as to detach it from the chain and allow you to at least push the bike along. You’ll also avoid the grovelling call to the wife to drive into rush hour Manchester to take you home.

    Hear endeth the lesson.

    Note that in addition to avoiding the problems noted above, heeding the lesson will save you significant cash.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "you will avoid the chain pulling the rear mech into the front mech and mangling that too"

    Not come across that one before!

    Did you work out what the initial problem was?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Bhachgen
    Member

    I was going reasonably fast at the time and changing down at the bottom of a fairly steep climb. So the wheel would have been spinning quite quickly plus I would have been pedalling a fairly high cadence. I think that explains the rapid chain of events which led to the bottom half of the rear mech mangling the front one.

    It's actually quite a new wheel which I half expected would get slightly out of true after a while as it "bedded in". When it did I took it to my LBS which I have never been massively impressed with but as they have always seemed OK and are extremely local, I have continued to use. Unfortunately it went out of true again after just a few miles, and rapidly got worse.

    I'll be taking the wheel to a less local, but very reputable among cyclists in the area, shop this week. Unfortunately it's going to need at least 3-4 new spokes now as well as trued but fingers crossed that will sort it.

    Then it will just be down to my own mechanic skills to get a new hanger, 2 new mechs, and cables installed and adjusted correctly...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I was on a group ride once when rider infront had simultaneous chain-snap causing a jam that threw the mech into the wheel and disnitegrated it all in one go. Went straight down onto the ground infront of me. Never worked out how I avoided him. Maybe a massive bunnyhop

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. wee folding bike
    Member

    Chain might be bent too.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Bhachgen
    Member

    Aye. Thanks for the reminder WFB. Decided over the weekend that a new chain was probably in order under the circumstances. Pretty confident I can at least manage to install that bit correctly...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. ARobComp
    Member

    ahhh I had similar when I borrowed a bike from a Cousin in first year of uni. Riding down Dalkeith road I changed a gear and the whole mech went into the back wheel and tore off.

    I phoned him and he said :"oh yeah I meant to tell you not to change the gears...."

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. allebong
    Member

    Went out for a quick ride this evening out Ratho/Kirkliston direction. On the road bike so everything is saddlebagged/jersey pocketed instead of in a pannier. Had just passed the canal bridge over the M8 at Hermiston Gait and I done that mental checklist of things I should have. Oops. No minipump. Patches, yes. Spare tube, yes. Hmm. About 3 miles from home at this point. The sensible thing would be to about turn and go back but I took a risk and went out as far as Ratho via the Suntrap garden road then looped back via Curriehill and Lanark road. Managed to avoid a visit from the p* fairy thankfully. Back home, picked up the pump, then headed into the Meadows. Remarkably the cycle side on MMW was almost completely free of peds. I think the message is sinking in.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. ARobComp
    Member

    A fairly comedy read from a young chap who managed to go through a set of conti Gatorskins in just a week popped up on Reddit today. Surprising to see what the issue was. Gave me a good chuckle.

    http://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/1k53w7/so_i_destroyed_my_gatorskins_in_one_week_can_you/

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    That truly is a confession!!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. gembo
    Member

    Easy mistake to make

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. DaveC
    Member

    Forgot my work locker key this morning. I took it home by accident last night, then took it out of my short sleeve jersey this morning when I swapped to a long sleeved jersey, and made a mental note to pop it back in my new jersey, then picked up my house keys, turned and left the house.... [dhoop!]

    Fortunately for me the office adminstrator has spare keys {phew!!]

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. fimm
    Member

    Did my long commute this morning. Went to take my shower. Took all my clothes off, and then realised that my clean clothes were still at my desk... fortunately my desk is very near to the shower so I could just throw shorts and top back on and go and retrieve them!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. twq
    Member

    Spent too long this morning trying to figure out why helmet cam video wasn't working, just sound and a black screen when played back. Tried all sorts of techie fixes (codecs, different media players).
    Turns out the picture isn't very good when you leave the lens cap on...
    Shame too, saw lots of juicy bad driving this morning.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. gembo
    Member

    This is a joint confession, partly my mea culpa

    On the WoL path I am often passed by a chap on a fast drop handlebar bike. The other night he came past me on a mountain bike. I am on my three speed crossroads these days of the festival madness. It can catch cats on mountain bikes though. I went for it as was near end of path, I come off just before at the steps. My fellow sinner gives chase. All is well as path v quiet. He is gaining so I say,I am coming off now at the steps so I will let you through. He urges me to burn it or similar exhortation, all good natured. He speeds on and scares the bejesus out of a Pekingese, he is well away from it but the mutt is timid. Slow down guys the owner says. All mildly ironic as my fellow racer always wears a road jersey with the name Lap dogs emblazoned across the chest.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. Darkerside
    Member

    Slept in this morning so didn't make up my normal on-the-train breakfast.

    Train died.

    25km feels really loooong when you haven't eaten anything since the previous evening.

    Silly boy.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. fimm
    Member

    "There's no such thing as inclement weather, only inadequate clothing..."

    Totally misjudged the weather yesterday. Result, 16 miles each way in light summer top, arm warmers, gillet, and shorts, with never-was-waterproof from Halfords failing to keep out the rain. Fortunately I was wearing a warmish tee-shirt at work (dress down day) and kept that on as an extra layer for the return leg, which was still rather unpleasant.

    Time to get out the winter (or at least autumn) gear, I think.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. ggovan
    Member

    Pannier bag fell off my bike in the middle of the road on Sunday.

    The clip clipping it onto the rack snapped. I was able to turn back and grab it before a bus came along and flattened it. I had no bungee cord, so I had to MacGyver a harness from the belt of my judogi and half wear it as a satchel, and half carry it for the remaining 6km. This was not a good riding position and unpleasant for both arms and back.

    Today was unusual as I was using the other half of the pannier set, so all the weight was on the left instead of the right. And I only rode into one bush and slightly cut my arm because of this!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. gembo
    Member

    @ggovan

    Nae luck

    After many years of breaking panniers I now tend to ride with two panniers. Helps with balance, avoids over stuffing. You take up a nice bit of space on the road (wide load kind of thing) and if one pannier breaks you can maybe put it inside the other (dependent on how flexible your brand is - so would work with my ortliebs but doubt it would work with my more rigid EBC/vaudes)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. Roibeard
    Member

    @ggovan - might be worth checking if your panniers are "universal", that is can be hung on either side, possibly with a little tweaking of the mounting hardware.

    Might avoid a repeat scratching tomorrow, although it might instead end up with symmetrical scratches...

    Robert

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. wingpig
    Member

    My Karrimor Iberian jumped off on Morrison St early on during my ownership of it, so it had its default non-locking riveted-on hooks replaced with securely-bolted Vaude QMR.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  23. MeepMeep
    Member

    I'd forgotten to take my towel home on Thursday evening which fortunately cancelled out my forgetfulness in omitting a towel from my packed bag this morning.

    Alas, work shoes were a different story. Having taken them home on Thursday afternoon, I didn't pack them this morning and am currently sat sporting a rather fetching pair of Lakes with a black suit. It's a look that could really catch on, y'know.

    Pleased to report that all other essential elements of clothing were present and correct.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  24. Darkerside
    Member

    Essential is quite a broad word...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  25. Snowy
    Member

    Here is Today's Lesson

    When you find that you are suddenly unable to move into the large chainring, do not simply assume that your front derailleur has taken a knock or is in need of adjustment.

    You may in fact find that your left crank has stripped the splines on your axle, and your axle is slowly moving out to the right through your bottom bracket, thus moving your large chainring out of reach of the chainline.

    You will recognise this by a sudden and extreme sensation of excitement when the left crank finally parts company with the axle under a moment of heavy load when travelling at speed.

    As you struggle to regain control of the blasted thing bike, you may ruminate on how nothing feels quite as silly as a foot still clipped in to a pedal with a crank waving around in mid-air.

    If you avoid crashing, inventing new swearwords, and scaring the bejesus out of an oncoming cyclist, then well done. I did two of these things.

    Here endeth today's lesson

    Posted 11 years ago #

  26. Coxy
    Member

    [old fart]
    Never would have happened with a square taper BB
    [/old fart]

    Posted 11 years ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    "
    Peter Matthews (@urbaneprofessor)
    14/10/2013 08:48
    A very rare fire alarm test just started the very moment I dropped my cycling tights and was stood in my office in nowt but my socks #panic

    "

    Posted 11 years ago #

  28. steveo
    Member

    Push of shame this morning; after an enjoyable ride up to Balerno and back I hit a roofing nail whilst filtering passed the traffic at Juniper Green. This defeated the kevlar in the Gatorskin and scratched my frame as it spun round. After fixing the punture and puting my wheel back on it quickly became apparent I had more than one hole. After the third patch failed to make the tube air tight I gave up and started to walk to the Gyle.

    I did have a good feel of the tyre but couldn't find anything else cutting through the tyre so either I caught the tyre in the rim twice or the damage to the tyre is just burting the tube.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  29. dg145
    Member

    Frustrations of a commuter this morning.

    Yesterday, on the way in, my rear hanger snapped on my 'good' bike, lodging the rear mech into the back wheel. That's now in for repair. I would have used my back-up bike this morning but had an early meeting to go to in Midlothian (from West Lothian)so opted for the car.

    Made the mistake of taking the A71, and finally arrived in Edinburgh 2 hours and 20 minutes later - having abandoned the planned meeting and having sat in mounting frustration in virtually static traffic while bikes sailed past without any problems.

    A reminder, if I needed one, of why I now cycle to work.

    Anyone want to buy a car?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  30. gembo
    Member

    Steveo it was only puncture no 2 when I met you then?

    Dg145 bad luck, I was on pootlng bike and chose back roads and canal, I wondered what huge queue was about near a71 at hermiston

    Posted 11 years ago #

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