Fell off the bike for the first time this year. In the kitchen. Don't ask.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Confessions of a Cycle Commuter
(1669 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
-
Other rooms are available.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Do you mean this year as in since 01/01/14 or in the last 365 days?
I've not fallen off for a number of years and that last time was because I hadn't applied the main frame clamp then did apply the front brake when I noticed the omission.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"Do you mean this year as in since 01/01/14 or in the last 365 days?"
Actually, both. I didn't fall of at all last year. :) I hope I haven't set a precedent for the rest of this year.
Most annoying thing, other than the slight graze I inflicted upon myself, is the now trashed watch which smashed when it (and I) collided against one of the kitchen unit handles.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Ok, I know you said not to ask, but I'm afraid I have to. Why were you cycling in your kitchen?
Was it a Cyclestreets routemap malfunction?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Beware overtightenings. After gingerly picking my way in and home yesterday, starting off very gently to avoid chain-skipping mishaps, worrying that I'd discovered a strange mech/hanger incompatibility, I found that the rear mech was simply too tightly-fastened and couldn't rotate about its mount. This was resulting in the chain being held too far away from the sprockets in low gears, resulting in a very short length of chain/sprocket meshing, the cage extending so low that the chain was bothering the bottom end of the front mech and the the shift lever having to be hauled fairly sharply to overcome the extra tension.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I thought I had been suffering from a mix of switching to the the 3-speed hub, heavier frame, spiky tires this week in combination with headwind, as I've been 10 minutes later getting to work than normal.
Today when I ground to a halt in Corstorphine I realised that the front brake lever had shifted and that the drum brake was binding and not releasing... Basically been cycling for a week with the handbrake on!
Posted 10 years ago # -
Great resistance training Kappers. :-)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Confess I took the train home tonight
Posted 10 years ago # -
Steps to have a successful night time ride:
1 - Charge batteries for light (4xAAA)
2- Insert batteries into light
3- Mount light on bike
4- Turn light on
5- Wonder why light is broken
6- Remove battery holder from light
7- Notice single battery in backwards
8- Realise this list has gone on a bit too long
Posted 10 years ago # -
On the first of March last year my rear wheel ate my rear mech, ripping it off the hanger, bending the hanger beyond rebending, ripping the cage off the mech and permanently injuring all the wheel's spokes, not just the driveside ones which were visibly chiselled and kinked. Last night the chain was eaten by the wheel again but escaped the mech by bending back the wee retention tabs on the pulley cage, which is possibly why the mech mostly survived and I was able to cycle home. The wheel will need a complete respoking, which is irritating as it's only been in use for two months. I recall that last year's event similarly took out a freshly-refurbished wheel which I'd not long been using after the previous main wheel had been terminally offended by too deep a pothole.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I ended up replacing the rear wheel last year not long after a similar rear mech chewing incident. I think my subsequent spoke popping problems were more related to a dodgy rim than specifically the rear mech issue, but I'm sure that didn't help.
Had my first puncture for months this morning and then had to endure a cold shower at the gym beside my work due to a boiler problem they are having.
Going to cheer myself up by ordering an N+1 later for the good weather we're about to start having - aren't we ...?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Ground to a halt just outside work this morning. Looked down and spotted;
* One of my laces had extruded its inner core, which was wound tight round the spindle of the pedal - that's why I couldn't proceed at all
* My front tyre gently deflatingStill better than the bus.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I left my driving license and Nectar card on the wee access path the other side of the council depot at Craigleith this morning for ninety minutes after they fell out when I removed a layer.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Arrived at work to discover I'd forgotten my shirt, suit jacket, and mobile phone. Sheesh.
At least I had stashed an emergency shirt in the coat cupboard some time ago...phew.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Whilst I wasn't technically commuting, I should make a confession anyway.
A week or so ago, I was all set up to leave the house, bike outside, key in door and about to lock it, when I noticed yet another selfish parker had left their car across my driveway. So I did what I usually do and took photos on my phone to keep a record of it. Came back, saddled up and headed off.
I got a couple of miles into the journey, stopped at the lights and looked down at my open jacket pocket... no keys inside! Feeling sure I'd have heard them fall out, I pull over and phone my neighbour. Sure enough, I'd left them in the door. The open door! First, and hopefully last time I do that.
With no time to go back, I had to 'lock' my bike up by wrapping the cables around in such a way that it looked locked. Thankfully I was in a relatively safe place to do so. Not the most comfortable half hour though.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I shower at work every day when cycling. I took my 2 week old stale towel home last Friday and forgot to bring it in Monday. Used a tee shirt. :O( Last time I did this, infact last two times i did this I bought bath a towel from John Lewis, ball £20 each!!
I wish the dryer they bought for us here was a washer dryer.
Posted 10 years ago # -
A dave c get one of the swimming towels. They are like a shammy and work fine at taking water off you. They get a bit smelly but you can washy them with your soap and rinse them. They work fine when wet. Leave it in your desk drawer they are size of large handkersniff
Posted 10 years ago # -
+1 for the travel towel. I bought 2 in August 2012 from mountain warehouse (£8 each) and I've used them on rotation since, one has lost much of its absorbancy but it may have melted slightly in the tumble dryer.
Its a bit light drying oneself with a plastic bag but it is remarkably effective.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Hmm, I have a travel towel, but I now have two expensive Egyption Cotton Bath Towels to lounge around the office in, even if my collegues don't approve :OP
I just need to bring in a spare before I take the stale one home. :D
Posted 10 years ago # -
I've been to Primark before for an emergency cheap shirt when I've forgotten mine. Do they not do cheap towels there also? I'd expect to pay a couple of quid for one of those tbh.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Speedo one I have is more like a very thin sponge, not unpleasant but curious
Posted 10 years ago # -
I almost bought a new shirt from Primark after the one I was putting on split down the button line Incredible Hulk style. I decided to spend the extra on a non iron one from M&S in the end though. I bring them in a day early and they are wrinkle free after a night on a hanger.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Cycled in from Fife this lovely morning. About 200m from the end of my journey, while waiting for the lights at the W Maitland St/Torphichen St junction, I did a random gear check, and touched my head.... mmm, feels a bit soft... skullcap, but no h****t! I've ridden the whole way in looking like Blackadder in Series 1! Somehow I miraculously survived the journey without a plastic lid </sarcasm>, and will hopefully survive the journey home too...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Forgot my shower gel two days in a row now. Found a discarded bottle of Radox Eucalyptus gel with a dribble left yesterday and a nice bit of creamy hotel courtesy soap today. Amazing what you can find lying around when you look closely.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Re towels, always bring in a replacement before taking the old one home. Even more so with trousers.
Although the Sainsbury's basics £8 pair were surprisingly smart, making me question how much I spend on suits...
Posted 10 years ago # -
Occasionally do the Blackadder look with a Buff but usually it's pirate, ninja or Lawrence of Arabia style.
Most of my Buffs are black but I did see, and resisted, a flaming one in Aldi last week.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Have had to use Asda for shirts in same scenario. 50% cotton is cotton rich in clothes by George. Quite nice shirt but very warm and pick quite a lot of electric shocks and of course radio Luxembourg. Came with another shirt and a tie for a fiver or similar. They were less good. Trousers from sainsburys never tried, but do have several pairs of cotton shorts from them which have cargo pockets that stuff stays in without you fastening the flap which is good. In their almost perpetual 25% off sale! they are about £8 too. Obviously, not so cheap when you factor in the poor little children in India or China. But needs must if people you are having the meeting with aren't cool with cycling gear. I will sometimes say to people that I have the shirt and trousers in pannier but do they mind if I don't change.
Posted 10 years ago # -
First time I've ever resorted to writing a "polite" note to someone in the office bikepark who had parked their bike on top of mine!
Note went along the lines of "these racks are to be shared by all staff and cannot be reserved by leaving a lock through them. If you find your preferred spot is taken, there are plenty more nearby".
It was one of those stupid huge cable locks that doesn't coil up too, the sort that trip people up.
Posted 10 years ago # -
You should have pumped up his tyres to the correct pressure, cleaned and oiled his chain and given his frame a wipe down just to make him feed SUPER bad about it! I think that super positive reinforcement can work!
Posted 10 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
