It's been so long since I was out on my bike I'm beginning to feel like a transport minister complete fraud, talking about cycling on a cycling forum. Ah well.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Another week
(128 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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Just cycled across town to my parents (including a very slow spin in granny gear 1/2 way up Clermiston Road, one of our "top 10") with 2 full backrollers and a full rackpack secured to the back of the tourer.
Only came within a whisker of knocking down one dozy pedestrian - at Roseburn I was filtering up the inside of the traffic, car on my right applies brakes and waves (I of course can't see this) to let the guy cross, guy crosses straight into my path. I applied the brakes pretty early and called a "whoooooooooooooaaaaaaaaah!" sort of warning, but I had about 25kg on the back in cassoulet tins, bottles of sherry, blackboards, baking trays, 2 days of clothes, a wicker basket et cetera so I couldn't bring myself to a halt in time. Luckioly I hadn't been going fast to start with and the guy froze on the spot when he saw me, and managed to move a leg and grab my shoulders as we made contact. He started apologising profusely, but we parted company with "don't worry, nothing we could have done, no harm done" and went off on our merry ways. If he'd been a taxi doing a U-turn I might have been in a less forgiving mood about it...
Posted 14 years ago # -
@cyclingmollie come look at the state of my bottom bracket and you'll feel much better.
Posted 14 years ago # -
~@Smudge no harm done, yes it is in my plans to run with neat solution and have 3 bottles from Shell (couldn't find any anywhere else
No the heat from the engine bay did not thaw it (or didn't thaw the lines
Spray bottle idea was in my mind too, will be doing that I thinkPosted 14 years ago # -
Has anyone seen my fitness? I'm ok on the level, but on the hills, with those Panaracer tractor tyres, hiking boots, and a grumbling ankle and knee, it felt like I'd be quicker walking. Apart from two days, I've cycled to work every day since the snow began, but three and a half weeks of sub-zero commuting and utility riding and I'm absolutely worn out.
I may spend the next four days sleeping.
Posted 14 years ago # -
@Arellcat I think I know, although I have been commuting more than ever, I haven't been out for a good 2+ hour ride for a month, something i normally try and achieve twice a week (and succeed :P ). My commute is only 3.5 miles by road and takes about 20 mins, not really enough to get your aerobic/anaerobic systems a proper dance. Collin was saying he went out to N Berwick at the weekend, its tempting as a crimbo ride, surely the roads will be nice and quiet?
Ive been getting faster and faster, not always with good results! the cobbles at either end of duddingston village are are great example, as they are laid parallel to the direction of travel, and make for beautiful tram-track-like wheel guides, with extra ice.
Came home today from the supermarket with a good 15k+ of meat and vegetable produce (yah and BEER) in the giant ortlieb and found a few things:
1. Greater weight on the back wheel greatly aids traction, especially when accelerating.
2. this does not necessarily correspond to an increase in traction when decelerating.
3. When cornering, your wheels point one way but your momentum really would prefer to continue in a straight line, this makes cornering, on slush, across a large junction at night very entertaining.
I tell you, Ive never been a mountain biker but after this winter I think the trails of Glentress will be a welcome break...
P.s. @chdot the spellchecker in Ubuntu suggests 'Moulton' as a replacement for 'moutain'.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Now we are cross threading!
I was at Pinkhill 7 days ago pre-thaw, bumpy but rideable.
Posted 14 years ago #
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