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One of those days...

(16 posts)
  • Started 14 years ago by Dave
  • Latest reply from Dave
  • This topic is not a support question

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  1. Dave
    Member

    So, I got back from holiday yesterday night, too tired to worry about anything other than getting into bed (I hate flying!)

    This morning, woke up to remember that I broke part of my recumbent last week, so it's out of action. Don't fancy riding the mountain bike on 2.5" tractor tyres, but never mind, this will be a good opportunity to re-assemble my dismantled fixed-wheel to get into work...

    45 minutes later I have recabled the brake, adjusted the back wheel, put a tyre and tube on the front (first fixing a puncture on that tube), fitted pedals, searched out my helmet and camera attachment, what have you.

    Run out of time so jog downstairs with bodged bike (still no bar tape and a few bolts that are only finger tight) to discover the front wheel is flat again!

    Fix another hole in the tube, probably was there before anyway (I don't generally do anything with punctured tubes apart from leave them lying about the cupboard). Getting a bit sweaty now, finally riding into town, flying along over Bridges past Chambers Street when bang!

    Front wheel empties in a few seconds leaving me to wobble ineffectually in front of the bus tailgating me as I try to get to the side...

    Ah well, bike on the shoulder and start running, only a couple of miles to go and just 30 minutes late already...

    Bah! Why do these things always happen at once?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. Min
    Member

    "Why do these things always happen at once? "

    It's to teach you a lesson in always keeping your bikes ready to go. You won't learn it though. I never have.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. Arellcat
    Moderator

    There might be a theory relating the number of bicycles one currently owns to the optimum number of bicycles required to always have at one's disposal a fully operational bicycle, taking into account one's enthusiasm and technical ability to maintain the collection in basic satisfactory condition vs perfectionist condition. I suspect the optimum number is something like 5 or 6.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. Kim
    Member

    "Bah! Why do these things always happen at once? "

    Karma

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "technical ability to maintain the collection in basic satisfactory condition"

    IF the idea is make sure '1 is always OK', 3 is more realistic.

    If it's about the number of bikes required to cover all eventualities...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    @Arellcat, I do have an operational hardtail but the thought of riding it on the road threatens my sanity! I commuted on it a little during the Big Freeze but it was soul-destroying (although it did make me realise I'm not actually that much faster than anyone else, I just choose a more sensible bike!)

    The problem for me is having one bike you use more or less all of the time (so you don't worry about the others). If my attention was more evenly divided it would probably be OK, as they'd get fixed up when they broke, instead of 30 minutes before I need them...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. LaidBack
    Member

    Hope we can patch up your main machine... as long as frame and braze-ons are intact we should get there.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    Two words: Lothian Bus!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. Dave
    Member

    Chapter two...

    I bought a new inner tube on the way home, fixed it up, came down this morning to find it still rock hard - victory!

    100 yards down the road it popped again!

    This time I got off before it stopped hissing and realised there is a tiny tear in the tyre sidewall itself - nothing that can't be booted but of course the inner was holed...

    Never mind, jog 100 yards back to the flat and break out the mountain bike (kept with wheels off so minor faff). Literally go to get on it when I remember that I took the pedals off to put on the fixed-wheel!

    So today I rode in on my better half's mountain bike. And was late again.

    FAIL...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Perhaps that 15mm open-ended spanner needs to be kept within immediate reach in future? :-) Hope you get the Rapto running again soon, too.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    And I thought I was having a bad run!

    Monday on the fixed hit a pothole (or rather went down a cobbled street that is one great big pothole) and the rear tyre went bang.

    Sorted that, but the bottom bracket is creaking away and in need of a tighten so thought I'd go the easier route for now and swap the pedals off that onto the geared bike. 'cept the pedals won't come off the geared bike - I can juuuuust get them moving, but they're allen-keyed so I can't use my hooooge pedal spanner.

    So change the cleats on the shoes instead. Job done. Last night, hmmmm, front tyre feels a bit soft, then almost wash out on a 90 degree turn. Quick pump, just gets me home (I was a mile away). Completely forget about fixing it after dinner and pub quiz - figure I'll put up with the creaking this morning on the fixed. Of course I haven't put the pedals back on.

    Doesn't take much longer to fix a puncture, so did that instead for a quiet ride.

    (the MTB has a front brake in need of sorting)

    I think I need a fourth bike - but that's with Mercian getting a respray right now...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    "I think I need a fourth bike"

    What you need is a bicycle version of the car club.

    Oh...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. LaidBack
    Member

    I could lend Dave the demo Rapto at the garage. Problem is that it's to be packed up and shipped...

    Have others..

    a bicycle version of the car club.

    Chdot - you have a few odd bikes - Moulton Hire?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. SRD
    Moderator

    How about a bike repair place that provides loaners? That would be a great service.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. LaidBack
    Member

    Space is the problem at certain bike shops.
    Some people drop bikes off and say they'll pop back to collect it next day. A week later it's still there. The staff spend a lot of time just moving bikes around to get 'the one at the back'.

    A folding 'courtesy' bike could be the answer.

    Then again when people put bikes in that are worth about £90 and you give them a good folder they might just not come back....!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. Dave
    Member

    It's a tricky one. To be fair to the fixed-wheel, I would often ride it for literally six months at a time between attention, it just kept soldiering on regardless. (And, I had about 2500 miles from the recumbent with nothing more than a change of brake pads).

    The irony is, I've been meaning to re-assemble the fixed-wheel for ages with the sole purpose of selling it on (watch this space), as it's so rarely used and we don't really have room for it. And then it turns out to be essential to my (attempts) to get to work after all...

    Posted 14 years ago #

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