Chains and contours
Torn between the "chain breaker" icon for state of bike, and "cat" for the sunbeams.
Planned to go out for a cycle on Monday, given the sun splitting the proverbial stones, guilt-tripping me on the one hand, though making it tempting to just bask on the sofa, on the other. This didn't happen, in part because of usual procrastination, and in part because I looked at my drivetrain as I'd been meaning to do for quite a while. Eek. Visible oxidisation on the chain, and a the bottom bracket seemed, and sounded, very ropey. Heart sinking at the thought of a "no user-serviceable parts inside" and fairly expensive repair, as well as several days layup. But first I hearkened to some internet advice, which says that whenever you think it's a BB problem, it's actually more likely one of any of five different other things. And indeed, the noise was reduced after large amounts of chain-oiling, and I think most what remains is actually a pedal axle, which is a rather less drastic matter. Still vexing if it fails completely in mid-cycle, mind you, so I'll need to consider if it needs to be replaced.
Today, more procrastination, but such nice weather, continuing, that I did eventually get going up Waterfall way, then continuing out to Sacrom Cross, down to Grange crossroads, over the pedestrian bridge, and back the main road. Chilly enough even to start with, despite the sunshine; using my bike computer to measure the temperature suffers from the "catching a falling knife" problem, given how warm it was to start with (from the living room, and then my pocket) and how slowly it seems to reach equilibrium. But it seems to have been about 6C at Waterfall, and around 3C on the way back. Refrained from donning my outer layer until after my stopoff at Dunnes. Didn't bother consuming my drink or my apple. Only 28km today... The last 20km were admittedly pretty easy going, as sedately as I was going, but quietly pleased the first 8k "up" were feasible at all.
Planned to go out for a cycle on Monday, given the sun splitting the proverbial stones, guilt-tripping me on the one hand, though making it tempting to just bask on the sofa, on the other. This didn't happen, in part because of usual procrastination, and in part because I looked at my drivetrain as I'd been meaning to do for quite a while. Eek. Visible oxidisation on the chain, and a the bottom bracket seemed, and sounded, very ropey. Heart sinking at the thought of a "no user-serviceable parts inside" and fairly expensive repair, as well as several days layup. But first I hearkened to some internet advice, which says that whenever you think it's a BB problem, it's actually more likely one of any of five different other things. And indeed, the noise was reduced after large amounts of chain-oiling, and I think most what remains is actually a pedal axle, which is a rather less drastic matter. Still vexing if it fails completely in mid-cycle, mind you, so I'll need to consider if it needs to be replaced.
Today, more procrastination, but such nice weather, continuing, that I did eventually get going up Waterfall way, then continuing out to Sacrom Cross, down to Grange crossroads, over the pedestrian bridge, and back the main road. Chilly enough even to start with, despite the sunshine; using my bike computer to measure the temperature suffers from the "catching a falling knife" problem, given how warm it was to start with (from the living room, and then my pocket) and how slowly it seems to reach equilibrium. But it seems to have been about 6C at Waterfall, and around 3C on the way back. Refrained from donning my outer layer until after my stopoff at Dunnes. Didn't bother consuming my drink or my apple. Only 28km today... The last 20km were admittedly pretty easy going, as sedately as I was going, but quietly pleased the first 8k "up" were feasible at all.