Confessions of cycling idiocy

[Hip Priest]

I went out for a 50 mile ride this morning. All on familiar roads, and the exact same route I'd done last week. Only this time I found it harder.

I couldn't hit my normal top speeds, and found myself really struggling up hills I normally only find mildly challening.

My average speed over the ride was 2-3mph down and my legs were cramping when I got in. I initially put it down to the wind, and the fact that I'd had a tiring week.

Now, I've just been out to clean my bike and fettle it in readiness for next weekend, and guess what? The rear brake was sticking on the rim.

Ah well, a bit of resistance training, eh?

 

[PaulSecteur]

You shall fly on the next ride!

 

[Boris Bajic]

Tragically, if I'm having an unproductive ride I check my brakes aren't rubbing. They never have, so my slowness is usually just a function of my slowness.

The brake-check habit is a hangover from driving a drum-braked 2CV4. Anyone who drove one of those with any gusto was constantly making sure they'd pushed the handbrake all the way home.

A half-on handbrake made a headwind a hurricane.

As the above response says, you'll fly next time out.

 

[steveindenmark]

That must be awful for you Boris. You get off thinking that you have had a really slow, difficult ride. Then you get off and check your brakes only to find they are fine and not sticking. That is like a double whammy, it must devastate you

I find it difficult to ride the same route twice in a row as it bores me. I am lucky to live in an area where I can walk out the door and have a wide choice of routes to ride.

Steve

 

[Hip Priest]

I find it difficult to ride the same route twice in a row as it bores me. I am lucky to live in an area where I can walk out the door and have a wide choice of routes to ride.

Steve

I have a wide choice of routes too, but I'm a terrible creature of habit and tend to stick to the same route. I only bring in new roads when I want to increase the distance.

 

[cyberknight]

My favourite is when your mudgaurds get knocked in the cycle rack and rub , cruds are tight fitting anyway without resting on the tyres .

 

[carolonabike]

I did exactly the same thing a few weeks ago.
I was out on my new carbon fibre Cube for the first time (apart from a couple of work commutes) so I was really looking forward to trying it out properly. It was quite windy on a route which is gently but overall uphill for several miles. I was really disappointed to find how much of a struggle it was. The only thing I could put it down to was a combination of the the wind and my general rubisshness. We paused after 7 miles, I was out of breath, hot, sweaty and grumpy. I glanced down at my front and noticed the front brake was off centre and yup, when I spun the wheel it ground to a halt after a couple of seconds.

Lesson, always check your brakes before you start out.

 

[gbb]

Brake related, i was fettling and cleaning my calipers two years ago, then went for a nice ride..
After 2 or 3 miles, i should have stopped after hearing a scuffing noise, but it soon stopped. I stopped a little while later to chat to a policeman, set off again and quickly heard something ping against the frame..i just saw something fly off, assumed it was a bit of debris.
1/2 mile later, came up to a T junction...applied front brake......nothing .
Managed to not kill myself, checked bike over to find one cartridge missing . Thats what flew off...never did find it.

Moral...check what youve just played with.