First commute to work today

[Jimmy Doug]

Don't worry about your speed, just enjoy the ride. Bet you felt turbo-charged when you arrived at the office? I know I always do.

 

[gentlegreen]

One thing that group rides taught me is that shorter doesn't equal "better" - and I now have a delightful circular route that takes in fewer cars and more trees. And I may be about to add a decent chunk of riverbank for at least part of the year.

 

[leroy]

Ye, not a great deal of lights on the way, so am lucky in that sense, looking at MrHappyCyclist links, he will know most of the route along bolton road that I take.

Felt great at work, and even though I planned to get the train back I am regretting not riding back

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Ah, that's how it always goes. You feel great when you do it, guilty when you don't. And when you're thinking of how you're going to work today, and you're thinking whether or not to take your cycling stuff out, brave the cold, wet, and whatever, you'll know that you'll feel guilt if you don't, and be elated if you do. The curse of the cyclist commuter.

 

[leroy]

I havent been working form the office recently, so today was my second commute in.

Nothing amazing to add time wise, but bloody eck, a headwind doesnt half may it more work - speed well down and knackered!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I havent been working form the office recently, so today was my second commute in.
Nothing amazing to add time wise, but bloody eck, a headwind doesnt half may it more work - speed well down and knackered!

Yes, that headwind was a sod this morning. If you're cycling at 15mph on a level road, then a 15mph headwind means you have to work about 4 times as hard to keep going!

I'm just hoping this depression won't have moved far enough by this afternoon to swing the wind round to the opposite direction. That would be cruel.

 

[leroy]

Yes, that headwind was a sod this morning. If you're cycling at 15mph on a level road, then a 15mph headwind means you have to work about 4 times as hard to keep going!

I'm just hoping this depression won't have moved far enough by this afternoon to swing the wind round to the opposite direction. That would be cruel.

Is a 15mph headwind normal, or is that what you think it was this morning? I wouldnt have a clue how to measure it!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Is a 15mph headwind normal, or is that what you think it was this morning? I wouldnt have a clue how to measure it!

Well, I was just giving an example, with simple but realistic figures to make the estimate easy. Wind resistance is approximately proportional to the square of the velocity through the air.

Looking on my computer, I see that the wind right now is quoted as: South-Southwest/15.0mph. (I do hope it stays that way. )

I think it was a little more this morning, perhaps 17 or 18mph, but that's just an educated guess.

 

[leroy]

Well, I was just giving an example, with simple but realistic figures to make the estimate easy. Wind resistance is approximately proportional to the square of the velocity through the air.

Looking on my computer, I see that the wind right now is quoted as: South-Southwest/15.0mph. (I do hope it stays that way. )

I think it was a little more this morning, perhaps 17 or 18mph, but that's just an educated guess.

It kinda did stay that way - from Salford Crescent to Big Kearsley Roundabout in 40 minutes made me happy

Not as happy now though, on the way back I was hearing a 'creaking' noise every time I put pressure on the left pedal. The right one is fine, just the left.

Anyone any ideas what this could be? The pedal did work itself lose a few weeks ago, but after tightening it felt fine

 

[gentlegreen]

Not as happy now though, on the way back I was hearing a 'creaking' noise every time I put pressure on the left pedal. The right one is fine, just the left.

Anyone any ideas what this could be? The pedal did work itself lose a few weeks ago, but after tightening it felt fine

If the pedal worked itself loose, what about the crank bolts ?
(usually you only need a big Allen key to tighten those these days)

If you let them squeak, it'll damage the alloy of the blades until there's no way to get a tight fit.

 

[leroy]

If the pedal worked itself loose, what about the crank bolts ?
(usually you only need a big Allen key to tighten those these days)

If you let them squeak, it'll damage the alloy of the blades until there's no way to get a tight fit.

cheers, I will take a look at that tonight. cant do much damage taking ti apart can I!?

 

[gentlegreen]

cheers, I will take a look at that tonight. cant do much damage taking ti apart can I!?

It's just a case of popping off the end-caps and giving the screw a tightening.
Officially it should be done with a torque wrench ...

If the bike's new, or recently had a new crankset fitted, it's the sort of thing I would expect after a few weeks of use.

If it's a new bike, are you due to take it to the shop anyway ?

 

[leroy]

It's just a case of popping off the end-caps and giving the screw a tightening.
Officially it should be done with a torque wrench ...

If the bike's new, or recently had a new crankset fitted, it's the sort of thing I would expect after a few weeks of use.

If it's a new bike, are you due to take it to the shop anyway ?

Oh, thats what I tightened when I said I tightened the pedal. I used a torque wrench too. It was second hand, so no checks to be done on it. I will take that off again and check if I can see anything that doesnt look right

 

[gentlegreen]

I've heard it suggested that strips of aluminium drinks can can be used as shim-stock for that purpose - though how permanently I don't know - and presumably only for square tapered cranks.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/can-i-shim-a-square-taper-crank-arm-on-to-a-axlepic

 

[leroy]

Thanks for the advice. In the end i just took it apart, cleaned and re-greased.

It does seem a lot better now - did the 6.64 miles in 31 minutes today which impressed me. Got a bit lucky with lights etc, but also got stuck for a while at a large roundabout.

All in all, i'm impressing myself - just over a month until the 160 mile ride