gutted... sob

[peanut]

I've missed my first Audax of the year and the only Audax that is under 100km and flat

For the first time ever I had the bike ready, my tools and clothing ready, cell fone drinks ,food everything was go go go.
I got off to a good start and was actually going to be 15 minutes early to Dave's Diddy Doddle which everyone that knows me would say is a miracle in itself.

I'm cruising along listening to the radio thinking about registration, meeting up with JohhnyH and other CC'ers and then I notice smoke pouring out the back of my car in the rear view mirror.

No its not smoke its steam so must be a hose leak or the water pump bearing or maybe the rad ...maybe even the head gasket. gulp....

By now I cannot even see the little yellow sports car behind me anymore. I decide to press on to the next garage. I arrive with steam belching from the engine very hot and just about to sieze up.

Thats it then half way and stuck. I let her cool down ,fill her with water which is pouring out the bottom somewhere as fast as I can fill it up and reluctantly head for home

I make it as far as the steep hill outside my village and she finally dies at the top. I wait 30 minutes and pour the last of my water into the rad and crest the hill. She is now running on 2x cylinders and sounding like a bag of nails in a washing machine. I switch off and coast through the village down my drive and with no power steering or brakes almost plough into the garage doors. Home sweet home.

sorry johhny that we didn't get a chance to meet up this time. Hope you enjoy the ride . Maybe we can organise another CC ride on the Somerset levels some time soon.

 

[MrGrumpy]

running engine and no coolant = bad hope its not one of those fancy dan multi valve engines as they don`t like getting cooked.

 

[gavintc]

That was not very sensible. I fear you may have made a minor problem a major one (and very expensive). Cars need coolant or you get terminal results. Somewhat comparable with pressing on regardless with no air in your bike tyre.

 

[vernon]

Running your engine with no coolant in it could turn out to be a very expensive affair. It sounds (sic) like your car is making expensive noises I hope it's a cheap banger.

On the Audax front, you can plan your own flat 100km ride using the DIY permanent option of Audax UK. You can choose your own route and date.

 

[peanut]

car cost £200 on ebay so its scrap. Provided that you are travelling at reasonable speed on very low revs and in a high gear with the fan on you can usually get a couple of miles out of a car before things get too hot because of the airflow through the engine compartment. Its a question of judgement and experience.. Besides I knew the garage was 2-3 miles up the road out in the middle of nowhere 10 miles from the nearest town.
Fortunately I have another car so I'll just buy another cheapy off ebay for work.

 

[bonj2]

car cost £200 on ebay so its scrap. Provided that you are travelling at reasonable speed on very low revs and in a high gear with the fan on you can usually get a couple of miles out of a car before things get too hot because of the airflow through the engine compartment. Its a question of judgement and experience.. Besides I knew the garage was 2-3 miles up the road out in the middle of nowhere 10 miles from the nearest town.
Fortunately I have another car so I'll just buy another cheapy off ebay for work.

you should have gone in your good car to the audax!

 

[Sittingduck]

Unlucky Peanut!

I once killed a Rover 214 Sli on the M40 doing a similar thing - head gasket went about 1/4 mile from the services.

Better luck with your next Audax event
SD

 

[peanut]

Hey don't worry Peanut, why don't we organise something else? Unfortunately I couldn't make it today, as my wife is up to her neck in revision for an exam on wednesday, so I'm on kid duty most of the day

Do you have the route, we could do it in a couple of weeks anyway, actually Johnny could show us around maybe

ah I knew someone would be along soon to cheer me up thats an excellent idea . Johhnyh will be an experienced Audaxer now so we'll shove him off on point.


The Bishops Lydiard route is 60km just under 40 miles and across the levels, almost flat with a few bumps and a brilliant steep downhill in the middle (Red hill). as the route is already written up makes sense to use I maybe.?

Its from Bishops Lydiard to Langport and back Langport being exactly half way. We could adapt it or shorten to suit.

Hows about it ? I'll post the brief copy of the route I made see what you think.

By the way what exam is swmbo taking ? good luck to her anyway.

Bad luck with the Rover SD (sic) those things were designed to blow their head gaskets . thanks for the tea and sympathy . I just went out and did a quick hilly 20 mile locally to make up for it so I feel better about it now.

 

[peanut]

you should have gone in your good car to the audax!

Ah !.....that was to be my cunning plan Bonji but I couldn't get the blasted bike in the back

 

[peanut]

Leaving Bishops Lydiard north past church
3rd RIGHT (Pound lane)
T Junction LEFT
T Junction RIGHT
Through Kingston St Mary
Sign P Cheddon Fitzpaine
S O @ stag X roads
Through Upper Cheddon
LEFT @ triangle T Junction RIGHT
LEFT next junction RIGHT downhill
LEFT @ triangle
2nd LEFT (SOver ) on bend
T Junction RIGHT
SO staggered X roads A38
SO mini RBout thru Creech St Michael
Sharp RH bend
LEFT signed HAM
Next LEFT signed HAM
Thru KNAPP
LEFT sp North Curry
S O X roads to T in village
LEFT sign Stoke St Gregory
LEFT ( SO ) sign STATHE
T Junction RIGHT sign OATHE
LEFT @ grass triangle sign WICK
LEFT sign LANGPORT
Parrot Coffee house in 2nd car park



reverse is a slightly different route for half of the return leg I'll post it later when I've typed it up.