No wonder that felt like hard work!!!

[punkypossum]

Cycled into work, it's about 3.5 miles, very slightly uphill and with lots of peds, dogs, gates and glass - still, I usually manage an average of about 12mph. Today, it felt like terribly hard work, but I couldn't work out what the problem was, tyres fully pumped up, bike not making any weird noises, nothing...so I just put it down to one of those days where it just feels like effort. Get to work, worn out,sweating like hell and with an average of 10.6mph only to realise that that little metal stick thing on my v-brakes that clips behind the brake arm and keeps the brakes in position had somehow come loose at the rear (think I caught it when wriggling bike out of front door). So I ended up cycling the whole way with the back brake on!!!! Can't believe I didn't even realise!!!!!

Must be excellent fitness training tho...maybe I should do a video of it and sell it...

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Cycled into work, it's about 3.5 miles, very slightly uphill and with lots of peds, dogs, gates and glass - still, I usually manage an average of about 12mph. Today, it felt like terribly hard work, but I couldn't work out what the problem was, tyres fully pumped up, bike not making any weird noises, nothing...so I just put it down to one of those days where it just feels like effort. Get to work, worn out,sweating like hell and with an average of 10.6mph only to realise that that little metal stick thing on my v-brakes that clips behind the brake arm and keeps the brakes in position had somehow come loose at the rear (think I caught it when wriggling bike out of front door). So I ended up cycling the whole way with the back brake on!!!! Can't believe I didn't even realise!!!!!

Must be excellent fitness training tho...maybe I should do a video of it and sell it...

Sorry PP.....lost me there

 

[hackbike 666]

That's not my problem,I just think im clapped out.

 

[punkypossum]

Sorry PP.....lost me there

Consulted Mr Zinn - apparently it's called a vertical spring and not all v-brakes have it....still think "stick thing" described it very well!

 

[fossyant]

"Doh" as Homer would say

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Ah yes. Thanks for the clarification PP.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I've had that one as well. The first time, I did about two miles before I twigged what was going on. It's one of the first things I check now if things feel sluggish ..

 

[ianrauk]

Think it has happened to most of us one time or another...

I've had that one as well. The first time, I did about two miles before I twigged what was going on. It's one of the first things I check now if things feel sluggish ..

 

[beanzontoast]

Something similar happened to me, but different cause. I was on the last part of a week of 25-milers in the Derbyshire backroads (quite hilly) and I could feel it was taking real effort on the last few hills - even the flat parts seemed harder. Wasn't until I got back home and gave the rear wheel a spin that I discovered the hub was siezing up - it barely rotated twice before stopping!

 

[punkypossum]

Oh well, at least I'm not the only one!

 

[hackbike 666]

No I think it's just old age.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I've had that happen too!

Mind you it's more annoying when you think it must have happened again but actually your bike is perfect it's you that is clapped out!

 

[fossyant]

Think it has happened to most of us one time or another...

Nope - just PP, Ianrauk, and reluctant......

 

[thomas]

I had the opposite of that the other day. I thought my brakes had been undone as they weren't stopping me very well. It was wet out and it turned out after checking they were just a lot more slippy than I had expected!

I should imagine I'll need new brake pads soon though.

 

[cyberknight]

i have had this a lot lately thats why i bit the bullet and bought the tools to grease back wheel bearings and