9°C sunny with blustery SW. Drying out with many large puddles remaining.
There’s colour in the landscape after 7 weeks of grey.
Service note: the gear change is terrible.
Sofar this year,
1,261.13
Distance (km) 1,261.13
Duration70:58:16
Calories 47,908
Workouts (kcal) 34
6°C no wind, grey & drying.
60km of fun. I had a few mechanicals, the chain needed tensioning better & the wheel bearings were also loose.
Kona Paddy Wagon, 5°C, sunny with light northerly, dry
The weather has finally broken; we had more than 5 weeks of grey drizzle and SE wind. Now it has swung around and gone cold.
This bike definitely feels lighter and quick compared with the Mustang.
8-12°C, moderate southerly, brightening up afternoon.
Mustang, Sunday ride. A damp & at times, drizzly start but the afternoon was almost spring-like.
4°C, very strong E, some brief showers, ‘feelslike’ -2°C
Outward was really hard today. A fierce cold easterly was the real barrier. At times, I got out the saddle on level ground in the lowest gear. There aren’t many days like this. Gusts swept across fields or whipped between houses. Those reduced speed down to 6mph. It was more like winching myself along.
At its root, the weather is the same it has been all year. Okay, temperatures have varied between 4-8°C, but we’re dominated by easterly winds, almost all between east & south south east. I’m watching to see any long term change coming.
7°C, brisk SE. grey & dry.
Cable disc brakes tend to wear unevenly. There’s only 1 piston and pressure on the opposite pad is by bending. So, of this pair, one has 1mm and the other 2mm. 1mm is the recommended limit so I changed them.
The other wheel’s pads needed a clean & rub down with emery paper. Job done & braking is far better. I can trust them on the road now.
Mustang, chilly 5°C, moderate ESE, dry & grey
Firstly, some maintenance in the kitchen.
The ride was much colder than Tuesday, otherwise – no problem.
Result: reduced stopping distance! The cloths came out quite black: which is satisfying. Braking could be better still, but it’s not dangerous anymore. Encouraged, next I will buy some Mucoff rotor cleaner and scrub the others. Ideally, get new.pads from Tektro.
Last ride of January. 672km on the bike, almost all on the Mustang. I like to get 1,000 miles done equinox in March , ideally.
9°C, mostly dry & sunny later, very strong ESE.
Next repair: the rear brake is really weak & I don’t know why. Apart from that, the ride was good. Conditions were a bit rough, but I was ready for that. The distance crept upwards as did the pace.
After watching an online video, I’ve got an idea for improving the brakes. The rear is worst, so I’m going to get the pads out & clean them and the rotor. The last step after using some fine emery paper; they’ll need bedding in.
8°C, brisk E, cloudy but dry.
Fitness has returned. On the ride today, I recalled how I felt after 3 weeks off the bike in December. It weakened my arms the most, I could barely hold myself over the handlebars. Strange.
Today, I could wizz along (despite the average speed (shown above).
8°C, rain.
Rain all day, therefore – swim. I had the lane to myself so settling into a rhythm was easy.
Last year I peaked at 70 lengths in this pool but I’m fitter now. It’s all about building winter endurance.
Micycle 