9°C, dry & sunny, light westerly.
First outing for spring on the 1st March. It has new wheels (ok, secondhand). They’re the same again: Mavic Aksium. And they run nicely.
First: day of spring, outing on the Racelite.
Reply
Author Archives: essiep
Fixed, after repairs
Kona Paddy Wagon, 11°C, moderate SW, clear blue sky, dry
Used the morning for repairs to prepare the summer bike to go out. I got a replacement pair of Mavic Aksium elite wheels and put them on with 25c tyres. The rear went down so I swapped the tube. There is a drawer in the kitchen where I put repaired tubes, so I took another one. That also leaked away. Possibly, it was caught by the lever while fitting that new tyre. How annoying!
Anyway, the ride was excellent. It really looks like spring out there and it’s only February. The GPS failed saying average 11.4kph. stupid machine.
Swimming PB, ever
Swam 72 lengths this afternoon. That’s the longest swim of my life. I wasn’t called into work today so was free to have an easy morning. The rain stopped me cycling but the pool is good.
Hardly anyone was there so setting up a rhythm was easy. Going further each week has been the pattern; now it’s usually a mile each day. A mile in this pool is 64.5 lengths and today I stretched it to 72.
In another lane, a young woman was practicing Synchronized Swimming (if that’s the right name). She would suspend herself head down in the water and spin longitudinally. Amazing really, I’ve never seen that before.
Break cable.
5°C full sun with a lightening WSW.
Kona Jake: 44.7km, with mechanical problems. I headed out to the usual cafe but I broke a brake cable half way out (or so I thought). The front brake is crucial so some emergency thinking, do I: ride back, find a bike shop or ride to my place. I did the latter.
That mechanical was curious, it felt exactly like a broken cable. It’s been a long time since I had this, at least ten years. However, when I got it apart, the cable was fine, straight and free from corrosion. So I put it back in with oil in the sheath. All seems fine now.
Next concern: the rear tyre was soft when I did finally reach the café. They have some tools so I adjusted the brake levers and added pressure in the rear. It held as I hurried into the sun to get back. Those self sealing tubes did worked properly.
Two miles
Swimming pool.
Twice this week I’ve swam 64 lengths, that is a mile each. It feels good, I’m getting stronger. On the other hand, I’m missing cycling due to this bad weather (Storm Éowyn).
The icy hand releases
6-8°C, sun & light SE breeze.
Google Fit shows the bike ride as 14K steps. Either it has converted to equivalent steps or it’s sensor has reported 14K from the motion of cycling.
Deep winter
Cold & sunny -2°C, snow & ice.
The coldest day so far this winter. The car has a tantrum about low coolant level so I drove it half a mile to the garage for a bottle of top-up.
Work was good and I got a swim after lunch. This was the usual 50 lengths (25m per length). I’m tired now though. Just like most years, the first week back from holiday and I’m wondering how I’ll last until easter. The same thing happens after every break.
2025, first ride.
4°C, cold SE, dry.
Kona Jake: A cold ride that got colder. there are more flooded fields around formby than I expefcted. The pumps are working at it though.
Cycling 2024
Total 5,750 km
2024: Last ride
Mustang, 9°C, moderate SW, bright with white cloud.
Last ride of the year, tomorrow there’s a rainstorm coming with strong winds. I was a little reluctant to go this morning so I missed the chance to go to the café.
Micycle 