Fixed, after repairs

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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

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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.

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5°C full sun with a lightening WSW.

False tracking.

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.

Cable disc brakes.

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.

Deep winter

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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.