Cycling

So, I bought some Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Bluetooth bone conducting headphones that send the sound through the bone to the ear, enabling noise around you (cars!) to still be heard. Well, they are good, but they hurt a bit around the ear when wearing sunglasses as well. So, then I see that they now do a helmet with the same technology, but the bone conductors in the helmet strap. I had to buy one of course...I'll let you know how it is.

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/catalog/p ... gJ_lvD_BwE

Low mileage this year, will be around 6700 miles...

Yeah, the cycling helmet with the earphones is ok. It's a little bit tinny, but at least it's music and I can still hear the traffic.

I will finish at around 6400 miles this year, my lowest for 5 years. I have put on about 7 pounds recently and I need to bloody well sort it! But tonight, well tonight, the diet is off and I'm eating like a pig...not to mention looking like one.

I was reunited with my bike today after 2 months. It was emotional. I’m still on a bit of a high after my first ride since August. Casual 40km. Need to fix the steering though, I clearly reassembled it incorrectly after it came apart in transit.

I was reunited with my bike today after 2 months. It was emotional. I’m still on a bit of a high after my first ride since August. Casual 40km. Need to fix the steering though, I clearly reassembled it incorrectly after it came apart in transit.

Get it fixed! I'm sure YouTube will have a 'bike maintenance for dummies' video to show you how.

This has been my worst year out of the last six. I will be down to 5500 miles. It's hard work, but I will get that back up next year to around 7k.

40kms, that's 24.85 miles for the old people here...

40kms, that's 24.85 miles for the old people here...

Don’t worry, you’ll be able to go back to measuring your bananas in shillings soon...

40kms, that's 24.85 miles for the old people here...

Don’t worry, you’ll be able to go back to measuring your bananas in shillings soon...

I was reunited with my bike today after 2 months. It was emotional. I’m still on a bit of a high after my first ride since August. Casual 40km. Need to fix the steering though, I clearly reassembled it incorrectly after it came apart in transit.

Get it fixed! I'm sure YouTube will have a 'bike maintenance for dummies' video to show you how.

This has been my worst year out of the last six. I will be down to 5500 miles. It's hard work, but I will get that back up next year to around 7k.

Turns out one of the bearings cages in the headset (these are all terms I didn’t know the meaning of 48 hours ago) had twisted and snapped, so there were loose ball bearings in the headset. It had probably been like that for years but then when I took the handlebars off, they came free and as a result the headset wouldn’t sit right when I put it back together.

I’ve managed to straighten the remainder of the cage out so it’s all a lot more snug but ultimately it’s going to need replacing. Hopefully I can source the appropriate parts...

I was reunited with my bike today after 2 months. It was emotional. I’m still on a bit of a high after my first ride since August. Casual 40km. Need to fix the steering though, I clearly reassembled it incorrectly after it came apart in transit.

Get it fixed! I'm sure YouTube will have a 'bike maintenance for dummies' video to show you how.

This has been my worst year out of the last six. I will be down to 5500 miles. It's hard work, but I will get that back up next year to around 7k.

Is your bike a racing road bike? Mine is, and it’s been fine for all the cycling I’ve done with it - Paris to Nice with no luggage, daily 20 mile commutes, that kind of thing. But I’m planning a ~300 mile ride over a week, and I’ll need panniers and some of the roads will be fairly poor quality because of earthquakes and that sort of mischief. I’ll only need to carry some clothes, toothbrush, snacks etc. Obviously I’m not camping . I’m not sure my bike will be suitable...maybe with some light panniers and minimal luggage, and some slightly thicker tyres?

Is your bike a racing road bike? Mine is, and it’s been fine for all the cycling I’ve done with it - Paris to Nice with no luggage, daily 20 mile commutes, that kind of thing. But I’m planning a ~300 mile ride over a week, and I’ll need panniers and some of the roads will be fairly poor quality because of earthquakes and that sort of mischief. I’ll only need to carry some clothes, toothbrush, snacks etc. Obviously I’m not camping . I’m not sure my bike will be suitable...maybe with some light panniers and minimal luggage, and some slightly thicker tyres?

Mine is a road bike, but with flat handlebars instead of drops. Panniers should be possible and you can probably fit some thicker and even wider tyres to your rims. I have Marathon+ tyres on mine and they are a bit heavier, but the puncture protection is outstanding.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-marath ... road-tyre/

Thanks for posting in miles instead of kms by the way...

It survived a 30 mile (you’re welcome) ride today with some serious hills, but it still needs properly fixing in the week, especially as I have a week-long ride planned.

Is yours a racing bike or a touring bike? Mine is racing, and on the big hills today I was in the lowest gear with nowhere left to go, which isn’t ideal. Maybe I should consider getting a new gear set...

It survived a 30 mile (you’re welcome) ride today with some serious hills, but it still needs properly fixing in the week, especially as I have a week-long ride planned.

Is yours a racing bike or a touring bike? Mine is racing, and on the big hills today I was in the lowest gear with nowhere left to go, which isn’t ideal. Maybe I should consider getting a new gear set...

My bike is essentially a 'racing' (road) bike, but with flat handlebars. You could consider a new gear set, but it's probably your legs that have nowhere to go!

I have probably told you about my ride from Puerto Pollenca to Cap de Formentor in Majorca on a heavy 7 speed city bike (the ones with a shopping basket on the front). It was worth it just for the looks on the faces of the 'serious' cyclists who were up there on their fancy carbon numbers. One of my best days ever..

All kitted out!

All kitted out!

Great stuff! I'm envious that you are over there...