First commutes, highs and lows

girv73
girv73 Posts: 842
edited August 2008 in Commuting chat
Hi all, first post here, though I've been lurking for a while.

On Thursday last I did my first commute to work, hauling my beslickened Diamondback Ascent (1992!) MTB the 8.5 miles along NCN93 and into Belfast city centre. The bike was badly in need of a service and a whole new drivetrain (it'd been in storage for 5+ years ... shame on me) so the plan was to take it to a LBS workshop after work. Got there, and discovered the seat tube had rotted through and snapped :( Game over for the Diamondback. Low!

So on Saturday I went to my friend's house to borrow-steal one of his hold MTB frames and rebuild it into a commuter. We went to a different LBS for a parts shopping spree, but found a half price clearance sale on MTBs instead. I picked up a brand new Commencal Normal Disc 2008 for £250, which I thought was a total bargain and probably less than I would have needed to spend on the old frame I'd borrow-stolen to bring it up to spec. High!

Then on the way in today I nearly flattened some muppet pedestrian who wandered out from between two parked buses, headphones in and looking the other way. Naturally, her (very loud) opinion was that it was my fault. I was glad I'd sprung the extra £50 for the disc brake model all the same.

Wonder what the trip home will bring...
Today is a good day to ride

Comments

  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    welcome to commuting, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as you don't hit them then they'll just moan at you and move on, plus you can always disappear in a could of rubbery goodness!
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    Thanks. It's good to be back in the saddle :)

    Mad bus woman didn't bother me at all, I thought it was hilarious actually. I smiled sweetly, told her I thought she was funny and rode off in a cloud of rubbery goodness.

    I'm off to work out my FCN now.
    Today is a good day to ride
  • Aidanw
    Aidanw Posts: 449
    Read a copy of http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclecraft-Skil ... 0117020516 it is really great.
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    That's the same bike I've got - Ascent EX - Deore LX, but it's been repainted blue now.

    Slicked/guarded etc for commuting
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    Mine was the regular Ascent, not the EX. Not sure what the difference is. I don't remember which groupset it came with, but I refitted it with LX twice in it's life and would have gone a third time too if it hadn't broken.

    Keep it out of the rain, or get some rust inhibitor inside the frame. Mine corroded from the inside out, I didn't notice much of anything wrong until after the tube had already snapped.
    Today is a good day to ride

Categories