Your Anti-Rants here

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  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    So, I spent the Easter weekend undertaking a bit of an epic ride - 600km over 3 days - from Hertfordshire to Aberystwyth via the Chilterns, Cotswolds, Brecon Beacons, then onto Liverpool via Snowdonia for a lazy day and the train home.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/2302860031
    https://www.strava.com/activities/2305580162
    https://www.strava.com/activities/2308436923

    Anyhow, on the first day, on the second stop noticed that my rear wheel rim was starting to fail - hairline cracks visible around most of the drive side nipple holes - one of them somewhat more than hairline!

    The wheel stayed reassuringly true over the next days riding, and there was obviously the option of grabbing something at Halfords if it really came to it, although I feared I'd probably be worse off with that than what I had...

    Anyhow, the real anti rant here is, completely unplanned, we come past a familiar name - cyclebasket - where I've ordered a few dozen spokes over the years, along with a few other bits and bobs, and they handbuild their own wheels!

    So we stop in, I'm sorted out with a reassuringly old school 105 hub with open pro rim for a bargain price, and my old wheel is getting shipped onto me with my next order.

    Didn't catch the name of the geezer that runs the place, but we had a good chat and he's a lovely bloke - more into his classic cars and trains now than bikes apparently! I'm jealous of his ten mile bike commute across the brecon beacons, that's for sure. :D
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    Baby Elbow, born fit and healthy on 10th April at 6lbs 3oz / 2.886 kilos.

    Paternity leave was a little extended with the easter break, so that was nice.

    Back at work today, but working from home. :-)
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Took the faulty stem that was a year old back today and was prepared to accept an exchange old for new but they no longer sell 120mm stems so had to accept effectively a credit note in the form of a gift card to the value of the item which was £35 which isn't bad considering I paid £21.60 for the stem. Ordered a replacement from Wiggle for less than the difference, plus when I use the giftcard I'll use a 10% code too.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    Congrats elbow. It's the best!
  • drhaggis
    drhaggis Posts: 1,150
    elbowloh wrote:
    Baby Elbow, born fit and healthy on 10th April at 6lbs 3oz / 2.886 kilos.

    Paternity leave was a little extended with the easter break, so that was nice.

    Back at work today, but working from home. :-)

    Great news, congratulations to you and Mrs Elbowloh! (I am sorry for your cycling miles though...)
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Yay - congrats Elbow - cycling takes on a different focus now - we went out yesterday and did 6 miles offroad with our little one - offered him a tow after a bit of an incline .. "No, I want to ride" was the answer ... :) He hook up a bit after that - it's a hard slog across sheep fields!
  • Tashman
    Tashman Posts: 3,495
    elbowloh wrote:
    Baby Elbow, born fit and healthy on 10th April at 6lbs 3oz / 2.886 kilos.

    Paternity leave was a little extended with the easter break, so that was nice.

    Back at work today, but working from home. :-)

    Congratulations
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    Cheers all.

    The cycling miles hit the buffers when we got married 3 years ago!
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • wolfsbane2k
    wolfsbane2k Posts: 3,056
    Been meaning to try out a detoured bridleway route home for a while - which turned out to be a route that is regularly greenlaned by 4x4s.
    A full suspension bike would have been preferable, but I was remarkably impressed with how the diverge handled with a pannier rack and top bag - really nice and nimble through some very technical sections that exceeded my skillset - 1 foot deep tyre tracks that needed to be traversed to avoid even deeper puddles for example.
    Took it all slowly but carefully, trying to avoid putting a foot down in 1 inch thick mud, made it a quite hard work!

    Still, loved it - just a "shame" :wink: I ended getting lost in the woods and ended up with an unexpected 5km detour on what turned out to be footpaths, rather than bridleways.

    Must get the Garmin's maps updated with a more appropriate set of openstreetmaps rather than the default set.
    Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
    Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
  • gbsahne001
    gbsahne001 Posts: 1,973
    4yo has just taken her first solo ride, across the park but without anyone by her side to catch her.

    This is only the second attempt at riding the bike, so very pleased; the transition from balance bike to one with pedals was virtually seamless. She just needs to learn how to steer and use the brakes now.
    Winter Hack
    Everyday Commuter
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    gbsahne wrote:
    4yo has just taken her first solo ride, across the park but without anyone by her side to catch her.

    This is only the second attempt at riding the bike, so very pleased; the transition from balance bike to one with pedals was virtually seamless. She just needs to learn how to steer and use the brakes now.
    :)
    It's one of those memories moments - also where you're very proud and very sad at the same time.
    Very proud because they've taken a big step, very sad because you'll never go back to the innocent days of just messing around on balance bikes.

    I said that to our nearly 4yo the other morning - riding bikes isn't going just out the front and jumping off curbs any more - and that makes me sad - he suggested we go home and do exactly that - I replied that he was now using the bike I used to ride with him because he's grown big enough now - so he suggested I used his old (smaller) bike instead :)
    Ah - the innocence of youth....
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    And in another Anti-Rant

    Setting out this morning - head wind - not a massive one, but enough to knock a bit off my pace - bit of a PITA as I was running a bit tight for time.
    Then 2 tractors overtook me - gave me a bit of a boost for a bit, but it was accompanied by an incline, so I lost the tow fairly quickly ... then a bit later on, some more tractors came past - more cars following meant I kept the tow for a fair bit longer and my pace increased accordingly :)
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    Took the off road route to work. Yay.

    Left the back pocket on my rucksack unzipped but still had my wallet and keys when I got to work. Double yay.

    Even the rubbing front mech couldn't spoil things.

    Also, everyone should have a Canyon VLCS 2.0 leaf spring seat post. They are amazing.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Asprilla wrote:

    Also, I'll buy everyone a Canyon VLCS 2.0 leaf spring seat post. They are amazing.

    I'll have one in 27.2 please :lol:
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    redvee wrote:
    Asprilla wrote:

    Also, I'll buy everyone a Canyon VLCS 2.0 leaf spring seat post. They are amazing.

    I'll have one in 27.2 please :lol:

    Knock yourself out: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/283488054764
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Work colleague moans like buggery when the A4 Portway is closed, usually 4 times in a year, for various events on a Sunday, Bristol 10k, Half Marathon, Sky Ride type thing etc. He's of a certain age and has just reduced his hours to 4 days a week and now works Sunday to Thursday so everytime the Portway is shut for whatever event he'll have to make a slightly longer journey to work.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,804
    New bike feeling but it was only a case of Trigger's broom. Most of a new groupset on the bike, front shifter and chainset were the only bits left over. Even the front shift was transformed by new cables and shifter. Absolute bliss.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    They have finally cleared the rubbish under the M4/Parkway which had gone from being measured in feet to London Buses.

    48048513848_648276b178_k.jpg

    They have put some fairly substantial barriers across the bike path but as long as it stays clear (ish) Its been there since October/Novemeber last year, where Highways England and Hounslow have been arguing the toss as to who is responsible.

    I met a fellow cyclist on Monday who was a Fireman who was going to report it as a fire risk, which I suspect has had the effect!
  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    What does it look like now?
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    Shirley Basso wrote:
    What does it look like now?

    48049272123_8f88540cb9_k.jpg

    How long it will last even with concrete blocks we shall see!
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    that's a slight difference ...
  • drhaggis
    drhaggis Posts: 1,150
    There is a month's difference between those pics, according to the EXIF data. It's amazing. I honestly have a hard time believing it's the same place.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    this one has to have the most tenuous cycling link ever.

    I started to repair a bit of the broken boarding around my roof, the bit over the man-cave (see there is a link) only to discover bumble bees nesting in the roof, so i unrepaired the roof and let them "bee" boom-tish!

    Anyway today i've started seeing very small bumblebees they're very very cute and tiny, i always assumed they came out for the first time young adult size, these are like a fingernail.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    Will you get honey? I went to a bee place in Devon last summer. The honey was bl00dy delicious.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    might be an expensive way to get honey, they've found a hole one of many in the roof and made a nest, their nest aren't very big anyway so i'll just leave them too it. The odd one comes into the man-cave for a look around which can be a bit alarming when i'm on the turbo
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    itboffin wrote:
    The odd one comes into the man-cave for a look around which can be a bit alarming when i'm on the turbo

    I'm sure the bees can find their way back out quite easily.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • wongataa
    wongataa Posts: 1,001
    hopkinb wrote:
    Will you get honey? I went to a bee place in Devon last summer. The honey was bl00dy delicious.
    You won't get honey from bumblebees.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    DrHaggis wrote:
    There is a month's difference between those pics, according to the EXIF data. It's amazing. I honestly have a hard time believing it's the same place.

    It was two days, cleared it on Tuesday and moved the barriers fully into place by Wednesday evening. does mean you'd not struggle on a non standard bike but then that's the same for all anti social bike barriers.
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    itboffin wrote:
    this one has to have the most tenuous cycling link ever.

    I started to repair a bit of the broken boarding around my roof, the bit over the man-cave (see there is a link) only to discover bumble bees nesting in the roof, so i unrepaired the roof and let them "bee" boom-tish!

    Anyway today i've started seeing very small bumblebees they're very very cute and tiny, i always assumed they came out for the first time young adult size, these are like a fingernail.
    They're just further away. Take a step forward or two...
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    First father's day was rather lovely.

    First time on the bike in 2019 (and wasn't quite as bad as I had feared), and generally a nice weekend.

    Kids are quite fun inbetween exhausting you silly, aren't they?
    _

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