Not having much luck

speeder1987

Hi guys,

So I've recently got a new road bike, but I don't think I've had an incident free ride yet:I've been lost, knocked my chain off and got it jammed down behind the bit which is meant to catch it, made the mistake of fiddling with the gears before going out and then spending 2 hours fixing them, trying to pump up my tyre with a cheap halfords pump just before going out and finding it had a faulty valve which promptly let out all the air out of my back tyre

Finally today I was cycling though southampton (about 11 miles into my route) when I hear the sound of something metallic falling of my bike. I went back to look and after 5 min of scavenging round on the floor I found nothing. It wasn't until about 10 min later that I tried to unclip with my left foot and found that I couldn't, before promptly nearly falling off, that I realised that the front bolt of my cleat had dropped out and it meant my cleat was moving with the pedal when I tried to unclip. So I ended up jumping on the train as I was about 10 min away from cental station luckily.

After all this though I do feel I know 10 times more about my bike (as i've had to fix everything I've broken), but I've still been really enjoying the rides I have been getting.

Anyway sorry I just needed somewhere to vent as my gf doesn't seem interested anymore lol

Cheers
John

cornerblock

Sorry John, I shouldn't laugh . Hope your luck changes soon with the bike. As for your gf not being interested anymore. Well that sounds a bit more serious!

speeder1987

Cornerblock wrote:

As for your gf not being interested anymore. Well that sounds a bit more serious!

Maybe I could of worded that a little bit better .......... lol

mikeyboy12345

Just remember John - things can always get worse!

At least you learnt an important lesson - never ever buy anything bike-related from Halfords! Where are you based? There's quite a few on here from the Southampton area.

Paul057

My first few rides went along the same lines - not exactly smooth running. Like you, i think it taught me quite a bit about bikes, along with some good advice on this forum. My wife didn't have much interest at the start, and now every time i talk about bikes her eyes glaze over.

You're not alone

speeder1987

mikeyboy12345 wrote:

At least you learnt an important lesson - never ever buy anything bike-related from Halfords! Where are you based? There's quite a few on here from the Southampton area.

I normally don't but I needed a pump and I thought a cheap and cheerful one would do. I now have a JoeBlow sport track pump so yes lesson well and truly learnt.

I'm based up in Eastleigh, so just north of Southampton. My next ride I'm planning to cycle to brockenhurst. Its about 20 miles which will be about my limit I think ( for a new and very unfit cyclist like me lol) anyway I will let you know how it goes!! and fingers crossed nothing will go wrong

Fenred

mikeyboy12345 wrote:

Just remember John - things can always get worse!

At least you learnt an important lesson - never ever buy anything bike-related from Halfords! Where are you based? There's quite a few on here from the Southampton area.

That post is total bollox! You've purchased a JB Sport, good pump, I assume from Halfords? :?

Part of riding a bike is learning how to maintain your pride and joy and keep it running the best it can/you can...It's a learning curve, ride, maintain, learn, enjoy.... 8)

Swinston

I've lost a cleat bolt before and didn't realise what it was that had that made that metallic clunk sound. It was most embarrassing when later I went to unclip and couldn't with small children in the back of a 4x4 laughing when I bumped into a wall... this did however set my left foot free... just as the traffic started up again!

Great thing about these things happening now is that you don't ever let them happen again (where possible).

It seems you're having a spell of bad luck, it will pass Keep riding!

Just wait until you get a pat on the bum

speeder1987

That post is total bollox! You've purchased a JB Sport, good pump, I assume from Halfords? :?

I got it from wiggle in the end, your right it is judgemental to assume that because halfords sell it, it must be rubbish, because they do sell good stuff! Like the boardmen bikes for example, but having said that I won't be buying halfords own again even for things that I deem as non essential

I have bought two halfords own things, the pump and a cheap bikestand (just because I dont have the space for a propper one at the moment). The pump u know about, but the stand didnt really work as it was meant to, it just lifts the back wheel off the ground and was only a tenner, but the hanger juts into the wheel meaning you cant spin the back wheel while it is up, which is a problem when trying to adjust the gears. In then end after some modifications I got it to work, but the bike needs to be up against a wall. But for me it's the principle, u buy something and it should work, even if it's not brilliant.

godders1

I'd recommend some loctite 243 (thread lock) for cleats. Useful for other bits on the bike that might loosen over time too.

Carlm90

I think my luck is happening the other way round as touch wood I have been fine on my recent rides on a new bike.

That really is some bad luck but as others have said, it teaches you new things and it can only get better.

Here's a good pump I recommend

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/lezyne-hp-micofloor-pump/pumps/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/3397