Ride Entry – 28th February 2010
Bike: Roly
Distance: 30 miles
Got up this morning wanting my breakfast, had some alpen a piece of jammy toast! Oooh ooooh and a cup of coffee.. Errm yeah. Then I got my chameleon out and set off down the road. I knew the bike would be fine because I spent an hour or so sorting everything out yesterday. I even rode it around the block a few times to make sure it was spot on. Why then, does it start making this horrible whirring noise 10 yards down the road? Looks like the rear cog is a bit worn, the teeth are hooking.
No matter, I made sure my pimpino was ready for a rider yesterday as well so that will be fine too. Again ,ten yards down the road the rear brake starts rubbing and could I stop it? Bizarre, no matter what I did the wheel just kept rubbing. The whel is perfectly true, I even removed it and placed it in a wheel jig to check, it’s absolutely perfect. Back in the bike and it’s rubbing at one point. No idea why. Got frustrated in the end, changed back into my maintenance clothes and set to work getting a road bike built up.
At about 3pm, after having dinner and doing a load of jobs around the house, it was ready to roll. Admittedly, it’s not the most beautiful bike in the world and something clearly need some fine tuning but it actually rides rather well. Not bad for stuff I had lying around. It’s quite light too.
All bikes need a name right? So since Roly donated the frame I’ll be calling it that, at least till I snap it. Not sure what I’ll be doing for a decent road bike. Might buy something off the shelf, I’m enquiring around at the moment. Took this one out for a quick 30 miler up some hills though and despite it being quite windy I managed a 17mph average. A bit slow but then I was a tad reluctant to really cane it up the hills, it being a new build and all.
March 2, 2010 1:32 pm 
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