Saturday, February 19, 2011

Getting ready for a ride

this is worse than the first CX Race of the season. Nothing's ready to go, commute? fine but i've been on the damn studs and I can't run those. No. We're headed to Tower Hill, probably a couple others (Brent's coming) and since everyone knows how much those things weigh, and even being as big as I am that's significant, and I need every advantage I can dig out of the pile of old shit in the bike room. On go the durano plus tires.

Of course the wheel i was going to put them on is pretty beat up (the tied and soldered spoked wheel). True as can be but it seems the spoke tension is a bit slack AND kind of shocking, or not, the braking surface is nearly to the bottom of the lawyer groove. I'm going to have a Ryan Kelly type blow out if I don't pay attention to this damn thing.

But it will work for now.

I've had some bearing issues on the BB30 lately, clicking and clunking. So I did a quick swap of the bearing that seemed to be crunchy. Either the new bearing or the disassembly and reassembly will hopefully keep it quiet on the ride. If not? That's two variables eliminated.

No, I'm not riding on the Reynolds. I'm not ready to stick the valve extenders on my tubes. Although until I wrote that I was thinking I don't have tubes... (need 80mm valves for these things) but of course I think I still have a pair of extenders.

Hmm. Still not going to use them.

And of course the slight off road and mudding I did yesterday on the way home to avoid the worst of the ice and snow on the bike path (yeah I was able to ride the bike path home last night - all but a short section along the Vet Parkway). Oh and someone chipped all the ice off the bridge. I just about ran over Mark J yesterday morning when he wiped out on the crown (ice was pretty sketchy) and he is on those Nokian studs.

Nearly back to the old commute dealing with the fucking sea gulls and their shells instead of the grumpy motorists.

SO.

bike, needed cleaning - windex and paper towels will have to work. Hose is still hiding from me...

Okay - status? Tires mounted, rear wheel sort of true. Bike somewhat clean. Saddle bag w/tube and pump found. Computer? Lets see what I can make work. Hell might as well gather some sort of metric. Why the hell not.

An hour twenty later I'm done. I think, ready to ride. Now lets check this weather forecast.

Well at least it will be sunny and we will be riding into the wind to start the ride... might as well get some sleep.

Or have some ice cream. Hmm.

Tough choice.

heddwch
G

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