Had a lunch appointment today so unfortunately, not a lot of time. Decent weather – dry, mostly sunny, low winds but cold. About 6C when I set off at 1040.
I took the Tricross since I hadn’t used it since April, and I immediately noticed that the steering was a bit stiff. Clearly the headset isn’t too tight since it was fine last time I used it. Maybe the bearings are wearing out. Anyway I decided it would be usable. And it was just about, except that coming out of a bend needed a bit of extra care – the steering needed gentle pressure to straighten out again onto the straight and level. I hoped that it would loosen up after a few turns, but it didn’t.
I wanted to do 34 miles or so and I did a fairly standard Twycrosser with the Orton detour, except that instead of going through Carlton, I doubled back to Congerstone. Although it’s only a few miles from home I don’t think I’ve ever done that short stretch between the canal and Congerstone. Anyway it’s pleasant, but unexceptional.
Huge amounts of mud on the road near Orton, but at least I was on the optimal bike for that.
Back on 32.93 miles. Listened to 5 Live and David Bowie’s second album from 1969, usually known as Space Oddity but in fact titled David Bowie. I thought I was going to be cold so I had two fleeces on underneath my winter cycling top, but I had to take one off for the last ten miles. Very nice run out anyway.
When I got back I hung the bike from the garage ceiling and squirted some GT85 down the join between the forks and the steerer tube, then worked the steering for a few seconds. That’s already taken out most of the stiffness, although it was slightly gritty. I’ll do it again, then dribble some chain oil down there. It probably ought to be greased.
Anyway that’s 333 miles in the bag for October, more on Tuesday I hope. I’m 72 miles ahead of last year at the moment. Looks like this might well be another 10,000km year.