Month: November 2024

A pleasingly mild day, with a moderate wind coming from the south, and – assuming the BBC weather forecast was to be believed – 0% chance of rain. I wanted to do about 65k, and I thought I’d try a new variation on the southbound route, in which I’d go down the “old” way through Desford, but cut across to the “new” route before Enderby, meeting it just west of Broughton Astley.

So I did that. It was OK. But not great. Too much traffic along Desford Road, and along Coventry Road, which is a main road leading in and out of Leicester. The stretch between Desford and Narborough was nice though. Hadn’t been along there before. It goes through a village called Huncote, where I bought some crisps, a sandwich and a Mars Bar.

There was a news item this morning about a man who had bought a a smooth Mars Bar. He opened it to find that it didn’t have the signature “ripple” pattern in the chocolate, and later received £2 in compensation. Just thinking about this made me want a Mars Bar, and that’s why I bought one.

Of course I don’t know how many others were similarly affected by this news item. Actually I’m not sure why it was considered for inclusion on a national news bulletin in the first place. But for £2, I suspect that Mars Wrigley UK got themselves a very cost-effective marketing campaign. Maybe other vendors will consider releasing mis-manufactured products from time to time. Perhaps someone will open a packet of Polos to find that none of them has a hole in the middle.

But I digress. From Broughton, or just west of Broughton, I came back the regular way except that I did a bit of meandering around Barlestone and Nailstone. The sun came out for a bit in the afternoon, and I started to wonder if I should do a longer ride. But an hour later conditions were a bit gloomy again, and although there’d been no rain or even drizzle, the roads seemed to be getting wetter. I suppose a fine, invisible mist must have descended and settled on the ground.

Listened mainly to footy chat on 5 Live, but I also listened to the Rush album Fly By Night. I took the photo near Earl Shilton; the large tyre is known to me as the Belarus Bench, because it has MADE IN BELARUS embossed on it.

I trialled some new memory foam earpieces for the earbuds I use with my phone and my DAB. They work really well, extremely comfortable, stay in your ear nicely and they do cut out a lot of external noise (some will argue that that’s not a good thing for cycling of course). The main problem with the old silicon ones was that they tended to pop off the earbuds, sometimes remaining stuck in an ear or sometimes falling to the ground, necessitating a search.

Back on 69.36. I did 972k this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13017159664

Don’t usually ride on consecutive days, but the weather looks rough tomorrow and alas, I have other commitments on Thursday – so I thought I’d get a few hours in today.

The wind was coming from the south-west, but it was very light. Not a warm day, but sunny. I basically did a Twycrosser with an excursion down the Dad’s Army route.

After 29km, at the T junction at the end of Boulter’s Lane, I thought I’d take a left instead of the usual right and go exploring. Looked eminently well-surfaced and level-ish as far as I could see in that direction. I only went another 3 or 4 kilometres, to a place called Hurley Common before coming back up homeward – but it was very nice along there. I’ll explore further next time. Nice view of the Birmingham skyline in the distance (I think, will nerd out over a map and check tomorrow).

Glad to be venturing over the other side of the A5 more often. The tips of my fingers were a bit icy by the time I got back, about 40 mins after sunset. Anyway 69.23k done, 902 this month now and I think I can squeeze a bit more out of November. Saturday looks like a good day for it at the moment.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12988614596

Couldn’t leave the house until after 1300 and had to be back by 1630, but 50km seemed more than reasonable. The forecast suggested there’d be no rain, and the roads were nice and dry. Not too cold either. Fairly predictably, I embarked upon a Twycrosser. A pretty typical version, down to Ratcliffe Culey, east through Sibson and Shenton.

I tried to tailor the ride dynamically to make best use of the available time. Did a little detour near Barton in the Beans. Did the detour through Swepstone.

Back at 1625, which was 25 mins after sunset. 52.28km.

I did get rained on unfortunately, not long after setting off. But only for 10 minutes and the sun came out after that.

I listened to another few chapters of Unleashed.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12980825033

Not so cold today, about two degrees warmer, or less cold, than Wednesday. The wind was coming from the west and I thought I’d do the same as last time, but maybe not so far. Down the western leg of a Twycrosser, and back up the same way.

Well, when I got out there, unfortunately, conditions felt worse than Wednesday. I was definitely colder, despite the modest uplift in air temperature. The bright sunshine made a lot of difference, last time. Also I found that I didn’t really feel like coming back the same way again. So I decided I’d do a regular Twycrosser.

However .. by the time I’d reached Sheepy Magna the sun had come out, the roads had dried up a bit and conditions were generally a lot more accommodating. How to extend the ride? My first thought was to go east to Kirkby Mallory and come up through Bagworth and Ellistown. But that would mean a cold headwind after Bagworth. So I looped back to Sheepy, pedalled north all the way to Measham then went west for a bit of the “Lower Westbound” route. Before I got as far as Acresford, I hung a right toward Ashby through Willesley. Not sure if I’d ever been along that stretch between Acresford and Ashby before. Not for years if I have, anyway. Back the usual way from Ashby.

I listened to 5 Live.

Back on 62.65km.

Glad to have clocked up 179km on the Boardman without a flat tyre. The front wheel is still spinning nicely without a wobble, as well.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12958682503

A very cold day, about 1C. But sunny. I hoped I could tolerate the temperature long enough for 40km or so. I thought I’d do a shortish version of the Twycrosser.

Well, when I actually got out there, I found that the conditions were more than tolerable. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be quite an enjoyable ride. Bright sunshine helps a lot. Actually really nice out there.

So I did a Twycrosser, with a brief excursion down the Dad’s Army route (maybe I should stop calling it that? I don’t know how many people read these but no doubt some find it baffling). I turned at Old Grendon, but instead of continuing the usual loop to the east and back up, I just went back up exactly the way I’d come down. An – if you will – Double Half Twycrosser.

Took the pic near Alton Hill and annoyingly, I got mud and snow stuck in my right cleat so it wouldn’t clip in properly, which made the hill more of a challenge than usual.

Back before sunset. I could have stayed out longer. I did have lights. But my thumbs and toes were starting to get a bit cold. It had been a nice ride. I didn’t want to spoil it.

Back on 58.93. It’s looking like I might be able to match last year’s distance total, 10321k. Depends what the weather’s like in December. 9582 done in 2024 so far.

Listened to more of Boris Johnson’s Unleashed. Right up there with Pete Townshend’s book as one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. Or listened to.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12945145075

Today I wanted to do 50km, to get the monthly total over 650. Rain was threatened for the afternoon, and the roads were wet. Normally I probably wouldn’t bother but I hadn’t been out on a bike since Thursday and the next couple of days look cycling-hostile.

For wet roads I’d normally choose the Tricross or the first Boardman. I didn’t quite have my nerve back for the Boardman, having had to contend with a flat tyre on its last two outings. But the Tricross still has a deformed rear tyre and I wasn’t able to straighten it out by deflating and manipulating it. So the Boardman it was.

I set off at about 1030, later than I intended. I did a Twycrosser, with the detour to Orton.

I wrapped up very warm but didn’t overheat. Cold out there. The advertised rain started at about 1330, but it was very light. I didn’t have to put up with it for long anyway. I was home 20 minutes later.

Back on 57.63. Quite an enjoyable run out really, apart from all the slimy mud on the quieter roads. Happy to have road tested the new inner tube and tyre, and the front hub adjustment on the Boardman.

Listened to 5 Live and more Boris memoirs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12922423242

Today’s mission was to do Rutland and back. In recent years when wanting to tick the “visited Rutland” box I’ve entered the country south of Buckminster, usually en route to a location in Lincolnshire. This time though I wanted to cross the border into England’s smallest county at the same point I aimed for when I first did Rutland and back years ago, west of a village called Whissendine.

However, I devised a new route to get there that would do the usual eastbound route for 24km, then dip down through Walton on the Wolds, Seagrave and Thrussington, then take the A607 east for a bit before diving into quieter territory again.

I felt slightly knackered this morning, unaccountably. I set off just before 1000 and I seemed to be low on energy half an hour later. In that respect perhaps it was unfortunate that I was on my heaviest bike. But I wasn’t going to cut the ride short. I was determined to chase down that elusive third fondo of November 2024.

I really like that stretch between Cotes and Thrussington. I’ve done it a couple of times before. I hadn’t done the A607 before though (as far as I can remember) and that wasn’t pleasant. Too busy. It was a relief to come off it and back onto sedate country lanes, but the route down to Great Dalby then east to Little Dalby was rough and liberally furnished with mud. Anyway I pedalled east to the border, took the obligatory pic. As I fiddled with my phone a nice lady stopped her car to ask if everything was OK. I assured her that it was and thanked her for her consideration. She pulled in to a farm just a little further along the road after setting off again. I suppose they don’t get many tourists taking photos of their bikes by the border sign.

I didn’t want to contend with the muddy, lumpy roads or the A607 again, so I decided I’d go home the time-honoured way via Melton Mowbray. Melton used to be a frequent fondo destination. Used to spend a happy half hour there in Costa Coffee before heading home. But it’s fallen out of favour in recent years, and perhaps that’s why I took the wrong exit out of the town at the traffic lights. I didn’t realise I’d done this for several kilometres. To make matters worse, a few km further up, I crossed Six Hills Lane – on my usual eastbound route – without realising it. Found a sign to Wymeswold a bit further up and took that. Usual way home from there.

Somewhere between Wymeswold and Rempstone I noticed a very regular bump-bump-bump coming through the rear wheel. At first I thought it was the road surface .. when it was still happening 5km later I realised it wasn’t. Stopped and inspected the rear tyre. It was still inflated, but there was a bit of a bulge, or more like a twist. Subtle, but enough to make a noticeable clonk every revolution. Did I overinflate it? Is the tyre unevenly seated on the rim? Naturally I was a bit tense over the last 25 klicks, not least because it seemed to be getting worse. But I made it home OK.

Before I fork out for a new inner tube and tyre I’ll try deflating it, reseating it and reflating it again. It’s a 700×32. They aren’t as expensive as I feared, but assuming the deformation isn’t terminal, I think it’s got plenty of life in it although it’s done nearly 7000km since I bought it, and it wasn’t new then.

There’s a very nice little deli / tea shop at Seagrave. Bought some crisps, a sausage roll and an Eccles cake. Really must go down that way more often. The difficulty is to incorporate it into a route without going on the A607.

Tried my most recent contact lens prescription. Works nicely for cycling. Listened to more Boris memoirs and 5 Live.

Back on 112.55km, about 110 mins after sunset.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12901047198

Had an optometrist appointment early in the afternoon. Shame, because it was pretty decent weather. But I was ready to go by 14:45 or so. Wanted to do at least 50 klicks.

I checked the Boardman in the garage. Front tyre with new inner tube still fully inflated. I was only doing a short ride. Surely an ideal opportunity to test the newly adjusted front hub and new inner tube? Possibly, but having suffered a flat tyre on its two previous rides, I just couldn’t face it today. I took the X.

I was determined to do something a bit different and I just followed my nose, trying to make navigational choices I wouldn’t usually think of. So I went up through Swannington, then took a left along Limby Hall Lane, which is a route I used to take when I first had the hybrid, before I started cycling more regularly. Nostalgia! I hadn’t been along there in years. That took me to Coleorton. From there I went up toward Ashby and after that I just sort of gravitated into doing a Twycrosser, except that I took a long detour on the way up through Nailstone and Ellistown.

I wouldn’t normally do a Twycrosser with the wind coming from the north but I wasn’t really bothered by it on the way up. Maybe a lesson not to be too anal about it on a shorter ride.

Back on 60.90km, about two hours after sunset. Not too cold. Nice run out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12885459712

So as you’ll have read if you saw my previous update, I had a wobbly front wheel on the Boardman. I consulted a bike mechanic of my acquaintance about this and had the following reply:

Fortunately it turned out to be an easy fix and I did it myself. Encouraged by the words “might just need the hub tightening”, I googled an article online about adjusting Fulcrum hubs. Took the wheel off, loosened a collar, turned it clockwise until all the wobble went out of the hub, tightened it up again. Just needed an Allen key.

There’s a sweet spot where the hub’s tight enough so that there’s no rattle in it, but not so tight that there’s resistance (and therefore excess wear) in the bearings, so it was a case of trial and error.

Very satisfying to put the wheel back on the bike and spin it round without the wobble. Nice and tight.

I’ve binned the old tyres. I ordered a new pair last night (Schwalbe Luganos) but I found a Fincci in the garage, so I’ve put that on. Still plenty of meat left on it. I think I took it off the Cannondale after I bought the new Campy wheels for it. I wanted to put brand new tyres on them, but the Fincci hasn’t had much use.

Another aggravating one.

The plan for today was to do the Dad’s Army route, but to take a road down toward a village called Filongley after Kingsbury. I was determined to do 100km.

I fitted a new inner tube to the Boardman on Thursday in Halfords’ car park, as attentive readers may remember. Since I’d relubed it and fitted a new cage bolt yesterday, I thought I’d use it for today’s ride. Just to give myself that warm, fuzzy feeling that it’s in roadworthy condition again.

As I wheeled it out of the garage, I noticed a very slight wobble in the front wheel – about 3mm of lateral movement. I checked it was secured properly in the forks. It was. Must be the hub. But it seemed rock steady with weight on it, so I decided to take it anyway. It seemed to handle properly so I put it out of my mind after a few km.

I missed the left turn off the A5 meaning that I had to negotiate the roundabout that meets the M42, but I didn’t mind that so much on the outward leg, because I took the first exit off it. I made a mental note to avoid it at all costs on the return leg.

Well, everything went very well until about 2km south of Kingsbury, when I suffered another front flat tyre. I was (at a guess) about 33km from home by the shortest route, so that wasn’t good. I did at least have tyre levers with me this time, as well as a thoroughly serviceable pump and two spare inner tubes. But I thought I’d see how far I’d get by just pumping up the flat. Might be a slow puncture, I optimistically reasoned. Naturally I decided to head back homeward from this point.

I didn’t get very far, as it turned out. About 2km. So I upturned the bike on a grass verge, swapped in a new inner tube and pumped it up, or tried to. The new inner tube didn’t even manage a metre. It wouldn’t take any pressure at all. I examined it carefully when I removed it – couldn’t see any damage to the tube. I wonder if it was a faulty valve?

I had one more card up my sleeve, a super-lightweight ‘Tubolito’ inner tube made from bright orange thermoplastic polymer. It cost me £27 from Amazon, but clearly now was the time. It wasn’t hard to fit. It behaved a little oddly though in that the tyre was still a little loose on it even when it was inflated fairly firm. The polymer it’s made from is less elastic than butyl. But it took up the slack with a few more strokes of the pump.

The valve shaft on the Tubolito is made of plastic, which doesn’t really inspire confidence. The mini-pump nozzle slipped off it before it was inflated to quite the pressure I wanted, but I decided to quit while I was ahead rather than push it back on and risk losing all the pressure. I crossed my fingers and set off again.

Thankfully, the new inner tube seemed to be working nicely. It rolled along quite satisfactorily. By the time I got to Sheepy Magna, 18km later, I was much more relaxed. I was close enough to home now that if I had to call out the other half to rescue me, her retaliation would be moderate. I stopped to pump a bit more air into the tyre.

I was doing my best to take the shortest route home, but looking at the route I see that I didn’t. After Twycross I came down the main road, then turned left along Gibbet Lane and headed back through Congerstone and Shackerstone. However about 5km from home, I realised that the front tyre was flat again. I managed to make it home by stopping every km or so to pump it up, although I must admit that I was running the tyre very nearly flat for some of the way. But at least I avoided having to walk the bike home.

So: the Boardman has eaten three new front inner tubes since Thursday. I’m satisfied that one of them, the first one I fitted today, was faulty. It failed before I’d put the wheel back on the bike. As for the others, I will admit that the tyre is a bit worn down, but I couldn’t see any sign of a puncture or sharp foreign object. I checked the inner surface of the rim and the tyre interior surface carefully each time before applying a new tube, on Thursday and today. Nice and smooth, nothing sharp.

Is it something to do with the slight wobble in the front wheel? Doesn’t seem plausible. Might be the other way round, come to think of it. Maybe running the wheel on a flat tyre has buggered the hub.

I will definitely acquire a new tyre, anyway. I’m not sure whether it’s worth having the wheel repaired (new hub bearings probably). It’s done about 26,000km. Then again I don’t ride aggressively, it doesn’t rattle down hills that much and I’m not heavy. I definitely don’t brake aggressively, the braking surfaces are fine. Actually the bike is still on its first pair of front brake pads.

It’s a decent wheel, a Fulcrum 4. Not the El Cheapo Mavic that the bike came with. I could probably get another 15,000km out of it if I have it repaired. Maybe I could have a go myself. Maybe something just needs to be tightened up.

Or I could treat the Planet X to a carbon wheelset and hand down its old wheels, or one of them, to the Boardman.

I’m not going to buy another super-lightweight inner tube.

Listened to footy on 5 Live, and Boris Johnson’s wonderful memoir, Unleashed.

Back on 75.05 km and given the circumstances, I’m calling that a win. 428 done this month and that’s decent enough ten days in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12869731966