Coldgunner

I think my plan is going to be to clean it up, replace the tyres, cables and pads and see how it runs really. I think the drive train itself was ok, a good dousing of oil will help. I do need to get a new bike, properly fitted to my size though.

There's something to be said for the pedestrianisation of Norwich City Centre. Now if only there was a radio phone in to discuss it?

Looking at another potential restoration job: Kona Smoke, I think these are from around 2010, this has also been sitting in mums garden for a time. Took my tools over today, and decided to have a look to see if its a goer worth fixing. My initial thinking is that the following definitely needs sorting. - New tyres and tubes x2 £80 (Schwalbe Marathon Plus has become my go-to) - New brake/gear cables x4 £20 - New brake pads x2 £10 - un-sieze the seatpost £0 (just needs a hammer and WD-40) - A good clean £0 (already have muc-off and a load of water) - Greasing £0 (already have that) - Chain oil and lube (480 steam oil works wonders it seems, also have chain lube) - Rear wheel truing at local shop £20ish (or fit new wheels?) - Rear Derailleur doesn't move when gears changed, hopefully just needs a new cable. £130 I reckon to get this back up to spec. Optional - fat man seat ~£50 The tyres are knackered for sure, they took 50psi of air today but doubt they'd last long before disintegrating. It did have mudguards, but they've seen better days so I removed them. Its different to my two repaired mountain bikes in that its a hybrid. I can store it at mums and maybe have it as a loaner. Tyres are like this:

The 'orrible weather this week has put me right off and kind of gotten myself into a slump for a few days. Managed to get a blast this morning but felt so out of trim and also noticed a new 'click' coming from the bike. Might just need a good oiling but really not feeling it this week.

Definitely not the nicest days here. Went to Rustival at the British Motor Museum yesterday and covered 15000 steps and legs are aching. I get out on the bike between 20-60 minutes every day but think I need to give my body a rest for a day or two.

Out on the bike at lunch and arse in a van decides that squeezing between me and the parked cars on the other side is a good idea. The one bloody day I don't have the gopro on. The kicker? The tosspot overtakes and pulls into a side street... I'm not a pro-cycling/anti-car zealot, but some people deserve a brick in their windscreen. Oh yeah, I'm at Rustival tomorrow. https://www.rustival.co.uk/

Reminds me of the night shift I spent assembling a Roundhouse Billy chassis.

Depending on what you do, get your name with some agencies, even if temping for a bit it'll bridge the gap until more meaningful employment arrives.

Had an impulse purchase at Lidl yesterday, picked up the Airfix Spitfire Mk1a kit. Sat all evening building, painting and applying the transfers. I think it came out quite well for brush painting. The only stuff I used that didn't come with the kit were cutters and the micro set transfer setting stuff. Also I managed to not cloud the canopy with glue. Quite a satisfying build, does good for the mind.

Dunno if this is a bargain, but Lidl has some Airfix starter kits for £7 in their middle aisle. Picked up the M68206 Mk1a Spitfire kit.

I quite like the unfiltered Stella, I also like Stella 4 which I can't seem to ever find now. Genuinely both were better, I've also got it on good authority that the local Beligan brewed Stella is much better than the UK brew. Heineken in Amsterdam is a much better brew than the UK one, which I think is Carlsberg.

Took a ride out today on the (new to me) whip. Its a bit too small for me again but will make an ideal project/loaner for visitors. Waiting for a longer seatpost to arrive, but to be honest today I was quite comfortable. Swapped out the tyres for Schwalbe Marathon MTB's which seem to roll quite well and of course fitted the kickstand. I also can't help but check out pretty churches.

I look forward to being impaled on that.

GCGQ - Is that the Gauge O Guild militant wing?

Mum never uses the handbrake on her auto, we live in one of the flattest places in the country, so putting in Park is more than enough. You could leave it in neutral around here and it won't roll.

So... interesting day. Background - Mum volunteers at a local charity shop. Today they had a bike donated, and knowing I'm kinda interested mum text me. Sent me a picture and figured I'd go take a look, although still slightly too small for me its actually quite a nice bike. So after work I nipped to the shop to take a look in person and was quite happy, some odds and ends need doing but otherwise it was more or less good to go. And this is what I picked up... Couple of minor issues to sort. So although the tyres are Continentals, They're clearly a bit aged and probably good for swapping, I'll swap them for some Schwalbe Marathon MTB's. Also the front inner tube valve failed and needed a new tube. Finally the largest gear on the groupset seems to keep skipping, i'll give it an good oiling to see if if just needs bedding in or a new cog is required, but I can live with that. The front wheel is slightly out of true, but I think that can be fixed at the local shop too. When I can be bothered, I'll fit new cable sets for the gears and brakes. I paid £80, which I don't think is too bad considering the condition of the frame, forks, seat etc. It also weight nearly half what my other one does. Riding the hard-tail after riding a full suspension is certainly different. I'll be in a better position next year to buy a new bike measured to my size, but in the meantime the two I have will do, and means I've got a loaner too.

I'm sure you'll be fine! Maybe set yourself up a little modelling kit with a tray you can sit on the sofa with :) Also you'll get to binge watch all the railway content online!

I think the brakes at a stop thing often depends on if you're driving an auto or not too. When I drive mums auto its either accelerate or footbrake, whereas my manual I'll use the handbrake to free up my foot for the clutch.

Posted February 17, 2022 Dad passed away yesterday. Mum went to see him in the morning and he was ok all things considered, he was tired and the nurses put him down for a sleep and he passed away. We're utterly lost. I saw him on Tuesday, and I think my last words were 'I'll see you later'. Heartbroken -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 years today, hit me like a ton of bricks and can't think atm. I'll be fine, just sometimes emotions come at you like a John Barnes free kick.

Another quick cycling adventure on my lunch hour today. Nothing fancy, just a blast around the local park which I've known for 30 years... ... and somehow gotten myself lost! Found my way back but looks like much of the paths have flooded, was able to navigate them simply by keeping a low gear and applying power, much like a car. The moment you stop moving, you're buggered. Now I have a filthy bike to clean.

Mines the one with the lighter roof from when they did a run of new models a while after the original release. Catalogue 32-522NRM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlr4bphk7qw

I live on a main road with street parking, first come first served. Thankfully a lot of it is double-yellows and marked gaps with spaces. Doesn't stop the parents of the local school parking like dodgems at the funfair. Catchment area of the school is at most a 15 minute walk to its furthest point. Funny enough though, if you work odd shifts then its easier, as the parents tend to block everything between 8:30-9:00 and 14:00-15:30 (yes they turn up an hour early for prime parking).

I'm guessing where dashcam footage and a clear numberplate are given as evidence, then many cases can probably be triaged within minutes (theoretically) upon submission/review.

...or riding right up your chuff on the parkway