Reminder: Tuesday Chaingang

[Ghaleb]

No problem Ilija !

It was a good ride last night

[Amy]

I was so far off the pace what with the wind* last night that Ant had to come back and find me

[color=#FF4000][size=200]ARE THERE ANY SLOWER RIDERS TO COME AND KEEP ME COMPANY!![/size][/color]

Sorry, Iliya - we wondered what had happened. I suspected a mechanical of some sort

*and I have lots of other excuses

[Antloony]

[quote="Iliya"]First puncture at first roundabout, just after CSS. Galeb stayed to help even though I insisted he carries on. We then ridden all the way to Gatwick roundabout and we were back in Coulsdon by 9:05. Unfortunately I had second puncture at the same place where I had the first one so had to take train home. Not bad after all as I managed to do the ride and not completely ruin Galeb's first CG.

Galeb thanks, for staying to help!

Off to order some new tyres now as the two I have, have had it.

[quote="Amy"]Sorry, Iliya - we wondered what had happened. I suspected a mechanical of some sort

[Rogan]

Sorry to hear about the punctures Iliya. Another good ride last night (apart from the mechanical problem) which was diagnosed today - I needed a new cassette So, well diagnosed Amy This comes as quite an unpleasant surprise since it's only a year old but I'm told there are many variables which lead to cassette wear and I have done many all weather miles in the last year. I change the chain roughly twice a year and will now change it when the chain-wear indicator is at the 75% mark and not wait for the 100% mark. Also degrease more often.

So, just a reminder to others to check chain wear - they stretch surprisingly easily and cause premature cog wear. The result for me yesterday was a chain which jumped on the cassette whenever I needed to put any power down which not only slowed me down but caused mild groin strain

And so as the group pulled away from lights (or on hill climbs) the jumping chain made for very difficult progress and that was after getting my shoes into the pedals which was quite comical with jumping crank-arms.

Did anyone get what speed we were doing behind Andy W (I think) along the Gatwick dual carriageway? It felt like 40mph

Thanks once again guys for waiting for me to check all was well and for doing all the work into that headwind. I stuck to a steady 17mph through Redhill and for most of the return home and the chain didn't jump so much.

Must get a chain wear indicator tool on Keith's 'kit review' thread.

[Phil H]

I'm a bit sceptical of wear indicators. Put a ruler up against the chain and it should align on the inches. If there's more than about a millimetre out at 12 inches (mixed units - woah) then it's knackered. If it's >=2mm then the cassette is likely knackered too.

[Sylv]

[quote="Rogan"]Did anyone get what speed we were doing behind Andy W (I think) along the Gatwick dual carriageway? It felt like 40mph

[Marcus]

[quote="Amy"]
[color=#FF4000][size=200]ARE THERE ANY SLOWER RIDERS TO COME AND KEEP ME COMPANY!![/size][/color]

[Ghaleb]

[quote="Rogan"]I needed a new cassette So, well diagnosed Amy This comes as quite an unpleasant surprise since it's only a year old but I'm told there are many variables which lead to cassette wear and I have done many all weather miles in the last year

[Amy]

[quote="Rogan"]Another good ride last night (apart from the mechanical problem) which was diagnosed today - I needed a new cassette So, well diagnosed Amy

[Amy]

Don't think I'll be doing the chaingang this week as the lactic acid was really burning my legs at any attempt to push things a bit more on today's club run and I'm finding the gearing on my borrowed back wheel a bit hard going. Also don't want to break it - hopefully will get my own rear wheel back next Saturday.

[Iliya]

I'm also not riding tomorrow. Partly because of work and partly because my bike is in desperate need of new tyres and brakes.

No issues with lactic acid though.

[Antloony]

Could be a another 'will we wont we' week as the weather looks a bit undecided at the mo. Wednesday looks dry and bright all day but cold, better than getting wet though. See what tomorrow brings I guess.

[Del]

[quote="Antloony"]Could be a another 'will we wont we' week as the weather looks a bit undecided at the mo. Wednesday looks dry and bright all day but cold, better than getting wet though. See what tomorrow brings I guess.

[Amy]

Wasn't planning on being out tonight as I've got water problems (hopefully resolved with a new valve in the loo to day - otherwise I need a new tank and/or a new pump) not to mention feeling rubbish on the bike. I think I'm feeling strong and fast - and then I get on the bike

Not got internet on my work computer (I'm just on a spare in the library) so probably will be out of the loop for today though I have reported it today as I didn't have internet connection yesteday - we've just changed something and I thought it was that and it would resolve itself especially as other people had the same problem.