Commute like a wombat

27/10/2012 2298km - I replaced my front brake pads last week because they had worn down to the steel. Today I changed the rear freewheel from 18 to 17 teeth and will see how it goes. While I had it up I changed the rear brake pads which were well worn. Apart from this I haven't done anything except for cleaning it once since the last update about 340km ago. I've been riding it half way to work and back once or twice a week since I broke a spoke on my 700c hard rubbish flat bar and haven't been motivated to fix it.

7/7/2012 1860km - I fitted a new bike computer after losing the last one on the Melburn Roobaix ride. It has a settable odometer which I like. Circumference is 1975mm.

24/6/2012 1860km - Rode the Melburn Roobaix. Train to West Richmond, rode to Hawthorn velodrome, Melburn Roobaix to Brunswick velodrome and then home via the Yarra Trail. Bike went well apart from having to tighten the chain. My bike computer rattled off about half way. I'll put one of my new cheap-ass ones on.

13/6/2012 1777km - Rode from spot 1 to work and back with Phil. Bikes good and I'm getting fitter. It was chilly but not freezing like yesterday morning when my windscreen was covered in ice. That would have been a cold ride if I rode...

3/6/2012 1728km - Rode to Diamond Creek with Caito. I washed the bike. It's generally going OK. Getting it in the car is nice and easy now with my QR front wheel.

26/5/2012 1618km - I've been riding to work from spot 1 and 2 a few times a week over the past few weeks. Yesterday I rode just over 50km. My foot still hurts and I think it's getting better. The bike is going well and aside from needing a bit of oil on the chain I think the next thing will be rear brake pads.

19/5/2012 1505km - I rode my commuter bike for the first time for a while on Wednesday May 16 from spot #2 to work and back. Then the same thing yesterday. In January I broke my leg which put me out of action for over 4 months. It was hard work going up the Wellington Rd hill and my ankle hurt a fair bit. Unsurprisingly I have lost a lot of fitness too. The front wheel bearings were making a lot of noise so I put another front wheel on this morning. It also has wheel nuts like the original one. To make it easier to put the bike in the car I remove the front wheel and with wheel nuts it's a pain in the arse. I like the wheel nuts for leaving the bike locked up at shops etc. So today I pulled apart a few wheels and made up a new one. A rim to match the rear wheel and the hub of my old 700c road bike which was quick release. It was the first time I laced a wheel up without following a diagram and didn't take that long. Plus now I have three less wheels in the shed. Oh, well two less after I put the original front wheel in there...

7/12/2011 1169km - work and back from spot #1. 48.1km return, 2hr 04. Average 23.2km/h. Fairly buggered from yesterdays ride. Nice cruise though.

6/12/2011 1121km - work and back from spot #1. 47.6km return, 1hr 53. Average 25.4km/h. Riding up those last hills around the West end of the tunnel was a killer. It was chilly on the way in but I had gloves this time. Bike is the same, needs new rear pads and a new bottom bracket. There is a parcel at the post office for me to pick up. Hopefully it's my new bearings for my MTB. When I have that thing back on the road I'll do the bottom bracket on the commuter.

1/12/2011 1059km - work and back from spot #2. 33km return 1hr 20. Was bloody cold on the way in on the first day of summer. Didn't really push it because I felt a bit flat.

29/11/2011 1026km - work and back from spot #1. 48.1km return, 1hr 55. I tightend the bottom bracket on the weekend after trying to remove it and giving up. It would un-do about 1/2 a turn and then lock up. I'll probably stuff it if I remove it so I want to make sure I had a spare when I do. Especially with my MTB off the road waiting for wheel bearings...  On the way in the bottom bracket was loose again and making all sorts of grinding and clunking noises.. a bit like the noise wheels make before they fall apart or seize up. from previous experiences it's often a ball bearing that has broken, or a bit of crap has got in there. In the bottom bracket, it can get down the seat post.

On the way home in the car I found a 24" MTB with a similar bottom bracket. So I have removed that and will check how long the axle is to see if it's a suitable replacement. I can always use the original axle, it might be OK.

The ride in was good with a small tail wind. I averaged 26.0 km/h which is good for me on the bike tracks. The way back was a bit slower partly due to the small head wind and also because I was pre-stuffed from the ride in. I also forgot to eat before I left which wouldn't have helped.

I'll ride in from spot #2 tomorrow I think. I'll see how I feel.

24/11/2011 978km - work and back from spot #2. 33km return 1hr 19. Bike is the same.

23/11/2011 945km - work and back from spot #2. 33km return 1hr 23. Bottom bracket is still loose; who would have thought it wouldn't have tigntened itself since last time I rode it? Rear brakes are still low. I think I have some new ones somewhere. Must keep an eye out for them.

I can ride no hands and it doesn't steer right. Must have been from when I tightened the chain. Re-aligned the rear wheel.

I hate it when people in cars nudge forward when you're about to ride in front of them at the lights. I'm not sure if they're pricks and doing it deliberately, or just dumbasses who nudge forward at random. I'll keep an eye out when I'm driving.

On the way in a bloke on a MTB passed me. He was going like stink and had giant calf muscles.

26/10/2011 884km - rode to work and back from Phils place. 54km return. Avg 21.4, Total time 2:30min

Bottom bracket is loose again.. dunno why it's coming loose. i think this will be the third time I have tightened it.

12/10/2011 777km - Ride to work day. Drove to Nunnawadding and rode to work from there along the Mullum Mullum and Eastlink trails. Bottom bracket and chain was loose. Tightened them up and noticed my rear brake pads are low.

11/9/2011 727km - rode to Kew to see the girls dance comp. Was good to see them. Brought the bike back on the roof of Tonis car. It was too late, too dark and I was too lazy to ride back. Bike is OK. I still haven't tweaked the rear wheel to see if I can stop it heading right when riding no hands. All other times it's fine. On another note, someone knocked off my floval yesterday from the garage.. not happy about that.

26/6/2011 666km - Melburn Roubaix. A good day out with about 1000 other people riding 57km by the end of the day.

I put some lube on the chain. Apart from that, no changes.

7/5/2011 607km - Rode to Jacks, then to Mt Waveryly for the crank fest. 68km, 76.6kh/h max, av 19.6, 3hr 29min.

Bike went OK. Still pulls to the right because I didn't adjust anything. Chain needs lube.

29/4/2011 538km - Rode to work. Took 1hr 48min. Distance 40.9km.

I still think my circumference setting is out but I don't know how to change it without resetting the while thing; might google it to see if I can find out.

The 1hr point was the Whitehorse Rd cycle overpass which is about 500m short of the last 1hr mark.

My bike pulls to the right slightly when I ride with no hands. I can compensate OK by leaning to the left but I'll have a look at the rear wheel alignment and see if I can turn itclockwise a bit. I think that will fix it.

28/4/2011 498km - Rode from Wantirna to work and back. 32.5km total. 41min there and 39min back. It was a bit chilly at the start. I must find my knee warmers and head band for when it gets a bit colder.

Bike was OK. I'm getting used to the new handlebars now that I rotated them forward a bit after my last ride. The 175 cranks are better ont he hills than the 170's were.

I got a good slip-stream up Wellington Rd behind a dude who lives in Rowville. He was on a MTB with knobby tyres and toe clips and moving along very well.

24/4/2011 465km - Rode to Macleod and back to test out my new rear wheel, bars, and stem.

I'm not sure about the bars but the rest is good.

I also adjusted the bottom bracket and front cones so the bike feels nice and tight now.

7/4/2011 435km - Rode home from work. 41.1km. I think the circumerence might be a bit out after I changed the battery. Previously it was around 36km. It took be 1hr 44min to get home which is respecable given I have not ridden much lately and it was dark most of the way.

5/4/2011 379km - rode home from the auto transmission place. 15km

I've been a bit slack lately for one reason and another and not ridden much.

Ordered my proper single speed hub and spokes the other day along with a head stem and quill adaptor so I can try my new handle bars on my commuter bike. Also ordered some new riding pants. It all should arrive next week.

22/3/2011 347km - rode part way to work the short route. 16.4km, 40:18min

Rode back to car 16.3km, 36:02min

Bikes OK, could do with a taller gear sometimes but will build my new rear wheel first.

Oh, I replaced the cleats in my shoes - Had to drill the old ones out.

Very good now with no surprise releases.

28/2/2011 248km - rode to work the bike trail way on the SS MTB.

40.9km, Av 24.3, 1hr 41min.

As a time reference, it was 1hr to the toll point just before Canterbury Rd.

Bike is fine but need to replace the cleats in my shoes.

I can't put any backward pressure on the right pedal or it will come off.