friday 26/10/12

Hello again, so what have I been up to today?

Well I have a ride planned for Sunday, but my bike has sat neglected in the corner of the garage for the last month.

I know that’s not good but that’s what happened. So today has been spent stripping it down and giving the bike a good going over.

Funny thing is I quite like sorting and fettling the bike.  When I was younger it was always a matter of if it’s not broke then don’t fix it. Mainly because I couldn’t afford it I suppose.  I’d carry on regardless then moan and wine once the fixing began. But now I get quite a lot of satisfaction out of repairing, adding and general sorting out. Dare I say sometimes it’s more satisfying than the ride itself.

 So why did the bike get stuck in the back of the garage? Well about 4weeks ago I returned from a hard riding weekend in Wales. It wasn’t just the ride but the drive there and back as well.  Don’t get me wrong I loved the weekend, but on the return I was exhausted. Although I have been riding motorbikes since late 2008 I’ve only been riding dirt bikes for over a year and its physically demanding and I’m not really the right size for it. I have spent year’s strength and mass training for power, now I need endurance and flexibility something I just don’t have it. I don’t think I have the right mentality for it either.  Apparently speed is your friend when riding off tarmac, Mmm I see speed as a means of getting hurt quicker and harder. And after a year of trying my best I thought I was doing well. But when you’re travelling down a road at speed then someone goes past as though you’re going backward it’s a little demoralising.  I know these guys have been riding for years many since they were kids but.

So there’s the answer, fat, slow, knackered and demoralised.

I can’t emphasize the importance of maintenance, I didn’t think about it too much before but since riding on the dirt it’s brought it home to me just how crucial it is. So off I went working from front to back. Wheels, barring’s, brakes, fluids, filters, electrics etc. one thing that cost me dear was the lack of attention I paid to the spokes. For some reason they work loss on the rear wheel. Only having ridden road bikes before with Ali wheels there’s been no reason to check. By the time I notice it was too late. The rim was too worn to be repaired so a new wheel was purchased. They do say “you learn the hard way” anyway I have been checking the spokes ever since and notice one had become loss. I tried to tighten it, but it had reached its fullest extent on the thread. I have ordered a new one but with really no chance of it arriving before I go on Sunday, I had to make a choice to try and adapt what I had or not go. I managed to remove the spoke. Then into the work shop I went. Luckily I had a die that was the right thread size. I cut about another 5mm to the existing thread then removed about 3mm from its length. I replaced the spoke and job done. I know it’s not a perfect answer but it’s a compromise until I get a new one.   

 

So now the bike is ready to go, I just need to work on me now. I need to make myself realise that it’s not how fast you get there, but that you get there. I’m not going to be as good or as fast as those that have been doing it for years, but I can be good and I can improve.