For some reason, certain tyres can be very difficult to fit. Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres have a certain noteriety for this but they are not alone. Sometimes it is not the tyre but the rim that can cuase problems- one particular tyre may fall on and off rim a but will need much heaving and puffing and gnashing of teeth to get the damn thing on rim b.
This is advice from Bryn, my LBS workshop manager (when did workshop managers start looking younger than coppers) on fitting BTFT’s (Bastard Tight Fit Tyres) such as Marathon Plus as a replacement (i.e. when you are at home, not mending visitations at the road side).
Work from the non drive side.
Get the first bead on and insert the tube (partially inflate if you need to but only very partially).
Starting adjacent to the valve, get the second bead started- push the valve deeper into the tyre to give room. Work around the rim, keeping the area you are working on away from you until the bead starts to get tight. Make sure the valve is still pushed deeper into the tyre and then squeeze the inserted beads together so they sit in the middle (deeper part) of the box section.
If you have access to a work bench, place the wheel flat on the bench with the cassette/ QR against the edge of the bench to give you something to lean into and roll the bead into the rim using the heel of your hands/ base of your thumbs.
Job should be a good un’ (I’ll let you know tomorrow after I have fettled a new Marathon Plus on to my commuter steed back wheel tonight).
Monday, 24 September 2012
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Two police officers murderd in Manchester
As I sit here in my nice safe office, officers in Manchester are commencing an investigation into the murder of two apparently unarmed police women.
I cannot begin to guess how they are feeling right now.
I cannot begin to guess how they are feeling right now.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Cry Freedom! A boys love for his Raleigh Jeep
Inspired by a thread on my forum YACF here, I got to thinking about my first bikes.
My first bike that I remember was a small wheeled, fat tyred step through unisex thingy in metallic green. I remember neither it’s make or model but, it was this steed upon which I learned the art of riding without stabilisers (training wheels for you furriners).
My first ‘proper’ bike was a Raleigh Jeep, exactly like the one in this thread from my forum.
It was on this bike that I found the freedom of youth. It was this bike that grew as I grew. I received it as a present from my parents when I was 8 or 9 years old and, as is the way with bikes bought for offspring, it was too big for me but who cared. It was new, it was shiny and it was all mine. It went through many incarnations including workhorse after I fitted a rear rack to put my bag on for my paper round, stunt bike in the Evel Knievel hey day after removal of the mudguards (fenders for you furriners) and swapping the handlebars for a set of ‘cow horns’ to combat steed after hand painting the frame a crappy khaki green colour.
Through the years of our partnership my Jeep and I did things that would have curdled my parents blood.
Of a weekend or school holiday I would grab a backpack, fill it with food and pop and hit the roads on the Jeep, meeting my friends and heading for the hills where we would spend hours exploring abandoned chalk quarries and derelict factories. We would be gone all day, arriving home just as it got dark and Mum was about to throw my dinner in the cat.
One year my Mum, who was a toy shop manageress got complimentary tickets to see Evel Knievel try to jump 13 London busses at Wembley Stadium (proper Twin Towers Wembley, not the pale shadow of a replacement). On my return to home, That is when the cow horns were fitted. Ramps were built from whatever bit of discarded timber we could find propped on bricks, boxes- anything. Flying on my Jeep was awesome. Occasionally it went a bit wrong. I don’t think I ever got killed though.
Through the years of our partnership, my Jeep and I became many things. One day I would be Jesse James fleeing the law on horseback, the next I was a Battle of Britain pilot swooping through the skies. Another day I might be Luke Skywalker fighting the evils of the Empire or I could be Giacomo Agostini or Barry Sheen getting my knee down at Brands Hatch. One thing was unchanging though. My Jeep and I were inseparable.
One day however, fate caught up with us. In it’s Combat Bike guise, I was leading a raid against the enemy and had to leap into their stronghold launching off a dirt mound. Mid takeoff the handlebars snapped and we crashed and burned. Being young and pliable I bounced. My Jeep didn’t. It was the end of a beautiful friendship.
A little while later I progressed to my first multi geared bike, a red Carlton 5 speed road bike which saw me from childhood to adulthood. This is the first form of transport I used to get to work in the grown up world and it lasted me until a) a colleague borrowed it and put the rear mech into the spokes shearing off the integral gear hanger and b) I passed my driving test and got a car.
My Carlton was a great bike but it is my Raleigh Jeep that holds all the good memories.
Marc Bolan may have been a ‘Jeepster for your love’ but I had a Love for my Jeep.
My first bike that I remember was a small wheeled, fat tyred step through unisex thingy in metallic green. I remember neither it’s make or model but, it was this steed upon which I learned the art of riding without stabilisers (training wheels for you furriners).
My first ‘proper’ bike was a Raleigh Jeep, exactly like the one in this thread from my forum.
It was on this bike that I found the freedom of youth. It was this bike that grew as I grew. I received it as a present from my parents when I was 8 or 9 years old and, as is the way with bikes bought for offspring, it was too big for me but who cared. It was new, it was shiny and it was all mine. It went through many incarnations including workhorse after I fitted a rear rack to put my bag on for my paper round, stunt bike in the Evel Knievel hey day after removal of the mudguards (fenders for you furriners) and swapping the handlebars for a set of ‘cow horns’ to combat steed after hand painting the frame a crappy khaki green colour.
Through the years of our partnership my Jeep and I did things that would have curdled my parents blood.
Of a weekend or school holiday I would grab a backpack, fill it with food and pop and hit the roads on the Jeep, meeting my friends and heading for the hills where we would spend hours exploring abandoned chalk quarries and derelict factories. We would be gone all day, arriving home just as it got dark and Mum was about to throw my dinner in the cat.
One year my Mum, who was a toy shop manageress got complimentary tickets to see Evel Knievel try to jump 13 London busses at Wembley Stadium (proper Twin Towers Wembley, not the pale shadow of a replacement). On my return to home, That is when the cow horns were fitted. Ramps were built from whatever bit of discarded timber we could find propped on bricks, boxes- anything. Flying on my Jeep was awesome. Occasionally it went a bit wrong. I don’t think I ever got killed though.
Through the years of our partnership, my Jeep and I became many things. One day I would be Jesse James fleeing the law on horseback, the next I was a Battle of Britain pilot swooping through the skies. Another day I might be Luke Skywalker fighting the evils of the Empire or I could be Giacomo Agostini or Barry Sheen getting my knee down at Brands Hatch. One thing was unchanging though. My Jeep and I were inseparable.
One day however, fate caught up with us. In it’s Combat Bike guise, I was leading a raid against the enemy and had to leap into their stronghold launching off a dirt mound. Mid takeoff the handlebars snapped and we crashed and burned. Being young and pliable I bounced. My Jeep didn’t. It was the end of a beautiful friendship.
A little while later I progressed to my first multi geared bike, a red Carlton 5 speed road bike which saw me from childhood to adulthood. This is the first form of transport I used to get to work in the grown up world and it lasted me until a) a colleague borrowed it and put the rear mech into the spokes shearing off the integral gear hanger and b) I passed my driving test and got a car.
My Carlton was a great bike but it is my Raleigh Jeep that holds all the good memories.
Marc Bolan may have been a ‘Jeepster for your love’ but I had a Love for my Jeep.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Ouch!
Last night I was reminded of a very important lesson-
Whilst loading the washing machine I had to go commando as I needed my underwear to complete the load.
The lesson was that I need to take more care when in commando mode, when undoing my fly.
Ouch indeed!
Whilst loading the washing machine I had to go commando as I needed my underwear to complete the load.
The lesson was that I need to take more care when in commando mode, when undoing my fly.
Ouch indeed!
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Vive la Tour, Faster Higher Stronger To Infinity and Beyond.
Well folks, the end of August approaches and I have had time to digest and cogitate recent sporting activities. I have needed this time due to spending a couple of weeks in a darkened room looking after the Olympics.
I will start with the first of the recent sporting events, the 2012 version of the Tour de France.
Way to go Team Sky! 5 years you said. A five year plan to get a Brit to the end of the race in the Malliot Jaune. 3 years was none too shabby was it?
I was absolutely glued to the TV coverage, revelling in the performance of Bradley Wiggins and his crew. Mark Cavendish, the worlds premier sprinter, current road race world champion and all round good egg gets 3 more stage wins under his belt including another Champs Elysees victory whilst doing his bit as part of the team, protecting Wiggo, bidon runs to the team car etc. Chris Froome acting as the best Lieutenant Wiggo could have asked for, sticking with him through thick and thin and getting a stage win of his own in the process. Edvald Boasson hagen, Christian Knees, Richin Porte, Bernhard Eisel, Michael Rogers, Kanstantsin Sivtsov- they all paled an important part in what was for me, a fantastic Tour. Wiggo nailing both the time trials was awesome to watch.
Outside of Team Sky, there were other ace displays of cycling. Peter Sagan hamming it up as he claimed stage victories brought a smile to my face. David Millar bagging a stage win for Garmin Sharp, the ‘encouragement’ being given to Thibaut Pinot of FDJ Bigmat as he rode to his stage victory- brilliant.
Vive la Tour and roll on 2013!
Next on the list is the Olympic Games.
I spent just over two weeks working in a back office function looking after the games so didn’t get to see anything up close and personal. All of my Olympic experience was gained through TV coverage and what awesome coverage it was. From the Danny Boyle produced opening ceremony to the party atmosphere of the closing ceremony I was hooked. This was despite my typically British mood of doom, gloom and despondency (probably fuelled by not getting tickets). How wrong could I be. I think that we Brits should step back, take a good look at the show we put on and then give ourselves a bloody good pat on the back. It went almost flawlessly which isn’t a bad thing to be able to say for such and grand scale event.
Not only did the organisation go well, the athletes of the world did us proud too. Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) is the motto and athletes went faster, they went higher and they were stronger.
Well done to all the athletes that took part and did their best. I am going to be a bit partisan here and pile particular praise on the home team. Team GB did us proud I I thank you all.
Finally, I want to say farewell to a hero of my childhood. Neil Alden Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon passed away on Saturday 25th August aged 82.
I am a child of the Apollo years and lived and breathed the space programme. I remember my Dad getting me out of bed as a near 7 year old to watch the live coverage of Neil’s ‘One small step’. A true hero in my eyes.
I will start with the first of the recent sporting events, the 2012 version of the Tour de France.
Way to go Team Sky! 5 years you said. A five year plan to get a Brit to the end of the race in the Malliot Jaune. 3 years was none too shabby was it?
I was absolutely glued to the TV coverage, revelling in the performance of Bradley Wiggins and his crew. Mark Cavendish, the worlds premier sprinter, current road race world champion and all round good egg gets 3 more stage wins under his belt including another Champs Elysees victory whilst doing his bit as part of the team, protecting Wiggo, bidon runs to the team car etc. Chris Froome acting as the best Lieutenant Wiggo could have asked for, sticking with him through thick and thin and getting a stage win of his own in the process. Edvald Boasson hagen, Christian Knees, Richin Porte, Bernhard Eisel, Michael Rogers, Kanstantsin Sivtsov- they all paled an important part in what was for me, a fantastic Tour. Wiggo nailing both the time trials was awesome to watch.
Outside of Team Sky, there were other ace displays of cycling. Peter Sagan hamming it up as he claimed stage victories brought a smile to my face. David Millar bagging a stage win for Garmin Sharp, the ‘encouragement’ being given to Thibaut Pinot of FDJ Bigmat as he rode to his stage victory- brilliant.
Vive la Tour and roll on 2013!
Next on the list is the Olympic Games.
I spent just over two weeks working in a back office function looking after the games so didn’t get to see anything up close and personal. All of my Olympic experience was gained through TV coverage and what awesome coverage it was. From the Danny Boyle produced opening ceremony to the party atmosphere of the closing ceremony I was hooked. This was despite my typically British mood of doom, gloom and despondency (probably fuelled by not getting tickets). How wrong could I be. I think that we Brits should step back, take a good look at the show we put on and then give ourselves a bloody good pat on the back. It went almost flawlessly which isn’t a bad thing to be able to say for such and grand scale event.
Not only did the organisation go well, the athletes of the world did us proud too. Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) is the motto and athletes went faster, they went higher and they were stronger.
Well done to all the athletes that took part and did their best. I am going to be a bit partisan here and pile particular praise on the home team. Team GB did us proud I I thank you all.
Finally, I want to say farewell to a hero of my childhood. Neil Alden Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon passed away on Saturday 25th August aged 82.
I am a child of the Apollo years and lived and breathed the space programme. I remember my Dad getting me out of bed as a near 7 year old to watch the live coverage of Neil’s ‘One small step’. A true hero in my eyes.
Friday, 27 July 2012
Agent Picolax thread
In July 2007 a contributor to Singletrack Forum started a thread explaining that he had been scheduled for an endoscopy procedure and that he had been provided with 2 sachets of Picolax and instructions on what to do with them in preperation for the procedure.
Other contributors to the forum then started to enter their advice etc. in relation to the original posters predicament.
I was introduced to thsi gem last night and found myself crying with laughter at time so, Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit for your delight- Agent Picolax
Other contributors to the forum then started to enter their advice etc. in relation to the original posters predicament.
I was introduced to thsi gem last night and found myself crying with laughter at time so, Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit for your delight- Agent Picolax
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Half Century
Today I are mostly be celebrating my 50th Birthday.
Hippo Burpday to me
Hippo Burpday to me
Hippo Burpday Secret Cyclist
Hippo Burpday to me
That is all.
Hippo Burpday to me
Hippo Burpday to me
Hippo Burpday Secret Cyclist
Hippo Burpday to me
That is all.
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