licensed to wear pretty frocks and heels!

So here we are with a new Gaby chapter, Oh the Glamour! continues the 'adventure' of our hapless spy!

In other news. Thursday was all about fixing the bike, a ride down to the bike shop at Keynsham thinned the purse contents somewhat before a return via a breakfast stop for an early lunch. I went on the ebike, even if the motor isn't working its still transport but even that was put in doubt as i headed back into base. Yep, a new issue, the rear derrailleur lost all tension which meant the chain wanted to drop off the chainrings - hopefully its a fixable thing, anyhow i limped the machine back before the damp arrived.

And so the afternoon was spent rebuilding the hub. Its been a long time since i did this sort of thing, close on thirty years i guess, i've been spoilt in the intervening years by having tame mechanics doing this stuff for me. It used to be simple, grease, balls, adjust cones, do up locknut but now, whilst the mechanism is the same there are assorted shields, retainers, the outer race retainer slides rather than screws etc, etc. Anyhow, after using an exploded drawing to make sure everything was in sequence and a bit of cursing i got the job done then it was into the wheel jig to loose the slight wobble it had picked up.

To meet the British/CE standard, wheels only have to be straight to 1mm lateral movement, so thats 2mm overall which doesn't sound much and with disc brakes is neither here nor there. With rim brakes that's really not good enough, especially with narrow rims, the wheel wasn't that bad, maybe 0.5mm but even that is too much for me. So i tweaked and checked and repeated until the lateral movement was more like 0.025mm, as close to perfect as i'd expect on a used wheel. The job isn't rocket science but you do need patience and to be honest, i shied from any kind of wheel smithing until quite recently. Anyhoo, the wheel was now done, replaced in the bike and ready to ride, on the plus side i now know the ins and outs of the job and i have a spare set of bearings should i need them in future - all the delay in doing the job, 6 days, was due to availability of those bearings.

Friday was a bitty day, odd jobs, mixed weather but the temperature is heading the right way, closer to double figures at least.

Which brings us to yesterday. I know that the wheel is fixed but there is always that nagging doubt in the back of your mind so i set off for a relatively easy, steady ride generally eastwards to utilise the easterly on the return. The wheel was great, quieter than i can recall it being pretty much ever which meant i was now more aware of every other noise on the bike! I stopped for a burger at Chippenham then topped the distance up by heading up to Malmesbury before turning back towards Bristol. 105km total, a steady five hours in the saddle, it might only be a week but i've missed the longer rides.

I also took delivery of copies of my bike book - i'm quite impressed even if i say so myself! It entertains me so i hope it will do the same for others, you don't have to be into bikes, that's just the mode d'employ! Click on the link below, read a sample then join the ride.

Today? well i've a few little jobs to do before cooking dinner - venison meatballs this week, maybe from deer culled at Braithwaite! If you know you know.

The coming week looks interesting, i'm hoping to meet up with my Dad & Brother tomorrow for an hour, an earlier start to ride the 50km or so to Swindon for a cup of tea and a sandwich, lol.

For now though i'll say farewell, see you midweek,
Wiedersehn,
Madeline Anafrid