April 9 2008

Another lovely sunny day and I have had a more ambitious ride along the seafront of 7 miles. The Felixstowe sea defenses are being greatly reinforced and seeing monstrous machines effortlessly picking up boulders weighing many tons and throwing them about, I was amused to think of the difference in power used by these behemoths and used by my little Panasonic.

Being able to get about so easily and pleasantly again I am beginning to plan a photographic album of some sort, and a seafront ride is likely to be one of the first candidates. A bicycle really is a perfect vehicle for a photographer, allowing one to cover reasonable distances at a speed which allows one to look around properly which one cannot do in a car.

My front tyre is still hard, and I am left wondering just how it came to lose all its pressure before. It obviously cannot be a puncture and so must be the valve. In the old days, one would have known that one must replace the valve rubber, but heaven knows what sort of valve is in this modern version.

I should have mentioned that I have reverted to the original saddle that came with the Agattu. I actually ordered a Brooks B-17 saddle but was informed there would be a delay of two months so I cancelled the order. It still isn't right, but I'm getting very much more used to it and it is certainly very comfortable in use around the town.

I switched the power off for a while and noticed what may be a little problem with the gears when starting off. There was some stiffness for the first few turns of the pedals, which I thought perhaps was due to the motor being turned before the drive from the pedals was released. It's nothing that matters, but perhaps of some interest in getting to know the bike.

Coming home a slightly different way I had a lengthy hill to climb. Not a steep one, but a good mile of it. I experimented a little and found that it was best tackled in gear 3. The last time I did this. I had used gear one and I'm tolerably sure that it was harder work. There is much to learn about the gears and the motor assistance.

April 8 2008

At long last a fine sunny day. Naturally therefore when I got the bike out of the shed I discovered that I had a puncture in the front wheel. I pumped it up hoping to get to the shop with it, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it stayed up, and has done all day. Since I checked the pressures and pumped up both tires yesterday I suspect that something went wrong with the wood's valve. Touching wood rapidly I have to say that I have always been extremely fortunate in not getting punctures. I don't think I can have had more than a dozen in the whole of my life which was once a very active cycling life indeed. I can never really believe that I once rode from Malvern to Ipswich, 180 miles, in one day. Nowadays I couldn't manage to be driven that far in a car!

Being a little worried about the wheel I didn't go very far but greatly enjoyed a ride along the seafront. Very flat of course but there was quite a brisk breeze blowing in my face, and yet again I loved the sensation of being able to stick my tongue out at it! A sunny sparkling sea that was somehow full of promise for good biking weather to come.

April 7 2008

Snow showers again today and I haven't ridden at all. I'm a real fair weather rider nowadays it seems! Still spring must be on the way somewhere or other and I have many plans for rides and picnics then. Since my last post I've really done nothing but ride into the town and shop. The Agattu is splendid for that and the bikebins really come into their own for shopping.

I've learned that one has to insist upon one's space on the road. Riding close into the kerb in consideration for cars doesn't work as they then clip one so closely that one doesn't have any margin for safety. I'm spacing myself about two or three feet in from the kerb. I have noticed that many cyclists are lax with signaling. A casual wave of a hand for a couple of seconds just in from the shoulder seems often to be thought enough. Of course it isn't. One may feel a prat with one's arm straight out as one moves to the centre of the road to turn right, but that is what is definitely needed.