Forgive my tabloid headline please. I kind of hoped it might draw a bit of traffic to this blog/whatever it is.
On that subject, I was looking through the statistics of this here bit you're reading
to see why the few people who've looked at it have done so. It turns out the vast majority were searching for Kraftwerk. I had mentioned about their cycle jerseys, in this post, six years ago. Quite slyly, in bringing that up, I've just mentioned Kraftwerk again (and again there) so that should help more. I'm such the evil mastermind me. In case you're interested, I've yet to see a Kraftwerk cycle jersey in the flesh.
'Plugging aside, what's with the tabloid headline?' I'm glad you asked (even if you didn't). It refers to something I was thinking about yesterday whilst out on another brief and enjoyable cycle...
I had to stop at the roadside for a quick pee (it was a very minor road and a reasonably major pee). After urinating I, of course, had to pack my belongings away again and noticed I've changed the manner in which I do this. I used to be a shove to the side man in the past but now seem to have evolved into a lift and then move to the side genitalman (oh the terrible pain of a terrible pun). In case you're interested, sir dresses to the left.
This isn't merely an excuse for me to blather about my genitals on the internet. If that's all it was, I'm sure there are much more appropriate websites. No, there is supposed to be some vague purpose.
Cycling, although a kinder activity than many in terms of knee injuries, juddering action etc. can be quite uncomfortable for some (both male and female) when it comes to their gusset and associated area. I've found the up and to the side method of packing helps with this. I've never really suffered in the manner some people seem to but my comfort is improved with the addition of a lift. If anyone reading this thinks 'I'll give that a go' and finds his comfort improved too, then it had to be worth mentioning.
The funny thing is I imagine I decided to incorporate the lift after seeing someone else do it. I can't, however, think of any situation where I would have seen another man adjusting his junk before getting on a bicycle. It's not something they show an awful lot of on cycling coverage.
I'm afraid there's not much I can do to help female cyclists other than to advise you look here and search for information on saddles etc. (or basically anything bicycle related).
It might also be an idea to make sure you're using a decent chamois cream. I've started using Udderly SMOOth chamois cream over the past few months. To me, it seems like a step up from the Portia (whose website no longer seems functional) cream I was using previously and wrote about here. The Portia stuff was fine but I prefer the feeling of the Udderly SMOOth. It seems to moisturise more and I like that. Plus, maybe I'm a bit of a perv and like spreading Udderly SMOOth directly round my gusset rather than squirting it onto the chamois as I did with the Portia. Who knows what goes on in one's dirty little mind?
Being a fool for an e-mail inbox bargain, I ordered a pair of Power Race 'Tornado' sunglasses (in white frames/blue lens) yesterday from Planet X. Lo and behold, said sunglasses arrived today. Thank you both Planet X and the postal service. As it's very wet today and I'm a fair weather cyclist (or at least intend to be even if it doesn't always work out that way) I haven't had a chance to try my Power Race sunglasses yet. They look good and came in quite elaborate packing (including a hard case, soft sleeve and little lens cleaning cloth) but only actual on bike wear will tell the full story.
Mentioning about my intent to be a fair weather cyclist reminds me of how close I was to an awful soaking yesterday. I popped out for a quick cycle. It was fairly sunny throughout and generally great weather. While putting my bike away and giving it a wipe down, about ten minutes after getting back, there was a prolonged consistent downpour of torrential rain. Missing it more than made up for the shower I got caught in last Thursday. As you may be able to tell, I'm not a great fan of cycling (or doing anything outdoors) in the wet.
I chose a good time to fall back in love with cycling. With both the Vuelta and inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge on at the moment, I'm suitably satiated while saturated with cycling. I've been doing a split shift of going out for a cycle, watching the Vuelta when I arrive home (yes sometimes I watch it before showering, euch!) and then it's the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in the evening. It's most peculiar how watching professional cycling enhances my enjoyment of cycling and vice versa. My pottering round flat roads and the professionals' speeding up mountains have very little in common. I suppose the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and I have no live pictures on TV for extended periods of time (in my case forever) in common but that's about it.
Before I go, I've noticed my new bike has started making annoying creaking noises when I'm up on the pedals and pressing down with my right leg/foot. I wonder if it might be linked to another little problem I have with it. It's nothing major. It's just that there's a tiny bit of play in the forks. What I mean is; if I pull on the front brakes and push the bike forward (gently) the rear of the bike (up to the head tube) will move slightly while the front wheel stays still. It's very minor but I'd rather it didn't do it at all.
I've noticed the spacers on the vertical bit of the stem (at least I think that part is still the stem) seem fairly loose compared to those on other bikes I have. On my new bicycle, I can twist them round easily with my fingers. I can't do that with the other bikes. Does that mean I should loosen the bolts at the back of the horizontal section of the stem and tighten the bolt which goes down into the steerer? Forgive my lack of knowledge when it comes to the proper terms please. My fear is overtightening and ending up having to get new forks or something awful like that. As I'm not used to working with a carbon frame/forks/steerer and don't have anything to measure the torque, I'm far from confident when it comes to making such adjustments. Perhaps taking it to someone more knowledgeable would be for the best.
'Plugging aside, what's with the tabloid headline?' I'm glad you asked (even if you didn't). It refers to something I was thinking about yesterday whilst out on another brief and enjoyable cycle...
I had to stop at the roadside for a quick pee (it was a very minor road and a reasonably major pee). After urinating I, of course, had to pack my belongings away again and noticed I've changed the manner in which I do this. I used to be a shove to the side man in the past but now seem to have evolved into a lift and then move to the side genitalman (oh the terrible pain of a terrible pun). In case you're interested, sir dresses to the left.
This isn't merely an excuse for me to blather about my genitals on the internet. If that's all it was, I'm sure there are much more appropriate websites. No, there is supposed to be some vague purpose.
Cycling, although a kinder activity than many in terms of knee injuries, juddering action etc. can be quite uncomfortable for some (both male and female) when it comes to their gusset and associated area. I've found the up and to the side method of packing helps with this. I've never really suffered in the manner some people seem to but my comfort is improved with the addition of a lift. If anyone reading this thinks 'I'll give that a go' and finds his comfort improved too, then it had to be worth mentioning.
The funny thing is I imagine I decided to incorporate the lift after seeing someone else do it. I can't, however, think of any situation where I would have seen another man adjusting his junk before getting on a bicycle. It's not something they show an awful lot of on cycling coverage.
I'm afraid there's not much I can do to help female cyclists other than to advise you look here and search for information on saddles etc. (or basically anything bicycle related).
It might also be an idea to make sure you're using a decent chamois cream. I've started using Udderly SMOOth chamois cream over the past few months. To me, it seems like a step up from the Portia (whose website no longer seems functional) cream I was using previously and wrote about here. The Portia stuff was fine but I prefer the feeling of the Udderly SMOOth. It seems to moisturise more and I like that. Plus, maybe I'm a bit of a perv and like spreading Udderly SMOOth directly round my gusset rather than squirting it onto the chamois as I did with the Portia. Who knows what goes on in one's dirty little mind?
Being a fool for an e-mail inbox bargain, I ordered a pair of Power Race 'Tornado' sunglasses (in white frames/blue lens) yesterday from Planet X. Lo and behold, said sunglasses arrived today. Thank you both Planet X and the postal service. As it's very wet today and I'm a fair weather cyclist (or at least intend to be even if it doesn't always work out that way) I haven't had a chance to try my Power Race sunglasses yet. They look good and came in quite elaborate packing (including a hard case, soft sleeve and little lens cleaning cloth) but only actual on bike wear will tell the full story.
Mentioning about my intent to be a fair weather cyclist reminds me of how close I was to an awful soaking yesterday. I popped out for a quick cycle. It was fairly sunny throughout and generally great weather. While putting my bike away and giving it a wipe down, about ten minutes after getting back, there was a prolonged consistent downpour of torrential rain. Missing it more than made up for the shower I got caught in last Thursday. As you may be able to tell, I'm not a great fan of cycling (or doing anything outdoors) in the wet.
I chose a good time to fall back in love with cycling. With both the Vuelta and inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge on at the moment, I'm suitably satiated while saturated with cycling. I've been doing a split shift of going out for a cycle, watching the Vuelta when I arrive home (yes sometimes I watch it before showering, euch!) and then it's the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in the evening. It's most peculiar how watching professional cycling enhances my enjoyment of cycling and vice versa. My pottering round flat roads and the professionals' speeding up mountains have very little in common. I suppose the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and I have no live pictures on TV for extended periods of time (in my case forever) in common but that's about it.
Before I go, I've noticed my new bike has started making annoying creaking noises when I'm up on the pedals and pressing down with my right leg/foot. I wonder if it might be linked to another little problem I have with it. It's nothing major. It's just that there's a tiny bit of play in the forks. What I mean is; if I pull on the front brakes and push the bike forward (gently) the rear of the bike (up to the head tube) will move slightly while the front wheel stays still. It's very minor but I'd rather it didn't do it at all.
I've noticed the spacers on the vertical bit of the stem (at least I think that part is still the stem) seem fairly loose compared to those on other bikes I have. On my new bicycle, I can twist them round easily with my fingers. I can't do that with the other bikes. Does that mean I should loosen the bolts at the back of the horizontal section of the stem and tighten the bolt which goes down into the steerer? Forgive my lack of knowledge when it comes to the proper terms please. My fear is overtightening and ending up having to get new forks or something awful like that. As I'm not used to working with a carbon frame/forks/steerer and don't have anything to measure the torque, I'm far from confident when it comes to making such adjustments. Perhaps taking it to someone more knowledgeable would be for the best.
2 comments:
Get some carbon assembly paste, it acts by adding friction between the stem and fork and retighten the handlebar stem back up. Carbon creaks usually eminate from the bottom bracket when using external type bottom brackets. When Merlin assembled the bike they should of used some anti sieze grease/paste on the BB threads to take care of this. contact them for some advice me thinks. I had terrible problems with a loose headset on carbon forks previously and the carbon assembly paste sorted it right out. google it
Thanks for the advice. I was able to get the headset sorted but there's still a bit of creaking from the bike. It seems to be mainly (I think, although it's difficult to tell) when I press with my left foot. I'll look into the carbon assembly paste further. Thanks again.
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