My trike has Avid BB7 mechanical disk brakes which work very well and which seem relatively low-maintenance. I changed the pads at 10,000 miles and they have worked well. However, yesterday when I realised the left brake needed to be adjusted I discovered that the bolt that turns to move the pad in or out… Continue reading How to boil your brakes!
Latest Posts
Alfie gets new teeth – changing the Alfine-11 sprocket
A couple of weeks ago my chain snapped whilst out riding. After being rescued by car by my husband I changed the chain and did some general trike fettling, after which it became clear the chain was skipping over the rear sprocket (the sprocket had done 11,000 miles and was therefore probably rather worn). Clearly… Continue reading Alfie gets new teeth – changing the Alfine-11 sprocket
2013 cycling/cake diary – January
I thought I’d keep a record of my cake consumption and work out whether my cycling for that day offsets the cake calories ingested. (This is of course extremely unscientific as it doesn’t take into account anything else I have eaten that day). Here is a summary from my Ascent software of my cycling for… Continue reading 2013 cycling/cake diary – January
Alfie – a winter service
It’s 25 January 2013 and I’ve cycled 610 miles this year through snow, rain, slush, mud and more. The chain on my Sprint (three KMC X9 chains joined together) was looking a bit sad and, when measured, had clearly stretched a fair bit. However I tried to keep it running as with all the salt… Continue reading Alfie – a winter service
Mudguards – a possible anti-rattle modification?
Those who have read my previous blog post 10,000 miles of slow sprinting will be in no doubt that I get irritated by rattling mudguards. Tony Collins posted a couple of comments on my blog suggesting a possible fix for this. So after procrastinating for ages (mucky mudguards and annoying rattles are just a pain… Continue reading Mudguards – a possible anti-rattle modification?
10,000 miles of slow sprinting!
Today Alfie the ICE Sprint passed a very significant milestone: So I thought it would be worth writing about how he has survived the last 17 months and what sort of maintenance he has needed in that time. Statistics for the first 10,000 miles Firstly, some statistics and information (for those of you who like… Continue reading 10,000 miles of slow sprinting!
Mönchengladbach – a visit to Mars and a recumbent trike shop
Thursday 6 December 2012: A trip to a crater on Mars and a visit to a recumbent tricycle shop! Today was my last full day in Mönchengladbach and I had nothing at all on the schedule. The morning’s weather forecast looked very favourable – a good day for a cycle ride! I had previously noticed… Continue reading Mönchengladbach – a visit to Mars and a recumbent trike shop
Mönchengladbach – Kempen and Krefeld
Wednesday 5 December 2012: A ride from Mönchengladbach to Kempen, Hüls, Krefeld and then back to Mönchengladbach In yesterday’s blog I wrote about talking with Babs (who lives near Willich) about where would be a good place for me to live during my year in Germany. I had come to Mönchengladbach on this little trip… Continue reading Mönchengladbach – Kempen and Krefeld
Mönchengladbach – Windberg and Willich
Tuesday 4 December 2012: Windberg and Willich A half-circle around Mönchengladbach Today was my second day in Mönchengladbach and had the only fixed event in the whole holiday – a meeting with Babs from the Toytown Forum (for English speakers in Germany). She suggested that we met at 2:15 at the Landescafé Streithof which is… Continue reading Mönchengladbach – Windberg and Willich
Mönchengladbach – a snowy welcome
I am in Mönchengladbach! Not for the first time, of course – I cycled from Venlo to the railway station in MG a couple of years ago on a cycle tour but you don’t get much of an impression of a town when running late for a train and pedalling as fast as you can!!… Continue reading Mönchengladbach – a snowy welcome
Koblenz – a boat trip to Boppard
No cycling this morning, instead we took a boat trip from Koblenz to Boppard and back. First of all, though, we had to walk to Deutsches Eck. The long route involves going over the Balduinbrücke (bridge) but there’s a shorter option via little passenger ferry, which James and I and Poppy took. 1€ each for… Continue reading Koblenz – a boat trip to Boppard
Koblenz – Nassau and the Lahn River
James and I decided to do a train-assisted cycle ride today to have a bit of variety and go a bit further. Having enjoyed our brief look up the Lahn river the other day we decided to take ourselves by train a fair way up the river and ride back. I looked at the map… Continue reading Koblenz – Nassau and the Lahn River
Koblenz – to Winningen and back by bike
Today was another two-cycle-ride day. The first ride was a short one to the centre of Koblenz to take the dog to the vet for her worm treatment as part of the Pet Passport scheme. It was a nice morning and we got lots of amused looks from people as a dog went past in… Continue reading Koblenz – to Winningen and back by bike
Koblenz – Lahnstein and Castles
Today I have done two cycle rides. The first, in the morning, was a repeat of yesterday morning’s Mosel trip, but this time with husband, in-laws and dog in tow. We had a very nice time and had lots of comments from people about Poppy in the bike basket. She had a bit of a… Continue reading Koblenz – Lahnstein and Castles
Koblenz – four bridges over the Mosel and Rhein
I am currently in Germany with my trike again! In fact, this holiday (with husband, dog and in-laws) isn’t particularly a cycling holiday, more of a holiday that might involve some cycling. And has indeed already involved some cycling. It was an interesting challenge getting four adults, their luggage, one dog, her luggage and one… Continue reading Koblenz – four bridges over the Mosel and Rhein
Nettetal – in Holland in search of poffertjes (Thursday 16 August 2012)
I am going back to England tomorrow so today was my last full day (and my last chance for a cycle ride) in Nettetal. In the morning I had the delight of an hour and a half’s video conference training thingie for work but was then able to take Poppy out to the supermarket to… Continue reading Nettetal – in Holland in search of poffertjes (Thursday 16 August 2012)
Nettetal – Waffle in Kaldenkirchen (Wednesday 15 August 2012)
After a morning walk with the dog into Lobberich so I could visit an Apotheke and buy some mosquito bite cream (which they had) and some Brötchen for lunch from the supermarket, I had my lunch and did a bit more work and then it was time to take the trike out for a ride.… Continue reading Nettetal – Waffle in Kaldenkirchen (Wednesday 15 August 2012)
Nettetal – A very leisurely group ride (Tuesday 14 August 2012)
Today I had an appointment with a vet – for Poppy to have her tapeworm treatment that she needs to have as part of her Pet Passport. I had booked the appointment a few weeks ago and nearly had a disaster with timing (I had put the appointment in on my phone as 8:45am, which… Continue reading Nettetal – A very leisurely group ride (Tuesday 14 August 2012)
Nettetal – To Kempen and Viersen (Monday 13 August 2012)
The cracking weather in Nettetal continues – forecast for the next seven days is sunshine and warmth (between 25 and 29 degrees each day). So ideal weather for a walking and cycling holiday. This morning I decided to keep with my schedule of walking the dog in the morning and then going out for a… Continue reading Nettetal – To Kempen and Viersen (Monday 13 August 2012)
Nettetal – A Sunday walk and cycle ride (12 August 2012)
Today was a very enjoyable way to spend a Sunday! I woke up at 8am, read a book for an hour and then got up and took the dog for a five minute walk to give her a toilet opportunity. After breakfast I sat down and did an hour’s work in order to satisfy my… Continue reading Nettetal – A Sunday walk and cycle ride (12 August 2012)