Catch-up

Had a ride out a few days back around Gower. I've got a short loop which I will include in my longer British Heart Foundation Alternative Gower bike ride. It was a good one from one point of view as I took the Ay Up lights and made it night ride. The lights performed faultlessly, lasting the 2 and a half hours of darkness effortlessly. I used the two 3 hour batteries and there were signs that the edge had been taken off the brightness of the handlebar lights which were on constantly. If I'd been out for significantly longer, whilst it would have been useable, I might have wished I'd had the 6 hour battery. The helmet light was off for some of the time so it was still really bright at the finish.

It was really horrible weather and really mucky. Some of the tracks were dead unpleasant. I've come to the conclusion that to make this route work I've got to accept that it's a summer route. I got bad chain suck on several occasions and at first thought it was down to the conditions. After some fettling when I got back and some well placed advice from J next door, I decided it was time for a new chain and a new middle chain ring. (Handy hint: you can double up the wear on the granny ring by reversing it. Unlike the other rings it's symmetrical). Following the work I've still got occasional chain suck, but that will probably be due to a slightly stiff chain and will ease.

The Specialized Eskars were misbehaving again. At the first sign of mud they went all funny and tried steering off in the wrong direction. As for climbing in mud - forget it. A few days later a chat with one of the lads in the LBS persuaded me to try lowering the pressure. Results in the "Afan in the dark" post.