Once again I hit my target for the month.
I decided to raise the monthly goal by 50 kilometres as I had hit the 250 mark for the past several months. By mid August I really didn’t think I would make it. The cold weather had made my right hand quite sore and it wasn’t enjoying cycling – even with the recumbent.
At some point I read about a wonder cure for arthritic pain and splashed out on a bottle of the stuff. It was in the non-prescription part of the pharmacy and I kept thinking about the market stall Quack Doctors and their magic elixirs that cured everything!
One bottle in and no difference. Second bottle in and there was an improvement (or was it the slightly warmer weather?). Anyway, the weather had turned springlike, the hand settled down and I was able to catch up and completed the 300k for the month. Pleased with that.
The snow came late this year and in minute quantities.
The State of the Bikes
Brompton
In July I rode the River Road, Deloraine and had quite a bit of difficulty with the gear changes. So, in early August I worked on the controls in order to sort them out.
Starting with the 3 speed hub gear. The cable tensioner can be a tricky thing to get just right. Tighten it and only 2 of 3 gears can be selected while loosening it and the other 2 gears can be engaged. It has to be just right. Eventually I got there and all 3 hub gears were selectable using only a light thumb pressure.
The 2-speed “derailleur” on the other hand took a bit of working out. The “chain pusher” as it is called should sit a couple of millimetres away from the chain when at rest. 2 mm to either the left or right depending on what gear is in use. I don’t have a work stand and I had some issues actually seeing what was going on when pedalling, changing gear and watching / measuring. Finally, as with the hub gear, I got the settings right and the chain slipped easily between gears.
I did that on a cold day and it didn’t help with hand operation. I also worried that maybe cold temps and/or the bike being upside down might change how the cables stretch or contract but now (a few days later) all seems well.
Greenspeed Recumbent
It was a bit exciting.
The deteriorating surface of Wilmore’s Lane set the trike abouncing and the bouncing then led to the right hand mudguard (fender) assembly jumping out of it’s socket and trying to insert itself in the right-hand front wheel. Not a good idea as we were going downhill at near 40kph at the time.
I grabbed the assembly and realised it was attached to the trike by the odometer cable. That made holding it a bit more awkward than it needed to be.
Eventually we got to the bottom of the hill and I re-installed the assembly in its socket. Then the odometer didn’t work ! I assumed that the forces on the cable had stretched it too much so didn’t chase that any further – something to be fixed at home.
As we neared home and as I swung across a junction to pick up Wilmore’s Lane, the assembly jumped out a second time. Another stop and more time spent trying to work out why this had started happening on this ride. As I went to tighten the holding bolt, the allen key was attracted to the magnetic odometer sensor on the wheel and I saw the light. When the mudguard jumped out the first time it must have hit the sensor and turned it completely round on the wheel spoke – so the odometer hadn’t a pulse from it to recognise. It looks similar whichever way it faces but turn it around and yes, the odometer and speedo came back to life.
Now all I have to do is work why the assembly is coming loose but the difficulty is it hasn’t happened since that day.
Cans and bottle recycling
The number of containers by the roadside remains small. The cold weather and lack of visitors may be the reason – I doubt it is due to a reformation of vehicle occupant habits. Beau Miles (Australian local adventurer on YouTube) labels them “dirtbags” and I don’t disagree.
The issue with using the Brompton with a trailer is that the rear wheel can’t be tucked under as per normal to make a stand. On the above ride I used a stick to rest the bike on (like a ClickStand) but any gust of wind or passing truck tended to blow the bike off the stick.
Not a long term solution.
A quiet Month
All in all August was a quiet cycling month for me. Therefore there is not much else to report.
Towards the end of month the weather turned quite Springlike, the birds believe it is Spring and their thoughts have turned to sex and nesting. In fact the Masked Lapwings (Plovers) have been ahead of the game and there are juveniles already strutting their stuff around Longford.
My thoughts turned towards cycle/camp trips. Colin’s did too and we have worked out a way for us to go away for the occasional night or two in 2026/27. Initially I was doubtful as I was not sure how I would go camping on the ground these days. Then I saw the solution !
When it arrived I set it up in the front room – and it works! The stretcher gives just enough height to help with set-up while providing a comfortable seat and easy access. In fact it seems similar to the access to the camper trailer but with a larger entry.
Yes, it weighs a bit but will fit nicely in the trailer.
’til next time ………………………..
Tony's Tasmanian Cycling Blog 