This morning’s ride was intended to be a gentle recovery spin. I wanted to get out for an hour or so, pootle around, putting in no real effort, just spinning out the legs nice and easy. By and large, that went well.
After yesterday’s ride my legs were definitely tired, and for the first twenty minutes or so it was a real slog to do anything above about 2.2w/kg. Things eased off a little and riding became easier, but as above, I wasn’t trying to ride hard today. This was as much about the spin as it was getting in some outdoor time before the incoming snow / freezing conditions forecast for the week again.
Unlike yesterday I’d gone out early so it was still cold. I was back in full winter kit, though in my cheaper Amazon bib tights. When I bought these I didn’t know any better. I’ve since also purchased a pair of Mavic thermal bib tights and honestly, the difference is night and day. So is the price difference – the Mavic pair were 3x the price in the sale. However, the price difference is worth it for the chamois alone. My God, these tights are uncomfortable. Cold, also.
Anyway, I took myself around Avenum Park just because I like it down there on Sunday morning. And it was on my way back, by a bit of a circuitous route out of the city centre that my rear gear cable snapped. I heard a weird noise, then tested my gears. I could click down – to the hardest gear – but not back up.
Well, thank goodness that happened today and not yesterday. And also that it happened on a fairly flat road surface. I had to abandon the ride after this, missing out on the next 20 or so planned minutes. On the plus side, the ride home was pretty much all out of the saddle, and amusingly that caused me to set some PBs 🙂
Fortunately I have managed to book the bike mechanic for 10:30 tomorrow morning. That’s a stroke of luck. I’m probably going to get both cables changes, just because. That’s pretty much 3 years I’ve had out of them, can’t complain.
If at all possible I am hoping to also get the front chain ring replaced, as was suggested last time. It’s not really that bad timing. I got my week’s rides in, and tomorrow is a scheduled rest day. There should be no disruption. Lucky, really.
