July 18th, 2005
Up and Down
After a week of R&R camping in Cornwall doing nothing but getting some sun and enjoying bodyboarding* I got back to find that dates are now arranged for all my heart tests. In the week following the R&R the palpitations are back big style. Went to the doctor on Friday who has told me not to go back to work until the results are known.
I’ve been out a couple times lately on Uncle Tufty getting used to fixed. It’s like learning to ride all over again. Riding fixed on-road was something that just clicked, and apart from turning left onto roundabouts where I discovered a moments hesitation in my pedalling style - like backing off the gas before turning a car into a corner - was a cinch. Not so off-road. I hadn’t realised how many subtle pauses there were in pedalling. Just to keep pedals level over this or that. Or too ensure there was power to loft the front wheel, or to unweight the rear for a micro-second.
Swoopy singletrack is fun. It feels more connected, more involved somehow.
Yesterday I made a few changes to the bike just so it looks better. Well, more coherent anyway. I was running one aero rear rim and one standard front rim - a wheel that I pulled out of a skip. As I struggled to unthread the rear cog off the old hub I reflected on how cheap Uncle Tufty was. £20 cranks. £1.50 stem. £50 hub. Everything else second hand from one or other bike as they’ve been upgraded through the years.
I was at the doctors again today for more blood tests and rode there fixed on the grounds that I can leave the bike unlocked outside the clinic. Anyone that can ride like they stole it out and still make the turn onto the road deserves the bike more than I do.
In. Bled. Out.
I rode some cheeky trails on the way home. Despite several crank groundings on roots I decided to try riding steps for the first time. That was strange. Normally you can just concentrate on one wheel then the next clearing a lip. Only this time I had to keep my legs spinning while I did it. As you can tell I made it home without injury.
Anyway I have 5 - count ‘em, 5 - more weeks to get used to riding fixie.
* too gay to surf :-)
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