CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[CitroJim]

Could this be Jim's secret? Sounds like Bluebell would be ideal for the job...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... ar-in-race

I must admit it can be very tempting at times

[Armidillo]

Hey Jim - promise us you won't enter any runs longer than 50 miles - and yes I know this guy wasn't trained for long distance!

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/blo ... 5d1dq.html

PS - hope the Sydney Morning Herald site will let non-subscribers read this - I think they still allow a few free reads before the paywall cuts in.

[CitroJim]

Hey Jim - promise us you won't enter any runs longer than 50 miles - and yes I know this guy wasn't trained for long distance!

Currently I have no plans to run beyond 50 miles Alec but I'm making no promises

Yesterday it was all about the hills

I was volunteering at a running challenge event. Simply run as many laps of a very scenic 5Km trail course as you can in 6 hours... The course, in the Beacon Hill Country Park near Loughborough, was very hilly and challenging... I ran the course to check in before the event started and then got a few more laps in between volunteering duties...

Best of both, I get to run and volunteer at the same time along with a free entry into a subsequent event.

I'll be doing the same again next Thursday in another very scenic country park

[CitroJim]

On my bike with tubeless tyres, I've noted for a few weeks now the rear tyre was not holding pressure as well as the front and the valve was reluctant to shut-off promptly after disconnecting the pump...

Today, whilst preparing the bike for tomorrow's Suffolk Classic Sportive the rear decided it was no longer going to hold air for very long and soon went flat after pumping it up from about 50psi to 80psi...

I suspected the valve... Swapped it and all well

Looking at the old valve...

How it should look on the sealing face:

A nice, shiny uniform area for the rubber sealing bung to seal against...

The reason this valve wasn't sealing very well:

A significant part of the sealing face had disappeared!

I suspect it was caused by corrosion via the water-basted tubeless sealant permanently resident inside the tyre...

Glad I found it today and not tomorrow

Both photos are magnified many times - amazing how a decent phone camera can act as a good magnifying glass cum microscope!

[Skull]

The reason this valve wasn't sealing very well:

Jim's corroded valve

A significant part of the sealing face had disappeared!

Glad I found it today and not tomorrow

Good spot that Jim - hard to see on my laptop never mind mid race with a sweaty

Good Luck ....

[CitroJim]

Thanks for making that all very much clearer Skull

And thanks for the good luck! I may need it as tomorrow is slated to be a bit damp and soggy...

I will report back

[mickthemaverick]

You just need to get one of these Jim, even available in your running colours!!

BFTW

[CitroJim]

You just need to get one of these Jim, even available in your running colours!!

And when not raining I could use it as a sail

Weather may not be so bad today as predicted... I'll go well prepared and hopefully that'll help keep it away...

[MattBLancs]

I'd go for a nice spinning one, like Brian Potter did - get Armchair Super Store rung up!

Spoiler: show

the internet has failed me, thought I would easily find a nice GIF!

Brian's spinning brolly hat

from

A.S.S. from https://phoenixnights.fandom.com/wiki/Armchair_Super_Store?file=ArmchairSuperstore.jpg

I guess Phoenix Nights was rather a long time ago now!

[CitroJim]

I'd go for a nice spinning one, like Brian Potter did

That could work Matt, it would spin-dry all the rain off of it

Happily, the weather gods were feeling quite kind and we only got soaked once for about an hour today and rapidly dried...

Not long home, lots to do, full report on what was an epic ride tomorrow...

[MattBLancs]

Good stuff Jim,

I did something "cycling related" too today: stripped down, cleaned out and regreased the wheel bearings (and backed them off, almost invariably seem to be done up far too tight! This is third second hand little bike I've delved into and all have had graunching tight cup and cone bearings!) Plus lubricated and readjusted the rear V-brake on this:

Plus numerous test rides with the customer too!

[CitroJim]

Plus numerous test rides with the customer too!

They're the best

[CitroJim]

Yesterday was quite an epic ride It was mostly in light rain with an hour of heavy'ish rain... The roads, on some parts of the course, were shocking with lots of washed-out gravel and flints... As a result, there were more punctures than I've ever seen...

Those of us riding tubeless were at a definite advantage. I had none but I did speak to one tubeless rider who only realised he'd punctured right at the end when he saw a bead of sealant on the tyre. The sealant had done its job perfectly...

The narrow roads on some parts of the course, were quite 'technical' in places with their piles of gravel and monster potholes!

This 'Caution' sign was good advice in lots of places!

The feed stations were a very welcome sight!

In recognition of 'Drive It' day, all I saw during all 76 miles was a coupe of very vintage Morgans and.... An AX

I saw loads of 'Ends' too but was unable to stop and photograph them...

A great day and hugely enjoyed... Newmarket Racecourse was a top place to have the HQ...

[NewcastleFalcon]

Never heard of Drive it day, although I do like the idea of the original pioneering drive from London to Edinburgh and back in the early days of motoring with not a single petrol station in existence, and The Great North Road probably only fit for horses and carts through Northumberland. The two gallon can, and stops off at chemists and hardware stores along the route may well have been order of the day.


Over to the Trivia Investigation Thread for the original One Thousand Mile trial London to Edinburgh and what graces guide tells us about it.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Never heard of Drive it day, although I do like the idea of the original pioneering drive from London to Edinburgh and back in the early days of motoring with not a single petrol station in existence, and The Great North Road probably only fit for horses and carts through Northumberland. The two gallon can, and stops off at chemists and hardware stores along the route may well have been order of the day.

I'm only aware of it from a few posts on Social Media over the years Neil...

Speaking of some roads in those days only being fit for horses and carts applied to some of the ones we rode along yesterday

Just seen the official photos of the event and here I am out on the course in the pouring rain

There's a fine church in the background. I can't recall where this was taken but the time shown on the church clock will help me find out...

I have a more distant view of it...

And at the finish line

Still raining!