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

[Stickyfinger]

ummmm, let me work on that.

I may be able to arrange for you to talk to someone.

Your Dad saw service in the forces .....so, speak to the Legion for assistance/advice as well.

[CitroJim]

I have today returned a little early from Somerset... I was desperate to get home as I was homesick and this last stay in Somerset has proved to me once and for all that although I was born and raised there it is no longer my home and have no desire to ever return there to live. Home is here...

I did enjoy some good bike rides down there, paying my (perhaps) final visits to some old childhood haunts.

The Activa has performed brilliantly in all the runs she's done down and back these past three months or so without complaint (much!) but she does need wheel bearings and discs. Apart from that I'm quietly impressed at how she, as a 20 year old car, has put up with it.

The run today I hope is her last down there. I only have to go down a couple more times now and one will be in a tranny van to collect the very last of the heavy stuff from dad's old place...

Dad is now in a nursing home down there, just temporarily until we can get him into his permanent nursing home up here. Once that is done I shall more or less give up driving and use the cars only when absolutely necessary and for the odd visit to a rally or two.

My dislike of driving is now absolute and the less I need to do the better...

Had it not been for all these Somerset runs, my bile mileage would be far higher than the cars... I've just turned over 2000 miles on my bikes for the year to date!

[Hell Razor5543]

You must hate driving, if your bile mileage is that high!

[CitroJim]

I do James. If there was any way I could give it up completely I would.

Truth is, with my ME-related cognitive issues I don't feel confident about driving as my brain works quite slowly when processing information... It's OK at bike speeds but nowhere quick enough to control a car effectively at speed in traffic.

Often when driving I don't feel 100% safe now and find heavy traffic very difficult indeed...

I drive along at between 40 and 50mph which is likely why the Activa has been OK doing all the trips there and back.

[CitroJim]

I'm back but only a little. I've been very poorly recently (usual stuff) and it's taking me a very long time to recover and that recovery is very fragile at the moment so no PMs or questions please until further notice. All stress of any sort must be avoided and it is...

Anyway, as some of you will know, I run down to Somerset every Saturday to see dad. Recently I've been taking the C1 rather than the Activa as I don't trust a 20 year old car on that run any more and I've not been able to do any servicing work of any significance and still the front brakes need sorting along with several other pressing jobs, most of which escape me at the moment....

Due to my inability to drive at any speed now exceeding 50MPH I was amazed yesterday to see just what economy the C1 does when driven for 300 miles at between 40 and 50MPH. One 'bar' on the petrol gauge carried me 150 miles. I reckon that's knocking on 65MPG! Downside is it makes the journey rather long. 4 hours door to door...

And I must be such a PITA to other road users...

[Hell Razor5543]

Welcome back, Jim. Please do take care of yourself. Please don't take this the wrong way, but if staying off the Forum helps your health get back together please stay away for a long time. We will ALL understand, and be thinking of you. You will be welcome back in good health.

[Stickyfinger]

..........he's baaaaaack

[CitroJim]

Thanks James That is excellent advice and is exactly what I've been doing I shall only be on here when I'm good to. Today I'm unusually good but tomorrow may be different... Take me as you find me

Just recently my allergy to all things IT-related has returned with a vengeance...

[CitroJim]

..........he's baaaaaack

Thanks Alasdair, it's good to be back

But only as a shadow of my former self at the moment...

Be gentle with me please

[daviemck2006]

I must agree with James. Glad to see you back but just extra small doses. You know what we all think.of you, and i honestly wish I stayed beside you and could drive you on the long runs you need to do.

Sent from my SM-G361F using Tapatalk

[white exec]

Good to see you back, Jim - take care

[bxzx16v]

It's good that your back Jim .

Mark

[CitroJim]

Well there, it's not only Xantias and C5s that suffer from wearing their disc pads wedge-shaped...

Just had the same problem on my commuter bike... Noticed the front brake was binding a little.

New pads and a quick service and set-up of the caliper seems to have fixed it..

Tools needed to swap pads and adjust... Just one 3mm Allen key

Cost of new pads and anti-squeal spring... £5.49

[Zelandeth]

Glad to see you back Jim, even if briefly.

Take all the time you need, we'll still be about when you're able to make a proper return to the world of the forum.

[CitroJim]

Thanks Zel Every day brings a small improvement so hopefully it won't be long now

The bike, now it has no braking friction to contend with, absolutely flew to work this morning and I achieved a PB somewhat better than my last

The root cause of the problem was interesting.. The anti-squeal spring on the caliper has the added function of keeping the pads clear of the brake disc when the brake is released and it does this by means of spring 'fingers' on the friction side of the pad.. During manufacture of the bike, when the pads were fitted one of these fingers ended up on the wring side of the pad and pushed the pad toward the disc hence the friction and wearing the pad wedge-shaped...

The difference in how the bike now feels is amazing! So much faster and responsive