Back in Feburary 2020 I moved to my own 1 bedroom flat having lived with a roomate and his rodents for nearly 3-and-a-half years. I needed my own space.
Then my own space turned into my prison during the Pandemic.
Thank fuck for my bicycle. I was out most days for my hour of exercise as the country went into lockdown. My first upgrade of the year was a lovely pair of Continental Grand Prix Classics.
The D-Lock holder quickly disappeared for a cleaner look. After a good few months of hard riding in 2019, the chain was worn out, so I got myself a new one. Replacing it was straighforward enough, but alas the chain subsequently started slipping on the smallest cog in the cassette under power.
I booked in an appointment with my local bike shop (they were incredibly busy during lockdown!). In the meantime I adjusted the limiting screw on the derailleur to avoid using that problematic cog so I could keep riding. From early April until late May I did lots of local hour rides about the city, covering ~422kms until restrictions started to ease and I began to ride outside of the city limits.
Following my appointment at the bike shop, my rear cassette was replaced (9 speed) and the issue was resolved.
In the middle of May, in need of some sort of “Lockdown Project” while stuck at home, I won an auction for a single speed road bike on ebay!
The plan for the project was simply to strip it right down (new bar tape, new brake cables, new cable housing, get some pedals for it, give it a clean & replace a broken spoke on the rear wheel).
I actually ended up servicing the bottom bracket and buying loads of new tools!
During this period, I have upgraded a few items on my road bike: new front cable hanger with barrell adjuster, new saddle, new pedals, new real cantilever brake straddle wire, new brake inserts, and finally, new wheels!
I have also been out for some decent long rides:
My first ride out of the city as lockdown eased was a short jaunt south to Paulton and back. Then a lovely 50K along the coast from Portishead to Clevedon. A 90k loop out to Chippenham and back via Bath. A ride back from Sailsbury and then a return ride to go back to pick up my car.
B'Cycle Rob Blog 