tracksterman

I opened up one of my commuter bike's cheap PD-M505 pedals for a look today. Just out of curiosity, they're spinning fine after 2400km. Inside they're a horrible throwback to the early 90s: cup'n'cone adjustment, lots of tiny loose ball bearings. I originally bought these because I wanted a set of cleats for new shoes and this pedal deal (including cleats) was only slightly more expensive. Servicing was a fiddly job and, while I managed to bodge it with a flat blade screwdriver and a 10mm socket driver, it'd be best done with a special tool that costs more than the pedals. I might well buy that tool before going into the other pedal.....and I might also shoot a 'how-to' video because, unusually, there's not much good stuff online.

One shortcoming I need to address, though, is the fact that I still haven't been out in the bivi bag yet this year! Poor show, need to get on to that.

Pair this with Ghost Story (or maybe The End) and you're good to go....

Another random geographical feature added to the collection....

New bottom brackets will have to wait until next month's payday. I've just taken delivery of this month's spares package: assorted jockey wheels, freehub seals and springs, chain quicklinks and brake pads. Like I said, I buy this stuff well in advance of when I need it...for want of a nail and all that. I've no intention of being kept off the bike because I'm missing some small but critical component.

Out the door at 07:00 to beat the heat, that's me for the day! Nobody about - apart from, bizarrely, a squirrel sitting on top of this standing stone at 440m in wide open moorland. It went sprinting off through the heather as I arrived....

And, finally, a quick strip and service for the M540 pedals (their first in 5750km). Different axle design to the Frontier's ME700s that I did a couple of weeks back, but the same internals; justs needs a 17mm cone spanner rather than a specific plastic tool. Pretty clean inside; it's strangely satisfying watching any minor contamination purging out through the seal as you screw the axle back in to displace freshly applied grease.

I've boshed in a Nukeproof bottom bracket picked up for a ludicrous £2.99 during the Chiggle meltdown a few years back. Not entirely convinced by this design, in that the crank axle spins on the exposed cartridge bearing, rather than a top hat as with Shimano BBs. Whatever, I'll have MT801 units ready to go by the time that becomes an issue. I always buy consumables like this ahead of when I need them.

Easiest job first: pull off the end caps on the monstercross Pro 2 front hub. Nice and clean, bearings spinning freely since I last replaced them 6000km ago. Clean, grease, reassemble.

I quite like the look of these, though.

My penance this morning was cranking out what's become one of my favourite local loops, Le Tour de Ripponden. The exact combination of tracks and lanes depends on weather and wind direction, but it's always got a bit of everything (except people and cars): brutal climbs, sun dappled woodland, gnadgery singletrack downhill, open moorland....33km, 800+m of climbing, chased down with an afternoon/evening 25km round trip commute. A weekend of lovely, lovely work awaits, but I have plans for the last week of Spring....

Adventures in cycling archaeology....my Pamir Hypercracker will get used again one day, I'm sure. Last year, though, I finally threw one of these away - sometimes you've got to let go.

Worth keeping an eye on Ebay for stuff like this - gotta be worth a bid, right?

I'm not familiar with this guy's output but thought this was a perceptive video about the current state of cycling. It's a US film but applies to what's happening here, too. I feel completely alienated from modern cycling culture; I'm happy just cranking out the miles on simple, durable bikes I can maintain and fix myself at low cost; seeking out quiet areas rather than ticking off busy curated routes and events.

Churn Milk Joan had money left on top for the little people. Not for me, then. Much better than forecast yesterday, and the singletrack contouring round the moorland to and from this standing stone was running as well as I've ever seen it.

Knocked out a biggish ride today, making up for a lazy week. I dropped by this line of beech trees to check out the late spring foliage, a nice contrast to my more usual autumnal visits. Still feeling cold despite the sun and, with more rain moving in, I've sacked off the remaining holiday to go back to work over the weekend. There's always some sicknote who can't get out of bed for the job he's paid to do, so I might as well turn that to my advantage.