Countdown

With only a week to go, tomorrow I'll definitely test myself (and the just overhauled bike): Coll d'Estenalles. (what else?)

Yesterday, after work, I comitted myself to the daunting enterprise of overhauling the transmission. To be sincere, the bottom bracket was calling for a new axle (with an insistent noisy squeak that disturbed my peace of mind every time the grade increased beyond a certain point) and with Brevets looming I prudently opted to keep ma petite reine in full working order. My concern now was my hability to replace the sealed cartridge since I had failed in my previous attempt. I'll stick up for myself: the frame was new and the threading needed to be rethreaded so I had no option but to swallow my (mechanical) pride and take the half-assembled bike to a mechanic. I would like to write that this time things ran smoothly but it would not be even close to reality. To make it short, at the end, and much to my surprise, I got through quite satisfactorily (stubborness, you know...). Of course, there's no need to mention here that it took me more than two hours and a couple of visits to the nearby bike shop (badly needed a huge wrench)

Today: Horta. I wanted to have a look at the new pedestrian bridge laid over the Portell de Valldaura (that's the summit). I must confess that I retracted from yesterday's statement and reattached the toeclips (a larger ones though) and, well, it seems it works (on the other hand I just couldn't stand that cheap- supermarket-bike look). Today's was not a fast climb but made up for it with a fast descent to Horta's viewpoint and the subsequent climb back. Lots of wind on both sides.

Tibidabo. This time by the classic route. Felt uncomfortable in the new shoes as though I was not able to push my feet forward enough. So... I stopped and removed the toe clips and, oh boy, it was a revelation! Now I could place my feet freely on the pedal and liked it a lot. It was liberating!I climbed quite comfortably and the descent was uneventful turning my concerns of high cadence pedal slipping unfounded. On the other hand, now the bike looks, well, how could I put it? The bike now doesn't look like the other bikes...

I'm back

Yesterday night came back from a family skiing weekend. This morning I cleaned up my bike and made some front wheel removal practice (the front mudguard stay fixing bolts make it a bit tricky and I can imagine myself in a wet inky night somewhere far from civilization...) Not a bad timing though.

Wednesday, 19th

Climbed Horta keeping a fast cadence. I'm still breaking in my new cycling shoes (well, they're a pair of thick soled running shoes) but I somehow managed to make quite of a time.

Tibidabo again (and again)

Have I mentioned stubborness as a randonneur's virtue? Oh well...
This morning I revisited Tibidabo purposely chosing the hilliest route and started to feel slightly optimistic. By the way, after Sunday's character forming experience I was really , really glad to sit again on my Brooks.