Close encounters - coming off my bike.

By Sam Coles:

There times where you can get put off cycling with close shaves, but what I say is learn from it and get back on the bike.

There was one encounter that I had just over a year ago when riding home at night it was around 11:00 and it was a rainy night. Coming off the Portway and nearing my home a car came out of no where and stuck me. The thoughts going through my head as I flew through the air with the bike still attach were, is this it for me? Fortunately I had time to react and managed to unclip myself from bike while still in the air and landed in a better position. The driver fled the scene, but I was lying there thinking that was a lucky escape until I felt blood running down my face, but I thought nothing of it as it was cosmetic in terms of damage.

I picked up my bike and put it on my shoulder and then proceeded to walk home as I felt the warmth of blood running down my face mix with the cool nature of rain which balanced it out in a way. I got home and I started to clean and dress my wounds, my Father was half awake and saw what happened and began to examine my injury as he is a Doctor, fortunately my injuries were cosmetic and I got way with it. When my wound was cleaned and dressed I went to bed, but I didn't sleep as I was wide awake with the events that had unfolded that evening, I was thinking about the worst scenario, but then I eventually fell asleep.

The next morning I woke, I had a headache as if a jackhammer was going at my brain, I walked to the mirror and had a look, I looked like Frankenstein's monster where my head came out so far. I barely left my room that day only to get more coffee or to feed myself, besides that I didn't want to leave the house.

The day after the headache had gone and the swelling had gone down I felt much  better, I got back on the bike and covered what could of my wound with my shades to not scare people or to stop them from asking questions about it. Just one day of rest I completely forgot about the incident and carried on as normal. I still have the scar of that day but it's not put me off cycling.

Moral of this story is that don't let things like this put off from getting on the bike or getting back on, it just be careful and never give up.

Basic Maintenance: Changing an Inner Tube.

By Sam Coles:

Getting a flat tyre is always something that can put a downer on your day because you have to be somewhere such as work and it’s always frustrating having to change it on the side of the road or even at home. It is easy and very basic changing an inner tube but not everyone knows how so I’m going to give you a step by step process

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Step 1: Take the wheel of the frame and remove the tyre and inner tube.

The first thing you need to do is remove the wheel from the frame and that is easy enough as most bikes use quick release leavers these days, but if they don’t they generally have a bolt that can be undone with a wrench.

When the wheel is off make the sure the inner tube is completely deflated so you can get the tyre off. If you have a racing bike like me you’re going to need two or three tyre leavers because the tyres are very tight. Push the side of the tyre with the leaver and get it underneath and slowly move it around the wheel again if you have a racer move it a long a bit then use the hook to attach it to the spoke and repeat. Remove the inner tube from the tyre and throw it away.

Step 2: Check the under and the top of rim tape and the inside and outside of the tyre.

What you have to make sure when changing your inner tube is to check that there is no left over glass, stones or grit left in the tyre and the rim tape because otherwise your efforts are pointless. So make sure you’re in a well-lit environment or use a bright LED torch (my preference) to check the rim top and bottom. Start from the hole where the valve goes just so you know where you have started and if it’s clear move onto the tyre.

With the tyre you must check the inside and outside because with the outside things such as small stones and nails can get stuck so check that first. With the inside of the tyre rub your fingers around slowly because there maybe something sharp so be careful. Make sure there are no loose pieces of glass or small bits of grit; grit tends to be more of a problem during the winter.

Step 3: Putting the new inner tube in the tyre.

First you’ll need to put on half of the tyre on the rim so you can insert the tube. First you’ll need to inflate the tube slighty make sure that the tube can bend on your finger before putting it in because you don’t want to inflate it too much.

Insert the valve in the hole of the rim then start feeding the tube around the tyre and make sure that it is in the tyre. Now you are going to want to start putting the tyre on again and there are two ways you can do this, 

1 with mountain bikes you can just feed it back on rim from the valve with both hands in a circular motion and 2 if you have a racer you can use the tyre leavers to put it back by putting it in the rim by the tyre and running it along while checking that the tube is not pinching.

When the tyre is back on you’ll want to check if the tube is in properly and you can do this by feeling around the tyre and if you feel that it’s twisted somewhere start the process again. Make sure the valve is push up to the tyre and now you can pump it up to the PSI your bike tyre can handle.

So there you go it is as easy as that I hope that help those who were unsure. 

Starting Something New.

By Sam Coles:

Hello,

My name is Sam I’m 22 and from Bristol I thought I would start a new blog detailing stuff about cycling whether it be me sharing my adventures with pictures to basic aspects of keeping your bike up to scratch to recommendations for clothes, tools and bikes such as deals of the week.

I really wanted to share my love for cycling as it helped me get fit when I was introduced to the racing bike, it was not like I didn’t cycle at all but when my Father gave me his old custom racing bike it showed me another world that nothing could restrict me from go as far as I can. 

I also hope that I can inspire people to get into cycling or even another form of exercise you can enjoy and that is the key when you want to get into shape, find something that you enjoy don’t force yourself.

I hope you enjoy my content when I get to it and I look forward to the response.