Ops! … an accident.

ICE details and a contact card are two items that hopefully no one will ever need to use, but will allow your loved ones to be contacted following an accident. ICE short for “In Case of Emergency” is a phone number on your phone home screen that is your emergency contact. If you ride alone its self-explanatory and if you ride in a group you will probably find that your fellow riders do not know who to contact and may not even know where you live. The emergency contact card is a small laminated list of emergency contact details that can be kept on your person or along with the “stuff” in the saddle bag. As with ICE, is just those important details that may be of use in an accident situation but not specific enough to allow a thief to know your address should your steed get stolen. A suggested information list is:

name, home post code & town, DOB, next of kin & contact number, blood group, allergies, medical issues, GP address and contact number, second contact, third contact and forth contact (just first name and telephone numbers for contacts)

It may seem a lot of words but can be printed very small and will shrink down to half the size of a credit card and small enough to fit anywhere. (Peter Crinson Jan 18)

Let's get dirty

Well actually let's not and that is why mudguards were invented. Every autumn and winter the same subject comes up in every cycling club. Mudguards, there style, size, fixing, mud flap design and always, always, when to use them and should you use them. Riding a bike is great but getting wet and muddy is not so good. Mudguards will protect you, your bike, your brakes and wheel rims and of course your fellow riders. Riding in a group in winter is a great way of sharing the load, rotating around and all taking some of the head wind and adverse weather. However, if the rider in front does not have mudguards then you will get very wet and very muddy from a torrent of water and muck spray. The Shropshire lanes are a fantastic way to explore our county but in the winter months they can be very muddy and very dirty. So please consider not just yourself but more importantly your fellow riders. Also, you could add a homemade mud flap to the rear mudguard because they are never long enough and the longer the better, as the saying goes.... Keep dry and keep cleaner with a riding group that has full length mudguards and mud flaps when necessary and if not please don't be offended if you are asked to ride at the back of the group. (Peter Crinson Feb 18)

Bike cleaning....the mystic art, or is it number eleven?

If you ask ten people how to clean a bike you will get ten very different answers so this is number eleven, the way I clean my bike that works for me and may also for you. Light spray with a hose the while bike to remove loose mud, but never spray into any bearings such as wheels, crank, headset or cassette. Use a  soap cleaner such as Muc Off pink and spray the whole bike then brush to work into all areas. Use the light hose spray to wash off the cleaning agent residue. Use kitchen roll paper towel to dry the bike but not the cassette, chain or derailleur at this point. Make sure there are no pools of water on any bearings. Use a clean piece of paper towel on each side of the disc rota if fitted. Clean the rota until the kitchen roll is clean after use. Now the drive chain. Use a rag, the same rage each time, to dry the chain and remove old oil and grease. Run it along the top length vigorously then rotate the crank to clean the next length of chain. Repeat until all the chain is clean and dry on all four sides. Use the same rag or paper towel to touch dry the cassette, derailleur and crank. Lubricate the chain link by link with a small drop of appropriate oil, I use Muc Off C3 Wet on the winter bike and C3 Dry on the summer bike.  Apply a drop on each derailleur jockey wheel bearing. Run the chain up and down the cassette by changing gear. I like to polish off water marks on the frame and use Mr Sheen polish but not on wheel rims, brakes or disc rotas. That’s it, except that every couple of months I remove the rear wheel and clean the cassette with a de-greaser spray, vigorous rubbing with a brush and rinsing off with a fine hose spray. The cassette cleaning should be done with the wheel angled down so water runs off the cassette and not back into the bearings and free hub. Spin off excess water and dry with kitchen roll. 

(Peter Crinson Jan 20)

Cycle navigation aids....why when I have maps?

Standard cycle computers are great at telling you how many miles you have done on your wobble. But that's just about it. A navigation aid such as a Garmin can tell you so much more and guide you turn by turn through our wonderful Shropshire lanes without having to stop at every junction and look at a map. All Wobble rides are downloadable to all makes of cycle computer and there are many to choose from. A good one can tell you speed, average speed, amount of climb and decent, what to expect next and record for others to see on the web such as Strava all your fabulous wobbles. If I'm honest, these devices are not simple to use and do require some tinkering to use just the basic of functions and a lot more experimentation to begin to utilise the huge menu of options. I have had one for many years now and class my self as a self proclaimed Chief Tinkerer and am more than happy to help others get to know the benefits of these wonderful devices. I propose to update this Chit Chat when I can with various "how to" guides but to get you going here is the one for the Garmin 520 plus with some common features of the Garmin 530 too and the quick start guide. Here is the Garmin 530 quick start guide. Here is John Shorts guide to the Wahoo Elemnt.

(Peter Crinson & John Short May 20 / July 23)

The Spout Lane Refrain 

A cycling poem or possibly a short travelogue? 

Start at Upper Longwood follow route 45 if it’s a nice day you will feel glad to be alive. Check yourself in the mirror before you set off you won’t look like that by the time you get off!

The sign says Garmston and Leighton but have no doubt it’s just a ruse to catch you out. If you set off early you will be facing the sun unless it’s raining then it won’t be much fun.

Further down the cycle route you have to bear left don’t go to Buildwas or you will end up bereft. Head for Neves Castle and follow the sign to the Spout if you are still in the saddle it’s time to get out.

Turn right at the junction and check your gears if you get this far in the big ring you are hiding the tears. No place for egos just run with the flow you will have made your point with a long climb to go.

Don’t get caught out going down into the dip as the potholes and gravel may lead to a slip. A steep little spike takes you back into the light attack the slope as the end is in sight.

The road flattens slightly as you begin to stall while a respite awaits along the stone barn wall. The farmer leans on the gate, grins and says “alright” knowing what’s to come, much to his delight.

Spout Lane 0 - Leighton 1, now you know the score the warm up is over forget what has gone before Time to focus and check the clock as the Strava section starts to Little Wenlock.

On past the Scout Camp set deep in the wood stop and take a look if you think you should. Who knows what little secrets lay hidden within you could write a novel but where to begin?

Between the farms with their rural charm the pedals spin easy and your feeling quite calm. Down past the house with the large garage door over the bridge and you look up in awe!

Fumble with the gears and the big climb begins you or Spout Lane we will see who wins. Those awful nagging doubts begin to appear you seriously wonder if this was a good idea.

Tense every muscle and the bike takes the strain the little sign reminds you this is a quiet lane. Your chest is tight and you struggle to breathe how much further until you gain a reprieve.

The slope eases slightly and you sigh with relief the short hiatus restores your self-belief. Someone is watching through the Needles Eye look back over your shoulder and ask yourself why?

Cross the Shropshire Way and the road rises again just hanging on now never wanting to complain. It would be pointless anyway as another little sign reminds you it’s still a quiet lane.

Past Severn Vale and you are at last gaining height the road to nowhere slips by on the right. One final push and you are gasping for air your legs are burning with nothing to spare.

Running on empty although the end is near not quite as steep, maybe slip a gear. The sign says “quiet lane ends” so you can finally shout: I have climbed Spout Lane and I am glad I am out!

(Peter Nickless March 21)