Blaming My Tools

Chris Froome wrapped up a solid start to his season by winning the Tour of Oman and giving us all a hint of what the bigger races will be like when he goes up against Contador, and perhaps Wiggins as well.

As the weather starts to get a bit better and a weekend of temperatures struggling up to double figures it was time to sort out those niggles so the bike would be ready for the fun of spring. This mostly meant another look at a tyre I refitted at Cwm Carn.

I’m not bad at changing inner tubes, but this change in the rain and at the end of an irritating ride had not been my finest. Judging by the amount of gravel behind the rim I had put it down on the track as I struggled to refit it. That and the organic bits and pieces looked a lot like a shoddy change in a rush and needed redoing. After removing what felt like half of the trail surface from Wales form the inside of the tyre I’m more confident to ride it hard at the first opportunity. I also sorted out the creak in the steering by a bit of stripping it down and looking at it until it stopped making the noise. Quality workmanship and I’m itching to get out and play soon.

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