Bike racked and ready to roll after being checked by Matt at Velo Espresso, Hamilton.
THURSDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 2008
I’ve got the technical savoir faire of one of my over ripe bananas. I can change a flat tyre, but I’m not speedy at it. I always have to think very hard about putting on the back wheel, as there are the cogs and derailer to negotiate. I can also tell when my bike is making strange noises, but that’s about it! It is therefore, extremely important for me to have a good relationship with both my husband and a bike shop. My husband gives me technical support, the bikes shop have been servicing my bike and just about everything else from nutrition to swim toys I can hunt for locally.
Take today for example. I needed new inner tubes. I took my flat tube into the bike shop and in less than 2 minutes had developed complete brain ache, trying to match up the numbers on the flat with new ones on the shelves. In desperation I ended up going Eney Meeney Miney Mo, picked a couple, slapped them down on the counter and said, “Which one of these match this flat one?” Durhh..…hopeless or what?!!
When I was sussing out coaches and trainers I phoned one guy to talk about my training options. During the conversation he asked a simple question about my bike “Does it have 650’s or 700’s?” I am sure this was some kind of initiation test and it was a case of pass or fail, but I didn’t have a clue. It occurred to me I could lie, and just spout off either number, but that may have led to further technical questions and a deeper hole!
In one split second, this is what mashed about in my banana brain; “Help….”, I thought “….is that millimetres or centimetres……..I don’t think he means bike frame, that’s 40 or 50 something…….Wheels, I think it’s wheels…….Wheel size, that’s it……..Now is it circumference or diameter?........Not sure……Radius? Hang on, it could be tyre width in millimetres…….650 or 700?........Help!”
At last my mouth kicked into gear, (with minimal synaptic firing), and I answered: “I’m not sure, but it’s got two wheels and they go round!” I could hear him rolling his eyes on the other end of the phone and it was obvious that I had failed, spectacularly! The 40 year old, professional nurse, cum part time triathlete, wife and mother had just made herself look a complete and utter dork. It’s a good job I just have to ride the bike and don’t have fix it isn’t it? By the way, in case you’re in the least bit interested it’s got 700’s…..or are they 650’s…..I’d have to look (or ask my husband)!
Now I have asked him……..I don’t suppose anyone out there has a pair of 700c, 50mm rim race wheels they could lend me for race day in Kona? I promise I’ll look after them and try my best not to fall off!
I’ve got the technical savoir faire of one of my over ripe bananas. I can change a flat tyre, but I’m not speedy at it. I always have to think very hard about putting on the back wheel, as there are the cogs and derailer to negotiate. I can also tell when my bike is making strange noises, but that’s about it! It is therefore, extremely important for me to have a good relationship with both my husband and a bike shop. My husband gives me technical support, the bikes shop have been servicing my bike and just about everything else from nutrition to swim toys I can hunt for locally.
Take today for example. I needed new inner tubes. I took my flat tube into the bike shop and in less than 2 minutes had developed complete brain ache, trying to match up the numbers on the flat with new ones on the shelves. In desperation I ended up going Eney Meeney Miney Mo, picked a couple, slapped them down on the counter and said, “Which one of these match this flat one?” Durhh..…hopeless or what?!!
When I was sussing out coaches and trainers I phoned one guy to talk about my training options. During the conversation he asked a simple question about my bike “Does it have 650’s or 700’s?” I am sure this was some kind of initiation test and it was a case of pass or fail, but I didn’t have a clue. It occurred to me I could lie, and just spout off either number, but that may have led to further technical questions and a deeper hole!
In one split second, this is what mashed about in my banana brain; “Help….”, I thought “….is that millimetres or centimetres……..I don’t think he means bike frame, that’s 40 or 50 something…….Wheels, I think it’s wheels…….Wheel size, that’s it……..Now is it circumference or diameter?........Not sure……Radius? Hang on, it could be tyre width in millimetres…….650 or 700?........Help!”
At last my mouth kicked into gear, (with minimal synaptic firing), and I answered: “I’m not sure, but it’s got two wheels and they go round!” I could hear him rolling his eyes on the other end of the phone and it was obvious that I had failed, spectacularly! The 40 year old, professional nurse, cum part time triathlete, wife and mother had just made herself look a complete and utter dork. It’s a good job I just have to ride the bike and don’t have fix it isn’t it? By the way, in case you’re in the least bit interested it’s got 700’s…..or are they 650’s…..I’d have to look (or ask my husband)!
Now I have asked him……..I don’t suppose anyone out there has a pair of 700c, 50mm rim race wheels they could lend me for race day in Kona? I promise I’ll look after them and try my best not to fall off!