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March 2019

So here's the thing: I was working on my bike last night and I managed to get some oil on my daughter's puffy nylon winter coat. Any good recommendations about how to clean it? I know water is bad, but should I just go washing up liquid and hope for the best out the wash or is it wiser to take it to the dry cleaners?
 
Changing shifting cables today. Rear went ok but with the front I just can't seem to get the tension up. Looking at the lever I kinda suspect this might be it. There's no groove for the cable end to slot into, like there was for the RD. No amount of lever action changes this. Looking at Shimano dealer manual, 5800 levers should have cables marked S and D but mine is R? Never had this before...

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Changing shifting cables today. Rear went ok but with the front I just can't seem to get the tension up. Looking at the lever I kinda suspect this might be it. There's no groove for the cable end to slot into, like there was for the RD. No amount of lever action changes this. Looking at Shimano dealer manual, 5800 levers should have cables marked S and D but mine is R? Never had this before...

I was installing new cables the other day and had this. I know you said that no amount of lever action changes this, but might be worth double checking to make sure you're shifters are in the smallest gear. The slot should be there. If not, then don't know what to suggest.
 
thanks @Karl , I've checked it now again. this it the most puzzling thing, and I've been shifting back and forth hundreds of times now. making sure rubber hoods are in different positions outta the way and not interfering. still, not a thing seems to shift at the lever, as far as can be seen from outside - all angles. front shifting wasn't the smoothest, but was working until yesterday. so either the lever died on me suddenly or I screwed it up somehow it seems. but in any case, I am left with only one choice - new bike! haha just kidding, for now I think I'll simply manually secure the FD in the big ring and ride it only with rear shifting....
 
Did you try to shift it when the hoods were still in place? If I remember right, the hood has an insert that, if not in place, doesn't allow the shifting to change.

This might be a good chance to experiment with a 1x? ;)
 
Thanks for the tip. I'm pretty sure (but admittedly not 100%) I positioned it to the little ring at the start of the process. I tried re-fitting the hoods now and shifting, but still nothing happens. Giving up on the lever now. I'm just gonna fix the FD in the big ring position and ride faux 1x for the time being. I almost never use the FD on the commuter anyway, so not such a big deal but still can't wrap my hoods around this whole issue...
 
Snuck out this morning to ride since yesterday was a literal "wash"
I could have ridden yesterday, but honestly it would not have been responsible.

Today's ride was slack and just pedaled around a bit on the local trails.
Avoided Futago as it never drains fast. So hit up the next closest trails to my house.
Fuji was on full display.

 
Put this new bartape just now.

Pros
Wraps nice, looks ok, good grip and feel, inexpensive

Cons
Plugs don't seem to secure in place, even though I left a lot of tape to bite. Claims 56g but yeah....

If it's durable (remains to be seen) and plugs don't fall out I can see myself giving it 5 stars really.

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No riding today but I did run down Shiraishi on the way back from Dodaira Observatory. Lots of cyclists huffing and puffing there way to the top. I'm sure I look way more pro when I ride to the top😉

Oh, I ran through the bit of forest where they had the fire a few months back. Less bad than I thought.

@leicaman my mate who I was running with did Nobeyama last year (the 70km one) and he reckons Shiraishi would be perfect to train on for that race. Personally, I found the long downhill on the concrete a bit brutal wearing my Speedcross trail shoes. He had on some of those Hoka One One Bondis, which he said weren't bad for trail running - very cushioned and quite grippy.
 
No riding today but I did run down Shiraishi on the way back from Dodaira Observatory. Lots of cyclists huffing and puffing there way to the top. I'm sure I look way more pro when I ride to the top😉

Oh, I ran through the bit of forest where they had the fire a few months back. Less bad than I thought.

@leicaman my mate who I was running with did Nobeyama last year (the 70km one) and he reckons Shiraishi would be perfect to train on for that race. Personally, I found the long downhill on the concrete a bit brutal wearing my Speedcross trail shoes. He had on some of those Hoka One One Bondis, which he said weren't bad for trail running - very cushioned and quite grippy.

Cheers for the tip. I need to get out into the mountains for some running. All my training had been mainly along the rivers which is good for mental preparation but I need some elevation gain and especially loss.
 
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On Saturday I rode my first 300 km brevet of this year, but could not complete (DNF). We rode as a team of three, as a training ride for a 360+ km Fleche ride four weeks later.

231 km from the start we reached Yamabushi toge on Doshi road (the pass between Yamanakako and Michi-no-Eki Doshi). When we left the last control near Kawaguchiko, the ride leader had asked me what my estimate was for the temperature readout of the thermometer at the tunnel entrance. I guessed -1 C, he guessed +1. It had been 4 C at Fujiyoshida. The thermometer at the top showed -4 C. Every bridge on the next couple of km was covered in black ice. Two of us went down a total of three times, both damaging our rear derailleurs. We walked and pushed our bikes over 5 km towards Doshi, until the temperature rose to -1 C and the roads seemed safe again, proceeding carefully from there. The temperature didn't rise above -1 C until we got to Sagamihara.

The ride had 3800 m of barometric elevation gain, 40% more than the AJ NishiTokyo 300 km brevet I had done in previous years which had never been an easy one for me. At the first PC (point de controle) we ran 20 minutes ahead of closing time and at the second (Minami Alps) 139 km from the start it was 15 minutes. Then came the long climb from 250 m to 950 m elevation at Motosu michi (Rt300). I thought we had virtually no chance of making PC3, but we somehow made it with 3 minutes spare, after 14 hours of cycling.

The return to Tokyo from the Fuji 5 Lakes should have been relatively easy because of the amount of descending, but that would have been true only in fine weather.

Of 103 cyclists who had signed up, only 45 made it to the goal under the time limit. A third took no risks with the weather forecast and did not even start with the chance of snow. About one quarter started but had to abandon the ride, including us. We continued together until a few of km before Inagi and then split up, all cycling home individually in different directions. I arrived home in Setagaya after Sunrise on Sunday morning (311 km), 24 hours after the start.

Yesterday Tim Smith of GS Astuto fixed my bent derailleur. It should be good to go again for the 200 km brevet in West Izu (Mishima-Matsuzaki-Mishima) coming Saturday. That will be my fourth ride of 160+ km this month and my 7th this year so far.

Riding together as a group under brevet conditions was an interesting experience. The first 4 hours were very hard - the pace was faster than what I could have sustained for 300 km, but then gradually the others wore out too while I recovered and we settled into a pace that worked for all. The atrocious weather conditions after nightfall were unfortunate. This was my second 300 km in a row that I couldn't finish because of severe weather (last year's Nishi Tokyo 300 had only 8 finishers), but the effort always helps towards the next ride.
 
@joewein That sounds like one hell of a ride. Sorry to hear about the DNF but glad you got home in one piece.

No riding for me today but yesterday I got out for a quick ride on the Arakawa/Irumagawa. I was going well (nice and easy really as my legs were a bit sore from running on Sunday) and then near Seibu Bunri uni I got a puncture and another slashed tyre - WTH! Carelessness on my part as I was mounting a small curb at speed after a gravel bit and the back tyre pinched on the way over. Totally sucked knowing I had to buy a second replacement tyre in less than a week!

I went out for some hiking with the family in Naguri this afternoon. Lovely day for it. While I was there I wanted to check out if the road was open to the top of Arimasan, but I didn't get the chance. Anyone been up there this year yet?

Oh, one bike silver lining was that I was able to fix a bit of creaking on my drivetrain this morning. Shout out to @saibot as your vid here really helped.

Edit - Mother's Day for Brits on Sunday;)
 
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This has not been first quarter of the year in terms of riding for me.
I was in a better shap than usual at the beginning of the year due to more roller-time. But because of bad luck with weather and a more than busy schedule, I only was able to do a few rides so far.
Then after a longish walk home the other day I had a bad pain in my good (better) knee. Both of my knees aren't in best condition since my late teens (too much soccer, basketball...). I went to see a doctor for yet another check up (my last check on my knees is around 15 years ago). His diagnoses was "severe athritis" (no surprise). Anyway, since he's an acupuncture specialist, he suggested to give it a try to ease the pain. And actually my knees felt better after only sessions already (may due to acupuncture, may just due to the time past since the pain started).
Anyway, in today's session something must have gone wrong. Just 30min after I left the clinic my right foot and my left hand/arm felt numb, my right thigh muscle tensed and my right knee stiff. I called the doctor and he asked me to come back the next day if the symptoms don't go away. Tonight it's still not any better. Actually, the left have of my face is feeling numb now. I guess I'll be back at the doctor's having him fix me first thing in the morning.
The only positive point about the situation is, riding my bike is no problem.

(It looks like I just had to let it out...not fishing for sympathy...)
 
Then, you have no problem!
(Sorry for sounding sanctimonious...trying to put a positive spin on. Cheer up, mate!)

Thanks @Kangaeroo, that's my kind of thinking. I'm mostly getting more worried about my wife's getting worried.
Anyway, I got checked at three different clinics/hospitals and everything seems okay (MRI and lab results pending).
I didn't know that there's nothing more scary to doctors than someone in overall good health showing weird symptoms. They seems just don't have a drawer for those cases.

Weather seem nice here this weekend. I'll be back on the bike.

@bloaker it's happening all the time in the teachers room at my school. I always thought they're evil, but now I see, really they're just treating eachother's stiff shoulders. A clear sign of sympathy.
 
I replaced my old quill stem today as I got the adapter in the post yesterday. No big problems fitting it. It maybe took about 3 hours with sorting out the shifter position and wrapping the tape and whatnot. Took the bike out for a quick ride after I finished. The wider handlebars are great as the bike seems to handle much better and I've got more room for my hands on the bars. My back was a little sore during the ride so I decided to raise my seat about 10 mm and the pain went away.

Here are some pics of the bike.

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