Bought a bike and the AA had to rescue me

Bought a brand new bike today and went on a little ride to Platt Fields (4 miles away) to cut a long story short the pedal lever feel off and I had to push it back 2 miles until I saw an AA patrol man who very kind me lent me a rachet.

I suppose it all adds to the fun. I am hoping to do 6-8 miles a day so hopefully it will make me loose weight.

I shall need to buy a little box to keep a small rachet and bike spanner in in case it happens again though

 

Sounds like a great bike.

 

Its a long story, it was actually my fault the pedal lever fell off. Its been a heck of a day and I forgot to tighten it up.

 

4 mile bike ride and walking back pushing said bike each day you'll be as fit as a fiddle in no time!

 

hehe it won't happen again, I am bringing my tools next time It was just me being stupid and forgetting to tighten a crucial nut.

I've just been looking at the cycle routes in Manchester and it seems I can cycle to much more places off road then I ever imagined.

 

Seems obvious to mention it but highly recommended kit: multi-tool thingy (chain levers, screw drivers, small spanners, chain tool, etc,) a bit bigger than a swiss army knife - invaluable. Mini self adhesive punture repair patches and an inner tube. Cheap, easy to carry and one day, when you've worked up to a forty mile route you be glad you bothered.

 

I am planning of going to Debdale after work tomorrow if I have time, that will be a 16 mile round trip so I will need to make sure I have the tools. I cycled 4 miles today then walked two and cycled another 1.

It is all off road though, an official cycle path on a dis used railway, I am still not confident on roads at all.

 

Don't forget a pump too!

 

I knew there was something I'd forgotten!!! That spare inner tube would have been really handy without the pump.

 

Offroad is a better workout in some ways and many roads are bloody dangerous for cyclists.

 

Drove down Wilmslow Road today on my way to get a Chinese visa from the Chinese consulate - didn't see anyone pushing a bike. You haven't given up already have you?

 

I did 7 miles today so no Although the nut holding the pedal is now warn so that will need replacing. So less than 15 miles and already it needs a replacement part! Yes my bike really is made by Lada.

 

The bike didn't per chance say 'quality' in the advertising did it?

A sure fire way of establishing its not.

 

It was my fault though, the bike was self assembly, it was a long story but I didn't tighten a nut enough so it came loose wearing itself away, I need to get a replacement bolt and everything will be fine.

I am also being more careful with the gears now which should help reliability.

 

good for you AT!

a bike is quite possibly the finest mechanical object in the whole world!!

enjoy!

 

Dunno if AT's is by the sounds of it Chris!

 

Surprisingly it's often the cheap bikes that actually last longest. When you get up to higher money, parts become lighter and more complex, and often less reliable. For example, no one ever has a problem with cheap elastomer suspension forks, but the complicated damping and adjustable systems of more complex forks are endless trouble (just ask fox's warranty department). The only part that this does not seem to hold true for is wheel hubs.

 

Dunno about that Isaac. For some things maybe but I'll be sticking with my xtr derallieur that has not yet required more than a squirt of oil and my rims thats are still true after taking a hammering!

 

It's certainly not everything. But for example cheap chains, cassettes and chainrings tend to wear more slowly than expensive ones.