I've been struggling with a bad back all week. Last Sunday it locked up
as I was flushing the loo. By Thursday my back had loosened enough for
me to do some gentle dancing. On Friday I did a little bit of fencing,
but had to retire early. This morning, I awoke stiff (no, stoppit!)
but I felt I ought to take advantage of a rare break in the weather to
have a ride.
Common sense took over: most of my recent riding has been on the 26"
MUni with 170mm cranks. I fancied a ride on the 700c, but thout the
sudden change to the slightly larger wheel, and the, er... 102 mm
cranks might be too much. So I swapped the cranks for 110s, found my
kit (scattered widely about the house) and drove down to Trent Fields:
I walk the short distance to the field, and get a "Do you know you've
lost half your bike, mate?" I respond with the thinnest of thin
smiles.
Hmmmm. So, who forgot to lower the seat then? Cranks 8mm longer, so
seat should be 8mm lower. It makes more difference than you might
think...
So, freemounting is easy enough, but it feels like a stretch to reach
that bottom pedal. The skinny high pressure tyre and light weight make
the uni skittish. I get off to adjust the seat, and realise that
unlike every other unicycle in my fleet, this one needs an Allen key
(hex wrench) as it has no quick release. So much for form over
function.
I set off across the field, and lose traction in the mud, UPD-ing. The
impact of seat with ground knocks the seat out of alignment, and I have
to apply a firm blow with the heel of my hand to knock it straight. A
dog walker comments, "Heavy going?"
I walk to the riverside path and remount. I ride uncomfortably. The
seat is way too high. I must have had it exactly right before, or even
a touch high, for the extra 8mm to make that much difference. I stop
at a bench seat and search my tool kit. For years I carried an Allen
key and never used it. I must have rationalised my toolkit some time
because the Allen key is no longer there.
I reach a section of path covered with slimy wet autumnal leaves.
Randomly, I UPD. I realise that this is no fun. After less than half
a mile, I turn back.
It's about 15 minutes to get home, and allowing for time spent
adjusting the seat and a further round trip, the window of opportunity
for a ride today has gone.
I adjust the seat. It takes several goes, and I have to lower it
further than I expect. Eventually, I get it just right, and I find
myself idling comfortably, with either foot, and riding backwards as
well. That short time on 102s 9and a brief period with 89s) must have
done some good. I was never this confident on 110s before. The
dancefloor effect has worked.
Over-cocky, I lose concentration and fall off the back, landing on my
backside, jarring my bad back, and cutting my hand. I also jar my
wrist because I'm not wearing wristguards.
Back in the house, a thought strikes me. I find a ruler. The ""110s"
I'd put on were actually 125s. No wonder 8mm made so much difference.
It was 23 mm! I had been riding with my seat an inch too high.
How I laughed.
--
Mikefule
Did you hear about the computer programmer conspiracy theorist who put
10 and 10 together and made 101?
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