Saturday cycle with refurbished bike and operation heal going well

Today I decided to test recent repairs to both my bike and my knackers with a steady cycle around Calvia, Mallorca.

---

Out in the cold

For most of last year my bike hasn't had a look-in. The Paddleboard season started in April and my bike was already looking a bit worse for wear, having spent the last 3 years sheltered, but outside. I'd also been told to go easy on exercise following the Vasectomy and I'd read cycling was one to avoid for a little while. However, with my ballbag feeling much better over the past week, I decided it was time to take the bike in for a service with plans to burn some rubber (insert Vasectomy less burning rubber joke here?) of the weekend.

I dropped the bike off last Tuesday and asked the shop owner to sort the brakes, change the chain, and give the bike a general service. The front brake was completely broken and the back wasn't very good at all when braking from speed. And the chain, having been left in sandy, humid air, was pretty rusted. Looking at the bill and the message he sent me a couple of days later, he'd done a lot of work and struggled at times.

Hi Asher...the bike has been without maintenance for a long time and I'm having a hard time getting it to work properly. I have changed the brake pads and cleaned the caliper and I have polished the discs. I have changed the chain and I have adjusted the gears and the derailleur and tried to recover the levers (cleaning and greasing).... now they are working fine, but the return problem persists. Maybe they will work better with use... otherwise we will have to change them.

He explained that the 'gear up' shifter wasn't returning to its home position automatically, and that maybe it would correct itself over the coming weeks. I can say that after riding today, I didn't really have an issue with this and the bike is like new to ride - working brakes are just awesome!

I gave the guy a little extra and have a feeling that I'll be back there for parts (inner-tubes!) and other repairs in future.

---

Calvia Circuit

I've taken this route before and choose it when I fancy cycling up hill really slowly. This isn't that often, but these more hilly routes feel like they've really worked the legs and cleared the lungs out.

With working from home, I do have to make sure that I get out not just during the warmer months and even though I didn't speak to anyone during my ride today, the different scenery and open roads made me feel less secluded, and really grateful to live on the Island.

Mallorca really is a great place to own a Bicycle. A number of roads offer a cycle lane, and there are often signs reminding motorists that there will likely be red faced cyclists around.

Below was probably the tightest corner on my route today, and one that my now excellent brakes would have helped me glide around in style - Except I stopped to take a photo and have a pee.

---

There are also plenty of cycle and pedestrian paths which are often shared. I try not to speed on these anymore as I had a close shave with a dog lead in low light one evening a year or two ago. 😮

Whilst the view from the chairs in the photo above isn't too bad, the motorway runs parallel to the path and is quite audible from this location.

---

The Windmill at Santa Ponca motorway exit has I think made it into one of my blogs before. Again, there is seating, but this is even closer to cars flying past at 120 km/h.

---

Numbers!

Today's journey of almost 27 km took me almost two hours, with a moving time of just under 1 hour and forty minutes. This distance felt good, and with the temperature getting cooler as the day went on, I was glad I didn't plan a longer route.

The most interesting, and potentially the least believable, statistic was my top speed during the ride of 93.2 km/h! I ride an 18 gear trek bike with grippy, wide wheels and I'm surprised that it can go this speed.

---

Back where we started

At roundabout 7 - hair is looking a bit bigger than when I set off though 👳

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you found the time to move your body today.

Cheers

Ash