Failed miserably to get any cycling for the last four days now, problems with the gearing, rear cassette kept slippng, making it hard going, so much so I ended up with sore knees and achilles tendonitus in both my heels, after my last ride home from work, last Saturday.

I had a go at fixing the problem by myself on Sunday. I watched a very instructive video on Youtube, a couple of times, so felt I knew what I had to do. It was tipping down outside so I had to attempt re-indexing the gears in the ultra confined space of my shed. I was getting on great until I unscrewed the adjuster barrel all the way out, and because I’d disconnected the gear cable, I had to try to rethread it, which caused the cable to fray and split. Ended up having to get a new cable, and as I already have a BikeCare agreement with Halfords, I decided to have them do it.

When I took out my latest agreement, for THREE YEARS, with them, all I received was a till receipt. I rang the local Halfords to book my bike in for repair, they said I would have to produce that till receipt, I explained that I no longer have it, and said that they should have a record of it on their computer? The reply was negative? I rang Halfords head office, explaining that the situation was ridiculous, to which I got the reply they wouldn’t be able to cope if they backed up all their agreements on computer??? What a load of rubbish!!!!

I took my bike to the local Neath store (Halfords), and spoke to the staff, and they agreed that they had a record of my agreement on their computer, and didn’t know who I could have been talking so. They took the Pioneer in and I was able to pick it up that evening witha new gear cable and re-indexed. I’ve had to adjust the barrel adjuster at the rear, slightly, because, a couple of gears were still slipping. That was a couple of weeks ago now, and I’m glad to say I’m back commuting regularly.

My tyres have been giving me some concern of late, so I started looking on Ebay for some bargains, and very glad to say, I found some. I got some very good tyres for a knock down price. £35 for a pair of Continental tour reflex something or other. I had a pair direct from the welsh suppliers gratis for my Subway LTD, but they were 26″, the Pioneer is 700c, so I was well pleased, plus I picked up a third for £17……..bargains or what? I should be OK in the tyre department for a good while?

I haven’t replaced any yet, though the front Maxxiis Overdrive, I’ve had on the front has been there since I got the bike seven years ago, what a tyre. I woud have loved to have got the same again, but at clos on £50 each, it wasn’t an option.

The commutes, have been really enjoyable, though on occasion very tiring, One such was a week last Wednesday, I cycled to Port Talbot, then had to cath the train to Tile Hill, near Coventry, on union business. Didn’t get back to Port Talbot till 19.30, then cycled home, I was pooped.

Biggest problem for me is I miss my cycle ride so much, if I take the car, a bit like a small child, who can’t have his sweets!

Cheers for now.