Escape from boredom

Yesterday I attended my first competition this year, which also was my first time trying Terrengsykkelrittet. Almost 60 kilometers hard core offroad biking in Østmarka. Manengen won using 2.55, I got more value for money and spent a bit more then one and a half hour more, which was expected. I’m pleased with the result, and also that I had no punctures or any other mechanical problems with the bike. Struggled hard with the brakes on Friday evening, but problem solved and it worked flawlessly for 4 and a half hour. Bit more problems with my own body, felt cramps several times, but luckily not anything bad, but very tired when finished.

The results for my class, Men 30-39, tow rounds can be viewed at Emit webpage

My legs and face when finished together with Espen showing his legs as well

From my training diary, kinda funny to see the red line at bottom right which is my pulse. Hard start and falling all the way

Had to take my camera to service at Foto Video, and what better to do than use my bike and not go the shortest way? I headed off to Ekebergsletta, then via Sjursøya to downtown Oslo. When finished at Foto Video I followed Akerselva up to Maridalsvannet and to Grefsenkollen. Surprised by the very good conditions riding my bike down the trails from the top down to Årvoll.

Picture taken above Sjursøya

See the route at Sportstracker

Two days ago when biking from Ullevål back home, just about 400 meters from Spinn at Storo my bike broke down. The crank gear had a massive breakdown. As the picture shows, on the left just after the break down, the pedal is way to much to the left. Compare it with the picture to the right where the new crank is mounted it has a lot more space between the pedal and the frame. It started making noises on my way to Ullevål, and when I had to take a quick ride to work I was afraid that something would break down when at high speed. So I went slow and did not stand up at all, afraid that it would break down and make me fly over the handle bars. When the total breakdown was a fact it was not possible at all to use it, I had to walk the last bit. The original plan was to buy a new crank and fix it myself when at home, but no I did not bother. Luckily Pål Andre was present, so I was allowed to hand them the bike the very same day. That was on Monday, on Tuesday they where finished with it, but I was not able to pick it up before today. Now running smooth!!

Yesterday was my fiftieth time going to work with my bike this year, and also the fifth leg on my virtual trip to Nordkapp from Lindesnes. I have now arrived at Arnes in Ballangen. Apparently not the place to be, since the only thing I have been able to find out about the place using Google is…the weather forecast at Yr.no.

On my way to work, just as I have passed E18 using the footbridge close to the Opera I have taken picture of graffiti with a message. “Utrydd bananflua!” – “Exterminate the fruit fly“

Last Wednesday was my first bike ride not going to work. With my single speed bike I headed for Vestreng in +2, rain and occasionally strong headwinds. And when average speed is limited to about 20 km/h I was quite cold after 48 km. Got to shorter rides as well on Thursday and Friday, but with small changes in the weather it was not pleasant at all.

Yesterday I mounted my Thule rack, together with the summer tires, so now the car is ready for yet another cycling season.

Yesterday evening I mounted brand new SPD pedals (the old ones are on my commuter bike) and a new Selle Italia SLR bike saddle. Needed a new saddle since the old one soaked up water if it was raining hard, reason – to soft, who needs a soft saddle?

And today Espen and I enjoyed the nice weather and was out together for about two hours. Had a nice ride to Lillestrøm, via Skedsmokorset, Hellerudsletta and back home. Here we have a short brake nearby Hellerudsletta.

My commuter bike broke down about two weeks ago, so I bought a new chain. But, new chain and worn out sprockets are not a good combination. So after advice from Espen I decided to buy the Single Speed Conversion Kit. In that way I will reduce the need for maintenance and hopefully over time reduced cost as well 🙂 Tomorrow I have planned to try it out, hopefully doing 50 kilometers or so.

In addition to the kit I had to buy a new dropout since the internal threads in the old one was long gone. I also had to buy a new KMC 8 chain. The old one was a 9’er, and worn out in just a week because of the old sprockets, but normally you need no more than the kit to convert your bike.

Sexy driveline?

Notice that I use the tension seeker downwards, not upwards. It is recommended to use it upwards, but since I could not cut the KMC-chain just one link, but needed to cut two it would get to tight. Therefore downwards.

The fourth leg, now I have reached Storforshei, or just Heia as we justed to call it when I was a child. Heia is just 25 kilometers north of Mo i Rana where I grew up. At Heia you can among other things find the Artic Circle Raceway. So now I’ve done almost 1500 kilometers this year riding my bike to work.

When biking to work I am passing Middelalderparken after about 7 kilometers. There you can, among other things, find ruins of an old church and other buildings. And once a year the music festival Øyafestivalen is held there.

As I have mentioned earlier, to commute each day is hard for the equipment. Today my bike chain snapped when I was about to accelerate from the sidewalk out in the road. This happened down by Aker Brygge, luckily I must say since it is not a long walk to the subway. Not decided what to do now, I will create a single speed of the bike, but the gear shifters are still quite ok, so I guess a new chain will do the trick for now.

Nothing else to do than use the subway when things are like this

The third leg, I have reached Kvam which is to be found in Steinkjer municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county. I remember from when I was a child, that Kvam had a old diary with a very tall chimney. One of the landmarks on the veeeery looong journey from home to my great-grandparents living in Åsen. So this means that I have done more than 1000 kilometers on my bike so far this year, looking good.

On my way to work, when at Etterstad I am passing by the first apartment building that OBOS build back in 1931, Etterstad 1. Trivial knowledge which might be useful in rare occasions.

Yesterday was the best day so far this year when going to and from work. The sun was shining and temperature just below zero. First picture from the morning when I arrived at work

When going home, just before the Opera I had to stop and take a picture of a machine tearing down a building. Looking forward to see how it will look in a few days, and what will be there in a year? Btw: The boat on the picture has its own webpage http://www.msinnvik.no/

Just turning a bit to the left, the Opera.