It’s raining :(

The aging Nokian NBX tyres I’ve been running on the 456 for a while have been replaced with a new set of Bontrager Jones ACX tyres in a generous 2.35" size. This is a fairly unremarkable event, but gave me the ideal opportunity to post and entry with the above title. I’d heard rumours of them being fairly trick to fit as they are the tubeless-ready version. However the front went on with very little trouble, but getting the first bead on the back wheel was a bit of a chore, especially when I had to remove and refit it as the logo wasn’t lined up with the valve-hole properly.

This mornings breakfast was partaken of at the excellent Velo Lounge, a full english with a side order of fries, washed down with two mugs of coffee. A very welcome meal given that I hadn’t eaten since Nandos yesterday lunchtime.

Marmite with Marston's Pedigree

I picked up a couple of jars to try tonight.

After discovering a pool of water on the floor in the kitchen, it quickly became apparent why my beer hadn’t been as cold as usual the last few nights, the fridge/freezer had died. Fortunately there wasn’t too much in the freezer, so I’ve not had to throw much away.

A couple of hours and £300 later there’s a shiny new silver fridge/freezer in place, and in half an hour I can turn it on to see if it works.

Now I’m aware that I like my food and eat a fair amount, but did they really need to put 5 identical takeaway menus through the door earlier?

It was 20 years ago today (I think) that I bought my first MTB. It wasn’t my first foray off-road, I’d already spent a couple of years riding a converted road-bike round endless laps of Rainbow Woods.

Originally I wanted a Saracen Tufftrax but wasn’t allowed to buy that and had to get a 23" Raleigh Memphis from Hares in Moorland Road, now The Velo Lounge. I had it for two years, broke one frame, bent a set of forks, but rode it everywhere until I replaced it with the first of two Alpinestars bikes.

I’ve now owned 13 different MTBs over the years:

• Raleigh Memphis
• Alpinestars Cro-Mega (x2)
• Orange Clockwork
• Univega 704
• On-One Inbred
• Cove Stiffee
• Planet-X Jack Flash
• Craftworks FRM125
• Kona Kaboom
• Kona Unit
• On-One 456
• Trek 69er

9 of those are still in my possession in one form or another.

My two weeks off work is finally coming to an end, and to be honest I’ve enjoyed it so much I don’t really want to go back. However I’d soon run out of money if I just stayed at home all the time, so back to work I must go.

I’m also nearing the end of my two-week run through of Battlestar Galactica, it looks like it’ll be a good finale.

My X-Trail has at last been returned, and other than the missing SVE badge from the boot it’s back to normal complete with all the junk I’d removed from it when it went away. The missing badge should appear in the post in due course, apparently they are struggling to get some parts at the moment which is slowing repairs down considerable. I was originally told mine would be away for two weeks, in fact it was four.

The hire car has also been returned to Enterprise. They gave me a copy of the bill as a receipt, it’s cost Dan’s insurers over £1330 in hire fees for the 28 days it’s been in my possession. I’m glad I wasn’t paying.

My X-Trail is on it’s way back and should be here in an hour or so.