There forecast wind would be a tail wind which just makes the whole thing easier. My experience is that is rarely rains until later in the morning. Quite aside from that, I rode in the rain yesterday and it wasn’t as bad as you’d imagine.
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Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog
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Comment on Early Riser by Mark O'Meara
Posted: July 3rd, 2009, 2:34pm MDT by Mark O'Meara
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Comment on Early Riser by Jojo
Posted: July 3rd, 2009, 2:23pm MDT by Jojo
I am tempted although serious quantities of rain or wind will put me off.
Mark O'Meara: the blog
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Early Riser
Posted: July 3rd, 2009, 1:59pm MDT by Mark O'Meara
My plan to leave at seven, ride along the coast to Newport Station and then get the train home.
Is anyone silly enough to join me?
Just Nicky
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slept in after another bad nig…
Posted: July 3rd, 2009, 9:28am MDT by nicky
slept in after another bad night’s sleep. I think I should stop having nana naps if they’re going to affect my night-time sleep.
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awake again when I would rathe…
Posted: July 3rd, 2009, 11:57pm MDT by nicky
awake again when I would rather be asleep. nana naps are a bad idea.
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went to the plaza on a catalog…
Posted: July 3rd, 2009, 7:36pm MDT by nicky
went to the plaza on a catalogue hunting mission. The big toy sales are on so it’s time to think about Christmas and birthday presents.
Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog
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Comment on Pointy End by Mark O'Meara
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 3:00pm MDT by Mark O'Meara
Well both of mine are patched now. I am not optimistic but it’s certainly worth a try.
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Comment on Pointy End by jojo
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:39pm MDT by jojo
I used to patch tyres a bit and from what i recall you need to really rough up the tube to get it to “key” well with the adhesive, and that more is more when it comes to the adhesive. Some of our tubes used to be pretty heavily patched.
Mark O'Meara: the blog
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Pointy End
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:34pm MDT by Mark O'Meara
Whatever punctured my front tyre must have been pretty determined. As I out the front wheel back on, I noticed that the back was entirely flat also. I know I did ride through a couple of patched of shattered glass so perhaps that it was did it.
Either way, the tube from my back wheel now has a patch on it. Hopefully, these patches will fix these tubes. Two in a day is getting a bit much really.
Comments for Mark O'Meara: the blog
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Comment on The Chicken and the Frog by Eilis
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:26pm MDT by Eilis
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Comment on Retro by Eilis
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 2:21pm MDT by Eilis
i was a big fan of kaarin fairfax back then. thanks for the reminder.
Mark O'Meara: the blog
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One Foot After the Other
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 1:54pm MDT by Mark O'Meara
I think that medium-distance bike riding rewards patience and a little resilience. On the patience side of things, in enough time, you can get all sorts of places. On the second point, you never know what might happen when you are out, but it’s never that bad.
This morning, I got Nicky to check the weather site and there was a serious wind from WSW. With this in mind, I decided to ride to Newport to take advantage of the tail wind. About three-quarters of an hours in, it started to rain. I figured one of three things could happen; it could stop, it could get worse, or it could continue raining like that. There were no catastrophic options here, so I kept going.
As I left Altona, I got to the bit where there is a low bridge across the creek. I’ve been across this before when it is flooded but it was only a few inches deep. Water like that is excellent for giving the tyres and wheels a quick clean. This morning, however, it was more like a foot or two deep. I stopped and considered my optioned. I could turn around and go home. I could attempt the waters and be fine. I could attempt the waters, fall over, and get quite wet. Again, there were no catastrophic options here, so I rode through. I did have to change down to first gear and steady myself against a bollard but I got across just fine. My shoes and socks got wet but that wasn’t the end of the world.
The train ride went without a hitch, and pretty soon I was close to home. I was only about two hundred metres from home when I noticed a steady bump from the front wheel. It looked a little chubby at the bottom but it always looks like that when I am sitting on the bike. All the same, I stopped and checked. Sure enough, the tyre was flat so I walked the last four minutes of my trip. Although annoying, it couldn’t have happened at a better time.
Half the fun of a little adventure is the little things that you work around. If everything went without a hitch that would be nice, but it wouldn’t be as much fun.
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A Few Small Repairs
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 1:28pm MDT by Mark O'Meara
My front tyre went flat again today. I found the hole and it’s tiny. I must had ridden over something pointy. This will happen.
I was going to simply replace the tube since I have never had much luck patching up bicycle tubes. At best, I turn fast leaks into slow leaks. I try to follow the direction, but I don’t think I’ve every properly repaired a tube.
Even in this context, I’ve been hoping through the new tubes this last week so I decided to have another go. I followed the instructions on my little Dunlop repair kit, left it to dry, and have just pumped it up again. It would be nice to think that it will still be up in a couple of hours but I am not especially hopeful.
So, I was wondering if anyone (and I was especially thinking of Helen) had any wisdom on the question of replacing and repairing. What is the most sensible thing to do? What are the tricks of getting a repair right?
Just Nicky
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Mark is on a bike ride. Prince…
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 10:31am MDT by nicky
Mark is on a bike ride. Princess Snotbucket is watching telly. The boy & I are playing on computers. Not bad for a Friday.
Mark O'Meara: the blog
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Retro
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 9:45am MDT by Mark O'Meara
If I’d thought about it, I’d probably have guess that a slew of Deborah’s videoclips would be on YouTube. I would have been right. However, I just stumbled on this so it was something of a surprise. A pleasant surprise.
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My Recent Blather on Twitter
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 7:01am MDT by Mark O'Meara
- The kids are awake so I'd better be useful. #
- Looks nice outside. Considering a bike ride this morning. #
- Five minutes ago, I didn't know these existed. Now, I would love one. [www.madsencycles.com] #
- This page from the WA Government about cycling is a great resource. [www.dpi.wa.gov.au] #
- Took my bike around the block and the tyres still seem firm. The state of them tomorrow will be the real test. #
- Watching a couple of Charlie & Lola episodes with the kids before they head off to bed. It's a charming little show. #
- I know it makes me a heathen but I do enjoy a glass of basic red with some tonic water. #
- Recovering nicely from a minor mental meltdown. #
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The Chicken and the Frog
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 6:00am MDT by Mark O'Meara
Enclosure: [download]
Hello, and welcome to the One Minute Mark.
I had what might be a good idea. I think that the definition of idea is pretty settled. The definition of good might just be flexible enough for this sentence to be broadly true. I was thinking of using PowerPoint, some Creative-Commons licensed photos from flickr, and some of my earlier efforts together to make some basic picture books.
I know PowerPoint is not a print-publishing tool; these would be more proof of concept slideshows than actual books. Eventually, I’d like to write something new. For the time being, I thought I might cut my teeth on Only You Can Stay the Same and some of the old Dear Bert stories.
I am not sure if I have the writing ability or the time to do this idea justice. I guess the only left is to give it a quick go and see how far I get.
Anyhow, that’s the minute and I’ll speak to you soon.
Comments for Just Nicky
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Comment on Here I am! by Eilis
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 8:53pm MDT by Eilis
i’d love to know which blogs you’ve been reading…
Finn Henry
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School Holiday Programme
Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 4:21pm MDT by Mark
I think Finn might have been a bit nervous about going to his school holiday programme today. On the way, he seemed quite upset when he realised that I wouldn’t be staying with him all day. His argument was that we could miss his Dad too much, but I suspect he was just nervous about doing something new on his own.
He need not have worried. When we picked him up this afternoon at three, he was there with his whole little gang. They had been watching movies and playing secret agents. In fact, he didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay until all the other mums arrived.
We promised him that week he could stay until five o’clock and this news made him a bit happier. The great news, of course, is that he had such a great day.
Just Nicky
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enjoying the swing music sound…
Posted: July 1st, 2009, 3:47pm MDT by nicky
enjoying the swing music soundtrack of the looney tunes cartoon the boy is watching.