In fact, the opinion of the locals is that Riva is a gorgeous place because of the Lake. I always found it slightly odd that being so near so beautiful mountains they actually praise the lake. But they probably have some points:
*) the lake attracts more tourism, beach, sailing, surfing, and generates more wealth
*) In northern Italy you are always near the mountains. But not always a quarter mile from a big beautiful lake.
*) And although the mountains around Riva are great, you only need to drive 1-2 hr to be in the most beautiful mountains in the world. Mt. Baldo is good. But come'on it's not the Marmolada, or the Civetta, or the Lavaredo Peaks or the Sella Group or the Vajolet Towers. So of course, in Riva it's the lake that stand out.
Last edited by Gambatte; 19-11-2020 at 03:36 PM.
Thirty four miles (1400ft) following the R. Wharfe to Weardley then up the hill by the Harewood Estate to go round Eccup Reservoir, round the playing fields of The Grammar School at Leeds, across The Alwoodley Golf Club, then along Wigton Lane and Alwoodley Lane where the mansions can go for, well, several £millions - after all, if you have a full size Palm Tree in your front garden in its own glass Palm House you can't expect cheap - and back through Bramhope etc.
It's a ride I do when I want to see how the other half struggle by.
"...as dry as the Atacama desert".
32k and 700m ascent. 6 miles from home I had just hit tarmac again (thankfully and the bottom bracket thingy appeared to disintegrate. I pushed it up the last hill and then free wheeled and gently peddled home.
Be no more biking for a while till me and youtube fix it.
Don't roll with a pig in poo. You get covered in poo and the pig likes it.
I once had a bottom bracket suddenly fall apart. It's the only time I have missed out on a fell race due to transport failure.
In his lifetime he suffered from unreality, as do so many Englishmen.
Jorge Luis Borges
Will do, this is only a guess as I have no idea about bike mechanics and never seen a bottom bracket in my life 🤔.
Came out forestry, started on the road uphill and there were funny noises from the bracket immediately followed by my peddles acting like a drunken sailor with massive play in them and some crunchy noises. Presuming bearings gone wonky or come out? Perhaps something has just come undone?
Pushed up the hill and then it was mostly downhill or flat for next 5 miles home so gently peddled in.
Don't roll with a pig in poo. You get covered in poo and the pig likes it.
Thanks for the advice, I'm going to give it a go and think I have the tool for the job. Couple of years back I bought a cheap "set of bike tools" which includes that bottom bracket gadget. Most of the tools I gaze at wondering what they are for - here is another one to try out! Will be slowly building up my tools, need torque wrench first, but a mate round the corner has absolutely everything for when I am stuck.
Washed the bike off and on its stand outside to dry before taking into shed, predictably it is p****ng with ☔.
Don't roll with a pig in poo. You get covered in poo and the pig likes it.
I used to love taking apart the bearings on my road bike as a kid and repacking them and putting them back together, a great grounding in basic mechanics after my old man had shown me how to do it. I remember my first ever sealed bottom bracket, a plastic FAG one which cost about a fiver and lasted about 2 months it gave up the ghost somewhere around Middleton in Teesdale although in its defence I was able to get home as the threads stripped from the ends and the whole thing turned in the bottom bracket
"...as dry as the Atacama desert".
Just remembered I used to do my freewheel as well, knock the end cap off and repack it, a piece of cotton to hold the pawls in while you slotted the top back on, I think I’ve got an old Maillard block in the shed, I might knock it apart for old times sake although I probably won’t be able to see the ball bearings now