Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

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Ray P
No idea why I do this anymore
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Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:18 pm
Location: Somerset

#1 Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

Post by Ray P »

If Covid-19 hadn't come along this weekend I would have been participating in the 'Ride London' event, a 100 mile ride on closed roads around London and the Surrey countryside. The start would have been at the 2012 Olympic Park and the finish on The Mall. Anyway the event was cancelled.

However, the organisers have come up with an alternative event, called 'My Ride London', whereby they are encouraging everyone to do their own ride to raise funds for charities. So, this weekend I'll be setting out to ride 100 miles down here in Somerset and instead of riding with tens of thousands of fellow cyclists I'll be doing it on my own (I think that riding alone for that long will be a bigger challenge than the physical effort).

Charities need our help at the moment; it has been estimated that the sector is facing a £10 billion shortfall in funds this year because of cancelled fundraising and a greater demand for their services.

I'm riding to raise funds for Wallace and Gromits Grand Appeal, the charity that supports Bristol Children's Hospital. Bristol Children's Hospital provides specialist treatment and care for an area covering the whole of the South West and into South Wales.

If you can spare a few quid to support me I'll really help to keep me motivated as well as genuinely helping with the treatment and rehabilitation of some really poorly kids. You can make a donation here;

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundra ... Id=1147647

Thanks ever so.

Ray
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
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Ray P
No idea why I do this anymore
Posts: 6294
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:18 pm
Location: Somerset

#2 Re: Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

Post by Ray P »

Fingers crossed that it doesn't rain tomorrow like it has today!
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
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Ray P
No idea why I do this anymore
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Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:18 pm
Location: Somerset

#3 Re: Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

Post by Ray P »

I had to abandon 6miles in this morning. I had a puncture, fitted my spare tube and fixed the puncture but then used up all my CO2 trying to inflate the replacement tube - turns out the core of the presta valve (brand new tube) wasn't done up properly at the factory. Instead of a good ride I had the pleasure of a 6mile walk home. :roll: :-x

A tiny bit of good luck though; 10mins after getting home the heavens opened!

So, it looks like I'll be doing the ride next weekend instead.
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
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IslandPink
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#4 Re: Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

Post by IslandPink »

Oh no ! - I was just going to wish you belated good luck and see if you'd finished.
I should have been more attentive - might have helped !
"Once you find out ... the Circumstances ; then you can go out"
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IslandPink
Amstrad Tower of Power
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Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 7:01 pm
Location: Denbigh, N.Wales

#5 Re: Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

Post by IslandPink »

"Once you find out ... the Circumstances ; then you can go out"
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Ray P
No idea why I do this anymore
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Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:18 pm
Location: Somerset

#6 Re: Wallace & Gromits Grand Appeal

Post by Ray P »

I've already got four or five pumps!

Two C02 cartridges should be sufficient for three or four punctures but only if the valve keeps it inside the tube. I just assumed I had pinched the tube putting the tyre back on when it went down straight away so wasted the CO2 chasing the wrong problem and by the time I thought I ha better but the repaired tube back in I had no means of inflating it - not did I encoounter a friendly touring cyclist armed with a pea-shooter.

I've not encountered a faulty presta valve before, it must be a manuacturing fault as it was a brand new Continental tube so I'll see if I can get a replacement or a refund.
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
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