Last week I finally managed to build the BeOne Storm 1.0 road bike that I’d bought a couple of weeks prior. Today, I went out for the first test ride! I’d planned a 20 mile loop around the local hills (to test both the bike and me), but it wasn’t to happen.
The ride started off well enough, despite the snow squall that came in, and I made it down to Chain Reaction’s warehouse in Doagh without too much trouble.
First ride ... it's coming home
Sorry, I couldn’t get a shot of both me and the bike together, as it was early on a wet and cold Sunday morning and there was no-one else around. Just me, the crazy looking cyclist out in the snow. Also, I apologise for the mountain bike mudguard on the back spoiling the racy lines of the BeOne, it was all I had to hand.
The snow had stopped at this point and I was feeling good and all set to continue on, but half a mile up the road the Puncture Fairy paid me a visit.
First ride - The puncture fairy visits. Also snow.
I got the tyre off and the new tube installed no problem, but after 30 minutes struggle I still couldn’t get it inflated as there seemed to be something wrong with my mini pump. Stupidly, I’d gone out without ever testing it on a Presta valve (as used in road bike tyres) before, and it seems that the Presta fitting on the pump had been broken. In the end, I had to give up and call in the wifely rescue service for a lift home.
On the ride down the bike was working well and was surprisingly comfortable. I’m very pleased with my new wheels and I’m looking forward to next weekend when I can try again. Maybe with some puncture proofing this time!
