It all started last autumn when I noticed that the link chain was a bit slack. Things went from bad to worse entirely down to my stupidity. I stripped the thread of one of the retaining bolts and sheared the other (undoing it, should you ask).
Tandem went back in shed until the coming of nicer weather. Nicer weather having come, I drilled out the broken bolt, borrowed some taps (thank you Rick) and tried to clean up the threads. No good. Nothing for it, but to drill out the hole and use a tap one size bigger M7. Little did I know that M7 allen bolts are made of unobtanium. I did manage to find some titanium ones in China!
The postman woke us up this morning with the bolts. £6 worth of titanium loveliness. They won't be seen, but I know they're there. I tightened them up gingerly with a little Allen key, not putting too much force through them and they worked! That was a relief. We're back on the road and the chain's still slack, but that's a job for another day.
IMG_5408 by
RWPD, on Flickr[/url]
I then got the front cranks, gave them a wipe and was surprised by what I saw.
IMG_5405 by
RWPD, on Flickr
My cranks are like that fine lady from a Wiltshire town that shall be nameless. One's 170 and the other's 175. I've never noticed. Perhaps my legs are the same! I'll have to get them measured. The cranks are the same length, it's just the holes are in a different place.
