The Beacon Message Board

Philip Whiteman

Welcome to Operation: Blame Alan Nicholls . A rather daft concept of riding from Birmingham to Weston Super Mare. This was annual event during the early Beacon days apart from we are no longer too soft/not daft enough to do it in February. The route is nominally 320km from Speeds Cycles in Bromsgro...

Philip Whiteman

Paul Campbell, Clive Ansell and I rode an audax on Saturday that should have been retitled 'Riding into the Oblivion'. The Cheltenham Flyer is generally regarded as an easy early season randonee but not this year! The day prove the importance of being properly prepared for all the weather that the u...

Philip Whiteman

Personally, I'd hate to see a wonderful historic brand tainted but I really couldn't care less what brand of bike a guy rides as long as he can ride safely and considerately in the bunch and keep his pride and joy in good order. It might be cool to own a three grand bike but if it takes you twenty ...

Philip Whiteman

Clive wrote:Cannot be used with contact lenses I believe.

It is now possible to use specific drops designed for contact lenses as a method re-wetting. Re-wetting drops lubricate the eye and hydrate the contact lens.

Philip Whiteman

I've had it happen 3x,in each case at over 300 miles in a 24hr TT in summer so not due to cold.Apparently when concentrating the blink rate drops so the corneal dehydration theory is probably correct. Quite correct. For long rides I usually a bottle of eye drop solution and avoid contact lenses. Li...

Philip Whiteman

HAZBRO wrote:Cheap Chinese imports are the way to go!

Considering that many Chinese imports are better engineered that products produced by traditional manufacturing nations, that is not so daft a statement.

Philip Whiteman

I must admit having owned my Pinarello for 14 months bought from Wiggle I'm a bit miffed that Halfrauds are selling them! However having spoken to Andy at Bicicelo in town he's of the opinion it's a good thing for the brand given Halfords huge buying power, in addition it's an attempt by Pinarello ...

Philip Whiteman

I have received the following request from one of our friends in the Redditch

Phil,
Would you consider putting this on the Beacon forum please:

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.g ... ions/46709

Regards

Gordon Cogswell
RR&PCC

Philip Whiteman

This has got to be a huge blunder by Pinarello. I can just picture a situation on a club run: Member 'A' arrives on a brand new Pinarello and Member B exclaims, "where did you buy that, from Halfords!", with much guffawing from fellow participants.

Philip Whiteman

Laurence, I guess that there must be a Committee meeting due on Monday. Why don't you knock something together in the form of a proposal. Doug will know the Stourport contact details. I guess that there may be sufficient interest for an event of this kind. A good idea!

Philip Whiteman

It's strange, when I started cycling I did so as a secondary sport/hobby to keep/get fit for mountaineering trips, and I used to carry extra weight in a rucksack . Now I'm looking to reduce weight to cycle better and faster. Are you sure about that or was it walking partners stashing granite boulde...

Philip Whiteman

To be honest, I have not actually weighed the bike in total although the frame weight is correct. If you are riding the New Cheltenham Flyer, you will be able to see for yourself. I have used Ksyrium SL wheels for strength and weight. So, it is not to bad. The unnecessary weight comes with the extra...

Philip Whiteman

I would advise against steel unless you wish to ride something that has the weight of a battleship. As a a point of interest, but my Rourkie Reynolds 853 bike is lighter than my Ridley aluminum bike. Yes, I had your Rourke in mind as an exception to the rule on heavy steel frames. After seeing your...

Philip Whiteman

Clive, for your type of riding the answer is simple: Van Nicholas Yukon. I would advise against steel unless you wish to ride something that has the weight of a battleship. Saying that, Alan is right about Rourke building excellent steel bikes, you'll simply need deep pockets. Clare, Phil F is corre...

Philip Whiteman

Claire You may not appreciate my advice but here it is: I strongly counsel you against buying any Trek products off the peg. Bontrager wheels are the default Trek wheels - they are quite appalling and not recommended. At one point, mine were failing every 200 miles. The replacement sets were not muc...

Philip Whiteman

Ed Moss wrote:http://www.rutlandcycling.com/content/2 ... ct-review/

£40.49!

Philip Whiteman

Abbey Tea Rooms are open on a Sunday. However, I doubt their ability to handle an influx of cyclists. Some years ago, when I questioned their willingness to take groups, they were not very enthusiastic.

Philip Whiteman

Sram chains are OK with Shimano. I've used them for years as they are better than the Shimano range. I am going sound awkward on the matter of mixing kit. My Moda was supplied with a SRAM chain and Shimano Ultegra by accident. Again, this too caused transmission difficulties which were only resolve...

Philip Whiteman

It seems in shimano you have to go to dura ace to get that cassette, is the BBB much cheaper option any good? Don't ever mix manufacturer's parts even if they proclaim to be Shimano compatible. I once used Shimano compatible products and it caused all sorts of transmission problems, which Paul Prin...

Philip Whiteman

Tim wrote:Thanks. The 11-28 seems to have served me well so far but not ridden anything else (apart from the fixed at Newport!). Not had to get off and walk up anything yet anyway. Do people racing, especially circuits, generally go with different set ups?

Then 11-28 is not suitable. See Ed's advice above.

Philip Whiteman

11-28 suit my purposes and I ride all sorts of terrain. However, it is not suitable for a 1:4 or 25% gradients. As Greg says, you can use a 32 tooth cassette but that significantly increases the margins between each gear option reducing the chance of ideal ratios. I have also heard it claimed that s...

Philip Whiteman

Same day that the LEL riders arrive back in London

Philip Whiteman

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-armstrong-subject-of-criminal-investigation Looks like it could end up with prison Interesting. Even if the US authorities don't manage to nail him, he is likely to be subject to French criminal conviction and could run the risk of being arrested if entering F...

Philip Whiteman

Laurence, sorry the picture is not visible.

Jockey wheels do wear out. They are not too costly or difficult to replace.

Philip Whiteman

If the KH28 Saintbury Hill climb were scheduled for late morning on a Sunday, that would tie in nicely with a club run and generate an audience and possibly a few worn out participants.

Philip Whiteman

rdleaper wrote:Simon - could you re-do your post from 17 January? It's a bit long!!

Cheers!

MODERATOR'S NOTE

I have tidied the message up to remove the metres of blank space.

Hopefully you can read Simon's message now.

Philip Whiteman

Tim, Decathlon don't provide a club discount. I bought my Tacx Flow from them some years ago for £200. Their prices were so competitive that any club discount was exceeded when compared to normal suppliers. Whether they remain cheap is another matter. There is no need to go to the expense of turbo s...

Philip Whiteman

On average, I probably replace my chain at around 3000 miles or when its gets to 1mm wear (absolute maximum), according to the Park Chain checker. But at 0.75mm wear I am checking it after most rides. ... Of course, you can just leave the same chain and cassette on till the chain breaks. But from m...

Philip Whiteman

I can just hear Alan screaming at the moment.

Hosepipes, muck off, not after every ride ..........

Philip Whiteman

I really wish people would not start this sort of discussion without thinking. Having checked my rims, the only winner is Paul Prince and the only looser is my bank balance.

Philip Whiteman

One simple rule, DON'T believe a narcissist

Philip Whiteman

Further to Alan's observations about Koolstops or other expensive brake pads, be careful not to confuse improved braking co-efficiency with reduced rim wear. I use the more expensive end of the Aztec range - they do improve braking but do not reduce rim wear or problems of detritus embedding into th...

Philip Whiteman

Here is a a little video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQK762wtpfM

Philip Whiteman

MODERATOR'S NOTE:

I have just shunted this thread to the Technical Forum. It is an interesting technical discussion that would otherwise be lost in the general chit chat of 'Cakestop'.

EDIT

---ooops. I meant Cafe Stop and not Cakestop (see below)

Philip Whiteman

Thanks for your message. I have picked up your e-mail and responded. I have chosen Whitlenge on the basis that it is nearby and therefore easier to redirect entrants not aware of the change. Rowberry's is an alternative but they do not permit event parking on their site in fear of loosing normal gar...

Philip Whiteman

Clive wrote:Are there any plan to run the KK and/or CTH as permanent events?

As an after thought, either of these events could be ridden as a DIY via GPS.

Philip Whiteman

Not been there yet but I recently found this:

Holloways, Suckley.

http://www.holloways.co.uk/the-greenhouse-menus.htm

George, do you know anything about it?

Upton Marina (again)

http://www.thewheelhouseupton.com/food-and-drink/food/

Philip Whiteman

Here are some rarely used but interesting A run destinations Cosford RAF Museum link no longer worked so has been removed Toddington Station. Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. Subject to operating days. link no longer worked so has been removed Bridgnorth SVR Station. Subject to operating da...

Philip Whiteman

Just had a response from one entrant to the KK explaining why he was so keen to enter. Yesterday the LEL sold out within a few hours of opening which has resulted in hundreds of prospective riders missing out. Even the reserves list is full. So he was keen to make up for his loss by entering a host ...

Philip Whiteman

GPS validation is only accepted for DIYs. My 'Monty Madness' in 2011 was validated using GPX track, plus some photos take on the way round. It wouldn't be that hard to write some software to validate a GPX. I just don't get the feeling AUK are ready and willing to go paperless just yet. Only becaus...

Philip Whiteman

I have thought about looking into the KK as a perm, though it is already similar to the Montgomery Madness. Couldn't you offer GPS validation for both to dispense with the need for paper receipt faffage for GPS users? As far as I know the organiser doesn't have to be a GPS user him/herself, just be...

Philip Whiteman

Are there any plan to run the KK and/or CTH as permanent events? Does anyone have provisional dates for the Cotswold audaxes? The CTH would not be permissable as a permanent event due to the problem of info controls. I have thought about looking into the KK as a perm, though it is already similar t...

Philip Whiteman

Right, now apart from my cheeky signature at the bottom of my messages, I had no intention of starting a marketing offensive for the Kidderminster Killer or Clee audaxes until late spring. So can anybody explain why I am now receiving entries? All are unconnected to the Beacon and as far as I can ma...

Philip Whiteman

Don't know how I'd feel about him owning up. On one level, it seems like the decent thing to do. On another, it would tend to reinforce my perception of his public statements down the years and his pursuit of fellow pros, journalists and others who spoke out, and make me despise him more. In the ca...

Philip Whiteman

It opens NOW

Philip Whiteman

The Secret Race. Tyler Hamilton & Daniel Coyle. 2012. MP3. Racing Through the Dark . David Millar. 2011. Ostensibly on the packaging of these two publications would suggest two riders with similar experiences of professional racing; reluctant professionals driven to doping, exposed to a corrupt sys...

Philip Whiteman

It is such a terrible shame that Armstrong is not British. It would have been a great sight to see him kneel on one knee before Her Majesty. At which point, she lifts the ceremonial knighthood sword way above her head then takes a sweeping movement and cuts his head off.

Philip Whiteman

Earlier this year, Alan Weaver identified a brilliant sales pitch for a turbo-trainer being sold on Ebay. It may question anyone's motive for using these reached contraptions. It read as follows:- I'm selling this barsteward thing because i HATE it. I’m sure there are people out there who like or ev...

Philip Whiteman

Lisa and I tried out the new coffee shop in Belbroughton Post Office today. Slightly expensive but they sell good coffee, cake and tea cakes. No savory products though. It is probably a good venue for cyclist seeking a short ride or in preparation for Dayhouse Bank on their way home. The Post Office...

Philip Whiteman

Thanks for that Laurence. Yet another brilliant Adventure Show. The main asset of this programme is the ordinary nature of the people participating in excellent endurance events. Aside from the main feature on the maniac Celtman triathlon, it was also great to see a local club's cycle hill climb tri...

The Beacon Message Board

Search found 1573 matches

To Weston and Back: "The Weston Run"

Riding into the Oblivion: A new audax?

Please Sign this epetition

Re: Inner tubes

Suckley

Obscure Destinations

The Killer 2013 - what the hell is going on?