The Beacon Message Board

But the relative difference in diameter between a 30 and a 40 must be greater than that between a 40 and a 50. The step up (or down) is always the same. Are you saying that step feels more (or less) depending on the start point. In other words a change down from 50 to 40 feels different to a change...

Double on the Allez is 39-52, my triple is 30-39-52 so I don't see why a change from a 39-52 on a triple (which for most purposes is the change you'll be making >95% of the time) should feel any different to the same change on a double. It's the same 1.03" step both times. And if you removed the in...

Sorry, George. The difference in diameter is directly proportional to the difference in number of teeth. The difference in radius is the amount the chain has to jump from one ring to the another. difference in radius = difference in teeth / (4 x pi) inches So, it's 0.8" for a 10-teeth difference and...

it's a complete mystery to me why compact chainsets are so popular. Hear, hear! Inefficient chain lines, and the gears that you'd use most (at least in our area) are where the 'missing' middle ring would be. I suspect there's a hangover to the days when a triple was considered only for tourists i.e...

Get the one with the triple chainset (the Allez 24), the lowest gear 30 x 25 will come in handy one day.

Impressive! Gave it a quick try and it came up with an identical route to mine from Diglis Bridge to the Country Park in Worcester. Then I asked it for Black Horse to Worcester Country Park and it came up with a very plausible route: out towards Waseley but then on to NCR 5 to Bromsgrove, Timberhong...

Makes me wonder what you'd have to type into Google to bring up that clip. Apart from 'dimpled water bottle', of course.

When plotting routes for GPS, I find it useful to have this simple objective in mind:

"When I get to that junction, will I know which way to turn?"

I use the Google Maps-based sites for creating routes (bikely, biketoaster, ridewithgps etc. - take your pick) then download the GPX. Any conversion e.g. 'track to route' or reducing the number of waypoints to fit your device can be done with GPSBabel (free) and you can transfer routes/tracks using ...

... or just open up the GPX file in Notepad and change the track name. If I were you, I'd stick to GPX if you want to share routes or tracks with others. GPX is an xml format designed specifically for saving GPS track, waypoint and route data. It is increasingly used by GPS programs because of its f...

Probably more economical to replace it.

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/2 ... ainer.html

I know somebody who got a Boardman Comp through a Bike to Work scheme - they had to use Halfords. It's a very nice bike for the money. I suppose if you're going to get one it would pay to take it to a 'proper' bike mechanic to check it over before riding.

I've used a padded bike bag many times with no problems. Use bubble wrap on the rear mech etc. but no need to overdo it. Wheels (in bags) either side of the frame will provide most of the protection. If you're that bothered about the odd scrape then leave the bike at home! http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/...

Animal wrote:on my new bike I purchased last week

Have you got rid of the reflectors yet?

And this shows why GPS is not always reliable for recording distance

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Cares-Gorge-walk

I've been cycling and walking with GPS at home and abroad since 2003.

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx (about £150 with a handlebar mount) plus Garmin City Navigator Europe mapping (about £60). AA batteries last about 15 hours. A general purpose GPS like this would fit your requirements perfectly.

GPS will give you accurate distance measurement - until you enter a tunnel, pass through a deep gorge or thick forest. The ideal combination is GPS and (wired) computer.

I have a Cateye Mity circa 1991 still going strong.

Heart of the Shires, 212km randonee. 5th June 2010 Ridden by: Andy Terry HQ: Walton, Leics (1 hour by car from Bromsgrove) Organiser: Tony Davis Stages 1. Walton - Brixworth 28km 2. Brixworth - Allexton 40km 3. Allexton - Walton 33km 4. Walton - Southam 52km 5. Southam - Walton 59km http://www.bike...

How about: plan route using bikely.com, download GPX, open with EasyGPS and send to GPS unit?

Ah right. Not sure. Cheapish Planet X wheels only about 18 months old.

35km = 22 miles

Usk valley from Sennybridge to Crickhowell so luckily pretty flat.

My freewheel broke on the Devil Ride today. Tied the big cog to the spokes using chicken wire and zip ties and rode the last 35km on it, very carefully.

If you can stretch to it, get the eTrex Vista HCx and with City Navigator Europe NT 2009 maps.

As usual, Sheldon Brown has the simple answer.

multiply the bolt centre-to-centre distance by 1.7 to get BCD

BCD = Bolt Circle Diameter

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd

PCD = Pitch Circle Diameter (the same thing)

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_p.html#pcd

Ringo wrote:veet for men.

1. wear some old undies when you do it - you do NOT want that stuff going anywhere sensitive

2. trim hair down to 1/4 inch first

3. wear disposable gloves

4. follow the instructions on the tube

Still using my 6-year-old Garmin eTrex Summit. Does the job. Never got lost with it. Don't know what I'd go for if I was choosing now though. Probably the eTrex Vista HCx.

I'm getting impatient and I only joined in 2 days ago.

I'll have 2:40 instead, please.

3:07

I use been using my eTrex successfully for nearly 4 years now.

... especially on Audaxes. The benefits are obvious (to me anyway): - almost no chance of getting lost - no bits of paper flapping around your bars - no trying to read soggy route notes in the rain - hands-free and safe - do your navigation at home, enjoy the ride more - explore a greater variety of...