The Beacon Message Board

Dave Cox

I've got a well used Brompton L6 with a 2 speed derailleur and 3 speed Sram hub. The derailleur up shift has been playing up this winter and liberal lubrication, half hearted cleaning and whacking the leaver across wasn't working any more. This is a pity because although having all six speeds is not...

Dave Cox

Hi Andy, I go it from Byercycles in Clifton Beds they advertise in Cycle. Its a steel frame imported from Taiwan and not especially light but Richard Byers built it up to match my Mercian so it fits me well. I might have another go at posting a picture but not so sure about the dismount!!
Dave

Dave Cox

Inspired by reading about Major Taylor and riding a Pinarello hire bike at Newport, I've done the late life crisis thing and bought a fixed. Before Nov the last time I rode fixed was a front drive tricycle over 60 years ago! Getting on fine with a few awkward starts in traffic. But then relaxed and ...

Dave Cox

Have a look in for sale! I've been to busy to really get to grips with mine mainly at the interface with the computer. A car like model suits me better. I suspect its a generational thing. When I was in my prime Oscar was churning out my club run lists on a roneo!

Dave Cox

Isn't that a dynamo ?

Dave Cox

Neil due respect mate but I cant see you in a small jersey unless its made for Americans. I tried a small T shirt in Glastonbury Connecticut and Sue and I could fit in it.

Dave Cox

My stems are all less that 100mm now, looks a really good stable bike that will haul a load. Just get the reach measured from any standard point on the saddle to the mid point of the bars where you want it. Looks to be a great bike enjoy !!

Dave Cox

Hi Neil, Top tube length is critical to my mind. To mitigate neck and shoulder ache, I've gradually moved to smaller (shorter) frames as I've got older and invariably replaced the supplied stem with a shorter one and angled it up. I've not found steering twitchy when doing this (although a Bike Shop...

Dave Cox

Just you wait guys there will come a day when this will be just the ticket. Especially when they stop manufacturing Assos shorts and we all have to squeese into these bib things.

Dave Cox

I dont clean the bars first - works for me with Bontrager. I think its the masochistic riding you do - are you sure you arent biting into the bars???

Dave Cox

I picked this up in Barnes and Noble in Glastonbury CT while visting our daughter Juliet and couldn't put it down. In fact it caused my only "cycling injury" of the trip. It's a biography of Major Taylor World Champion in the 1890s during the days when track, sprint and paced cycling swept the US, F...

Dave Cox

Thanks Steve others have recommended it too. Will be visiting W H Smiths at Heathrow later !

Dave Cox

Its some time since I read it but I agree with Ruth. The issues of losing a partner at such an age and with children, if he were to write more about them, would clearly be a different book. I've just re-read the last chapter, it may be written from a male perspective but I do think it is self aware ...

Dave Cox

One of CTC's flagship events. Tour of the Peak District National Park. Clear signposting and basic direction sheet. Phil Liggett holding court at the start while he replaced cut tyre! Friendly atmosphere, nice HQ but Oscar's car parking management puts CTC to shame. Takes in climbs at Bradfield, Bol...

Dave Cox

Returning from Seans's pacey ride to Evesham I came across a young couple trying to fix the front wheel on one of their new Reebok MTBs from Halfords. They had had a good ride to City centre on the canal and were in Bounville when one of them noticed that the cam on the front quick release was hangi...

Dave Cox

I've been a folder enthusiasts for 15 years or so. Just completed a short tour on the Brompton. Train Bournville- Manchester for CTC meeting, train Manchester to Skipton, bike Skipton to Grassington to meet friends at Grassington House Hotel, bike to Kilburn and overnight at excellent pub, bike to A...

Dave Cox

Recently, the Birmingham Brooks works replaced a broken frame on my neigbour's B17 for £12. They rivetted it on while he waited in reception and in time for our mini-tour in Yorkshire Dales. This B17 was on a second hand Galaxy I bought for commuting in about 1975 and he got it when he bought my "be...

Dave Cox

Obvious point but radio transmitters like at Elmbridge produce this effect. Perhaps a secret GCHQ transmitter has been secreted under Ankerdine.

Dave Cox

Well done Darren - enjoy !

Dave Cox

Excellent Albert I usually enjoy this programme which seems to be timed alongside quality time in the bike shed. Will look out for this one.

Dave

Dave Cox

I mostly wear a Pearl Isumi polyester jacket which works well enough and is bright yellow. I've also got a Gortex packlite jacket which is better but not so much better as to justify the price. Both keep the rain out for a while and keep me wet and warm thereafter. They are not like hiking jackets t...

Dave Cox

They weren't the snow tyre wheels Steve! Ruth I think the cantilevers and Clarkes pads make a difference but the fancy Specialised wheels probably aren't that good. Where do you get your winter wheels? Were they ready made or custom build? Anyone else got any advice on what to get next. Cheap wheels...

Dave Cox

Just cleaned winter bike. Examined rear rim and noted little black spot -query hole. Small screwdriver investigation created much larger hole. Foil thin. 3000 miles 3rd winter. Clarkes brake pads from Halfords probably a mistake. There were nice roval wheels with stylish large flange hubs ! Last rim...

Dave Cox

I borrowed bikes from hotels to do short rides in India last year. The bikes were utilitarian but they had nice retro industrial quality bells. So I picked one up in the LBS in Delhi's Khan Market . The bell on my work bike finally stuck like a Toyota throttle the other week. I fitted my Indian bell...

Dave Cox

I can see that I am going to have to get a Garmin. My very old 139 OS Map is missing some roundabouts near Lavender Hall Fishery !!!

Dave Cox

Hi Adrian, This provoked quite a debate over dinner - there's so much to recommend although Sue's caveat is if you dont like something put it down dont flog through it. I've finished some pretty hardgoing books on the other hand. Not a yet classic but if you've just read Lolita then "Reading Lolita ...

Dave Cox

Marathon Race seem to work well on my winter bike - they are tough and to my mind feel good as well.

Dave Cox

I've been really pleased with the BBB ones - very robust and pretty waterproof.

Dave Cox

I mostly use first generation Specialised Body Geometry saddles and I have an Avator on newer bike. Not completely pain free - but generally good for a day ride. The real test of saddles and shorts is the End to End day after day!

Dave Cox

I'm no expert but I'd be surprised if they needed replacing, I dont think I've ever replaced any.

Dave Cox

Glad you are walking again Steve, its a long haul back from Shutford when you are in pain. A lot of Audaxers rely on Ibuprofen I think I'll be packing them in future. My usual fix anadin extra is really only for hangovers. Hope you get completely fit again soon.

Dave Cox

Gary, I've tried a couple of these. A neat carbon looking thing from Acor bought from Bike Pro Kings Heath High St and the Minoura Space Grip which is quite widely available - On Your Bike Digbeth or Harborne Cycle Surgery. Always more stuff on the bike but they work well especially for commuting or...

Dave Cox

Roger Green will be sending you an account of our 1990 trip

Dave Cox

As someone who never quite made the switch from Scalextric to video rally games I guess I'm a bit analogue. I like my OS Map on the handlebars and mourn the Barts 1/2 inch. However, I've found the GPS in cars handy in the US where maps are hopeless because its all so big and the coast is often too f...

Dave Cox

Hell of the North Cotswolds 50/100km This is a classic mainly off road reliability trial timed to coincide with the Paris-Roubaix Hell of the North Classic. Organisers are the Winchcombe Cycling Club and the Cheltenham and County Cycling Club and these guys really know their bridleways and permissi...

Dave Cox

Yes I read Chris Smith's book straight after his talk and really got into his quirky take on long distance cycling. I am now reading Alistair Humphries Mood of Future Joys about a ride down Africa - not as good but another example of internet publishing. I've also read some time ago Mark Jenkins Off...

Dave Cox

Has anyone else read Tim Krabbe 's The Rider ? Recommended by Matt Seaton on BBC bookclub. Captures I think the essence of road racing. Just read it on holiday trip. Happy to lend.

The Beacon Message Board

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Brompton gears

Learning to ride a fixed wheel

Major (2008) Todd Balf, Three Rivers Press

CTC Phil Liggett Challenge 150k Stannington Sheffield

Halfords cheap mountain bikes

Brooks saddles

Check you rims

Retro Bells

Hell of the North Cotswolds

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