The Beacon Message Board

AlanW

Philip Whiteman wrote:
AlanW wrote:Those track sessions must be paying off, well done Jon
I had wondered why Jon had been taking it easy at Saturday's session. Clearly, he was preserving his legs.

What was your excuse.....

AlanW

Those track sessions must be paying off, well done Jon

AlanW

Cheapest I've found is £35 on ebay, I get around 5-7000 miles on them. I probably spend as much on winter tyres as racing clinchers, it's one time of the year I want loads of comfort and grip, and they really do grip :D Yes, I had a root about on the net and saw them on ebay. thanks. I just need to...

AlanW

Johnnyc wrote:or Michelin Krylion, another highly rated tyre.

I'll admit that this is not a name that I have looked at, so thanks for the info.

AlanW

Try a pair of Vittoria Open CG-The best winter tyres you will ever own, made for Paris Roubaix, 24mm :D Really comfy, loads of grip and LOTS of **flat** protection. I must admit that I had looked at these, and I have read so many good reports about these tyres, but crikey they are blooming expensiv...

AlanW

For years I have always ridden with 23mm tyres in the winter months. But I getting am fed up of having them keep splitting, which I put down to the tightness and stress of having a narrow section. So I think that I am going to investigate going down the 25mm route and see what happens and if they su...

AlanW

For anyone who can still remember their first experiences with SPD... I currently use traditional toe clips. However having ridden on a couple of introductory rides, I noticed most people using clipless shoes. So I have just bought some SPD shoes (Shimano M087) along with SPD pedals (Shimano A520 t...

AlanW

And the verdict........ ....Shimano compatible products do not make them compatible with each other. My chain drive was using a BBB cassette with Wippermann chain. This combination was the cause of my problems despite both being well within wear tolerances. It took a lot head scratching a Cultracin...

AlanW

Tim wrote:Anyone doing this tomorrow? I may join south ride in cotteridge. Heard there was a fair few there last sat.

Tim

You might just want to check the date of that last post before you turn up.

AlanW

Looking to upgrade my mavic aksium race wheels at some point in the next twelve months. Budget lowish as relatively new to cycling. These Pro-Lite Bracciano Wheels look pretty light for the price? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29086 Any thoughts welcome. Cheers Tim Tim, I w...

AlanW

I have just found these on e-bay and are certainly worth thinking about:-

Ceramic

Stainless Steel

Quite a lot cheaper than Hope, and Pro Lite stuff is very good and I would have no hesitation at all in recommending it. But its a pity that they only do them in one colour though.

AlanW

Philip Whiteman wrote:Looks like this Thursday if anyone is around.

Its a good job that some of us have to keep the wheels of industry running.........

AlanW

Philip Whiteman wrote:In this case, the chain has not reached .75 of wear and it is very clean. So no problem there.

But what about the cassette?

AlanW

- assuming that you always relax the tension on the derailleur when the bike is parked? It's something i've taken for granted but come to realise plenty of people don't bother to do... I have to say that I always leave my bikes overnight with no tension on the gear cables, another sub section of my...

AlanW

Thanks Alan. I may well do that. However, just to clarify. It is not resistance in shifting, rather the calibration and alignment of shifting from ring to ring. Hence the chattering. Can that still be related to the outer cable swelling? Incidentally, I washed out the upper out cable and there was ...

AlanW

My first question would be, did you replace both sections of the outer cable liners as well as the inner cable? No, just the inner cable. The outer cable looked fine and there was no metal from the liner fouling the inner cable at the ends. IMHO, unless you replace both the inner and the outer then...

AlanW

My first question would be, did you replace both sections of the outer cable liners as well as the inner cable?

AlanW

Anyone fancy a winter ride at randonee distance. Date tbc based upon the weather. Possibly the 17th December. For my December Randonee attempt, I shall be riding a DIY audax from Chaddesley to Cricklade via Winchcombe, back via Broadway. Whilst the route passes over the Cotswold hills twice, there ...

AlanW

Anyone fancy a winter ride at randonee distance. Date tbc based upon the weather. Possibly the 17th December. For my December Randonee attempt, I shall be riding a DIY audax from Chaddesley to Cricklade via Winchcombe, back via Broadway. Whilst the route passes over the Cotswold hills twice, there ...

AlanW

Fred2637 wrote:I have not ridden the end to end but now have the willingness to do it, so if any other beacon members are thinking of doing this please consider me in your plans.

I know a good route that you can have......

AlanW

August 2010, myself, Philip Whiteman, Richard Greer and Trevor Richards rode it in 8 days.

Statistics for the 8 days: -

923 miles

66,478 feet of ascending

Average speed – 13.3 mph

Time in saddle – 69 hours, 15 minutes

Would I do it again?

Yes, but certainly not the same route!!!

AlanW

There is only one UK frame builder that I would go to.

AlanW

Easy.....buy a Reynolds steel frame, lasts a lift time.

AlanW

It is unusual that in this day and age they are still tooled up to do both profiles? You would have thought that they would have concentrated on just one?

AlanW

New mudguards now fitted, went for the SKS P35 narrow version again, but these have the rear reflector and front mudflap fitted, unlike the last set that were plain. Interesting to note that they are a completely different profile to the SKS P35 mudguards that broke this time and the time before? Bu...

AlanW

CakeStop wrote: Hmmm, my bike's mudguard is fixed to the bridge using a bolt with low profile head (same as the bottom bracket fixing).

The mudguard on my Rourkie bike is secured in the same way, but sadly I cannot do the same with the Ridley frame.

AlanW

Yep, as I thought, thanks George.

Guess what I'll be doing this evening then.............

AlanW

Alan, for years and years, I was troubled by rear mudguards cracking at the point you describe and/or by the brackets that attach to the brake bridge failing. In my youth, I don't think I ever had a rear guard that lasted more than a couple of years. However, about 10-15 years ago, I stopped using ...

AlanW

For the second time this year, my rear mudguard has snapped in the same place, ie adjacent to the rear brake caliper mounting? Bearing in mind these are the SKS ones, which are claimed as being virtually unbreakable? There is some sort of stress situation occuring, but I cannot think why? When it sn...

AlanW

Okay its not a bottle, but it is bottle shaped, so does is count??

This is on the seafront at Whitehaven, and I love the slogan that was on the sign at the entrance.

AlanW

Or you could go the whole hog and get some Lumicycle lights.

Chuffin' expensive, BUT when you can ride at fast at night as you can during the day, then it just shows how good they are.

Trust me, its money well spent when you spread the cost out over the years.

AlanW

All depends on what you call cheap? But I would certainly take a look at the Hope Vison 1 LED light.

AlanW

George wrote: This is certainly what I do, but I often need an assistant, because when holding the thing, I can't see the scales. And, while it's a quick and easy way of getting a good estimate, it can be hard....

George,

Sorry. but this reads so wrong, are you on the right forum.................

AlanW

Yer but do you feel any noticeable difference when riding a different speed bike? Thats the question i'm asking because i feel if a chains life and strength is drastically reduced just for an extra gear or two then is it really worth going to 10 speed. It all depends on how you wish to view it real...

AlanW

The gearing on my claud butler is 26-36-48 with a 9 speed cassette 11-32. On my tours with fully loaded panniers i did have to use 26/32 on some hills i encountered. I think that if I was selecting a ratio from scratch it would be along the lines of 26-38-50 with a 13-25 10sp cassette. Did you weig...

AlanW

My Trek which i only tend to ride when it's dry has an 8 speed cassette and my Raleigh which i ride to work on and in wet weather has a 6 speed cassette. That would explain why you can leave your chain on for so long then. As brilliant as 10 speed set ups are, and I would not change mine for the wo...

AlanW

I'm only a softened tourist but I find 30x28 low enough - is that about the same as 28x25? Maybe would be grateful for something lower if carrying camping gear as well or if not in control of the route. I think once the ratio's that low it's as much about being prepared to make slow progress as it ...

AlanW

With my pending C2C2C trip just over a week away and my recent venture into riding with loaded panniers, my new panniers only arrived yesterday so I only have just over a week to sort my gearing out? My current gear set up is a triple 10 speed, 30/39/52 with a 12/23 cassette and after a few trial ru...

AlanW

Neil Compton wrote:Bit like George but when the chain starts to slip. Since joining the club i've done over 20,000 miles on 2 different bikes and i've only had to change the chain once on either bike. When i had the chains replaced i also had new cassettes.

Just out of interest Neil, are using a 10sp set up?

AlanW

Ceramic BBs are supposedly better than normal BBs but are three to four times more expensive. Just a few of questions: - what are their longevity compared to a 'normal' BB? - I assume that they are greased within a cartridge, cannot be relubricated and likely to suffer water ingress like any other ...

AlanW

I've just checked my chain for wear with a Parks gauge and it is between 0.75 and1.0% worn/stretched. When do people normally replace a chain; as soon as some elongation is seen, or wait until > 1.0%? As a new one will be far cheaper than a cassette and chainrings, I feel I shall replace asap. Just...

AlanW

Bad luck Eddie, I can honestly feel your disappointment. But like you say, it could have been a lot worse.

AlanW

Utter and complete respect.

AlanW

In a word no, you don't have to fit like for like, as long as you go with the English thread you'll be okay. Assuming that you buy the correct length one of course! I assume that you are talking external bearings? If so, then fit a Hope stainless steel one, yes its a bit more money, but will a) last...

AlanW

I guess it will be case of getting out there and "getting some miles in to my legs" as some would say. (Although losing 1/2 a stone and cutting down on beer and blue cheese may help!) I think that you have answered your own question to be honest Clive. The bottom line is that there is simply no sub...

AlanW

Think I'll do some research and buy a new one. All depends on how you much you want to spend and what other things you want to do with it really? As others have said the e-Trex Vista is a brilliant piece of kit and will do everything you want plus a whole lot more. But you may also care to look at ...

AlanW

I'm Buying a Fuji TT bike, But was wondering about sizing. My Specialized road bike is 54cm and was wondering if a 52cm or a 54cm would be better. What i'm really asking is those who own a TT and a road bike, are they the same size frame or did you drop a size ? Pat, Please be warned that buying a ...

AlanW

hey guys. i'm just getting back into riding my bike after a year off and need to change the gear cables on my turbo bike. couple of quick questions. 1. My turbo bike has a cheap shimano tiagra groupset. will i have to use shimano cables or are any cables compatible? 2. if i can use any cable, can a...

AlanW

Ooer a timely wheel discussion. I'm using CPX22s... about £70 for both of my wheels (stock on the bike) and while they're ok when on the roll and winter they're a bit crap at everything else. I'm thinking of spending about £250 on a set and seeing how it goes. Merlin are doing a sale on Krysium Equ...

AlanW

I have Shimano RS80s on my Audax bike and I think that I am right in saying that these wheels share the exact same rims as the Dura Ace ones? EDIT Just checked and yes they are the same rims. And for a pair of wheels that are currently selling for just less than £300 (Merlin) they are awesome value ...

The Beacon Message Board

Search found 1061 matches

23mm or 25mm tyres?

Re: SPD advice??

Re: wheels

Re: Winter Ride to Cricklade anyone?

Re: Winter Ride to Cricklade anyone?

Re: Rear mudguard broke again?

Rear mudguard broke again?

Touring Ratios Question?

Re: Ceramic Bottom Brackets

Re: Chains

Re: TT Bike Size

Re: Gear Cables