Search found 838 matches
- 30 Jan 2011 17:04
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Is the bicycle now poised for hi-tech re-invention?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2444
I had CVT on my Mobylette in 1962 ! I'm not sure that these innovations intersting as they are really re-invent the bike but the new electric assist bikes are game changers for some. Belt drives are fairly common at bikes shows if not on the road. I think they work with the new improved multi-geared...
- 29 Jan 2011 18:31
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Brompton gears
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1771
Brompton gears
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...
- 29 Jan 2011 18:06
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Learning to ride a fixed wheel
- Replies: 24
- Views: 12280
- 28 Jan 2011 07:33
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Learning to ride a fixed wheel
- Replies: 24
- Views: 12280
Learning to ride a fixed wheel
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 ...
- 23 Jan 2011 06:50
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: GPS? - HELP!!!!!
- Replies: 24
- Views: 9241
- 05 Nov 2010 17:46
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Aldi Specials - 3watt LED Torches
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4250
- 28 Oct 2010 20:27
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: dhb winter tops
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7950
- 13 Oct 2010 20:37
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Frame sizes
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7047
- 13 Oct 2010 13:42
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Frame sizes
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7047
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...
- 17 Sep 2010 20:47
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Silly saddles hit the big time
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3077
- 17 Sep 2010 13:28
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: The Mysteries of Handlebar Tape
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3836
- 02 Sep 2010 18:54
- Forum: Cafe Stop
- Topic: A great read
- Replies: 153
- Views: 4188036
Major (2008) Todd Balf, Three Rivers Press
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...
- 19 Aug 2010 07:28
- Forum: Cafe Stop
- Topic: A great read
- Replies: 153
- Views: 4188036
- 17 Aug 2010 21:23
- Forum: Cafe Stop
- Topic: A great read
- Replies: 153
- Views: 4188036
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 ...
- 09 Aug 2010 13:09
- Forum: Audaxes & Cyclosportives
- Topic: Audax Digest
- Replies: 105
- Views: 1219217
CTC Phil Liggett Challenge 150k Stannington Sheffield
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...
- 01 Aug 2010 22:28
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Halfords cheap mountain bikes
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3604
Halfords cheap mountain bikes
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...
- 28 Jul 2010 22:47
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: New Deaigns in Folding Bicycles
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1805
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...
- 26 Jul 2010 23:09
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Brooks saddles
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1446
Brooks saddles
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...
- 26 Jul 2010 22:03
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: George has another STD
- Replies: 28
- Views: 10519
- 08 May 2010 22:32
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: New Cassette or Not
- Replies: 15
- Views: 7625
- 10 Apr 2010 13:58
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Cycling Business Today.
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2535
- 05 Apr 2010 22:00
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: RAIN JACKETS
- Replies: 8
- Views: 5233
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...
- 03 Mar 2010 17:34
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Check you rims
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4134
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...
- 02 Mar 2010 21:45
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Check you rims
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4134
Check you rims
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...
- 13 Feb 2010 22:12
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Retro Bells
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1797
Retro Bells
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...
- 07 Feb 2010 16:48
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Wiki-Cartography in action
- Replies: 10
- Views: 6341
- 04 Feb 2010 21:18
- Forum: Cafe Stop
- Topic: A great read
- Replies: 153
- Views: 4188036
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 ...
- 31 Jan 2010 20:08
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Commuting Tyres
- Replies: 8
- Views: 5028
- 11 Nov 2009 22:41
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Overshoes
- Replies: 13
- Views: 7814
- 25 Jun 2009 22:24
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Saddles
- Replies: 19
- Views: 12807
- 23 Jun 2009 21:16
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Jockey wheels
- Replies: 13
- Views: 9067
- 22 Jun 2009 17:41
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Another miracle cure for the saddle bag
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6051
- 25 Feb 2009 17:57
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Additional computer/lighting mount?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2276
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...
- 08 Dec 2008 06:18
- Forum: Other Rides & Touring
- Topic: END TO ENDERS
- Replies: 22
- Views: 23054
- 07 May 2008 18:52
- Forum: Technical Talk
- Topic: Why aren't more people using GPS?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 32317
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...
- 16 Apr 2008 21:48
- Forum: Audaxes & Cyclosportives
- Topic: Audax Digest
- Replies: 105
- Views: 1219217
Hell of the North Cotswolds
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...
- 12 Jun 2007 21:30
- Forum: Cafe Stop
- Topic: A great read
- Replies: 153
- Views: 4188036
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...
- 12 Jun 2007 12:09
- Forum: Cafe Stop
- Topic: A great read
- Replies: 153
- Views: 4188036
Books
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.