The Beacon Message Board

John Sanderson

I wouldn't make the claim that it was a great read - but something that requires readers nonetheless is... - the blog i've started http://meandthemountain.wordpress.com/ which is, in a roundabout way, Beacon related. I hope you can forgive my comment about the "90's" kit...

John Sanderson

So, there we have it. Is it Steve's surplus bit of rubber, Phil's very thin spiney thing or Paul's sacrificial bracket. Call my Bluff eat your heart out.

John Sanderson

...i have heard of the Rudy Project series - but that seems rather top end and I am struggling to find details online apart from the odd report from a past event. Outside of that, and the LMTT, is there any way of finding more 'interesting' TT's? I have heard 'hardriders' bandied about in event name...

John Sanderson

you pay twice the price for a chain you find it lasts half as long so you actually pay 4x as much

I had to read that twice - but cripes the man has a SERIOUS point there!!!!

John Sanderson

I'd say either... electrical interference the first time which exaggerated the reading, or some sort of dropout of the sensor the second time which resulted in less than the whole ride being logged...

John Sanderson

Just bought the equivalent Tiagra external BB cups from Wiggle - £13.99 so can't really complain if they don't last forever... The relevant Park tool was more expensive... Apparently spacers are available if the width of the bb doesn't match the frame, although this was shown to me on a mountain bik...

John Sanderson

inner cable £2 for 2 metre length outer cable £4 per metre, sold by the metre plastic cable end ferrules x10 - £2 However the problem is: Pedros Cable Cutter £27.99 (http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/26618/Pedros_Cable_Cutter) if you don't want outer cables that are crimped down on the inne...

John Sanderson

Really interesting - i assumed - as stated - that it was the gyroscopic effect of the wheels that created the self steering effect. Obviously not!

John Sanderson

The physical difference is minimal - 170 vs 172.5 is 5mm in total over one pedal revolution - so i've always considered it a moot point!

John Sanderson

I reckon I must have got something right on the turbo in the past and I certainly found it boring for 90% of the time. :lol: :lol: Fair point! We should probably heed Ruths comments! Isn't a core staple of training, in very simple terms, high volume / low intensity to build a base (usually during o...

John Sanderson

Mixed comments on Bontrager. Had some of the 'race' wheels (their one up from budget line I believe) and got on with them OK (although a freehub went after 18 months) and probably racked up about 7500 miles or thereabouts on them. The rims wore out on the set that had a freehub replaced (under warra...

John Sanderson

Sounds odd - a BB that makes a sound when you stop pedaling - i.e. when it isn't moving at all....?

John Sanderson

Sounds like freehub to me. Sometimes more economical to just replace the wheel. I've bust a couple of freehubs in the last few years. It means you are honking out too much power

John Sanderson

I'd forgotten about Ian McEwan - Enduring Love is very good. I've got through Gatsby now - that is a seriously good book! Hadn't realised it was made into a film - although as Anne has pointed out - most 'classics' have been made into films at some point!

John Sanderson

A heartening post to read! I too have gone on a mission to tackle 'classics' as much as possible! Catch 22 is my favourite book of all time so i'd definitely recommend it. Did initially find it hard work in the first few chapters, and it's a bit 'Pulp Fictionesque' in its layout, but worth you tryin...

John Sanderson

However it could be used against you by an insurance company to claim "contributory negligence" if you were involved in an accident after dark. That is correct, however i'd think you'd have a very strong case to argue against this if you had taken other reasonable steps to make yourself visible - e...

John Sanderson

We've got an actual sharks tooth on top of our TV at home....

John Sanderson

I had a similar sort of thing happen to my 105 inner chain ring on my race bike - however I was entirely to blame as i'd failed to notice that one of the chainring bolts had fallen out...

Alternatively - I ALSO have too much power in my legs!

John Sanderson

i've got the same sort of problem - a pair of perfectly good Look Delat pedals - loads of sets of cleats so I can carry on using them for a good long while. And a new bike - which I could only get Keo pedals for. I've decided to go for a new pair of shoes for the new bike - when the Deltas finally g...

John Sanderson

I've always been reticent to tweak wheels as the tension of all the spokes is related to the tension of all the other spokes.... My understanding is that a wheel can be built and be round but be either under tensioned all round, or over tensioned all round - depending on how well it has been put tog...

John Sanderson

Yes - that can be called 'out of true' - or some people say 'buckled'. You can get this sorted by changing the tension in the spokes - which is achieved by twisting the spoke nipples - the small caps that sit in the rim of the wheel and which the spokes go into. If you Google the subject you'll find...

John Sanderson

Ok - i've bitten the bullet and committed to a more serious approach to time trailling by actually buying a TT bike (Argon 18 E80 frame) which I collected this weekend. The tough bit now is getting the setup right - as up until now i've been riding a standard road bike in TTs and haven't used tribar...

John Sanderson

I got some from Decathalon for less than £20. They weren't too bad either - but had the absolute minimum in adjustable features!

John Sanderson

Picked up some Sudocrem last night - seems to be helping! And cheap at only £3.20 for a fair sized tub of the stuff!

John Sanderson

And don't wear those shorts on long rides in the future.

Unfortunately it's my 'Beacon' shorts that have left me wounded! On the plus side none of my road races are over 1 hour...

I'll give the solutions a go - thanks for the recommendations!

John Sanderson

I think i've definitely learnt my lesson on this one but... My prize for completed the LMTT is a rather painful and raw looking bit of skin on my thigh where the sweat/friction/seam on my Beacon shorts combined to cause some serious tenderness! Ordinarily i'd embrace this chance to have time off the...

John Sanderson

Although this thread has been. dormant for quite a while.... What was the upshot of all this advice Ruth? I'm currently in the market for wheels on my winter bike as my Centauri Xero 3 freehub has just given way, after only 18 months, so i'm looking for a spare set of training wheels....

John Sanderson

Looking at the chainrings on the web i notice it mentions 135pcd or 130pcd or 144pcd etc etc. Just wondered if anyone could explain what this means in simple terms pcd is the same as bcd - which is 'bolt centre distance'. I believe (although could be wrong) that this it he distance between the 4 or...

John Sanderson

it's an annoying problem that only started recently when i messed with the chain. From all that i've read on this it seems that drivetrain problems often start to manifest themselves after one part (e.g. chain) gets replaced. Reason being that as the parts all wear together they work effectively - ...

John Sanderson

i've posted another thread on chainrings - so might be worth you having a quick look.

John Sanderson

Quite a timely post considering some of the other threads on the go at the moment.... I need to replace the chainrings on my winter/training/turbo trainer bike - and as it is quite frankly a 'nag' of a bike I want to do it as cheaply as possible.... I've already got Stronglight aluminium chainrings ...

John Sanderson

Neil, would be worth 'Googling' - but I understood that if the slippage was at the chainring then the wear would be at the chainring also - so this will be the bit that needs most attention. If it were the cassette (or the freewheel in your case) that was the problem then the slippage would be at th...

John Sanderson

Rough Ride? Yes - it was quite interesting but I believe Kimmage is 'notorious' amongst journo's / certain cyclists (Lance!) so am not sure if it would be everyones cup of tea.

John Sanderson

Thanks for everyones comments - and i like the idea that Ruth has floated re: TT-ing for the Beacon (although I am still to be convinced about buying a skin suit!) but BC Road Racing for a 'local' club. I think i'll bite the bullet and go for first claim membership in the East, but am more than happ...

John Sanderson

Help. I am a geographically displaced Beaconite - living in Suffolk/Essex. I am keen on road racing, which is locally dominated by the Eastern region Road Race League. This means that the starting places are basically reserved for local clubs. I'd quite like to race in these ERRL races - so think th...

John Sanderson

I went all last season going by feel and i think it held me back and stopped me from going as hard as i could because i didn't know how fast i was going. Isn't the crucial thing here how hard you are going - not how fast you are going? As Ed says - a range of factors can affect how fast you are goi...

John Sanderson

Controversial post for this thread - but why bother with a computer.... Since my last one packed up (i seem to have the touch of death for cycle computers) i've been using an old HRM (which has long since stopped reading my HR) and just recording the time i've been riding for... At first I was gutte...

John Sanderson

and seeing as he only has one it's even more impressive

LOL - OK - I walked into that one!

It must be a massive ball!!!

John Sanderson

I think it's good to see him back - I think it's sad that people seem keen to kick the most successful - e.g. Michael Schumacher - on the basis that they are boring.

To be fair - he must have some b@lls to step back up to the plate!!!

John Sanderson

I have an inherent aversion to GPS - despite working with desktop mapping software a lot in my job. I feel quite proud that I can decipher where I am, and where i'm going, from the maze of lines and symbols on the crumpled bit of paper. I think it must be something to do with being told what to do b...

The Beacon Message Board

Search found 90 matches

Like the LMTTT, but not the LMTT....?

Positioning on my new TT bike

Chafing.... solutions please!

Where can I buy the cheapest chainrings....

What is 'second claim' membership...??