The Beacon Message Board

GrahamGamblin

I have a pair of their waterproof socks - they're brilliant. Wearing them now! Don't own their gloves or overshoes, although I've only seen good reviews.

GrahamGamblin

I see this increasingly often as well on my commute - dangerous as well as annoying. Trouble is no-one notices the cyclist who stops for lights, waves someone through a gap etc - they only notice the lights-jumper, and the image of the rest of us is tarnished.

GrahamGamblin

From my limited experience, I'd say it can be best characterised as an event where you pay several pounds to eat lots of cake. Unfortunately the cake is spread out so you have to cycle to get to it - sometimes up hills if the organiser is particularly evil. That is superb, I'm going to write that d...

GrahamGamblin

Sounds terrifying, glad you are ok. Re. the 10 mins - you are probably transforming from a nimble climber into a powerful sprinter.

GrahamGamblin

Tim, I have 12-27 on one bike and 11-25 the other. To be honest I never use the 27 on local hills, although I did fit a 32 for cycling in the Lake District! Depends what your climbing is like I suppose, if you're a strong climber you may not need 28.

GrahamGamblin

I did get a basic turbo and I do use it, probably not in as structured a way as I could, but it certainly keeps me pedalling when there's ice around in the winter.
I also have a sofa, and I use that as well.

GrahamGamblin

Martin - I've emailed you

GrahamGamblin

This refers back to Alan Weaver's pic on the previous page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-19920580

GrahamGamblin

I had a great day on the Clee to Heaven after nearly staying in bed! Thanks to Phil, and everyone at HQ and Rays Farm, and to a great group to ride round with. Definitely back next year.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks Neil, I'll look out for you at the HQ.

GrahamGamblin

I'm planning to ride out to the start for the Clee audax, should be passing the Black Horse at 8:00-ish if anyone is going that way. Any company on the ride itself would be grand as well of course! Let's hope today's rain doesn't leave the lanes in too bad a way.

GrahamGamblin

I had a triple in the past and never ever used the inner ring. Now I have 50-34 compact and it suits me fine - with 12-25 I have the right spread of gears, low enough to get up any hills round here, high enough for a bit of speed. Changing between rings is a bit of a big jump though and usually need...

GrahamGamblin

Thanks to everyone who helped make this another great Beacon audax - George (and family), kitchen helpers, car park guys, controls. Got very wet and mucky and as a result (like Greg) my front mech seized up and (like Keith) got stuck on my bike as my cleats seized up too! Thanks to Ian for the compa...

GrahamGamblin

George - from what I understand it's a legal grey area in France, but generally nobody minds as long as you don't have fires, make a mess, camp on crop fields etc. I have also come across designated wild camping areas, usually a clearing in the woods with no facilities, where you can camp for free.

GrahamGamblin

Respect to everyone who turned out yesterday to ride, organise or help out. There aren't many days I feel glad to be stuck at home, but yesterday was one. Well done.

GrahamGamblin

Just thought I'd mention that I cycled up Winwood Heath Road yesterday and it hasn't wintered well - it was tricky to pick a route between potholes and loose gravel. I know it's never been great, but it did seem to me to have deteriorated.

GrahamGamblin

When this happened to me recently (very similar symptoms to Phil's) it turned out to be a worn chain and sprockets. I too spent ages trying to sort out the indexing, and I was looking at the wrong problem.

GrahamGamblin

Aluminium does have a lower tensile strength than steel, however this is compensated for by using larger diameter tubing than steel-framed bikes to attain stiffness and strength. It is also more likely to be stressed by the welding process, so on a cheaper bike the joints may be weaker (more expensi...

GrahamGamblin

This is a great little rear light, very bright, can be attached to frame or clothing, batteries seem to last for ages: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/smart-lunar-r1-rear-light/

GrahamGamblin

Nic - just for info, I had to switch my lights on (for visibility to other road users - still enough light to see by) last night at 8:30, if you're back before then you should be ok.

GrahamGamblin

No, I kept the speed low and pulsed the brakes regularly so no long hard braking was required. It was not a thrilling mountain descent but it was safe! But there was a section of poor surface which I didn't trust, which was where I got off and walked.

GrahamGamblin

Well, it all worked and got me up Hard Knott (West to East) and Wrynose (East to West), and various hills in between. Phil was right, the descents were worse than the climbs and I did walk a short section of the downhill from Hard Knott.

GrahamGamblin

Final word on this, at the risk of being boring - found a simple and elegant solution on Sheldon Brown: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#alternate Small adjustment to the cable routing increases the pull from the shifter, effectively lining up a ten-speed shifter with a nine spee...

GrahamGamblin

Thanks for that Phil. Sounds like a challenge, but I will walk if I have to and focus on enjoying the beauty of the area.
Is that a tandem in the bottom of the photo?!?

GrahamGamblin

Thanks Steve and Alan for this research on my behalf! Field testing to follow.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks again everyone. It is all Shimano. I'll experiment with the current shifter, but if it doesn't work, I think I'll take Phil's advice and make the best of the current setup. Swapping cassettes and chain is not much bother/expense, but more faffing around than that is probably not worth it. (Ap...

GrahamGamblin

Right, stage two - I've purchased a mountain bike cassette, 11-32 9 speed, seems to fit nicely and the rear mech can cope with it (just); but it is taking the place of a 10-speed cassette, and so I have a 10-speed shifter. So... is it possible to adjust cable/stop screws etc so the shifter will work...

GrahamGamblin

Well, if I find myself lying down by the roadside, I can always blame my servo-assisted brakes... not my legs.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks for the replies. I already have a long cage rear derailleur, so I think I can get away with a 32 sprocket. I'd prefer to go this way if possible because I don't want to spend out on a triple chainset, shifter and front mech when I will hardly ever use them. Just wanted to check whether there ...

GrahamGamblin

Hello all. My uncle has invited me up to the Lake District in July to have a ride up some of the big passes including Hard Knott and Wrynose. Pretty fearsome climbs. Given that I can't borrow John Hitchcock's legs for the duration, I suspect that I will need to gear down a bit from my current low of...

GrahamGamblin

Claire - I've had this problem once before with BRT and it was resolved by un-checking the "Elevation" box in the bottom right. This obviously means that BRT will not calculate the climbs/descents for you, this may or may not be important to you. But it makes the file much smaller and easier to load...

GrahamGamblin

I thought the same as Steve - that the sealed cartridge type didn't need to be lubed, or rather isn't able to be lubed, you just replace it when it wears out.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks again everyone. Ruth - I do have the self-discipline to sit on the turbo despite the tedium, but yes, what I need to do is think about what I want to achieve out of that - you've hit the nail on the head there. Thank you.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks everyone - sounds like I would also need to invest in an i-pod as well! Phil, I would give the spinning classes a go but can't make Thursdays, unfortunately. I expect my fitness will soon bounce back to where it was, but ideally I would like it to move on a bit. I probably need to do somethin...

GrahamGamblin

Along with many of you, I spent a good while off the bike this winter, what with snow, ice, and a christmas layoff whilst doing the rounds of family visits etc. and lost a noticeable amount of cycle fitness. This happened last year too. Is it worth getting myself a basic turbo trainer to maintain fi...

GrahamGamblin

Thanks Neil. I've always been happy with dhb stuff, good quality for what you pay.

GrahamGamblin

Neil, small fits me in DHB stuff, I reckon that would be too small for you cos I'm pretty tiny.
Also interested in what you think of that Wisp jacket.

GrahamGamblin

Agreed Dave, Halfords do stock some good bikes (the Boardman ones get good reviews) but don't seem to employ any staff who know anything about bikes, I've heard numerous tales of Halfords bikes being poorly set up or shoddily put together.

GrahamGamblin

I got a GPS a few weeks ago, and removed the computer to my commuting bike, as the GPS unit (Garmin Edge 705) has all the functions of the computer. It also has a backup wheel magnet and sensor so if you lose a satellite signal (e.g in a tunnel), speed and distance are still recorded. The Cateye wir...

GrahamGamblin

Darren,
+1 for Focus bikes, I have a Focus Cayo, it's a much better bike than I am a rider...
Some positive reviews of the Variado here: http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/reviews/bi ... 28925.html

GrahamGamblin

Don't try to look up the language in A Clockwork Orange; it was invented just for the book.

but is based on Russian, e.g Droog (the name of the gang) is Russian for friend.
So all you need to do is learn Russian and you won't need the dictionary

GrahamGamblin

My two Penn'orth (or two rubles worth, in fact):
Leo Tolstoy - Anna Karenina
Fyodor Dostoevsky - Crime and Punishment
Mikhail Bulgakov - The Master and Margarita

GrahamGamblin

Prosecution on this is highly unlikely so long as you are making yourself visible with lights, clothing etc. However it could be used against you by an insurance company to claim "contributory negligence" if you were involved in an accident after dark. I've copied this from the CTC website: Shimano ...

GrahamGamblin

Bontrager Hard Case on my commuter, no flats so far after eight months.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks Simon.

GrahamGamblin

I'd be interested to hear how you get on, Steve, with things like creating and downloading routes, uploading data from your rides etc. I'm still dithering about getting a gps, one issue being cost, the other being techno-fear, that I won't be able to get it to talk to my computer or something like t...

GrahamGamblin

I went for the Pro ones in the end. In the spirit of scientific enquiry I took them out for a ride last night into a stiff chilly breeze and pouring rain, and I am pleased to report that they performed very well. Some water got in, inevitably, running down the legs of my tights, but my feet were sti...

GrahamGamblin

Eek!
You've obviously got too much power coming out of those legs, Phil.

GrahamGamblin

Thanks everyone :D Overshoes!?! When it's 12 - 15 degrees C? I'm inclined to think of woolly socks and mudguards long before reaching for the overshoes. Fair enough, George, but I was thinking more of keeping (some of) the water out after Sunday. In any case, it won't be 12-15 degrees all winter!

GrahamGamblin

Hmmm, starting to sound pretty unanimous in favour of Pro, thanks for your replies. I wouldn't expect 100% protection in all conditions, but my current overshoes failed dismally on Sunday. They are budget ones and are wearing out a bit so need replacing anyway.
Thansk again folks.

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Getting taken up the pass

Do I need a turbo?