Search found 361 matches

by Wesh-Laurence
15 Mar 2020, 12:32pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Turning Orbea Gain D40 into a tourer?
Replies: 11
Views: 1364

Re: Turning Orbea Gain D40 into a tourer?

There shouldn't be a problem using your Orbea Gain D40 as a bike for touring. You've fitted a rear rack and mudguards. You can probably fit tyres up to 40mm in width if you want to.

The main issues are:-

1) The battery has to be charged in situ in the frame.

2) You cannot transport it on an aeroplane (same with all ebkies).
by Wesh-Laurence
2 Apr 2019, 2:11pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: E-bike advice
Replies: 3
Views: 4580

Re: E-bike advice

You will get more replies if you post in the E-Bike section of this forum.

I bought an Orbea Gain e-road bike late last summer, I haven't used it yet. It doesn't look like an e-bike because the battery is "hidden in a slightly larger diameter down tube, the motor is in the rear hub and there is no "control panel" on the handlebars.

It's a very good looking bike and the prices are from reasonable to expensive depending on which model you buy. It weighs about 14kg including the battery.

A Google Search will show you details and there are reviews on You Tube.
by Wesh-Laurence
2 Apr 2019, 1:25pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Folding ebike recommendations
Replies: 6
Views: 1060

Re: Folding ebike recommendations

The last post should have read "Carrera Crosscity".

Late last summer I bought my first ebike which I haven't used yet. That was a Orbea Gain road bike which also has the battery "hidden" in the down tube.
by Wesh-Laurence
1 Apr 2019, 7:22pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Folding ebike recommendations
Replies: 6
Views: 1060

Re: Folding ebike recommendations

I bought the Carrera Citycrossride.

The battery is housed in the main tube of the bike and therefore doesn't look like an ebike because you can't see the battery.

I have only just bought it and haven't ridden it yet.
by Wesh-Laurence
3 May 2018, 9:57am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Arnside to Grange-over Sands
Replies: 47
Views: 5379

Arnside to Grange-over Sands

Is there a short cut between Arnside and Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria?

Can pedestrians & cyclists use the Kent Viaduct to cross the Milnathorpe Sands (North end of Morecambe Bay) or is the viaduct only for trains?
by Wesh-Laurence
26 Feb 2016, 12:12pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: MTB forks and disc brakes.
Replies: 13
Views: 1352

Re: MTB forks and disc brakes.

To convert from v-brakes to disc brakes you need to buy:-

1) Have a front fork that has the mounts for mounting disc calipers.

2) Have a front wheel with a hub onto which you can mount the disc rotor.

It is probably not worth making these changes on an old MTB. You could buy a second hand MTB with disc brakes for about £200.
by Wesh-Laurence
24 Feb 2016, 10:01am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: hydraulic disc brakes
Replies: 41
Views: 3416

Re: hydraulic disc brakes

Replacing cable operated (mechanical) disc brakes with hydraulic operated disc brakes is fairly easy. You don’t need to change your wheels which already have 160mm diameter disc rotors. There are many makes and models of hydraulic brake that will fit you bike.

You appear to have very little knowledge of bicycle mechanics and therefore I would suggest you get a good bicycle mechanic to make the change for you. You need a 3mm and a 5mm hex allen spanner to fit the levers to the handlebars and the disc calipers to the frame.

You simply need to buy a front and rear hydraulic operated disc brake which come complete with levers and hydraulic hoses already attached. Buy brakes with the correct length of hydraulic hoses which do not need shortening or lengthening. In the UK the front brake will have a short hose and be operated on the right hand lever, the rear brake will have a longer hose and be operated on the left hand lever.

An issue you may have is if the brake/gear shifter levers you currently have are combined in a single “pod” on your handlebars. If this is the case you will have to buy new separate gear shifter levers as well as the new hydraulic disc brake set.

The hydraulic calipers will simply replace the cable operated calipers (you will already have the correct mount adaptors for use with 160mm diameter disc rotors).

Use cable ties to secure the brake hoses to the bicycle frame.
by Wesh-Laurence
4 Aug 2015, 7:01pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Isle of Wight Chain Ferry
Replies: 28
Views: 3328

Re: Isle of Wight Chain Ferry

Where does this ferry run to/from?

I'm assuming it's an "internal" ferry somewhere on the island.
by Wesh-Laurence
19 Nov 2014, 10:18am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: If this rack will fit ?
Replies: 5
Views: 1137

Re: If this rack will fit ?

I believe that one of the "Tubus" racks is very similar and they also have an extra long Quick Release Skewer onto which the rack attaches.
by Wesh-Laurence
4 Nov 2014, 9:34am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: New disc brakes...
Replies: 21
Views: 3088

Re: New disc brakes...

I have Avid BB7s on my drop bar touring bike which when set up correctly are excellent, almost as good as some of the hydraulic discs I have on my mountain bikes. I have found that compared to rim brakes good disc brakes are far better than rim brakes. I now have brakes on 5 bikes, the 6th bike is a folding bike and I can't fit discs on it.

Beware when buying BB7s there are 2 types one for Road Levers and the other for Flat Bar Levers.
by Wesh-Laurence
11 Oct 2014, 9:46am
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: 29 incher - all hype?
Replies: 63
Views: 72554

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Virtually all of the new MTBs have 650b ie 27.5" wheels!! This means that the 29er was in fashion for 3 years.

In order to keep selling bikes year after year the manufacturers keep re inventing the wheel.

It's very annoying that manufacturers are producing products that have built in obsolescence of only 3-4 years. It is the same as regards parts, it is now very difficult to buy new suspension forks that don't have tapered steerer tubes which makes a huge number of perfectly good frames obsolete.
by Wesh-Laurence
5 Sep 2014, 8:56am
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: Bike recommendations to replace my full susser
Replies: 5
Views: 20703

Re: Bike recommendations to replace my full susser

For the type of riding you are doing you could probably use a rigid or front suspension MTB.

Off the shelf makes I like are Lapierre and Whyte.

For the generous budget you have at your disposal I would be looking at a custom build. For a lot less I built my own lightweight trail bike based on a Kinesis Maxlight Pro 3 frame. I have 2 front forks for this frame a 100mm suspension and a carbon fibre rigid which I can swap in less than 30 minutes depending on the type of riding I'm going to do.

Another thing to consider is if you are going to have 26" wheels or a 29er.
by Wesh-Laurence
1 May 2014, 10:28am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cyclocross bike for general use, purchasing advice.
Replies: 28
Views: 4714

Re: Cyclocross bike for general use, purchasing advice.

Three years ago there were very few bikes meeting my and your requirements. I built my own bike up from components using a Kinesis Decade Tripster frameset. It's a lightweight aluminium frame with carbon fork and has drop handlebars, Disc brakes, 700c wheels, bosses for fitting rear pannier rack and full mudguards.

Now there are numerous off the shelf options. The one I would go for now would be one of the Whyte Bikes:-

http://whyte.bike/2014/section.php?xSec ... 8e9295ea31
by Wesh-Laurence
22 Feb 2014, 10:36am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Topeak Mini Morph
Replies: 13
Views: 27922

Re: Topeak Mini Morph

I broke the footpeg on my Topeak turbo mountain morph a few years ago. I contacted Extra UK (The Topeak UK distributors) they sent me a replacement free. It was easy to fit the replacement.

I am now more careful when standing on the footpeg, I stand on it very close to the pump body which puts less stress on the footpeg.

I have also bought the mini morph because it is small enough to fit into a very small MTB frame. Great pumps!
by Wesh-Laurence
18 Feb 2014, 7:44pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best CX to use as tourer?
Replies: 83
Views: 14260

Re: Best CX to use as tourer?

With a budget of less than £350 I suggest you check out a second hand Specialized Tricoss. The older models of this CX bike had the bosses for fitting full sized mudguards and a rear rack and had cantilever brakes.

Why did you have issues with disc brakes? I prefer disc brakes to the cantilever brakes and that was one of the main reasons I sold the Tricross and built my own lightweight tourer with disc brakes using a Kinesis Decade Tripster frameset.