Search found 63 matches

by clanton
30 Aug 2016, 7:20pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: New rim on Fulcrum wheel
Replies: 3
Views: 1282

Re: New rim on Fulcrum wheel

Thanks for the advice. Will prob op for another wheelset....
by clanton
30 Aug 2016, 1:39pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: New rim on Fulcrum wheel
Replies: 3
Views: 1282

New rim on Fulcrum wheel

The rim on my rear Fulcrum Racing 5 wheel is very worn - dangerous now I think. I took it into the local bike shop and they were very disinterested. Said the bearings were shot (they seem fine to me - no play, no noise, spins freely) and that it would cost more to replace bearings and rim than wheel was worth - then tried to sell me a wheelset for £440. They also said fulcrum rims weren't compatible with other brands and so finding the right rim would be very hard.

Currently I am not flush and able to spend that on a wheelset. I can buy a MavicOpen Pro Rim for £43 and this is my preferred choice. Can anyone tell me if this will work with an older Fulcrum Racing 5 hub? I have decided I will have a go at replacing the rim myself.

Thanks for any advice!
by clanton
16 May 2016, 5:08pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help resolving gear shifting issue please
Replies: 10
Views: 1050

Re: Help resolving gear shifting issue please

Thanks for the very helpful advice!

I will experiment as described with the b tension/limit screws etc.

I have a feeling a new mech is going to be the way forward.

If I do need a new mech - and want to keep the same rear cassette - which one will be compatible?

I assume a long cage Shimano MTB mech will work again - 9 speed or 10 speed?
by clanton
16 May 2016, 1:27pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help resolving gear shifting issue please
Replies: 10
Views: 1050

Help resolving gear shifting issue please

I have just replaced the drive train on my CX bike.

It started life as a 50/34 compact with a 10 speed 11-25 cassette, standard tiagra rear mech, Tiagra STI shifters (10 speed). I found the gearing not low enough so I swapped the mech to an old mountain bike XTR 9 speed long cage mech and fitted a 10 speed 11-34 rear cassette.

This worked fine for 18 months at least - not perfectly crisp but very acceptable. It then started giving issues - and the chain was extremely well worn so I changed rear cassette, chain and the 34 tooth chain ring. The cassette I opted for a 36 tooth largest cog - ie bigger than before.

Having swapped out the cassette and chain though it will not shift into the lowest gear at the back - ie the 36 tooth cog.

It isn't the limit screws - I can push it across by hand, and it can't be the cable tension because how every much I tighten it it makes no difference (even to the point where it won't drop into the lower two gears). I can pull on the cable by hand and the mech does not move across - but pushing on the mech does move it, but it then drops down again. I experimented by loosening off the limit screws so i can now push the chain into the spokes but this made no difference.

So what gives? Is the mech no good anymore? Does the B limit need adjusting - gap looks ok to me.... and I can't seem to affect things by adjusting that!

Inspiration much appreciated! If I need to repalce the emch that is fine but I don't eant to buy a new on e and find out it isn't the issue!

Failing that - how big a rear cassette can i fit with a Tiagra rear mech? I think it is the medium cage one rather than short cage.
by clanton
9 Feb 2016, 12:51pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Child friendly, car camping and cycling, Northern Europe
Replies: 4
Views: 561

Re: Child friendly, car camping and cycling, Northern Europe

Both good suggestions - thanks!

Sorry did not mean to sound arrogant - France is a big place and we have not covered all of it by any means! But my wife and I have ridden a lot in the Alps, Pyrenees, from Calais to St Jean Pied de Porte (and on into Spain) and up Ventoux.... so just looking to spread our wings and try something new. We've not been to the Alsace region so may well make that one of our stopping points.
by clanton
7 Feb 2016, 8:50pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Child friendly, car camping and cycling, Northern Europe
Replies: 4
Views: 561

Child friendly, car camping and cycling, Northern Europe

Hoping for some advice/suggestions as to a few good places to go to on a trip this June.

I will be in Roubaix, France having hopefully completed the Paris Roubaix ride and am then taking the family for a holiday in Europe. Youngest will be 18 months so we don't want to drive too far in one go - say 2 or 3 six hour drives in the two weeks would be good.

Vague plan is to base ourselves in 2 or three decent campsites and explore the local area on bikes. So places with decent camping, child friendly cycling for a nearly 4 year old and not too many hills for dad towing the other.....

We have "done" France, Belgium and the Netherlands and I am thinking Germany may be the best bet.....

Would love to head to Austria and ride along the Danube but too far to drive for this trip!

Suggestions very welcome!
by clanton
19 Jul 2015, 12:29pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Will this work to recharge my Garmin?
Replies: 6
Views: 790

Re: Will this work to recharge my Garmin?

Thanks! I was just a bit worried about the fast charge/slow charge thing....
I have a USB cable which I currently use to charge my Garmin, either via the computer or a USB plug socket.
by clanton
19 Jul 2015, 12:19pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Will this work to recharge my Garmin?
Replies: 6
Views: 790

Will this work to recharge my Garmin?

I need to portable battery recharger for Thursday next week and am looking at this one:
http://www.proporta.co.uk/stripe-turbocharger-12000-emergency-charger
It will be used for smart phones and my Garmin mainly, maybe a tablet in the future.
Is this compatible with a Garmin Edge 800?
Clearly I could phone the company tomorrow and ask but I would like to order it today so as to try to ensure I get it in time.
by clanton
9 Feb 2015, 9:51pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Recommendations for UK trip with children in trailer
Replies: 10
Views: 1338

Re: Recommendations for UK trip with children in trailer

We did a big loop based on the Viking Trail in Kent which was good and fairly easy.

The Isle of Wight is also excellent - one or two big climbs though but if you aren't camping you should be fine.

We also did a loop through Yorkshire based loosely on the Moor to Sea routes which was beautiful but very, very tough with a trailer, child and camping gear - for us anyway.
by clanton
9 Feb 2015, 9:48pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Marrakech to the High Atlas - December (Parts 1 - 5)
Replies: 11
Views: 2830

Re: Marrakech to the High Atlas - December (Parts 1 - 5)

Very enjoyable blog!

I have done some "fully loaded" cycle touring and ma now starting to move towards a bit of lighter weight bike packing. I am very impressed with how well you pack your kit into such a little space! Your kit list seems very comparable to mine and yet I seem to have far more bulk to load!
by clanton
8 Aug 2014, 6:42pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling/driving/walking holiday, Hebrides, end September
Replies: 5
Views: 1074

Re: Cycling/driving/walking holiday, Hebrides, end September

That spot does look fantastic - maybe next time!
by clanton
7 Aug 2014, 2:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: SCARBOROUGH - WHITBY CYCLE PATH
Replies: 33
Views: 11049

Re: SCARBOROUGH - WHITBY CYCLE PATH

Did Whitby to Ravenscar as part of the Moor to Sea cycle route in early July. We had fully loaded bikes with 2inch tyres and a 21 month old in a trailer so took it at a steady pace and very much enjoyed it. We had very dry conditions and so the surface was very passable - in wet conditions I am sure it would have been less easy.

Parts of the rest of the Moor to Sea route (especially around Rosedale Abbey) were not so good! Overall it was a very nice route (we linked bits together to do a big circle starting and ending in Danby) but there were (admittedly short) muddy singletracks through some forested bits that I would avoid on my mountain bike.
by clanton
7 Aug 2014, 1:11pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling/driving/walking holiday, Hebrides, end September
Replies: 5
Views: 1074

Cycling/driving/walking holiday, Hebrides, end September

We have my in-laws coming out from South Africa at the end of September and would like to take them somewhere they've never been and that we've never been either. We have 8 days. Mother-in-law is fit and able and a keen walker, father in law fairly limited mobility due to double knee replacements and obesity.

So looking at heading somewhere where we can base ourselves for 2/3 days before heading on and where the wife and I can do the odd day trip on the bikes but where we have walking/scenery and some local interest stuff for the in-laws. Probably look at two or three "bases" over the 8 days and exploring the local area before heading on. Would not mind including trips to Oban/ Western side of Scotland too as I have not seen much of that part of the world.

So: is that too late in the year for the Hebrides? Suggestions as to where to stay and what to see very welcome, both on the islands and mainlands. Also suggestions as to how long we should give to each spot?
by clanton
25 Mar 2014, 8:52am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Short family-friendly route South East - Suggestions please!
Replies: 3
Views: 1926

Re: Short family-friendly route South East - Suggestions ple

Thanks for the advice so far! The Viking trail looks promising.