Search found 140 matches

by Cusqueno
9 Mar 2018, 2:32pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444424

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

Hi. These 'Team' bikes from Viscount in 1981/82 were in the middle of the Viscount range, below the 'Aerospace' bikes but a cut above some that had frames produced in Taiwan. I don't know what steel was used for the Team bikes, but you probably feel that it isn't too heavy. It doesn't feel like gas pipe, but I don't think it is the same chro-moly steel used in the top of the range Viscounts. The flat rear drop outs (rather than cast/forged) and the lack of a derailleur hanger also indicate that it's mid-range. Did it have alloy rimmed wheels? Viscount mixed and matched their components, depending on what had just arrived at goods in (it seems like that anyway), so it's hard to be certain what components any particular model should have.

These frames are good for many sorts of bike from commuter to light tourer to road training and can be fitted with original, better quality or modern components according to taste. What do you p;an for your project?
by Cusqueno
28 Feb 2017, 8:11pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444424

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

You might like to tell us all about it on the Viscount forum here: http://lambertandviscount.online
by Cusqueno
13 Jun 2016, 11:01pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Quiz: are you an IN or an OUT?
Replies: 54
Views: 3131

Re: Quiz: are you an IN or an OUT?

Unfortunately, as a Civil Servant it is illegal for me to tell you how or even if I will vote, in case it might influence you. I am not even allowed to encourage you to vote (or not), whichever way you decide.


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels
by Cusqueno
19 Jul 2015, 11:51am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Indicators, the lost art?
Replies: 47
Views: 6260

Indicators, the lost art?

Surprised nobody has mentioned motor bikes, or more often scooters, whose riders use indicators and then forget to cancel them. I suppose they can't hear any clicking sound through they helmet and any flashing light on the dashboard isn't noticed in daylight. Very confusing in traffic in towns. It is often hard to tell what motorcyclists are about to do since their position on the road often varies wildly.
by Cusqueno
2 Apr 2015, 8:55am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: London to Paris
Replies: 7
Views: 3438

London to Paris

Hi. I have searched the CTC Forum but surprisingly can't find answers to this.
My daughter wants to cycle to Paris in August with some university friends. They are in Nottingham but presumably will start from London. They don't want to go on an organised ride. They are university rowers and hence generally fit but they are not experienced cyclists.
What would be the best route? Eurostar or ferry? Newhaven-Dieppe or Southampton-LeHavre?
What about stops? Not camping but not expensive - probably hostels.
Returning? Probably by train.
Many thanks.
by Cusqueno
19 Mar 2015, 10:42am
Forum: On the road
Topic: TfL Journey Planner
Replies: 2
Views: 5391

Re: TfL Journey Planner

Reply to complaint to TfL. Not very cycle-friendly - here's a journey planner that is useless- - take it or leave it (I couldn't print out the map, but perhaps that was because of my system?):

Dear __

Thank you for your feedback form of 16 March about our Journey Planner.

I’m sorry to hear that you are unable to use the Journey Planner for your journeys. The Journey Planner doesn’t have written directions for each cycling journey, but it does provide a map of the journey, which you can print.

I realise that prefer the Journey Planner that we previously had. We won’t be reverting to this, but I have forwarded your comments on to our web team for their information.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Please contact us again if you need any further assistance or if you would prefer to call us about this matter, please call us on 0343 222 1234.

Kind regards
by Cusqueno
16 Mar 2015, 2:17pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: TfL Journey Planner
Replies: 2
Views: 5391

TfL Journey Planner

The TfL Journey Planner for cycling used to be useful. Although occasionally it directed one to make illegal right turns, cross central reservations &c, it actually generated a list of directions and a map that could be printed off in sections, so you needed only to print the bits you were unsure of.

However the latest version is completely useless and does not generate a list of directions - at least not one that I could find. The map is not printable and if you ask for the route to be printed it generates one page giving your start and finish points (which you knew already) and another page carrying an advertisement. Is this other people's experience? I am using Google Chrome.

I have put a complaint in and TfL promises to respond within ten days (!) Ah well, back to Google maps.
by Cusqueno
6 Mar 2015, 5:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bar tape and bar end shifters
Replies: 32
Views: 4527

Re: Bar tape and bar end shifters

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1425663604.654516.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1425663590.420446.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1425663574.536647.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1425663561.837606.jpg


I've added some pictures of what I eventually did. Started on the inside, as I usually do and worked towards the bar ends. Finished with rings cut from the caps supplied with the tape - stretched to fit and then heated with a flame. Then trimmed off the excess tape. I've been using these for a few months now.
by Cusqueno
19 Jan 2015, 9:32am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Fog lights
Replies: 31
Views: 3830

Fog lights

I see increasing numbers of vehicles driving around with fog lights switched on in conditions of good visibility. Why is this?

The Highway Code states that:
236
You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.
Law RVLR regs 25 & 27

So it is a legal requirement NOT to use fog lights when visibility is not reduced. They are dazzling to other road users, which I find when I am cycling and when I am driving (and walking, for that matter). Is leaving these lights on some sort of boy racer thing or do drivers just not know how to turn them off?

In other topics, cyclists are wringing their hands about whether their lights are legal or might dazzle, but motorists drive around dazzling all and sundry without apparently any come-back.
by Cusqueno
18 Jan 2015, 11:34am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Newbie to London! Just got my first bike!
Replies: 43
Views: 3215

Re: Newbie to London! Just got my first bike!

As a cyclist in London, I wouldn't say a stand is necessary or desirable. Just extra weight and somewhere else for crud to accumulate. Also, it might encourage you to leave the bike without locking it to some solidly planted piece of street furniture. Having said that, my wife finds a stand useful. For short stops to talk to friends, street traders &c I think.
by Cusqueno
2 Jan 2015, 10:50am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Wear a little red dress cycling, it could save your life!
Replies: 10
Views: 1238

Re: Wear a little red dress cycling, it could save your lif

So that's why I wear skin-tight Lycra when I'm cycling: not because I'm a pathetic MAMIL wannabee?
by Cusqueno
18 Nov 2014, 12:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Time to build a bike from frame up?
Replies: 14
Views: 1596

Re: Time to build a bike from frame up?

Well done indeed. An excellent evening's work.
Sorry to hear that your previous frame was a Viscount (which model?). Is it beyond economic repair? and if so, will you be getting rid of any Viscount parts?
by Cusqueno
22 Oct 2014, 8:33pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hi vis jacket
Replies: 79
Views: 6998

Re: Hi vis jacket

I expect most people know, but, whatever the benefits of wearing high visibility clothing might be, they only work in daylight unless they incorporate reflective parts as well, This is because the hi-vis colours work by shifting light from the near UV or 'far blue' parts of the spectrum, where the human eye is not sensitive, to the yellow, green or orange wavelengths that we can see much better. Sunlight, even when filtered through clouds, has lots of near UV and so hi-vis clothing looks bright in daylight. The artificial lights around at night - street lamps, car headlights &c - are either designed to produce most light where the human eye is most sensitive i.e. not in the UV, or just do not produce UV. So hi-viz colours don't work any better than other pale colours at night, unless they have reflective strips or material woven in.
by Cusqueno
3 Oct 2014, 3:58pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: BT Openreach cyclists stay back
Replies: 151
Views: 36615

Re: BT Openreach cyclists stay back

Recently in London I've seen several goods and service vehicles with large FORS stickers on the back - Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme. This is sponsored by TfL and, judging from the website http://www.fors-online.org.uk/index.php?page=P_LANDING, it seems to have many good points - see a cycle safety initiative between Lambeth Council and Veolia for instance http://www.fors-online.org.uk/index.php?page=CS_VEOLIA

BUT (there has to be a but doesn't there?) all of the FORS vehicles, even relatively short light trucks, were carrying 'Cyclists Stay Back' stickers.
by Cusqueno
26 Sep 2014, 3:29pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Halfords bizarre bad branding!
Replies: 26
Views: 2992

Re: Halfords bizarre bad branding!

In most cases a fatigue crack is not a defect. It is a sign that the part has worn out


Really? I don't think the designers and manufacturers of the original Comet airliner would have got away with that one when the aircraft started dropping out of the sky due to fatigue cracks.