Search found 437 matches

by FarOeuf
17 Sep 2016, 11:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Do mudguards slow you down (much)?
Replies: 52
Views: 8275

Re: Do mudguards slow you down (much)?

Mick F wrote:I tend to get about 13mph average speed on my rides round here, and sometimes it's up as high as 14mph/nearly 15mph. The fastest times are always without mudguards. I have GPS accurate records going back to 2007 though I've not made any notes on mudguards on/off.


I've just started a 25km commute, 22 km along a canal tow path, 1.5km along a straight road, the rest on segregated tarmac cycle path. my fastest times are without a doubt when I spot a roadie ahead of me (I'm on a mountain bike with a pannier). Summer and a bit of warmth would surely get the speed-juices flowing, so I don't doubt there will be faster times.

I think you're absolutely spot on when you say it's about 'feel'. feel good, go faster. sun is shining, go faster. target ahead, go faster. mudguards, pretty irrelevent.
by FarOeuf
17 Sep 2016, 11:28pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Do mudguards slow you down (much)?
Replies: 52
Views: 8275

Re: Do mudguards slow you down (much)?

Brucey wrote:it depends on how well the mudguards fit, how wide they are, how close to the tyre etc.

I suspect that most mudguards slow you down quite a lot.

cheers


I use P65 SKS guards on the Surly Troll, with a single pannier and 1.75" tyres (Marathon Plus). Sit at 30/35kph on the flat road sections of my commute, and around 25/28kph on the flat canal (dirt) path. I think your suspicions may be misplaced. Though it's entirely possible I could be commuting at 50kph without the mudguards. I guess it depends on what 'a lot' means.
by FarOeuf
26 Aug 2016, 8:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?
Replies: 24
Views: 2404

Re: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?

RickH wrote:If you are using Bluetooth you can pair sensors to different devices but you probably can't have them paired to more than one device (phone/ computer/ whatever) at a time.


Hmm.. if that were true then if I paired a phone with a HRM and then lost the phone the HRM would be a dud as there's no 'reset' capability on it.

RickH wrote:ANT+ sensors (most current 3rd party Bluetooth ones can do ANT+ too) are (always?) broadcast only so can be accessed by multiple devices simultaneously.

My Sony Xperia (Z Ultra) can recieve ANT+ signals from sensors. I don't know how many other phones can do that & whether it is dependent on hardware, software or both (the Strava app prompted me for some ANT+ software when I first paired it with a heart rate sensor).


Yes, Ant+ is designed so any device can read any other device. It's also what makes Ant+ problematic, in that 'data doping' is quite easy (modifying the data between the sensor and the head unit). Some Samsung phones have an Ant+ chip in them. The phone's operating system needs the Ant+ software on the phone (not always there as standard).

One thing I've never understood about pro racing (TdF) is that if power data is so valuable, why don't teams capture other teams power data? Ant+ data is just broadcast, so your Garmin is receiving all Ant+ data near you but only recording the data from the paired sensors (those which it has a sensor ID of). However, modified Garmin's could easily record any Ant+ data in range (it's in clear text). And that could be tied to GPS data of when, say, Thomas is riding next to Nibali. I'd always assumed this is part of Sky's marginal gains, giving Froome the nod as to when the opposition are at their weakest power.
by FarOeuf
24 Aug 2016, 4:48pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?
Replies: 24
Views: 2404

Re: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?

Flinders wrote:That's interesting....
The padrone works with bluetooth too.
After stomping around for a bit I had anther go with the padrone+. I started with the cadence sensor- I fitted it before trying to pair it, as I knew I could fit it alright and needed to do something that would work to get my confidence back or I'd have gone mad. It fitted fine, and paired fine. For some strange reason, despite AFAIK doing everything exactly the same as before but which didn't work, I sorted out most of the other things too. I will try again with the HR and then take it for a spin to see if it all works together now. If it does, the next step is downloading rides.


You can pair your sensors to an app in your phone as well (ie it won't interfere with pairing on your Padrone). Might be worth doing that so you can always switch your phone on and check your sensors are working as expected. Just for testing and checking battery levels.
by FarOeuf
23 Aug 2016, 5:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?
Replies: 24
Views: 2404

Re: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?

Flinders wrote:We'd had problems with Garmin in the past, so I just opted for a cateye computer again (my old simple cateye one was fine).
Big mistake.


I switched from Garmin (multiple failures) to iPhone with blue tooth sensors (HR, cadence, etc). Very easy to setup both the Strava and RideWithGPS apps, both of which do 'follow the line' mapping. Some Samsung phones have an Ant+ chip in them, if that fits your sensors. There are some decent waterproof mounts for phones now, and you can pickup cheap sim-less second hand phones with relatively small screens, GPS, Bluetooth, and Ant+.

I wasn't sure if the smartphone thing would work, but it really does and even on a tour down to Switzerland. Really helps if you have a dynamo for charging, but a power bank is fine. The downsides of smartphone for on-bike is that even the smallest is larger than a Garmin 800, and the touchscreens don't work well/at all in heavy rain (ie you need to wipe them before touching).

I've seen someone who glued a quad lock onto the rear of a second hand Samsung phone (a waterproof phone), which made the form factor a lot smaller than using a waterproof mount. I think that's the way I'll go now I know I can keep a phone charged, and that the device is more reliable than a Garmin even when cycling over the rough stuff.
by FarOeuf
23 Aug 2016, 12:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?
Replies: 24
Views: 2404

Re: Garmin 800 won't connect to computer, connectors corroded?

if the ride log is important to you, then before you smash the Garmin with a hammer (I've been there...) ask around for someone (into electronics) who could solder on a replacement connector.
by FarOeuf
19 Aug 2016, 9:51pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Frame respray in Scotland
Replies: 18
Views: 5321

Re: Frame respray in Scotland

geomannie wrote:I can't help you with a Scottish company but I have recently learned about a special formulation of aerosol paints specifically designed for bike frames http://road.cc/content/review/199463-spraybike-paint, which can be purchased from https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/sprayb ... -battersea. They also have a putty which can be used fill dents in the frame.


I used to work in a classic car restoration shop, I suspect the above is simply an advertorial. Applying paint to steel is a well established practice, but requires the sprayer to be experienced for good results. And it's all in the prep, mostly.

"Originating in Athens where local shop Vicious Cycles got fed up with the poor experience using automotive spray paint on bikes"

Ahh... automotive spray paint is what you buy in Halfords, that's not what a professional paintshop uses. Like comparing apples and knitting needles.
by FarOeuf
19 Aug 2016, 9:40pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Frame respray in Scotland
Replies: 18
Views: 5321

Re: Frame respray in Scotland

A mate had his frame sprayed at the place that's on the junction of Willowbrae Rd and Portobello Rd, I can't remember the name but you can see their sign from the junction I think. His frame looks fantastic (red), and was £80. The guy sprayed it, my mate then applied the decals and took it back and they laquered it. They're not a bike shop, but were happy to do it.

EDIT: just discovered that I'm talking about Henderson's :)

EDIT 2: his frame was a 70's Carlton, if you PM me your email address I'll see if I can send you some of his photos.
by FarOeuf
17 Aug 2016, 7:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: First weekend tour, London
Replies: 20
Views: 1430

Re: First weekend tour, London

if it's 2018 then it's quite early to worry about camping out. I cycled London/Edinburgh last Feb. First stop was in a ploughed field somewhere about 50 miles north of London (I think I went out via Potters Bar). I woke up covered in frost, cycled for a while on back roads and crashed on black ice. The main difficulty with touring in Jan/Feb/etc, is that there's very little day light. And what daylight there is is often better called murk.

It's totally do-able, just set your expectations of enjoyment down near the floor somewhere. Have a look at the Rat Race London/Edinburgh route, or the LEL routes. It's actually not too bad cycling, plenty of fields, etc, heading towards Lincoln way. I found cycling from London further eastwards a bit of a non-starter because of the upgraded roads being a bit rubbish (and my ignorance of the area).

Train rides aren't that expensive if booked a couple of months in advance. Or box your bike up and bus it somewhere, and cycling home.
by FarOeuf
5 Aug 2016, 9:11pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ride With GPS - bulk export?
Replies: 4
Views: 982

Re: Ride With GPS - bulk export?

the easiest way is to download the RideWithGPS app and save it as an offline route (route only).

https://ridewithgps.com/help/offline-maps-iphone

EDIT: but if you want it in an 'app of your choice' then you need to export the route (in the desktop version of RideWithGPS) as a .gpx file, and then upload that file into the desktop version of the 'app of your choice'. After that download it again in the 'app of your choice' on your phone.
by FarOeuf
4 Aug 2016, 7:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ride With GPS - bulk export?
Replies: 4
Views: 982

Re: Ride With GPS - bulk export?

from the Routes page right click to View a route and 'open in a new tab', in that new tab add this onto the end of the url in the address bar '.gpx?sub_format=track' and press return to (re-)load the page. It'll ask you to save the route file. Close the tab and repeat with the next route. Not a bulk export, but quicker than the usual way.

ie, turn this : https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15549075
into this : https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15549075 ... rmat=track

how many routes are we talking about? Are they public? I could extract them all automatically if you want, and email you them in a zip file. a one time only offer :)

cheers,
by FarOeuf
31 Jul 2016, 9:15pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Booking bikes on trains
Replies: 18
Views: 7375

Re: Booking bikes on trains

pete75 wrote:
FarOeuf wrote:On the Virgin website there's an option to book a bike with your ticket. Unfortunately it's after you've selected your ticket and clicked 'Buy Now', so you can end up going back and forth. Underneath the seating preferences section there's some tiny text 'bicycle space'.




So what. It's very easy to book a bike space on the East Coast web site . Have done so many times and never ended up going back and forth - except when I've booked a return ticket of course :lol:


East Coast, the company, stopped operating in Feb 2015. Not sure you should be buying tickets from a website if it claims to be them...
by FarOeuf
31 Jul 2016, 7:52pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Booking bikes on trains
Replies: 18
Views: 7375

Re: Booking bikes on trains

On the Virgin website there's an option to book a bike with your ticket. Unfortunately it's after you've selected your ticket and clicked 'Buy Now', so you can end up going back and forth. Underneath the seating preferences section there's some tiny text 'bicycle space'.
by FarOeuf
26 Jul 2016, 6:53pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Why Does the CTC Discriminate Against Joint/ Family Members?
Replies: 39
Views: 3305

Re: Why Does the CTC Discriminate Against Joint/ Family Members?

geomannie wrote:The answers to the first 3 questions are clear. There is discrimination against a group of CTC members, which includes both male and female members. Discrimination is discrimination and is simply wrong, even if saves the CTC a small amount of money. On the question of whether women are more likely to more discriminated against is currently not proven, but is likely and could easily be tested from the CTC membership records.


What you're describing is not discrimination. Group A and group B have equal opportunity to have their name on a card. You can't discriminate against both group A and group B at the same time. And whether a member from group A or B is more likely to not have their name on the card is completely outside of the control of the people writing the name on the card, if it's simply down to whom decides to fill out the application.

What you're describing is a system that doesn't appear to be particularly well thought out, but that's about it.

EDIT: typo
by FarOeuf
22 Jul 2016, 7:29pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bike damaged whilst flying - lost confidence
Replies: 12
Views: 1753

Re: Bike damaged whilst flying - lost confidence

I also always use a cardboard box, sourced locally on a return flight. Bike shops usually also have some sort of materials for packing too. You can never be sure of the size of the box you'll find (in the way home), so thinking about how your bike packs down beforehand is worth it.

I discoverd 'rinko' a few years ago, it's the Japanese method of packing your bike. An excellent method, and I can have my bike ready to box in about 15 minutes. It's held together with a toe strap, and the tyres protect the frame so no metal parts touch. Over the years I've kept or adapted the bike to better suit this style of disassembly, with downtube shifters, front non-disc brake, switch rear guard to an Ass Saver, etc. And I doubt I'd travel (airlines, trains, etc) on anything other than a steel frame.

I think if you're doing a lot of touring, and it involves planes, etc, then part of the overall requirements for your chosen bike ought to take that into consideration. The getting to and from the cycling bit of your trip is part of the trip, and a bike that lends itself to easier travel really is worth it.

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