Search found 2525 matches

by stewartpratt
11 Jul 2018, 11:24am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Can the UK survive John Cleese leaving ?
Replies: 38
Views: 2003

Re: Good riddens John Cleese?

mercalia wrote:what a , can I use the word, pratt?


Up to you, but I'd be interested to know what conclusion you come to.
by stewartpratt
19 Jan 2016, 2:11pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Recommend (or sell!) me a touring frame (disc 700c)
Replies: 27
Views: 2680

Re: Recommend (or sell!) me a touring frame (disc 700c)

If you happen to be tall, drop me a PM. I have an unused Cube Touring RF frame for sale, but it's 62cm. It's also aluminium, but that's no bad thing for what you want it for and at this size, and the price is good :)
by stewartpratt
30 Sep 2015, 10:43am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Android App for Turn by Turn navigation of own route?
Replies: 15
Views: 2094

Re: Android App for Turn by Turn navigation of own route?

6050mAh is quite something, though I wonder how realistic that is. Can you let us know how it fares in real world use?
by stewartpratt
30 Sep 2015, 8:08am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: When should bibknicker be used?
Replies: 13
Views: 1257

Re: When should bibknicker be used?

Er… when you want something to keep your knees warm but don't want the warmth of a full tight. Personally I find myself wearing roubaix 3/4s for most of the year: they're generally fine for me in anything from near freezing to about 30C. The main reason I move to shorts in the summer is to avoid getting tan lines below my knees :)
by stewartpratt
30 Sep 2015, 8:03am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Best winter Gloves?
Replies: 18
Views: 3073

Re: Best winter Gloves?

The warmest glove I've found, by a country mile, is this:

http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/p/46397/North ... wwod9RUFPw

The "3+1" version is becoming harder to find now, but it works excellently, giving a single finger for shifting. I've used them at least as low as -6C and they've managed to keep my hands working (and, as a yardstick, my fingers are currently getting cold typing in an office).

What I struggle with is warm long sleeved tops which are long enough - I'm 6'4 and no-one does extra long sleeved cycling gear that I can find.


I'm 6'5" and I find most Gore stuff has long arms. I've got kit in sizes M-XL that all has sufficiently long arms. The Xenon 2.0 SO jacket is my cold weather top (that and a Northwave Nomad) and the Xenon 2.0 AS and Oxygen 2.0 AS outer shells also have long arms. Castelli is generally good, too, and I've got a Pearl Izumi windproof that's also long in the sleeve. In general, I find the American and Italian manufacturers cater best for tall people.
by stewartpratt
29 Sep 2015, 9:55am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: I don't get rotor size ...
Replies: 13
Views: 1366

Re: I don't get rotor size ...

mark a. wrote:So if I'm right, smaller discs have better modulation? i.e. for a given range of lever travel you get a more gradual change in retardation. So smaller discs would be better in low grip conditions. They'd also be lighter.


IME larger rotors give better control: having to use less grip force means you can more quickly modulate your braking if required, because the difference between a locked wheel and a rolling wheel is just a slight reduction in grip rather than a noticeable movement of your fingers.

As per Brucey's remarks above, if you came from a bike with poorly-configured cantis to a bike with hydraulic calipers and 203mm rotors, you'd initially find them rather grabby. But once you adjust, you realise you have more control with more power (or at least, I've certainly never had brakes so powerful that that ceases to be the case).
by stewartpratt
28 Sep 2015, 9:59am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: I don't get rotor size ...
Replies: 13
Views: 1366

Re: I don't get rotor size ...

You can look at rotor size in one of two ways:
1. For a given force at the lever, you get greater retardation.
2. For a given desired retardation, you need less force at the lever.

Basically a larger rotor gives a brake that most people would describe as "more powerful". The greater your speed and/or all-up weight, the larger a rotor you'll want.

Also note that for a given retardation, a larger rotor gives less force at the axle. So if you happen to be worried about dislodging the front wheel, a larger rotor may help.

As for heat in cable brakes, yes it can make a difference. The first time I used discs was in the Alps and halfway down the more technical descents the pads were doing nothing (and stinking like hell). Fitting different pads pretty much fixes this, though.
by stewartpratt
23 Sep 2015, 3:40pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Android App for Turn by Turn navigation of own route?
Replies: 15
Views: 2094

Re: Android App for Turn by Turn navigation of own route?

RideWithGPS will do this and more. You need to pay for a "Basic" account to enable all the features you want, but at $50 a year it's quite good given that you also get a pile of useful additional features on the website. It's the best route planning tool I've used by some margin.
by stewartpratt
21 Sep 2015, 9:36am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: compact chainset ?
Replies: 30
Views: 2253

Re: compact chainset ?

It should be easy enough to get a 4-arm MTB chainset in 22/32/42, just take the inner ring off. Possibly also fit a ~5mm shorter than designed BB axle. Failing that the XD-2 cranks with Stronglight rings from Spa is the obvious custom compact choice. Any colour you want as long as it's silver. (If you want black, I'm about to remove an unused FSA Vero 50/34 from a new bike, if that's any use…)

It should be possible to get a triple running without trouble in most cases, though. Have you checked everything? Getting the cage parallel to the rings is critical, for a start.
by stewartpratt
16 Sep 2015, 5:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Which roads in France are legal for cyclists.
Replies: 13
Views: 2636

Re: Which roads in France are legal for cyclists.

tatanab wrote: It would explain why a lorry driver blasted me with a horn when I was on a dual carriageway near Lons le Saunier a few years ago. I'd come up a minor road on one side and needed to link to an equally minor road on the other side. How else was I supposed to get between them?


If I understand your description correctly then that presumably can't have been a road with a central divider…? (I assume "central divider" here means a physical divider, eg the concrete barriers often used on autoroute-style roads, rather painted hatchings, which would make an unlikely amount of carriageway out of bounds.)
by stewartpratt
16 Sep 2015, 4:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!
Replies: 34
Views: 2713

Re: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!

yostumpy wrote:Ok then! 3 people buy XL bib shorts, but due to the differences in their body sizes, ie peron 1 is 5' 9" , person 2 is 6' 0", and person 3 is 6' 2". All 3 pairs are bought on line, and are the same make, from the same supplier.
question, how many of the above 3 will be happy and comfortable in their purchase. The problem is they are not adjustable in the strap length department, despite all being equal in girth.


Yes (and I'm myself a shape that clothing manufacturers often don't design for). But, IME, while you can get away just fine with a wide range of short sizes in terms of girth of thighs or waist, you really start to suffer if you've got something trying to pull your twig and berries up to your armpits. My point was that sometimes you can quite happily be well away from your usual waist short size before Jimmy and the twins get to relax.

Some do come with adjustable-length bib straps, though. Gore make some.
by stewartpratt
16 Sep 2015, 8:55am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!
Replies: 34
Views: 2713

Re: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!

bainbridge wrote:they become very tight between the shoulders and the groin, so next time I'll slip off the shoulder straps when they start hurting my nether regions


Or you could buy some in the right size…?
by stewartpratt
15 Sep 2015, 3:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!
Replies: 34
Views: 2713

Re: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!

jimlews wrote:Why would you want to wear bib tights ?


To avoid a cold lower back, or the potential annoyance of a waistband.
by stewartpratt
15 Sep 2015, 9:40am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!
Replies: 34
Views: 2713

Re: Question aimed specifically at male cyclists!

Is it not simply the case that you've bought bibs that are too small? It's quite easy to get away with a smaller size of waist shorts, so you may have been wearing slightly too small a size for years without knowing it, but if your bibs are a bit small you'll end up with your balls round your ears.