Cycling UK Forum

Is there any one else, like me, who is fed up with the path we are being lead down by manufacturers and has this subject been flogged on this forum before.
Where is the sense in having a single chain ring and a gear block so wide that it - requires massive dishing of the wheel - causes wide chain misalignment and wear - limits the range of gears. Reduced cost of production must be the goal.
Whatever the reason; what is wrong with a nice 3 x 7 set up that, with the right block choice, gives a wide range and avoids all the above?
I am looking forward to being shot down!

Thanks Norman, and thanks, also, for the weather warning!

Is there any one willing to tell me their 5 best day rides in all of Ireland. Out and back/circular!

Thanks to everybody for their thoughts. I think that it may have been unusual wear of the caliper which allowed the brake pad to be caught up between the rotor and the body of the caliper but that should have, permanently, locked the wheel up.

Anyway --- this morning a new caliper should arrive in the post and it will be fitted. The trouble is that I shall feel nervous about riding the bike for a few days, weeks, months now.

I'm too old to be taking flyers now!!!!

Thanks again to all

Thanks for the advice chaps (ladies?) but none of your replies rings the bell.

By the way the 'p' fairy no longer bothers me since I invested, heavily, in some very expensive CO2 cartridge inflators!!

Keep you on a'troshin'.

Riding along a gravelly track minding my own business, not going too fast!!, when I found myself sailing over the handlebars heading for the ground with my arms outstretched and my head ready for landing. No serious injury, thank the Lord.

Bike on ground, front wheel free and revolving, no sign of any material locked up in mudguard, mudguards undamaged, brakes free and working.

All bits checked out later especially front disc brake (Shimano Deore) but can find no apparent cause.

Any ideas/opinions?

Thanks Treva, I think I've identified a way through by Kings Clipstone, then south of Market Warsop, then south of Shirebrook but then I have about a half mile gap prior to Pleasley unless we can bike through Pleasley Park.

must be "just you"! This was, clearly, a "good" driver with all the skill necessary to pull this kind of manoeuvre when a "poor" driver might not have the skill or the will to do it. I always bear in mind a statistic that I read somewhere - about 70% of drivers call themselves "above average".

Is there anyone out there who can tell me the best route from Sherwood Pines visitor centre to Pleasley (the Pheonix Trails) off road or off road/quiet road please?

Thanks for your advice, both of you. Not too keen on the camping because I am such a nimby pimby when it comes to loading up my bike. We shall have three under sixteens so the hostel route might be closed. I was banking on being able to use YHA membership to use in Holland.
Back to drawing board. Thanks for replying.

There is a plan afoot to get the family on wheels for a week in Holland in the early Summer (this year). Does anyone have any good advice about booking overnight accommodation for about eight people including two females and three under 16s?

I have found a way of eliminating p*******s altogether. I spent a lot of money on the most expensive CO2 inflating kit I could find and several spare gas cylinders. Since then - no punctures! Did I speak too soon?

For the second time in 3 months my grandson has had his bike stolen from the backyard shed in Sheffield. If anyone comes across an "orangy" coloured Marin Mount Vision in the Sheffield area with the postcode painted on in red S11 8RS please let me know on this site.

I just don't understand the thinking behind the 10 speed block (probably 11/32) and the 50/34 chainrings. It's such a huge jump if you need to change rings on a hill. Yes it provides a wide range but at the expense of usefull gears. If you need wide tange of gears why not think about the more normal set up of 3 chainrings and something simple like a 6 speed block (if you can find one!). This allows you to change ranges witbout that huge jump in ratios. By the way on a 700 wheel and a pedalling cadence of around 60/65 rpm the road speed is more than 50mph in top gear. Even out Cav might have a problem with that! I certainly can't do it. I've bought a lovely new bike ( a Whyte R7) and have changed the big 50 ring for a 40 to make it rideable. Somebody please expalin the logic and the benefits of these so called "compact" set ups. 10 speed blpcks are just the latest "fashion" foisted on us by the manufacturers when a nice simple 3 x 6 would give us all we need and still have a chain that we didn't have to destroy to separate. Rant over.

wife of above - much sympathy. check your set up carefully, peddle to saddle length/cranks could be too long. Attitude (i.e. from saddle to handlebar) could be putting your body too sloping, too forward. More sit-up ish attitude is often more comfy, less pressure on the front area. Try different saddle, but definitely ladies. Not a big huge one. try dropping the saddle front end a tiny little bit. (too much and will pull you forward and make it worse). Also padded shorts are great but have found that much padding causes a wrinkle where you don't want one. I alway try to find shorts that are padded minimally and find these more comfy. Unsure about build up where your 'frontal zone' is sore, but agree about the general backside!