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by JohnW
6 Mar 2024, 9:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Advice: English touring frame 70s-80s style - new or used
Replies: 39
Views: 3349

Re: Advice: English touring frame 70s-80s style - new or used

fastpedaller wrote: 6 Mar 2024, 7:04pm
JohnW wrote: 6 Mar 2024, 1:26pm
fastpedaller wrote: 5 Mar 2024, 7:52pm It's a long while since I've seen a new frame with rear derailleur cable guides on top of the bottom bracket and chainstay!
Me too fastpedaller. I've previously had my frames built, but current need and current prices have made me look for a ready-built.
I shall be having a look in Spa shortly. The problem is that frames have changed - they're all specific to current trends and fashions, and the previous universal ability to move all the tackle onto a new frame don't usually apply.
A new frame to current fashion and format will probably mean all-new tackle. And that'll be expensive.
A new frame custom built to accept my existing tackle may actually be less expensive than buying a new ready built frame an d all-new tackle.
'Fings ain't wot they used to be !!!!
That's weird, as a short while ago I wrote an 'essay' on why my Spa Tourer frame (bought 2014) has turned out to be one of the best I've owned (at a fraction of the price of a handbuilt). The note 'disappeared into the ether! Anyway in a nutshell..... I carried out alignment and thread checks and really can't fault it in any way - it rides nicely as well. The 1 1/8 ahead set isn't an issue for me, but I guess for some it could be a deal-breaker. BTW Mine is with a steel fork, if I had to accept a carbon fork I wouldn't have bought it - Other opinions may vary.
Ah - yes - Colin531 has made a similar point (above) and he's advised similarly some years ago.
I'll be going to Spa shortly.
by JohnW
6 Mar 2024, 1:26pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Advice: English touring frame 70s-80s style - new or used
Replies: 39
Views: 3349

Re: Advice: English touring frame 70s-80s style - new or used

fastpedaller wrote: 5 Mar 2024, 7:52pm It's a long while since I've seen a new frame with rear derailleur cable guides on top of the bottom bracket and chainstay!
Me too fastpedaller. I've previously had my frames built, but current need and current prices have made me look for a ready-built.
I shall be having a look in Spa shortly. The problem is that frames have changed - they're all specific to current trends and fashions, and the previous universal ability to move all the tackle onto a new frame don't usually apply.
A new frame to current fashion and format will probably mean all-new tackle. And that'll be expensive.
A new frame custom built to accept my existing tackle may actually be less expensive than buying a new ready built frame an d all-new tackle.
'Fings ain't wot they used to be !!!!
by JohnW
15 Jan 2024, 7:51pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ex-Post Office CEO Paula Vennells
Replies: 552
Views: 33658

Re: Ex-Post Office CEO Paula Vennells

ncutler wrote: 14 Jan 2024, 4:46pm z4QJCIVK3ByqXsf0ulQG--1--2apua.jpg

Post Office branch cat adjusting data on Horizon
Nah - the cats I've known have always been honest!
by JohnW
15 Jan 2024, 7:49pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ex-Post Office CEO Paula Vennells
Replies: 552
Views: 33658

Re: Ex-Post Office CEO Paula Vennells

Bonefishblues wrote: 14 Jan 2024, 11:11am
What is Blair guilty of?
Privatising the Royal Mail/Post Office
by JohnW
9 Oct 2023, 2:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best wishes for Brucey
Replies: 613
Views: 73386

Re: Best wishes for Brucey

Norman H wrote: 9 Oct 2023, 1:39pm I was much heartened to see this. Welcome back Brucey, you've been greatly missed.
+1 to that Brucey - you're timely messages of solutions to our bike problems have been greatly missed.
If you're reading this, you'll be aware of all the warm feelings and good wishes for you.
I'll be keeping an eye out for you on the Forum.
by JohnW
9 Oct 2023, 12:25am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best wishes for Brucey
Replies: 613
Views: 73386

Re: Welcome back Brucey

gaz wrote: 8 Oct 2023, 11:43pm
JohnW wrote: 8 Oct 2023, 11:27pm Er.....I'm not sure that the thought that "Brucey is back" is correct ...
He's back :D
Brucey is back..png
Thank you for that Gaz - and I'm very pleased to learn that "Brucey is back".
I've not seen the thread that you've forwarded the post from.
Thanks for the correction - and for correcting me.. Really good news.
And best wishes to you, Gaz..
by JohnW
8 Oct 2023, 11:27pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best wishes for Brucey
Replies: 613
Views: 73386

Re: Best wishes for Brucey

zenitb wrote: 8 Oct 2022, 12:10pm Excellent news that Brucy is still looking at hub designs. I'm still running the (fairly) unique Sachs Maillard "big balls" front tandem hub he shipped me..and of course using the years of accumulated advice Brucey has encapsulated on this sites posts. I really enjoyed our joint investigations on Shimano's different parts with the same part number - this saved us from a horrible old/new SPD cleat/pedal mismatch recently. Wishing him all the best. George.
Er.....I'm not sure that the thought that "Brucey is back" is correct - this post from 'zenitb' is dated 8 Oct 2022 - I wish it was correct though, and I only hope that Brucey is still keeping his eye on us. Best wishes to you if you are Brucey.

And best wishes to all his well-wishers.
by JohnW
21 Aug 2023, 11:43am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: If it's morally right for others to tell cyclists what to wear if they themselves dont cycle?
Replies: 103
Views: 8408

Re: If it's morally right for others to tell cyclists what to wear if they themselves dont cycle?

Nearholmer wrote: 18 Aug 2023, 7:46pm I understand why this is being posted, and it’s obvious that the poll will result in a very large majority voting “no”, but can I prompt an exploration of the limits of the “no” answer?

The starkest case that springs to mind is motorcycle helmets, where society at large, of whom possibly as many as 99% don’t ride a motorbike (c2% of households in the UK “have access to a motorcycle” to use the formal language of travel surveys), compels the wearing of helmets while motorcycling. Why? I think for three reasons: to protect naive youngsters, who were dying of head injuries in motorcycling accidents in shocking numbers before the law compelled use of helmets; to prevent a disproportionate drain on the public purse in treating and caring for those who suffer head injuries in motorcycling accidents; and, to prevent the families of motorcyclists being put through the trauma of losing loved ones.

Is it morally wrong for the 99 non-motorcyclists to tell the 1 motorcyclist what to wear? I don’t think so; I think that the apparent reasons why the 99 tell the 1 what to do constitute a sound moral case for doing so.

Is it morally wrong for society at large, most of whom don’t ride bikes on the road in the dark, to compel that small percentage who do ride bikes on the road in the dark to have reflectors and working lights? Again, I think not, because it is evident that lights and reflectors reduce the probability that people cycling in the dark will be driven into by motorists (or other cyclists, come to that), so there is a moral case on several grounds.

Which suggests to me that if it became evident that wearing a particular thing while cycling was a sure-fire way to greatly reduce the probability of becoming involved in an accident, or a sure-fire way of significantly reducing severe injuries to cyclists involved in accidents, then it might be morally right for the non-cycling majority to compel the cycling minority to wear whatever that thing might be.

It also suggests to me that where there is not compelling evidence of the benefits of wearing a particular thing, but there are strong indicators that wearing whatever it might be could be beneficial under some circumstances, then it would be morally right for society at large to advise, rather than compel, the wearing of that thing.

Simply voting “no” assumes that there can never be a moral case for compelling, or even advising, anyone to do any particular thing under a given circumstance unless everyone in society places themselves in that circumstance, which I would argue is an utterly flawed line of thinking, based on the concept that an individual’s actions can affect only them, and never have societal impacts.

Because there is no option in the poll that reflects the above line of thinking, I haven’t voted.
Good one Nearholmer. That's a much better balanced response than most.
by JohnW
21 Aug 2023, 10:59am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why people don't post pictures of their bikes in kitchens anymore?
Replies: 55
Views: 9107

Re: Why people don't post pictures of their bikes in kitchens anymore?

freiston wrote: 21 Aug 2023, 12:38am
JohnW wrote: 20 Aug 2023, 11:27pm My bike lives in the dining room - it couldn't stand the smell of cooking in the kitchen. Best place I ever kept my bikes was hung from the ceiling in the bedroom.
In the 90s I lived in a bedsit and my bike lived hanging from a DIY shelf with supports for resting the top tube on, on the wall above the bed. After riding in wet weather, I had to leave it in the hallway to dry off before I could hang it up.
Yes - that's always a problem - 'de-briefing' the bike after a ride! Is you bike happier now, in it's own space?
by JohnW
20 Aug 2023, 11:27pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why people don't post pictures of their bikes in kitchens anymore?
Replies: 55
Views: 9107

Re: Why people don't post pictures of their bikes in kitchens anymore?

My bike lives in the dining room - it couldn't stand the smell of cooking in the kitchen. Best place I ever kept my bikes was hung from the ceiling in the bedroom.
by JohnW
26 May 2023, 10:54pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Drivers silly season?
Replies: 34
Views: 2642

Re: Drivers silly season?

Nearholmer wrote: 26 May 2023, 10:35pm Your eyes may pick out different things, and your experience teach you different things from the next person’s.

Personally, I’d say that some things have got better, some have got worse, and that we’re still the same cartload of monkeys, swapping between horns and haloes moment by moment, that we ever were.

And, one thing I surely don’t believe in is A Past Golden Age.
Well - traffic levels, at least locally to my area, have doubled since the covid plague started.
This is unofficially confirmed by the local authority - which may mean twice as many gud-uns - but twice as many bad-uns and by observation the lights controlling Pelikans are treat with increasing contempt.
by JohnW
26 May 2023, 9:13pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Drivers silly season?
Replies: 34
Views: 2642

Re: Drivers silly season?

Jdsk wrote: 26 May 2023, 1:02pm What's the evidence that anything has got worse?

Thanks

Jonathan
The evidence of our eyes and our experiences.
by JohnW
26 May 2023, 1:16pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling Shorts?
Replies: 46
Views: 3544

Re: Cycling Shorts?

Vorpal wrote: 26 May 2023, 11:50am [........................
I came a bit late to this thread, but I might recommend a slightly different approach to solving the problem...

There are several thing that contribute to saddle comfort.
-Bike fit/position
-Saddle size & shape
-Your seat & fitness
-Breaking in the saddle / your backside to each other
-Clothing
.....................
.
I really cannot agree with you more vorpal - of all the variables - and I went through the painful learning process many years ago - saddle height/position/angle/position have proved, to me, to be the most critical element. Properly positioned and dressed leather saddles soon become comfy.

Two examples - several years ago I encountered a chap on our local greenway - he's ridden the length of it (about 8 miles) and was most uncomfortable. He didn't know how a bloke of my age (I was about 65-ish at the time) could ride the length of the greenway, and on to York or wherever afterwards. His legs, particularly his knees, were painful for days after he'd ridden his bike. I watched him ride around a bit, and noted his saddle height. To adjust his saddle for what looked right to me, we lowered his saddle by about an inch and a half and maybe half an inch back. I saw him a couple of weeks later, scampering up and down the greenway, and looking fully relaxed. That bit of adjustment had changed his life! I asked him why he hadn't got the shop that sold him the bike to set him up. The bike was second hand, and he'd asked at a local council-run road safety advisory and been told that the safety requirement was that he had to be able to put his feet flat on the ground when sat on the saddle! I saw him several times after that, and his knees were pain-free and cycling wasn't tiring anymore.

The other example - myself. I needed new cycling shorts - my usual source (Hebden cord, Hebden bridge) had retired. I was advised to get some sooper-dooper (and expensive) specialist cycling shorts - guaranteed to be comfy on the bum. They were padded. In my ignorance I was proud of them. I really looked the part. I was off to meet a friend, 45 miles away. It was summer time, and cool in the morning. On my way home however, the sun was high, it was getting warmer, and specialist cycling shorts were not ventilating and were very hot - sweaty - and the salt was breaking the skin, and becoming painful. I had raw flesh, just where you don't want it! My visit to the doctor was a bit embarrassing and she prescribed cream, gauze and at least four to six weeks before it would heal. I got my Hebden Cords patched, and a couple of years later I met Corinne Dennis at her stall at York Rally. I bought my first pair. They wear very well - and comfortable for 200-mile day rides...............and they ventilate. They seem to be a kind of woven lycra, and dry quickly after a rainstorm.

I'll stick with ventilation, comfy saddle and position and no sophisticated talk.
by JohnW
25 May 2023, 11:28pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: What Has Made You Laugh Today ?
Replies: 1465
Views: 95957

Re: What Has Made You Laugh Today ?

cycleruk wrote: 25 May 2023, 11:12pm Could be US based but just passing on something I was sent.
Still found them funny even if only half fact.
As the heading says - made me laugh today. :D
Oh yes - made me laugh also.
by JohnW
25 May 2023, 11:27pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: What Has Made You Laugh Today ?
Replies: 1465
Views: 95957

Re: What Has Made You Laugh Today ?

DaveReading wrote: 25 May 2023, 10:47pm
JohnW wrote: 25 May 2023, 9:13pm
DaveReading wrote: 25 May 2023, 8:16pm

Lifted from a US book (hence the ER reference).
Dave - I must be thick, for which I apologise, but I don't understand that.
I'm not trying to be clever.
ER = Emergency Room - US-speak for Accident & Emergency
Thanks Dave - I confessed my ignorance!