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by Mick F
25 Mar 2024, 6:24pm
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Replies: 2256
Views: 126182

Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??

The other one I was thinking about today, was "agenda". It was being said on R4 this afternoon with a politician chappy.

When I went to meetings ......... and chaired them many many times ............ was we discussed the agendum.

Looking it up earlier due to R4, the modern stuff is "agenda" as the singular, and "agendums" as the plural! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Even the spell-checker on my Mac doesn't like "agendums".
by Mick F
25 Mar 2024, 5:03pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Not pedalling
Replies: 48
Views: 2896

Re: Not pedalling

In Plymouth on Saturday ........................ a couple of days ago.

I saw two or three riders going up the hill up Amarda Way to North Road roundabout.
Hill, and not pedalling at all.
None of them were Deliveroo riders.

It's a low-gear hill for people of a "real" bike.
by Mick F
25 Mar 2024, 4:48pm
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Replies: 2256
Views: 126182

Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??

We bought a half-chicken the other day, and it was wonderful! :D
There's only two of us, so half a chicken is sufficient.

Note the plastic film with the wording.
I put the film on the table to photograph.
IMG_2069.jpeg
"Half English Chicken"
The chicken was only half English? :lol: :lol:

Should it have been "English Chicken Half", or "Half an English Chicken" ?
by Mick F
22 Mar 2024, 9:27am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...a safe way to turn a bike over
Replies: 34
Views: 1605

Re: ...a safe way to turn a bike over

531colin wrote: 19 Mar 2024, 4:59pm TO INVERT

1. Stand on the side of the bike where the chain is
2. Lean saddle against left leg/hip
3. Bend over bike, grasp fork and seatstay about mid-point.
4. Turn bike over towards you
Sorry, late in replying to this.

In principle you are correct Colin, but if you cannot lift the bike to turn it over as you describe, you're stuffed.
My idea for a heavy bike is to lie it down, then turn it over by the wheels, and all the while, the floor takes the strain.
by Mick F
19 Mar 2024, 7:43pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: How do you carry big shopping?
Replies: 68
Views: 4514

Re: How do you carry big shopping?

thirdcrank wrote: 10 Feb 2024, 4:12pm In the context of this thread, I would say that Mick F's illustration of the different configurations possible with his trailer omits arguably the most relevant: ie how small can it be packed when not in use as a (very versatile) trailer?

The answer is some version of "tiny." And in particular "flat."

(I speak with some experience having had it in the back of our car.)
Hi TC.
Sorry, but I've not been on the forum much over the last few months.
Yes, you gave me a lift up Rosedale Chimney Bank ........... or should I say you and your wife took my trailer and orange suitcase up to the top for me. :D

I was on my Grand Tour of Scotland, England and Wales in 2008.

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by Mick F
19 Mar 2024, 7:17pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 39
Views: 2466

Re: Oldest bike

Not got it any more, but before I bought my Mercian frame, I had a Raleigh Clubman.
We were living in Alexandria near Balloch on the southern shore of Loch Lomond.
I rode every working day the 14 miles each way to Clyde Submarine Base .............. no, I wasn't a submariner, but a technician working in the Communication Centre on the cryptography equipment.

Bought the Clubman from Dales Cycles in Glasgow in 1984.
£170 if my memory serves me correctly.

Here I am riding it in Portsmouth New Hampshire in summer 1986.
Clubman.jpg
by Mick F
19 Mar 2024, 4:14pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...a safe way to turn a bike over
Replies: 34
Views: 1605

Re: ...a safe way to turn a bike over

Yep.
:D

Turning a bike over is a completely different thing to turning a bike over and be able to do it ........... and have the bike upside down and stable as well.
by Mick F
19 Mar 2024, 3:26pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...a safe way to turn a bike over
Replies: 34
Views: 1605

Re: ...a safe way to turn a bike over

Turning a bike upside down so it's stable, is a different issue to turning a bike upside down.

I have two bikes in regular use.
One is completely stable upside down, the other is NOT at all due to the geometry of the 'bars and the seat.

As for weight of the bike and the person's physicality, that is a completely different subject ............ and perhaps that's what you are alluding to with your thread.

One of my bikes is light and easy to turn over but completely unstable upside down.
The other is heavy and I can't lift it at all, but I can lie it down and "roll it over" as per the video ................... and then stand it up.
by Mick F
19 Mar 2024, 9:48am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 39
Views: 2466

Re: Oldest bike

PS:
Here it is again in 1988 when I was touring Tasmania.
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by Mick F
19 Mar 2024, 9:40am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 39
Views: 2466

Re: Oldest bike

This my "Grandfather's Axe" Mercian in the early 1991 with all the original stuff on it.
I still use the Campag Victory DT levers on my Moulton.

Original stuff still on the Mercian are the 'bars and 1R stem, and the Campag Victory seatpost.
I still have the Stronglight 99 double and with a variety of chainrings.

Click for bigger view.
Rowardennan Late 1991.jpg
by Mick F
18 Mar 2024, 6:49pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Road marking
Replies: 13
Views: 1488

Re: Road marking

T Junction.

Loads of the markings yonks ago, but not seen any for decades.
by Mick F
18 Mar 2024, 4:25pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: 2006 Campagnolo Catalogue
Replies: 1
Views: 127

2006 Campagnolo Catalogue

I found this booklet/catalogue the other day whilst clearing out a book-case.
I bought it ............. or maybe it was included? ........... in Campag stuff I was buying back then.
I had (and still have) some Chorus on my Mercian.
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Does anyone want this book?
A5 format, tired but intact ......... and with all 184 pages.
Free to good home. I'll pay the postage. PM me if you want it.

I didn't want to put this on the For Sale etc pages, but rather have a happy discussion about the older stuff. (Like me!)
by Mick F
18 Mar 2024, 3:46pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Non-standard Bikes on Trains
Replies: 32
Views: 1392

Re: Non-standard Bikes on Trains

I'm in my early 70s, fit and healthy but with little upper body-strenght. Never had much body-strength and I have never been able to do many press-ups despite being strong and fit. Run? Cycle? Easy peasy.

I've just tried to lift my 531c Mercian high enough for the hooks. I can do it ...............but only just.
Mercian 10.6Kg 23lbs 5.9oz

Tried Moulton. Cannot do it! :shock:
Moulton 14.2Kg 31lbs 4.9oz

Therefore, being the awkward sod that I am, I'm going to ride Moulton to Exeter, and ask for help to hang, and un-hang. If they can't, it'll be left horizontally.

Give it the right weather-window, and I'll be riding there.
Expect an update to this! :D :D
by Mick F
15 Mar 2024, 2:28pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 39
Views: 2466

Re: Oldest bike

:D :D

Chains?
Lots of them, including originally 6sp, then 8sp and 9sp, and now 10sp
Originally a double, and now a triple.

Bar tape?
Miles of them!

Grandfather's Axe comes to mind, or maybe Trigger's Broom.
As I asked, define what a bike is
Just a collection of components IMHO.
by Mick F
15 Mar 2024, 10:38am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 39
Views: 2466

Re: Oldest bike

Define "bicycle". :?

My Mercian FRAME was made for me in October 1996.
It's had four pairs of wheels, three cranksets, two saddles, three sets of brakes and cables, three pairs of mudguards, three front mechs, four rear mechs .................................