Search found 2500 matches

by iandriver
25 Feb 2024, 8:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Guitar Players - Is It Hard?
Replies: 31
Views: 1486

Re: Guitar Players - Is It Hard?

Certainly not too late in your mid 30s. Agree with all the posts that say persevere to get the basic cords down, a stage a lot of people fall over at, then you'll be able to play along for many years to come.

I rate perseverance and application. All the really good players I know aren't just talented (which many people think is all there is to it), they actually worked tirelessly at it also. You can do a lot without an abundance of talent, you probably just won't ever be famous.
by iandriver
11 Jan 2024, 11:09am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BEVs
Replies: 2122
Views: 108255

Re: BEVs

Interesting program on BBC Sounds on Toyota's latest claims regarding solid state batteries. Vastly increased range, super fast charging and lower weight.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4 ... c_team=BBC
by iandriver
26 Oct 2023, 8:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 181
Views: 23051

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

This comes as a shock https://www.islabikes.co.uk/pages/cease-of-sale.

Islabikes is a totally different kettle of fish to an internet giant. Lots of people seem to be suffering.

[Link edited by moderator to remove Facebook tracker.]
by iandriver
9 Aug 2023, 2:40pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: track worlds gear ratios
Replies: 11
Views: 984

Re: track worlds gear ratios

harriedgary wrote: 9 Aug 2023, 2:29pm just a thought, is one reason why racers pushing bigger gears not just because speeds are rising, but because they figured out that as you pedal above 100 rpm the less efficient that is. I imagine that by the time you're hitting 160 to 180 rpm for a sprint the efficiency loss just in your legs could be double that at 100 rpm. You have these two big tree trunks pounding up and down, it's impossible to convert 100% of that vertical kinetic energy into rotary effort and most likely even with elites, they probably start to wobble imperceptibly more which wastes more energy. Certainly as an amateur I wobble all over above 140 rpm, and it knackers my old knees as much as pushing too high a gear up a steep slope at 30 rpm.
Interesting article here talking about gear inches from Rio 2016 https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/raci ... ium=Social
by iandriver
8 Aug 2023, 10:11am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: track worlds gear ratios
Replies: 11
Views: 984

Re: track worlds gear ratios

Wiggo and Cavs 2007 worlds track bikes:

almost surprising that they both use a 52 tooth chainring with a 16 tooth cog. This produces a gear of 85.4in (6.81m development), for those who understand these things. In Derny paced events both riders switch to a massive 54x14T gear, which works out to 101.4in (8.08m).

Source:
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech/200 ... dish_track

Obviously track endurance riders. The sprinters will be using more.
by iandriver
7 Aug 2023, 7:50pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: track worlds gear ratios
Replies: 11
Views: 984

Re: track worlds gear ratios

You won't get track riders with 10 or 11 tooth tiny cogs at the rear, they will use a bigger chainset and more like a 15 rear.
by iandriver
6 Aug 2023, 7:47pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Lower Gearing - Again but specific!
Replies: 23
Views: 1307

Re: Lower Gearing - Again but specific!

djnotts wrote: 4 Aug 2023, 10:40pm Next problem!
STI shifter paddles really don't suit my arthritic hands - and the Tiagra triple requires a force that is beyond me. All new inner and outer cables. Swopped to an old Suntour bar end on the left (rear STI brifter is light and quick).
Same problem. Cable glides easily when not connected to mech. I can barely move the cage by hand, spring tension simply too great to move cage as far as middle ring never mind large with 2 hands (and limit stops not the cause).
I know not usually the case but I think the front mech IS the culprit.
Presumably I can replace with any triple suited to a c.40T big ring given that using friction. Or would an Ultegra be easier to move? Lighter action? Plus a newer barcon?
I may have to change to a 1x!
Anything I am missing? Done a few such mixes and friction fronts have always just "worked"!
Shimano front mechs are famous for being nigh on impossible to shift if you have the cable the wrong side of its securing bolt. The difference is extraordinary. Do check your fitting of this first.
by iandriver
31 Jul 2023, 3:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Lower Gearing - Again but specific!
Replies: 23
Views: 1307

Re: Lower Gearing - Again but specific!

Been swapping out the inner of Shimano tripples for a 26 for donkeys years. Never seen the need to ditch the 50. I think I pushed this one out to a 34 on the rear. I'd simply change the inner ring and see how it goes.

Image
by iandriver
23 Jun 2023, 1:13pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rigida Chrina - Crap?
Replies: 12
Views: 1001

Re: Rigida Chrina - Crap?

ore people on these forums have binned those rims than any other rim I know of times 10. A lot of this info will be a few years old now, but if yours is more recent, it doesn't sound like much has changed.

One example viewtopic.php?p=1084261&hilit=Chrina#p1084261
by iandriver
2 Jun 2023, 11:21am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Uncut steerer?
Replies: 53
Views: 3012

Re: Uncut steerer?

Spa are thoughtful. One of the advantages to using a smaller specialist shop that understand their customers.
by iandriver
14 May 2023, 4:56pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: soap for hair body dishes laundry
Replies: 40
Views: 6126

Re: soap for hair body dishes laundry

I'm a fan of solid shampoo bars. Some examples here https://www.lush.com/uk/en/c/shampoo-bars

I use cheaper eBay ones, but as I haven't bought one since before COVID, I can't recommend a specific one.
by iandriver
29 Apr 2023, 5:20pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Mystery bolt
Replies: 38
Views: 2820

Re: Mystery bolt

For the life of me I can't think where, but I'm sure I've seen bolts like that with the pin holding a spring in place.
by iandriver
3 Apr 2023, 10:20am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Better setup for boiling water
Replies: 43
Views: 7096

Re: Better setup for boiling water

I'm super happy with my little Alpkit burner https://alpkit.com/products/koro and its associated windshield https://alpkit.com/products/concertina. Seems to do the trick for me in the windiest of conditions.
by iandriver
25 Mar 2023, 11:35am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ..if Planet X is struggling, or just has a permanent sale?
Replies: 20
Views: 2672

Re: ..if Planet X is struggling, or just has a permanent sale?

Planet X specialise in shifting job lots of overstocked items from all sorts of companies, so yes, their permanent sale is quite normal (for them)
by iandriver
13 Mar 2023, 7:34pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: One last bike? Time for a treat?
Replies: 34
Views: 2139

Re: One last bike? Time for a treat?

Plan B, fly your 4s to somewhere where you won't be worrying about the bike and make some happy memories. Me and my 4S.
Image

Image

Image

If that doesn't appeal, Titanium is jolly nice :-)