Search found 53 matches

by sungod
11 Nov 2010, 12:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rim failure
Replies: 6
Views: 972

Re: Rim failure

nasty

i'd contact the dealer or specialized, any warranty will be from them rather than the oems who make the various bits
by sungod
31 Oct 2010, 7:54pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Insurance
Replies: 3
Views: 521

Re: Insurance

m&s

i just switched to them when my new bike arrived, they were by far the best value

i got the premier contents cover, gives full cover on everything in the home, plus globally while on hols etc.

you must declare any items worth over 4000 quid, so i listed my posh bike, cover is unlimited

i had to read the policy details a few times before i believed it, very few exclusions, none that mattered

excellent service too...

my policy started 7th october, a car took me out on the 9th, caused around 1500 quid damage to my posh bike and helmet/clothes

it was the first time in my life i claimed on contents insurance, i was expecting a long/fiddly process, especially as i only just switched to m&s 2 days earlier

but it was hassle-free to claim, a few calls, sent some pictures of damage

the claim was settled in 3 working days

cannot recommend them enough!
by sungod
4 Sep 2010, 4:37pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hand cleaning on a ride
Replies: 17
Views: 1150

Re: Hand cleaning on a ride

i just carry a pair of mechanics' disposable gloves in the saddle bag
by sungod
3 Jul 2010, 7:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Getting muscle cramp after 50 miles.
Replies: 12
Views: 1392

Re: Getting muscle cramp after 50 miles.

are the fluids isotonic? if not then you'll be losing electrolytes in sweat, and as you drink water the concentration in your body will fall, this can lead to cramp or worse

but if it's always in the same place i'd wonder if it's a position/bike-fit issue (or if you are a new rider, maybe just too much too soon)
by sungod
14 Jun 2010, 2:58pm
Forum: Stolen, Lost, Found, etc.
Topic: stolen - Marin Toscana, black
Replies: 1
Views: 957

stolen - Marin Toscana, black

lock cut and bike pinched outside Santander office on Euston road (London) this lunchtime, in area with CCTV and wandering security guards

Marin Toscana 2009 model
Black frame, number F659765008

Differences from standard model...
handlebar end caps are hi-vis yellow with smiley faces
saddle is a Fizik Arione
seatpost is Thomson Elite
crankset is silver Shimano 105, 53/39
pedals are Shimano XTR M970
saddle bag, silver/black with Specialized logo, containing tube, puncture kit, multitool, tyre lever
bike has a Garmin speed/cadence sensor fitted, and mounts for Garmin and front/rear light mounts

unfortunately no pics
by sungod
29 May 2010, 3:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Building a tool kit
Replies: 21
Views: 1778

Re: Building a tool kit

in rough order of use for me...

mechanics' disposable gloves (but use them until they have holes in)
hex keys, couple of screwdrivers, maybe the odd torxm, plus set of hex bits for torque wrench etc. - decent ones, less likely to round/crumble/crack and damage your bike
torque wrench, 2-25nm will do for most jobs
straightforward ratchet wrench for things that need less finesse
pedal spanner (i swap pedals often on commute/training bike)
chain tool and/or powerlink pliers
crank brothers speed lever
cone spanners
cassette removal tool
chain whip (some chainwhips have a 1" spanner built in, this can be used with many bb and cassette tools)
spoke key
cheapo ultransonic cleaning tank
grease gun
bb removal tool(s)
chainring bolt key
crank puller
cable cutters
third-hand cable gripper
cheapo gear pullers (for cranks with stripped threads)
by sungod
22 Apr 2010, 8:11pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: BS Approved Lights
Replies: 14
Views: 1423

Re: BS Approved Lights

for the front, ixon iq from b&m

http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html?docu/192q-e.htm

rechargeable, carries german approvals so complies with uk regulation

bright with excellent beam shape

these seem cheapest in uk at the moment...

http://www.no-hills.com/electric_bike_shop/product.asp?numLanguageID=2&P_ID=131

watch out as some places sell it without the charger and cells (it can also run on aa batteries)

b&m do dynamo lights as well
by sungod
17 Mar 2010, 5:07pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tacx spacers for T4000 replacement jockey wheels
Replies: 4
Views: 1072

Re: Tacx spacers for T4000 replacement jockey wheels

changed mine recently, so i just dug the leaflet out of the bin in the shed, wasn't too far down...

spacer selection...

A - shimano 8, 9 and 10
B - shimano 7, campag 8
C - campag 9 and 10
D - sram 9.0, 9.0sl, 7.0 and 5.0
by sungod
2 Mar 2010, 5:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brake or break?
Replies: 9
Views: 697

Re: Brake or break?

imho it's an incorrect usage rather than a spelling error, an american dictionary makes the expected distinction between brake and break

in the old days this sort of thing was 'invisible', editors etc. were there to detect and correct errors before works went to press for a mass readership, typed messages were produced by a trained typist who could spell and/or had a dictionary to hand, and handwritten messages were mostly between two people so any contamination was limited

now the internet provides umpteen channels for people to propagate their views without any checking or correction, so there is a far higher likelihood of being exposed to poor spelling/grammar

it's human to learn by observation, so errors can propagate readily, some may become established as correct usage

if we don't watch out, words will lose all, like, meaning and we'll just, you know, like, sit around all day like, you know, like, duh, i mean, like hey, 'sup, see like, innit, wibble

i can use uppercase, i just choose not to
by sungod
1 Mar 2010, 8:38pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: USB rechargeable lights - kitemark?
Replies: 1
Views: 331

Re: USB rechargeable lights - kitemark?

the ixon iq from busch & müller is marked with german approvals, which makes it compliant with current uk legislation

it's bright with an excellent beam pattern, and is rechargeable but not via usb (it uses 4 nimh aa cells, also can be used with primary cells)

however you could get a usb nimh battery charger and use that to charge the aa cells outside the light

http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html?docu/192q-e.htm

b&m also have a device called "ride & charge" that allows you to use a dynamo to charge it
by sungod
28 Feb 2010, 12:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Caught on Google Streetview with my bike!
Replies: 20
Views: 2599

Re: Caught on Google Streetview with my bike!

i used to be visible on google earth in the aerial view, laying on the roof sunbathing

the image was from years ago when we still had summers in the uk, they updated since then and now i'm gone, fame is indeed fleeting
by sungod
23 Feb 2010, 6:29pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Identity Cards - Fancy one?
Replies: 37
Views: 2399

Re: Identity Cards - Fancy one?

id cards == waste of money, and huge potential for abuse by both the state and by criminals

the complex and pervasive computing and communications infrastructure needed would be a massive fiasco and obscene cost overrun, just like every other big government project in the last 20 years, the only people who want id cards are the control freaks in westminster/whitehall and the contractors like eds etc. who will rip us off to pay for the infrastructure, slicing and dicing to eliminate any chance of comeback while they're screwing us on every change control on their poorly scoped project and laughing all the way to the bank

grrrrrrrrrrr!

as for them being accepted as id for cross borders in the eea, nonsense, i travel a lot and have seen several id card holders bounced by passport control officials (including uk ones) and/or carrier staff, at brussels eurostar the week before last, separate vetting/denial of boarding for id card holders, passport holders sailed through as normal
by sungod
23 Feb 2010, 6:03pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Eurostar
Replies: 2
Views: 560

Re: Eurostar

just put them in a big carrier bag, i'm sure there'll be no problem

i've seen people take huge mounds of luggage onto eurostar with no hassle
by sungod
8 Feb 2010, 3:08pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wiggle promotions question.
Replies: 10
Views: 1165

Re: Wiggle promotions question.

it varies, they did it a lot in the run-up to christmas, but prior to that i don't recall seeing it often

wiggle is unlikely to stick to a fixed/public schedule as people would time purchases to fit

btw if you sign up to the email newsletter you used to get a £5 off £50 code, i think that it is valid for a week
by sungod
2 Feb 2010, 1:56pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic Brakes.... Newbie....
Replies: 8
Views: 706

Re: Hydraulic Brakes.... Newbie....

i've had a similar issue on a brand new bike, in the end i decided that they didn't actually seat the wheel correctly before aligning the brake, so simply taking off the wheel and then putting it back was enough to make the disc catch, so i just re-aligned the calipers and no more problems after wheel swaps

you can get servicing info on the shimano techdocs site, this pdf may or may not be the correct one (there are several for 575)...

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/DiskBrakeSystem/SI_8FL0A_001/SI_8FL0A_001_En_v1_m56577569830647099.pdf

if it isn't the right one just search on the techdocs site until you find your exact model

read shimano's instructions carefully (especially the safety warnings) hydraulic brakes do have their own foibles, imho it is well worth learning to service them, be careful of the fluid as some types are nasty