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by cycle tramp
18 Mar 2024, 8:22am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 30
Views: 752

Re: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?

reohn2 wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 5:29pm
cycle tramp wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 4:11pm
reohn2 wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 11:36am Lierally the fabric of society is crumbling about us as the rich get ever richer and the poorest of trampled on,it truly is depessing.
I think we need to be the change we wish to see in our society.

We could be the examples to others that by moving under our own power, growing and harvesting our own food and perhaps energy, and through our support of our local businesses we can bring around positive changes and empowered
My personal circumstances a) I have a severely disabled wife who can't "move under her own power" and needs a wheelchair for anything but short walks so we need a car to move around,do the shopping and offer her some semblance of normality
b)the harvesting of my own food from such a small garden as we have wouldn't be worth the effort,or desirable for me as a full time carer.I'm no gardener nor ever have been.
c)I do support local businesses where possible.
without having to go on protest marches
Last protest march was one I organised against the Iraq war in 2001(?).
Sadly - for me, any type of political intervention to solve our current issues is doomed. The government (by which I mean the civil service, and their ideas, the lobbyists, and the special interests groups and their view of the world) will always get in.
I'm coming around to that way of thinking,politics has been "gamed" in favour of the rich to the n th degree....
Apologies - I've completely failed to write my original in a way that couldn't be taken personally....
...there are many reasons why people can't do all or any of the above - from disabilities, as you've mentioned to living in high rise flats, or lack of access and things like that...

...at this stage we return to the 10% paradigm... if 10% of those would could, would.... then we could change everything in a handful of years...

..case in point- rats. Having chickens means that I attract rats... however rats use sight to detect preditors but smell to detect food - if we were to plant our town centres with lemon balm, lavender and other strongly smelling plants - not only would we make our town centres more attractive, but also reduce rat incidents....
by cycle tramp
18 Mar 2024, 8:11am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3294

Re: Dangerous mudguards

Bmblbzzz wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 6:54pm Having the breakaway at the mudguard end of the say seems more sensible in terms of the flailing spoke potential mentioned earlier. Does it affect the functioning, perhaps due to reduced leverage?
Perhaps the only way forward is not to mount the mudguard at the same level as the front wheel axle, but mid way up on the front fork - so that if an object is caught between the front wheel and mudguard stay, as the mudguard is pushed around, the arc of its travel differs front the arc of the tyre and the mudguard ends up being pushed away from the tyre releasing the object...
by cycle tramp
18 Mar 2024, 8:05am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3294

Re: Dangerous mudguards

Bmblbzzz wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 6:54pm Having the breakaway at the mudguard end of the say seems more sensible in terms of the flailing spoke potential mentioned earlier. Does it affect the functioning, perhaps due to reduced leverage?
I can see your point of view- but in doing so that would leave the end of an exposed metal rod pointing towards the rider, who may or may not be falling towards it....
..despite the probability of this not happening.. its still going to be enough for that sort of break away stay design to be stopped in its tracks by the companies lawyers....
by cycle tramp
17 Mar 2024, 4:11pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 30
Views: 752

Re: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?

reohn2 wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 11:36am Lierally the fabric of society is crumbling about us as the rich get ever richer and the poorest of trampled on,it truly is depessing.
I think we need to be the change we wish to see in our society.

We could be the examples to others that by moving under our own power, growing and harvesting our own food and perhaps energy, and through our support of our local businesses we can bring around positive changes and empowered without having to go on protest marches.

Sadly - for me, any type of political intervention to solve our current issues is doomed. The government (by which I mean the civil service, and their ideas, the lobbyists, and the special interests groups and their view of the world) will always get in.
by cycle tramp
17 Mar 2024, 4:00pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 30
Views: 752

Re: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?

Pebble wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 12:46pm Starmer will be alright if he can sail in a straight line, but there is a lot of crew that want to tack heavily to port, if that happens we will flounder on the rocks, we're in treacherous waters


(i'm under several warnings so could disappear at any moment, if so, bye all and I have enjoyed your company)
Thank you - I have enjoyed your company as well, and remain envious of the bike you ride, the environs in which it is ridden and your skill in 3d printing work :-)
by cycle tramp
16 Mar 2024, 5:26pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants
Replies: 24
Views: 848

Re: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants

SwiftyDoesIt wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 4:47pm Done it but several things came up.

There are no third genders, it's male or female, you need a biology lesson!
Oh yes there is . Oh no there isn't.... oh yes there is...

It is possible to be born intersexed perhaps with the testicles in place of the ovaries, and complete hermaphrodites, whilst are very uncommon have existed in the past and no doubt will do again...
...usually for the question of gender I read 'sexuality'.... although if that was the case being utterly truthful I would have has to tick the box which read 'in the dim and distance past'.

.....the future will always be a scary place, but of someone wishes to identify as a man or woman or a further choice, then who am I to deny them of this? And on what moral grounds would I base my argument for doing so?

....and what the devil does it have to do with me anyway? :-)

.
by cycle tramp
16 Mar 2024, 3:07pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants
Replies: 24
Views: 848

Re: Cycling motivation survey - looking for participants

Done - however to further quantify my responses, in live in a village in the middle of the Somerset levels which is quite rural.
Most of the routes I take involve a combination of roads, farm tracks, mixed walking and cycle ways, and urban cut throughs.
I suspect the responses you'll receive will be based on two things - the riders age and where they live (and by that the number of cycling facilities in the questionnaire's immediate environment)...
..I'm also suspecting a spilt in the responses as well - for those who cycle for fitness going of less times in a given period (but probably for longer) compared with those who cycle more out of environment concerns who might go out more but cycle for shorter periods...

.but..equally I've been so very wrong on this forum before :-)
by cycle tramp
15 Mar 2024, 5:19pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3294

Re: Dangerous mudguards

oaklec wrote: 15 Mar 2024, 5:10pm Does your drink bottle get caked in muck?
Oh you just had to there, didn't you? ;-)
by cycle tramp
15 Mar 2024, 1:40pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Headset on Claud Butler Dalesman
Replies: 26
Views: 786

Re: Headset on Claud Butler Dalesman

Ooh... Good point - you might want to take the top bits off (stem extender and spaces) and remove the fork to check for rust... but unless there's an issue with the bearings I still wouldn't replace them...
by cycle tramp
15 Mar 2024, 9:59am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Dynamo carbon fork mounting options
Replies: 6
Views: 214

Re: Dynamo carbon fork mounting options

Personally speaking running a headlamp from the crown of the fork is waaaaaaaay neater than any other option...

..however I've always found that I could generate a better pool of light from the handlebars.....

The issue with mounting anything to the rear of the forks and then running it between the front tyre and the underneath of the forks is two fold -

I) clearance- is it physically possible to do so
II) Safety - if the bolt works loose, what is going to stop the weight of the front lamp lowering the mount until it touches your (spinning) tyre - and in the worst cause scenario- this occurs at 35 mph down hill, on a slippery wet road....

At this point - whilst it's an offence against the eye- you might be better off living with some untidy wiring and mounting the headlamp to the stem or handlebars and then learning to live with it - in the knowledge you've got a lighting system on tap....

You also may be considering drilling a hole at the front of the forks- however
(A) your going to invalidate the warranty
(B) might make the forks weaker
(C) there is surprising evidence that if you breathe in any carbon fibre dust as you work - it goes into your lungs and behaves in the same way as asbestos does (so best not, eh?)
by cycle tramp
15 Mar 2024, 7:19am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Headset on Claud Butler Dalesman
Replies: 26
Views: 786

Re: Headset on Claud Butler Dalesman

Rob D wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 4:38pm Hi all,
Whilst there's not a problem, I feel I ought to do some maintenance on my Dalesman, which I bought new in 2010. I've not dismantled the headset before.
Apologies- I've just re-read your opening post.. personally if there isn't a problem with the headset, then I would leave it alone - the bike I use most days was purchased 2nd hand back in 2016 and I've not has to touch the headset- it just hasn't given me any reason to.
Generally speaking if you use a front mudguard then there's very little dirt or water getting to the lower bearing race - your front mudguard is protecting it and all the grease is staying in place.
by cycle tramp
14 Mar 2024, 6:40pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Headset on Claud Butler Dalesman
Replies: 26
Views: 786

Re: Headset on Claud Butler Dalesman

If that is a FSA headset both top and bottom bearings are in races rather than individual ball bearings
by cycle tramp
14 Mar 2024, 6:13pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 181
Views: 23035

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

pliptrot wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 4:49pm
cycle tramp wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 2:15pm ..at this point if anyone said that the nicest people are from Taiwan and not Britain... or vice versa... the rest of the room would look at them like they were barking mad...

..to attempt to identify which country builds bikes of a better quality on a handful of anecdotes.. might be seen in the same view..

What? You're right: it really is time to go.
What? For pointing out that the build quality of your bikes might be due to quality inspection issues rather than a national character defect of a country?

Sounds a bit harsh....

I mean, if you want to go around saying that country x or y only produces inferior products, you can do so under freedom of speech... just sounds a bit extreme, that's all...
by cycle tramp
14 Mar 2024, 2:15pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 181
Views: 23035

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

..at this point if anyone said that the nicest people are from Taiwan and not Britain... or vice versa... the rest of the room would look at them like they were barking mad...

..to attempt to identify which country builds bikes of a better quality on a handful of anecdotes.. might be seen in the same view... and fails to take into account things like variances in quality control during and after construction, as well as environmental factors as to what metal finishes can be legally used in what country...
..and it would have to be viewed on a year by year basis and across price points.. perhaps even indexed to that countries cost of living
by cycle tramp
14 Mar 2024, 7:02am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 136
Views: 5550

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Nearholmer wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 10:30pm Yes, maybe it’s just a matter of taste, and after all there are bigger and smaller wheels too.

I wonder if leg-length has anything to do with it?
Personally I'd go with aesthetics.... 700, 29 inch and 27.5 inch look right.. whereas despite the benefits (or otherwise) of a 26 inch wheel, they can make a larger look 'wrong'.. .
..you can either live with this or you can't.... if you can't then no amount of reasoning is going to persuade you.