Search found 120 matches

by steve browne
14 Oct 2023, 8:55am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohloff for 2wd trike axle
Replies: 19
Views: 2763

Re: Rohloff for 2wd trike axle

Thanks Brucey. That's the all clear for my winter project! Nice to see you posting again too. Best wishes, Steve
by steve browne
13 Oct 2023, 9:38am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohloff for 2wd trike axle
Replies: 19
Views: 2763

Rohloff for 2wd trike axle

I would like to use a Rohloff hub to drive a Trykit 2 wheel drive conversion axle. The main reason is to get lower gears, a second reason is that I prefer hub gears and a third is that I enjoy working out how to do this sort of thing.

If anybody has done this already I would be very grateful for any pictures or advice.

The spoke circle diameter on the Rohloff hub is 100mm. Do you think it will be possible to use a 30tooth 104mm BCD inner ring by bolting it to the hub shell?

The conversion axle accepts Shimano cassettes. I have no experience of using cassettes as nearly all my bikes use hub gears. Is it possible to fit just one sprocket to the cassette body and use packing spacers in place of the remaining 9 or 10 sprockets?
by steve browne
13 Jun 2023, 3:20pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: wester ross bike
Replies: 36
Views: 4153

Re: wester ross bike

Sorry for your loss. Your mum and dad gave us really good bed and breakfast when we picked up my frame from Whitby and I loved being shown round the workshop at Lythe. Happy memories of owning my Wester Ross bike which has now passed on to another enthusiast. Biggest achievement on the Wester Ross - riding up the 1 in 3 hill at Robin Hood's Bay with a coach load of school children peering over the car park fence. It had very low gears and was a lovely bike.
Best wishes
Steve Browne
by steve browne
5 Aug 2022, 5:36pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Do Dutch Cyclists Jump Traffic Lights?
Replies: 18
Views: 1505

Re: Do Dutch Cyclists Jump Traffic Lights?

Currently in the Netherlands with my Dutch partner. No! She’s never seen it done.
by steve browne
12 Jun 2022, 8:28am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Foot on pedal pointing out
Replies: 13
Views: 1832

Re: Foot on pedal pointing out

I have a lot of out turn on my feet and have fitted pedal extenders so my heels don't clip the crank arms. I don't use cleats as there is insufficient rotational adjustment (and I dislike the claustrophobic feeling of being too connected to the pedals). Definitely worth having your feet in their natural position or you will be running the risk of knee pain with prolonged cycling.
by steve browne
21 Mar 2022, 1:06pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wall mount bike above radiator?
Replies: 16
Views: 1340

Re: Wall mount bike above radiator?

I tried parking the car further back and keeping a bike in front of it, but it fell over onto the car so I stopped doing that! Flat roofed garage so no useful storage high up.
I think I will go for hanging it on a wall indoors.
by steve browne
21 Mar 2022, 8:43am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wall mount bike above radiator?
Replies: 16
Views: 1340

Wall mount bike above radiator?

The only bit of wall space available is above a radiator. The bottoms of the wheels will be approx 30cm - 40cm above the radiator. The temperature of the radiator is generally between 37ºC and 45ºC with occasional short periods up to 60ºC if the weather is below freezing - which is not very frequent as I live in the South West. The bike has a Rohloff hub gear.

Are there any compelling reasons not to go ahead with this? It's a real faff having to drive the car out of the garage before every ride to retrieve the bike, and then back again afterwards.
by steve browne
7 Dec 2021, 7:52pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: wester ross bike
Replies: 36
Views: 4153

Re: wester ross bike

The blue colour on my frame was colour matched by John to the blue on the cover of a Collins French dictionary - I cut a bit off and posted it to him. He provided a small bottle of touch up paint as well. Lots of attention to detail at Wester Ross cycles.
by steve browne
7 Dec 2021, 11:35am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: wester ross bike
Replies: 36
Views: 4153

Re: wester ross bike

Here are some pictures of the Wester Ross I ordered when I received my first pay packet in 1981. It was built to run with a Sturmey Archer SA-5 hub. The hub had a Dutch sprocket converter which took 4 sprockets, giving 20 gears (22" - 116") I think the largest sprocket was 32 tooth. The alloy hub eventually broke riding up a hill a few years ago.

John Connell made braze on fittings on the down tube to take the Sturmey Archer gear levers, and also did a neat braze on to secure the torque arm for the front hub brake. The frame was built by Fergus Forsyth. I think they painted their own frames, with John's wife doing the lug lining. They also ran a very good bed and breakfast establishment in Whitby which I enjoyed when I collected the frame and had a tour of the workshop.
by steve browne
11 Nov 2021, 7:31pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
Replies: 21
Views: 1853

Re: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops

I’ve got a Rohbox with modified brifters. Wasn’t sure if I was going to get on with this setup but I really like it. You can’t change five gears all in one go but it’s no great bother to do a few taps on the lever in quick succession. One side for up changes, the other side for down.
by steve browne
12 Oct 2021, 10:02am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano lever hood for Ultegra flight deck STI
Replies: 1
Views: 186

Shimano lever hood for Ultegra flight deck STI

I am hoping to replace the lever hoods on my Shimano Ultegra flight deck STI levers. The bike came with a slightly non matching pair. Left side triple changer ST-6501. Right side nine speed ST-6510. I have not been able to come across any seller with the exact lever hoods listed. Does anyone know of what might be a near enough match? The Mirrycyle mirror which fits these levers will not fit 2010 and later levers so I am after something of earlier vintage. I see there is a pre-owned one for nearly £50 on eBay. I'm not quite that desperate. Yet!
by steve browne
23 Sep 2021, 11:06am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohbox, Shimano brifter conversion?
Replies: 4
Views: 500

Re: Rohbox, Shimano brifter conversion?

Thanks Colin,
I'd not seen any of that on the Thorn Forum and will check it out.
So far I have filed off one set of indexing ratchet teeth as a pawl is now only required to engage in one position instead of three. I am not sure if the Rohbox return springs will have enough oomph to go back to their starting positions without some spring assist at the control lever end - another thing to discover! Hopefully it will all come good in the end.
by steve browne
17 Sep 2021, 10:56am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohbox, Shimano brifter conversion?
Replies: 4
Views: 500

Rohbox, Shimano brifter conversion?

There are detailed instructions on the Rohbox site for converting Sram and Campag levers. Some people have converted Shimano levers but it takes longer, there are several variations and Georg Blaschke does not offer this as a service. As there are so many variations he said it is not possible to give a general rule except that all the indexing needs to be removed.

I have a fully dismantled Shimano ST-6501 left hand, Flight Deck lever on a tray and I'm ready to try and puzzle things out.

Does anyone know if I am aiming to have the smaller gear change paddle, or the larger brake lever operating the Rohbox? It just requires a cable to be pulled without any ratcheting and then released when one's fingers are no longer pulling the lever sideways.
by steve browne
17 Jul 2021, 11:49am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Ho hum ... (potholes)
Replies: 26
Views: 2468

Re: Ho hum ... (potholes)

I agree with you Mick. It is the new normal. Disappointingly it is the same in Exeter and the surrounding twenty-five miles or so I cycle in. Many examples much bigger than the photos above. I can't remember the last time I freewheeled down a long hill without giving a thought to the possibility of the surface being dangerous.
by steve browne
22 Jun 2021, 4:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Paraffin leak in cotton duck pannier
Replies: 13
Views: 877

Re: Paraffin leak in cotton duck pannier

I've emailed Carradice and ordered some of their proofing wax for when I get to that stage.