Search found 1058 matches

by keyboardmonkey
17 Mar 2024, 8:16am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 30
Views: 1793

Re: Oldest bike

Trigger’s broom? The core of any bike is the frame. The rest are just replaceable components that are fastened to it to make it work.

All that remains of my oldest bike’s original components include the seat pin, brake levers, calipers and downtube shifters. (I can’t remember if I had a shorter stem fitted at the point of sale or later.) Swap those components on to another frame and they’re on a different bike.

1984 Coventry Eagle Touristique (note: the original paint has been replaced, but it’s still the same bike).
1984 Coventry Eagle Touristique (note: the original paint has been replaced, but it’s still the same bike).
by keyboardmonkey
25 Feb 2024, 7:34am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Non (ish) spinning chainwheel
Replies: 9
Views: 809

Re: Non (ish) spinning chainwheel

Thanks for the update - glad you got sorted. I always like to read this sort of thing, especially when others have gone to the trouble of posting detailed advice.
by keyboardmonkey
15 Feb 2024, 8:39pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Mileage declining !
Replies: 23
Views: 2060

Re: Mileage declining !

gbnz wrote: 15 Feb 2024, 8:24pm
keyboardmonkey wrote: 15 Feb 2024, 4:27pm … Alternatively, look at your area and seek out - or better still create - a themed ride. Here’s that ride I did last summer if you still get up to the Yorkshire & the Humber region:

https://www.yorkshirewoldscycleroute.co ... ists-route
Wouldn't mind a Yorkshire & Humberside Rd. Train down to Lincoln & head North ?
Depending on where you’re coming from the Hockney Trail is not far from York or Malton - or even Hull, which is also a stop of a through train from Sheffield to Scarborough. The same train stops at Bridlington and Bempton, both stations along this Yorkshire Wolds route.
by keyboardmonkey
15 Feb 2024, 4:27pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Mileage declining !
Replies: 23
Views: 2060

Re: Mileage declining !

I first started cycling on my patch around 45 years ago and I’ve never got bored - although I have got appreciably slower in the last five years or so. It helps that my route options include cycling over the best bridge in the world, but even without that there are still roads and hills around the Yorkshire Wolds that I have yet to ride.

I last did a 100-miler back in August. Took me an hour longer than I had hoped, but it was a bit lumpy and with a bit of a head wind for quite a while. Set off earlier?

Alternatively, look at your area and seek out - or better still create - a themed ride. Here’s that ride I did last summer if you still get up to the Yorkshire & the Humber region:

https://www.yorkshirewoldscycleroute.co ... ists-route
by keyboardmonkey
10 Feb 2024, 7:21am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: New Yorkshire Cycle Route announced
Replies: 10
Views: 951

Re: New Yorkshire Cycle Route announced

Thanks for sharing and for the links. The coastal routes are not my sort of thing, but look good for those who have gone down the gravel bike route.
by keyboardmonkey
21 Jan 2024, 2:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bike Touring - panniers/bikepacking bags. Advice for my bike?
Replies: 36
Views: 2350

Re: Bike Touring - panniers/bikepacking bags. Advice for my bike?

Yes, judging by the length of exposed seat post I would agree that your bike is on the small side for you. And bar ends would give you a couple of inches of stretch. Maybe.

Depending on the type of journey, but mainly on the kind of bike, I have used bike packing gear and I’ve used panniers. Having a pair of panniers, for me anyway, is by far the most practical option. Basically, if your bike gives you the option of fitting a rack then use it.

A pair of panniers: easier to carry off the bike and things you need to get at quickly can be put in external pockets
A pair of panniers: easier to carry off the bike and things you need to get at quickly can be put in external pockets

I tend to use an underseat pack like this only when I have no other options
I tend to use an underseat pack like this only when I have no other options

Larger bikepacking underseat packs have a tendency to swing about and, especially if you’ve had to retrieve something from the bottom of one mid-ride, often droop quite a bit.
by keyboardmonkey
7 Jan 2024, 6:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Any thoughts on this Coast to Coast Route
Replies: 16
Views: 1546

Re: Any thoughts on this Coast to Coast Route

puffin wrote: 15 Aug 2023, 8:45am The footpath option at the Aldwark bridge is definitely open and the bridge at the end displays a p7blic footpath sign. The footpath is actually the edge of a golf fairway delineated by small wooden pegs. I pushed my bike rather than rode it being very aware of both the rules and of not annoying anyone.
Just wondering how the rest of the trip went, particularly Stamford Bridge-Wansford-Stamford Bridge.
by keyboardmonkey
3 Jan 2024, 11:56am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ... if SKS Longboards have been discontinued?
Replies: 17
Views: 1440

Re: ... if SKS Longboards have been discontinued?

Thanks for all the updates/info, gang. Sadly, I’m not convinced that the replacement SKS mudguards quite match up to the expectations I had of the last version of the Longboards.

I have three bikes with 700x25mm tyres and SKS Longboards that I’ve fitted. Not a quick procedure (for me, anyway), but very satisfying when completed. Fit and forget and - so far - rattle-free.

I was contemplating getting a pair of the 35mm model “just in case” and the 45mm for my tourer. Although I use 28mm Gatorskins on that bike there’s not a lot of wiggle room on the 25mm-tyre bikes, but sadly it seems it is not to be. (The tourer’s guards aren’t broken, but that was another just in case thing.)

I reckon the front guard was over a metre in length originally (very difficult to measure accurately in situ even with a piece of string), but I have always cut off a good couple of inches anyway.

SKS Longboard front mudguard “excess”
SKS Longboard front mudguard “excess”

Below is an illustration of the minimum coverage I’d be looking for if using the supplied flaps. Any shorter and I’d be fitting longer Raw-type flaps…

SKS Longboards (front shortened)
SKS Longboards (front shortened)
by keyboardmonkey
1 Jan 2024, 10:06pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ... if SKS Longboards have been discontinued?
Replies: 17
Views: 1440

Re: ... if SKS Longboards have been discontinued?

"Temporarily out of stock" and has been for many months. Thanks anyway.
by keyboardmonkey
1 Jan 2024, 5:07pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ... if SKS Longboards have been discontinued?
Replies: 17
Views: 1440

... if SKS Longboards have been discontinued?

I can't seem to find anywhere online that is still stocking either the 35mm or 45mm SKS Longboards and, unless I'm mistaken, they're not listed on SKS Germany's web site. Have they been discontinued? Did I miss that?
by keyboardmonkey
23 Dec 2023, 1:14pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 10 speed v 11 speed - long term parts choice & availability?
Replies: 50
Views: 3235

Re: 10 speed v 11 speed - long term parts choice & availability?

jackt wrote: 20 Dec 2023, 2:08pm Thanks for the replies.

This is for a potential Spa Elan build - so disc brakes. My preference is hydraulic (but don't worry - my other bikes have rim brakes and triples :wink: )

Unless there's way of doing this with bar end shifters (ie. hydraulic non-STI brakes levers on drop bars - is that even a thing?) I reckon I am looking at STIs either 105 or GRX-810 11sp or Tiagra 4720 / GRX-400 10sp. These seem to be about the same price at present.

Probably a 2x with a 46-30 - GRX most likely. Suspect this is tilting me towards GRX STIs.
I’ve drawn my line in the sand at 10-speed road triples on rim brake bikes. But if I was looking to future-proof and wanting to go down the route of disc brakes - especially favouring hydraulics - then I’d probably go with 11-speed. Which means most likely a GRX option with its smaller chain rings than, say, Shimano 105.
by keyboardmonkey
26 Nov 2023, 7:31am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Kilometers or Miles?
Replies: 311
Views: 22641

Re: Kilometers or Miles?

Anyway... I have my Garmin set to Imperial because my pre-decimal mind thinks in terms of mph and I can see how I'm doing if I'm (rarely these days) riding some sort of timed event, or if I'm on a curfew and need to check on my pace, perhaps to cut short the route if I'm not pootling along quickly enough.

My Garmin Connect account displays data in Imperial, but my Strava account is set to km. I like to have it this way so that I can make an easy comparison between routes. For instance, on a 100km ride I can see how much elevation I have ridden. If it's more than 1km then I know it's a bit lumpy (for me and my area anyway).
by keyboardmonkey
25 Nov 2023, 7:09pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Keeping warm?
Replies: 94
Views: 20627

Re: Keeping warm?

Not cheap, but I recommend the Endura Pro SL 3 Season jacket. Wearing a long-sleeved thermal and short-sleeved road jersey, I wore mine this morning with the gilet liner and my upper body was never cold. Equally, when the temperature rises on warmer days I don't have to worry about taking it off and stuffing in a rack bag or whatever as it's a real three season jacket. I would suggest trying one on in an actual shop as I had to get a larger size than suggested, and just tucked the cuffs up in to the sleeves. (Not waterproof, but I carry an effective 'rain cape' - also Endura - that I find to be pleasantly breathable.) Wish I'd bought one sooner.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/end ... et-review/
by keyboardmonkey
17 Nov 2023, 5:59am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Winter Road Tyres
Replies: 20
Views: 3060

Re: Winter Road Tyres

I run Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 25mm tyres on a couple of bikes, but the prices have gone crazy just lately. I have a pair in stock and I will replace an existing rear tyre that has - uncharacteristically - punctured twice and set it aside for front wheel duties.