Search found 289 matches

by corshamjim
9 Dec 2012, 8:43pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bicycle Sat Navs
Replies: 114
Views: 9031

Re: Bicycle Sat Navs

My Garmin Dakota 20 isn't a dedicated cycling sat-nav, more of a general purpose outdoor gps with mapping. I do find it very useful for planning and following routes. It does have lots of navigational foibles though so I usually plot a few waypoints along the route I want to take to make sure it will navigate me that way before I set off. Even if I know the route, the indication it gives me of miles to destination is very useful for pacing myself. Sometimes it's just fun to follow the route it chooses to takje me, but it doesn't seem to know what a hill is!
by corshamjim
3 Apr 2012, 12:24pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: togglechaintour bikes
Replies: 4848
Views: 256852

Re: togglechaintour bikes

Welcome to the Pashley Parabike/Paramount owners club!

The problem with fitting the Bagman Sport to a sprung saddle like this one, is that the saddle is quite deep (the rails are quite a long way below the seat). This means that if you attach the Bagman Sport to the rails of the saddle, it will be so low slung, the saddlebag won't fit above the rear wheel - especially if you are not especially tall (I think I'm about the same height as you are, Lee). If I recall another problem is likely that there isn't enough rail rearward of the seatpost to fit the Bagman to. On a non-sprung saddle there are no springs at the rear end of the rail so more space left over to fit the Bagman.

It looks to me like littleman here has cleverly fitted a second, small seat-post mounted bag in front of the saddlebag to push it to the aesthetically 'right' position (maybe he'll be along shortly to confirm).

Some people put a piece of that plastic card that estate-agents signs are made of in the bottom of the bag to give it more shape. Mine is normally so full of waterproofs, lunch, tools and other clobber it keeps its shape nicely anyway.

Personally I have a standard rack on my Paramount, which doesn't look so neat but is useful from time to time for carrying larger loads and supports the bag quite well of course.
by corshamjim
7 Dec 2011, 1:14pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hub Gears and Trailers
Replies: 42
Views: 2767

Re: Hub Gears and Trailers

I don't even own a 'tourer' bicycle. I can't see the point when it's so easy to sling everything in the trailer, hitch up and go.
by corshamjim
4 Dec 2011, 10:29pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Shingles causing loss of fitness ?
Replies: 13
Views: 2239

Re: Shingles causing loss of fitness ?

I've no doubt that shingles could cause loss of fitness, but to be honest when I had it a couple of years ago I found that going for a good long cycle ride was pretty much the only thing that would take my mind off the irritation!
by corshamjim
4 Dec 2011, 9:19pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hub Gears and Trailers
Replies: 42
Views: 2767

Re: Hub Gears and Trailers

Even a load in panniers on the bike will, in effect, push you down hills and pull you back from climbing up them. I really don't think that is significantly different with a trailer, although if there is any slack in the system it can be more noticeable. The freewheel takes care of anything pushing, so it's only really pulling you need to be concerned with.

My feeling is that so long as whatever you do doesn't involve stomping heavily on the pedals to make any headway then most hub gears will be quite happy.
by corshamjim
4 Dec 2011, 6:44pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hub Gears and Trailers
Replies: 42
Views: 2767

Re: Hub Gears and Trailers

I can think of at least one bicycle where the maximum rider weight is stipulated.

http://www.dahon.com/bikes/2011/vitesse-d7

(see the specs section)

Presumably that's to do with the frame (or maybe the seatpost) though, not the gears. Interestingly there's no difference in max recommended rider weight between their alu (Vitesse) and steel (Speed) framed models.
by corshamjim
4 Dec 2011, 6:20pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hub Gears and Trailers
Replies: 42
Views: 2767

Re: Hub Gears and Trailers

I can think of a few other reasons why Pashley might advise users not to tow a trailer with the Paramount, the main one being that the 70mm drum brakes, especially before they are fully worn-in, are not ideal for stopping really heavy loads.
by corshamjim
4 Dec 2011, 4:05pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hub Gears and Trailers
Replies: 42
Views: 2767

Re: Hub Gears and Trailers

Edwards wrote:I believe every body who tows trailers with hub geared bikes and have no question that the bike and gear system.
I was more wondering if there is any information from the hub manufactures also if there is something else I do not know about hub gears?


Pashley in their owner's instructions for the Paramount specifically mention it shouldn't be used for towing a trailer. They don't say why though. Of course I ignored their advice. :D

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I did find that I wrecked the X-RD5 5-speed hub gear quite rapidly though. :oops: I replaced it with an XL-RD3 3-speed hub and it's fine with that. It's good to have the additional braking power of the 90mm drum brake too.

As you can see, this trailer is a high hitch one, so there's no problem with attaching at the wheel axle. Even so, attaching at the wheel axle isn't necessarily a problem depending on the specific design of hitch. I noticed today that the Surly Troll frame has "included threaded M10 x 1mm holes for installing Surly trailer-mounting nuts or B.O.B. Nutz". http://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll
by corshamjim
2 Dec 2011, 11:11pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Roland Big Boy cycle cargo trailer
Replies: 45
Views: 6933

Re: Roland Big Boy cycle cargo trailer

I've just bought another one of these. The cable comes in handy for that sort of thing.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/kryptonite-k ... prod15203/

On one trip to the garden centre, I simply took the trailer in with me and used it like one of their customer trolleys. :D
by corshamjim
27 Nov 2011, 9:30pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Roland Big Boy cycle cargo trailer
Replies: 45
Views: 6933

Re: Roland Big Boy cycle cargo trailer

caer urfa wrote:• How do you deal with security when, for instance, leave outside the supermarket?


I've not often (or at all thinking about it) taken the trailer to the supermarket to be honest. If there's stuff in the trailer, there's always a risk something will get pinched, so usual advice applies - park somewhere where anyone tampering with your stuff will be noticed, ideally under a light and near an obvious cctv. Don't leave really valuable stuff in there. etc, etc,. On those few occasions when I have left my trailer out in public with stuff in it, I've made a big show of removing anything remotely interesting before leaving it. I'm lucky to live in a relatively low crime part of the country.

• Could I please have some specifics re lighting, reflectors etc to stay legal (& safe)?


I'm sure there are some laws about lights on trailers which I probably stumbled across once but can't remember what they are. I simply took an ordinary bicycle rear light, but one of those with a belt clip and clipped it in to a cable-tie tied loosely around the right hand vertical part of the frame on the rear. Seems to work really nicely and is easy to remove if I need to leave it. The yellow lid is of course difficult not to notice, and I plastered the frame fairly liberally with reflective stickers too.
• Did I read that ildebrehat protected the frame against scratches – did you use hi-viz tape?

I tried to protect mine from scratches by wrapping a few cable ties around the parts I thought would be scratched and wrapping some duct tape around etc,. To be honest that wasn't too effective as the cable ties moved around or just weren't in the right place and the duct tape rips pretty quickly on contact with tarmac. I've pretty much resigned to having some scratches and dings on it now. I've not noticed any rust yet so I guess whatever metal it's made of isn't too prone to it. If it becomes a problem I might paint over the worst bits with hammerite and wrap the exposed parts with a much greater number of cable ties for protection.

• I too have an allotment and like the idea of the off-bike use of the [i]Big Boy Barrow


Runs to the allotment or the garden centre are by far the most common use I put the Big Boy to. When I get some time this winter I need to widen some of the paths on the allotment though - it can be difficult in places keeping the wheels on the path.
by corshamjim
15 Oct 2011, 6:28pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: togglechaintour bikes
Replies: 4848
Views: 256852

Re: togglechaintour bikes

I'm sorry but I don't miss 'cycle' magazine at all. :roll: I do have a subscription to Velo Vision though. :D

The BC membership includes legal help in the event of an accident and 3rd party cover, yes.
by corshamjim
14 Oct 2011, 8:15pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: togglechaintour bikes
Replies: 4848
Views: 256852

Re: togglechaintour bikes

Greybeard wrote:I do hope this thread's not gonna die :shock: Not far off 5000 posts now. Be a shame to fall short when it's this close :wink:

S


Personally, I've been feeling like a guilty interloper here ever since I let my CTC membership lapse and joined BC instead (for the 3rd party insurance, there's not a lot else that membership of BC benefits me). So I'll be quite relieved legitimately to use the new forum and leave this one to the bona-fide CTC members.
by corshamjim
14 Oct 2011, 5:28pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: togglechaintour bikes
Replies: 4848
Views: 256852

Re: togglechaintour bikes

Assuming it's the same one, it's listed in Graham's for sale section at http://www.togglechaintour.co.uk/
by corshamjim
6 Oct 2011, 9:10pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: togglechaintour bikes
Replies: 4848
Views: 256852

Re: togglechaintour bikes

It would indeed make a good tour-ette route. I don't think I'll have a chance to do anything this year, but will think about organising something for next. I'll need to think about accommodation, as the swanky place we stayed for two nights blew our entire year's holiday budget!
by corshamjim
5 Oct 2011, 10:37pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: togglechaintour bikes
Replies: 4848
Views: 256852

Re: togglechaintour bikes

We just came back from a mini-break up to the Peak District, taking in the Monsal Trail which runs for 16 miles or so from Bakewell and through various tunnels to near Wyedale. It's a great ride to do - lovely scenery, only just a bit uphill all the way and just a bit downhill on the way back, and mostly really well paved with no gates or other obstacles to contend with except the occasional dog-walkers and other cyclists. The cycle hire at Hassop Station rented us an electric bike (complete with Shimano hub gears and dyno-hub lighting - useful for the tunnels), but we found their tricycle more useful for stopping and admiring the scenery and more fun to ride. I took along the Pashley of course, and as usual it was eager to get in front of the camera at every opportunity! :roll:

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