Search found 73 matches

by mattraisin
16 May 2012, 2:04pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Why Wick and not Thurso way?
Replies: 10
Views: 11452

Re: Why Wick and not Thurso way?

I did a long route, started similar as the route link above and down the valley which is one of Britain's only if not the only singe track with passing places A road, and it is empty. Really nice ride scenery.

However, Going west turned out to be directly into winds that even the locals called mental and some of the worse. I was unlucky, my first planned day (camping and solo) was supposed to be 80 miles, I did 45 and stopped, the wind was unbearable, I was struggling to make 5mph down quite steep hills and the climbs, well I was ashamed to walk.This is not a nice start to your first ever bike tour (which this was). I recommend the route though. Just a warning, the wind up there, whichever way you go, is not that calm so prepare for a long day just in case it blows against you.
by mattraisin
17 Aug 2011, 10:02pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Claud Butler 50 odd years partial restore/clean up.
Replies: 12
Views: 1497

Re: Claud Butler 50 odd years partial restore/clean up.

Took it our for a quick 13 mile ride today and up quite a steep hill. This is not a bike for hills!! I knew the first gear was high but now I know how high it really is. Was criss crossing all the way up at about 3 MPH. Still it is a good ride and felt stable at 35mph. Anyone got thoughts on installing a double at the front? How hard is it to track down a cottered chainset with a double ring?
by mattraisin
17 Aug 2011, 1:09am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Claud Butler 50 odd years partial restore/clean up.
Replies: 12
Views: 1497

Re: Claud Butler 50 odd years partial restore/clean up.

On a budget Halfords tyres. I would replace the rear mech with a more period one but would rather get the tape and brake housing done first and as I am pretty much peniless it will take time.
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 4:59pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Claud Butler 50 odd years partial restore/clean up.
Replies: 12
Views: 1497

Claud Butler 50 odd years partial restore/clean up.

I have recently finished doing a mild clean up of a very old CB. It has GB bars and stem, Butler 531 forks and frame, Williams cottered chainset 49T, Brooks Blue B17 Standard (New), Shimano 105 rear mech (non original obviously), Mafac Brakes and levers, Suzue front hub on Weinmann rim (very, very nice), Campagnolo flip flop Chromed steel rear hub on unknown rim and New SKS silver Chromoplastic Mudguards. Still to do is replace cabling and add blue housing, get a nice bottle cage because the one it has is a 'needs must came free with something and completely ruins bike' cage and add Blue bar tape. The Paintwork is most definitley worn to say the least but I think it adds a "ye olde" nice touch.

What do people think so far?
Image
P1050472 by mattraisin, on Flickr

Image
P1050475 by mattraisin, on Flickr

Image
P1050476 by mattraisin, on Flickr
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 4:35pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Scratch or fracture?
Replies: 8
Views: 869

Re: Scratch or fracture?

As you have no mudguards that is a place stones and other debris will rattle arround so scratch isn't unusual there but its the length that is confusing, could your foot of slipped out and scratched it with the cleats? I would say it doesn't look like a fracture as any stress in that area would go at the weld first and aluminium isnt known for long smooth cracks. That sort of noise can be the most deceptive, start with the least exspenisve/more easy fixes and go from there. It could be seat rails/clamp, seat post, loose or overtightened spokes, loose cranks, damaged BB, damaged hubs, cracked rims, loose chain rings, worn rear cassette etc. I suggest the spokes are a good place to start, along with the seat clamp and seat.
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 4:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: First successful test
Replies: 12
Views: 1049

Re: First successful test

oh and I picked up a shimano hub dynamo built into a shimano rim for 50 quid on ebay brand new and it worked without hickup and was decent quality.
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 4:23pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: First successful test
Replies: 12
Views: 1049

Re: First successful test

For my JOGLE last year many attempts were made to make this work and ended up being unable to. The best we got were false starts where it appeared to be charging a battery pack and then the phone but on long distant rides it was obvious it wasn't. would be good to have circuit diagram to see where we went wrong and to know if you have had a sucessfull test charging of your phone. I recomend running GPS or some form of heavy drainage on your phone to actually see if it works and to do a good 40-60 miles. I never notticed until the longer runs. Bench tests just didnt cut it.
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 2:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Frame Friction Shifter Problems
Replies: 6
Views: 601

Re: Frame Friction Shifter Problems

What it was doing was sitting on top and not engaging. Replaced the freewheel with a different one that I know not to be very worn and the problems seem to have gone. It was obviously a not very worn chain when I got it but there is a posibilty that it is the wrong speed chain and the wear on the other one made that problem worse. The current one will sit on top and not engage but only in the stand and not when out riding. Thanks for the help. Any thoughts on what could cause it to sit on top appreciated though.
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 3:14am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Frame Friction Shifter Problems
Replies: 6
Views: 601

Frame Friction Shifter Problems

I have an Old 5 Speed Claud Butler racing bike that I have been cleaning up and recently I have struggled with the Frame Shifter. It will go into gear and then slip off and sit between two of the rings and repeat. With some very sensitive adjusting I can get it to sit in gear but I am afraid of putting the power down in case it goes. I am pretty sure this wasn't a problem before so I am not sure what caused it. Any ideas? It is fine in the highest and lowest positions but the middle 3 are tetchy.
by mattraisin
14 Aug 2011, 3:06am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Play in headset problems.
Replies: 12
Views: 2132

Re: Play in headset problems.

I had the bearings the wrong way round, thanks for all the help it is perfect now. The bearings both face the same direction in that headset though.
by mattraisin
8 Aug 2011, 1:02pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Play in headset problems.
Replies: 12
Views: 2132

Re: Play in headset problems.

Thanks for the help, will return when I have tried out the advice. Also, which would be the correct way up for bearing retainers?
by mattraisin
7 Aug 2011, 11:36pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Play in headset problems.
Replies: 12
Views: 2132

Play in headset problems.

I have a 50 odd year old Claud Butler racing bike. I have done a basic clean and regrease and I cant for the life of me get rid of the play in the headset. I either have it overtightened with the rotation feeling lumpy and stiff or I have it loose with clear play when rocking on the front brake. The headset is non original so not as old as the bike but the age is anyones guess. My thoughts are wear but the bearings, bearing races and cups dont have obvious signs unless the cups or bearings have worn very evenly. Any sugestions? If I need a new one I have no idea whether I could get the cups out without damaging the frame nevermind find a replacement that fits.

Any help would be great and thankfully received.

Pictures of headset are below. It is a 'Tange Seiki Levin NO.NL500 Made in japan' Apparently.

EDIT*. Realised that the Tange Levin is still available to buy but costs somewhere between 25-40 quid. Seeing as it could be not that old I am prepared to think that it just isnt comapatible with my outdated frame and forks. I this was the case is it possible to get hold of one that would be?

Image
P1050439 by mattraisin, on Flickr

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P1050437 by mattraisin, on Flickr
by mattraisin
1 Mar 2011, 1:38pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Mozzies on west coast route
Replies: 18
Views: 2207

Re: Mozzies on west coast route

Have done a West Coast JOGLE and have a friend who lives in Fort William. The Avon skin so soft forms more of a barrier rather than actually repelling them and as you are on a bike this leads to loads of midges stuck on your arms and legs and face. I recommend Jungle Formula. Any high percentage DEET should do the trick. Also, the thing about wind keeping them away did lead to a problem when I camped on my second night. It was windy so I found a more sheltered but also damp spot down by a stream. It was a small grassy field with a marshy bit next to it. No midges at the time but when I woke up the next day and the wind had gone away you wouldn't believe it. Tiny midges had made it everywhere in my tent. Outside was almost like a dark coloured fog. I was inhaling and being bitten at an awful rate. This was not a nice start to my third day especially since the first two had been decimated by terrible wind (it went on to be a soaking wet day but also one of the most enjoyable, large long downhill most of the day on passing place road with no traffic.). I must also add that midges are not just a west coast problem, this particular incident was near Altnahara in the North of Scotland, but they can be a pain in loads of places, any damp forested and sheltered areas on a humid day can give rise to this problem. I was using insect repellent almost everyday.
by mattraisin
17 Feb 2011, 11:59am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Jogle, what to take???
Replies: 20
Views: 2282

Re: Jogle, what to take???

I posted a kit list for a jogle a while ago. There is lots of advice underneath and as I can't find my final kit list you might wan't to look at this thread and the advice. viewtopic.php?f=22&t=34478
by mattraisin
17 Feb 2011, 11:54am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Jogle worst parts???
Replies: 47
Views: 5034

Re: Jogle worst parts???

On my first two days in Scotland (I started at JOG) I had disastrously strong head winds and It destroyed my progress. It was unrelenting leaving me with a days cycling done in two days. The wind was bad enough to make it a struggle to reach 10 mph downhill never mind averaging at 10. The worst part of this is it made me want to pack it in and go home. I felt as if I wasn't fit enough and had got it all wrong...I pressed on through though. So I would say unrelenting headwinds is one of the worst and hardest things that can happen to you. Coping with injury and illness was also a struggle, I was run off the road and displaced my shoulder at Dumfries (involved mobile phone driver, ask me if you want to know more) and had to go home for over a week while I suffered from gastroenteritis about half way through, I returned from this feeling incredibly weak. I also developed a painful hip that fluctuated in intensity from about the 5th day, this may of been due to the crash.

In terms of the hardest parts when it comes to landscape I have to say Devon. Devon is hell on earth for cyclists, it is the cycling equivalent of poking your eyes out with a hot fork, you would have more fun basting yourself then squeezing into a hot oven. The hills maybe smaller than Scotland or the Lakes but they are unrelenting. The roads don't stick to valleys like they do in the Highlands or Lakes and there is no sense of achievement when you reach the top as you are immediately faced with the sight of another downhill followed by an excruciating uphill. There is no "amazing view" to gawp at and the drivers give you no space or consideration. After this you face Cornwall, this is like Devon but with nicer views and progressively less harsh and repetitive hills. I would personally flatten Devon with an atom bomb if I had the choice.