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by gentlegreen
27 May 2020, 12:31pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1215

Re: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?

andyandylow wrote:Just out of interest why are you going for the surly disk trucker? I am in the position where I want to buy a new touring bicycle for long distance cycling. I've been suggested this before on another thread but I had never heard of this bike brand until I started on this forum. I'm a Santa Cruz kinda guy usually so touring bikes is completely new to me.

I think it's because I ended up with a not-quite mountain bike all those years ago and I became adjusted to it - albeit with a long seat stem and handlebar riser - a lot better than the old 10 speeds that preceded it ... the original suspension fork rusted through and dropped me on the road in 2010 and the replacement one barely moved !
Around that time I was making enquiries about buying a surly fork with a bit of give in it...

For a substantial period of time I was rather heavy - into mildly obese territory - up to 117kg - and I always carry too much stuff.

bike2011cropped.jpg


My recent mistaken purchase - frame similar dimensions, but feels like a smaller bike :-

bikenearlydone.jpg


But I really need to come up with a bike that's kinder to my old bones over 40 miles ...
by gentlegreen
27 May 2020, 12:04pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1215

Re: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?

Blimey I'm so massively torn now.

To be honest, having in a panic wasted money on a secondhand mountain bike, I would in a flash grab a Giant ATX 830 frame identical to the one I broke - and then tentatively add a steel fork - certainly as a spare bike - as well as investigating why the geometry suited me so well over 35,000 miles - but I'm long overdue spending a bit of money ... curious to see the SPA bike has square taper BB ... I'm certainly very happy with my 28/38/48, 11-34 gearing ...
by gentlegreen
25 May 2020, 9:41am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1215

Re: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?

simonhill wrote:Have you looked at the Surly website? https://surlybikes.com/bikes/disc_trucker

All the sizes, etc on there. A 58 26 inch wheel Disc Trucker has standover of 829.7, which is about a ⅓rd inch short of 33.

I ride a couple of 26 LHTs, originally bought as 26 because of international availablity of parts, however, I like smaller more compact things, so prefer a 26 anyway.

So standover is a decent indication for sizing ?
by gentlegreen
25 May 2020, 9:39am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1215

Re: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?

reohn2 wrote:What width 26in tyre do you intend using?

Hi, sorry for missing the thread updates.

They're now out of production, but I've been riding on Conti Country Plus 26x1.75 tyres for many years now - they seem to be a decent balanced option ...
by gentlegreen
21 May 2020, 10:50am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1215

New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?

So my cycling needs are about to shift from commuting to pleasure.

For nearly 20 years I was happy enough with a Giant ATX830 aluminium "mountain bike" with a seized suspension fork ( I had always planned to buy a Surly fork for it ...) - I did plenty of 50 mile rides on that and it was near-perfect for my hilly 5 mile commute on rough roads and for regular 20-milers for exercise ...

But too many chain drops broke the chainstay and I failed to find a direct replacement ...

In panic at being without transport, I bought a secondhand proper mountain bike on impulse for its steel frame which seemed superficially similar in dimensions, but I have failed to make it work for me so I am going to have to sell it on and take the hit...

I've been used to 26 inch wheels for all these years and I have spare wheels etc, in addition to all the other bits I need, but I wonder if that is blinding me from trying larger diameter wheels ?

So for general leisure rides, two day camping trips and shopping , perhaps even proper touring eventually - something like a Surly seems like a good idea.

I'm 6 foot 2, - my inside leg is apparently 33 inches even though my trousers say 31 (and "40 inch waist - though they go around my 44 inch belly !)

My Giant MTB was "23 inches" / "XL" though I had to use a handlebar riser to be comfortable and it always felt like I was perched on a horse ...
by gentlegreen
25 Apr 2020, 11:00am
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: Cheap Rockshox suspension fork springs ?
Replies: 3
Views: 1166

Re: Cheap Rockshox suspension fork springs ?

Brucey wrote:you may not need a new spring; you can bolster the extant one by

- adding spacers inside the fork to increase the preload and/or
- adding an elastomer to the spring, either at the end ( a bit like a spacer) or within the coil spring.

cheers

thanks :)
I actually have a stash of elastomers from my old forks ...
by gentlegreen
20 Apr 2020, 4:46pm
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: Cheap Rockshox suspension fork springs ?
Replies: 3
Views: 1166

Cheap Rockshox suspension fork springs ?

Hi.

I have bought a second-hand mountain bike with a Rockshox Sektor DL fork - the frame is about 10 years old, so I'm guessing the fork probably is too ..
Being heavier than the average rider at 220 pounds (I would ideally be 30 pounds lighter) It has approx 50 percent sag, and being new to this I thought I would just be able to buy a basic pump and pump up the air-spring ...

... only it turns out that this is a coil-spring model ...

I suppose rationally I can subtract the price of a pump from the cost of a heavier duty spring.

Any advice regarding suppliers would be gratefully received ...

thanks...

(The truth is that I won't be doing much serious downhill riding, but having acquired this bike, I fancy going more off-piste than I ever would have on my now defunct Giant ATX830 with its seized fork - apart from getting about town, it's mostly it's 20 mile exercise rides and 40 mile day rides ..)

The greater truth is I should have bought a Surly 26 inch disc-friendly touring frame instead - and doubtless will at some point ... or fit a steel fork ...

OK Think I've found a supplier I hope they aren't actually obsolete ..

https://www.tftuned.com/sektor-uturn-sp ... 50mm/p2125
by gentlegreen
19 Apr 2020, 11:09am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?
Replies: 104
Views: 4169

Re: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?

boblo wrote:
gentlegreen wrote:
Your gearing looks fine to me. I'd go a bit lower for loaded touring but I think you said up there ^ you don't do that?

Even unloaded I would like to go lower - so I'm going to try a 26 small sprocket next time I replace the chain and cassette - though I would need to fit an anti-suck device to protect the paint on my new frame.

In my case I suffer from vertigo, so hills steep enough to kill me are already making me feel nauseous ... it'll be interesting to see how I fare with this bike - perhaps with a dropper post I may start standing on the pedals ...
by gentlegreen
19 Apr 2020, 9:26am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?
Replies: 104
Views: 4169

Re: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?

Incidentally, I was getting some grief elsewhere about my crimes against cycling and was pointed to an article suggesting optimal gearing for my purposes would involve scrapping the rear wheel and fitting an 11 speed cassette with a ginormous dinner plate on it - curiously they ended up with almost the exact same gearing range I liked - albeit mine is not nearly as race-ready - the cost would probably have been more than I paid for the whole bike ...

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by gentlegreen
19 Apr 2020, 9:17am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?
Replies: 104
Views: 4169

Re: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?

boblo wrote:Good luck to you but that frame looks like it might be a bit small for you with all that seatpost/spacers... However, if it works for you...

You could be right - though I always suspected my Giant frame was too large - (23 inch / XL - and I'm only 6 foot 2) and if you place the Giant frame against it, everything matches up apart from the seatpost ... I transferred that riser from the Giant...

It's early days yet .. I may find myself rearranging things ..

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by gentlegreen
19 Apr 2020, 8:46am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?
Replies: 104
Views: 4169

Re: Make 9 x 3 last FOREVER?

I've just "downgraded" a bike from 2X9 hollowtech to 3X8 square taper :oops:

-------------

My 19 year old Giant ATX MTB frame broke after 35,000 miles of daily commuting and one too many crocheted chain incidents (I swear I service my bike properly !) - the last part of Tigger's bike - apart from the handlebar - and I was so desperate, I even asked if I could get the chainstay welded.
I failed to find a suitable frame or knackered bike to pillage, found I couldn't trust the average private second-hand seller, couldn't see myself on anything new in Evans, so went to a second-hand shop with a decent reputation where I was made an offer I found I couldn't refuse ...

It has made me realise that my 2001 Giant was a "mountain bike" only in the sense of having 26 inch wheels and (seized up) suspension fork (that might as well be a couple of bedposts - I had plans to buy a sensible Surly fork - eventually)... despite which I've done regular 20s, quite a few 50s and even a couple of flat 70 mile day rides - plus some modest overnight camping trips on it ...so it had a touring rack, comfy saddle, Sputnik rims and similar to the OP, gearing of 28/38/48 with 11-34 megarange cassette.

I went to the shop hoping for a cheap replacement aluminium frame, but they had none - but pointed me to this amazing orange, steel mountain bike that I could actually ride home ... by this time I realised I could do with a more forgiving fork, and brakes that worked - and confess I thought it looked "cool" too .. :oops: (In my wild "biker" days I'd hankered after a lowrider )

--------------

I was sorry to lose the lovely Hollowtech BB, but the bike had come with a dual chainring crank and I need the gearing range I can squeeze out of 3 sprockets.
A new 9 speed triple crankset is over £40, a complete 3x9 setup including SRAM shifters comes to about £120 ... and I have several new 8 speed cassettes and a couple of chains and I wasn't confident I could mix and match ...
If the right parts come my way, I will happily "upgrade" - I love the Hollowtech bearing and hated fitting the square taper kit off my old bike - ... and I'm struggling to find 38 tooth middle sprockets these days - so I suspect I'll end up with a 36 tooth "9 speed" sprocket in any case.

--------------

So I mark my 60th year with a new "touring" bike (I'm very fortunate in that I won't be doing any more commuting) that actually wants to go downhill - but the local roads and paths I ride on are rough and I may find myself going "off-piste" more than usual - who knows, one day I may put on my new spare wheels with their huge nobblies and the wide handlebar and give it a semi-serious try - I'm about to order a dropper seatpost - mainly to make it easier to get on and off and to sit at traffic lights ... it's been something of a shock to realise I need a whole lot of new kit and skills to maintain the fork and hydraulic brakes - so I'm likely to want to justify the effort and expense every now and again - if only by dropping off kerbs with confidence ... I can't see myself "shredding" it at the local "pump track" (I like my teeth and bones the way they are :D )

Doubtless one day I may acquire something more sensible - perhaps own more than one bike, but it will be interesting learning what I can do with this new sure-footed device - while annoying those who think it's all "wrong" ...

So the new bike has provided only frame, fork and brakes...
The only ORIGINAL Giant part is the handlebar :D

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by gentlegreen
18 Apr 2020, 9:59pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: SRAM X5 9 speed alternative shifters ?
Replies: 4
Views: 649

Re: SRAM X5 9 speed alternative shifters ?

I like the snappiness of SRAM. I find Shimano somewhat "vague".

My 2001 bike came with gripshifters and I'm up to X4 triggers now and when I'm inevitably forced to go 3x9, I will be going for X5.

I get through rather a lot of them though - both derailleurs and shifters - the front derailleurs are the most annoying - seemingly substantial in construction, but there's a big spring that rusts up no matter how much you lubricate it.
Luckily Shimano front ones are compatible and I've had 5 years out of the current one.
by gentlegreen
6 Mar 2020, 5:19pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Emigration
Replies: 162
Views: 6371

Re: Emigration

al_yrpal wrote: I met one white Brit on Lanzarote who had gone there to escape Muslim racism in a northern city!

Al

cool story bro'
by gentlegreen
4 Mar 2020, 8:50am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: French residency vs. maximising french visits : Rules & Regs
Replies: 20
Views: 689

Re: Emigration

Cyril Haearn wrote:
gentlegreen wrote:..
The fly in the ointment is the danger that the UK will end up outside the EU so I'm guessing that I would have to carry on paying for health insurance even after I reach 66 ? Presumably I would still be eligible for my (frozen ?) state pension thereby at least being able to afford healthcare ?

Thread resurrection alert

Dreams/nightmares come true but I think reciprocal agreements shall still be valid, there are lots of French people in the UK too


... for people there before the transition period ends and who manage to get themselves established ... in my case I'm two years from being ready.

At present EU nationals resident there can get health cover under the French system by paying social charges.
In my case there will be no cover from the UK after 66 as there is now and I would need to find over 400 a month for full private insurance from an ever-diminishing income.

As an EU citizen I would only need to prove an income of £500 a month ... for everyone else it's at least their "SMIC" (minimum wage) - which I can just about cover when I add state pension to my company pension.
In France I would be counted as living below the poverty line ...
by gentlegreen
15 May 2015, 3:42pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: French residency vs. maximising french visits : Rules & Regs
Replies: 20
Views: 689

Re: Emigration

Embarassingly I had no idea that was the word for "puppy". :oops: - though I was certainly familiar with the similar word and its usage. :D

Yes, there are several embarassing pitfalls in the French language - one which I made when I stayed there as a teenager and several I've since encountered and which seem to be sitting there waiting for me to blunder into :oops:

The language and culture thing was initially somewhat scary, but it's now a very big part of the attraction - I'll be aiming for naturalisation by the time I get to UK retirement age.
Quite a change though from a moderate sized city and a big employer to a more rural lifestyle - hopefully it will force me to make the effort ...

I'm very grateful for having learned French at school - a shame I wasn't offered Spanish instead of Latin or German as a second foreign language (I remember very little German) - I would like to avail myself of the proximity of Spain once I'm settled on the continent - but I find myself very comfortable with the French people I have known.

I was browsing affordable coastal properties in Wales the other day and I just couldn't face the prospect of retiring to "a bungalow in Fishguard" ... it just "isn't me."

-----------------

I've already factored in about £12,000 as part of the moving costs for heath insurance for 60 to 66 - I'm aware that there used to be ways to squeeze the last drop from "visitor" status ..
At the moment my company pension would actually be just about enough to cover the extra ongoing annual costs - I'm hoping I won't need to run a car (which I don't need in the UK) for more than a year or two - to see me settled - I've found an area with supermarkets potentially within walking distance.

Houses are still amazing value - especially with the favourable exchange rate - and local taxes amazingly low ..

If I get stuck, there are hundreds of holiday homes in the area with lawns needing mowing ... and I'm a reasonable gardener.