Cycling UK Forum

I have the Hesling Original. I fitted it to a bike which previously just had a "hockey stick" chainguard. I have also fitted the Hesling Miranda to a bike which previously had a "hockey stick" chainguard and the Nexus chainset, which has a big bulge in the middle. I agree with Br...

Hi Tenbikes I have one of the steering springs. For me, it is a compromise between having the spring tight enough that it has some effect when the bike is parked, but loose enough that it doesn't affect the feel of the steering when you are riding. I don't like the feeling of the spring interfering ...

I thought that Challenge, Raptobike and perhaps some others were taken over by Elan. I think Elan is basically just one guy, and prefers to sell to local customers. But if you really want one and are patient, perhaps it can be done. Perhaps Elan will also take over the Nazca designs. I wonder who ac...

Any experience from users here on Hollandbike shop as I am tempted by that saddle. I bought some things from Hollandbikeshop, including a stem. They sent me the wrong stem. They said, "Keep that stem, we'll send you another one". This stem was also wrong. They said, "Keep that stem, ...

By "good", I mean activities where the risks to the participant are greater than the risks to other bystanders, and where the perceptions of risk of the participants are in line with the reality. I'm not sure that you meant it quite like that... as a first approximation only the bystander...

If we seek to squash down the opportunities for risk-taking in one area of life, will it pop up somewhere else, perhaps in a worse form? Not necessarily. Jonathan Is an individual's appetite for risk fairly fixed, or does it depend on the situation? (nature vs nurture etc.) If the former, perhaps w...

Why do people drive quickly? I think it's: 1. Impatience 2. A desire for excitement, danger, freedom etc. This appetite for risk varies a lot between people, but I think it is fair to say that it is usually strongest in young men. There are various outlets for this urge for risk, and some are much b...

If you had rear wheel steering then you could make the drivetrain simpler. You wouldn't need CV joints any more. This would be lighter and more efficient. It would also allow the width of the vehicle to be reduced, because the front wheels wouldn't need the space to steer any more. This could improv...

My main worry was dirt on the damper which might damage the seals over time, as it goes in and out. But as you mentioned, corrosion could also be a problem. If the piston gets corroded then that would also damage the seal. Perhaps I could stretch a piece of old inner tube over the spring? I quite ag...

You can get neoprene covers to protect rear suspension shocks from getting covered in mud, water etc. This seems like a good idea to me. Does anyone here use one? Or perhaps a homemade alternative? (It would go on recumbent BTW). https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lizard-skins-suspension-cover?lang=en&cur...

I've twice been a subscriber to cycle, once when CJ was technical officer and once when R Hallet was. I found CJ's articles more insightful because they were based on an understanding of the fundamental principles at work, whereas I don't think Hallet has that level of understanding. I feel he is mo...

Would Nazca open-cockpit stem or bars work? They are cheaper than the prices you mentioned. The stem doesn't fold, but it is telescopic so could be dismantled if necessary. Could be combined with a basic stem-raiser if more height is needed.

I believe the Challenge Mistral doesn't have an idler, at least in some versions. I have never ridden one.

I do feel that the psychological advantage of a smooth and silent drivetrain is not to be sneezed at! It can really help me to pedal more enthusiastically if everything is running smoothly, whereas I really dislike noise coming from the bike. On some of the longer, lower bikes, without an idler the ...

A few thoughts: 1. The fact that idlers don't get hot doesn't prove that they are not wasting energy through friction. I'd expect most of the friction to come from the chain being forced to bend whilst under tension, rather than the idler bearings or friction between the chain and idler. The idler i...