Search found 200 matches
- 31 Dec 2020, 4:39pm
- Forum: On the road
- Topic: What's good about winter cycling
- Replies: 60
- Views: 2043
Re: What's good about winter cycling
Ice Tyres! I adapted a pair of old MTB tyres with tiny self-tappers a couple of yrs ago for just such conditions. Cycling on the iced up roads produces a strange feeling of invulnerability, actually best fun I've had on a bike for ages and I found myself searching out ever more treacherous ice flows...
- 30 Dec 2020, 7:26pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Reuse vape bottles make perfect oil dispensers
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2002
Re: Reuse vape bottles make perfect oil dispensers
Can I ask which product you put in your new found bottle? I'm not brand loyal at all and have found most dry lubes to be pretty average at best so prefer a wet lube or even just 'oil'. My mother tells me that when desperate in the early fifties she even used cooking oil. I tend to use mineral 80w G...
- 30 Dec 2020, 7:11pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Mysterious hole
- Replies: 15
- Views: 764
Re: Mysterious hole
Thanks for your advice chaps, all quite correct. What was I thinking! My original hope was coloured by the thought I've done some work on this bike, will try not to waste it... In fact, the last thing I did with the bike was to wire brush a bit of "surface rust" off, which is when the hol...
- 29 Dec 2020, 8:04pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Reuse vape bottles make perfect oil dispensers
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2002
Re: Reuse vape bottles make perfect oil dispensers
This nozzle is a simple insert into the bottle and can be pulled off without problem. Fill using an oil can and the result is an ever so handy oiler which is small enough to carry on the bike yet so good that it is what I use to lube the bike at home & also for household tasks such as door hing...
- 29 Dec 2020, 7:37pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Mysterious hole
- Replies: 15
- Views: 764
Re: Mysterious hole
Doing up another bike for a key worker. It is a passable Giant, old but little used - looks all original, lots of dust, minimal corrosion or perishing. However, the forks have a mysterious hole, whick looks as though it is corroded through the fork blade wall. The forks otherwise look pretty corros...
- 23 Dec 2020, 7:04pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Use a soy sauce bottle as an oil dripper?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 334
Re: Use a soy sauce bottle as an oil dripper?
I find used Vape fluid bottles to be perfect, see thread below from 2016 which morphed into a different discussion entirely
I still use these little bottles and heartily recommend their alternative use
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109246&hilit=vape+bottle

I still use these little bottles and heartily recommend their alternative use

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109246&hilit=vape+bottle
- 21 Dec 2020, 4:17pm
- Forum: Health and fitness
- Topic: Back pain on one side
- Replies: 13
- Views: 531
Re: Back pain on one side
Hi I’ve been getting mid/lower back pain during/after riding lately, but just on one side of my back. It’s in the muscle just next to my spine, possibly the erector spinae. I’m not sure if I should get a bike fit, see a physio or someone else. My concern with getting a bike fit is that they’ll just...
- 14 Dec 2020, 4:17pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Book Recommendations for Christmas Presents
- Replies: 9
- Views: 672
Re: Book Recommendations for Christmas Presents
'The Year' by Dave Barter, Vertebrate Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-1-910240-43-4 A fascinating look at the endurance cyclists who were brave enough to challenge the year cycling mileage record including, of course, the great Tommy Godwin. Dave Barter is a very good writer and this is one of those book...
- 10 Dec 2020, 8:10pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Why does nobody want paper maps anymore?
- Replies: 106
- Views: 3190
Re: Why does nobody want paper maps anymore?
Jdsk wrote:"Copying maps costs AA £20m. 'Fingerprints' in Ordnance Survey sources used as proof":
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/mar/06/andrewclark
Jonathan
Thanks for the link - very interesting!
- 10 Dec 2020, 7:59pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: Why does nobody want paper maps anymore?
- Replies: 106
- Views: 3190
Re: Why does nobody want paper maps anymore?
I think OS mapping is amongst the worlds best, especially the OS Paper maps. I have a couple of hundred and several copies of the ones in heavy usage. I also like the physical size of paper maps which, for me, definitely aid route planning decisions both on foot and awheel. Looking at the map after ...
- 27 Nov 2020, 7:03pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: KMC B1 Chain joining link
- Replies: 8
- Views: 277
Re: KMC B1 Chain joining link
These B1 / S1 links are robust enough to survive the forces and strains of a fixed drive train 8) A good design and reliable enough to withstand the reuse experience. Having said that I do retire them as 'spares' when the chain is worn out. I do find them easy to spot on the chain as the outer plate...
- 15 Nov 2020, 6:15pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Repair a "sealed" bottom bracket
- Replies: 21
- Views: 904
Re: Repair a "sealed" bottom bracket
I agree about some maintenance greasing but it's such a faf to get the seals out - certainly not practical while installed. Unlike a Sram Red I have on another bike where regreasing is a 15 min job. Just when i thought I'd given up on it - you're tempting me to rebuild. I think it's going to be a s...
- 14 Nov 2020, 4:00pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Hub gear instead of derailleur?
- Replies: 61
- Views: 2323
Re: Hub gear instead of derailleur?
... A half link would do the job but would a chainring with two teeth less be the equivalent of adding a half link? yes, a change of 2T on sprocket or chainring has the same effect on workable chain length as a half-link. cheers Thanks for confirming :D Brucey you were spot on 8) Found in my spares...
- 10 Nov 2020, 7:50pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Hub gear instead of derailleur?
- Replies: 61
- Views: 2323
Re: Hub gear instead of derailleur?
Brucey wrote:Pneumant wrote:... A half link would do the job but would a chainring with two teeth less be the equivalent of adding a half link?
yes, a change of 2T on sprocket or chainring has the same effect on workable chain length as a half-link.
cheers
Thanks for confirming

- 9 Nov 2020, 6:24pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Hub gear instead of derailleur?
- Replies: 61
- Views: 2323
Re: Hub gear instead of derailleur?
Half links are readily available as some bmx chains are that style. FWIW I have added half links (from a BMX half-link chain) to a standard 1/8" chain on several occasions. So I'm not sure how it went wrong exactly but it is usually possible to do this.cheers Many thanks, adding an extra two s...