Cycling UK Forum

No foot holes? Nice for aerodynamics and keeping dry, but how do you reverse without having to climb out?

How would you fit chainrings to unicycle cranks? The ISIS standard ones on my uni just look like two left hand cranks (though they do have mirrored pedal threading). If you do have an answer I can recommend unicycle.com for variety and service.

https://www.londoncraftwork.co.uk/detai ... 19232.aspx

https://velocityprintworks.com/product/ ... k-adapter/

After a lot of searching I found a Rixen Kaul (Klickfix) to Brompton mount. Now my Dahon proudly sports Brompton bags.
You can also go t it from a different direction, with a converter plate to mount Klickfix bags on a Brompton block. (I have an Ortlieb handlebar bag converted for a modern mini-O bag). The plate is easily removed so you can use it on Klickfix mounts

Kris Holm knee/shin guards are popular amongst unicyclists, where falling off (or UnPlanned Dismounts) is standard fare no matter how experienced you are. Obtainable from unicycle.com. I was seriously thinking of getting a pair when I had a UPDuni 3 months ago, but as I’ve still got a swollen and painful knee, it might be that I part with the unicycle instead .

FWIW!

I’m a bit shocked to realise I’ve been riding bents for 18 years. Uprights are limited to riding to the shops and back. If I try to go further my neck seizes after 30 mins. This is sad because I’ve a much loved 35 year old Moulton that’s only been out twice in the last year (no way am I locking it up anywhere). Stuff that’s not suitable for recumbents is addressed by my kickbikes which are about as fast off road as I am on a MTB but they’re not bicycles.

They were checking you out to see if they could eat you!

I had a weird experience running up a deserted dirt road in Canada many years ago… noticed there was first one vulture circling above me and a mile or so further up the hill there was a few more. I’m certain that they thought I was going to expire, or else fall victim to whoever had been peppering the road signs with bullets…

I have a variety… two set up as 152mm, one 140mm. Thorn do cranks with a variety of lengths. At first it feels like your feet are moving in tiny circles but then you forget. Pluses for me are that they play to my strength as a spinner rather than a grinder, better ground clearance for my ginormous feet (relative to leg length), better aerodynamics by getting the front of my fairing lower. Negatives? None really though you will probably need to reduce your chainrings by the same factor as you reduce the cranks, but probably allow a bit more at the top end.

The 170mm cranks I have still got on my Kettwiesel seem ludicrously long in comparison (for various reasons it would be much pricier to swap them so I haven’t bothered)

I don’t think you’d really notice a 5mm difference though. You probably will need to be a bit more adventurous!

He’s 89. And he is the Chris Bonington

https://www.berghaus.com/athletes-and-a ... ngton.list

My Kett in the snow. On this ride the brake cables kept freezing up which was *intersting* as I had a steep 800ft descent to negotiate before getting home. With fat tyres (Big Apples at low pressures) and a differential, it gripped without any difficulties though older ones (like mine) have the rear mech dangling beneath the rear axle. A Rohloff or their own “linear” 11 speed transmission would be much better. It also helps that your weight is almost directly above the drive wheels, unlike a tadpole trike.

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I inherited an ebike from my late Dad, it’s a Kalkoff with all the bells and whistles… Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub, Magura hydraulic brakes, Gates belt transmission. And the dreaded Kalkoff mid drive motor, though so far (touch wood) it has been fine. In terms of use, I use it more for utility than pleasure riding though I’m happy taking the long way round for the scenery with two panniers stuffed with shopping which I suspect wouldn’t be the case if I was riding a non ebike. It’s therefore getting used instead of a car rather than instead of a bike. If it gave up the ghost I would be very tempted to get a replacement if I couldn’t get it fixed (it must be over 12 years old now, though the battery still seems to last for ages).

What I do despair of is much younger folk riding MTBs or road bikes with those giveaway super fat down tubes… for leisure. Assisted gravel bikes seem to be particularly in vogue round here, with zero nod to practicality.

(PS I’ve also just acquired a NiMH Toyota hybrid, partly down to your comments over the years)

If you have a Yaris hybrid then tow bars are not advised - even if it’s for mounting a bike rack on. I’ve just acquired one and found out this limitation. There might issues with roadworthyness and insurance if that’s what the manufacturers are saying.

mark aldridge wrote: ↑7 Dec 2023, 10:05pm I do my winter training using a Sportcraft Trike Trainer.
Not cheap but I have had one for years and it is a well built bombproof bit of kit that will see me out.
Two gear ratios by swapping it around. Just a couple of blocks for the front wheels (I use a couple of bricks with deep frogs).
I bought mine from Draft Wheelchairs. Their site is well worth a visit even if you are just a regular recumbent rider just to see the wonders of racing trikes and wheelchairs.

How do you find tyre wear on the Sportcraft? I have a wheel-on Tacx smart trainer but it eats rear tyres and I any case I can only use it with my ICE VTX and not my QNT.

I avoid such conditions… same issues of falling, dangerous drivers more so, and the fact that such conditions are usually coincident with low sun and motorists with poorly cleared windscreens.

Thanks, but it was a toss up between whether it was a mechanical issue or body corrosion that would get it first. I’ve spent a bit keeping it on the road (mostly for sentimental reasons!) but even I can see I’ve come to the limit of economic sense!