Search found 258 matches

by Bowedw
22 May 2023, 3:28pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Seat Post -will it be a crime to destroy it?
Replies: 69
Views: 4992

Re: Seat Post -will it be a crime to destroy it?

Drills made for drilling concrete are ideal for drilling out a seat post. A 25mm one will leave a good 1mm all around which should come out with perhaps a hacksaw blade or maybe a mole grip on the protruding bit of seat post that you presumably left.
by Bowedw
11 Mar 2023, 5:53pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Trikes
Replies: 26
Views: 1667

Re: Trikes

I bought an upright trike when I was approaching 70 years old. At first they do seem to have a mind of their, fortunately we have ample ex railway routes and coastal ones nearby for learning.
Every slight camber seemed as if I was about to tip over as it steered me down the camber, gradually my brain clicked into trike mode. They are a lot of fun and apart from the odd single track road that is locked in with hedges with no passing places I am confident in going anywhere.
I did have my trike converted to two rear disks, roads seem so dirty these days that two rim brakes in the front seemed to grind away at the rim on long downhill roads. Had I been younger taking up trike riding then it probably would not have bothered me having only front brakes.
I had intended to visit Roman Road Cycles to sample their trikes, living less than an hours drive away from them and cycled in their locality on many an occasion.
A ladies Longstaff trike. Trikekit or similar trike would be an excellent choice for covering decent distances, with very little extra effort over a bicycle.
I can recommend a trike 100% and regret not getting one years ago.
by Bowedw
6 Nov 2022, 7:30pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: dog dazers
Replies: 31
Views: 2949

Re: dog dazers

Illegal to use one in Wales I believe.
I am wrong sorry. Collars that administer an electrical shock are banned.
by Bowedw
30 Jun 2022, 7:02pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bottle Dynamos
Replies: 89
Views: 5171

Re: Bottle Dynamos

I used a roller type under the bottom bracket for several winters years ago. Seemed fine as I recall but did slip with frost/snow on the road.
Not sure what is available these days. It had a trigger mounted at the top of the seat tube to let it on and off.
by Bowedw
13 Apr 2022, 2:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shorter E bike cranks
Replies: 9
Views: 776

Re: Shorter E bike cranks

Thanks all for your input. I have changed the crank arms for 165mm ones now. Not ridden it yet but should be ok.
by Bowedw
10 Apr 2022, 7:41pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shorter E bike cranks
Replies: 9
Views: 776

Shorter E bike cranks

I would welcome advice on E bike crank lenght. I use 165 cranks on my normal cycles but have access to a Cube E bike with 175 cranks.
I have only ridden it once and feel the cranks are to long for me. Would swapping to 165 crank arms be a good idea? They are just about available as most places have sold out.
Any advice would be welcome.
by Bowedw
27 Dec 2021, 1:28pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Canti stud spacing.
Replies: 5
Views: 336

Re: Canti stud spacing.

Dia comp will not work with the stud spacings you have in my opinion. I tried them and the set up angle ends up wrong.
I also was unable to get enough pressure on the lever to do more than slightly slow my speed.
by Bowedw
27 Dec 2021, 1:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Canti stud spacing.
Replies: 5
Views: 336

Re: Canti stud spacing.

The Shimano CX50 are very good cantilever brakes and other brake shoes will fit. Due to the longer nut in the shoe of Aztec ones I just drilled the rececess in the spacer slightly deeper. I could have choosen the file a bit of the nut instead I suppose.
I would try and buy sets with the three different spacers as it would be difficult to calculate before hand which to use. A bit of trial and error to arrive at the correct one.
by Bowedw
18 Nov 2021, 2:29pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Planning Corruption advice please.
Replies: 15
Views: 628

Re: Planning Corruption advice please.

Thanks for the information.
This is a 20 year Approval and I had long given up hope in finding the Corruption. The revised layout took years to discover and only repeated lies by Officers did I discover the Different Site layout .
I have all of the Committee minutes relating to this and the layout Approal was not the one issued to the Contractor on the same day.
My Local Councillor seems to be party to this Corruption as well as the Community Council.
I will contact the Assembly Member for Housing. Our Assembly Members and MP.
There is a lot more to it than I can reveal here, maybe a newspaper article written by a jounalist can reveal the exact person who has benefitted from this.
Thanks for your advice anyway
by Bowedw
18 Nov 2021, 2:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Planning Corruption advice please.
Replies: 15
Views: 628

Re: Planning Corruption advice please.

Thanks for the information.
This is in South Wales unfortunately where it seems any thing goes.
In no way can the amendments be described as Non-material.
To to remove one house from a boundary onto one street,rejig the layout and place two very large houses in different positions onto another steet to the approval is certain major I believe.
And all done on the same day as the original was approved by Committee.
by Bowedw
18 Nov 2021, 1:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Planning Corruption advice please.
Replies: 15
Views: 628

Planning Corruption advice please.

Council Planning Committe approved a housing site for 84 houses with a list of Drawing Numbers.Total of 20 drawings.
On the same day the Planning Officer a letter of approval with 12 different drawings, with a total of 22 drawings.
The Site layout drawing has been revised and has a different drawing Number This is also dates as being received by the Council some 14 days after the consultation period.
Would I also be correct in my understanding that any amendments of a minor nature are permissable. but not at this late stage, after Committee Approval.
This new site layout has major changes to the layout on the boundary and as in all cases of deceit there are winners and losers.

I would welcome any opinions please.
by Bowedw
30 Sep 2021, 10:05pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rear wheel twisting in frame when QR done up tight
Replies: 24
Views: 1542

Re: Rear wheel twisting in frame when QR done up tight

Modern QR for use in vertical dropouts tend to loose tension when they drop off the cam high spot when closing as high tension is not so essential.
I cannot recall this wheel movement being a problem in the past, maybe because we all had to tighten the QR up very tight. In recent years I have reverted back to a 1984 Raleigh and widened the dropout spacing to 130 for modern wheels. I have experienced this wheel movement which brought me to an abrupt stop and only luck avoided being run into by a following bike. I now use a mavic QR probably of a similar age to the bike and with doing it up tight seems to be OK. Finger breaking tension which I am not really happy with but needs must.
Older QR have serated edges to clamp into the frame as did most older pattern cones/lock nuts on the inside.
If you get to the botton of the problem please post it here as I would appreciate a gentler solution to the problem.
Maybe the 130 triangle spacing up from 122 has something to do with it.
by Bowedw
22 Sep 2021, 2:15am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Newer bikes are slower.
Replies: 24
Views: 1900

Re: Newer bikes are slower.

I personally would suggest that the compact chainset is not delivering the exact ratio that you are at your best with for most of the road conditions on the ride. Presumably it's a 34/50 or 52. Living in a hilly area the 42 was often swapped for a 38 or 39 which gave a good spinning ration and most rides where done using that ring. A 34 or 36 is to low and the move to the larger ring gives ratios that are a bit high for the average cyclist, neither is the chainline at is best using the outer front and nearer to the inner on the rear.
I use a triple which allows me to have the middle at the 39 a larger outer ring for tailwinds and a inner 26 for those hills that used to be managed on the 39. It was also very noticeable with the older chaiset combination that the 14 tooth rear was the one I would wear out first, I have numerous ones as proof. These days I don't do enough miles to be able to say.
by Bowedw
22 Aug 2021, 5:14am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How do I access this bolt?
Replies: 33
Views: 1895

Re: How do I access this bolt?

3/8 drive sockets are usually slim enough to fit into the recess or the old fashioned box pipe type. I would then change to allen headed bolts and invest in a crank extractor, so cheap to buy these days. I had a crank come loose some 30 miles from home and had to knock on several doors before finding someone who had a slim socket that fitted. Allen bolts for me now.
by Bowedw
11 Jul 2021, 9:12pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Cables advice required please
Replies: 18
Views: 1050

Re: Cables advice required please

I buy all my cabling needs from cyclebasket.com. I tend to buy about 10 metres of each casing and a fair number of stainless wires. while delivery seems expensive the savings involved makes feasaable to buy this way.
It also saves searching around and spending on travel.
Ebay deliveries tend to be slow and second class postage usually becomes more than two days by the time the items get posted.
I believe Spa Cycles offer similar products.
Both of these shops/suppliers are my usual go to places for most cycling items.