Search found 271 matches

by montmorency
17 Apr 2009, 12:30am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: The new Rail Con
Replies: 9
Views: 1487

Re: The new Rail Con

Sorry... bit late here, but may I ask the OP what sort of railcard he was talking about?

If it's a "Network Railcard" (i.e. for the South-East), these have had a £10 minimum fare for simply ages haven;t they, before the recent changes to fare structures, etc.


Confused,
Regards,
M.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 11:47pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Electric cars
Replies: 18
Views: 1646

Re: Electric cars

After seeing small electric buses in use on the smaller streets in the historic parts of Florence, I was converted to the idea that at least in similar circumstances, they were probably a good idea. Better than the huge particulate-emitting diesels common in England at the time.

However, I also had the (serious) thought that, in order to warn pedestrians and cyclists of their approach, they should carry "cow bells". I still think that would be a good idea, and could extend to electric cars as well.

If only to annoy J. Clarkson...
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 11:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Raleigh Bottom Brackets (oldish bike)
Replies: 5
Views: 752

Re: Raleigh Bottom Brackets (oldish bike)

Many thanks for that. I'd forgotten about Sheldon ...

... by the way, from the dates underneath his picture, does this mean he is no longer with us?

That would be very very sad. I knew that he had been ill. Can't find his journal or whatever now.

...ok, found it now.

Regards,
M.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 11:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Going on a diet... :sad:
Replies: 7
Views: 844

Re: Going on a diet... :sad:

Manx,

If you have not already read it, I strongly suggest reading "Good Calories, Bad Calories" (US title), or "The Diet Delusion" (UK title), by Gary Taubes.


Or anything by Barry Groves.


Regards,
Mike
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 10:52pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: New Bike Manufacturer??
Replies: 32
Views: 2782

Re: New Bike Manufacturer??

Perhaps Sun Microsystems.

They are not the cheapest but they are among the best (at both hardware and software) and I like for example, the way they make it so that their latest hardware will still run very old editions of their operating system. Good upwards and downwards compatibility.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 10:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Guardian 04.10.08: Be the best at road cycling
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Re: Guardian 04.10.08: Be the best at road cycling

I've always been shocked/impressed at the incredibly high cadences in the TdF, even in extreme conditions.


Fortunately, in the last 18 months or so, I've managed to lose about 2 and 1/2 stone and a lot (although not all) of unwanted belly fat, so I can now at last get right down on the drops for that aero position without feeling all squashed!

I remember Robert Millar (remember him?) once saying that people shave off a few ounces here and a few ounces there off their kit with lighter and lighter components, whereas what they probably should be doing is losing some pounds off their bodies!
I can finally now appreciate this! :lol:



Regards,
M.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 10:35pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Do you name your bike(s)?
Replies: 36
Views: 3338

Re: Do you name your bike(s)?

Of course it's twee, but it's still a good idea in my book :-)

I knew of someone who called his Raleigh "Sir Walter", and in similar vein, my wife called her Raleigh "Oriana", because this was a name sometimes given to Elizabeth 1st (we used to sing in a madrigal choir, and it came up in a few songs).

I had a Claud Butler who was of course "Claud".

Funnily enough I still haven't got around to naming my two Thorn Club Tours, and it's about time, although I often think of them as "Bill" and "Ben", but I think they deserve better.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 10:13pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Coolest cycling vid ever?
Replies: 8
Views: 667

Re: Coolest cycling vid ever?

What a guy.

BTW, can one still find the traditional style of racing hats (i.e. the ones that _don't_ look like baseball caps)?


Regards,
M.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 10:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Tax on Chocolate!
Replies: 30
Views: 1928

Re: Tax on Chocolate!

I don't eat chocolate these days, because the sugar is bad for me.

However, after some googling about cocoa (as in the unsweetened powder one can make into a drink), I started to get interested in cacao, which is where of course all chocolate and cocoa is derived from.

It seems there are quite a few online outlets where one can buy raw cacao in various forms, and I've just sent off for some.
I later found that Waitrose were selling something called "Venezuela Black", 100% cacao, in a small, heavy cylindrical pack (of course, it could really be oil...). Not tried it though. However, I do notice that the confectionary aisle now has a bewildering array of very dark chocolate - I think it must be fashionable. Beware though, some of the labelling is deceiving, e.g. "100% Belgian Chocolate" is not 100% cocoa solids, it's just 100% Belgian! (like Hercule Poirot....who liked chocolate I seem to remember). It's actually quite low in cocoa solids as far as I can remember. Apart from the "Venezuela Black" though, the highest is a Lindt variety, at an impressive 90%!

Regards,
M.
by montmorency
16 Apr 2009, 9:39pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Raleigh Bottom Brackets (oldish bike)
Replies: 5
Views: 752

Raleigh Bottom Brackets (oldish bike)

[Have not visited the board for quite some time I'm afraid, and had a feeling I had asked this question once before, but cannot find it in my old posts. I've found the answer to a similar post from 2005, but it may not quite cover my question, and the source mentioned may no longer be valid]

So...

I have an old Raleigh Record Ace, racing style bike - perhaps from the 1980s? - which I bought second hand quite a few years ago. I'd like to strip it down to the bare frame and build it up with new components. It may not be all that valuable a frame, to be honest, but I like it, and it would be a good exercise. I've put it off for years, but now I have time and no excuses really.

I believe that at one time at least, and probably at this time, Raleighs had their own special BB threads.

In fact the posting reply of 2005 I referred to mentioned a 26TPI "Raleigh Standard", rather than the 24TPI general standard.

Is that what I've likely got - a 26TPI thread? - Is there any way of verifying this?

I was looking to replace it with a sealed unit. Am I likely to find one that fits easily enough?


Nice to see some familiar names. I'll try to catch up with some of you in the Tea Room one day....

Regards,
M.
by montmorency
6 Aug 2007, 12:18am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Obesity
Replies: 109
Views: 15911

reohn2 wrote:
glueman wrote:
reohn2 wrote:glueman wrote:-
They probably top drum and bass playing teens for Pavlovian foaming at the sight of a cyclist
.

?????????????????????? please enlighten

Maybe it's just me? If I hear dum..dum..dum..dum approaching from an open car window, I can virtually guarantee at least a comment from the front passenger. The same knee jerk reactions go for portly reps being held up (real or imagined) for a second by a cyclist. But we're putting people in boxes now :wink: .


Thanks for the explanation Glueman

PS I sometimes feel like putting some motorists in boxes myself :wink:



Well, they do it to themselves, when you think about it.

"....and they all come out the same...." :-)


Regards,
M.
by montmorency
5 Aug 2007, 11:55pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: What Pump?
Replies: 20
Views: 3988

Mick F wrote:I said at the beginning, I have a frame pump .



Sorry, I only noticed this after posting.


Was wondering what your objection to just carrying the frame pump was, but no doubt you have your reasons, and were looking for an effective and perhaps novel solution.


I suppose the CO2 cartridge idea is ok, given that it should be statistically a rare occurrence for the situation you describe.

However, this got me to wondering if there wasn't a niche market here for some budding engineer, and if it's possible: A compressed air cylinder that's re-fillable at home from a track pump (so you don't have to keep buying cartridges). However, it's donkey's years since I did any physics and I'm not an engineer, so I don't know how this compares with a CO2 cyclinder....i.e. whether the air cylinder would have to be so heavy, you might as well just take the frame pump.

Thinking about it, I guess the problem is going to be that you simply won't be able to put enough air into it with a simple track pump. You will probably need much more than the usual amount of pressure to get enough air in, so you'd need a special pump, so you haven't really gained anything.


Comments from physicists/engineers/anyone?


Regards,
Mike
by montmorency
5 Aug 2007, 11:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Elevated cycle tubes
Replies: 17
Views: 3261

There are lots of reasons why this is a bad idea, and should not even be contemplated, but one obvious objection is simple practicality.

"Lifts _could_ be provided...."?

hm...well, assuming for a moment, no lifts, how were the cyclists supposed to reach these tubes? Sloping ramps?

So, the tubes supposedly level out the slopes along the route, but provide steep slopes at each end for getting on and off. hmmm. Or if not steep, then very long, providing even more street furniture to clutter the place up and adding to the cost. I am also not clear how high these things are, but how do you allow sufficient height to allow for all the possible high vehicles which might have to pass underneath them?


Futuristic look? I am sure they will be every bit as popular as the underpasses that we know and love. Especially at night.


Regards,
Mike
by montmorency
3 Aug 2007, 12:28am
Forum: On the road
Topic: School run or work commute - how far?
Replies: 33
Views: 5686

Currently commuting about 9.5 miles each way, on Thorn Club Tour (which I guess is similar to a Dawes Galaxy, but I think it's nicer :-) ).


I live in a relatively small, former market town, and commute to somewhere well out in the sticks, so my journey is a little bit urban-style riding, a few villages, and a fair amount of open road with pretty views. Only one serious hill on the way in, although the final couple of miles is a longer, uphill drag, especially on a cold wet morning.


I have a nicely-sized (i.e. small) Waitrose on my way home (about 5 minutes from home), so that's where most of the food shopping gets done, usually in dribs and drabs.


Taking early retirement soon(!), so my commuting days appear to be coming to an end....strangely, I have mixed feelings about this! (Might end up going back part time though....).


Regards,
M.
by montmorency
2 Aug 2007, 6:10pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How do you Prefer Your Hills?
Replies: 56
Views: 7687

Never cycled either of them, but there is what looked like a ridiculously steep hill in the middle of Biddulph (I think), Staffs, and almost as bad, near the County Council offices in Matlock.


But what do I know. I'm a suvverner. Maybe it's all like that oop north! :-)