Search found 519 matches

by profpointy
14 Sep 2023, 10:16am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Trangia Frying Pan - Hardanodized or Duossal, which is 'better'?
Replies: 17
Views: 4586

Re: Trangia Frying Pan - Hardanodized or Duossal, which is 'better'?

I've just got the plain bare aluminium, but if I was buying again I'd go for hard anodized as I assume it would be more robust than non-stick, but that is an assumption.

To broaden the discussion, it's
worth saying that stainless steel is a bit of a
crap material for pans because it is a poor conductor of heat, particularly for a thin camping pan. Poor conductivity means hot spots and hot spots
lead to burnage. (other than for boiling water, where it is of little consequence).

Titanium is worse because it is very expensive as well as being a poor conductor and its great strength is no benefit

Aluminium is far and away the best material for camping pans as it is a superb heat conductor, it's lightweight, and it's cheap. Copper and cast iron have their place at home but are obviously far too heavy for carrying on your bike or on your back

If buying again I would likely get anodised or non-stick versions, though I can't see the point of a non-stick kettle as I've as yet never seen boiling water stick to a kettle.
by profpointy
29 Nov 2021, 8:22am
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: Towns with Products - List?
Replies: 167
Views: 14634

Re: Towns with Products - List?

PH wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 10:08pm
profpointy wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 5:24pm Derby shoes
I don't think their naming has much direct connection with the place. Reputedly named after a big footed Tory PM, one time Earl of Derby.
Oxford shoes are no longer made in Oxford sadly.
and Portmeirion pottery is made in Staffordshire so it's just a name.
by profpointy
28 Nov 2021, 5:24pm
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: Towns with Products - List?
Replies: 167
Views: 14634

Re: Towns with Products - List?

Sheffield steel
Warrington hammer
Oxford shoes, and Derby shoes
Portmeirion pottery
Denbeigh pottery
Harris tweed (albeit not a town as such)
Norfolk jacket (again not a town)
Hereford cattle
Galloway Cattle
by profpointy
28 Nov 2021, 5:21pm
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: Towns with Products - List?
Replies: 167
Views: 14634

Re: Towns with Products - List?

Paulatic wrote: 4 Nov 2021, 9:34am Is there a Bara in Wales? Barabrith
or maybe Leeks , Oh hang on that’s Staffordshire :D
Bara is simply the word for bread
by profpointy
16 Nov 2021, 12:14pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Plymouth gin
Replies: 87
Views: 2763

Re: Plymouth gin

Apparently Plymouth Gin is the preferred style for having in a Pink Gin. I would have though Plymouth Gin was a style of gin rather than a brand as is "London Dry Gin" for which some brands are considerably nicer than others
by profpointy
27 May 2021, 3:59pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike designs which should be binned
Replies: 357
Views: 21659

Re: Bike designs which should be binned

rogerzilla wrote: 27 May 2021, 1:59pm
profpointy wrote: 26 May 2021, 8:57pm Whilst I'm far too set in my ways to change, I actually think front brake on the left would be better, as it's very hard to brake effectively when signalling to turn right.
It's especially fun on a fixie without a rear brake, heading downhill :D
Mine was a fixie, but I did have front and back brakes
by profpointy
26 May 2021, 8:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike designs which should be binned
Replies: 357
Views: 21659

Re: Bike designs which should be binned

Debs wrote: 25 May 2021, 2:46pm The death trap front brake lever on the left hand side :evil:

All bicycles should have the front brake lever on the right - like they are on motorcycles. :P

Whilst I'm far too set in my ways to change, I actually think front brake on the left would be better, as it's cery hard to brake effectively when signalling to turn right. There was nasty downhill right turn on my commute, where you'd ideally want to keep your arm out but couldn't then risking being bit by cars behind who'd not appreciate you were slowing down

That said, I'm too old to change now, and as you say, the motorbike front brake is on the right
by profpointy
26 May 2021, 8:53pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike designs which should be binned
Replies: 357
Views: 21659

Re: Bike designs which should be binned

MartinC wrote: 25 May 2021, 3:32pm
Debs wrote: 25 May 2021, 2:46pm The death trap front brake lever on the left hand side :evil:

All bicycles should have the front brake lever on the right - like they are on motorcycles. :P
Ah. So the rear brake should be on the left pedal too?
and the gears on the right pedal
by profpointy
1 Apr 2021, 9:35am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Anti-seize grease
Replies: 39
Views: 2310

Re: Anti-seize grease

I've fairly casually used coppaslip as a general purpose anti-seize (bottom bracket threads and such), and general purpose actual grease for things like bearings. Now if I'd run out of coppaslip I'd go to the their website to check the proper stuff for steel-on-steel, or alloy-on-steel etc. No doubt a tube to last the next 20 years is only a fiver so could push the boat out and get a tube of each type that you might need
by profpointy
21 Jan 2021, 5:29pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano rapidfires = JIS screws?
Replies: 46
Views: 2572

Re: shimano rapidfires = JIS screws?

I (now) have a set of JIS screwdrivers, in "normal" sizes and "watchmakers'" sizes for cameras, but that said I replaced everything on the bike with allen screws.
If you munge the head it is possible to saw a slot in it and use a conventional flat blade screwdriver to get it off, and replace it with a new screw with a sensible head on it.
by profpointy
15 Oct 2020, 6:42pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Funniest clean joke I've heard recently
Replies: 1446
Views: 124866

Re: Funniest clean joke I've heard recently

mercalia wrote:What were the worst misprints in history?

Perhaps the most sinful came from a 1631 edition of the Bible, in which the Seventh Commandment read: ‘Thou shalt commit adultery.’


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8841601/QI-quiz-masters-publish-compendium-questions-Funny-Ask.html


There's the account of Moses returning to his people after receiving the commandments from God. Like many great leaders he was a sharp negotiator so he announces to his people "The good news, is that I've got him down to 10. The bad news is that adultery is still in"
by profpointy
1 Oct 2020, 12:33pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Interupter brake levers
Replies: 41
Views: 2326

Re: Interupter brake levers

I have them on my tourer and they are excellent. Also good off road as I'd usually rather have my hands on the flat bit of the bar rather than on the drops if descending a bumpy track. My hands aren't right by the stem but in a "reasonable" position comparable to shortish flat bars. Not too much of a faff to fit.
by profpointy
28 Sep 2020, 12:22pm
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Replies: 2239
Views: 125303

Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??

Paulatic wrote:Doing my head in at the moment is
"So"
Being used to start sentences originally I thought it was southern young people giving themselves time to think before they delivered. Used like an err. Now it seems to be right through the country even politicians use it. I’ve also noticed it starting posts on here recently too.


"So. The spear-Danes in days gone by,
And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness"


What a rubbish way to start an epic poem. Admittedly it's a translation, but apart from a Nobel Prize for literature, what does Seamus Heaney know about language
by profpointy
19 Sep 2020, 11:47am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Starter Bike for (Very) Overweight Woman
Replies: 16
Views: 1557

Re: Starter Bike for (Very) Overweight Woman

When I was cycling daily: a 7 miles each way commute, I certainly lost weight despite stuffing my face. Granted it was merely middle aged spread in my case but I needed a belt to hold trousers up that had previously been snug. OK for a big lass like yourself it might not be an instant miracle but I'm convinced it'll help, particularly if you can build up to doing a moderate distance.

Regarding bike strength, and this is based on my instinct rather than real knowledge, I'm not sure I'd worry too much about bike strength. You may be a lot overweight, but in engineering terms it's "only" 30% more that a big strapping lad. I knew a maybe 20stone rugby type guy who rode a normal bike and he was pretty strong and rode a lot. The main weak point would be the wheels so so get something with a relatively high number of spokes. The other thing is to make sure the gears are low enough. I'm assuming you are unfit so hills will be a painful struggle otherwise. Even for OK weight people hills can be a struggle for non-athletes.

Unless you're going off road, I'm not convinced there's any value in bike suspension - in fact I think it detremental.
by profpointy
17 Sep 2020, 8:49am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet
Replies: 171
Views: 14317

Re: How to protect your brain by not wearing a helmet

tim-b wrote:Hi
profpointy wrote:
rmurphy195 wrote:
I was hit by a van side-on a few years ago, and my head bounced off the top of the van's windscreen them scraped on the ground when I landed. If I hadn't worn the helmet would the van have driven into me? 'Cos that seems to be the logic of many of these threads.


Whilst it's easy to mock when put like that, it's nevertheless hard to argue that you're not more likely to hit your head in an accident when head+helmet is a 50 to 100% bigger target

How big are the cycle helmets that you're thinking of (or how large are the heads)? The initial impact will in any case be to tangents (or arcs) of the surface area, not the whole surface area
Regards
tim-b


I don't think bigger target / more like to be hit is controversial. Moreover, I didn't think likelihood to be hit being proportional to cross-sectional area was controversial either.