Search found 117 matches

by HPFlashman
4 Feb 2013, 12:42am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: The one bike...
Replies: 95
Views: 10239

Re: The one bike...

Sorry for the late reply, Timmy.

Yes, those are the retroshifts, so far so good, but I`ve only used them on the turbo for the time being as we`re thigh deep in snow over here. Will need some tweaking on the front derailer or one of those chain ring things as it shifts a bit to far when vigorously used and have thrown the chain on two occasions.

Not a big thing while indoors and strapped down but not a thing I would care for while riding. :oops:
by HPFlashman
3 Nov 2012, 8:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: The one bike...
Replies: 95
Views: 10239

Re: The one bike...

Supper is finished and heres the picture:

Image

My PBH is 38" or 97ish cm and the standover height are somewhat around an inch. Thats a bit less than anticipated, but workable from some balancing acts and the 10 meter dash I got from the hall through the dining room. Thankfully the brakes worked good also... :mrgreen:

Had I had the luxury of trying before buying, I may perhaps had settled on the 62 cm and would have had a ride for the last year as well.

If I recall correctly from the geometry table, the only difference between these two framesizes are that the steering and seattubing are two cm higher on the 64, all other measures are identical.

As mentioned earlier, I hope to get a ride in tomorrow if the thermometer stays on the plus side.

@iandriver; thanks for the tip of wheels. I have taken note of the rigida sputniks et al from before, but alternatives are always good to get. :)

I would also like to say a a great, BIG "thank you" to the fellows contributing with answers and comments in this tread. I would not have had the same great experience getting this off the ground without your contributions. :D
by HPFlashman
3 Nov 2012, 5:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: The one bike...
Replies: 95
Views: 10239

Re: The one bike...

So its here and built up as well.

My feelings is somewhat of an anticlimax, having been on the project mindset for the better parts of 16 months, but I now have a very large bike standing in the sitting room, with snow on the ground and ice where its not snow. May risk a small ride tomorrow anyhow. :D

Instead of doing the build up myself, I choose to let a local LBS do it based on the presumption that it may have been ready before the first snow, due to my lack of experience and all the small parts as well as a couple of bigger ones.

After much searching for the 64 cm frame in Europe through the season, I was a bit tired of not getting it so I finally decided to look for it in the states. After much oogling I finally decided on using the Bikehermits http://store.biketouringnews.com/, first and foremost because of very reasonable transport fees to the tune of $50 and secondly because he is active on the LHT google group and other sites where I have come across him.

The initial order was for a green 64 cm frameset and it was promptly followed up by a mail from Jim as to that they where not in stock at Surly and a second one, which informed me that the green was 2012 and what was coming in was the 2013 in smoky pearl and would I like one of those ? The answer to that was a somewhat outdrawn yes from me as my more than 30 years old Peugot have a very similar colour and the felt change to that would be little (yes, not a very rational sentiment but I was rather keyed up on the green one).

In the waiting time for the frameset to get into the US and sent forward to the BTN store, I made a couple of additional orders as they could all get fitted in the same box as the frame and would hence not generate additional postage so in went a Nitto B135 (I think), Velo Orange seatpost and fenders, pedals, rattraps, A Brooks B67, Sugino crankset and a SKF bottom bracket which Jim installed.

All with mail discussions as to details and questions I about details I hadnt thought about. All in all, the crate that was finally delivered to US Mail had a value between $900-1000 and found its way over here in about 10 days from tracking number to customs house note. In the mean time, the retroshifters arrived straight in my mailbox and I had thorn down the donor bike for the odd bits and bobs as well as decided to utilise the rims and tireset of the donor as a quick and cheap fix.

I then lugged the parts to the LBS with two instructions, not to cut the steering tube and to use silver details in appropriate places such as stem, spacers et al. Much to my changrin the stearer was cut, all detailing black and the so called "mechanics" had drilled out treading on two of the mounting brackets on the fork to try to get the fenders mounted, which they didn't achieve in the end anyhow.

I really dont care about the black detailing, that is easy enough to remedy, but cutting the steerer and drilling the treading is not very acceptable in my book - especially when the customer specify no cutting, needless to say the owner will get a call on Monday. :roll:

Picture and sizing bits to follow after supper. :D
by HPFlashman
1 Nov 2012, 10:48pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Valve size, Rigida Sputnik ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1344

Re: Valve size, Rigida Sputnik ?

Splendid, cant go much wrong, then. :D

Thanks, Colin
by HPFlashman
1 Nov 2012, 10:08pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Valve size, Rigida Sputnik ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1344

Re: Valve size, Rigida Sputnik ?

Good news, I was hoping they where Schrade compatible.

Thank you for the info. :D
by HPFlashman
1 Nov 2012, 9:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Valve size, Rigida Sputnik ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1344

Valve size, Rigida Sputnik ?

Anyone that knows what these rims will allow as to valves ?
by HPFlashman
1 Nov 2012, 7:15pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Has my neighbour lost the plot?
Replies: 16
Views: 5126

Re: Has my neighbour lost the plot?

If he packed his wheel with grass, wouldnt it be proper to say that your neighbour have lost his pot ?? :mrgreen:
by HPFlashman
22 Oct 2012, 10:26pm
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: Ruff Stuff Bicycle
Replies: 5
Views: 66888

Re: Ruff Stuff Bicycle

In a post at the retrobike forum, this illustration here popped up: Image, according to the site its a "Ur MTB" called a woodsie from around the time frame you`re asking about.

Dont know anymore about it, but thought I should share. :)
by HPFlashman
21 Oct 2012, 10:17pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Ideal clothing set up?
Replies: 11
Views: 3689

Re: Ideal clothing set up?

I`ll second the wool as THE baselayer.

Added value for wool is that it stinks significally less than syntetics for extended wearing. :)
by HPFlashman
20 Oct 2012, 12:24pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: anyone know much about bats?
Replies: 8
Views: 5332

Re: anyone know much about bats?

They taste like chicken... :P
by HPFlashman
18 Oct 2012, 11:55pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Breeches/pluses?
Replies: 27
Views: 7729

Re: Breeches/pluses?

When I was cycling regularly many moons ago, I had two pairs of Fjellreven cotton brecches that was the normally go to cycling gear combined with high wollen socks up if cold, down if warm. Still have them, but due to the high moisture content in my wardrobe, they have shrunk and dont fit anymore. :mrgreen:

Good tread, glad to see that there are more fellows with a lycra loathing. Must try to get hold of a replacement pair or two before spring. I also have a Walz tweed cap somewhere between San Diego and Norway.
by HPFlashman
13 Oct 2012, 5:40pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...the things you can do on a road bike
Replies: 18
Views: 7809

Re: ...the things you can do on a road bike

Clearly a fake - no roadbike would endure that without the world imploding and the universe fade to black... :wink:

Impressive skills and good music as well. :D
by HPFlashman
7 Oct 2012, 9:36pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Helmet with no peak (visor)
Replies: 6
Views: 2670

Re: Helmet with no peak (visor)

I have a couple of older Bell helmets that came with the visor attached with velcro OEM and those have held up ok. :)
by HPFlashman
26 Sep 2012, 12:14pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Anyone got cold weather camping tips?
Replies: 35
Views: 6524

Re: Anyone got cold weather camping tips?

What about the vapourbarrier sack ?

My own horrible translation of the Norwegian Dampsperrepose but those where all in vouge some years ago. Primarily made for not letting bodycondense leak into the sleepingbag.

I have no experience with those things myself, as my coldcamping (iow non warmed up bivvying) have been mostly for 3-5 days and longer stays have been with some sort of oven heating in the tent, either kerosene or woodburning stoves to go. :)