Search found 288 matches

by Richard D
13 Nov 2023, 9:15pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Good micro-fibre towel
Replies: 21
Views: 5059

Re: Good micro-fibre towel

A "good microfibre towel" is a contradiction in terms IMO.

I switched to a thin waffle-weave linen towel (black, to dry quicker in the sun). Way better than any MF towel I have ever tried (and naturally antimicrobial too).
by Richard D
13 Nov 2023, 9:12pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sleep pads
Replies: 41
Views: 9059

Re: Sleep pads

My Trekology UL80 failed after about 10-15 nights, and now slowly deflates. Leaving the bolts in my hip to play merry hell for the next day or two whenever I try to use the darned thing. I'll be buying a different pad next time (just waiting for the one I have my eye on to come back in stock, and to hell with the expense).

Inflation-wise, I use a tiny rechargeable pump that also doubles as a lantern. Takes up less space and weight than a pump sack, and a pump sack won't light up the tent at night.
by Richard D
21 May 2022, 5:33pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Worst piece of kit you ever bought
Replies: 79
Views: 5298

Re: Worst piece of kit you ever bought

Easy one for me. Stolen Goat Orkaan jersey. Which was neither remotely water resistant nor at all wind proof, so managed to be too cold most of the time and too hot when it wasn’t.
by Richard D
3 Apr 2022, 6:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed FD (2015-on) - plastic insert
Replies: 6
Views: 705

Re: Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed FD (2015-on) - plastic insert

Annoyingly Campagnolo appear to have redesigned the insert with every single FD redesign!
by Richard D
3 Apr 2022, 6:03pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Hydrostatic head
Replies: 31
Views: 2699

Re: Hydrostatic head

Only 2000mm HH on my tent fly (7k on the groundsheet), but zero water problems with it so far. HH seems less important than ventilation, stretching and strength in high winds - and weight, to some of us. Anything sold as a tent by a decent brand ought to be pretty much waterproof.
by Richard D
10 Oct 2021, 12:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed FD (2015-on) - plastic insert
Replies: 6
Views: 705

Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed FD (2015-on) - plastic insert

I don’t know how many people run a Campagnolo front derailleur, but most models use a small plastic insert on the outside edge of the FD cage. An insert which in my case seems determined to go missing every few months - at which point it gets next to impossible to trim the thing to give you reliable downshifts while avoiding unshipping the chain on up-shifts. Irritatingly, as well as going missing regularly the cost to replace a piece of plastic about the size of a couple of matchsticks is a tenner a time.

I’ve 3D-printed a replacement that, whilst not quite as pretty as the OEM part, works completely reliably and only costs pennies to reprint if it goes walkabouts. At some point, I should upload it to my page on Thingiverse, because I cannot be the only person forever replacing the damned things.
by Richard D
31 Aug 2021, 9:50pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why the paper cups?
Replies: 22
Views: 1733

Re: Why the paper cups?

[XAP]Bob wrote: 20 Aug 2021, 8:31am I really enjoy the power…. To reduce virus transmission.
Is there any evidence that it does?

Bearing in mind that we were all told in the early months that it was all about hand-washing and not masks (despite the fact that common sense said face coverings reduce transmission of airborne particles), the science has established that it was airborne transmission that we should be concerned about and not fomite transmission (from hand to surface, and back from surface to someone else's hand).
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4

Having looked at some of the articles and listened to some of the experts in this area over the past 12+ months, it is space, and therefore breathing different air, that makes me feel safe - not whether I get served in a disposable cup.

Well, that and being vaccinated. Neither fresh air nor mass immunisation are a guarantee, of course, but I’m not remotely worried by a bit of crockery or cutlery that has been washed since last use.
by Richard D
6 Jul 2021, 9:07pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Aaaargh! Drivers!
Replies: 29
Views: 2059

Re: Aaaargh!

I had three morons yesterday. The first delivered a close pass in his van - I shouted "oy", so he stopped got out and harranged me about "arrogant cyclists, holding up the traffic, we should be closer to the kerb, he could have hit the car in the opposite direction" etc. Oh, and I should be careful who I shout at as I could get beaten up. I’d have called him a [rude word removed], but his mate got out of the van too. He managed to hold up a line of about twenty cars.

The second was driving up to a T-junction while texting. I pointed out that it was 6 penalty points, but she said she wasn’t driving as she was at a junction (?), that I couldn’t film her without her permission (?), and that my actions were "white privilege" (???). She then said she'd make a phone call to some people who would beat me up.

The last one was pretty mild - just driving straight through a red light at temporary traffic lights. I’d not bother normally, but I recognised the reg number as someone who has driven like a [rude word removed] around me on other occasions.

Will upload all three clips later for West Mids Police to ignore.
by Richard D
29 Jun 2021, 8:52pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Knocked off bicycle by car - Injuries
Replies: 17
Views: 1470

Re: Knocked off bicycle by car - Injuries

The insurers will be hoping to settle with you before you go to a lawyer; that way they know that they can offer you less than it’s actually worth. The problem with going to a lawyer is that most of them will want you to take out an "after the event" insurance policy, AND they will want a cut of the damages. In a case where the other side has already effectively admitted liability, you don’t want to sign any agreement that gives them more than 15% - 20% at the absolute most.

My years of reading Kemp & Kemp to be able to quantify damages are long over, I’m afraid. I have a figure in mind, but it would be a complete guess.
by Richard D
12 Jun 2021, 3:39pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS
Replies: 85
Views: 9155

Re: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS

Did the conversion to my wife's bike last night. Looks and feels good (went for a Tongsheng torque-sensing bottom bracket motor - not as good as something like a Bosch Steps unit, but better than a hub motor).

Only problem (completely unrelated to the ebike conversion) is that the front tyre does NOT want to stay on the rim (I suspect that the wife has ridden on the rims with flat tyres, damaging them). I don’t want her (or even me) using her bike until I’ve sorted that (please don’t make me buy a new wheel ….)
by Richard D
12 Jun 2021, 3:35pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Converting an old bike to an ebike
Replies: 34
Views: 1852

Re: Converting an old bike to an ebike

Jdsk wrote: 12 Jun 2021, 9:29am
Richard D wrote: 12 Jun 2021, 9:24am I’ve just fitted a 250w torque-sensing Tongsheng motor and 48v battery to my wife’s Dawes Karakum. It was pretty straightforward; if you know how to service a bottom bracket or install Dynamo lights this is no harder.
That's a useful way of describing it.
Of course, I should be careful not to describe it as easy. I’m *not* a trained - or even amateur - bike mechanic. I can however fettle brakes, swap cables, tune the derailleurs (though I haven’t completely tamed one of my FDs yet - they are finicky beasts, after all), and over Xmas I replaced my groupset on the summer bike (done with the aid of YouTube videos and a great deal of swearing). In the course of which I’ve picked up a few specialist tools (like pedal spanners) and a little bit of knowledge.

In terms of the conversion, fitting the rear rack and battery was no harder than fitting ANY pannier rack. Four Allen bolts and a bit of fiddling. Ditto placing the controller on the handlebars and cable-tying the wires out of the way. Actually installing the motor wasn’t at all tricky - once the old chain set was off and out, and the BB she’ll cleaned up a bit, it was simply a case of putting it through the hole, doing up three or four Allen bolts and screwing the crank arms and pedals on.

It was all common sense stuff, but again there are loads of YouTube videos where people walk you through the process,

The only tough bit was removing the old crankset. This needed a crankset puller (I didn’t have one, so that was £8 spent at Wiggle. And using a BB removal tool - which I DID already have (in a cheap Lidl cycling tool kit). But the ruddy thing was on TIGHT. I've rarely had to push so hard on something to get it to shift - and that was using a 1/2” square drive long arm torque bar I had lying around, from a cheap Aldi car toolkit. Oddly enough, it was in my junk box waiting for me to take it to the tip; so glad I'd not got around to it, and I'll be keeping that particular part of the toolkit now I know how useful it is!
by Richard D
12 Jun 2021, 3:23pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Converting an old bike to an ebike
Replies: 34
Views: 1852

Re: Converting an old bike to an ebike

It'll be the motor controller's firmware that keeps it within the EU/UK limit. The same manufacturer will sell a motor rated for 350W/500W/1000W - same motor, but different firmware (raising the current draw for more power, possibly updating the controller circuitry to handle the increased current, increasing the top speed, removing the requirement to turn the pedals etc).

Is it possible to flash the firmware to create a more powerful ebike? Yes it is. And it’s not particularly difficult. Except that you’re not creating a more powerful ebike, you’re creating an electric motorbike in the eyes of the law, so unless you fancy wearing a helmet/registering it/obtaining insurance then you shouldn’t do it.

I have no intention of flashing the firmware on the motor I’ve just fitted to increase the speed/power. 15mph is plenty. But I MIGHT flash the firmware to get around a known bug with this particular unit, that the power assist cuts out at around 90RPM (a limit around 105-110RPM would be more useful and realistic - noting that at such a high cadence you're not going to be applying much torque to the pedals, therefore won’t be getting much assist anyway).
by Richard D
12 Jun 2021, 9:24am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Converting an old bike to an ebike
Replies: 34
Views: 1852

Re: Converting an old bike to an ebike

I’ve just fitted a 250w torque-sensing Tongsheng motor and 48v battery to my wife’s Dawes Karakum. It was pretty straightforward; if you know how to service a bottom bracket or install Dynamo lights this is no harder.

Not really tried the bike yet, as it’s developed a problem pushing its front tyre off the rim. So only taken the bike round the block for a test. But I like it a lot so far (apart from the fact that the bike is way too small for me - and that’s with me riding a 52!)

The battery was from eBay, the motor from AliExpress. And its much better than the Swytch kit for about the same money - bigger battery, more torque on the motor, crank drive not front hub, and a torque sensor instead of a cadence sensor for much more natural feel. So you can buy the right stuff from China (it’s where most things are made after all). But it’s worth getting the right advice - I did a lot of reading on forums such as Pedelecs first.
by Richard D
25 May 2021, 11:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How tight is 15Nm without tools to find out?
Replies: 70
Views: 12516

Re: How tight is 15Nm without tools to find out?

I expect that when everything was made of steel, there was less need to specify maximum torques for fasteners. But with aluminium frames and components, and especially carbon fibre ones, the maximum torques become much more important. After all, it's quite hard to do significant damage to a steel seat post in a steel seat tube. But start cranking on a carbon seat post in a carbon frame and you're going to hear an expensive "crack" long before you’ve exceeded your own strength.

Interesting that Brompton are specifying a 15nM torque on an M5 bolt; depending upon the tensile strength of the fastener, M5 bolts are rarely good for much more than 10-12nM.

As for me, I have three torque settings. Nipped up (1-2nM), finger-tight (5-6nM), and gorilla-tight (15nM up to "bugger it, I’ve snapped it"). Life got a lot less nerve-wracking when I bought a torque wrench, mind you.
by Richard D
25 May 2021, 6:42pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS
Replies: 85
Views: 9155

Re: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS

Well, this thread has been pretty useful (once I’d got past most of the posts on the first three pages).

I think I’m about to jump down the same rabbit hole. My wife is very happy with her Dawes Karakum, but couldn’t dream of keeping up with me in terms of speed or distance. We'd thought about getting a tandem, but the one we want is a lot of pennies. An Ebike conversion for the Dawes might be just the ticket, though.

I’m looking at the Tongsheng motor, with a rack-mounted battery (as I cannot see how to fit one on her DT). The mid-drive motor means losing the FD, though - has anyone gone this route and found they’ve missed not having a FD?