Search found 5755 matches

by RickH
15 Mar 2024, 10:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Why not have dual front discs?
Replies: 21
Views: 1293

Re: Why not have dual front discs?

You can always got the other way & do away with the 2nd fork leg instead! :lol:
Image
(Lefty Oliver Gravel fork)

As done by Cannondale :evil:
by RickH
14 Mar 2024, 10:47pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BEVs
Replies: 2122
Views: 108253

Re: BEVs

Nearholmer wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 8:35pm
That's about battery energy storage capacity. The question was about "increasing amounts of energy will be required to travel a given distance", a completely different property.
Precisely. With hints that it is a “runaway” phenomenon.
Nearly all of those very old EVs will be 1st Generation Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) with their complete lack of battery thermal management. I was listening to The Fully Charged Podcast of 1st March with Matt Clevely, who's garage is probably one of the leading EV repairers.he was explaining about the damage the early Leaf cells could do on rapid charging due to cell heat expansion damaging cells & even the battery casing.
by RickH
5 Mar 2024, 4:25pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Terra Nova Quasar 2 Person Tent offer
Replies: 2
Views: 201

Terra Nova Quasar 2 Person Tent offer

It may be a bit heavy for a cycling tent for 2 but I had an email with an offer from Joe Brown/ The Climbers Shop on the aforementioned tent at £495 (rrp £900). That seems like a reasonable deal for a bombproof tent so I thought I would post here.

https://www.climbers-shop.com//camping/ ... __11113203

Note that it says "These tents were purchased from Terra Nova in October 2023 and are 2022 vintage so have the standard nylon ripstop inner rather than the PFC free nylon as used in 2023 models."

A very quick search shows a couple of other online stores with a similar deal, so you may want to check for the same caveat. Most seemed to be charging substantially more.
by RickH
12 Feb 2024, 1:40pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Pictures of OS Bench Marks
Replies: 23
Views: 3132

Re: Pictures of OS Bench Marks

Reviving a rather old topic...

A post on Twitter today made me aware of an interactive map showing the location of OS Benchmarks. The OS have a freely downloadable database which I presume this makes use of.

https://interactivemaps.uk/os-benchmark-archive
by RickH
7 Feb 2024, 10:16am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Travel Question
Replies: 1596
Views: 209577

Re: Cycle Travel Question

Richard Fairhurst wrote: 6 Feb 2024, 8:49am Double-tap instead of long press should do it (and feels slightly snappier!).
Thanks. That works. It used to just zoom in the map. But I rarely use that method if zooming maps, unless pinching doesn't work or causes problems.
by RickH
6 Feb 2024, 12:11am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Travel Question
Replies: 1596
Views: 209577

Re: Cycle Travel Question

I've found a slight problem with route creation using the web version on a smartphone (Android). Unless I'm missing something, It is no longer possible to extend the route once you have 2 points by doing a long press as that now brings up the new "Add a marker". The only way I've found is to tap just before the end to open the dialog with "Add a via point" & then drag the end towards where you want to go which is more convoluted.

The mobile page doesn't appear to have the "Add at..." option, that the desktop version has in the left panel, where you can specify a named place to add to the route which could be a, partial, alternative. Adding "Extend route to here instead" as an option would be better.

It might be useful to be able to add a marker at an already created via point, either as well as or instead of it.
by RickH
20 Jan 2024, 5:37pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How's your weather?
Replies: 1936
Views: 93330

Re: How's your weather?

I went for a final play in the snow on my bike yesterday before the main thaw started today. I rode to the top of Rivington Pike for the first time in ages (&, possibly, the first time in snow).

The ride with some photos is on Strava here - https://strava.app.link/mXN7koQewGb

No sign of more wintery weather in the forecast into the start of February so I'll take the studded tyres off the wheels they're on for now.
by RickH
16 Jan 2024, 6:08pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Access around Thirlmere reservoir
Replies: 53
Views: 10749

Re: Access around Thirlmere reservoir

United Utilities seem to be confident that they can make the face of Rough Crag safe allowing the road closure to be reversed - https://www.unitedutilities.com/my-loca ... ough-crag/

I don't know if it is openly viewable, but there is a Facebook group called Keep Thirlmere Open & their latest update also mention there is now a separate footpath open round the crag - https://m.facebook.com/groups/617475240 ... 879789599/
by RickH
15 Dec 2023, 12:39am
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: How close do you ride to each other
Replies: 24
Views: 9438

Re: How close do you ride to each other

Of course we usually put an extra bit of chaos into the mix when out with Chester CTC as we're almost always riding a tandem (my friend in Chester can no longer ride solo due to deteriorating vision so I mostly pilot for her on the tandem, but I do occasionally ride out with them solo).
by RickH
21 Nov 2023, 1:29am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11021

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

pjclinch wrote: 20 Nov 2023, 6:50pmthe most effective vents are hampered by the best way of letting warm, moist air out are also the best way of letting rain in...
I have a Madison branded jacket that has what seem to me to be the ideal venting for cycling*, There are small underam & rear yoke vents to let air out (& help prevent "ballooning" of the jackets). Plus there are vent zips on the underside of the lower arms - so they are always facing down & allow a controlled amount of air to flow up the sleeves (I find I tend to get sweaty arms if I don't have ventilation or have the same amount of insulation as on my core during activitiy. You can spot me in a group of cyclists - I'll be the one in short sleeves & 3/4s or long bottoms when everyone else is in long sleeves & shorts!)

*not currently being worn as the main zip has broken - it jammed while I was wearing it & I couldn't get out of the jacket without breaking teeth on the zip. I'm considering getting a new zip put in (probably by Alpkit) as the rest of the jacket is in good condition.
by RickH
16 Nov 2023, 1:15am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Closure of ticket offices
Replies: 342
Views: 38829

Re: Closure of ticket offices

wjhall wrote: 15 Nov 2023, 10:08am
TrevA wrote: 14 Nov 2023, 4:39pm My local station has neither a ticket office or a ticket machine. It’s basically just 2 platforms. I either have to buy a ticket on the train or buy one in advance of travelling. The nearest ticket office is 10 miles in either direction.
For disabled people buying from staff on the train is presumably the best option, although they may need advance contact to arrange assistance.
With increasing numbers of stations having barriers that don't let you onto the platform without a ticket it could prove problematic to even get on the train.

Many (most?) ticket machines are inaccessible to at least a proportion of disabled people - too high to operate from a wheelchair, touch screens & no audible cues for those with sight impairment, etc.

Even with tickets bought online, if you need a physical ticket you are a bit stuffed if the ticket machine doesn't work & there is no ticket office. Last week I needed to collect physical tickets as I was catching an Avanti train up to Glasgow & back with my bike (a good value trip, advance tickets for less than £25 return - booked less than a week before travel & door to door with my bike). You need a bike reservation ticket to attach to your bike so there isn't an e-ticket option. When I went to collect them the machine (& there appears to only be 1 machine at Wigan North Western) had a notice on saying "out of order, please use another machine". Fortunately the ticket office was open & I could get the tickets over the counter (plus I had gone to get them the day before travel just in case there were problems).

One useful thing I did clarify was that you can collect tickets from any station not just your departure one. I thought that might be the case but it was simpler in this instance to just ride the slightly longer trip to Wigan rather than the slightly shorter distance to my nearest station.
by RickH
15 Nov 2023, 9:37pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11021

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

I've not found waterproof boots to suffer from leakage problem. I've a pair of Brasher Superlights that I bought in 2013. They've done a fair few miles, including the Wainwright Coast to Coast, & never got wet inside, except for the very few occasions when I've accidentally stepped in something too deep & filled them from the top.

For waterproof socks Cotswold Outdoors have a 3 for 2 offer on Bridgedale waterproof socks til November 28th

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/c/campa ... offer.html

I got some of the merino lined ones (2 pairs short, I pair long) earlier in the year when they did they same offer & they are very good. They are effective at keeping the cold out & I'm wearing the short ones a lot at this time of year. The long ones are good for walking but are also good (combined with 3/4 bibs) when heading out on a day with a cold, possibly wet, start that is forecast to warm up & dry out - just carry spare sock & change them as & when.

My light waterproof cycling jacket was giving up a while back - stitching going & developing zip trouble - so I picked up a very light goretex one in one of Rapha's sales (the Brevet one at £145 instead of the then list price of £265, now they're £300). I've been impressed with it, despite no venting options apart from partly undoing the 2-way zip from the bottom. I've cycled in it for several hours of continuous rain & been no more than slightly clammy. I would have been similarly clammy with no rain & no jacket so I think that count as a win. It also folds down small enough to easily fit in a jersey pocket if I want to travel light.
by RickH
15 Nov 2023, 4:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 181
Views: 23048

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

AndyK wrote: 15 Nov 2023, 12:38pm ProBikeShop has fallen. https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/ge ... nistration
Like Wiggle/CRC, that's a name that makes me think "I used to order stuff from them quite often but I haven't done for at least a couple of years now." I can't help feeling that's significant. I mean, I don't think it's all my fault (I hope not anyway), but maybe it's a sign that they lost their customer focus somewhere along the way as they were bought up by bigger and bigger multinational conglomerates who didn't understand the business they were buying into.
Slightly ironic that you used a GCN link when I got this email about GCN+ this afternoon!
GCN+ closing.jpg
by RickH
14 Nov 2023, 12:39am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Random helmet-based abuse
Replies: 250
Views: 28677

Re: Random helmet-based abuse

horizon wrote: 11 Nov 2023, 5:41pm
mattheus wrote: 11 Nov 2023, 5:14pm all cyclists come off at some point in time.
There is some truth in this but AFAIK it has never been verified. So it may only be partly true. And the coming off may have been completely benign - a slip while getting on the bike for example. And even if the coming off was at a faster speed, it might not have resulted in a bump to the head. And even if it had, the bump might not have been in any way life threatening or disabling.

I've posted before that while there is, on the face of it, a connection between wearing a helmet and avoiding serious injury or death, it's a tenuous one in real life. And for people who like things to be simple, it's too tenuous to be worth exploring further. Hence the rubbish quoted.
AFAIK (I'll get on to that in a minute*) I've never hit my head when coming off my bike, whether wearing a helmet or not. Admittedly coming off isn't a frequent occurrence, maybe a couple of times a decade.

But I have broken a helmet! My bike was leaning against a fence in a children's play area with my helmet hung on the handlebars. (I was taking a friend's primary school child home & we had stopped off at a park on the way past.) A passing child unbalanced the bike & it fell over, with the helmet (a top of the range Rudy Project one! :roll: - I could get them at trade price then) hitting the ground & snapping a large chunk off the side.

*I've been cycling serious miles since my teens, from around 1974, & was knocked off my bike on the way to school a year or two later. I was doing, I would guess, around 25mph when a car turned right across my path (they claimed their foot slipped off the clutch?). By all accounts I went straight over the car's bonnet & ended up in the road unconscious. There was no evidence of me hitting my head. No bumps, scrapes or bruises. I'm guessing, with hindsight, that my unconscious state was probably caused by rotational effects, rolling or spinning as I landed.
by RickH
13 Nov 2023, 11:41pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bank Transfer to UK
Replies: 11
Views: 1726

Re: Bank Transfer to UK

cc1085 wrote: 13 Nov 2023, 10:25pm Coming from Ireland I have been to an annual event in the UK for many years and could send cash/cheque etc for pre book ticket purchase. This year the tickets had to paid for by bank transfer in order to simplify things for the organisers, which is a good idea. There is normally a large overseas attendance at this event but now there is an extra bank charge of €15 per ticket because UK is now outside the EU. Does anyone know if these charges apply if Uk residents are paying by bank transfer for something in EU ? or is it just another W""""r banker rip off.
I'm UK based. I have a visa card account from Revolut (https://www.revolut.com/) which lets me transfer money or pay internationally (& lets me have a "pot" of other currencies pre-exchanged if I want).

My son, who is currently living in Cork, has a WISE account (https://wise.com/) which I can transfer money to him via a UK (GBP) account number or a Euro account number. I can transfer money without fees to him from Revolut either in Euros or Pounds. I don't know if it works the other way round, to pay out from WISE, but I can check if you like (although I the details should be on the website)?