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by Bmblbzzz
18 Mar 2024, 8:20am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3288

Re: Dangerous mudguards

cycle tramp wrote: 18 Mar 2024, 8:05am
Bmblbzzz wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 6:54pm Having the breakaway at the mudguard end of the say seems more sensible in terms of the flailing spoke potential mentioned earlier. Does it affect the functioning, perhaps due to reduced leverage?
I can see your point of view- but in doing so that would leave the end of an exposed metal rod pointing towards the rider, who may or may not be falling towards it....
..despite the probability of this not happening.. its still going to be enough for that sort of break away stay design to be stopped in its tracks by the companies lawyers....
It doesn't need to leave exposed metal – there are designs, including ones from SKS that actually work, where two plastic parts separate. Noting also Colin's point that both risks are minimal.
by Bmblbzzz
17 Mar 2024, 6:54pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3288

Re: Dangerous mudguards

Having the breakaway at the mudguard end of the say seems more sensible in terms of the flailing spoke potential mentioned earlier. Does it affect the functioning, perhaps due to reduced leverage?
by Bmblbzzz
17 Mar 2024, 1:09pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 181
Views: 23035

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

So that would make Marin an Indonesian owned company, with HQ in Switzerland and design based in California, operating in over 40 countries worldwide. Like a great many companies, it's impossible to ascribe it one single nationality. How does that related to the state of retail in UK?
by Bmblbzzz
14 Mar 2024, 4:01pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3288

Re: Dangerous mudguards

I had a very similar incident to the OP, also at about 5 mph and on a canal towpath, but not involving any pedestrians. And no, I didn't end up in the water, because for me luckily it was the rear wheel which suddenly locked up when a stick got caught under the mudguard and jammed against the stays. A little bit of the plastic guard broke off but because I was travelling so slowly, that was all that happened. I now have secu-clips on front and rear stays of both bikes.
by Bmblbzzz
14 Mar 2024, 1:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Why not have dual front discs?
Replies: 21
Views: 1283

Re: Why not have dual front discs?

To a relatively casual observer, it seems the trend in motorcycle disc brakes now is to have one, large disc. Two discs up front was the thing a couple of decades ago.
by Bmblbzzz
14 Mar 2024, 12:15pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 136
Views: 5545

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

jimlews wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 10:37am
Bmblbzzz wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 8:26am
jimlews wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 8:58pm

As I see it, the attraction is fivefold.
1/ The 26" wheel size allows generous clearances.
2/ The 26" wheel allows the designer to design for generous toe clearance. ie. no possibility of overlap with the front tyre/mudguard.
3/ The typically long chainstays and long front end (see2/) results in a magic carpet ride over rough ground.
4/ The 26" tyre size is still pretty much universally available and the generous clearances allow fitment of any tyre from 26X1.25 right up to 26X2.125, so in an emergency a new tyre that 'will do' is cheaply obtainable pretty much anywhere in the world.
5/ They are about as close as it is possible to get to an unbustable bicycle.
6/ Widely and cheaply available.
7/ Appeal to many forumisers' memories of their own youth.

:wink:
8/ the captious air volume of 26" tyres provides a very cushy ride - even with the smaller sizes.
9/ Modern slicks in this size are no slower than 650 or 700 sizes and in some comparisons are faster.
10/ the 26" rim builds into a much stronger wheel...
.../ and counting...
11/ Many come with mounts for mudguards and racks.

(8 is kind of relative though; do you compare to conventional tourers or modern MTBs? )
by Bmblbzzz
14 Mar 2024, 10:36am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 181
Views: 23035

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

Absolutely. Taiwanese manufacturing, not only of bicycles, is a classic improvement story. As was Japanese before it, and Korean and Chinese after. We're probably now at the beginning of a similar story for Vietnam and Cambodia.
by Bmblbzzz
14 Mar 2024, 8:26am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 136
Views: 5545

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

jimlews wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 8:58pm
Nearholmer wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 7:19pm I genuinely don’t quite get this mid-90s MTB thing (the wheels seem too small to me, and did at the time)
As I see it, the attraction is fivefold.
1/ The 26" wheel size allows generous clearances.
2/ The 26" wheel allows the designer to design for generous toe clearance. ie. no possibility of overlap with the front tyre/mudguard.
3/ The typically long chainstays and long front end (see2/) results in a magic carpet ride over rough ground.
4/ The 26" tyre size is still pretty much universally available and the generous clearances allow fitment of any tyre from 26X1.25 right up to 26X2.125, so in an emergency a new tyre that 'will do' is cheaply obtainable pretty much anywhere in the world.
5/ They are about as close as it is possible to get to an unbustable bicycle.
6/ Widely and cheaply available.
7/ Appeal to many forumisers' memories of their own youth.

:wink:
by Bmblbzzz
13 Mar 2024, 12:10pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: LTN politics
Replies: 50
Views: 3105

Re: LTN politics

The connection between route-planning driving an increase in rat-running and the outcome of the next election is nothing more than a tenuous headline. But there's a definite increase in traffic on rural lanes and some of this is driven by route-planners. I've experienced this myself as a passenger; the driver also being surprised at the ever-changing route and the choice of back lanes over classified roads but nevertheless following their phone app (which might have been Google or something else).
by Bmblbzzz
11 Mar 2024, 1:42pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass
Replies: 23
Views: 937

Re: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass

I've just noticed this is on the e-bike board. I'm in the dark* as to why many manufacturers don't take advantage of that lovely big battery to tap a tiny fraction of the power for built-in lights. I know some do, but I really can't see any reason not to do it on all of them.

* :roll:
by Bmblbzzz
11 Mar 2024, 1:11pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass
Replies: 23
Views: 937

Re: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass

Cowsham wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 11:11am The best head torch in my long experience with them ( I've had many different makes since the 1980's ) is Unilite but I buy the one with the single AA battery because it's a lot less fiddly than a 3xAAA when changing the battery in complete darkness ( which happens although with the Unilite you get plenty of warning as the light gets gradually dimmer near the end of the battery) one AA lasts a full day of non stop working in darkness ( I've done it many times )
I change my bicycle bag head torch battery once a year just before my first cycle / camp excursion of the year.
I don't know the Unilite brand but totally agree on single battery being much more convenient, and not only when changing it. In fact one of the things that put me off Petzl was their use of 3 x AAA!
by Bmblbzzz
11 Mar 2024, 8:57am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass
Replies: 23
Views: 937

Re: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass

Definitely worth having a headtorch for night time punctures and other mechanicals. If it's bright enough to use as a back-up light for riding by, extra good. Unlike Jonathan up thread, I wouldn't go for Petzl – not well made IME – many other brands available eg Fenix.
by Bmblbzzz
9 Mar 2024, 10:26pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Filthy bridleway
Replies: 56
Views: 2109

Re: Filthy bridleway

Various sections of the Ridgeway have such restrictions (and various other sections need them!).
by Bmblbzzz
9 Mar 2024, 4:27pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: LTN politics
Replies: 50
Views: 3105

Re: LTN politics

ratherbeintobago wrote: 9 Mar 2024, 3:10pm Surely given their desperation for votes it should be LTNs for all (also to expand on what I said above I can’t work out why progressive parties oppose this stuff, chasing the votes of people who probably won’t vote for them anyway)?
Perhaps those parties are not really progressive, or at least are progressive only in certain aspects. As far as I know both Plaid Cymru and the Green Party support LTNs. I'm not sure about the SNP or any of the Northern Irish parties.
by Bmblbzzz
9 Mar 2024, 1:29pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Travel Question
Replies: 1596
Views: 209536

Re: Cycle Travel Question

Thank you. Looking forward to it!