Search found 613 matches

by StellaLdn.
13 Jul 2015, 2:25pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Route London to Southend on Sea
Replies: 21
Views: 9726

Re: Route London to Southend on Sea

Thank you.

After this weekend's panic of getting lost from the station to a campsite, and an almost nervous break down, I've decided that enough is enough and ordered a Garmin Edge Touring which two of my Viscount friends use and recommend. I've had enough of not being able to enjoy the ride and surroundings, enough of getting lost, asking people who don't know either and send you the wrong way, and most importantly: enough of spending hours to find a route on Google Maps, writing everything down, then finding out that it's along a really busy road, before giving up.
With that Garmin, I'll hopefully be able to avoid all that and get to where I want to go, relaxed and smiling. I'm planning to go to Shoeburyness next Monday, spend some time swimming, wandering, eating cake and drinking tea, before cycling to Grays and taking the fast train home with the money compensated due to Friday's delay. Job done. Can't wait for said Garmin. I think it's one of the best £126 I've invested.
by StellaLdn.
9 Jul 2015, 10:06pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Route London to Southend on Sea
Replies: 21
Views: 9726

Re: Route London to Southend on Sea

AndyBSG wrote:
StellaLdn. wrote:but it's probably not useful for me unless I have a GPS, because I have no sense of direction and by that I mean: none at all.


lol, same with me. I went cycling last week and decided to try some new 'shortcuts' thinking that I was headed in the same general direction... Ended up back where I started after 30 minutes of cycling when if i'd just followed my normal route i'd have got there in 20 minutes!

One thing I have done recently which has been really useful is plan my route on Google maps then get a pair of wireless bluetooth headphones and use the Google Map navigation feature on my phone.

The instructions don't intrude on my audio awareness in the same way listening to music would and now mean I don't have to stop at every junction and check my map to see if i'm going left or right!


Bwhahahah. THAT made me laugh out loud. Could have been me. It's a terrible curse and nobody understands how frustrating it really is. I wouldn't be able to find my way out of a paperbag if you put me in it. Shortcuts always end up being longer than the route I want to 'shorten' and I even get lost in familiar areas once I approach from a different direction. It's pure hell. So my wanting to go touring or just cycle from London to Southend is a massive thing for me. I'm both anxious and excited. Spent the whole day faffing with Google maps and looking at the suggestions and my mind just shut down. It's like a disability and I often feel totally embarrassed by it, because people don't think such a lack of sense of direction can exist. It can and it's no fun.

Vorpal, will do that. I actually plan to go swimming, mainly, and walking along the intertidal mudflats (and hopefully not get lost!), but after that I'm definitely going for tea and some food.

The PDF printout was an option I was thinking of. My current GPS looks like this https://instagram.com/p/4zkIe3zIWd/?taken-by=foolfortools, that's the way from Burton-on-Trent station to the campside I'll be staying at. I managed to find the other one last year, so that's a good sign. Fingers crossed I manage this one, otherwise my mate's on standby to receive a call from a very flustered, sobbing Stella.
by StellaLdn.
7 Jul 2015, 11:40pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Route London to Southend on Sea
Replies: 21
Views: 9726

Re: Route London to Southend on Sea

Thank you so much, guys. After looking a bit deeper into the route Google suggested, I decided to just ditch the bike ride and take the bike on a train, go for a nice ride along the sea side and take the train back. I'm not particularly scared, but I really don't want to deal with cars pushing past me for an hour or longer. That's just ridiculous.

Will look into the routes you suggested, but it's probably not useful for me unless I have a GPS, because I have no sense of direction and by that I mean: none at all.
by StellaLdn.
6 Jul 2015, 8:29pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Route London to Southend on Sea
Replies: 21
Views: 9726

Re: Route London to Southend on Sea

I'm picking up this old thread as I was looking to cycle to Shoeburyness, spend the day in Southend-on-sea and then take the train back from Grays or so. Maybe some others have taken the route Google Maps suggests? https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Stratford+Centre,+54A+Broadway,+London+E15+1NG,+United+Kingdom/Shoeburyness,+Southend-on-Sea,+UK/@51.5391932,0.0189543,15z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d8a7898eb433cf:0x65440afadeba9605!2m2!1d0.001984!2d51.542184!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d8d83fa5f72033:0x8e098255675351c0!2m2!1d0.797853!2d51.531522!3e1

The route looks somewhat straight forward to me, but experience has taught me that it often ain't.
by StellaLdn.
16 Aug 2014, 8:37am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 'Sealed Bearing' Hubs?
Replies: 27
Views: 2244

Re: 'Sealed Bearing' Hubs?

Yes, the seals are rubber, you can easily get new bearings for them. The high flanges may scream 'track', but I'm using them to build wheels for 'vintage' bike projects as they're my passion. They look pretty good on an 1976's re-built Viscount and I built one for my friend, using the same hubs. They're alloy, by the way.
by StellaLdn.
15 Aug 2014, 8:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 'Sealed Bearing' Hubs?
Replies: 27
Views: 2244

Re: 'Sealed Bearing' Hubs?

Those are Zenith hubs (at least look exactly the same) with two rubber seals. I'm riding them on my Viscountess and they run absolutely smoothly. Basically, they're bombproof, beautiful, and overall great hubs. Go for it. All my bikes have sealed bearing hubs. Can't recommend them highly enough.
by StellaLdn.
16 Jul 2014, 10:46pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

martin biggs wrote:ok guys just ripped forks out to check them to see if they are the "death" forks or not

so please look at attached pics and advise if you can tell , the roll pin goes from left to right and only 1 of them the underside of fork crown is plugged and they are alloy

when re fitted along with some clean grease on the headset bearings it actually felt nice on a few trips up and down the cul de sac , still not convinced what to do , i bought it mainly for the wheels and other parts but seems a shame to break it .


Martin, I don't think it's a Mark I as you said it's plugged, but it could well be a Mark II. Could you show more pictures of all angles? From underneath and he front?
by StellaLdn.
16 Jul 2014, 10:42pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help me remove my left pedal
Replies: 11
Views: 1069

Re: Help me remove my left pedal

As Mick says.

Or: if you have one of those thick, flat rubber bands and there's enough space for plumbers' grips ... you could try that first. Put on Plus Gas first. And it needs to be turned clockwise. (Just in case there are any confusions.)
by StellaLdn.
9 Jul 2014, 6:17pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

Exactly! My apologies. I'm a bit off at the moment, about everything, really. haha. Everything's mixed up in my head. Normal service will resume shortly. :P
by StellaLdn.
9 Jul 2014, 5:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

That would be because the front shell inner diametre is smaller. Bearing size is 6000: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEARINGS-6000 ... 2ebdf368fe
by StellaLdn.
8 Jul 2014, 12:04pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

Cusqueno wrote:
StellaLdn. wrote: ... but I doubt the lugged Grand Touring was fitted with that.


Looks like a fillet brazed frame to me Stella.


You're right. I didn't look properly. Oops.
by StellaLdn.
8 Jul 2014, 11:47am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

Yeah. Even better position is to the front. Really great. The things I see ... The latest was a sort of DIY QR. Scary what people do, not even knowing how dangerous it could be.

From what I'm understanding it's a picture of the bike as it was bought.
by StellaLdn.
8 Jul 2014, 12:31am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

Hi, Hughgabriel

Yep, that bike looks pretty original. Can't identify the crank set, I'm afraid; the black in the middle cranks would point to a Lambert port hole crankset, but I doubt the lugged Grand Touring was fitted with that. The BB certainly is original.
Hubs look original, so do the handlebars. I'm a bit fan of those original handlebars as they have a very comfortable feel to them.

All in all, a great bike, large frame (23 or 24 inches?). Seat post may be original. Does it say Birmalux on it? You'll love it; I promise you. Smooth riding
by StellaLdn.
7 Jul 2014, 1:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Fork fitting
Replies: 4
Views: 1549

Re: Fork fitting

Hi,

Never heard of a painted steerer, to be honest. I guess you can put some rust protection on it, if you like.

And all you'd need is a hacksaw to cut it to size. Best way would be with a fork sawing guide which you clamp into a vice, but you could just put tape as a guide around it, then file it even at the end. Well, that's what I'd do if I wouldn't have access to a workshop. :-)

Remember: hacksawing and filing are done in ONE direction. Push, then pull back without pressure (hacksaw).
by StellaLdn.
7 Jul 2014, 12:56pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Viscount bicycles!!
Replies: 2796
Views: 444356

Re: Viscount bicycles!!

Hi, and welcome, Hughgabriel.

Congratulations on your new bike and, as Sooper said, you'll probably fall madly in love and that bike will quickly get some company. :-) Viscounts and Lamberts all came with those sealed bearing hubs, even if they're unbranded, I'm pretty sure they're original. Like others, I'd like to see pictures of the bike. It sounds like it's in a good condition, which is not as easy to find. In case you don't know yet, Sooper has created a forum for all things Viscount and Lambert related: http://viscountandlambert.boards.net/

Please feel free to pop by, sign up, and share your experiences with those wonderful bikes. Any questions, we'll always try to help.