Search found 5150 matches

by simonhill
25 Mar 2024, 3:26pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Escooter trial to start
Replies: 351
Views: 37536

Re: Escooter trial to start

Grandad wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 9:19am Have the earlier e-bike trials finished? If so,what were the results?
The e-scooter trials are still ongoing because the Govt don't want to make a decision and instead keep extending the trial.period.

Some trials have ceased, eg Canterbury because the good burghers of that city didn't want the hoi polloi to have have cheap clean transport. " Let them walk like we did".

E- bikes are legal and the schemes to rent them out are down to local councils and commercial considerations.
by simonhill
25 Mar 2024, 3:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best tyres for touring
Replies: 27
Views: 1011

Re: Best tyres for touring

Ooooops!
by simonhill
25 Mar 2024, 3:01pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: touring wheels upgrade
Replies: 66
Views: 2619

Re: touring wheels upgrade

rareposter wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 1:05pm You don't really need maths to prove anything though. Put some 2.5kg wheels on a bike, go and ride up a hill.
Replace the wheels (keeping the same tyres/pressures etc) with a pair weighing 1.5kg , go and ride up the same hill at the same power.

The lighter wheels will feel better (which is a bit subjective) and will be measurably faster (which is purely objective).

Excuse the shouty but...For me this is where the lighter v heavier wheel debate goes astray.

Yes, taking 1kg off the bike WHEREVER will be 'better', but that doesn't prove if the lighter wheels are actually better or if it's just because the overall bike is lighter.

To do the comparison if lighter wheels are better you need to ADD the equivalent weight to the bike somewhere. Then you can see if the wheels are better. Otherwise all you are doing is feeling the weight loss of the wheels.

Nonetheless, given the scientific/mathematical proof I am happy that lighter wheels accelerate 'more easily*'. This is not to be underestimated as an ongoing advantage as almost all riding is slightly up and down speed wise.

There is also the pre stated advantage of reducing overall bike weight. Win, win.

Excuse me labouring the point, but felt that this post was unfinished. I'm happy now.

Phew!

*attempt to seek a meaningful non scientific term.
by simonhill
25 Mar 2024, 9:55am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: touring wheels upgrade
Replies: 66
Views: 2619

Re: touring wheels upgrade

In English please?

Is the following true?

Apart from the weight they add to the overall weight of the bike, heavier wheels and tyres make very little difference to pulling away or rolling.

Someone has written on the touring tyre thread "So pulling away at a junction, 1kg on a tyre feels like 2kg on the frame". Is that untrue,?
by simonhill
25 Mar 2024, 9:35am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: touring wheels upgrade
Replies: 66
Views: 2619

Re: touring wheels upgrade

Consequent to a question about tyres (and as mentioned by me, weights) on this forum, I have dragged this one up again.

I admit my Physics is limited and tempered by the all too dangerous addition of common sense.

So......

What about 531colin's theory that there is very little difference in getting a light and a heavy wheel spinning.

To paraphrase:

Two bikes upside down. One with heavy wheel and tyre, one with both lightweight.

A flick of the finger will get both spinning with very little effort, a couple of further flicks and they are spinning at a fair speed.

The effort required in either case is minimal compared to that required to get the whole bike going (pedalling or pushing).

If it takes so little energy to get the 2 different weight.wheels up to speed when the bikes are upside down, why is weight in the wheels so important.

If this was explained I missed it and am happy to be told to go to the back of the class.
by simonhill
24 Mar 2024, 11:50pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Escooter trial to start
Replies: 351
Views: 37536

Re: Escooter trial to start

Grandad wrote: 24 Mar 2024, 10:03pm
What does this say about the trial?
Very little because they are e-bikes and the trial is about e-scooters.
by simonhill
24 Mar 2024, 11:32pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best tyres for touring
Replies: 27
Views: 1011

Re: Best tyres for touring

Is weight a concern. Some of the more chunky touring tyres are very heavy. Some over 1000 gms.

Although a recent thread said weight on wheels no more important than weight elsewhere.

Those Gatorskins look good, but only in (in current parlance) narrow sizes - 32 max.
by simonhill
24 Mar 2024, 12:32pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best tyres for touring
Replies: 27
Views: 1011

Re: Best tyres for touring

I presume you are using 700s. What width do you fancy. What type of touring, any other help for us.

I used Marathon Supremes (26x1.6) for a number of years. I was very happy with them apart from the thin sidewall (folding). I wrote off a couple of good tyres with sidewall damage - something as simple as sliding down a pothole and 40 quid down the drain.

Anyway, they stopped making Supremes a few years ago. If you can get them now they are about 60 quid for a few years on the shelf tyre.

I decided to go Marathon Greenguard. Their basic Marathon with a puncture proof belt. Only aout £20 each. Very mixed reactions from users from love to hate. I think correct pressure is a big part of it.

Before I got the chance, I ended up with a reasonable quality Chinese alike. Currently running these and happy with them ( Chaoyang Kestrel). Will see if I can buy another pair before I come home tomorrow.

Personally I do value puncture resistance.
by simonhill
23 Mar 2024, 2:39pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: crazyguyonabike site
Replies: 19
Views: 1624

Re: crazyguyonabike site

Recumbent. I'm sorry I *issed you off.

I thought I was giving background info on Crazyguy's site need to raise funds. I certainly never accused you of seeking funds, please reread what I wrote.

There was nothing in favour of Crazyguy in the post because I was posting about the reasons for cash shortfall. If you followed my posts on different forums over the last 25 years you would have seen innumerable recommendations from me for Crazyguy - probably running into many hundreds. It was my main go to on the old Lonely Planet Thorn Tree On Your Bike Forum where I had many thousands of posts.

Navrig is right I don't journalise on Crazyguy, it's not my thing. I do try to answer any forum posts on the subjects I know best. As Navrig said, I have offered and had many phone calls and a few meetings with people interested in going to where I tour. I even recall a number of PM exchanges giving detailed local info to mattmatt, glad he's *issed off with me too.

You seem to have read what I wrote in your own way which certainly wasn't how I thought I wrote it. I'm happy to apologise, but not sure for what. Nonetheless I'll keep on doing what I do, advising and encouraging people about long haul touring, which includes recommending Crazyguy when appropriate.
by simonhill
23 Mar 2024, 12:34am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Long term ebike rentals
Replies: 1
Views: 213

Re: Long term ebike rentals

Brompton do them. Don't know about any of the conditions.

https://www.brompton.com/why-brompton/b ... lsrc=aw.ds
by simonhill
23 Mar 2024, 12:29am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Brompton case / luggage storage at Schiphol
Replies: 5
Views: 262

Re: Brompton case / luggage storage at Schiphol

Hotel or disposable is usually cheaper for any more than a few days.

€9 isn't too bad, it's £12 to15 a day at London airports. (£1.70 for full size bike in Bangkok airport).

If leaving at hotel not feasible then another option would be a bag. I bought one for my Brompton, about £20 online. It was for COVID but plans weren't possible. I do use a bag for full size bike - sides padded with bits of cardboard, almost makes it into a bike box. Bits of cardboard easier to source than a whole box. Then carry bag on tour.
by simonhill
23 Mar 2024, 12:15am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: New handlebar choice
Replies: 15
Views: 744

Re: New handlebar choice

If you were happy with your butterfly then like MrsHJ, I would have thought something fairly conventional would be OK and worth trying. Particularly as you have a requirement for a bar bag (which seems the main problem at the moment).

Any particular reason you are trying these various 'odd' shape bars. Admittedly you might end up with perfection or it could be an expensive exercise in futility.I would start with the obvious.

I ride straightish MTB style bars with Ergons and short bar ends, but that's me.
by simonhill
22 Mar 2024, 2:41pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Boxing a bike in Paris
Replies: 3
Views: 310

Re: Boxing a bike in Paris

I use Google maps. Open up near chosen location and put in a search for bike shops or something similar.

It will locate most. You can then click on each to see which might be suitable. Read reviews look at photos, etc.

Website, email, phone, etc usually given.
by simonhill
21 Mar 2024, 2:24pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Flying bikes back from Tirana Airport
Replies: 11
Views: 677

Re: Flying bikes back from Tirana Airport

Boxes in airports are new and bought explicitly to sell to people flying by airlines or baggage services.

The bike shop boxes:

Bike box is used;
Shop has already profited on the box, it was the packaging for a bike that they sold at profit to a customer;
Certainly in UK shop has to pay for recycling collection.

I think €20 is taking the p.. Maybe €5 would be acceptable.

A bit like a supermarket charging you for an old cardboard box.
by simonhill
21 Mar 2024, 12:43am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: forums
Replies: 16
Views: 995

Re: forums

It would be interesting to know how many people in the UK tour. One off, occasionally, regularly, etc. Camping or hotel, bike packing or panniers, etc, etc

From what I see home and abroad I don't think it is very many.

Are there any stats? Or educated guesses. I wonder if the (previously known as) CTC ever knew.