Search found 924 matches

by markjohnobrien
31 Jan 2024, 8:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Conversion Rim to Disc Frames
Replies: 10
Views: 691

Re: Conversion Rim to Disc Frames

gregoryoftours wrote: 31 Jan 2024, 3:05pm Just as an aside you are not limited to road sti brake/gear shifter combos for drop bars and hydraulic disc brakes. TRP Hylex are drop bar hydros with plain levers, so you can use bar end shifters of whatever speed you like. They aren't cheap but I used some on a rental bike for loaded touring for a couple of weeks and they were really good.
Agree: these are a great choice.
by markjohnobrien
22 Dec 2023, 9:18pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 10 speed v 11 speed - long term parts choice & availability?
Replies: 50
Views: 3278

Re: 10 speed v 11 speed - long term parts choice & availability?

rareposter wrote: 21 Dec 2023, 6:46pm
slowster wrote: 20 Dec 2023, 6:42pm 142mm thru-axle hubs and 135mm quick release hubs have the same amount of dish. The measurement for quick release hubs is the distance between locknut faces, not the total axle length, i.e. it omits the axle protrusion on which the dropout rests.
Yes, apologies, I wasn't clear - I just meant that the stiffer interface improved things.
rogerzilla wrote: 21 Dec 2023, 7:20am The big issue with 11sp road (which shifts better than 10sp) is that the rear wheel dish is absolutely terrible.
It's incremental at worst. There are millions of 10 and 11 (and 12...) speed wheels out there, all just happily getting along with supporting a bike and rider; this idea that the dish is so extreme that everything is spontaneously falling to bits or dramatically weaker is just not borne out by facts. And partly if you're on discs (as the OP will be) the rims are wider, stiffer and usually have offset spoke holes to mitigate all of this anyway.

The idea that anyone should need to be cutting up coke cans to shim out gear systems is just insane - buy an 11sp groupset and a nice frame and wheels to hang it all on, go ride bike. Stop complicating things! This is far from the first thread where someone has asked a simple question about a groupset which has descended off into a rabbit hole of filing down cogs, missing out sprockets, using coke cans for shims.... :shock:
Or maybe I just missed that chapter of the Shimano manual...?
It's a miracle I'm still alive after my ride on a 1x12 SRAM-equipped gravel bike earlier, the rear wheel should have exploded 18 times over judging from the comments on here.

Blah, blah, blah - another boring post telling people to buy wonderful and expensive modern kit while trashing anything older. Your insane mantra seems to be modern wonderful - old bad.

Must be good working in sales/marketing for a bike/component company….
by markjohnobrien
19 Dec 2023, 4:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front Fork Failure
Replies: 47
Views: 5655

Re: Front Fork Failure

windysmithy wrote: 12 Dec 2023, 9:17pm DSCF0179.jpg
I got back into cycling by buying a Revolution "touring" bike from the Edinburgh Bike coop in 2010.
It was litter.
The last straw was the forks folding up underneath whilst descending into Seaton in Cornwall, just after a slight irregularity in the road and braking heavily.
DSC00229.JPG
A couple of minutes earlier i had been going bout 40 downhill; this one was steeper, so i had slowed down. The bus driver right behind me was on the ball , luckily. Bit of a rash on my forearms and belly.
The Edinburgh Bike Coop absolutely denied any liability (but did give me my money back). It had already been back with them twice , and this was less than 6 months old. They stopped selling these shortly after, i think.
Call me cautious, but i travel with a Thorn nowadays. Love it.
Ouch. Very lucky you didn’t suffer severe injury or worse. I had the Reynolds 520 steel version in 2012/13 and, thankfully, didn’t suffer any issues.
by markjohnobrien
12 Dec 2023, 8:13pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front Fork Failure
Replies: 47
Views: 5655

Re: Front Fork Failure

In point of fact it had been well-known that higher-than-normal post-braze strengths could be achieved using silver solder for some time, but only a few builders were prepared to do it and exploit it”

Interesting thread and excellent post. While, being a Raleigh nerd, I’m aware that Raleigh (SBDU, Lightweight Division, and Raleigh Special products - who used the same and overlapping frame builders and staff throughout this period) used silver solder for many of their frames, I’m intrigued by your comment that only a few builders did so. As Raleigh were the biggie in both quality and sheer volume of silver soldered frames, who else used this method?

Dave Yates I think.

Dawes ?- heard awful stories about their frame building at times.

Robert’s?

Longstaff?
by markjohnobrien
10 Dec 2023, 1:01pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Summary of differences: various Spa models
Replies: 25
Views: 3390

Re: Summary of differences: various Spa models

JohnR wrote: 10 Dec 2023, 12:39pm FWIW, here's my Aubisque in it's current configuration. The American Classic Hurricane wheels weren't part of the original build but swapped from another bike as they are tubeless-ready to suit the 35mm G-One Allround tyres. I wanted hydraulic brakes which meant 11 speed gearing but would have been happy with 2 x 9. I started off with the drop bars higher and lowered them 5mm at a time until my back told me that was far enough. The long steerer isn't beautiful but there are no worries about strength as it's steel.
Johns Aubisque.jpg
Very nice.
by markjohnobrien
24 Nov 2023, 11:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gear Compatibility XT 9s replaced by 10s mech.
Replies: 8
Views: 1131

Re: Gear Compatibility XT 9s replaced by 10s mech.

lauriebooton wrote: 22 Nov 2023, 9:07pm OK, I'm away from home so haven't got my gear completely tables in front of me, and can't find exactly what I want on the web.
I have a 9s shifter, cabled to a XT 9s rear mech with a XT 9s cassette. All great.
I'm looking at a XTR rear mech, but it's a 10s and the guy says it will just work as a replacement.
I'm not sure, can anyone help please?
Thanks.
The guy is mistaken as the cable pull changed on 10 speed MTB and not compatible with 9 speed MTB.
by markjohnobrien
24 Nov 2023, 11:30pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: 35C V 32C * 700 Tyre choice
Replies: 12
Views: 1389

Re: 35C V 32C * 700 Tyre choice

briansnail wrote: 24 Nov 2023, 3:30pm One of my bikes has 35C in front and 32C at the back.I know it really makes very little difference .However I am considering changing both worn tires to new 35C's . However just in case it does make a difference I thought I would check as sometimes tires are difficult to get off/on.

I do not ride fast (which sounds better than I ride slowly) and do a negligible 6 km a day on tarmac for my commutes on this particular bike.Thanks in advance to any responses.
********************************
I ride Brompton and a 100% British Vintage
If 35c fits at the back, go for it. Especially as it will give better comfort on poor quality roads.
by markjohnobrien
21 Nov 2023, 7:08pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike security
Replies: 54
Views: 2690

Re: Bike security

PaulS wrote: 21 Nov 2023, 9:59am I spotted this outside Kings Cross train station. Five locks. The owner must be thoroughly fed up with having bikes stolen. There is probably more lock than bike there.
I’ve done that before when locking outside Euston station, or in Soho, when I was using a really nice bike I couldn’t afford to replace: heavy, but that’s what panniers are for.
by markjohnobrien
21 Nov 2023, 7:01pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: relocation conundrum
Replies: 14
Views: 1846

Re: relocation conundrum

foxyrider wrote: 19 Nov 2023, 7:56pm So, due to a recvent bereavement i've been gifted a friends ebike which i will be taking custody of in December. But i've got a problen now, i'm currently in Bristol and the bike is in Sheffield, i don't drive or know anyone with a suitable vehicle, the question therefore is, how do i transport an ebike 300km's?

I know i could ride it but given the battery range i think it would be a three day trip and its not set up for carrying any luggage (it is, i think a 2018/9 Focus Jafyra? a sort of hardtail atb). Is it possible to travel with it by rail? any other options out there?

Idea's on a postcard please :)
Train in the main: with cycling either end of the journey.
by markjohnobrien
18 Nov 2023, 4:17pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Cracked headset - bin the frame? Or repairable?
Replies: 32
Views: 2624

Re: Cracked headset - bin the frame? Or repairable?

jimster99 wrote: 17 Nov 2023, 11:58pm I have a very old Specialised MTB that I've been using at a relative's house. I tried installing a child seat on the front headset - big mistake, as it was the wrong size, and has I think cracked the headset (or maybe the crack was already there, and I noticed it after the installation). It's obviously unsafe to ride at present, but is it repairable? As a really old bike I don't want to spend very much on it, although it's comfy and otherwise works well (albeit needs a bit of minor maintenance).

I'm considering either (i) finding a metal band that could go round the headset to hold it in place, or (ii) getting the crack welded. Not sure where to find such a band. Maybe one of those pipe band things that you can buy in B&Q and that can be tightened with a screw (no idea what they're called!). For welding, I assume a car mechanic could do it for a few quid? Or maybe both?

Thanks so much for any advice :)

Photos:

DSC06027.JPG

DSC06029.JPG

DSC06033.JPG

DSC06034.JPG
Very nasty cracks: good advice from Brucey though.
by markjohnobrien
13 Nov 2023, 8:10pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Things I should have purchased 30 years ago but was too mean at the time
Replies: 60
Views: 5657

Re: Things I should have purchased 30 years ago but was too mean at the time

TrevA wrote: 13 Nov 2023, 4:17pm Things I should have purchased………

A decent rechargeable lighting system. 30 years ago I was commuting an hour each way on dark country lanes, using Ever Ready Nightriders. Night Sun systems were available at the time, but I considered them too expensive. The Nightriders were so poor you could see about 3 feet in front of your front wheel and about a foot to the side. My cycling friend at work asked my why I didn’t cycle in to work as much in the winter. He only had a 5 mile commute, all under streetlights.
Oh god. Ever Ready Niteriders were awful, it was like the feeble light of a dying sun, (actually far worse).

You did well to a) see where you were going and b) alert other road users to your presence.
by markjohnobrien
12 Nov 2023, 4:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Things I should have purchased 30 years ago but was too mean at the time
Replies: 60
Views: 5657

Re: Things I should have purchased 30 years ago but was too mean at the time

geomannie wrote: 30 Sep 2023, 9:08pm A good dynamo hub (I now have a SON). You get on your bike anytime of night or day and your lights just work: no recharging, no batteries no fuss
Fully agree but I wasn’t too mean years ago but couldn’t afford a SON hub.
by markjohnobrien
11 Nov 2023, 3:12pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 195
Views: 24366

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

rareposter wrote: 10 Nov 2023, 11:24am
Mike Sales wrote: 9 Nov 2023, 10:07pm Do you remember the old Raleigh fork crown? It was a horizontal tube, the blades brazed onto its sides and the ends stopped with a sort of thimble, so that there was a shallow hollow.
Yes, the U.G.L.I fork. Uncle Gerald’s Latest Invention, after their inventor at Raleigh, Gerald O-Donovan. The crown unit was bulge-formed from aluminium then steel or titanium blades (depending on the Dynatech model) were bonded in and aluminium dropouts were bonded onto the blade ends.
Nearholmer wrote: 10 Nov 2023, 8:00am Whereas older customers might seek out Raleigh as a known and trusted name, I’m not sure younger people would, because they seem more likely to know and trust different names.
Raleigh (like Dawes and Saracen) has had problems with the name being associated with some real gas-pipe steel BSOs at the bottom end of the range. It is not the name or head badge that an enthusiast buyer would consider really other than many people had a Chopper when they were kids. Even then, if you had a Chopper, it was a kids toy bike (super cool one for a few years admittedly) but then you grew out of that and if you're looking to buy a bike now, you see Raleigh and think "oh yeah, kids toy bike".

Carerra for example know that their market is very much the entry level end of things and that's great, nothing wrong with that. But if Carerra tried to make a £6000 MTB, no-one would buy it because of the association of Carerra with entry level stuff.
So for someone like Raleigh to try and cover everything from kids toy bikes to top-end road and MTB was never really great marketing.

To be fair, the bike bit is still going, it's only their Parts & Accessories division that is being wound up.
It’s interesting you say that …” It is not the name or head badge that an enthusiast buyer would consider really other than many people had a Chopper when they were kids”.

The last RSP bikes, from 99-2001, had a special head badge that denote superb hand built bikes and frames. I’m an enthusiast and associate this name and head badge with cracking top quality bikes and, for myself, have never associated them with cheap children’s bikes.

I can quite understand that some people do see them as children’s bikes as one of my work colleagues was horrified that I owned Raleigh’s (he lusted after Colnago).

Once I explained about RSP and that one of their frame builders not only produced the frames for Bernhard Hinault when he was winning 5 Tour de France, but built my Raleigh Randonneur frames, a light went off in his head, as my bikes had provenance and he understood.
by markjohnobrien
11 Nov 2023, 2:52pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 195
Views: 24366

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

djnotts wrote: 9 Nov 2023, 8:51pm "...... confirmed the Raleigh parts and accessories business would close, and its warehousing would be outsourced."

Wouldn't it be a surprise if warehouse land goes to housing? Buyers of Raleigh have history when it comes to cashing in assets.
Real shame if the HQ and warehousing is sold, as I’ve visited many times, as some of the old time Raleigh staff from when they manufactured top class bikes and frames until 2000/2001, were employed on site.

One of the skilled toolmakers who used to produce experimental parts in Reynolds steel or titanium for their pro teams and Raleigh Special Products ended up on the current HQ when RSP closed. He worked as a security guard. Such a shame both from a personal perspective, Raleigh’s, and the loss of world class frame building/ production skills and knowledge.
by markjohnobrien
11 Nov 2023, 2:41pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 195
Views: 24366

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

djnotts wrote: 10 Nov 2023, 3:35pm The UGLI forks were not the same as the trad, much older, one exampled above. They were mtb specific and are quite highly sought after, particularly the Ti version.
1980s - '90s I think.
UGLI forks were handmade in Raleigh Special Products division in the 90’s and were designed by GOD (Gerald O’Donovan).