Search found 36 matches

by pickerd1
8 Feb 2016, 9:37am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Trains in Ireland
Replies: 12
Views: 1211

Trains in Ireland

Hi all,
We have booked our ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and we have our accommodation booked in Kenmare (Kerry). We now have to get 3 cyclists and their bikes from Dublin to Killarney (and back). Our preference is not to use a car but it seems the Irish inter city trains only have space for 2 bikes? Although there seems to be differing opinion on this one?

Is this true?

We are considering hiring a car with rack / van but didn't really want to drive all week.

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers
Dave
by pickerd1
21 Dec 2015, 12:41pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front Mech for 22-36-42
Replies: 0
Views: 448

Front Mech for 22-36-42

This may have been covered previously (sure it has).....
I'm looking to purchase a front mech with a shallow inner cage. This is for the following set-up ...
- chainrings 22-36-42
- friction shifter (SL-BS-79)
- 10 speed cassette
- shimano system (if it makes any difference)

Is there anything available new?
Any recommendations?
by pickerd1
18 Dec 2015, 8:25am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spring Tour - Ireland
Replies: 15
Views: 2469

Spring Tour - Ireland

Hello all.
I have used the Techy part of the CTC forum quite a bit but never the Touring & Expedition part, so this is my first post here.
We are planning our 2016 spring tour and have chosen a short tour of Ireland. A rough route is as follows:
DAY 1 - Rosslare Harbour to Waterford City 40
DAY 2 - to Cork 65 = 115
DAY 3 - to Limerick 63 = 178
DAY 4 - to Kilkenny 68 = 246
DAY 5 - to Rosslare Harbour 60 = 306
We have limited ourselves to 5 days so that we can get in the ferry and car trips in the week, and have been conservative about daily miles as we don't want to push too hard - it is a holiday after all and we want to be able to stop and take things in.
Questions we have ...
What is Ireland like for touring?
Are there plenty of dedicated cycle routes or are the roads quiet enough?
Should be plan to make cities our stopping points or towns?
Is camping viable?
Any top tips?
Any must visit places / cafes?
Would we be better starting in Dublin?

Any help / ideas / input welcome.
by pickerd1
10 Dec 2015, 8:01am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: SL-BS78 Shifters PROBLEM
Replies: 5
Views: 651

Re: SL-BS78 Shifters PROBLEM

Thanks very much for your replies.
I will try a few things tonight including:
- measure cable pull
- check cable mounting
- 'hubbub' style cable mounting - reducing the pull ratio slightly may help
- strip and service the shifter - is there anything inside that can impact shifting?
- check the cassette cog spacing (pretty sure is stock and still riveted)
Another point to note is that the shifters are second hand and may be worn.
I will revert to friction mode if all fails until I can get hold of a set of NEW SL-BS79 bar ends.
by pickerd1
7 Dec 2015, 1:03pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 27" Tyres
Replies: 4
Views: 609

Re: 27" Tyres

Thanks for your replies.
I measured the Schwalbe Marathons that were fitted to the tandem and they are more like 30mm wide as opposed to the 32 (1 1/14") quoted. These will be ok on the single speed as my riding is on a combination of roads and trails.
However, when I tried these on my Mavic 27" rims and pumped them up they basically blow off the rim!!!
I saved the day by using some old(er) Weinmann rims. The tyres fitted these fine.
So that's the single speed sorted.
Wider tyres for the Tandem is more of a problem, but this can wait until next spring. I might try an fit some 29er wheels that I have. These will be 700c + a bit more for the tyre. As the tandem has cantilever brakes I hope to be able to adjust them to accommodate the slightly smaller wheel rim diameter. I will however loose the drum brake!
by pickerd1
1 Dec 2015, 3:23pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 27" Tyres
Replies: 4
Views: 609

27" Tyres

Hello everyone,
I have a couple of old bikes that rely on 27" wheels. The first is a Claude Butler tandem and the second an old Falcon that I have had for 30 years or more (the first bike I bought with my own money) which is now converted into a single speed.
I could convert these to 700c but would really like to stick with 27".

For the Tandem I would really like some fatter tyres than t he present 1 1/4". Are these available?

For the Falcon single speed I would suite like something a bit narrower than 1 1/4". (I think?) Are these available?
by pickerd1
24 Nov 2015, 11:49am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Raleigh RSP Ti
Replies: 7
Views: 865

Raleigh RSP Ti

I've just bought a 2nd hand Raleigh RSP Titanium frame (with carbon fork). Not really a touring bike I know but I plan to use it for some day rides next summer.
I plan to fit it out with some Shimano 105 parts that I have - STI shifters, brake calipers, rear & front derailleur. Chainset will be a compact FSA with 34 / 50T rings (I may reduce the outer to 46T later?), with a 12-30 10 speed cassette.
The frame seems pretty lightweight, no idea on stiffness yet but the geometry seems quite sporty - short chain stays etc.
No room for standard type mudguards though - not really needed for summer I suppose.
I can't find much about these frames on line - only that they were made of Titanium from Mig fighter aircraft and were welded in Siberia (well Nottingham anyway). ;-) Has anyone got any info about these frames?
Any tips on caring for the Ti frame?
I read somewhere that scratches can be rubbed out with a brillo pad? Will this work / damage the surface?
by pickerd1
3 Nov 2015, 9:23am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brake Levers - Reverse Pull???
Replies: 4
Views: 703

Brake Levers - Reverse Pull???

Hello,
Unless I have missed something all the reverse pull brake levers on the market have bar end fixings (all but a Jtek clamp on lever which are £40 each). These levers are for the Aero / Tri bar market where there are effectively 4 bar ends for use with brake levers and shifters.
I'm interested in have both brake levers and gear shifters on bullhorn bars.

Can standard levers (e.g. those used on the flats of drop bars as a second set of levers) be used in reverse?

This means that the action of lever pushes the cable outer rather pulls the inner - is this ok?

Cheers
by pickerd1
26 Oct 2015, 9:19am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Which Bar End Shifters?
Replies: 14
Views: 4335

Which Bar End Shifters?

Hello All,
I'm considering bar end shifters but don't know whether to go for Dura Ace SL-BS79 OR MicroShift BS-A10.

How do these compare?

I've played with the Dura Ace and found them a little stiff (no innuendo please). They were however very accurate and shifted the 105 RD very nicely. This was with good cables though! Does this make a massive difference?

The Dura Ace also worked nicely with the triple front mech and chainset. It was set-up such that the lever detent was in line with the middle chain ring. Is this the best way?

Are Microshift compatible with Shimano mechs?

Any thing else I should consider?
by pickerd1
19 Oct 2015, 10:40am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Replies: 20
Views: 1639

Hydraulic Disc Brakes

I have disc brakes fitted to a few bikes now. Two have TRP HY RD fitted and one has Hayes mech disc fitted.
With both the TRP HY RD fitted bikes I experience a lot of 'judder' under heavy braking, with the mech disc equipped bike I don't experience this.
Prior to fitting the TRP HY RD brakes there was no judder.
All the bikes are designed for disc brakes.

I have tried the following to attempt to remedy the problem ...
1 - replacing the rotor in case it is warped or uneven.
2 - adjusting the wheel bearings in case they are loose
3 - adjusting the headset beatings - initially I tightened the top nut to 2Nm, but I tried going up to 4Nm
None of these things made any difference.

I suppose disc brakes put more force on headset bearings than rim brakes as they have more mechanical advantage as the braking point is further away from the bearing and they are more powerful?? Hydraulic discs are probably even more powerful?

Is this a common problem?

Are there any solutions?
by pickerd1
8 Oct 2015, 12:40pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Compact double chainset with square taper and 46T chainring?
Replies: 45
Views: 15369

Re: Compact double chainset with square taper and 46T chainr

andrew_s wrote:
niggle wrote:What causes problems is when you use inner and middle shifter positions for your 2 chainrings.
If using a triple shifter on a double chainset, you should use outermost clicks with the lower limit screw blocking off what would be the granny position.


I'm interested to know what the problem is?
I like the solution though!
by pickerd1
5 Oct 2015, 7:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tools for new build
Replies: 17
Views: 1191

Tools for new build

I'm planning a couple of new builds, and hope to do more in the future, and I'm looking for advice on some tools for the job ...
- headset press (1 1/8" for now) - presently I use a threaded rod and large sockets
- crown race installer - brute force and ignorance used until now

Also planning on a respray / powder coat for another frame and would like to remove the headset bearing cases.

Can anyone recommend tolls please?

Cheers
by pickerd1
19 Sep 2015, 10:17am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 3x10 to 2x11 change
Replies: 9
Views: 2291

3x10 to 2x11 change

Not sure why but I really fancy changing my 3x10 to a 2x11 set-up.
I originally set-up the 3x10 as below to find out which gears I sue most.
- chainrings = 22 / 32/ 42
- cassette 12 to 23
The 22/23 low gear is good so I would like to keep a 1:1 ratio.
I use the 32/16 and gears around it a lot and like the close ratios in this region. So I would like to keep ratios from about 1.6 to 2.4 with close gaps between gears.
I don't use the 42t ring very often - only for downhill and I am quite happy to roll. I don't want to give uo the higher ratios but would be happy with less gears.

Any ideas for an 2x11 set-up?
by pickerd1
15 Sep 2015, 1:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Cycle computer
Replies: 15
Views: 2330

Re: Cycle computer

Hi all,
I have a Garmin Edge 1000 for which I paid too much. It was on offer from Wiggle or Halfords I think.
It has wireless cadence and speed sensors, and also a heart rate monitor.
Features wise it is fully loaded: maps, satnav guidance etc
It also interfaces nicely with Strava and Garmin connect so that you can see all your ride data on your PC / smart phone.

Ok so how good is it?
Initially it was quite poor: it crashed when navigating and the speed reading often dropped to zero for a period.
After a few free firmware updates it is now very good and reliable.
The display is very good - with maps being just about big enough for me to read without reading glasses from a riding position.
You scroll between customisable screens that display the data / maps you wish to see.
The hard controls are easy to use.
The touchscreen is a little more awkward but after a while you get used to it.

I use it in 3 basic ways:
1 - where I know the route - I simply use it to display and record speed, cadance, distance, time etc. It is good for this application but it's too expensive if this is all you want it for.
2 - where I am following a pre mapped route - the Edge gives turn by turn guidance. This mode uses more battery charge, but it will last all day. The route can be downloaded from www sources or created on line, a gpx or tcx file is downloaded into the Edge. I have used this mode when touring and now the firmware has been updated it is very good.
3 - where I follow the map - this is a new way of going for a ride for me - I just ride away from home on roads I know, then take an unknown turn down any old lane and see where it leads. With the Edge I can then navigate around through previously unknown territory without getting too lost and I can do this interactively (without stopping at every turn to look at a map). By selecting the right zoom of the map you can see ahead sufficiently to plan your route on the fly. This is a great way of riding that I would not feel confident doing without the Edge.

I have bought an additional speed and cadence sensor kit for another bike. This too was expensive.

Overall the Edge 1000 does everything I want it to do plus it has added a new dimension to my riding experience. It is therefore worth the money!
by pickerd1
4 Sep 2015, 10:32am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bull Horn Bar Brake Levers and Shifters
Replies: 11
Views: 3474

Bull Horn Bar Brake Levers and Shifters

I have bull horn bars on my single speed bike. These have reverse pull brake levers (Tektro RX 4.1) which I like very much. I am planning on putting gears back on this bike - probably just a 1x10 set-up.
The question is what type of brake levers and shifters.

Previously I have successfully set-up Tiagra STI levers on bull horns - they worked but weren't very elegant as the gear cables came out at right angles to the lever. These levers are now on my Croix De Fer bike and are not available for use on the SS. I did try 105 STI levers which have under tape routing - the gear routing was too tight (via noodles) and compromised shifting.

Options:
1 - buy /fit another set of STI levers - expensive and ugly - hands in one position for brake and shift
2 - keep the Tektro RX 4.1 levers and buy / fit some MTB style thumb shifters on the flat bit of the bars either side of the stem - may cause problems with rear mech choice (MTB only?) - means moving hands for brake / shift?
3 - buy / fit some bar end shifters (e.g. dura ace SL-BS78) and buy / fit brake levers on the flat bit of the bars either side of the stem - means moving hands for brake / shift?
4 - keep the Tektro RX 4.1 levers and buy / fit some bar end shifters (dura ace SL-BS78) with bar clamps just under the brake levers - these seem to be available at SJS cycles but the clamp diameter is too small?
5 - buy / fit some bar end shifters (dura ace SL-BS78) and get some reverse pull brake levers with bar clamps (if they exist) - maybe morph standard pull levers and reverse pull elvers?

Any other options or ideas?