Search found 356 matches

by DarkNewt
7 Jun 2018, 12:25pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Bike Alarm
Replies: 14
Views: 11743

Re: Amazing Bike Alarm for the price

Sweep wrote:Many thanks for this - found your post by sheer accident when looking for one of my own posts mentioning an alarm.

So it's loud I take it?

How long did it take to arrive?

Am assuming that link is to the seller you used.

At that price I assume there was no issue with tax or customs duty?

Anything more to report since your original post?

May be a goer for me - would probably just use when touring - must say that I like the fact that it looks quite small/can be secreted on the bike, doesn't have to be permanently mounted, and, most of all that it runs on sensible batteries, not the watch battery foolishness.

Anyone else got one?

edit - look forward to comments from OP or others.

In the meantime found this entry for what looks like the same thing - useful link for the Q&S and reviews.

note that that is the US site.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Anti-Th ... op?ie=UTF8


Hi Sweep,

i have the Hornit Bike Horn supposedly the worlds loudest bike horn and this is louder - hurts my ears. So far it works brilliantly love the fact it's activated like a car alarm fob. One other note, it has a power off switch on the remote so it isn't sat there in standby draining battery when not needed so battery should last a good while. It appears pretty weatherproof but I don't leave that to chance mine is also covered.

delivery was fairly fast 1 week from placing the order.


hope that helps!

mine is fixed under my seat,

Newt
by DarkNewt
27 May 2018, 5:26pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Quick Link (removal) tool - experiences / recs ?
Replies: 78
Views: 3823

Re: Quick Link (removal) tool - experiences / recs ?

I can give a thumbs up for the KMC quick links, I have always been able to take them off with my bare hands by locking my arms and letting my chest/shoulders do the pushing in, I find as long as the chain is kept cleaned regularly it's no problem.

I had a friend with a fairly stiff one I couldn't move so I applied some WD40 and I carry a very light pair of needle nose pliars in my kit with electrical tape around the end this made light work of them. I always carry a spare quick link in my kit but in all the time I have used them I have never broken one, if you do twist one don't put it back on it will be weaker and just not worth it.

I love quick links because getting my chain off for cleaning is far easier than trying to do it in situ!
by DarkNewt
24 May 2018, 6:33pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Bike Alarm
Replies: 14
Views: 11743

Bike Alarm

I have tried a few alarms but not really happy. As a rule I won't leave my bike anywhere even locked, when on tour sometimes I have to very quickly nip in a shop etc.. with no choice.

I have tried a few alarms and not really that good, came across this one on ebay and wow for the money:

remote control and power off and remote activate. Light and small enough to strap under your seat out of the way etc.. Sooooo loud, has a warning for a slight move and then goes off fully if contiues.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Ant ... 2749.l2649

best buy from me! I would recommend putting some sealant around (I use stormsure it can be peeled off for battery change) it or in a plastic bag to further waterproof.

So good we bought one and stuck it to my friends RV door as an extra security!

haven't had it long so no battery life report or long term durability test but anyone looking should consider it.
by DarkNewt
21 May 2018, 1:09pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Montane
Replies: 11
Views: 5705

Re: Montane

pjclinch wrote:A general point on kit is that a lot of it has the performance reliant upon fit, and this goes for sleeping bags too. Too big and you'll lose loads of heat from convection currents, too small and, well, it's too small. One size only means if you're in any way outsize you might do better elsewhere.

So have a test lie in a sleeping bag, a test crawl in a tent, try on shoes before spending money. In all of these cases you might save money by going online, but where size/fit is critical to function it may be worth spending more.


Totally agree although I do believe they should put max sizes in there, I am happy with my fit now I also use one of these with my bag:

https://www.seatosummit.co.uk/products/ ... e-reactor/

which allows me to go very light on my summer sleeping bag (incidentally a snugpak with a built in expanda panel) I can add or remove as I feel necessary.

In terms of quality I do like my Montane bag now that i have modded to suit me.

Might be worthwhile starting a discussion thread on good bags for cycle touring/camping midrange/budget options etc.. I have also been on a quest to find a decent pillow that isn't too bulky heavy - being slightly oversized :-) I have gone through various ones with disatisfaction, I had tried several of the inflatable ones a few years ago - and until now the best was one I made myself out of foam, however I recently bought: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1 very happy with this though we shall see how tough it is long term (I always carry a puncture repair kit!

Always interested in seeing others solutions aproaches as they can take you in directions you have never previously thought of!
by DarkNewt
21 May 2018, 9:31am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Montane
Replies: 11
Views: 5705

Re: Montane

Tangled Metal wrote:As I typed I got more and more of an impression I was being too critical. I at first read your post as similar to one of those outlier customers who didn't get the service they wanted so let's post it online. Further on and a second read of your post I realised it wasn't such a post.

I generally have little to do with customer services of brands, lucky I guess. For me montane became a brand I ditched (mostly) when they tweaked their sizing so their clothing no longer fitted me. Eventually they got better sizes that fitted me again (or I grew the wrong way).

For a cold trip I would personally be hyper critical before making a purchase. For example montane started as a clothing company for outdoors kit. Very good at that. No history of sleeping bags or rucksacks. Whilst they did well with rucksack design I'd not trust them with critical things like sleeping bags. Whilst their product on paper looked suitable it's often the smallest of details that make it fail or work for you IMHO.

Too late for you but my advise for anyone intending to sleep in cold conditions is to buy from a company with heritage in down products. IMHO that means Rab, mountain equipment and PH Designs. The latter is the company founded by one of the best down product designers to work for ME. It's been argued that he helped a lot in making ME's name in down.

Out of interest to any readers of this thread who intend to buy a down sleeping bag for cold conditions or want the best options it's worth pointing out that the above three companies do sleeping bags on different sizes. Also female specific. Also, if that's not enough customisation for you then PhD do a design your own service. If you want short and wide or long and thin they'll do it for you. Extra insulation in some regions not a problem. Just expect prices to be doubled!

PS enjoy your trip DN. Where are you off to? If you don't mind me asking.


Hi Tangled,

one of the things I didn't mention which actually swayed me for the Montane version is I was able to get it new at a bargain price which meant even with the purchase of a snugpak expanda panel + alterations it was still cheaper for me, don't ask how I got it cheaper it wasn't illegal in any way though!

The trip I am planning is to circumnavigate iceland and possibly go across the interior, it very much depends on how stable my knee is if I do it in November/December or have to put it off a year. I did a trip through spain/france last year, knee was hurting before I started due to a fall and after 500 or so miles getting back I could cycle but not weight bear - turns out I had a complex meniscal tear, I have had to rest but now I am back training and walking. I am away for 2 weeks in June going on a road trip through the chunnel france spain up to Andorra and back, taking the bike to do some of the hills on the way. Then at the end of August I am doing the Pennine way as a celebration that i did it 30 yrs ago. If I manage that then I will know I am up for the Iceland trip, I have done a lot of prep ensuring the right kit just need to make sure I won't kill myself.
by DarkNewt
21 May 2018, 1:04am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Montane
Replies: 11
Views: 5705

Re: Montane

Hi Tangled Metal,

ive put some replies to your comments below,

Tangled Metal wrote:Interesting comment but the other side of the story could be an outdoor company makes a product for a market, markets it with necessary information such as sizing and quite possibly offer it in small, standard and large.

They noted it as one size, which would mean to me should fit most people I am big but not gigantic, at the very least they should put maximum dimensions.

Customer buys it and realises it does not suit them. Perhaps they should have got the larger size (if montane offer different sizes like Rab and ME). So the costumer asks if they manufacturer a solution to this purchase of the wrong product for them. They don't so reply to that effect.

As above only sold in "one size", after reading your post I looked deeper at Montane's profile and design philosophy nowhere does it mention customer satisfaction so thankyou for reminding me "caveat emptor"

The customer asks for materials to bodge something. However manufacturing site is in China or Indonesia or similar. Fabrics are made there too. Zips are made there too. They don't hold stock of either in the UK since they only have warehouse for saleable product and offices for design and back office matters. So they reply as such.

That is the reality that I had to deal with yes.

The costumer then posts saying that sleeping bag doesn't fit them on a cycling forum and criticise their customer service who only answered honestly that they don't have the means to help.

I am reading between the lines here so may interpret your reason incorrectly but you seem to think it was inapropriate for me to post here so I will share my motivation: Firstly I bought this bag for a cycling trip to a very seriously cold place and I posted it in cycling goods & services reviews because anyone cycle touring and camping will know that they need a sleeping bag so I wanted to inform others both of my purchase and the lack of suppport or interest I got from Montane, with the end of others not buying the bag inadvertantly, it appears to have worked in at least one case as the purchaser below will now avoid this bag as he knows one size doesn't fit - so from my perspective I have accomplished what i set out to do which was help others avoid similar. If you find this inapropriate we will have to agree to disagree.

I'm sorry your purchase wasn't as you hoped. I've still got a few items that match the description looked good on paper not in practise.

Now the above doesn't help your situation. I might have an answer for you but it will cost and I have no idea how much. There's a company based in Ulverston, Cumbria who specialise in down product repairs and modifications. They have a wide range of services and I would expect they could put an expander panel in for you.

I have already solved my problem I had a Snugpak winter expanda panel fitted utilising the original zip, it works really well and the modification was almost invisible it cost me £60.00 but i now have a serviceable bag.

Please don't take offence by my comments in the first part of my email. I only posted them because in this modern world of outsourcing manufacturing to overseas plants I would not expect any fabric based brand to hold fabrics and materials in case customers want to modify their products.

In some part I agree, however I pointed out that their sizing was misleading and I was in this position because of that, they did not bother to reply or respond to that point so I feel my opinion that they are unhelpful is warranted (as per there lack of mention of customer satisfaction) - a simple addition of some maximum sizes would resolve this but that appears to be too much or a risk of a lost sale. In terms of taking offence, it is a difference of opinion, I am a stoic and do my best not to let differences of opinion offend me so don't be worried about that, I generaly try and deal with a difference of opinion with logic.

Solution two could be to buy the materials, or closest similar materials, from a specialist outdoors fabric supplier. I used to know loads but not sure how many are still around. IIRC Peak fabrics or similar name is one UK supplier of fabrics. There's a really good German one too with a name like FabricTechnil or something not too far from that. They've been mentioned on an outdoors / walking forum a few times if you wanted to go on it and search threads for outdoor fabric suppliers. Alternatively join and post a thread asking for suppliers.

I hope these two possible options redeem my critical start to the post! :)


As above I didn't find you particularly critical an exchange of minds is always good, you were just not working on the full facts which are hard to gain from a simple post, my motivation was to help others, i would never expect to change the way companies operate, they are not thinking feeling entities just a collection of processes operated by people, the only time you affect the way a company operates is by hurting their sales/reputation or legally: on the back of my experience this would not be practical or worth the effort.
by DarkNewt
20 May 2018, 8:08pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Montane
Replies: 11
Views: 5705

Re: Montane

DarkNewt wrote:
josetrek wrote:Thanks DarkNewt

i'm interested in this sleeping bag, but when i read the reason that you explain, i'm worried.
Is posible to know the size of your shoulders?
I would like to know because if is the similar size to me i will not buy it.

What do you think about of the foot box?
Thanks for all DarkNewt


I have measured around the widest part of my shoulders/chest and it's 53" Hope that helps, if you get stuck you can always have one of these sewn in as I did: https://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/expanda-panel-winter.

in terms of the footbox i don't have any real issues and with the expanda panel it's slightly bigger anyhow.

good luck!
by DarkNewt
20 May 2018, 8:06pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Montane
Replies: 11
Views: 5705

Re: Montane

josetrek wrote:Thanks DarkNewt

i'm interested in this sleeping bag, but when i read the reason that you explain, i'm worried.
Is posible to know the size of your shoulders?
I would like to know because if is the similar size to me i will not buy it.

What do you think about of the foot box?
Thanks for all DarkNewt


I have measured around the widest part of my shoulders/chest and it's 53" Hope that helps, if you get stuck you can always have one of these sewn in as I did: https://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/expanda-panel-winter

good luck!
by DarkNewt
9 May 2018, 10:07pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Avid bb7 lipping
Replies: 5
Views: 872

Re: Avid bb7 lipping

Brucey wrote:it is easy enough to do a simple test with a new disc and new pads. Just mark up the disc (and one of the spokes) using some marker pen and apply the brakes a few times.

Look at where the marker pen has been worn off the disc and compare the position of the edge of the marks (or their width) with the width of the brake pad.

Note that if the brake pads are made by different manufacturers, the exact position of the friction material on the backing may vary slightly.

cheers


Hi Brucye, yet again you have taken me to school, never thought of the variation of pad material between manufacturer, it is something I will be checking when fitting new pads in the future.

Thanks to all those replying really apreciate the prods it made me look further and best of all I have something else to check when fitting new pads lol, it's obvious when someone wiser points it out!! :D :D :D :D :D
by DarkNewt
9 May 2018, 9:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Avid bb7 lipping
Replies: 5
Views: 872

Re: Avid bb7 lipping

Hi,

ive set them up loads of times, and they were in right when I moved them. Cables are fine they had just been changed when I left on my last tour. I could see with the rotors installed that they were in the correct position pad is totally covered by rotor. Definitely didn't swap them left for right on refitting they are marked and swapping them left to right would make the tabs that push back be in the wrong position, agree with the poor braking re contamination hence gave the discs a thorough clean but tbh there was very little contamination.

Also definitely the right pads, I agree it's really strange and the comment "shouldn't be possible" was what went through my mind as well but as the saying goes when you have eliminated the possible.

The only thing I can think of is that I am running 180's on the front and the pad may have been slightly below the thicker part of the rotor which would explain it, in fact I am going to check that right now on the bike.... i haven't adjusted the mounts etc.. and not seen it before but gonna check how low they sit on the rotor again..

Yup thats the issue the pads are sitting slightly lower than the braking surface so the bottom of the pad isn't getting worn until until they reach the point where the 2mm lip is formed and then that reduces the rest of the pads contact with the braking surface I wil have to add an extra washer in to raise the brake up a few mm so it is aligned totally over the braking surface. Until I looked at it more closely it wasn't obvious at all. I can only think that I hadn't noticed this when I put the 180 on the front and when I swapped them out previously I wasn't really looking for a fairly imperceptable lip.

im putting it down to user error :-) now to fettle around with washers on the disc mount.
by DarkNewt
9 May 2018, 7:44pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: GPS Device for navigation
Replies: 46
Views: 4448

Re: Buying a GPS bike computer

I use a Garmin Edge Touring Plus - hated it at first because I hadn't set it up right - once I read up on the setup it's been amazing. Good battery life, and for multi day tours it's attached to a large battery which is charged by a dynamo at the same time so I never run out.

Biggest tip which was the most annoying is make sure you turn off the auto recalculate route, basically if you go off route it decides to recalculate the shortest distance to your endpoint ignoring your route from then, with it turned off you just navigate back to your route and it picks up wherever you join with a simle back on course message.

like most touring sat navs it has a smaller screen but it's bike specific loads of features that I really like. A lot of people talk about using their phone, which I find:

1. uses loads more battery
2. generally not bike specific maps routing
3. less able to withstand the elements
4. doesn't record your ride as easily
5. harder to use course plotting software
6. doesn't have features like elevation profile which I like

Ive toured with a phone and found it a pain, with my garmin it's all very straightforward, it comes with great maps but you can use the free ones instead.

Garmin connect is easy to plan routes on and download to your device and it exports or imports gpx files as well.

Someone mentioned using an e-trex, I have and etrex 30 for long distance walking etc.. and I am sure that would do the job but again not as good as my edge touring plus..

only con's I can think of are the small screen and they use the older usb standard so not as easy to find a replacement cable on the road so I carry spares and with the older standard, reinstalling/updating the maps is very slow overnight job. As cons go those aren't bad and compared to the features and ease of use not a problem.

if you have a phone give it a go you may like it, but my experience has taught me bike specic sat navs have a good market for a reason. Wish I could recommend others but not tried them! Although anecdotally a friend has Mio and the larger screen comes in handy and they have never sworn at it in my presence!
by DarkNewt
9 May 2018, 7:28pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Avid bb7 lipping
Replies: 5
Views: 872

Avid bb7 lipping

Hi All,

While I am waiting for a replacement crank for my everyday bike I pulled out my touring bike which hasn't been used since last August, I had a knee injury just before a 500 mile tour through spain/france. It turns out the knee injury was a torn meniscus and it's taken this long to be fully functional... Only explaining so you don't think I have been lazy :-)

So this evening I have been giving it a good service so I can use it in the meantime, did all the normal cleaning greasing and noticed the front brake was extremely poor (Avid BB7's - i gave the rotors a good clean and took the pads out to examine them, there was some use left in them but despite readjustment the braking was still fairly poor.

I examined the pads more closely and towards the bottom there was about 2mm of lip so I changed the pads for new ones readjusted the brakes and they are rock solid again.

My question then: Is this lipping normal not seen it before, there's no adverse wear on the rotors they are the ice ones from Shimano. The brakes were set up correctly on the old ones (you will have to take my word on that) , I might have expected lipping if the brakes weren't fitted right and somehow the pads stood proud of the rotors at the outer edge, but the lipping was on the lower edge facing towards the inner of the rotor.

The last cycle was from Santander through to france and there were some pretty steep hills and lots of gradient, I cycle camp so the bike is always heavy loaded kitchen sink etc.. and I am 6ft 1inch and weigh 18.5 stone so they have a lot of weight to stop... could this be the cause although ive not noticed that lipping previously?

Strange so wondered if anyone had any thoughts?
by DarkNewt
9 May 2018, 2:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: bcd 110 to BB30 bottom bracket
Replies: 6
Views: 772

Re: bcd 110 to BB30 bottom bracket

rjb wrote:You could try and insert the pedal from the inside. It might reform the threads sufficiently to enable you to refit the pedal from the correct side.
Worth a try before taking it to a bike shop. :wink:


nope it is well and truly fubar, ive hunted down a replacement so should be back on the road as soon as they post it.
by DarkNewt
8 May 2018, 10:36pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: bcd 110 to BB30 bottom bracket
Replies: 6
Views: 772

Re: bcd 110 to BB30 bottom bracket

gaz wrote:
DarkNewt wrote:The original was an FSA Gossamer BCD110 with 175mm cranks. Not knowing much about this type, I got a barely used replacement from ebay which when it arrived turned out to be a BB30 that doesn't fit into the existing bottom bracket.

BCD110 is a reference to the chainring fitting size, Bolt Circle Diameter.

BB30 is an oversize Bottom Bracket standard. If you don't have a frame made for a BB30 it cannot be made to fit.


thats what I figured.... back to fleabay
by DarkNewt
8 May 2018, 9:15pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: bcd 110 to BB30 bottom bracket
Replies: 6
Views: 772

bcd 110 to BB30 bottom bracket

I had a bit of a mishap, climbing a hill I didn't notice that my pedal was loose, it felt like my cleat was loose, by the time I got to the top of the hill I had threaded my crankset.

I swapped the chainrings over with no issues, went to fit it and then noticed..... it's to big for the bottom bracket...


The original was an FSA Gossamer BCD110 with 175mm cranks. Not knowing much about this type, I got a barely used replacement from ebay which when it arrived turned out to be a BB30 that doesn't fit into the existing bottom bracket.

In short, what bracket do I need to buy including bearings/adapters to use the new crankset, before I go off and make yet another mistake.

This is my every day ride and I am missing it already.

as always any help would be greatly apreciated.