Search found 1138 matches

by jimlews
19 Mar 2024, 4:05pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Would it be unreasonable … ?
Replies: 42
Views: 1693

Re: Would it be unreasonable … ?

To return to the OPs question.
My two bits.
No, I don't think it is unreasonable, but stopping someone and telling them they are doing wrong may cause annoyance and possibly anger.
So probably inadvisable.
Perhaps better to make plain by other means that you are being dazzled. Shading your eyes from the glare makes it pretty obvious that the over bright lights are causing you difficulties and is less likely to lead to conflict.
by jimlews
18 Mar 2024, 12:16pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet
Replies: 19
Views: 841

Re: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet

My second recommendation:

EXUSTAR Stelvio. Comfy and reasonably wide. SPD fitting, if that's your thing.
From our friends at Spa Cycles:

https://spacycles.co.uk/m6b0s154p3382/E ... 5-SPD-Shoe
by jimlews
17 Mar 2024, 3:50pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet
Replies: 19
Views: 841

Re: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet

I find these very comfortable. A wide fitting.
However, I don't suffer from bunions.

https://williamlennon.co.uk/product-cat ... cle-shoes/

As you can see, they are not SPD. For me, in deference to my knees, that is a good thing.
Others, no doubt will condemn them for that reason alone.

I currently wear 276, but will try C2 next.

IMHO an excellent UK product.

EDIT: Note reference to bunion in C2 review.
by jimlews
14 Mar 2024, 2:02pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Why not have dual front discs?
Replies: 21
Views: 1395

Re: Why not have dual front discs?

Why not have a single disc mounted around the centre line of the front hub ?

Oh, yes. It's called a rim brake. :lol:
by jimlews
14 Mar 2024, 10:37am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Bmblbzzz wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 8:26am
jimlews wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 8:58pm
Nearholmer wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 7:19pm I genuinely don’t quite get this mid-90s MTB thing (the wheels seem too small to me, and did at the time)
As I see it, the attraction is fivefold.
1/ The 26" wheel size allows generous clearances.
2/ The 26" wheel allows the designer to design for generous toe clearance. ie. no possibility of overlap with the front tyre/mudguard.
3/ The typically long chainstays and long front end (see2/) results in a magic carpet ride over rough ground.
4/ The 26" tyre size is still pretty much universally available and the generous clearances allow fitment of any tyre from 26X1.25 right up to 26X2.125, so in an emergency a new tyre that 'will do' is cheaply obtainable pretty much anywhere in the world.
5/ They are about as close as it is possible to get to an unbustable bicycle.
6/ Widely and cheaply available.
7/ Appeal to many forumisers' memories of their own youth.

:wink:
8/ the captious air volume of 26" tyres provides a very cushy ride - even with the smaller sizes.
9/ Modern slicks in this size are no slower than 650 or 700 sizes and in some comparisons are faster.
10/ the 26" rim builds into a much stronger wheel...
.../ and counting...
by jimlews
14 Mar 2024, 10:31am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

mig wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 8:51am who / what establishes wheel size in the first place?

slowly adopting a standard from BITD?
There lies a whole historical dissertation :D
by jimlews
13 Mar 2024, 8:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Nearholmer wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 7:19pm I genuinely don’t quite get this mid-90s MTB thing (the wheels seem too small to me, and did at the time)
As I see it, the attraction is fivefold.
1/ The 26" wheel size allows generous clearances.
2/ The 26" wheel allows the designer to design for generous toe clearance. ie. no possibility of overlap with the front tyre/mudguard.
3/ The typically long chainstays and long front end (see2/) results in a magic carpet ride over rough ground.
4/ The 26" tyre size is still pretty much universally available and the generous clearances allow fitment of any tyre from 26X1.25 right up to 26X2.125, so in an emergency a new tyre that 'will do' is cheaply obtainable pretty much anywhere in the world.
5/ They are about as close as it is possible to get to an unbustable bicycle.

However, other wheel sizes are available; as are other manufacturers:

http://www.halletthandbuiltcycles.com/6 ... nture.html

https://www.stanforthbikes.co.uk/skyelander700c
by jimlews
13 Mar 2024, 6:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

The OPs requirements shout 90s mountain bike, to me.

Or something like this :

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bikes/thorn ... blue-used/
by jimlews
13 Mar 2024, 5:39pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

rareposter wrote: 13 Mar 2024, 4:30pm I'd assume from the OP's thread title of gentle off-road that there are no plans for hub deep muddy bridleways or extreme terrain...
A fair point, except that even gentlest, most innocuous seeming offroad can become a quagmire down the (off)road.
It is not usually clear at the outset what you are letting yourself in for until you are in up to the axles.
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
However, such rides are often the most rewarding. :D
by jimlews
13 Mar 2024, 12:28pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

oaklec wrote: 12 Mar 2024, 8:22pm How about a Sonder Santiago?

https://alpkit.com/collections/sonder-santiago

Edit - Oops, already suggested on page 2. I'll get my coat...
I wouldn't use that in UK offroad conditions. There just isn't enough mud clearance, let alone mudguard clearance.
There is perhaps 5mm under the fork crown. The whole thing would become completely clagged up within 100yds
on a typical UK bridalpath.
by jimlews
12 Mar 2024, 2:16pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Oldest bike
Replies: 39
Views: 2473

Re: Oldest bike

My oldest ridable bike is a 1961 Dawes Dalesman

But in the pending - awaiting renovation department I have:
Claud Butler Cavallier lugless. Coronation or Festival of Britain model. I forget which.
1945 Sun (Vittesse model, I think)
1949 Stokes of London. Very high quality clubmans iron.
1950s Leach Marathon, Not sure of exact date of manufacture.
1959 Holdsworth Hurricane
1960s Holdsworth Magestic May be early '70s
by jimlews
11 Mar 2024, 6:45pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Nearholmer wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 5:57pm For my education, what sort of figures (mm) constitute long, medium, and short trail in this context?

This is interesting https://www.renehersecycles.com/trail-d ... ke-stable/
Also:

https://bikeinsights.com/cyclopedia/trail

High trail 95mm
Low trail 35mm
by jimlews
10 Mar 2024, 5:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Thanks for the links Colin.
Much of interest to get stuck into there :D
by jimlews
10 Mar 2024, 4:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

531colin wrote: 10 Mar 2024, 4:13pm
If you will pardon my saying so, 73 deg head angle with 2 5/8" (about 66mm) offset is a very long way from traditional touring geometry.
Even the original 73 deg 45mm offset is into "road" bike territory for steering trail.
Colin, dear chap, you don't need to ask my pardon.
I am a mere babe in the woods compared to your design experience.

But you are right, the original front end was much too racy for me.
You might say that I've "Frenchified" it.
by jimlews
10 Mar 2024, 3:50pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 145
Views: 6707

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

FWIW.
I agree with djnotts
Second hand is the way to go.
I have found that a traditional touring frameset is perfectly fine for gentle off-roading and better for the purpose than the
MTB / ATB designs I have.
I am especially fond of two.
Firstly a 531st Raleigh Randonneur is the only bike on which I have managed to cross the Brecon Beacons without having to dismount.
It's only downside is that it doesn't like a bar bag.
The second is a Dawes Galaxy circa 1981 also 531st. Initially, I thought the geometry a bit weird - 71deg seat tube & 73deg head tube
and consequently, a long top tube. The latter means that I am more stretched along this bike, rather than perched on top. I swapped the
the Dawes fork (1&3/4" offset) for a Holdsworth item (2&5/8" offset) because I prefer it.
A nice long wheelbase and 27" wheels soak up potholes admirably.