Search found 969 matches

by rotavator
27 Feb 2024, 10:59am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
Replies: 588
Views: 61762

Re: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)

Yesterday I tried various TOC's* websites to book seats and compulsory bike spaces on Avanti WC and Scotrail services for a trip to Scotland in May without success. In particular they indicated that no bike spaces were available on my chosen trains and I tried several possibilities. So I went to my local station and with one exception (Wemyss Bay to Glasgow Central) I was able to book seats and bike spaces.

The moral of this story is that you cannot believe the TOC's websites when they say that there are no bike spaces available and thankfully I still have a ticket office and a real person to deal with.

Another shortcoming on some sites was the omission of journeys with longer connection times (e.g. 54 minutes v 6 minutes) which I preferred to allow for delays and to change platform.

*GWR, TPE, Scotrail, Hull, XC, Avanti WC
by rotavator
11 Feb 2024, 2:22pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Footways - planning
Replies: 26
Views: 1274

Re: Footways - planning

mjr wrote: 11 Feb 2024, 1:54pm
pwa wrote: 11 Feb 2024, 12:51pm It is highly complicated in Wales due to the legacy of streets never designed for high levels of vehicle use, and the need (outside cities) for people to have access to cars to go about their daily business. An outright ban on pavement parking sounds great until you see real streets where it just wouldn't work.
Why wouldn't a pavement parking ban and enforcement of laws against obstruction there cause commercial off street car parks to open to serve the demand, increasing land values and providing some jobs, boosting the economy?
People are lazy and don't like walking and they like to park outside their houses, for free of course. Some are elderly or disabled, especially where I live for example, so walking a long way is difficult.

On my street which is on a bus route I would be quite happy to have double yellow lines painted down one side then at least one of the pavements would or should be clear of parked vehicles. I suspect that it would have to be enforced by parking wardens but I have not seen one of them in this area for several years. There is a free car park may be 100 yards away but residents don't use it.

The pavement parkers that really annoy me either block the whole pavement with their vehicle or block half with their vehicle and block the rest with an open door or, in the case of a grocery delivery driver, a lot of trays filled with goodies. To me their arrogance/thoughtlessness/selfishness is astounding when I am walking. To be fair, when I am driving my car or cycling (on the road of course), I don't mind so much!

I accept that a total nationwide ban is unlikely to happen and that there would have to be exceptions, just like with the 20 mph residential speed limit. I guess that Welsh Labour are weighing up whether a pavement parking ban/restriction would be a vote winner or loser.
by rotavator
11 Feb 2024, 11:32am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Footways - planning
Replies: 26
Views: 1274

Re: Footways - planning

Scotland's ban on pavement parking is a move in the right direction, although it is up to local councils whether or not they enforce it. Hopefully Wales will be next and I will be checking Welsh Labour's manifesto before the next election. I think the idea has been out for consultation for several years so I am not holding my breath.
by rotavator
8 Feb 2024, 2:43pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Does endurance sport harm your heart?
Replies: 62
Views: 3815

Re: Does endurance sport harm your heart?

Nearholmer wrote: 8 Feb 2024, 11:00am Isn’t it simply something like this?

IMG_3133.jpeg


There seems to be a lot of evidence now that doing even very small amounts makes a very significant positive difference, plus strong suggestions that in terms of direct physical benefits the law of diminishing returns sets in once you reach a given, actually surprisingly low level, of exercise.

I guess most keen cyclists are on the flattish bit of the curve, and deriving lots of mental benefits, even if the physical benefit doesn’t noticeably increase between (randomly picking numbers from the air) doing three hours cycling a week, and doing six hours.

The discussion seems to have moved-on to the right hand side of the curve, where either the sheer intensity, or the sheer quantity is harmful, and probably to more bits of the body than just the heart.

My guess would be that this general curve is calibrated differently each individual, and given that it could be scaled by intensity (fixed duration, increasing intensity) or duration (fixed intensity, increasing duration), it needs to be thought of in both dimensions.

The trick is probably to find a family of “sweet spots” that work for you. Personally, I know that I most benefit from, and most enjoy, two different sorts of rides: a couple of hours of fairly high intensity, with some real “puff you out” sections in it; or, a long trundle, maybe six to eight hours out, with a half hour lunch break), where I’m going at very moderate intensity for the vast majority of the time.
I am not an expert and I have not got any links to studies to hand, but:

My understanding is that rather than a plateau as shown on your graph, the sweetspot for maximum benefit from exercise is a sharper peak, equivalent to about 120 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Moderate exercise meaning that it raises your heart rate but you can still speak normally. With higher intensities and in particular durations of exercise regimes there is a lot of scatter in the data and therefore uncertainty about what exercise level benefit to health/longevity changes into detriment.

There have been several reports recently of young, very fit, endurance athletes suffering heart problems and some having to retire early, whether or not there is a causal link is another matter. Are there any cardiologists on this forum?
by rotavator
7 Feb 2024, 9:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Converting derailleur to hub gear other than Rohloff
Replies: 22
Views: 1792

Re: Converting derailleur to hub gear other than Rohloff

asinus wrote: 7 Feb 2024, 9:40pm 2.375 with a Rohloff, I think)
Rohloff says minimum input ratio is ~1.9 for riders weighing less than 100kg and ~2.5 for riders over 100kg and tandems.

https://www.rohloff.de/en/service/handb ... nical-data
by rotavator
25 Jan 2024, 6:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Yorkshire Dales Cycleway - where to stay overnight x2
Replies: 6
Views: 556

Re: Yorkshire Dales Cycleway - where to stay overnight x2

A friend of mine regularly uses and recommends the Westmorland Hotel at Tebay M6 services. As far as I can tell, it is accessible from normal roads but you would have to enquire about bike storage.
by rotavator
23 Jan 2024, 1:07pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: New hiking boots
Replies: 23
Views: 1260

Re: New hiking boots

Another recommendation for a visit to Whalley Warm and Dry, located in Whalley surprisingly enough, near Clitheroe. I have had two pairs of Altberg boots from them and my only complaints would be that they are not cheap, but it beats wasting money on boots that don't fit properly or leak or fall apart , and that the Vibram soles on the first pair wore out long before the leather uppers showed any sign of leakage etc.

I definitely avoid Kean boots because my pair had really pliable soles that were really comfortable on easy paths but useless "off piste". And then they started to leak just after the 12 month guarantee expired.

I used to wear Scarpa boots but stopped when they changed the fitting to one that did not suit my feet, many years ago now
by rotavator
11 Jan 2024, 11:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Caledonian Way vs National Cycle Route 1
Replies: 15
Views: 1174

Re: Caledonian Way vs National Cycle Route 1

I have cycled along the Great Glen between Fort Augustus and Fort William and I would say that it is OK but can get a bit monotonous especially following the tow path and through the Clunes Forest so I would be inclined to drop this part. The view does not change much over long sections. On the upside, it is traffic-free.

I have also cycled between Ballachulish and Connel and some parts I really liked e.g. the old A road around the head of Loch Creran and I reckon it would be really nice in warm sunny weather.

So if you need to crop a few days from your trip, then I would suggest the whole Inverness-Oban part. A bit of a shame, may be, but it would be quite easy do this part as day trips from the towns on the route, some of which have train stations, or fit it into another tour.
by rotavator
9 Jan 2024, 8:46pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tour Plans for 2024
Replies: 77
Views: 9524

Re: Tour Plans for 2024

Since my knees are objecting to lugging big loads up big hills and I am not quite ready to give in to the temptation of an e-bike which would also involve a cull of my fleet of five muscle powered bikes, I am mulling a cycle tour that does not involve much cycling:

train to Oban,
ferry to Colonsay and stay there a few days,
ferry to Islay and stay there a few days with a day trip to Jura,
ferry to Kennacraig and possibly a day trip to Gigha,
ferry to Portavadie on Cowal peninsula,
ferry to Bute and spend a few days there
ferry to Wemyss Bay and train home

Hmmm, what could possibly go wrong? Well ferries could be cancelled, trains could be on strike again and the weather could be "challenging" so may be a less ambitious route with just Colonsay, Islay and Jura and return via Oban could be in order. I am not sure about accomodation, there are hostels on Colonsay and Islay and would be preferable to camping it the weather is dodgy. Any tips on places stay, see or avoid are welcome.

Currently waiting for the CalMac summer timetable to be issued.

A short, flat, warm-up tour along the Leeds to Liverpool canal is also a possibility for March if a few fine days' weather are forecast.
by rotavator
9 Jan 2024, 11:44am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Stanforth Skylander Rohloff
Replies: 77
Views: 4790

Re: Stanforth Skylander Rohloff

Bonefishblues wrote: 9 Jan 2024, 10:27am Oxford Bike Works make the point that they fit the sliding rear rather than an EBB because:

Eccentric bottom brackets are heavy and are located in an area where lots of dirt and grime collects. To retension the chain using this method takes time, effort and cleaning, and means you're more likely to take it to a shop to have it done. By using sliding dropouts, its a 5 minute job that can be done by almost anyone with an allen key.

Rotating an eccentric bottom bracket changes the position of the pedals in relation to your saddle. For some people who are particularly sensitive to changes in saddle position, this can be a disadvantage.

We route our cables under the bottom bracket, along the non-driveside chainstay to the exchange box. The other alternative is over the V Brake bosses, creating a snagging hazard on clothes, panniers and the like. It’s just too exposed here, much better tucked away under the frame.
I think OBW is exaggerating the disadvantages of an EBB:

1. The small change in saddle position relative to the pedals after adjusting the EBB has never bothered me, i.e. I have not had to adjust the saddle height. Even if I did, it is no big deal/major project/hours of faffing.

2. I cannot recall snagging anything on the cables as described. This sounds like imaginative waffle to me.

I agree that Thorn's original EBB could be described as ugly/agricultural/heavy and it needs a 15mm spanner and a pin spanner (combined in Thorn's special tool) to adjust it. As for it collecting grime; that's true but again no big deal, just clean it occasionally.

I guess that a disadvantage to a sliding drop-out is that you may have adjust the fitting of the rear mudguard or rim brakes (if fitted) after adjusting the former. Now that does sound like a few hours of faffing to me unless you allow a generous gap between tyre and mudguard (which is fine by me). May be users of a sliding drop-out on a bike with mudguards would like to comment.....
by rotavator
30 Dec 2023, 11:52pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Schlumf Mountaindrive
Replies: 3
Views: 389

Re: Schlumf Mountaindrive

I should have added that I have no connection to Haberstock nor have I used them etc.
by rotavator
30 Dec 2023, 11:09pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Schlumf Mountaindrive
Replies: 3
Views: 389

Re: Schlumf Mountaindrive

I would try Haberstock:

Contact for Service and Repair: info@drive-mobility.com

http://www.haberstock-mobility.com/inde ... ntact.html
by rotavator
16 Dec 2023, 5:00pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Keeping warm?
Replies: 94
Views: 20655

Re: Keeping warm?

cyclop wrote: 16 Dec 2023, 8:40am
rotavator wrote: 25 Nov 2023, 10:57am
djnotts wrote: 25 Nov 2023, 10:09am
What're the warmest inner layers I can buy?
Some people recommend these glorified string vests; has anyone here tried them and can comment on them?

https://www.nordiclife.co.uk/products/b ... 1103325259

I,ve got a long and short sleeved set.They do a job but no better than my 20yr old Lowe Alpine baselayer.Being a fairly heavy sweater,they,re all a compromise in winter .....damp and warmish aboutsums it up .
Thanks for the information. I will stick with my Icebreaker merino base layers, some of which are about 30 years old and only a bit tatty around the neckline.
by rotavator
14 Dec 2023, 2:06pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rear pannier rack for a Pashley Speed 5.
Replies: 7
Views: 1909

Re: Rear pannier rack for a Pashley Speed 5.

I guess that the clips on the Super Cs are too narrow for the tubes on the P rack: is that correct? If so, have you checked that the plastic, width-adjusting, inserts in the clips have been removed? If so, what is the diameter of the tubes on the P rack?
by rotavator
7 Dec 2023, 1:34pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best torque wrench
Replies: 106
Views: 11592

Re: Best torque wrench

Jdsk wrote: 7 Dec 2023, 12:53pm
hoogerbooger wrote: 7 Dec 2023, 12:47pm ...
but a range of 0 to 150 ft lb ( so if I'm correct 0 - 110 Nm).
...
150 ft lb ≅ 204 Nm

(Please can someone check.)

Jonathan
I agree with you, Jonathon :)