Search found 14 matches

by TRM
20 Feb 2019, 5:11pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Handlebar Tape
Replies: 59
Views: 5096

Re: Handlebar Tape

Mick F wrote:
NATURAL ANKLING wrote:Hi,
Start at the bar ends !

Yes, but they need to be clockwise on the right and anticlockwise on the left. All the way to the stem.


I've always "swapped" directions after the brake levers so that the natural pull of ones hands when riding on the tops tightens the tape. As shown on the park tool website.

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/handlebar-tape-installation-drop-bars
by TRM
30 Jan 2019, 6:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: New bike!
Replies: 10
Views: 1959

Re: New bike!

Recently got a Pinnacle dolomite 2 for my girlfriend who has very much enjoyed it. It was between that and the Arkose, but they didn't the Arkose in the right size and we needed it ASAP for a tour.
It seems to be a pretty well thought out bike with plenty of tyre clearance, eyelets for mudguards and rear rack and decent components for the money, especially as they are on offer. She is very happy with it and uses it for a short commute and hopefully some more touring. Also available on cycle to work.

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dolomite-2-2018-womens-road-bike-EV306257

Its definitely a road oriented bike but with no modification it stood up well to a small tour carrying around 12-15kg on the back. you can also get higher and lower spec of the same bike.

The Arkose appeared to be much the same, just slightly more "adventure" oriented (knobbly tyers, even bigger clearances)

Thanks
by TRM
30 Jan 2019, 5:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Grease advice
Replies: 12
Views: 1132

Re: Grease advice

Brucey wrote:it is, but it is not the only good grease, and depending on the exact use you put it to, there may be better ones.


Thanks Brucey. Generally it will be used on bearings. Hub cup and cone, and headset bearings on new and current bikes.
For assemble (threads, etc..) i generally use a cheap marine grease i got a big pot of just to prevent seizing.

alexnharvey wrote:Are you looking at the red 460 marine grease?


Yup that's the one, not bad value considering from places like oil-store one must buy a minimum of 12x338g for around £130 inc.VAT (although they do have the PM version)

Thanks
by TRM
30 Jan 2019, 4:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Grease advice
Replies: 12
Views: 1132

Grease advice

Hi All,

I'll soon be building up a new bike from scratch, frame and wheels, the whole shebang, as such i want to do things right.

I've been looking through the "right Grease" thread and notice CJ amongst others spoke highly of Mobilith SCHPM-460,
https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=42374&start=30

I've managed to find some Mobilith SCH-460 on ebay, however it is not the PM version (which from the mobil site appears to stand for Paper Mill as thats what they suggest it is used for) for a reasonable, but still much more than average bike grease, price

on the Mobil website it does still say that the SCH-460 is still offers good corrosion protection, however i cant find out what additive makes the PM version better, and whether without it it's still worth purchasing.

Does anyone have any ideas on whether this is still a good grease for bikes?

Thanks

TRM
by TRM
17 Aug 2018, 2:34pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: What tours have you done? What do you want to do?
Replies: 103
Views: 9533

Re: What tours have you done? What do you want to do?

You lot are providing lots of inspiration for a novice! Only two tours for me so far. Cherbourg to just past Quimper (supported) and then a week in the Loire valley camping.

Heading to Norfolk next week

For the Future:
Rhone Valley
LEJOG
Around Ireland and NI
London to Barcelona
Something in India (feels like a daunting prospect!)

Unfortunately work gets in the way of cycling so currently limited to 2 weeks at a time.
by TRM
17 Aug 2018, 1:45pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sleeping Bag Advice
Replies: 23
Views: 1993

Re: Sleeping Bag Advice

For those interested, I went to decathlon as there's one near my work, to have a look at the sleeping bag I linked. The pictures online make it look much slimmer that it really is. We both went for a size up than we really which means the bags are really quite roomy with space to bend at the knee and hip, albeit maybe at the expense of some warmth. The hood is however as per the picture and a snug fit. The quality seams good and the price is much lower than similarly rated bags from other brands. They also come with a large storage bag so they arent compressed all the time which should help keep the loft. So overall we are pretty happy :D
by TRM
15 Aug 2018, 5:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: North Norfolk Coastline
Replies: 36
Views: 2023

Re: North Norfolk Coastline

Online wrote:On the first leg of the journey I'd suggest making some small deviations to pass through, rather than by, Eye, Hoxne and Bungay. They're all delightful.


Thanks, route updated!
by TRM
15 Aug 2018, 4:28pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: North Norfolk Coastline
Replies: 36
Views: 2023

Re: North Norfolk Coastline

mjr wrote:
TRM wrote: Getting the train out to Stowmarket on Friday afternoon and then around to Kings Lynn to get then train back to London on Tuesday. Looking to cover around 40 miles per day and camping overnight. This is the route i have planned without knowing the area at all. https://cycle.travel/map/journey/75109

Do you have any suggestions of how it could be improved or things/places we should do/see along the way?

Mile 6 - continue forwards to Mendlesham to cross the A140 (which may be very busy) in Brockford Street for the minor benefit of a 30mph limit and turning left off the A road, instead of turning right off a 50mph stretch in Brockford Green.

Mile 20 - very debatable but I like Brockdish and Harleston so I'd go through them despite it meaning you have to pick two of a choice of annoying crossings of the A road.

Bungay to Cromer I don't know on a bike well enough to comment.

Mile 83 - I'd go through Felbrigg Hall's grounds if it's open (the northern branch of Regional Route 30). The surface is that yellow gravel on top of tarmac that the NT likes. It's shorter, more scenic and the cafe is good. Maybe a couple of cattle grids and some speed humps.

Mile 89 - if you like old trains, it may be worth the 2 extra miles to detour up to Weybourne and back, riding past the well-preserved NNR station and maybe see a train.

Mile 102 - your route past the back wall of Holkham is fine and fast but you might like to consider detouring north on back roads to Warham and then parallel to the light railway to Wells-next-the-Sea harbour, as mentioned above. I wouldn't bother with the sand tracks that Route 1 uses unless you enjoy that sort of thing. Then the road west from Wells Community Hospital is passable by bike (some macadam, some tarmac, some cattle grids) to rejoin Route 1 on tarmac at Holkham Hall and south past the obelisk, although the more direct road west to join the B road into the Burnhams is also open to cycles and would mean the whole detour adds no distance (but probably some time because Wells will be busy with tourists!).

After that, the route is well-known and I think quite good fun, a good intro to the area even if it doesn't go through as many places as it could. I think most if not all of the pubs on or near that stretch are fine, at least until Lynn town centre ;-)

Burnham Deepdale (I think it's called Dalegate Market but it's been a while), Titchwell (RSPB) and Thornham Deli are all good cake stops and riding the long roads down towards the coast can be fun - dragging back away from them, less so, but easier after cake!

Hunstanton, Heacham and Snettisham are all good beach detours if you have time, decreasingly touristy.

As you reach the top of the drag out of Ingoldisthorpe, look back right over the fields and across the Wash and Boston Stump is visible on clear days.

Sandringham is famous and magnificent but if you're too late for it to be worth paying the relatively high entry fee, the loop north and west from the visitor centre (called Princess's Drive or the Scenic Drive - motor traffic has to go clockwise around it) can still often be lovely.

Then the final half-freewheeling from there into the Woottons and the old railway line to the Walks is a lovely ride, but keep one eye open for tree root ripples alternating with very very smooth tarmac as it passes over different council and drainage board territories.



Amazing! Thanks for taking the time to have a look and for all the suggestions. I'm sure it will be these little things that local knowledge brings that make our weekend (especially the cake shops).
by TRM
15 Aug 2018, 2:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: North Norfolk Coastline
Replies: 36
Views: 2023

Re: North Norfolk Coastline

mjr wrote:
TRM wrote:This is the route i have planned without knowing the area at all. https://cycle.travel/map/journey/75109

That's not loading for me. Is it public?


Opps, my bad. It should be public now.
by TRM
15 Aug 2018, 10:59am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: North Norfolk Coastline
Replies: 36
Views: 2023

Re: North Norfolk Coastline

mjr wrote:I live here: ask if you'd like me to suggest a route (let me know stopping points or daily distances) or opinions on one you've planned.


I'm not the OP but I hope you don't mind me jumping in. I'm currently planning a small tor in Norfolk over the bank holiday (i know it will be busier than usual). Getting the train out to Stowmarket on Friday afternoon and then around to Kings Lynn to get then train back to London on Tuesday. Looking to cover around 40 miles per day and camping overnight. This is the route i have planned without knowing the area at all. https://cycle.travel/map/journey/75109

Do you have any suggestions of how it could be improved or things/places we should do/see along the way?

Thanks

TRM
by TRM
14 Aug 2018, 3:08pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sleeping Bag Advice
Replies: 23
Views: 1993

Re: Sleeping Bag Advice

PH wrote:For me, size is everything, there is no way I could sleep comfortably in a bag like the one linked however warm it kept me. Are you using something a similar size now? Also consider heat regulation as well as retention, in warmer weather a full length zip helps with this.
I've gone to the other extreme and use a camping quilt, have been doing so for over a decade, they're becoming increasingly common with a lot more choice now. For two they make even more sense.



Interesting, I hadn't considered a quilt. I get what you mean by wanting space while sleeping and see how it could work well for two, but how does the packed size compare with a bag? also do you then just sleep on the matt with nothing underneath you?
by TRM
14 Aug 2018, 1:27pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sleeping Bag Advice
Replies: 23
Views: 1993

Re: Sleeping Bag Advice

Thanks for all the advice.
We have some pretty decent self inflating type mats which do a good job and are pretty comfy, but i think i will also invest in some liners to increase warmth and also the life of the bag.

pjclinch wrote:How insulating a bag needs to be is quite personal. I used to have a ME expedition bag rated down to -25 and I only ever got the zip done up all the way for a whole night on one occasion, when it was under -20C outside the tent. I eventually sold it to a particularly cold-sleeping friend who was quite happy using it in pleasant summer weather. The ratings are a useful indication to compare Brand X to Brand Y, but you need to gauge your own "sleeping temperature" from experience.

Decathlon have a reputation for good quality kit at good prices. They don't claim to be the best, but they do what is expected for a fair price. Not personally used their sleeping bags but the company name is good enough that I'd be happy to try it.


It sounds like the bag I linked should be warm enough for spring/autumn as neither of us are particularly cold sleepers.
Having had a look round the usual outdoor shops there isn't really anything cheaper with the same comfort rating and as its an EN standardised rating, one from decathlon should perform similarly to a more expensive RAB/Vango etc.. albeit with lower quality materials and a slight weight and size penalty.


TRM
by TRM
14 Aug 2018, 10:29am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sleeping Bag Advice
Replies: 23
Views: 1993

Sleeping Bag Advice

My girlfriend and I have done a couple of camping tours now, as well as general camping, and have been having issues with our old cheepy sleeping bags and waking up freezing cold in the night.

So i'm looking for advice on a suitable, small, lightweight sleeping bag that can easily fit into panniers (ortliebs).
We do end up camping in spring (early April) and autumn (September/October) so I guess we would need a comfort temperature of around 5 degrees C.

From my internet research i've found this from decathlon which looks good. They have non-down ones but they are much bigger and heavier.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/trek-900-0- ... 92771.html

We are happy to spend a bit of money for a quality product so does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

TRM
by TRM
10 Aug 2018, 5:47pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Compressionless brake housings for cable discs.
Replies: 135
Views: 5715

Re: Compressionless brake housings for cable discs.

Dunno if i'm too late and you've already made a decision but this year I fitted Jagwire Road Pro compression-less cables to my Genesis with dual pivot brakes and the difference was night and day. Much much more powerful braking and better modulation from the standard shimano cables that were previously fitted.

Cables where easy to cut square and file of any burs. They also come with a small section of wound steel cable to help bend around the handlebars as its more flexible than the compressionless outer.

TRM