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by David9694
28 May 2023, 9:15pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Suntour 7 - front mech
Replies: 2
Views: 310

Re: Suntour 7 - front mech

Thank you
by David9694
27 May 2023, 10:54pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Suntour 7 - front mech
Replies: 2
Views: 310

Suntour 7 - front mech

I am tidying up a 1983 Raleigh Royal. Both derailleurs are Raleigh branded Suntour models. The Suntour 7 front mech operates backwards, I.e. pulling the l/h lever drops the mech to the inner chainring, which is a new one on me. As you can see from the image - there’s several more on the link while the item is for sale - the cable clamp is uppermost and the cable stop is also the movement arm.

As you can also see in the picture, the mech’s resting state is outward.

On my bike, the sheathed cable comes under the b/b, misses a standard brazed cable stop, and runs up to the arm. The inner cable is held in the cable clamp, which is fixed. The movement comes from the sheath.

Am I missing something with this peculiar set-up?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/255889824109
Ebay photo - rear view
Ebay photo - rear view
by David9694
7 Nov 2022, 4:32pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Dawes Mixte Galaxy
Replies: 12
Views: 646

Re: Dawes Mixte Galaxy

With only a few exceptions you are on a hiding to nothing with finding useable paint codes for old (even new) bikes.

You’ve either got to:
(I) spot a car that has a shade that is close - make, model and year will get you to a colour code
(Ii) take the forks to a paint place with books of colour chips and see how close you can get - your should be able to with burnt cherry - doesn’t work for Gran Sport Caramel. They can’t auto match from bike tubes - the scanner needs a flat area or so I was told
(Iii) take the forks into a car shop and try your luck against the paints there e.g. Holts do several dark reds metallics.
by David9694
7 Nov 2022, 11:39am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spoke Tensionometer
Replies: 75
Views: 5004

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

I bought a Park tension meter but stopped using it after a couple of pairs. I rely on feel, ping and pong.
by David9694
7 Nov 2022, 11:36am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: removing a regina corsa freewheel
Replies: 37
Views: 50192

Re: removing a regina corsa freewheel

Just to report the successful removal of a Regina Corsa freewheel.
My Park two dog tool needed the dogs reducing by about 1mm to fit the slots. Then it needed the QR spindle to hold it down and then the bench vice treatment - always very satisfying when you’ve closed off all its options other than to comply.
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 9:29pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer
Replies: 20
Views: 1510

Re: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer

531colin wrote: 20 Jul 2022, 6:08pm
David9694 wrote: 20 Jul 2022, 5:30pm ..........
If I went with the Wayfarer, it would be the 58cm shortie in blue (Longie 58 cm is OoS at the moment). I’m 5’ 10”, 30” inside leg. 23.5” Raleigh usually. .................
NOOOOOO!!!!!
I'm 5'10" , 32" trouser, about 34" crotch to floor, and the 54cm is designed around me.
....gets the top tube out of conflict with your tender bits if you need to get a foot down in a hurry!

The "Roughstuff" in my picture is the 53cm

I don't understand all the discussion over fixing mudguards....its a 6mm hole, but an M5 bolt and nut and a bigger washer is more than good enough; make at least a 6mm hole in the guard and it gives you all the "adjustment" you are likely to need. ( I make a hole by twisting a pointed knife.....with the mudguard in situ.)
I guess in the rough stuff, you’re prioritising being better able to recover a potential spill, with a smaller frame?

My 2014 Equilibrium 853 is a 22.5” frame and like your Wayfarer it has a fair bit of seat tube out and I dont think I ever needed to cut the steerer - I notice you’re running a stem extender. I find it’s a bit on the small side for me - I run it as a road bike. As I’ve got fitter, I’ve found 24” frames more to my liking for my usual on road half day rides.
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 5:36pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Retyrement!
Replies: 15
Views: 1185

Re: Retyrement!

It’s defo coming from the tyre itself - rim tape is intact and no sealants ever used.

Whenever anyone asks “should bin this tyre?” I always think they’ve answered their own question.

It’s got its share of nicks and scrapes, but the main tread seems pretty ok (highly scientific assessment feeling with finger and thumb with old and new).
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 5:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer
Replies: 20
Views: 1510

Re: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer

slowster wrote: 20 Jul 2022, 1:37pm I have a Wayfarer and a lightweight gravel bike with carbon fork and light wheels. What makes the biggest difference between them is the tyre width. The Wayfarer has 50mm Marathon Supremes (actual width ~46mm) and the gravel bike 40mm Vittoria Hypers. The extra width gives more comfort, but more importantly for me it means the bike steamrollers over loose and compact gravel which on the gravel bike requires me to be more careful about choosing my line. The Wayfarer is faster downhill on gravel, because I can let the bike go. The gravel bike is faster uphill because of its light weight, and is the bike I would want to take if I needed to lift it over gates and shoulder carry.

The Wayfarer is not a 'lively' bike, but off-road I want rock solid, stable handling, not 'lively'.

Alpkit say the Camino can take 50mm tyres, but it's not clear if that is with mudguards. If it has similar tyre clearance to the Wayfarer with mudguards, that would make it a very attractive option, provided you accept the different trade-offs of steel vs. aluminium with carbon forks.

Regarding the points raised by Vantage, I prefer drilling mudguards and bolting them to the seat and chain stay bridges - it's a one time task, and I have never needed to move and drill new holes in a mudguard. The shortcoming as far as I am concerned is that the holes are unthreaded, so it's necessary to use M6 bolts with washers and nuts (I presume not having threaded bosses keeps the cost of the frame down).

I think the low seat tube bottle boss positioning is particular to his 47cm size frame (my Wayfarer will take a 950ml bottle). OP, what size frame would you need/how tall are you?
If I went with the Wayfarer, it would be the 58cm shortie in blue (Longie 58 cm is OoS at the moment). I’m 5’ 10”, 30” inside leg. 23.5” Raleigh usually.

Most of my off-road riding is dry trails, by that could change, I guess. Always happy to drill and tap a secure mounting point where possible for mudguards, though.
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 1:16pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Retyrement!
Replies: 15
Views: 1185

Retyrement!

Pink globules
Pink globules
A few years old and being replaced.

What’s this that’s been oozing out and has solidified.
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 1:13pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer
Replies: 20
Views: 1510

Re: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer

I’m pootling around the trails of the New Forest and Dorset. Would like to do the KAW when fit enough.

The New Forest woodland tracks are almost to road standards, but get outside onto heathland and it’s a lot more varied. The undulations make me gather speed very quickly and I don’t much enjoy climbing on loose stuff.
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 11:14am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer
Replies: 20
Views: 1510

Re: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer

rareposter wrote: 20 Jul 2022, 10:16am
Nearholmer wrote: 20 Jul 2022, 9:58am As regards brakes, good discs (not those awful mechanical ones) are very confidence inspiring, and less tiring on the hands, but I wouldn’t regard them as “totally essential”.
Note though that getting rim brakes will severely restrict your choice of wheels in future because no-one makes rim-brake "gravel" wheels now. You could get some custom build stuff although even here, choice of rims is getting very limited.

The disc brake / thru axle thing - like it or not, that's where the industry is going and there are numerous advantages to them - much stiffer interface between wheels and frame, much better stopping power, no rim wear - so trying to stick with rim brakes "for tradition" is not about whether they're "bad" (they're not, rim brakes worked fine for decades if not centuries) it's more to do with compatibility with everything else, availability of spares, future upgrades and so on.
Thanks - a couple of useful ideas as to frame choices to have a look at. I’m not averse to the newer stuff, I just try and maintain compatibility among my little fleet to easily move bits around - e.g. 10s, 700c, rim braked.

Not too phased about wheel options - I’m well into building my own, so long as there’s a chunky 36h rim I can get, perhaps to mix with a slightly re-purposed MTB hub and p/g spokes.
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 9:29am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer
Replies: 20
Views: 1510

Gravel frame vs Spa Wayfarer

My attempt at a gravel bike build is a touring frame with cantis and not quite enough clearance for 700x38c tyres. I have an MTB RD hooked to D/t levers via a Jteck adaptor - the only concession to MTB tech I’ve made. There’s a rubicon into disc brakes and new-fangled thru axles - I’m close to crossing it.

The frame is one of my early paint efforts and I nadgered the b/b threads trying to remove a Campag sealed b/b that I should maybe have just scrubbed around.

Anyway, I like the Spa Wayfarer in 725 because wheels and brakes will transfer - but is it rufty and tufty enough for my usual mix of loose and compact gravel and the occasional “where did the trail go?” moment? I’ve got a loaded tourer already.

The Sonder alu gravel offering looks nice, but is across the (above) rubicon.

Is there anything else I should be looking at?
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 9:18am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front derailleur clearance
Replies: 22
Views: 1078

Re: Front derailleur clearance

531colin wrote: 18 Jul 2022, 9:51pm
David9694 wrote: 18 Jul 2022, 8:06pm
531colin wrote: 18 Jul 2022, 6:20pm

Yup......
Tell me about that?
Image

Its in my mind that "parallelogram" front mechs. used to be quite "tall"......of course, I can never find a picture, this is a band-on
I think that’s the most likely thing. What would be a good search term to try and find one?
by David9694
20 Jul 2022, 9:15am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front derailleur clearance
Replies: 22
Views: 1078

Re: Front derailleur clearance

jimlews wrote: 18 Jul 2022, 8:43pm You have a "utility" chain set on there.
Typically, that type of frame would be built for 'Herculean' gears; something like 53/42 teeth.
As others have said, that is a time trial frame set - designed for self punishment.
Yes, it’s a basic Sugino off an old Raleigh. But 53t isn’t going to be a much greater diameter?
by David9694
18 Jul 2022, 8:06pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front derailleur clearance
Replies: 22
Views: 1078

Re: Front derailleur clearance

531colin wrote: 18 Jul 2022, 6:20pm
David9694 wrote: 18 Jul 2022, 2:28pm ............. must be intended for a mech with a lot more downward reach?
Yup......
Tell me about that?