Search found 16 matches

by hidingfromheadwinds
29 Jun 2023, 9:20am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How much to post a Brompton
Replies: 7
Views: 1046

How much to post a Brompton

Does anyone know how much it would cost (roughly) to courier a Brompton bike from and to the UK?
by hidingfromheadwinds
27 Feb 2020, 3:12pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Norman butchers bike
Replies: 2
Views: 316

Norman butchers bike

Hi All,

I am renovating an old Norman butchers bike. It is extremely rusty (mainly just rust) but has some of the original paint visible.
I have managed to get it to a rideable condition now.

Looking for opinions on whether to strip and re-spray and the best methods of doing this without harming the frame.
Also, conscious of whether it would be right to spray it a different colour to the original black or if I should keep everything as close to the original as possible?

Any suggestions or opinions really useful!

Thanks
by hidingfromheadwinds
11 Feb 2020, 4:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Anyone painted their bikes?
Replies: 17
Views: 1390

Anyone painted their bikes?

Interested to know what method of painting you used, what paint and on what frame. Any any cool pictures of your own DIY paintwork jobs!
by hidingfromheadwinds
26 Nov 2019, 2:00pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Has anyone else cycled every road in their town?
Replies: 28
Views: 1677

Has anyone else cycled every road in their town?

Interested to see where/how long it took/distance/motivation.
by hidingfromheadwinds
28 Aug 2019, 4:24pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Alcohol Consumption Guidelines: Do you care?
Replies: 284
Views: 18841

Re: Alcohol Consumption Guidelines: Do you care?

From being a casual drinker (1-2 cans a night), I have now cut down to 1 day a week if at all and the difference in my legs is amazing!
Now I notice I am sleeping better and my legs are recovering much quicker!
by hidingfromheadwinds
25 Jul 2019, 4:46pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Anyone cycled the Welsh coast?
Replies: 15
Views: 3732

Anyone cycled the Welsh coast?

Looking for routes/GPX files of nice quiet routes road/gravel/paths that runs along the coast of Wales.
Has anyone done the lot or can anyone recommend bits they have tried?
by hidingfromheadwinds
22 Jul 2019, 11:10am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Nice routes in fairly close proximity of Surrey to consider
Replies: 2
Views: 1746

Nice routes in fairly close proximity of Surrey to consider

Hi all,

Looking for some route ideas for a 2-3 day trip, mainly off road/gravel/quiet country roads would be great.
Will be camping so somewhere with quiet spots to nestle down for the night.

Start and end must have train network to get home.

Any suggestions welcomed :-)
by hidingfromheadwinds
12 Jul 2019, 9:56am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Sonder Camino Al Apex 1 Hydraulic
Replies: 1
Views: 301

Sonder Camino Al Apex 1 Hydraulic

Hi All,

Been looking at this bike https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/bikes/son ... ct-reviews

I want it to be suitable for my 6 mile each way commute in to work which can be done on an off road or on road route.
Love the idea that I can fit 650b as well as 700 on this bike. It would also be used for trips away from a weekend to a week long with bikepacking kit. Looking for something that I feel at home with (I usually ride road bikes and feel so sluggish on my MTB) but that is also a comfortable riding position for long days in the saddle.

Anyone had any experience with a Sonder and can give any tips or advice on build quality?

Also, how have you found Apex 1? Is there much difference between the Apex and Rival?
My MTB has single actuated cable discs and I have had no end trouble with them being noisy, rubbing (even when just taking the wheel in and out after repairing a puncture they need perfectly adjusting again and won't sit back in the same place). They have less stopping power than my road bike with 105 callipers on!

Any advice would be welcome or any other suggestions! Looking to spend around the £1200 mark and I am a 5"3 small build normally riding a 50-52" frame.

Thanks :)
by hidingfromheadwinds
3 May 2019, 3:50pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Can you help me find my dream bike?
Replies: 69
Views: 2603

Re: Can you help me find my dream bike?

Jamesh wrote:Genesis crox de tour?

Jamie Arora / elite

Dawes galaxy

Trek 520

Cannondale topslate spec diverge etc....

Nice problem to have!

Cheers James


This Genesis looks perfect...could I learn to love discs is the question!
by hidingfromheadwinds
3 May 2019, 3:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Can you help me find my dream bike?
Replies: 69
Views: 2603

Re: Can you help me find my dream bike?

simonhill wrote:700 or 26"? Flat bar or drops?

If you like a small frame, then Surly LHTs come in small sizes with 26" wheels, which is (and looks) a better combination than a mini frame with big wheels.

If you want a recommendation - I love my Surly, actually I love both my Surlys,

Spa will build you a bespoke one using the groupset, etc of your choice. I have Deore on my touring one, which has seen plenty of long haul service and lasted very well. Luv it!


700s preferable :-) I have been looking at Surlys which seem pretty bomber
by hidingfromheadwinds
2 May 2019, 1:14pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Can you help me find my dream bike?
Replies: 69
Views: 2603

Re: Can you help me find my dream bike?

m-gineering wrote:
hidingfromheadwinds wrote:Looking for suggestions on my dream bike for touring and camping!
Ideal specs:
-Quite like the idea of running just the 1x ring at the front but not essential



A single ring on a touring bike is fine, provided you have a Rohloff ;)

The bicycle industry as a whole doesn't care about touring, so promoting a solution which solves their problems (gets in the way of suspension, difficult to design etc) and can be sold as New&Improved for the same money makes sense. On a loaded touring bike you need all the gearing range you can get (unless you're very fit and sure you won't have a bad day), and riding under normal circumstances on tiny chainwheels and cogs isn't great either


Would it not just run off of a larger cassette? I usually ride road and used to 2 rings which is fine but I have 3 on my MTB which is just a faff!
by hidingfromheadwinds
2 May 2019, 11:13am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Can you help me find my dream bike?
Replies: 69
Views: 2603

Re: Can you help me find my dream bike?

by fossala » 2 May 2019, 11:02am

How much are you willing to spend?
------------------------------------------------
£500-£1200
by hidingfromheadwinds
2 May 2019, 10:56am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Can you help me find my dream bike?
Replies: 69
Views: 2603

Can you help me find my dream bike?

Looking for suggestions on my dream bike for touring and camping!
Ideal specs:
-Rim brakes
-Front and rear pannier compatible
-Road and gravel friendly wheels/tyres with a fair amount of grip but not so sluggish on the roads as a MTB (cyclo-cross tyres or similar)
-Available in a XS-S frame (depending on geometry)
-2nd hand or new-not fussed but something that will last
-Quite like the idea of running just the 1x ring at the front but not essential

Any links, ideas, advice welcomed :-)
by hidingfromheadwinds
11 Feb 2019, 9:38pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: When is everyone getting their summer bikes out?
Replies: 26
Views: 5533

Re: When is everyone getting their summer bikes out?

Don't know about you but we had snow last March!
by hidingfromheadwinds
10 Feb 2019, 10:09pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: When is everyone getting their summer bikes out?
Replies: 26
Views: 5533

When is everyone getting their summer bikes out?

Do you have a designated "summer" and "winter" bike or do you use your road bike all year whatever the weather?

The weather is starting to ease its way back in to the double figures so could it soon be time to get the summer bike back out...right?

Will the grime and grit have been washed away by the weeks worth of rain or still lingering to eat rust out of expensive cassettes :cry:

Interested in what you are all thinking!