Cycling UK Forum

This was my solution to getting a flat bar shifter to work on my drop bar hack bike. Basically chopped up an old stem to make a bracket and mounted the shifter using the screw that held it to it``s original one. Had to file a notch for the brake cable and the gear cable only just clears the stem cla...

calls the dynamo a "lichtmaschine" rather than the "nabendynamo" that I'm used to. It's documented in TA 24 rather than StVZO itself. As I understand it, StVZO just requires compliance with either the TA or alternative DIN standards, Have only come across the term "lichtmas...

StVZO or "Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung" are similar to what we would call our "construction and use" regulations. Basically and literally "what is permissible in road traffic" German bike lighting rules are contained within these as together with rules for every o...

Havn`t got a dishwasher but find VWM cleaner / steriliser usually sold for homebrewing to be pretty good. On tour is a bit more of an issue though - good wash out (give them a good shake with some detergent and a bit beach gravel or similar) and resist the temptation to put anything other than water...

1x7 gears will work if you don't have hills to contend with. Why buy gears you don't need? Works well enough for me - my current commuter / winter hack runs a 7sp 12/32 with a 36t chainring on a similar cheapo frame. Gives me an usable range for the slow speed, stop start, short steep up and down c...

Just looked again and seen the large blue wheelchair sign over the seats on the left as you suggested was the case. doh!

Which route was it and may I share the picture under Creative Commons Zero or Attribution licensing, please? It was a train from Milton Keynes to Clapham Junction - for onward travel to Newhaven. I think it was a Southern Trains service though IIRC the same setup is used on London Midland trains in...

Came across the hanging spaces for the first time on an intercity out of Paris this year and as the article suggests, there was no way Mrs wjp was going to be able to lift her bike onto it - even stripped of luggage. A least we had a reserved pair of hooks and a seat right next to them Generally OK ...

I`m a recent convert to the hub dynamo after using batteries for many years and it`s night and day in terms of convenience and I`d suggest safety. (I use lights a lot more now I`m not worried about draining them down) I had bottle dynamos as a younger man and they were truly awful - for the many rea...

Brampton Valley Way. Part of Sustrans r6. 22 miles from Market Harborough to Northampton. Two long unlit tunnels, and only two road crossings. One little ford. The scenery isn't spectacular, but it's a glorious ride. Plenty of seats to sit and reflect. Love this route and have fond memories of my f...

And at these levels of force on a corner, then you tend not to stay on three wheels. So it tends to be self correcting ........... Like it - not ridden a trike since I was about 5 and never at any extremes. Do catch myself distractedly lusting after a tadpole `bent on occasion..... does that count?

Pretty much what you you`ve got on your list but with the addition of: A few cable ties of different sizes Hook made of an old spoke for holding a loop of chain while splitting or fitting a quicklink. It`s a bit of a 3 handed job otherwise... Fiberfix emergency spoke. (never used in anger, but I`m q...

Several of those soapboxes had wheels fold up on them during the run and it surprised me to see that it didn't take much to do it. I`d seen that too and thought to myself that spoked wheels are actually quite weak given a sideways load as they would be when cornering one of those soapboxes. On a bi...

There is a fairly new route that goes from the Normandy coast to nearly Bordeaux. It's called Velo Francette. Search online and you will find it Did this in September - Velo Francette to La Rochelle and down the coast to Bordeaux. Ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham drops you literally right on it....

The advantage of camping is not only in day to day flexibility, but also in that you don't have to plan in detail and book several months in advance This is the whole crux of the issue for me. Being able to change plans on a whim or on hearing a dodgy weather forecast, exploring that trail you`d ne...