Search found 238 matches

by Darkman
17 Oct 2021, 2:56pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tyres,tubes,sizes
Replies: 12
Views: 663

Re: Tyres,tubes,sizes

Could also consider going tubeless, otherwise getting some tyres which are bit more puncture-resistant i.e. Marathon Plus if you don't mind the bit of extra weight.
by Darkman
3 Oct 2021, 8:20pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Chain Stretch Issues
Replies: 21
Views: 1098

Re: Chain Stretch Issues

Wait, your LBS has sold you two entire new drive trains? :shock:

When you say "drive train", which exact parts are we talking about?
by Darkman
30 Sep 2021, 10:03am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: OK time for a helmet cam methinks...
Replies: 40
Views: 2838

Re: OK time for a helmet cam methinks...

I would probably check out the quality of the Chilli Tech cameras before buying. I looked at them and while they claim to be HD, the video quality seems awful and the frame rate doesn't look to be even 30fps.

https://youtu.be/IYaaEsyFjaI?t=201

It also concerns me that the camera's internal circuitry is described as "replaceable" on the new model. It doesn't exactly scream "built to last".

I gave it a miss.
by Darkman
29 Sep 2021, 9:59am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: OK time for a helmet cam methinks...
Replies: 40
Views: 2838

Re: OK time for a helmet cam methinks...

peetee wrote: 29 Sep 2021, 9:51am
Pebble wrote: 29 Sep 2021, 9:24am you just plug a usb cable into it, very similar to the image in the link you give for drift. And as the camera has a 'dashcam' mode, simply plugging the tether into the battery starts the recording, unplugging stops it.

I have been so impressed with the reliability and quauity of this £50 camera I now also have two in the van and one in the car. LOL
Could you post a link to the battery unit you use please?
Just a power bank, I'd imagine, which you can use to charge anything including phones and GPS head units.

They sell them in Argos, and pretty much anywhere that sells electronics stuff. Just make sure to buy one that's powerful enough for your needs.

Say for example, your camera has a 1000mAh battery, and runs for an hour. A 5000mAh power bank would therefore give you an additional five hours of runtime.
by Darkman
28 Sep 2021, 7:42pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Looking for Bike Freaks in S63
Replies: 10
Views: 1024

Re: Looking for Bike Freaks in S63

tykeboy2003 wrote: 27 Sep 2021, 2:14pm I grew up in S63, Bolton on Dearne. Me and my mates used to ride to Doncaster to "The Plant" (locomotive works) and running sheds most sundays. Also to Barnsley and occasionally Sheffield. The roads weren't significantly quieter back in the 60s/early 70s according to my memory.....
My dad used to work at the sheds, as well as a fireman on the railways in the early 60s. He had frequent encounters with The Flying Scotsman, Mallard etc., born and bred in Thurnscoe. I grew up in Goldthorpe during the 80s - vivid memories of the miner's strike.
by Darkman
28 Sep 2021, 10:09am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spoke broken by chain - autopsy and plan of action
Replies: 21
Views: 1155

Re: Spoke broken by chain - autopsy and plan of action

simonhill wrote: 27 Sep 2021, 6:07pm
Darkman wrote: 27 Sep 2021, 1:31pm
I'm the happy owner of a dork disc (which saved me from a similar fate after I bent the mech hangar in an earlier fall).
Dork disc? Is that the plastic disc that sits between cog and spoke? Used to be essential on very early MTBs. Sadly (?) rarely seen nowadays. I do still use a gear guard (bent bit of wire protecting the rear mech), mainly for when bike is in transit.
Yeah, that. They do still come as standard on many bikes but people usually remove them because they're not deemed "cool", hence the name. In my view it's there for a purpose, as is the bell. Sporting bright yellow lycra, usually, it should be apparent that I don't care what I look like. :mrgreen:
by Darkman
27 Sep 2021, 1:31pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spoke broken by chain - autopsy and plan of action
Replies: 21
Views: 1155

Re: Spoke broken by chain - autopsy and plan of action

Sounds like your gears just aren't set up right, otherwise the low limit screw would stop this happening regardless of how far off your indexing is.

I'm surprised Amazon are sending a replacement, given that your gear setup is likely what caused the damage rather than the wheel itself.

I have no idea on spoke etiquette. I'm the happy owner of a dork disc (which saved me from a similar fate after I bent the mech hangar in an earlier fall).
by Darkman
27 Sep 2021, 12:41pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Poor driving
Replies: 28
Views: 2351

Re: Poor driving

Likely the sort of idiots who stick to the outside lane of a motorway doing 110mph because they cannot stand it when they're behind somebody (which, big news, you *always* are no matter how fast you go).
by Darkman
26 Sep 2021, 7:46pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cleats/cage?
Replies: 19
Views: 1493

Re: Cleats/cage?

Tried Look Keo pedals (much the same as SPD-SL) and could not get on with them at all. Because they're designed to hang vertically I found that clipping in on an uphill start was next to impossible, resulting in me coming off three times, one time wrecking the rear mech and suffering some epic bruises in the process.

If the pedal was still when you went to clip in, it would be easier. But it isn't- after you push off with the right foot, the left pedal is swinging on it's axle and seems 99% of the time to be upside down when I go to clip in. Soon you're out of momentum and the floor beckons.

I'm back on flats now. The Look Keos almost killed my interest in cycling this year. Part of me wants to try SPDs but then, I'm probably better off just staying with pedals I get along with. If it works for me, why change?
by Darkman
24 Sep 2021, 11:08am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Warringtons solution to abussive aggressive drivers
Replies: 7
Views: 984

Re: Warringtons solution to abussive aggressive drivers

Agreed - you could set the speed limit to 100mph and some folk would still want to do 110. :roll:
by Darkman
19 Sep 2021, 7:33pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Half century!
Replies: 21
Views: 1049

Re: Half century!

Had two days off the bike - could do it again but I don't have time in my life to give five hours multiple times per week to cycling. I don't often manage to get out more than once a week at any distance.
by Darkman
18 Sep 2021, 9:10am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Half century!
Replies: 21
Views: 1049

Re: Half century!

Probably 63mi/100k. But not today! :mrgreen:

Actually I want to do a lil charity ride for the Lincs Air Ambulance. I've never needed it, but I want it to be there if I do.
by Darkman
17 Sep 2021, 8:32pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Half century!
Replies: 21
Views: 1049

Re: Half century!

Also worth mentioning, cyclists everywhere today! Pretty much all of them said hello which never fails to put a smile on my face, but none so much as the one who excitedly shouted to me "there's a massive heron over there!"

He was right, there was! I stopped for a look, as you do.

It's the longest I've been out on the bike and enjoyed all of it. My backside, however, would disagree. :mrgreen: I don't think my DHB shorts were really designed for four-hour rides.
by Darkman
17 Sep 2021, 7:10pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Half century!
Replies: 21
Views: 1049

Half century!

Today I completed my first half-century! Finished up at 54.2 miles with just over 1,000ft of climbs (most of that in the first ten).

Took my usual 1.5L of energy drink, removed some non-essentials out of my saddle bag (spare tube, CO2 since the wife was on rescue standby) to make space for cheese sandwiches. And did my first ever cafe stop at 40 miles.

It took me longer than it would have probably taken some of you (4 hours 15 moving time), but I wasn't out for land speed records, I wanted to get the distance.

I wanted to do a 50 last year, but topped out at 44. I did the same 44 route last week, and woke up all determined today!


The 23 stone me of two years ago would be so proud. :mrgreen: