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by PW
11 Mar 2012, 8:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano hub dynamo
Replies: 16
Views: 4799

Re: Shimano hub dynamo

Mine occurred winter 2010/11 when we had heavy rain followed by that severe cold spell. I just didn't realise what was happening until too late. The bike was in an unheated shed overnight, -15c, When I wheeled it out to go to work about 6 ish the front wheel was solid. I picked it up straight away, took it inside to ease off by the hallway radiator and 15 minutes later the wheel was smooth again - but the generator was dead. The lights still worked with a 6V gel cell so I got to work that way for a while but I assumed the ice had wrecked the windings. A month later I was about to send it off for a rebuild when I found the hub was solid again, no ice this time, so the bearings were rusted up. I binned it and bought a new one. The hub was a SON 28, I've had no more trouble with its replacement or another SON 20R so I'll stick with Schmidt and be a bit more careful in future.
by PW
9 Mar 2012, 8:21am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Googled yourself?
Replies: 28
Views: 5291

Re: Googled yourself?

To the best of my knowledge......
I'm only on 1 internet photo, and no I ain't tellin' :wink:
by PW
9 Mar 2012, 8:10am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Traffic lights discriminate against cyclists!
Replies: 41
Views: 10361

Re: Traffic lights discriminate against cyclists!

Don't drive buses anymore, but I always thought of myself as a cyclist long before a bus driver. I'm not the only one and there's some good will and responsibility out there amongst the idiots, maybe approaching a majority? (Now I WILL need to run for cover) :lol:
by PW
9 Mar 2012, 8:05am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Squeaky SPuDs
Replies: 5
Views: 29590

Re: Squeaky SPuDs

Seems to have changed makes, it used to be called "The Look Squeal". Any light aerosol oil, GT85, WD40 etc in moderate quantities will get rid of it. I prefer not to use spray grease 'cos it gets gloppy.
by PW
9 Mar 2012, 7:53am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: LEJoG in June 2012 - camping?
Replies: 20
Views: 12751

Re: LEJoG in June 2012 - camping?

My mad JOGHome Scottish trip was no bother. In England I used the pages from the Phillips atlas which has campsites on it (AA doesn't) plus wild camping is legal in Scotland and there's no shortage of sites anyway. When I got the occasional drowning I B&Bd for a night to dry out. Over 830 miles that was at Ullapool, Kyle of Lochalsh and a place called Carsphaig in Dumphries & Galloway so it's hardly going to break the bank.
by PW
9 Mar 2012, 7:43am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Traffic lights discriminate against cyclists!
Replies: 41
Views: 10361

Re: Traffic lights discriminate against cyclists!

The box on top is an extra, not the main system. The infra red ones we were taught to deal with using headlights when I learned to drive a bus 12 years ago. It also works with the the halogen spots I used to use before LEDs became state of the art. I haven't managed to do it with the Cyos yet, possibly because the top beam cut off is too low, maybe because of the beam colour being too cold. I'm open to suggestions.
The telly remote I was told about on a cyclists mailing list. It works but you need to carry the box around on night runs which is a pain.
by PW
8 Mar 2012, 7:54pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tiagra Eront mech
Replies: 8
Views: 1293

Re: Tiagra Eront mech

I'd have said the same. It's usually cables, if it isn't then the cable may be attached to the wrong side of the bolt on the lever arm. Just rarely it may be the mech pivots but that's not been common in my experience and some type of squirty oil in large quantities usually cures it.
by PW
8 Mar 2012, 1:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano hub dynamo
Replies: 16
Views: 4799

Re: Shimano hub dynamo

I spotted Brucey's comment about the thing which commonly kills hub dynamos. The only one I've come across with Schmidt, and I don't know if it also applies to Shimano, is water getting in via a drainage hole in the skewer. I didn't realise until too late that Schmidt skewers are not to be greased, deliberately to let the water out. Block that hole and the bearings get a dowsing, with associated rust especially in the salting season. If you're also daft enough to go out with a soggy hub when it's -15C ( :oops: ) the ice will wreck the windings. (Been there too!). When you take the skewer out and if there's a drain hole in it then put it back in with a little oil by all means but don't let grease anywhere near it.
by PW
8 Mar 2012, 1:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 8/9 speed Shimano free hub body
Replies: 12
Views: 2067

Re: 8/9 speed Shimano free hub body

Colin's got a good point as usual. :D
I re-lace spokes but... When I dismantle a wheel I take the spokes out as a set, eg drive side inbound, label the one nearest the valve hole and which way they came out, anticlock or the reverse and they go back in the same order. They're MINE with a known mileage and history and of course I don't make my living from the job. Give the builder his due, he earns it.
by PW
7 Mar 2012, 1:54pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 8/9 speed Shimano free hub body
Replies: 12
Views: 2067

Re: 8/9 speed Shimano free hub body

You may recall I routinely keep a spare 8/9/10 freehub in an oilbath for winter commuter failures. The MTB ones are roughly a fit, but some better than others. A little light filing along the inner edge of the steel freehub often makes it run smoothly against the alloy hubshell, especially if swapping between LX/ Deore and *OLD* type XT. I was tipped off by the LBS mechanic that it's often cheaper to buy a low order disc hub and scrap it for internals, but beware with the axle cones, you sometimes get the same problem, it's a faff spacing things to fit and the freehub might bind so it won't rotate on the axle until it's been "operated" on.
by PW
7 Mar 2012, 1:10pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Campag Front shifter sticking
Replies: 5
Views: 666

Re: Campag Front shifter sticking

Johnb is the suggestion I'd try first, closely followed by the bar tape. After a couple of run ins with this I always check with a sharp pocket knife before riding it.
by PW
6 Mar 2012, 9:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How much do you eat - on a LONG ride
Replies: 69
Views: 4473

Re: How much do you eat - on a LONG ride

Cabin Fever does more damage than good definitely!
by PW
6 Mar 2012, 9:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: M11 LED replacements
Replies: 7
Views: 763

Re: M11 LED replacements

Give me a shout when you've done it. I'd like to try a LED in one of my old coal miners lamp twin spot sets.
The original overvolted halogens were the best thing since sliced bread back in the 90s.
by PW
6 Mar 2012, 9:18pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring lights
Replies: 17
Views: 1572

Re: Touring lights

Budget comes a lot into this,as well as how much night riding you do for other purposes. A Schmidt hub with one of the better LED headlamps and a Seculight on the rear is the ultimate solution all year round. It also gives the option of an E-Werke to recharge gadgets on the move, but it ain't cheap. One of my lighting rigs would cost more than some people's bikes and if you only ride at night on tour I fail to see how it can be justified. (A case of do as I say not as I do, I know but I'm just a bike freak!)
Probably a decent bottle dynamo or one of the Shimano hubs with the IQ Cyo rather than the pricier Edelux/Supernova would be the way. I'll second the Smart Superflash tail lamp, the 1/2 watt is affordable and VERY bright.
by PW
6 Mar 2012, 9:01pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gear Choice For touring etc.; what suits you and why?
Replies: 67
Views: 5172

Re: Gear Choice For touring etc.; what suits you and why?

I suspect my 953 ended up with a very similar gearing to Mick's Mercian, but from a different route.
For that bike I wanted something which had the performance gears of a fairly recent stage racing machine, plus a granny set to cope with the Peak in my old age - I have health problems which weren't there a while ago. I also detest overdished, weak rear wheels but have a liking for Campag Ergos. Being a Nerd of the first order I set about working out the answers at playtime.
Taking the last problem first it has to be a Shimergo set-up and No1 Son being a fashion victim moaned about putting an mtb mech on a "good bike" so I decided to humour him. The rear hub is an Ultegra with the 135mm OLN rear axle from an old type XT mountain hub - spare in the shed. An extra 5mm spacer on the non drive side reduced the dish. The shifters/mechs are 10 speed 2,006 Chorus with SRAM cassette/chain and a JTEK Shiftmate for the indexing, chainset a Stronglight Speedlight triple. As above 48/38/24 (originally 26 inner but I'm not well as I said) with 11-28, changed from 11-26 for the same reason.
So I have nominally 118"-23". The top gear is near enough the roadie top of 53X12, the outer/middle rings give most of a hilly racing set from say 5-10 years ago and the inner will cope with most places if travelling light - that bike has just a Carradice wedge pack under the saddle.
I think that fits Micks criteria of *Warp Drive, Granny Gear and As Many as You can Cram in the Middle*, but biased towards quick runs in lumpy territory.
What do you think Mick? :D