Search found 10 matches

by Paul Fenton
8 Sep 2021, 12:05pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Do you feel valued
Replies: 14
Views: 7154

Re: Do you feel valued

Like several others posting here I also have become disillusioned with CUK as being a 'club' for cycling tourists, ; i.e the cycle touring roots of CTC has become usurped by the populist trend towards political influencing. Whilst this was always part of the work of the CTC National office, it has become the main USP.. I have been a member for many years ,activ with my local group, former president of Suffolk CTC, organising local lead for the Birthday Rides 2011, and regular club ride leader. I also ride with other local clubs in my area and as such rather than leave the organisation and my local friends, I have amended my membership to 'Affiliated'. Sadly,because of CUK reules relating to Affiliaited Membership I am no longer able to offer my experience and services to the local Member Group as a volunteer or ride leader, when there is a local need for this. CUK's response to my raising this and my suggestions on how the Concessionary Membership rate might better acknowledge contributors like myself, has been to say the least disappointing - just pointing me to the new added discounts offered to full CUK members. A typical 'Ivory Tower' solution. With the demise of CTC Holidays & Tours it seems that CUK has no real interest in mainataining service to cycle tourists. So do i feel valued NO! .
by Paul Fenton
20 Mar 2021, 12:37pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Add-on e-bike conversion kit - Swytch or eBay kit?
Replies: 73
Views: 17990

Re: Add-on e-bike conversion kit - Swytch or eBay kit?

philg wrote:My Swytch kit is now over 2yrs old and still performs virtually as new.
I got it at -50% for £375 with the 360WHr battery which is much cheaper than the current offering with a smaller battery, so I'd have reservations about buying again.

Last week the display failed on one of our (3) Yosepower hub kits (from eBay, now ysbatteryuk)
I emailed support agent 'Alice' in China and she replied as usual within hours and a week later FedEx delivered the warranty replacement - no longer than the deliveries used to take from Germany. I wondered how that service compares with Swytch - or Bosch for that matter, but I think I know the answer to that one :wink:

Thanks for this response. It seems the battery or motor electrical field may interfere with other electrical devices carried on the bars, such as GPS or computor. Have you any experience of this, please?
by Paul Fenton
15 Mar 2021, 5:16pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Add-on e-bike conversion kit - Swytch or eBay kit?
Replies: 73
Views: 17990

Swytch electric bike conversion kit

Some may have seen on line this new electric bike conversion kit entering the market 2000 - 'Swytch'. Anyone purchased one? Feedback welcome. I am considering purchasing one for fitting to a 1997 Dawes Galaxy with Shimano RX shifters. Any weak engineering experienced? eg handlebar mountings, bottom bracket sensor, wheel rim quality? It looks a good product and very flexible.
by Paul Fenton
13 Dec 2020, 6:22pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Editorial in the current edition. Dec/Jan
Replies: 38
Views: 5118

Re: Editorial in the current edition. Dec/Jan

Yeah; What is all the fuss about?! Editor's comments reflect my view of cycling this time of year. Dull, wet , cold, windy days on end. Muddy roads, Short hours of daylight. I also have to drag myself out to ride consistently in these conditions. I call it 'Bread n butter riding'. Regular and consistent in order to keep myself reasonably fit through the winter ready to enjoy the longer touring and local rides as soon as the weather warms up. We all need a little inspiration to keep us going and for those of us who enjoy our Countryside viewed from a cycle saddle, a little encouragement to plan future tours. Reflecting on the contrast our climate and winter cycling brings to the more enjoyable days of light long sunshine days, fresh aromas of meadows and cut grass, and tours in pastures new or old favourites, is not a derogation but just an empathetic expression of the reality but pointing our view above the current experience.
by Paul Fenton
29 Oct 2020, 4:06pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Helmet query
Replies: 2
Views: 361

Cycle Helmet query

My Giro Monza cycle helmet has a Giro Roc Loc 4 fitting system which has broken I can only find replacement as Giro Roc Loc 5 on line. Has anyone replaced a RocLoc 4 fitting system with a Roc Loc 5? It all looks compatible except the anchoring at the top rear of the helmet. A review of cycle helmets in 'Cycle' mag with some explanation for the widely ranging price dfferentials(!) would be welcome!
by Paul Fenton
8 Sep 2020, 8:27pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Cycling UK statement on Covid19
Replies: 44
Views: 30845

Re: Cycling UK statement on Covid19

Has there been a recent revision of CUK Guidance on numbers involved in MG rides? Rumour locally is that up to 15 is now allowed. I thought this applied to N Ireland and Scotland only. For the rest of the UK it is 6?
by Paul Fenton
8 Jul 2020, 9:29am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Spa Cycles (Harrogate)
Replies: 691
Views: 388690

Re: Spa Cycles (Harrogate)

I agree. Spa's mail order service and advice on the telephone is outstanding. They are my automatic go to retailer for all bike bits. Rarely get things wrong and delivery is usually within 3 days. As an experienced cyclist of 50+ years on the bike I rate them top cycle retailer in the country with Madgett Cycles of Diss (Norfolk) a close second.
by Paul Fenton
30 Jun 2020, 7:28pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Cycling UK statement on Covid19
Replies: 44
Views: 30845

Re: Cycling UK statement on Covid19

Thanks. Yes I was asking about the groups, i.e. 'organisers' indemnity insurance. I guess the issue centres on whether the indemnity covers all aspects of an 'event' - in this scenario a club ride, both on the road and off, i.e. at a cafe. A consideration might be that an additional member arriving part of the way into a fully subscribed (6 persons) club ride, would, from the position of someone already on the ride, be another person he/she has contact with, making the risk of infection to one and all 1 in 7 or more rather than 1 in 6. Is that to be taken as a breach of CUK Covid 19 guidance? If it doesn't specifically say so then it isn't?
by Paul Fenton
29 Jun 2020, 7:34pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Cycling UK statement on Covid19
Replies: 44
Views: 30845

Re: Cycling UK statement on Covid19

Question: Is a CUK group's Indemnity Insurance invalidated if a CUK member of that group attends a group meeting at the appointed destination travelling independently by cycle, i.e. he/she joins the gathering of a club ride at say a coffee stop having made their own way there and home independently? Assume that any group gathering shall not exceed 6 in number.
by Paul Fenton
19 Jun 2020, 3:57pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Covid & 'Groups'
Replies: 12
Views: 1172

Covid & 'Groups'

Question: Is a breach of the CUK group's Indemnity Insurance created if a CUK member of that group attends a CUK group meeting at the appointed destination travelling independently by cycle, i.e. he/she joins the gathering of a club ride at say a coffee stop having made their own way there and home independently, i.e not by riding with the group? Assume that any group gathering shall not exceed 6 in number, i.e if more than 6 turn up groups are subdivided so as to form additional groups.