Cycling UK Forum

psvrichard wrote: ↑14 Jul 2022, 12:32pm Thanks for all the replies. Not sorted yet but in about 30 mins I have a zoom call with the Green Commute people. Looks like we've got the green light from the business owner so happy days. Definitely agree with the mudguards comments and probably a rack too. The weird thing about me is that I seem to cycle faster on Strava segments with my work bag on my back than when I have nothing with me! It's very odd and not even an uphill vs downhill thing. I do 90% of rides with luggage on back but don't seem to speed up that much without luggage. Think it's psychological from when I used to do paperrounds as a boy!

Green commute are nice and simple to work with from an employee and employer point of view.

Something you have not mentioned is your at work storage solution. Is it secure enough for a £1k bike. I do 70% + of my commutes on my brompton, it probably takes 10 mins longer max over the 15km than on my adventure bike, but I don't have to go out to the shed at home and I don't have to go to the bike store at work so I make that time up.

I can keep it under my desk so no worries about theft.

I am in the privileged position of being involved in setting the policy at my work so I fought to remove any silly notion of employees being liable for the cost of a damaged or stolen laptop. There is a policy exaplaining that the company expects you to take care of thier property and any breach of this would follow the standard disciplinary procedures.

I am currently trying to get all employees expenses for the cost (up to an agreed amount but they can spend more) of a suitable bag/case for whatever mode of transport they use. Not quite got there yet but I think it's better than the ones that get bought for them and never used as they are naff.

I quite often transport up to 5 laptops on my commute, so I made sure our insurance would cover the cost of multiple laptops.

I had noticed that Carradice has been selling Aquapac products on their eBay seconds account for a few months. Also the phone holder carradice launched last year is an Aquapac product so it looks like they have a working relationship already.

I don't find any issues with lean / knee rub personally. You do have to make sure it's securely fastened and be conscious on how it's loaded.

I put my phone in it with no bother, but it really comes into its own holding things like snack, sun glasses and my wallet. Easy to get at and the long zip makes for easy access.

Mine is just a bit dirty but no other issues have occured, so I would happily buy another.

My Kia Ceed SW is a small estate but with the seats down I have fitted loads of different types on bike in, almost the perfect size.

This one claims to be ok for 80kg, but I do not like the seat post mounting.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Trailer ... 1517059960

Whilst panniers would be my preference for any long journey I do carry my 14 inch laptop in this very well made bag on my new short commute of a couple of miles, makes the jump on and off time at each end much less. There are a few others selling them on eBay but I bought it from this guy, although it was a few £ less.

It has a waist strap so does not move around and avoids sweaty back in my experience.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHRIS-BOARDM ... Sw7ple26Hu

Interestingly quite a few of the seats I saw for sale people where including the rack. The people I bought this from where happy to give me the rack they had used but I did not need it and as I was picking it up on the bike it would have been a faff to carry. But have a look on facebook marketplace you may get lucky like I did.

ike2112 wrote:...

GeekDadZoid wrote:I would have got a rack mount seat but was given this one.

I'm finding a rack mounted one isn't much better an option. The guys who sell Trek advised against it, the shop I bought the Orbea from said rack mounted ones are pretty bumpy for the child and still with compatibility issues, and a third store said they chose not to stock them any more 2 years ago. The Hamax and similar styles really seem the seat style of choice, its just that MTB frame shapes have swung towards these tilted seattubes that put your weight further back, great for riding downhill trails but makes the frame less suitable for any other use.

...

In the interim I actually managed to get a very good deal on used Hamax Caress rack mounted seat and it's marvelous. It does not make getting on the bike massively easier, but it certainly feels part of the bike rather than something hanging off the back. My little man loves it too, it also has built in suspension which smooths the ride out for him.

Someone else with my problem I have a short inner led measurement and have a similar issue with my son on our Hamad Siesta Seat, however I just have to be very careful and I can usually manage it. If possible I find somewhere I can stand higher than the bike to assist.

That being said it's obviously not ideal, especially if you cannot stand comfortably over the top tube, not something that's an issue normally on a bike but it is when you have a small child on the back.

I would have got a rack mount seat but was given this one.

I agree with the others that I think you will bottom out on that bike linked, I have attached some pictures of our setup.and I would say that's as low is it can be, if I hit a very harsh speed bump a bit fast it will bottom out on the rack, but normal use is fine. I have included a few pics to show you as you might have the same seat as me, it's the Siesta and they do make a rack adapter which might be worth looking at.

If I was going to buy a bike to take little man to school or nursery on a regular basis I would probably look at some kind of ex postie bike / elephant bike with a rack mounted seat, we only do fun rides at the moment as his nursery is 100m away form the house but depending on the school her gets on and my work from home arrangements I might look at changing.

I bit the bullet and booked my bike in today for a full strip down service and replacement of the rear cassette & derailleur. I have been doing bits and bobs of maintenance over the last month but hit my limit when I realised how untrue the wheels have become.

Probably spending as much as the bike is worth but I find it very comfy and really enjoy riding it.

Hopefully in the next two weeks I will have a nice 11-34 on the back which will help me with the steeper hills and get some big rides in over the spring / summer.

Another winter ride, was around -1 for the whole ride just a couple of hours ride to have a brew in my mum's garden and back home. The country lanea where basically ice rinks with my mum's roads being thick with ice but I took it easy.

Really need to sort out keeping my feet warm.

Well I was lucky enough to be able to get out this morning, I waited for sunrise so the roads would have had a little traffic on them and went out for a 30KM ride. Absolutely beautiful day and a nice 1 1/4 hour of peace for ahead of the madness.

Hoping to get a few bike related gifts tomorrow.

Need to find some warm thin socks though, my feet were like iceblocks.

I had someone say the same to myself and friend as we where riding side by side he though we where a car coming towards him, who's as we where on a Cycleway & Footpath concerned him.

However I can see how two stationary lights may be confused but, watching them moving would they not look very different?

cmxxx wrote:Would like to make a cheapskate's version of this pbswisstools multitool...

https://www.shop.pbtools.us/PB-470-BikeTool_c2.htm

I've got a good quality 5mm allen key and the bits. Just need the adapter to connect the allen key to the bits. It is available seperately...

https://www.shop.pbtools.us/Hex-Key-Bit ... 4-470M.htm

...but can't find it anywhere for less than a tenner when postage is included.

Any ideas where I can find a similar adapter?

It is a female 5mm hex to female 1/4" hex.

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/hand-tools/ ... iXEALw_wcB

Any good, about £6.50 with postage.