Cycling UK Forum

thirdcrank wrote:bailout

It's just the auto-edit function which replaces certain words automatically. The original idea is that it automatically censors rude words but the admin have also used it to sabotage spam. (You don't actually see much spam on here because the spambusters bin it PDQ, but a fair bit is posted.) Unfortunately, if you use a word frequwently used by spammers, it nay muck you up too, but it is nothing personal. The way to get round it is to edit your post and type in the word that was automatically changed but with a space or some other disguise. This is frowned on as a way of posting swear wors but obviously OK in your case. (In spite of the caption under my moniker I am no longer a spambuster so I cannot mend your post for you.)

I am sorry but I am having trouble believing that an automatic word filter should change the word a-i-r-f-o-r-c-e to 'we are thieving scum'. If you used to be involved with the system perhaps you could explain the logic? Is a-i-r-f-o-r-c-e really a common word used by spammers? Is 'we are thieving scum' an appropriate substitute?

Thomas125 wrote:What the Dickens. It is entirely possible to lose the bracket for a pump without being 'theiving scum'. Talk about inappropriate mark-up. I hope the mod gets thier knuckles rapped in a big way.

I have a frame pump, as I use the bike for commuting and I don't want to scratch the frame it stays in the rack pack, only ever gets put on the frame if I'm doing a long ride, but even then I have lunch in the rack pack so don't often use it.... couldn't tell you where the frame clamp has gone, probably knocking around my spare room somewhere.

Does this make me theiving scum too?

Exactly. When I was commuting in London I just put the pump in my rucksack. Having never used the bracket since I bought it I threw it away when I was getting rid of stuff before moving as I didn't then think I would ever use it. Obviously touring is different and I will have lots of stuff fixed to bike and won't be leaving it locked to a lamppost in London for several hours so the bracket will be useful.

I have edited this post as it appears that I made a mistake. The result of using a dangerous device such as the internet while overly stressed too late at night.

I love the smock Is that a crotch strap dangling from the back? Where did you get it or is it something you have had for a long time? I think they used to be standard issue to the forces for 'adventure training' and cadets used to get gabberdine ones. Made by Blacks of Greenock as well My sleeping bag is a cotton Black's Icelandic.

If it is unloved as well as unironed let me know

ikenbikeit wrote:Its a season and a half bag. I found myself "waking up" cold under about 7 deg C, and thats with silk liner. Terrific value for money though

Is that the down one the op reffered to or the £15 microlite one?

The down ones were bought by quite a few people in the backpacking community as a light cheap summer bag and feedback seemed to be quite positive.

Another question I had for anyone who has had the lidl panniers for a while is how do you close the top? I know how the roll top closure works but I have doubts whether it is worth using or just to fold the top down and use the two straps and buckles. Wondered what people with more experience did.

Also does anyone use the carry strap? I assume it is supposed to clip onto the buckles at the side that are used for the roll down closure?

Cygnetory wrote:Hi Bailout - yes these are the same as the new style hooks we bought as replacements. They do seem a much better design and they make the pannier sit higher on the rack. One feature of these panniers I particularly like, for the red ones anyway, they are very bright and visible from behind.

That is good news for people who have bought the latest batch as it should mean that the breakage problems people have had in the past will be less likely. Interesting you say you prefer the panniers sitting higher. I am thinking of making a strap based connector for mine instead of the hooks for loaded touring use and was thinking an advantage would be to seat the panniers lower

I agree with the colour - I got red ones. I don't understand why the majority of panniers came in black. Bright panniers are an easy way of increasing visibility which must be a good thing. Reading touring forums I seem to see far oo many mentions of people being hit an often killed while touring. Obviously bright panniers are no guarantee but they must help a bit.

I wonder whether they have changed the hooks from the ones that people have had problems with? I have attached a pic of the ones my set came with. They look pretty strong and I doubt whether they would bounce off very easily. Are they similar to the original ones you had or the replacements you ordered?

Don't know if this is the right thread but I just wan't to say that I much prefer the new forum.

Cygnetory wrote: If you use four hooks on each pannier I know from experience they will not break under even a very heavy load.

How did you find getting the panniers on and off using four hooks? I find it can be quite awkward just with 2 on both types of panniers that I have.

speedsix, thanks for the photos. I got a pair of the lidl panniers and thought that ortleib hooks wouldn't fit on directly. My current plan is to use tape behind the rail connecting the two panniers and use them as a throwover style when using both and then just have the standard hooks if I just want to use one for light loads. I am thinking on the best way to do it and I might need to get some buckles for the webbing.

cygnetory, Interesting find. I thought that the panniers and certainly the hooks and rails couldn't be made just for lidl. I had a look at that companies site and they stock a range of cycle luggage by Ideale and one of the panniers looks very familiar

http://www.vonderpalette.com/product_in ... s_id=11463

They also sell through amazon.co.uk at £29.99 per pannier or £54.99 for a pair but with £19.99 p&p I don't know what they would charge posting just hooks to the uk.

speedsixdave wrote: A set of Ortleib hooks (c. £20 for four) has sorted that problem, but they're no longer quite the bargain they started out as...

Did the ortlieb hooks fit the rails on the lidl panniers or did you have to replace the rails as well? If they fitted ok was it ql1 or ql2 hooks that you used?

The lidl ones seem to get good reports on line other than the hooks. If so even with replacing the hooks they are only £20 each or £40 a pair which is still quite cheap.

daveray wrote:

Would be great to borrow or hire one to work out the best position and then buy a solid and cheaper stem to that fit.

I was looking into the same question. I have a bike with drop bars that I don't find very comfortable and am thinking of putting an adjustable stem on so I can try different positions.

Have you checked the diameter of your bar? According to my measurements my bar is actually 25.6 or 25.7 so there is probably some variation in actual diameter from the stated. According to Sheldon most road bars are 25.4 so don't assume, like I did, that road bars are all 26 and mtb are 25.4. As far as I can see from google the stem that is on my bike now is only available in 25.4.

Jeckyll_n_Snyde wrote:

numbnuts wrote:I have them on my touring bike

Me too ..... best thing since sliced bread IMO.

You look to have your drop bars angled down sharply towards the front of the bike. I have been trying to get used to drop bars on a dawes sardar I bought last year and wasn't sure how angled to have the drops but find that even with them almost flat I fell like my hands are sliding forwards.