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by Greybeard
4 Apr 2023, 4:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?
Replies: 8
Views: 643

Re: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?

This particular problem is definitely a mechanical thing due to the pins in the mini usb becoming weak and easily distorted, but you are right, Garmin have ploughed their own furrow when it comes to what pin is connected to where. It is the original cable that is used for both charging and connecting to a PC to download gpx tracks etc (though its something Ive never really had any use for). Other devices I have which use what appear to be identical plugs simply dont connect.
Totally infuriating and wasteful ain't it? :|

Steve
by Greybeard
31 Mar 2023, 4:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?
Replies: 8
Views: 643

Re: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?

The pins are becoming misaligned on the original one - it's worked fine for many years and still does if I'm very careful and lucky plugging it in. I got into the habit of labelling each new lead when I get them to avoid mix-ups. Sometimes I have to move/proddle the pins with a needle first. It's only a matter of time before they fall apart or fail to respond to 'treatment'. The new one I got, despite having a moulded 'Garmin' text on the USB plug and being sold as a genuine article doesn't have the same contacts.
I have tried other mini-usb leads I have that do have the same type of pins, but they are obviously wired differently so don't work with the Garmin charger/Edge 200

Wouldn't life be so much simpler if these manufacturers concentrated more on standardisation and reducing landfill than striving for lucrative incompatibility?

Steve (wot seriously objects to replacing gizmos that still do what they were bought to do)
by Greybeard
31 Mar 2023, 11:43am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?
Replies: 8
Views: 643

Re: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?

Thanks, PH, that's ideal. PM on its way in a tick.

Steve
by Greybeard
31 Mar 2023, 11:26am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?
Replies: 8
Views: 643

Garmin Edge 200 - a change of USB style?

Hello, folks. I've had a Garmin Edge 200 GPS speedo for several years now and although I use it manily on my vintage WW1 and 1920s motorcycles (yes, even the oldest will still go fast enough to earn speeding tickets in all but 60mph limits :D ). It has been extremely reliable throughout but I'm now having problems getting the charger to connect. This is mainly due to the tiny pins in the USB plug becoming misaligned and if I'm not very careful they miss their intended target :(
I have ordered a genuine Garmin replacement cable but have found that the design of the plug has changed - the contacts are now strips set into the side of the USB socket so there is no way they can meet the contacts in the unit itself.
Has anyone else had this problem and can identifiy a supplier of the earlier cables? It would be a shame to have to replace it when it still does its job. I do wonder whether the number of 200s for sale without chargers might be an indication of the issue.

Regards. Steve
by Greybeard
6 Feb 2020, 9:38pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam
Replies: 10
Views: 2004

Re: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam

I went direct through Hermes, cpg, as the parcel drop off is only a couple of miles away. It's the first time I've had any aggro with hermes but the inability to contact anyone via their website really got up my nose which is why I sent an email directly to the CEO. It worked :D
Ive been using RM since. I may give hermes another go eventually.

Steve
by Greybeard
6 Jan 2020, 9:39pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam
Replies: 10
Views: 2004

Re: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam

Having searched the hermes site I blasted off the same very pointed email to every one I could find, including one to the CEO, Martin De Lange. That's the one that got through :wink: . Ive had a full apology for their system error and they have cancelled the invoice. In addition theyve offered a £20 payment to supplement the apology. Itll make up for the time I spent searching their site.

Steve
by Greybeard
4 Jan 2020, 12:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam
Replies: 10
Views: 2004

Re: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam

I cetainly will. It wouldnt surprise me if they pull this stunt on a regular basis and for the sake of a fiver I'd guess many folk would just pay it rather than waste their time trying to get through to them :roll:

Steve
by Greybeard
4 Jan 2020, 10:47am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam
Replies: 10
Views: 2004

Hermes false claim for underweight parcel - not a scam

Has anyone else recently had an invoice from Hermes (via their Paypal account) claiming for parcels that were sent underpaid? I recently sent a book to someone in Ipswich. The book was on the borderline of 1kg so I paid the 1-2kg rate to be on the safe side. The book was delivered before Christmas.
They have now sent an invoice claiming that the parcel weighed 8.9kg and would like an extra £5.44. I thought this was a scam initially and checked my Paypal account independently of their emails to find an invoice waiting in there.
Needless to say it will not be paid. It has taken well over an hour to get through to someone on a chat line (impossible to speak to a human being as usual) and I'm told it will be another 48 hours before I hear from them about it.
It seems that the Royal Mail will be getting more business from me in the future.

Steve
by Greybeard
13 Oct 2018, 12:26pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Camping lantern strobe problem
Replies: 5
Views: 1813

Re: Camping lantern strobe problem

Daft question, but are the batteries running down? I only suggest it as I have two lanterns (different makes/sizes) which when turned off still have a tiny but immensley irritating green flashing light near the button - presumably so the hard of understanding can find it in the dark having forgotten where they left it :? When Im not using the lanterns I remove a battery do stop them draining which they must do over time.
Just a thought :wink:

Steve
by Greybeard
12 Oct 2018, 8:23am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes
Replies: 14
Views: 8703

Re: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes

Ah, my mistake. When I looked for some I couldnt find any 38s at that price here. Shame as I regularly use SJS :?

Steve
by Greybeard
11 Oct 2018, 10:57pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes
Replies: 14
Views: 8703

Re: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes

I paid 71 quid for the pair, including delivery. That was only two or three weeks ago. Perhaps I was lucky and dropped on em at the right time. I certainly wouldnt have stumped up 60 odd quid for just one :shock:

Steve

Just checked their website - still 33 quid each :wink:
by Greybeard
11 Oct 2018, 1:37pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes
Replies: 14
Views: 8703

Re: Schwalbe Marathon Supremes

Around 2010 or 2011 I bought a pair of 35mm Supremes for my 2009 Ultra Galaxy and used them for long distance camping trips. Whilst I found that they rolled very well, they were prone to slip on wet grass/mud tracks as I expected they would given that the tread pattern is minimal. That in itself wasn't a huge issue as I mainly used the road. The main problem that revealed itself after about 18 months was that the side walls had cracked extensively. I understand that this was a common fault in the early versions which I would like to think was sorted out by now. Schwalbe at that time were happy to blame it on under-inflation which wasn't the case at all.
Anyway, I voted with my wallet and I replaced them with Continental Top Contacts instead.
Those are soon to be due for replacement/relegation to the everyday bike and despite my suspicions of Schwalbe tyres I have decided to try a pair of their Almotion tyres (700x38 in the quest for greater comfort for the ageing bones :wink: ), mainly as a result of their reviews here
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... otion-2016

I ordered them from Bike-Discount.de as they were far cheaper than any suppliers here - naturally :roll:
They're not fitted yet, though I look forward to trying them out.

Steve
by Greybeard
17 Sep 2018, 6:50pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Arisun Gravel Plus tyres - any users out there?
Replies: 0
Views: 371

Arisun Gravel Plus tyres - any users out there?

Hello, folks.
After a recent 120 mile tour around the canal paths and lanes in the Birmingham area the old bones and joints have let me know that they are no longer in their first flush of youth and that the faithful Ultra Galaxy bought as a retirement prezzie in 2009 is perhaps no longer best suited as a means of mixed surface transport :( A change of bike isn't an option - I have too many as it is and I'm at the age where I no longer buy green bananas :wink:
I've already replaced the drops (reluctantly) with some Truvativ Holzfeller bars and thumb shifters - along with a sprung Brooks Flyer borrowed from another bike in the stable - which has improved things somewhat. I have been running Continental Top Contact 700cx32 for the last few years and find them great on the road but any ventures onto a broken surface (or that simply foul Sustrans route from Bridgnorth to Iron Bridge that has been surfaced with railway ballast - which mental eunuch came up with that idea? :x ) reveal their lack of cushioning for an old fat lad and his camping gear :oops:
I saw over the weekend in a LBS some Arisun 700cx38 Gravel Plus tyres which looked interesting. At 36 quid apiece they're not quite in the top drawer for price (nor are they in the bargain box come to that) and I wondered whether they'd be worth a punt. There seems to be little in the way of reviews on the 'net' though the spec looks promising. Has anyone out there used the tyres and can comment on their pros and cons.
I've previously used Schwalbe Marathon Supremes (35mm) when they first appeared. They felt good to ride on and are slightly lighter than the Arisuns, but disappointingly after about 18 months the sidewalls were cracking extensively. I understand this was an issue with the early batches but it has put me off buying any more.

Steve
by Greybeard
13 Sep 2016, 6:56pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Hebie 696 steering damper
Replies: 0
Views: 3873

Hebie 696 steering damper

One of these - though it's not really a damper at all
http://www.hebie.de/en/parking/stand-ac ... amper/696/

I got one to fit on my 29er that I use to pull a BoB Yak on the shopping trips. I have a sidestand on the trailer and fitted the Hebie widget to stop the front wheel of the bike flopping over. It worked really well once I found a way of fitting the mounting block to the downtube securely otherwise it persisted in creeping up and reducing the tension. It's now held firmly in place with a small rivnut.
However, don't waste your money on the elastomer version. After just a few months the rubber pulled off the stud. I was amazed to see that the rubber was simply moulded onto a perfectly smooth rod with no pretence of anything to give it a decent grip.
I'm replacing the elastomer with a steel spring as fitted to the alternative version, which will hopefully last longer. Spare springs are available cheaply in Germany though the postage makes them prohibitively expensive.
http://www.hebie.de/en/parking/stand-ac ... amper/695/

The idea is a very good one, but the mechanical execution is appallingly shoddy. The Germans seem to be making a habit of this of late. I'll not bore you with the numerous and expensive problems Ive had with my VW T5, nor with the VW designed Skoda Octavia my wife bought new :x Thank goodness my Leica camera was made back in 1936 when they still made things properly :roll:

Steve
by Greybeard
12 Aug 2014, 3:18pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling World magazine
Replies: 77
Views: 19164

Re: Cycling World magazine

Geoff_N wrote:However, the previous editor and some of the writers are venturing out to produce a new one.
One geared to touring bikes and our adventures on them. Watch this space.


Do I spy some insider knowledge here, Geoff? :wink:

Steve