Search found 3974 matches

by hamster
18 Mar 2024, 1:10pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help removing child freewheel & chainstays bent on same bike - advice?
Replies: 11
Views: 434

Re: Help removing child freewheel & chainstays bent on same bike - advice?

It looks like one of the super-cheap freewheels with no removal dogs for a tool. You have to undo the lockring (usually clockwise!) then the whole ting will come apart in an avalanche of ball bearings and springs. Chuck it all away and you will be left with a screw-on collar on the hub - remove that with a pipe wrench and you will be ready to fit a new one.
by hamster
18 Mar 2024, 1:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Re-using an old 8-speed Campagnolo wheel
Replies: 16
Views: 536

Re: Re-using an old 8-speed Campagnolo wheel

drossall wrote: 18 Mar 2024, 10:15am There is something I recall about 8-speed (Campagnolo) splines being softer than 9, that might make 8-speed hubs not such a long-term option. I've stopped using my 8-speed stuff in favour of slightly-less-ancient 9.
It's the other way round:
8 speed Campag uses a steel freehub body and low splines. 9S and up uses an aluminium body with deeper splines. An 8S sprocket will fit the later body but chew into the splines as the load is over a smaller area.
by hamster
18 Mar 2024, 9:13am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Re-using an old 8-speed Campagnolo wheel
Replies: 16
Views: 536

Re: Re-using an old 8-speed Campagnolo wheel

But that won't be for an older 8-speed hub with a steel axle.
There are also some hubs (like the Chorus 9s one I have) that had an intermediate axle size which only ran for a couple of years.
by hamster
9 Mar 2024, 7:26pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Campag freehub failure
Replies: 14
Views: 832

Re: Campag freehub failure

pliptrot wrote: 9 Mar 2024, 8:06am The Campagnolo freehub is a poor design. Anyone know why Campag chose to put the drive side bearing even further inboard than on a freewheel hub? How ironic. In his book Upgrading Your Bicycle (1988) Frank Berto enthused about the Shimano freehub. At that time Campag were still only making freewheel type hubs (they were late to the party as usual, or perhaps all tied up with the Delta brake debacle) but I imagine he would have been unimpressed with what they came up with as a freehub. I imagine he would have excoriated Campag for their current offerings - extremely ugly components and with things like 9 tooth sprockets. Ergo levers always felt clunky and difficult compared to STI levers, and my 1994 Record chainset was not even slightly polished on the back side of the cranks. How the mighty fell.........
Shimano had the freehub design wrapped up with patents so Campag had to go a different route. I agree it's a weaker design, but even Shimano adopted Campag's layout in Dura-Ace as it was lighter.
by hamster
4 Mar 2024, 2:47pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Differences between Magura HS rim brakes
Replies: 8
Views: 516

Re: Differences between Magura HS rim brakes

IIRC the cheaper ones have cost-reduced things like plastic levers. That said my bargain basement MT2 brakes have been flawless (just like my HS33 and HS77!)
by hamster
4 Mar 2024, 11:45am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Differences between Magura HS rim brakes
Replies: 8
Views: 516

Re: Differences between Magura HS rim brakes

Slaves are all the same, HS11 had different levers with longer blades. The mountings also varied with HS33 having all the QRs and braces, HS11 did not. However over the years they also changed the designs several times so exactly which HS33 etc you have can vary.
by hamster
26 Feb 2024, 2:35pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: New groupset for an old Galaxy
Replies: 23
Views: 1576

Re: New groupset for an old Galaxy

Honestly I would replace cables and especially outers and give everything a deep clean first. It's amazing how many supposedly worn out groupsets come back to life after new cabling.

That said, it's hard to get stuff new from Shimano as fashions move on and it's all become incompatible. I would be looking for an 8-9 speed with a triple, which means things like Microshift bar-end levers and old Shimano MTB rear mechs. Chains and cassettes are easily available new.

Other people will want all the whizzy modern 12 speed stuff but I still think 1x is a flawed idea, with lots of cross-chaining at the worst time. I'm not keen on fancy STI shifters on a tourer, preferring simple bombproof stuff. You might see things differently and have other priorities.
by hamster
23 Feb 2024, 2:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Solar panel for usb charging?
Replies: 55
Views: 3049

Re: Solar panel for usb charging?

Too true, you always need a small battery light.

However I disagree with your metaphor. To have Liz Truss levels of usefulness they would have to be actively bad for you rather than merely not improving the situation.
by hamster
23 Feb 2024, 10:26am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Solar panel for usb charging?
Replies: 55
Views: 3049

Re: Solar panel for usb charging?

Put all that together and it's way heavier than the 200g extra of a dyno hub!
by hamster
23 Feb 2024, 8:40am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Solar panel for usb charging?
Replies: 55
Views: 3049

Re: Solar panel for usb charging?

Yatsushiro wrote: 20 Feb 2024, 12:07pm Last summer, I needed a way to keep my phone charged while I was outside a lot. I found out that a solar panel that's about 10-20 watts is good enough for charging a phone every day. It's small and works well for just this job. But I also wanted something a bit stronger for other stuff, so I looked into getting a solar generator too.
I'm totally confused here. What's a solar generator if not a solar panel??? :?
by hamster
22 Feb 2024, 6:22pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Stove Wind Shields
Replies: 8
Views: 419

Re: Stove Wind Shields

I rejuvenated mine by flattening it again with a rolling pin!
by hamster
22 Feb 2024, 6:17pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Best camping set up for electronics
Replies: 55
Views: 1953

Re: Best camping set up for electronics

I'm firmly in the dynamo camp, finally cemented a few years ago when to cut a long story short I ended up setting out for my planned afternoon start at sunset and arrived at my hotel at 2330. With dynamo lights there was never a question of running out of light. My lights include a USB charging socket.
The same applies to charging phones for navigation, although I personally use paper maps or printouts. The phone with an earpiece is invaluable though for riding in built-up areas with turn-by-turn directions.
by hamster
22 Feb 2024, 10:25am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Are there any modern cranksets that aren't goppingly awful?
Replies: 41
Views: 3438

Re: Are there any modern cranksets that aren't goppingly awful?

cyclop wrote: 21 Feb 2024, 7:15pm What a relief.....I thought it was just me.I hate the damn things,well,the look of Shimano at least.I like the ease of removal to clean,even though the bearings are not as durable as old style 3 piece cranksets with recessed bearings.There must be some nicer 2 piece designs out there?
Too right. Everything is overstyled these days - seemingly by either Darth Vader or the Power Rangers. Horrid.
by hamster
21 Feb 2024, 8:48am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Damage to carbon frame..
Replies: 9
Views: 844

Re: Damage to carbon frame..

I would get a decent shop to look at it. For example, GA Cycles in Southampton do a lot of excellent carbon repairs.