Cycling UK Forum

That makes sense. It's a very expensive part considering how simple it seems to be. I guess because they don't make them in big numbers.

No, I was thinking more 'freewheeel' than 'sprocket'. Not sure how it was bust but the belt was still engaging with the sprocket which was freewheeling on the hub. In other words the pawls had ceased to engage. Anyway, as I said the new component is indeed steel and alleged to be much tougher than i...

Sort of. My town bike is a Trek Soho de Luxe with belt drive via a shimano 8 speed hub. It was bought in 2010 and has been a great bike for low maintenance. This winter the belt kept slipping off despite my best efforts to adjust the alignment and so on. Finally I was climbing one of York's many 'hi...

Thanks all for the useful info. Looks like polish or oil is best.

Managed to get some Giro Republic LX in my size at a price below 3 figures last month. Sadly my Lidls are getting tired and dog-eared. What's the best treatment for new leather? I have some of that squirty stuff shoe shops love to sell you but I didn't want to use it if it interfered with good old s...

I've a mid-80's bike with steel forks and a 2008 bike with steel forks. The older forks are slimmer than the newer ones and absorb the bumps much better.

Is it no longer possible to get slim steel forks? Why are modern steel fork blades so fat?

What I do know is that his wheels seemed to be OK, after all he raced on his own wheels and anyone that size would have to trust his own wheel-building.

Ah, now I understand

Wonder if it is the same nutter as last time?

There are just too many unknown variables to give a sensible answer. IMO those who say the OP should get cracking now and do an escalating mileage a day for a week or so then taper off and have 2-3 days rest are about right. At least the OP will then have a pretty good idea of what they can expect t...

Well, I went East West in 2007 and then came back the other way in 2010. Not including the rest break it took me 14 days and I got a medal twice. I was camping on the first journey and hotels on the 2nd. Enjoyed both but preferred the camping version. Your low gear sounds fine, but I'd prefer a high...

Hardly any litter this part of France, or Graffiti or theft or vandalism. If there is litter it's likely to be fag packets. On my Sunday ride I stopped to have lunch at a picnic spot with benches and tables. There was absolutely no litter, none. Having finished I put the cling film in my pocket to s...

Having done the touring Pyrenean Raid with two carradice panniers and a Super C bag, incl. Hilleberg tent (you need a bit of comfort), I'd say there is no way I'd have wanted that weight in a trailer behind me! My descent of the Tourmalet is one of those that I will always remember - the sort where ...

It is not easy to judge from even a good photo but they look like surface cracks.

Try 'feeding' it and see how it goes. Leather is tough stuff. I have a much newer B17 with worse looking cracks and have been riding it for years.

Have tried a lot of Brooks saddles, Swift, B17 narrow, two spring, 3 spring and have 4 B17s on my current bikes. The 3-spring is the most comfortable but probably more suitable for a dutch upright or vintage motorcycle I did 2 or 3 hundred miles on the Swift but had to sell it. Too small. I got more...

In the past I've bust the 50 mph barrier on Holme Moss, Garrowby Hill and Sutton Bank. I'm more laid back about descending these days having a lower top gear and rarely taking a cycle computer. When I was doing the Holme Moss descent someone actually passed me. I'd love to know his top speed (we wer...