Search found 141 matches

by asterix
27 Feb 2018, 10:40am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gates belt drive
Replies: 27
Views: 4029

Re: Gates belt drive

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.
by asterix
26 Feb 2018, 11:06am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gates belt drive
Replies: 27
Views: 4029

Re: Gates belt drive

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 its predecessor.

(Wish I'd got the broken bit off them now!)
by asterix
25 Feb 2018, 3:20pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gates belt drive
Replies: 27
Views: 4029

Re: Gates belt drive

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 'hills' when the thing suddenly went again and although I replaced the belt, there was no 'grip' from the freewheel whatever gear I tried.

Took it to Evans late January and after they looked at it they found the freewheel had gradually collapsed. Apparently it is aluminium alloy and not really strong enough; replacements are stainless steel at an eye-watering 94 squid plus a long wait since they have to be shipped from the far-east.

Anyway, I got it back fairly recently and it's all good again and I guess steel chain drive could have done just the same.
by asterix
9 Jan 2018, 4:09pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Advice on leather shoe treatment
Replies: 21
Views: 2497

Re: Advice on leather shoe treatment

Thanks all for the useful info. Looks like polish or oil is best.
by asterix
8 Jan 2018, 7:42pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Advice on leather shoe treatment
Replies: 21
Views: 2497

Advice on leather shoe treatment

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 sports shoe polish that I used to use on my old leather toe-clip shoes.

Any advice welcomed..
by asterix
15 Nov 2011, 5:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Steel forks
Replies: 25
Views: 3486

Steel forks

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?
by asterix
15 Nov 2011, 5:12pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: David Hinde
Replies: 39
Views: 87110

Re: David Hinde

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 :idea:
by asterix
15 May 2011, 2:43pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: The Etack Caledonia is back
Replies: 38
Views: 2246

Re: The Etack Caledonia is back

Wonder if it is the same nutter as last time?
by asterix
10 May 2011, 12:57pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How fit can you get in 2 weeks
Replies: 35
Views: 2289

Re: How fit can you get in 2 weeks

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 to achieve.

To say it can't be done on so little data is over-pessimistic.
by asterix
1 May 2011, 4:02pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: pyreenees
Replies: 1
Views: 401

Re: pyreenees

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 in the 90s at least as I like whizzing down hills. My tourer was an expedition type with 26 x 1.75 tyres, excellent for confident loaded descending round hairpins. The hotel version was done on a Roberts Audax that also did the job very well although I must admit I would have liked a slightly lower gear near the top of the Col du Tourmalet (head wind and snowing).
by asterix
19 Apr 2011, 10:14am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...why SOME cyclists feel the need to litter the countryside
Replies: 77
Views: 5247

Re: ...why SOME cyclists feel the need to litter the country

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 set off and it occurred to me there wasn't a single litter-bin, either. Everyone just takes it home!! It's like living in a different country :wink:

Yesterday in the local town I saw the police in action. Someone had stuck some fly-posters up and the police (not Gendarmes) had a bucket and sponges and were carefully removing the posters. Don't suppose they had anything better to do..
by asterix
15 Apr 2011, 10:35am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Whats faster, Trailer, or Pannier
Replies: 93
Views: 6488

Re: Whats faster, Trailer, or Pannier

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 cars (they can't do the hairpins) pull over to let you by.

Of course it's essential to have a suitable bike for enjoyable touring - mine takes 26*1.75 tyres comfortably. It's also a mistake to think you can't enjoy riding such a bike unladen, too. A tourer like mine will take me over mountain tracks as well as paved roads and yet was fast enough to permit an enjoyable duel with a French guy outside Bordeaux on another occasion. He was riding a Wilier.

Another time, also in the Pyrennees I met up with a German cyclist with a trailer we were both looking for a route from Perpignan to Figueres using tracks not roads. We kept together right until the Spanish side where there was a long descent after we got back on a main road. I just let the bike go but next time I looked round he was miles behind running on the brakes even though it was quite a straight road.

I do have a trailer, a carry freedom, but I'd use it only for the shopping if I'd too much for the panniers to hold.
by asterix
14 Apr 2011, 8:57pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: another Brooks saddle question
Replies: 7
Views: 1046

Re: another Brooks saddle question

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.
by asterix
11 Apr 2011, 6:52pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brooks Saddles
Replies: 20
Views: 2104

Re: Brooks Saddles

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 than I paid for it.
The B17 narrow was too narrow and I now use it on the Brommie
Two-spring saddles are ok but not much better than a Ti railed B17 and much heavier
Of the B17s I have 3 broken in - very comfortable - and one nearly so after not too many miles. All are on drop-bar bikes, audax and tourer.

I have tried other saddles but prefer Brooks.
by asterix
5 Feb 2011, 4:56pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: How fast do you go down hills?
Replies: 256
Views: 17846

Re: How fast do you go down hills?

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 weren't racing, or at least i wasn't!)