Search found 215 matches

by Ant
9 May 2020, 4:05pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: raleigh classic tourer value
Replies: 5
Views: 530

Re: raleigh classic tourer value

I sold one about 8 years ago, maybe longer. Put it on ebay expecting about £250 but it went for about £370. The buyer was pleased with it, he knew the model and had one already. Mine was in extremely good condition with all originals bits but also fitted with newer brakes and decent new tyres. Coincidentally, I found a spare one of the stepped brake cable ferrules in a drawer recently. I recall having a bit of a headache sourcing these.
by Ant
11 Jun 2016, 4:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help choosing tour bike size - Ridgeback Voyage
Replies: 23
Views: 4087

Re: Help choosing tour bike size - Ridgeback Voyage

I wanted the world journey to be high and tall, as its primary use was for commuting. The Ridgeback does not have a steeply upsloping top tube, so a larger frame size is suitable for me. That said I also have a 58cm Ridgeback frame (a world tour solo, purchased after the 60cm I might add!) and that does fit well. I think the geometry is very similar. I have that set up with bullhorn bars with a shortish stem and the reach is also nicely comfortable, although more low and stretched than the 60cm, it has to be as it is a single speed.

I found that the standard drops on the world journey were quite long reach and deep drop and found I used the cross top brakes rather a lot. Swapping to the new bars has really improved things for me. My riding on that bike is mostly commuting so quick at times, but not really wanting to be laying low down.

On the world tour solo I am lower and more stretched which suits that bike and I will ride much more vigorously on that one.
by Ant
11 Jun 2016, 1:23pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help choosing tour bike size - Ridgeback Voyage
Replies: 23
Views: 4087

Re: Help choosing tour bike size - Ridgeback Voyage

Yeah, that's the one, 2012 model. I am 183cm with 84cm inside leg.
by Ant
11 Jun 2016, 8:44am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Help choosing tour bike size - Ridgeback Voyage
Replies: 23
Views: 4087

Re: Help choosing tour bike size - Ridgeback Voyage

Do not buy until you try.

I have a 60cm Ridgeback world journey. Lovely frame but is quite long. It was 2011 model and I think the geometry is different now. I would not have bought it if I had tried it first, but it was a sale bargain and so cheap I didn't want to pass it up.

I had put a shorter and taller stem on, which made it a little better but it still felt wrong. I persisted for a while, but recently I have tried selling it as I do not commute on it as much as I used to. I have recently swapped the original drops for some porteur style bars and it has utterly transformed it. Considerably shorter reach, but feels absolutely perfect so I am pretty pleased as the rest of the bike is great. I will now be keeping this one for commuting and longer days out because it is an extremely comfortable frame.

There are so many variables in individual human body size and shape and it can be surprisingly difficult to fine tune a bike. It might be perfect for you, but trying bikes in the shops is always better if you can find shops with bikes in your size.
by Ant
6 Aug 2015, 4:53pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Newbie considering cycling in London - help!
Replies: 39
Views: 3306

Re: Newbie considering cycling in London - help!

Many Nokia (and latterly Microsoft) Lumia phones have a really good sat nav app built in which gives verbal directions with or without the screen on. Attach headphones into ONE ear and you are sorted (before anyone whinges - this is perfectly safe even for a relatively inexperienced rider since you can still hear traffic and the directions only verbalise periodically)

Phone can be screen locked and in your pocket. Not sure if i devices or android phones do this, but I would have thought they do...
by Ant
5 Aug 2015, 7:10pm
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: Red routes, advice
Replies: 2
Views: 6721

Re: Red routes, advice

Never been but check out this footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_mSMvZQeb4

It looks ace, but it is clearly a pretty tough route and for someone new probably not recommended. Blues are a lot more fun for non-experts.

Also helmet would be a good idea! I'm not a habitual helmet wearer but on a route like this? Always. And as I am now getting on a bit I personally would add elbow protection at the very least...
by Ant
4 Aug 2015, 8:15pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?
Replies: 52
Views: 5312

Re: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?

Yes they can be a bit special can't they! But he's making a living so fair play to him. Plus, Stella was very cute.
by Ant
4 Aug 2015, 8:08pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?
Replies: 52
Views: 5312

Re: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?

Check out this maniac. He's public enemy number one. He and his crazy dog are a menace to society. Somebody really ought to inform the Daily mail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3z_uUU1WY0

Oh, hang on a minute. It's fine, he's an American. We're still safe!
by Ant
3 Aug 2015, 9:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?
Replies: 52
Views: 5312

Re: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?

Fair point but that's obvious really, hence my comment about common sense :D I don't think I would risk a great dane on it, but then a great dane wouldn't enjoy that type of exercise anyway. I wore out a set of brake pads the first time out with my little terrier!

Seriously, I can't believe how many people are happy to give an opinion on something they have certainly never tried, probably never seen, or barely even have a concept of!

My petite girlfriend occassionally rides with TWO dogs attached to one walkydog attachment and controls the dogs and bike perfectly well. Yes sometimes they lurch, but the attachment keeps them limited and they CANNOT get in front of her wheel. A dog lurching is PREDICTABLE and hence MANAGEABLE. If your cannot control your dog then you and your dog shouldn't really be out in public anyway...

It is not like you'll be riding 20mph plus on busy roads with them and if you were you'd need your bumps feeling.

To the OP - get yourself a walkydog! If you are anywhere near Bradford, let me know and you can have a demo
by Ant
3 Aug 2015, 9:08pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?
Replies: 52
Views: 5312

Re: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?

Rubbish! How many of the nay sayers have actually ever used something like this?

I have been using one for years and it is perfectly safe in the right environment. Like anything else, it just depends on the common sense of the user...
by Ant
3 Aug 2015, 9:02pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?
Replies: 52
Views: 5312

Re: Bike to dog attachments - whats good ?

It has to be the walkydog found at walky.co.uk

They are awesome. Attach to seat post and it has an adjustable internal spring damping mechanism. Combine this with a harness and short elastic type lead and you have the safest method of attachment as the dog cannot get in front of your front wheel. I off road with my dogs all the time. One of them is a bugger for chasing little creatures and she does lurch off to the side periodically, but it is pretty easy to manage if you are used to off road bike control. One downside is the attachment will mark your seat post and it weighs a fair bit. I just got a cheap second seat post for dog riding duties and put a spare saddle on it. When you stop, the bar detaches and becomes a lead so you can park the bike and walk the dogs.

Really, honestly, one of the best things I ever bought.
by Ant
5 Jul 2015, 5:14pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: longer/flatter v shorter/pointier
Replies: 22
Views: 3714

Re: longer/flatter v shorter/pointier

This is doubtless useless information for you, but anyway...

On a hilly round trip commute (remembering they give on the downs and take on the ups) of 20 miles I tended to average 15MPH. On a less hilly (it is all hilly around here) round trip commute to another place of 36 miles I averaged 16MPH. I alternated between the two places so my fitness can be assumed to be fixed for the purpose of comparison.

So flatter for me was measurably quicker, but not to the extent that it would see me seeking out a flat route which was significantly longer, as the gain in average speed wouldn't have been sufficiently beneficial for me...

On a separate note, actually remembering this information, and choosing to share it with the world, does seem to mark me out as being remarkably dull!
by Ant
23 Feb 2015, 12:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Can you get attachable side bars for road drop bars?
Replies: 12
Views: 3026

Re: Can you get attachable side bars for road drop bars?

Origin8 drop bar ends on flats bars is a good solution. I have a pair in the garage which I bought to convert a flat bar to drops. Now redundant as replaced that bike with one with drops. As it goes, the Origin8's were a better position for me than the drop bars that replaced them as they are realtively short reach and shallow drop. Drop me a PM if you want them. Think they cost me a tenner....
by Ant
4 Nov 2014, 6:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Are Hub Gears really that good OR bad?
Replies: 62
Views: 7655

Re: Are Hub Gears really that good OR bad?

I opened an Alfine 8 after 10000 miles of road riding and it was utterly immaculate inside - this is obviously well in excess of the Shimano recommendation of a check and refresh with magic oil at 2500 miles. I have had Alfine 8 hubs on road and MTB bikes and they have been faultless in both. I don't fully agree with the preventative maintenance annually in the case of Alfine 8 because the seals are of such high quality, although I can see why that would be sensible for the previous generation nexus 8 hubs and I do actually do it for my own bikes since I discovered how easy it is to open the hub up and give it the oil bath (annual mileage is 5k road bike and probably about 1K on the MTB.

The shifting quality is excellent, better than any derailleur I have ever used. In 10000 miles I changed the shifter cable out once (probably halfway ish) and adjusted tension once or twice. All you have to do is line up the yellow markers in 4th gear. It is very easy. Changing a puncture is easy too, no more hassle than with a derailleur bike really.

Big thumbs up for Alfine 8 hubs from me.

(Have ridden loads of different hub gears and TBH they're all pretty good, but the range and high quality shifting of the Alfine 8 marks it out for me)
by Ant
8 Oct 2014, 8:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Best value touring bike with a £900 budget
Replies: 10
Views: 1616

Re: Best value touring bike with a £900 budget

Hi there

have you tried the bike for size? I ask because there has been much talk about the geometry of Ridgeback tourers. Essentially they are quite 'long and low' which means you can feel quite stretched out on them.

I have a Ridgeback Journey, which has the same geometry as the Panorama (the 2013 year anyway) and can confirm it is a long bike, so much so that I am either going to convert it to flat bars (or possibly even swept back alt bars) or sell it. Have tried a shorter and taller stem but essentially the bike is too big in its current form. Unfortunately the next sizes down were a bit too low for me. I do have the long legs/shortish torso mix which is particularly unsuited to long low frames. I just really liked the Journey and specifically wanted another Alfine hub geared bike, which narrowed my options...

I can confirm that they are really well built, have a great paint job and are well specced. Details such as the seat stay mounted pump and cross top brake levers are really nice too. Plus specced with three bottle cage, a good rear rack and mudguards. The Journey is an extremely comfortable bike, even with no luggage and I can only imagine that the slightly higher quality tubes on the Panorama would be at least as good. For that price you can do much worse.

Looking at the site I would also consider the 26 inch wheeled Ridgeback Expedition, although if you are not going off tarmac then it is probably overkill.

Hope that helps, Ant