Cycling UK Forum

Rubber,cameras,masks,EEK!

I just bought a Stronglight Impact triple(28 38 48)from Spa cycles,I've only done one ride (65 hilly miles)but I'm impressed so far,shifting is good,etc,obviously I can't say anything about durability but at £58 its good value and theres a choice of rings and crank lengths too.

Edwards wrote:It is not just cycling on my own but going out any where alone. Cars that blow the horn are the worst I did try to attack one but it got away.
The councilor was the one that told me that way of thinking is primeval at the moment. Looking for the danger in every thing all the time. Hence she said to use the wild animal thing.

R2 I find the Mammoth's (buses) not to bad a problem, due to their herding instinct. I can hear them coming behind.
It is the other predators from behind Tigers and Jackals quietly (cars and vans) coming from behind.
I did try a mirror the first time out in traffic on my own but spent that much time looking in it I nearly ran into a sleeping Jackal (parked van).
I did my 12 mile ride yesterday and managed not to stop to often for things coming from behind. I could not manage when 2 predators ( one in front one behind) would arrive at the same place and time as me so stopped.

Edwards
The predators aren't that really,just people in boxes and some are probably more frightened than you are,something worth remembering.
What you did yesterday you can do again today .

saudidave wrote:Thirty years ago, in my mid twenties, I too had "a total nervous breakdown". Black depression, total anxiety and panic attacks. I didn't have counselling as such, but an emminent psychiatrist told me I would always need medication. I told him to **** off! I eventually worked out that the way to cure it all is to face all the things that frighten you until they no longer do. If you are frightened of flying, keep doing it, driving? keep doing it. It's the only way. The most effective cure, I found, is excercise and the biggest hindrance is alcohol.

I am completely cured of all the problems, by the way & have been for years. I'm a calm, happy individual and I'm not bothered in the slightest about public speaking, flying and all the things that were wreaking havoc with me all those years ago. Sadly, I'm a bit of an alecan too! Stick with it, it goes away in the end.

I'm inclined to agree with Saudidave,ultimately fear is at the bottom of it, whether the fear be real or unfounded its the threat of it (whatever that "it"is)and "facing it down" is the answer.
I too found the best thing to do was (and still is),to do the very thing that is threatening, if that is cycling in traffic then cycle in traffic.Its easier said than done I know,but ultimately that is the fear that needs to be overcome and the only way to overcome "it" is to do "it".
Don't let "it"rob you of you're happiness, keep cycling, the other side of the storm there's blue skies .

Edwards
As someone who has had some experience with anxiety/depression both first and second hand I can totally sympathise with what you are going through.
Can I ask would it help if you were able to see the "Mamoth"coming ie a rearview mirror? at least you know what you're dealing with(I know logic doesn't always help in these situations)

That sounds gruesome G/man,and not a lot you can do about it unless you're prepared to dress up like a beekeeper!get well soon.

PS,Can you use that antihissstamine as a guard against the puncture fairy?
Sorry, I'll get me coat.

Helen
I've just been out to the bike shed and dug out an old 7sp wheel I have which lo and behold has a Mavic 519 rim attached!
I fitted four different tyres to it (not all at once of course) a Schwalbe Marathon HS308(32mm),Panaracer RibMo(28mm),a Conti Gatorskin (25mm)and finally another HS268 Marathon(32mm)all with my hands easily, and then removed them with one tyre lever very easily.
I'm concluding that either your rims are part of a bad production run or your tyre choice/availablity has been particularly bad luckwise.
If I were a betting man(which I'm not)I'd be putting my money on it being Mavic's fault(not unheard of).

Helen wrote:That's how I carried my Danish tyre.

It's not so much the spare tyre situation as the dread of a puncture thing. It's a major worry nowadays.
In the past, it was ME who used to get everyone's tyre back on with careful use of a tyre lever, and never popped one till lately.

Are you saying you're nipping the tube whilst replacing the tyre?
If so try putting a little bit of air in the tube first (it trial and error as to how much)put the tube inside the tyre (off the rim)then put the valve through the hole in the rim,next get the first bead on the rim the one furthest away from you,starting at the valve,next starting at the valve again get the second bead on but saving the last bit of tyre to go on NOT opposite the valve but 1/4 way round the rim, the bit of air in the tube keeps it away from the tyre lever.

If you mean a fear of puncturing due to past experience ie feeling vulnerable whilst immobile(three men in a van scenario)then a more reliable tyre is the answer,Schwalbe Marathons I've found fit the bill,for extra insurance Schwalbe Marathon Plus is the ultimate answer,though the Plusses are hard to get on the rim they are virtually puncture proof so once fitted they seldom need to come off other than when they're worn out.

Another thing to examine is how you ride or to be more precise where you ride on the road ie try to keep out of the gutter where the debris is and try to avoid potholes especially when loaded.

Tyre pressures are another area that could be examined,are you riding with enough tyre pressure?

Are you riding a tyre too close to the limit of its life, I know someone who will ride a tyre until the canvas is showing through! then wonders why he always punctures.Perhaps a new set of tyres at the start of every long tour for peace of mind £35 not a lot for peace of mind.
How often do you examine your tyres for cuts,imbedded flints,shards of glass,small thorns all which will work their way further into the tyre the more they are ridden on,a small knife blade or sharpened nail can be used to remove these potential punctures before they become a threat.


You come across as an experienced cyclotourist so forgive me if I'm teaching Grandma to suck eggs.

I've never had problems with Schwalbe tyres on a variety of rims ie,Mavic 719,271,Rigida Sputnik,DRC STtouring.
In the past if I've had trouble with tight tyres I've used a little washing up liquid on the bead of the tyre (between tyre and rim)to lubricate,though in an emergency I suppose sun cream/Oil of Ulay/hair shampoo/bar of soap wetted, would do the trick.
If you find a good tyre to rim combination you could carry a spare folding tyre of that make,if a folder isn't available its a case of doubling a rigid bead one into a figure of eight then folding the two loops together so halving the size of the tyre(hope that makes sense),then strapping it to the rack or pannier.

Another vote for Aldi Bikemate, great computer,I've been using two for about three years,rain or shine no with problems at all other than a battery change.
I also have been using a Sigma BC800 for six years, again without problem other than battery change.
It was only when I bought the Bikemate ones I discovered that the Sigma had the same fitting kit, so I suspect they could both be made by the same factory.
One slight annoyance with the Bike mate is the functions ie, too many,calorie count,fat burn,min and max temp,etc etc??????

Sounds like a new cassette is needed,the fact that its only slipping on one sprocket seems to bear this out.
Personally the only effective difference I've found between XT cassettes and cheaper ones ie HG50 or HG70, is weight, the XT ones being lighter.
As an aside,there is a belief by some tandem riders that XT cassettes due to the sprockets being on a spider rather than each sprocket engaging directly onto the freehub as is the case with others, that XT cassettes can strip the connecting rivets that hold sprocket to spider though I've not seen evidence of this.

fatboy wrote:My rear mech pivots have got worn so that the angle of dangle IYKWIM is a bit off. I've done over 7000 miles on the bike so this is not a huge deal. Now currently I've got an Acera rear mech. To replace this with the same is £15.99 from SJS where I can also get an Alivio for £19.99. My question is whether I'd notice any difference between the two or should I just replace like with like.

It's for a tourer running 11-32 cassette with 28-38-48 on the front.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Hi
Personally I'd go a bit better than that,maybe LX or Deore for about another tenner more than the Alivio.I've been running an LX on one bike for 20,000mls and its still in good shape.All the MTB mechs will work with 6,7,8,9sp.

hubgearfreak wrote:

reohn2 wrote:How did you go on with the old Raleigh roadster,was it worth the trip?

what we needed was a 3 speed, 590etrto wheel for our front wheel drive sofa. ours was the fastest sofa, so yes, it was worth it
the bicycle frame awaits another reuse



thanks to wobblyjohn for the pic

That was definately worth it IMHO .

PS did you find any loose change down the side of the cushions?

Hi
I've been running Sram(previously Sedis)chains for over fifteen years on various bikes,tourers and tandems 7,8 and 9sp set ups with Shimano gruppos and can honestly say I'm well satisfied with them.
I usually use the nikel(sp?) plated outer plate type currently PC971 (four for £60 from Merlin cycles with free P+P).
We usually get about 3000mls out of a Sram chain,When I've used Shimano chains I found they wear out too quickly.
I have used Wipperman once with no complaints but went back Sram as they are cheaper and I carry spare connector links and spare links for Sram.

PS I don't feel the need to use the uberlight hollow pin variety due to higher cost and any wieght saving being negated by the weight of loose change in my wallet in short IMHO they're a waste of money.

Si wrote:You know, I'm still surprised that Kelly's didn't catch on.....the convenience of STI with the friction option and reliability/mendability of DT. OK, they were a tad expensive but still much less than STI if you already had the levers and DT shifters.

I agree,I used Kelly's on the Thorn tandem for 5/6years and liked them a lot,very convenient and easy to use,not as easy as STI's but by far better than either D/Tube or barends,and as Si says complete with friction option which could be a life saver with a damaged rear mech whilst touring.
Heres the link:-http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html
for anyone who's not familier with them.