Cycling UK Forum

I keep seeing adverts for, and reviews of, so-called gravel bikes. But where is all this gravel, apart from the drives of suburban houses? My drive isn't long enough to justify a bike especially for the job. Though there is a gravel bike favourably reviewed in the Guardian, priced at over £5k. I suppose if you can afford a house with a very long gravel drive then a £5k carbon bike is neither here nor there.

Great suggestions people. Thanks very much. I shall report back on which works. (I couldn't get purchase with pliers so I will try the hacksaw next, followed by the reverse tool suggestions.) Thanks again everyone. G

One of the little screws that fixes the front mudguard onto the fork (by the drop-out) on my bike has rounded-out. In other words, the allen key can't get purchase. Any ideas on how to loosen and remove it without destroying the guard stay (or the drop-out eye)? G

Thanks for all the input everyone. I eventually got the Endurance onto a different wheel, for comparison. It was still tight as a DA but went on after a great deal of cursing. Pumped it up to 90 which revealed a distorted bead! So on the basis it is a bad 'un I took it back to LBS and swapped it for a regular Lugano which went on sweet as a nut.

It's a puzzle - same rim, same tape, same combo of speed lever and old fashioned levers I always use. I note that the tyre says made in Indonesia as opposed to Germany and while not doubting workmanship, maybe it's the new production line...

I usually ride Schwalbe Lugano tyres and find them fine to fit. I just bought a Lugano Endurance (for reasons I won't go into) and find it incredibly tight to fit without nipping the tube. Have I got a dud or has anyone else had a similar problem with this model?

Thanks guys. G

Thanks B1ke. G

Does anyone have any experience of riding in the Cesky Krumlov area? We're heading that way beginning of July and I'd be interested to know whether bikes and and/or their wheels are more or less likely to get nicked than anywhere else when unattended. Sounds like a slightly paranoid question but I'm just wondering which bike to take...

OK so the Conti tyre seems to be made of the right stuff, but doesn't come in a 25 size. I guess the sensible thing to do is stay off the road when it's icy!

My riding in the morning has been somewhat curtailed by the hard frosts we have been having here in East Anglia. I once came off very badly on black ice and now have no sight in one eye as a result of the injury. Anyway, I was thinking about how on the continent people fit winter tyres on their cars. The idea is that the rubber compound stays soft even when very cold. Does anyone make a bike tyre with such rubber? Or would it make so little difference on a 25mm as not to be worth it?

We got a ladies Raleigh Captus and have no complaints about it. Good build quality. Quite heavy but you don't notice when it's rolling. Only an issue if you need to transport it I guess.
I second the 'try a hire bike or two first' idea.

I sometimes ride from Presteigne in mid-Wales to Knighton, a short hop going the back road up a road called Stonewall. It has a very steep section of around 500m in the middle of a fairly steep section. The challenge comes in defeating the road surface ie not spinning the wheel when out of the saddle. I've done it once on my 25mm (Condor Fratello, triple). Do it every time on my mother in-law's shopping bike with 32mm tyres and a dinner plate on the back!

Thanks everyone for your input. Think I'll try without and see how it works! (But put them in a safe place in case... )

On my Dawes Mono single speed the rear drop-outs each have an adjuster screw that turns with an allen key. Are they really necessary? They are a faff and the wheel is easily positioned in the dropouts without them.
Or do they actually serve a purpose of preventing the wheel from pulling forward (I'm no Chris Hoy btw) ?