Cycling UK Forum

these look good BUT ... not good for cold weather and wet? As for neoprene overshoes .. a lot of the MTB shoes are rather wide at the front, so with a large shoe they overshoes stretch and won't last long (wore out one pair each per winter) ...

Martin

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s154p1656 go up to 48 and are quite long in the toe.

If they fit they are great shoes; leather is the perfect material for cycling shoes IMHO.

Just thinking ... leather can stretch when getting wet, foot slips out when climbing hills (standing in pedals)?

Friend of mine brought leather shoes in an attempt to shave off luggage weight for a 5 day cyclign trip, thinking being using the shoes both on and off bike. Thought they'd be too expensive but at THAT price I'll order a pair and see whether the 48 fit (but will check return policy first ... )

Martin

I have indeed. Not sure that I'd say the shoes are/were bad, but they were that tiny bit too small for me in the end (constant pushing against front ...), so need to look for s.th. that has a bit more room at the front.

Martin

I am looking to replace my old bike shoes - they were the first ones I bought, Shimano SPD summer shoes, which have served me well, but not quite what I need when it gets wet and cold.

My 'challenge' is size - I am a size 13/47 or 48, depending on model, and there isn't much around. The ones I have - allegedly 48 sized - have now taken nail of one big toe off, so need to look for something more appropriate. Also don't want to fork out £150 or even more.

I am cycling every day, 20 miles return to work, regular weekend 60-80 mile rides on road bike.

Any ideas anyone?

thanks

Martin

now I've moved on !!!

I am building a bike around a Ti frame I have been sold at great price with a double chainset and 9 speed cassette. That will be(come) my touring/audax bike.

As for the Cube with the Alfine - I am beginning to think that purely from a financial perspective it may make sense to keep it.
Reasons: bike has been 'bought' through the bike to work scheme; given that my employer interprets the HMRC rules rather tightly, I will probably have to pay 20% of the original value (=£200) at the end of the loan period (aka fair market value). given that I have paid in instalments around £600 over 18 months, I have paid then £800 for the bike. I don't think I'm boing to get more than £300-£350 for the bike if I sell it here or on ebay, which would be a rather lousy deal.

Keeping it would mean I would have access to a reliable winter commuting bike (rather than using the Ti based bike). On top of that I might instead sell the old (vintage) Raleigh road bike (1973, steel framed etc.) and probably get about £100-£150 for that.

Martin

... is the working title of a trip I originally planned for this year, but had to be postponed to next May/June.

I am planning to cycle from Malvern (where I live) to Bonn/Germany, where I was born and spent the first 22 years of my life. My question is around routing from either Calais/Dunkirk or Oostend via possibly Gent/Brussels, Liege to Luxembourg (from there I'll follow Moselle valley to Koblenz and downstream the Rhine to Bonn, finish under Beethoven's statue .

does anyone has any contacts with e.g. a Belgian/French cycle touring club who I could ask questions re a suitable route, quite possibly connecting youth hostels, possibly also doing a bit of sleeping under stars . Or even experience of such a route which I could look at.

thanks

Martin

just coming back to my original post as I have had the Cube Hooper with 8 speed shimano for just over 18 months now, it's coming to the end of the bike to work period and I need to decide my next step.

I initially asked about views re tourer and shimano and didn't really get an answer as such, mostly around the Alfine (which was useful, great piece of kit), but not whether anyone has ever tried touring with it. As the bike to work period, under which I bought the bike is coming to an end in July, I am thinking of either converting the bike for touring purposes with a butterfly handlebar (total cost probably about £40 including messing around with the hydraulic brake hoses and tapes) or to sell it and buy a dedicated tourer (£500+). I might give it a try in a couple of months for a weekend and see how I get on ... weight-wise there may not be a lot of difference between a steel tourer and the Cube: with mudguards and rear rack I am looking at 12.5kg on the cube, a steel tourer will be around that or slightly more. Gear ratio will be similar (though fewer intervals). Only downside I can see is that the Cube is a rigid aluminium bike, less forgiving than a steel tourer (though the 35 Schwalbe Marathon Supreme take a lot of stuff out of the road/vibration).

I guess ultimately it's a question of personal preference (and of course budget ...).

Still, anyone any views on what I am pondering here?

thanks

Martin

I made a simple wooden rack.

Hi

can you send me a photo, please? To answer other questions - I am not after security (reasonably secure door) but storage without bike(s) falling down/getting knocked about. I do have wooden rafters which could provide the hook and rope solution, but something has to sit on the floor for my day2day use bike and yours sounds like a useful solution (and I have quite a bit of spare wood that could be turned into a stand).

thanks

Martin

is that for one or two bikes???

In the language of cycle stands, those are butterflies, a style recognised by even the ministry of transport as being in chocolate teapot territory.

.

so in my language that means they are no good???

Martin

I have finally remodelled my shed and am thinking of how to store my two bikes (the folder is never a problem). There are plenty of stands around, any thoughts on what is good/works in a reasonably confined space?

Have seen this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Cycle-Floor-Bristol-Company/dp/B004Z7F356/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1330523004&sr=8-12 - anything else reasonably useful and secure you know of? My bikes are 700c road/commuter bikes.

thanks

Martin

Hi
I am contemplating going down to basics for a summer trip ... bike, panniers and sleeping under the stars (might at times mean back of pub/youth hostel for a shower).

I don't own a bivvy bag, so questions are:

1. any suggestions which are light weight/waterproof
2. should I also carry a sleeping bag (am thinking of additional weight on bike).

thanks

Martin

Hi
elsewhere in the forum I talked about my commuter bike with the 8 speed Alfine etc.

I have now decided to keep the Cube Hooper with the Alfine for commuting but buy - sometime in the early summer - a bike that I'd like to be able to do

1 audax and
2 touring

with.
I'd like something with a steel frame, obviously has to be able to take pannier racks, at least at the back, possibly the front. My budget will be up to £1,000 (but am happy to stay below that price). I'm on the tall side (186 cm/6'2").

Any ideas? I know I'm early but I'd like to spend some time looking AND test riding before I commit myself.

thanks

Martin

I learned how to do everything off YouTube. It's all there. If you have an Android mobile you can watch it in the shed

Given that I haven't found anything local (Worcestershire) ... what/where would I look or is it a basic youtube/google for e.g. replace bottom bracket etc.?

Martin