Cycling UK Forum

Mick F wrote:I wonder if Ortlieb would give me a freebee?

You could give it to me then... as you already have one

RE Carradice camper I doubt something that big would fit my dinky clearance.

I think I'll give the Ortlieb a go... worst case it WILL fit my mountain bike perfectly well, and it SHOULD fit the road bike... plus I can buy a second set of fittings for the mountain bike as well and still have change from £40.

Thanks for the info/photos. It sounds like it should be ok although we've only JUST got enough clearance at 6".
The Carradice website has some helpful measurements on it for their various SQR bags too... although it looks like I may struggle to fit the SQR on the seatpost... curse my small legs

Yes this also is a potential but I'd definitely want to try before I buy with this as the cost goes up a bit compared to the Ortlieb.

My "local" Carradice stockist seems to be Hughes Cycles in Rhyl... anybody any experience of them? Perhaps I'll give them a call and see what they have in stock. Could link it in with a nice ride to the coast and back... any excuse

I'm quite the minimalist too and the large Ortlieb is very high on my list of potentials... says its 14cm deep so SHOULD give me clearance... but again, how accurate this is in terms of sag and/or bounceyness when riding is my only concern. Looking at your previous thread it's just the ticket... if it fits.
In fact this is the one my finger is really hovering over the "buy button" with and risking it as in theory it should be ok.
Do you find it moves much when you're riding (up and down that is i.e. might clip my wheel?)

Flintshire, North Wales.
Yes that's a good plan... I will ask around but most of bikey buddies are mountain bikers (so mainly camelbaks) or racey roadies (so mainly nothing other than a carbon fibre tyre lever)... but I will ask around... who knows what people have got sat in the garage

hubgearfreak wrote:

mike4.3 wrote:would mean riding round with an empty rack

this isn't a problem is it? i do it nearly all the time

Well no it's hardly the end of the world, you're right.... but be I'd be able to swap the saddlebag to my mountain bike too which is another advantage if I can find a suitable saddlebag.

I think my problem is it's going to be a little bit "try it and see" as any suitable saddlebag will be a squeeze but that means relying of my LBS who don't really carry much choice.

I'm looking to add a piece of luggage to the bike for day rides... so enough room for my jacket, phone, sarnis and a few tools and a tube... that sort of thing.
I've looked at bar bags, rack bags, saddle bags and am still not sure what would suit me and my bike the best so I'm looking for some advice/experience.

I think my preference is a decent sized saddlebag BUT my saddle is pretty low, I have no mudguards and I'd expect the larger saddlebags to touch the wheels (having no experience with such things I'm not sure how much they sag).

A rackbag and rack therefore would seem an obvious solution but it perhaps seems a little overkill and would mean riding round with an empty rack if I'm just out for a few hours... or taking it off and on all the time.

And barbags... yeah maybe ok but I would presume riding with a bar bag only could make the nose a little top heavy on the downhills (although I bet it keeps you planted on the climbs).

Anyhoo... all advice appreciated... I guess my main point is the length from the bottom of the saddle rails to the top of the wheel (highest point) is about 17cm... so a 19cm Carradice Low Saddle for example would just be too bit and even the Maxi Saddlepack is 15cm... so it fits but as I say, will it sag or bounce a little and catch when riding?

Cheers.

gaz wrote:E-mail the manufacturer. You can't beat a reply straight from the heron's mouth.

Oh I already have, I'm waiting patiently for a reply

Always nice to hear if anyone has some hands on experience though.

Has anyone any experience of an Avenir Idaho bike rack?
I own a small 4x4 and it's amazing how hard it's proving to be to find a bike rack for it...

Roof... too high to lift.
Tow bar... not got one (so it gets expensive to get one fitted as well as buy a tow bar rack)
Which leaves tyre mounted racks. I've tried one but it had a metal plate that went behind the spare wheel... or rather it didn't as there's hardly any room between the read door and spare wheel.

So I'm looking at the Avenir Idaho which LOOKS like at the most has a strap that goes around the back which I could probably get away with.
If anyone can confirm this that would be super?????

The only other out there (I think) are the Pendle ones that actually bolt onto the spare wheel rather than strap on which is another consideration but I quite like the look of the Idaho if it will fit.

Thanks.
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/12399/Avenir-Idaho-2-Bike-Spare-Tyre-Rack.html

I use these 2...

http://www.bikemap.net/
Very easy to use, nice clear interface.

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/
Not as fluid when plotting although still nice and clear and has more options.
BikeHike more importantly uses GoogleMaps and OS Maps onscreen at the same time... which is very very useful and should show you dual carriageways on the OS Map.

Quite often I plot a root on bikemap and upload it to bikehike for tweaks, checking against the OS map etc.

You could use GoogleMaps itself to plot a longer route for you (e.g. type "Lands End to John O Groats") then upload it to either of these to tweak, check against unfriendly looking roads etc too.

Thanks for the info.
I've chased it up and indeed it wasn't sent out so they're sending one.
I'm off to sunnier climes at the end of the week and was hoping to put my feet up and read it so here's hoping it gets here in time.

Hiya,
Does Cycle Magazine usually arrive at the beginning of the month?
I ask as I'm a new member and it's now mid June and I've not had a copy of the June/July edition yet and so wanted to know if this is usually the case or should I be chasing it up?

Thanks.

It's 27" according to my tailor (listen to me... it was for my wedding, honest!).
My legs are pretty short even for my height and yes standover is always a problem... there are few bikes out there I can comfortably stand flat footed over that are long enough in the top tube department... but I've always understood top tube is the critical measurement as you suggest, so the standover has to be compromised. Generally therefore compact geometry is my friend.

So in theory if tourers are generally longer (going on various specs on manufacturers websites), I'm hoping I can find myself a much better fit i.e. a smaller frame height but with a similar top tube length.

I'm looking to get my first tourer but am unsure what sort of frame size I should be considering?
I know if I'm a road bike I'd be after a 52cm frame with say 53/54 cm top tube, that sort of thing.

But tourer geometry is obviously very different and has a longer top tube anway... so can anyone advise on the kind of size I should be looking at?
FYI I'm 5ft 6 with a wee 27inch inside leg... which to me suggests more like 47cm frame which would have a top tube of around 53/54 and therefore comparable geometry to my road bike sizing?

Cheers.

I've had a lot of grief with disc brakes and I've adjusted this and that, checked the discs are straight etc etc... I've been to my LBS and had countless discussions on forums. And the upshot I've found is that it's bordering on impossible to get them spot on and the best thing to do is ride ride ride (and brake) and they will find their way and bed in after time. There are sooooooooooooo many factors in setting up disc brakes... different frames, wheels, suspesion, weights etc can all have an impact. Just search any mountain bike forum and I bet you a cream cake the top hits will always be about disc brakes.

So unless it's rubbing badly enough to slow the wheel and assuming they're stopping you like stink of course my advice is try to forget about it and just ride and put your faith in that the disc fairy will sort it all out for you.