Cycling UK Forum

I used 3 rattle cans to do a Victorian wrought iron garden planter.

I would say many more for a bike frame, some people use Nitro Mors to strip the old paint off, it's nasty stuff though.

It can work out cheaper to get it blasted and powder coated.

mercalia wrote:

RogerThat wrote:Silver and black are without doubt the most elegant combinations on a bicycle. And I say that as an ardent campagnolo carbon and alloy fan!

nah silver and black is cheap and nasty Burnt orange and black now thats real class

Nowt wrong with burnt orange and black

I have a PX Pro Carbon SL, it's a decent bike, entry level stuff, but still a bit lighter than a top end alu frame. One of my club buddies has the Bianchi,

It's a very nice looking bike with the Campag running gear. Of the two the Bianchi is a more comfortable riding position. The PX super compact frame is quite aggressive. I actually prefer to ride my old steel Peugeot over longer distances.

If you're looking at long day rides then the Bianchi would probably be a better bet. The residuals are good on Bianchis too.

I ride with Rotherham Wheelers, we have rides on Monday 10am at the Plough, Micklebring and Wednesday 9.30am outside the Consort Hotel Thurcroft. We usually do 40-45 miles averaging 15mph with a café stop. Ages range from late 30s to 70+ years. Although we're a road club we're not speed merchants. Usually there's about half a dozen riders for the midweek rides.

These are good value if you want to move from downtube shifters to bar mounted shifters but don't want STI. You retain your original brake levers. They can be used in friction mode for all multispeed cassettes and freewheels.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... lsrc=aw.ds

thidwick wrote:Now that's a well equipped bike garage Brian!

Don't have a garage , shed is full of brother's crap as he's moving house. Bike lives in hallway

Maybe this is better:

Nowt wrong with silver, just ask the Lone Ranger

Here's my steed:

Many cycle insurance policies are a rip off.

I insure the car for £250 a year, which could potentially cover claims into the millions of £s. My home buildings and contents insurance for a 1989 3 bed detached house in Yorkshire is £120 a year for a £150'000 house. I see firms charging relatively large amounts to cover a £1500 bike.

It was an extra £15 to add cover onto my home policy for bikes up to £500 (which suits my needs). Their only stipulation is the bike is locked up when outside the home.

I think it's a sad indictment of society that you can't leave a nice bike parked up without it being nicked, but you're probably better off with a clunker for commuting duties unless you can store it in your office or stationary cupboard.

On the news today, a prototype electric delivery bike system for small vans.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31734416

Shame it doesn't show how to attach the wheels, which are clearly still hanging up in the back of the van on the first demo. The girl rides off having mysteriously attached the wheels in the second demo.

£330 for 8 speed triple with carbon fork, pretty unbeatable.

One of our club riders has one for a winter bike, no problems at all.

It's worth getting the wheel hubs adjusted correctly though as these usually come set too tight for use with quick release skewers and chew themselves to bits fairly soon.

You could buy a donor bike, there are hundreds of old mountain bikes out there. Many haven't got more than a few miles on the clock before being left in a garage for many years. You can pick a virtually unused one up for under £60. Either use it as is or swap the bits over.

.....also you cheer up other road users by forgetting to unclip at junctions and falling over comically.

I did this on Heathrow's Northern Perimeter road when I first started using them in 1997, you learn quickly though.

A couple of good vids from level crossings just in case anyone was tempted to run the barriers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31100457

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ca ... e-24364332

Plenty of choice:

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/b ... ;sort=asc;

Entry level Galaxies are basic spec, for the same money you can get nicer components. Fuji or Jamis Aurora would be my choice over the Galaxy

Spa cycles do some of their own brand bikes with decent spec.

I've had a couple of Defys and on the earlier models there was an M5 threaded hole covered by a grommet on the seat tube to attach the mudguard. These Defy guards were not designed to reach the chainstays. You can squeeze SKS Bluemels Olympic Racer under quite tight clearances.