Cycling UK Forum

richardfm wrote: ↑4 Dec 2023, 2:20pm I would have thought the fact that the manufacturer lists inedible rind as an ingredient tells you all you need to know.

Yes, you would have thought so.

There are great mysteries in the world - why we are here, does God exist and so forth. But none really as deeply unfathomable as whether you can eat the rind on Port Salut, that deliciously creamy soft cheese with the orange rind.

The manufacturer lists as one of its ingredients "inedible rind". But that is only half the story. Not only do they not tell you not to eat it, many other people describe how an edible rind is made, including that of Port Salut.

No one will tell you whether to eat it or not. There are times of course when no one wants to stick their neck out: in the nineteenth century the heart of Africa was deemed a destination of unimaginable beauty, danger (perhaps) and exotic delight. But few wanted to say without doubt that one should go there and even fewer actually did.

Port Salut is like that: people will enthusiastically extoll its light taste and creamy texture but then fall strangely silent and even diffident when asked whether one should, could or might eat the rind. And no-one will indeed ever admit to having done so.

For lovers of Port Salut like myself, I fear it will remain a mystery for ever, rather like the smile on the face of the Sphinx - a smile indeed that makes one suspect that she herself had just consumed a portion of Port Salut, rind and all!

https://www.thespruceeats.com/port-salut-cheese-591579

hubgearfreak wrote: ↑2 Dec 2023, 10:53am
What’s anyone’s thoughts on this please?

Well without hi-viz we haven't seen you. And that's for the last seven years . Now that they are insisting you wear hi-viz, perhaps we will be able to see more of you!


PS Good to see you back!

Grldtnr wrote: ↑1 Dec 2023, 9:52am Probably the ultimate rain gear is 'Ventile' , A very tightly woven cotton fabric, still used by the military for survival suits, like pilot overalls should they ditch into the sea.

I have a Ventile hiking jacket. It's a well designed product from a company called Survival Aids (a quick search shows they are still going). I don't use it now for cycling as it is too bulky but I did do in the past. It's a lovely soft cotton, warm and very pleasant to wear. It's a great winter coat.

The problem arises when it gets wet: the fibres close up and the fabric stiffens so it becomes bulkier and awkward. For this reason I cannot recommend Ventile but (and I'm maybe beginning to change my mind on this) it is indeed breathable and if you are prepared to put up with the altered nature of the fabric when wet, then it might be an excellent choice. That would be even more the case if it were a dedicated cycling jacket - lighter fabric, tighter cut, fewer pockets, shorter etc.

PS Update: I've just Googled and it appears that there is stuff out there - hmm, this could be interesting!

viewtopic.php?t=120351

mjr wrote: ↑30 Nov 2023, 12:31pm

PH wrote: ↑30 Nov 2023, 11:54am My studded tyres have just gone on my folder,

What size and type, please? I would prefer the flexibility of a folding bike but last time I looked for
studded 405s, I found only some Marathon Winter at nearly double the price of 622s.

I have Marathon Winter on my 20" folder. I've got two pairs, both bought either on here or ebay although the second pair was brand new and unused. AIUI these are 406, the most common 20" size. I've got a trip planned for January and I'm either going to leave the house with the studs on or throw a pair over the panniers on the rear rack if I am in any doubt.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-small ... nch-42406/

AndyK wrote: ↑29 Nov 2023, 1:30pm

Jezrant wrote: ↑26 Nov 2023, 4:22pm

pwa wrote: ↑26 Nov 2023, 3:41pm
No I didn't know that. That's useful to know. Thanks. I do like the Cotswold Outdoor shop. I'm just not so keen on the prices.

Neither Cotswold nor the NT publicise it much, and in my experience, Cotswold sales staff won't ever ask you at the counter if you're a member of the NT before taking your money, but they do occasionally run adverts in the NT magazine mentioning the discount.

Cotswold offer discounts to many organisations. It used to be a standing joke that you could wander up to the counter and say "I'm a member of that thing, you know, that group, the one you give 15% discount to" and the staff would just go "Sure, OK" and hit the Discount button on the till.

It used to be the case that the discount didn't apply to sale items - I don't know if that's still true.

I recently almost ordered a sleeping bag (so worth quite a bit) but they took the discount (I think NT) from the non-sale price and hey presto! it was back to the sale price!

AIUI the options are (after having checked the overnight temperatures the night before):

1. Don't ride (which is difficult given that this situation can occur on lots of days in the winter)
2. Ride but with care and foresight (and therefore more slowly) and possibly lower pressures.
3. Non-studded winter tyres with better adhesion (still with care though?)
4. Lightly studded tyres (e.g. Schwalbe Snow Stud)
5. Fully studded tyres (e.g. Marathon Winter)
6. Buy a recumbent

My own preferred options are Nos.4 and 5 - have a bike ready with studded tyres and to hell with the noise/slowness/weight - it is winter after all. There is only a small cost penalty as it is often possible to buy studded tyres second-hand, moslty lightly if at all used.

Just some background about PFAS from the Guardian today:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ss-england
I'm not making a judgment here as I really have nothing conclusive to say except that it might be a dilemma not only for us as cyclists but society in general. And also because I am still not 100% clear as to the link between these chemicals and the breathable/waterproofs that we buy, wear and value.

The odd thing (and a regular complaint of mine) is that while you can walk in the rain (or the city streets) in the hills without overshoes, suddenly on a bike you need them. Why? AFAICS because cycling shoes aren't fit for purpose: holes in the bottom, mesh in the top. I've posted about it before. The OP wouldn't need cycling shoes for his 3 mile commute but if he did have cleats and wanted to use them, even "good" cycling shoes have this strange feature. I don't want to divert the thread so I would say that a good pair of trainers would do the job and only if he didn't want to change shoes would he need overshoes and only then to keep his best shoes in clean condition.

AndyK wrote: ↑27 Nov 2023, 12:08pm
Shoes: I'd go for waterproof overshoes (shoe covers) over your normal shoes. You have to be careful here, though, as most cycling overshoes are sports-orientated, designed to be worn over cycling-specific shoes and not very waterproof. Avoid anything thin and stretchy or anything made from Neoprene. (Neoprene will keep your feet warm but it won't keep heavy rain out, so you'll end up with damp shoes and feet.)

Dhb say (about their overshoes):

The closed-cell neoprene structure means the material is wind and waterproof.

I'm happy to take anything with a pinch of salt but there seems to be a lot of conflicting information as to whether neoprene is waterproof or not. It also doesn't seem clear whether it is made waterproof by a layer of something else. "Protection from wet weather" (whatever that means!) seems to be another description. So is it possible to be definitive about a neoprene overshoe (not just neoprene as such)?

BTW, here's another:
https://www.pooleharbour.co.uk/blogs/we ... s-neoprene

Neoprene is entirely waterproof

I'm wondering now if the wire puzzle would actually fit, although as I recollect it didn't due to the nature of the new-type stem (as opposed to the older quill type). I do know that it doesn't fit the Klickfix and given that I want to retain the Klickfix, obviously that won't work for me.

I'm going to dig out the wire puzzle that I have and see if it fits another bike with no Klickfix. Hmmm . . .

roubaixtuesday wrote: ↑19 Nov 2023, 9:48pm
One of these?
20231119_213106.jpg

Success! Thanks to roubaixtuesday - all sorted, a Karrimor barbag now in use and a happy forum member!

TrevA wrote: ↑27 Nov 2023, 12:48pm The go-to cheap waterproof used to be the Altura Nevis, which can be had for £30.

https://www.certini.co.uk/clothing/jack ... gKeq_D_BwE

Or £24 + p and p

https://www.altura.co.uk/products/altur ... ens-jacket

Hi Horizon. Would you mind terribly mrasuring the front chainline on your Tern Link D16 2x conversion please? I'm wondering if I need a different BB width from the 110.5 and 118mm selections I've tried so far? Did you put your 2x chainset on the 118mm BB the D8 came with or substitute for another width BB? Apologies for all the questions.
BW
Cyclothesist From PM

Will get round to it! As 531colin said on another thread, the BB length does matter and will be determined by your choice of chainset. IIRC, there was a problem with the Spa chainset and this was resolved by changing the BB (I gave it a try at first).

As regards chainline I find that 2 x means that i have to trim but there isn't really an issue as such - it should all work. Just to encourage you should you need it, the conversion has given me a whole new dimension to my cycling as I can get on and then off a bus with a fully loaded bike and then cycle up a steep(ish) hill - nowhere is beyond my remit! I reckon it replaces the need for an ebike because the gearing can be so low (mine is 15") on a small wheeled bike.

pwa wrote: ↑24 Nov 2023, 9:55pm It is as easy for me to have 35s as 32s, so why not have that extra little bit of width for rough surfaces?

As a matter of interest did you also increase the tread and if so did it make much difference on those gravelly surfaces?