Cycling UK Forum

I have just acquired a helmet, but only for the purposes of a tour abroad, in a country where the law requires it. Up to now, I have never worn one.

When I brought mine home from the shop, my ageing Mum said "is that what all the fuss is about? Not impressive are they?" My feelings exactly.

I would be more impressed if some of the people you see wearing helmets cycling to work invested in decent lights, as opposed to the glowworms you sometimes see people using.

Frankly, I detest the damn things, but these days it seems you can't avoid them.

I use the well known Barbieri gizmo, although with cheaper degreaser!

Relubricate with Halfords spray lube- works fine. For winter, esp snow, Halfords gungy liquid is good as a substitute, but attracts crap.

For derailleur jockey wheels and block/cassette - spiky brush, old toothbrush, even old matchstick occasionally- whatever does the job.

I shall have to upgrade to cassette hubs myself. There is only a restricted range of blocks available for screw thread hubs now, and not great quality either. So I will have to swallow my pride and retire my venerable Campag Tipos quite soon- which will mean getting the dropouts widened on my 1980's vintage bikes (126 dropouts)

Yes, I'd appreciate some recommendations on a choice of helmet. I don't use one and never had until now. But in summer I shall be touring in Spain, where I understand helmet wearing is compulsory (on the bike, that is).

The other thing is that many events including sportives now insist on helmets. It's a pain, but I shall have to buy one, and I would appreciate some advice.

Thanks

In my experience, you need prompt diagnosis and treatment from a chartered physiotherapist who is known to have experience in treating sports injuries. I have been cycling the last 10 years with a dodgy right knee, with no real problems until recently, when cold weather and not enough miles has triggered a minor recurrence of an old problem- tightness in the tibio-fibular joint (I've probably not spelt that right).

Cycling doesn't exercise the joint to it's full extent, so you lack strength at full extension- besides which, we're notorious for not stretching out.

I've been spending some time on the turbo, stretching out properly. Also I will be doing leg extension exercises using bags of heavy material, as I don't really have time to go to the gym

Hope this is useful

Despite their inconvenience, thermal bib tights are a great idea. Basically because the material has rather better insulating properties than old style fleecy bottoms/plusses, which I used many moons ago. Some are ruinously expensive, but I suspect there is a very good reason for this in some cases- that they're very effective. I got a pair off CTC shop at York Rally some years ago, and they're still good now. I paid £15- normally a pair this good is around £60- amazing bargain. Those days are gone, now that Evans do the CTC shop- typical.

The mid weight types are useful for nippy spring and autumn as well. Di Marchi are good if you can get them reduced, but they cost too much at full price. Also the fit doesn't favour the less slim rider.

I agree the're a pain to get on and off, but I've found the advantages more than cancel this out. But of course this is true of bib shorts- they're more comfortable to wear, but inconvenient to take on/off for a pee.

I might live in cycling retro world, with my trusty toe clips, mudguards, and Carradice saddlebags. But you can keep old style cycle clothing- the new stuff is much better. Pity some of it is so pricey...

H'm, nothing new here. Mind you, the only reason you could take your bike with no hassle in olden BR days was that passenger loadings were rather less than impressive. As soon as passenger numbers started picking up, and threats of privatisation appeared, BR started losing interest in carrying cyclists- hence, in part, the reason for our current problems.

As for disabled access having more clout. I wouldn't bet on this. Huddersfield station's idea of accessibility to the far platforms is a staff controlled tarmacced line crossing. You only find staff to help you over in busy periods- great. If, like my parents, you were returning home off-peak (non unusual for pensioners, staff seem to have vanished. BR had plenty of time to have dealt with this problem, of course- they didn't give a toss. I'm not saying private companies are much better- they aren't.

End of rant...

Yes- I second JohnW's comment about York Cycle Show. It's York Rally. If it was a cycle show we would have decent trade exhibition- which we don't.

Mind you, when it was the Rally we had decent trade displays- ho hum.

End of rant from Retro World...

H'm... I'm not surprised by any of this. My feelings are, and I've said it previously to the point of being tedious, is that CTC as an organisation has got to be a lot more up front about this issue. In the past they were like shrinking violets. If CTC had been a lot more assertive about these issues in the past, maybe we would have less problems now.

He who shouts loudest gets heard. Not popular with some members, I know. But that's just the way it is.

As for the train companies. We pay their wages. I think the time has come to remind them, in no uncertain terms. I'm not interested in paying for a service we can't use, much less pay fares that are daylight robbery.

End of rant...

One of the reason I am picky about washers/pumps is this sort of cautionary tale...

Just over a month back I was doing a day ride in the Lakes. Punctured just out of Coniston. Put the spare in..but realised that the spare was a tad older than I had realised- had old style shorter valves. OK I got it up to pressure- but it's easier with modern valves. And of course, it was more tricky cos my HPX can't lock properly (to my satisfaction).

I got back to Carnforth train station...with 5 minutes to spare for the last train to Leeds. Ho hum.

When I got home, I checked the pressure with the gauge on the track pump- a miserly 70PSI. Bear in mind that this is a narrow tyre- good for 120 PSI. Good job I didn't puncture then en route back from Coniston. The route back has to mostly avoid the dreaded Barrow main road - this means a stiff climb at one point and a hair-raising descent.

It was the valve that was the problem-I tried later pumping up a modern valve with the HPX- 90PSI no problemo. But I remember that with the old washer and lock working correctly, the HPX would pump up any valve, no probs.

Moral is - you need right washer, the right valve, a Kevlar protected tyre- oh yes- a lot of luck.

I got some Campag Tipo L/F years ago when a LBS was closing. Still got them. I think they're nicer style than Record- more "period", if you get my drift. And I understand, easier to get spindles for...(not necessarily Campy)

How about...large flange hubs. Mind you, with disc brake fitments, they seem to be making a reappearance.

Down tube shifts- oh yes. No messing, no fuss. I can understand why the racing types would want indexing...but tourists? Not strictly necessary- and I'd like to see indexing work properly on a Megarange block!

Non aero levers- well, only for hard core retro heads, perhaps. But they're less bother..

Campag adjustable dropouts- really handy.

Rims that last more than a season of crap weather.

And that's just for starters.

The above is largely a profile of what I'm riding!

gaz wrote:I have experience of Specialized mini-pumps, but I'm not s Zefal HPX frame-fit pump - much, much better. Sadly mine pre-dates the little plastic presta/schraeder convertor hence the additional mini pump.

My LBS also denies the existence of replacement washers.

To follow up my previous post- if you look on the Zefal website, both the HPX pump and the washer are both still made. The washer is available as a replacement kit. According to Parker International, they supply it in the UK- may not be the only ones. Cost of kit quoted was around £2.69 I think but of course there's postage- obviously to include in another order. And I would be inclined to give them a ring, just in case their website entry is a work of fiction.

Interestingly enough, this week's Cycling Weekly reviewed some track pumps, and claimed that for most of them spares were available. I'd like to see some evidence of this! For my own part, I use a Silca Pista track pump- this was not reviewed in the CW article. I did manage to get a spare washer in my local LBS, and apparently Mike Dyason does spares as well.

On a related topic, can anyone suggest a SPD type shoe with leather uppers they would be happy to recommend? My experience is that most shoes I have seen tend to have synthetic uppers. The trouble with this is that when there is inclement weather (like most of this summer!) it's a problem getting shoes with synthetic uppers to dry out properly- bit of a problem on tour. I don't have this problem, since I still use toe clips and straps, and wear shoes with leather uppers - 2 out of 3 pairs with perforated uppers.

I would like to change to clipless before I blow some serious money on a new bike, to allow me to get used to it. That way, if I fall off at a traffic lights or similar, I won't prang something too expensive.

Of course, it does mean I will lose some of my "retro" credentials (non aero levers, down tube shift, non indexed gears, old style Campag hubs etc on my existing period pieces), but, hey, I thought I'd move into the current century- albeit with some reluctance. The built in obsolescence and no spare parts culture I can well do without...

Yes, I second that emotion (as Motown Records would have it). Be careful- motorists can squash you and get away with it.

Ah well..back to riding my Silver Machine...