Cycling UK Forum

I sincerely hope that SRAM are challenging Shimano as they appear to have taken over the bottom end of the market.
What's even better as far as I'm concerned is that some of the companies that were taken over by the SRAM group are old European companies. Every little helps to boost the home economies!
I hope more potential bike buyers look around and don't choose Shimano just because that's the only make they've ever heard of... Competition is a definitely a very good thing and it's a shame that Campagnolo has been overshadowed by Shimano because they chose not to produce crap for the lower end of the market.
SRAM are making some good gear as proved by quite a few big race teams using their kit. Bring it on!
Rod

I use it on my motorbike every winter as it's out in all extremes of weather but I don't think it's worth bothering with on a bike. Wd40 is half the price anyway!
Rod

I thought that might be the answer!
And yes hopefully it will be as was when new ( Campag c-record and/or super record)
Just need a wheel builder who can help me out now.....
Rod

I'm in the process of building an Alan competition bike, the rear drop out OLD on the frame is 126. I think I read on this forum or some other several contributors advocating just pulling the drop outs out a bit to accommodate a 130 wheel ( hence more cogs at the back!). I realise there could be some clearance issues....
Are you that person?,! Can anyone comment or has anyone some experience of trying to fit such a thing.

All this for the Eroica Britannia....!

Rod

I was talking with a young chap from Miami Beach, Florida in a bar today. He's a keen cyclist but as we know cycling in the U.S is not as we know it in the U.K. He told me that in last few months he'd been knocked off his bike four times three of which were by hit and run drivers. One of the hit and runs was by a police patrol car that hit him with the front bumper, knocked him off his bike and just carried on!

Rod

Don't get into too much of a tangle about New York. Much to my chagrin I discovered the city a little too late in life to enjoy to its full.... And for all it's faults it's a great place to be. On a bike, walking or the Heartlands Brewery in Union Square!
Rod

Ha! Those sheds look just the ticket!

I do need to fit mine with a fridge and a couple of comfy chair next.
Might have to get rid of some of those pesky bikes and an odd frame or two cluttering up the place to make room tho.....

Happy Christmas!

Rod

Fortunately the S-1 doesn't apply in my case as my wife encourages me to disappear down the garden to shed to 'faff' with my bikes. I'm not quite sure why... In fact according to her N+2,3 or 4 is equally fine with her.....

Where would we guys be without a decent garden shed?!

Rod

It's just nice to have lots of bikes to play with!
Someone said the number of bikes you should have is N+1 where N is the number of bikes you have already.

You could go to watch the Paris-Roubaix in April for a scouting run, find a potentially good spot.
I think the local village of Wallers would be handy, plus they have a big screen and a beer tent to watch the rest of the race. Take a bike with you so you can experience the "hell of the north". It is pretty brutal!
Rod

Well, I went to the meeting. Didn't see any fellow cyclists tho.. Where were you?
Mr Huggins (I assume it was him) was there with a couple of pals, but didn't cause much of a disturbance except for a couple of boo hisses when the consultation, or the lack of consultation, of small businesses was mentioned! The small businesses lobby do have quite an influence tho and some do have a point.
The outcome I think will be more regulation of cycling events and routes they take. Sportives certainly aren't that popular in the county, too many and no-one knows when they will happen. Swarms of unruly cyclists all over the road, blah blah. I think they will try to regulate the number of Sportives in the county which I personally think is not such a bad idea.. Get out there with your OS map and find your own road!!

There will be a webcast of the meeting on the Surrey CC in a few days. After editing no doubt...

Rod

Some of the petitions do have a point. If you ride on or pass the Olympic or ToB routes at the weekend especially around Box Hill you will be In a cyclist traffic jam at times. Don't thes guys have any imagination? There are some fabulous hills in Surrey and much more challenging ones too! It's fine for me as I then have them pretty much to myself, the only down side being there isn't a NT tea shop serving tea and treacle tart at the top...

Give us a wave if you're out on the road.

Rod

Thanks, but I think this is something for a specialist... I'm not sure that I would like to trust my own DIY skills to this!
Any ideas where? Not my local Evans bike shop for sure.

Rod

I've got a Vitus 992 frame where the rear drop out has gone out of line, presumeably the joints need reglueing(?)
Anyone know where I can get it done in the UK? It's a lovely looking frame but I don't want to spend a fortune on it...

Thanks
Rod

I've been looking at vintage Cinelli handlebars on ebay as part of a bike build but am rather confused by the descriptions. I'm sure it's very simple and obvious but what does 64-40 or 66-42 or 63-40 for example mean? I guess the 40,42 signifies the bar width but what does the 64,63 or 66 etc mean.
Anyone know?
Thanks
Rod