Cycling UK Forum

You seem to be trying all the right solutions but haven't been lucky so far. Probably a friction problem somewhere (you have already worked that out). It's a pain to investigate, but I have had similar trouble when I didn't correctly bed a cable outer into the lever, causing friction for the cable at that point. Also, it may be worth lubing the lever internals if you haven't done that recently.

Some rather good pics on this thread.

I know that tyre pressures over 100psi don't make me (90kg) any faster, except possibly of the very smoothest bit of road. Overly hard tyres are unable to deform around small irregularities and judder over them at the expense of my comfort. But 700c tyres below about 80 psi do make my commute home harder (32mm Paselas). That is based on years of riding the same route. I know very well when it takes more effort than usual to cycle up a hill I have ridden up a few thousand times. I am open to the idea that lowering tyre pressure a little (to 85psi, perhaps) may have benefits on some road surfaces, but years of experience rather than listening to other people's dogma have led me to a range of pressure that works best for me.

As for wider tyres, I like the idea of more cushioning but I don't like the idea of more rotational mass. Riding lighter wheels with 25mm tyres makes me faster on my journey to work (with similar tyre pressure). OK, the bike is a lighter one too so I cannot claim scientific rigour, but I think the wheels (including tyres) are the main difference. I may be a stick in the mud, but I won't be choosing very wide tyres for fast riding until they are adopted by professional race teams.

The lack of any pattern at all in those graphs looks very fishy to me. I suspect other variables have been at work.

My wife has started cycling the 5 miles to work recently, but she never maintains her own bike (just the way we do things). A few evenings ago I noticed her front tyre was a bit soft but I judged that with her light weight it was probably not soft enough to risk a pinch puncture. There was a forecast for frost in the morning so I thought a softer front tyre might not be a bad idea. I did not tell her (she doesn't usually appreciate such information) and for two or three days she rode with a softish (probably 65psi or thereabouts) front tyre. Then the weather got a bit milder and I pumped the tyre up to about the same pressure as the back tyre (about 90psi). As soon as she got home that evening she commented that for some reason the bike seemed easier on the hills! That is from someone who doesn't normally notice rubbing brake blocks! I am sure my own perception of "properly inflated " tyres making progress easier has nothing to do with associating a harsher ride with speed. I know when a bike is harder to get up a long hill than it usually is, and I find overly soft tyres make progress more energy sapping.

Also, the article did conclude by recommending wider tyres in preference to narrower tyres. That would add weight and would hinder acceleration. I doubt it would hinder steady cruising, though.

Even if correct in principle, wider tyres will be heavier than narrower tyres made in a similar way, and the extra mass will slow you down in normal stop/start riding. I doubt the central conclusion though, because I think I can feel a sluggishness in a bike when tyre pressure has gone down from 90psi to 75psi.

4130 butted tubes are probably just what you are looking for. It is a well regarded steel tubing for good quality, tough bikes made for the real world.

Have you looked at European Bike Express?

Don't miss Hay on Wye and the nearby Gospel Pass, a mainly single track road that is said to be the highest pass in Wales and is a great favourite with cyclists. From there down to the camp site near LLanthony Priory (pub food nearby).

Kwackers. I'm not really arguing with your main statistical point about tippers. I'm just saying that you should word things in a way that recognises that tipper drivers, like any other group, are individuals, and there are some who don't deserve to be lumped in with the others.

It is unfair to condemn a whole category of road user (in this case tipper drivers) because by doing that you inevitably end up including some who are good drivers. I know a tipper driver who is aged about 60 and delivers stone in a large tipper (20tonnes). I am familiar with the way he drives, and he is the best sort of HGV driver you could hope to meet. He is skilled, he is cheerful and he is patient. He is a good man and he is well respected. I do not doubt all the stories about tipper drivers, but remember to be fair and to say what you say in a way that recognises that there are some good people in the group that you find fault with.

We cyclists are often treated unfairly by people who see bad behaviour and blame every cyclist for it, so we should know better than most about the need to blame the right people, and not aim our anger at everyone who uses a particular vehicle type.

I think the difference in the width of 8/9 speed chains is too tiny (less than 1mm) to account for your problems. Probably just the limit screws, as you say.

If your rack is wide enough a Super C rack top bag has 13 litres capacity, is made of Cotton Duck, has zero sway and is really neat. I use one a lot.

My experiences with Spa have all been good. Yesterday I had a call to let me know that a chainring I had ordered was out of stock and it might take a while for it to arrive from France. An alternative was suggested and agreed, and it arrived in the post the next day. Life made simple!

I think a bit of common sense and tolerance is needed from all parties when work has to be done. If the works are essential and result in all traffic (pedestrian and cyclist) being funnelled into a narrow gap, I would probably comply with a "cyclists dismount" sign whether it was advisory or compulsory. If I could see the way through was clear for its whole length I might ride through.