Cycling UK Forum

Are the SSC's Ksyriums?

If so, they are pretty bombproof and they're the ones i'd recommend.

Lots of cyclo-crossers still use tubs. We've got 4 pairs of tub wheels hanging up in the garage - 2 with dry tyres and 2 with mud tyres.

We use Conti tub cement, which does the job, £15 for the last tin I bought, which will stick about 10 tubs on. Have used tub tape in the past, but it's not up to the jet-washing abuse that cross bikes get. Should be fine for the road though.

I wear a Buff under my helmet to keep my head warm and to stop sweat dripping into my eyes. I've also got a fleece headband for when it's really cold or a cotton race cap for when it's sunny (both worn under helmet). You can also get thermal skull caps that fit under a helmet.

As regards the helmet itself. Anything from Bell, Giro or Met would be OK. More expensive ones have better ventilation and are lighter. I'd advise trying them on before buying. I find that Giro don't suit my head shape, but Bell do.

JohnW wrote:

Big T wrote:It just started making a grinding noise whilst climbing. it took me ages to find out what it was. I eventually spotted a hairline crack running upwards from the bottom bracket.

It was an off the peg frame and i only paid £200 for it in 1997. I bought it from the Mercian shop in Derby. Would have cost nearly £200 to have it repaired and resprayed, so I didn't bother.

I transfered the kit onto a cheap but heavy SJSC tange frame, which I'm still using as my work/winter bike.

I'd like another Mercian, but I'm not sure i can justify the expense (to myself). Langdale (my LBS) has an 853 Audax frame in my size for £390, so I might go for that instead.

You didn't contact Mercian to see what they thought then? - after five years you may not have got anywhere, but the builder's thoughts may have been interesting. Surely t'was a one off?

I'm not really one to complain and make a fuss. Also, I thought I'd had my money's worth. I'm not sure I'd pay £500+ for a new Mercian frame now though, given my previous experience, especially as I can get a cheaper handbuilt frame elsewhere.

Has anyone noticed wheels slipping on gritted roads?

Went out yesterday and had wheels slip a couple of times. The roads were wet but not icy and had been well gritted. Is it this new gritting compound they use?

I've generally had good experiences with Conti Gator Skins, though I did have 3 punctures in one day recently. I think they start to puncture when they get worn. Vredestein Fortezza Tricomps are great for puncture resistance, though I've not used them in the winter. Schwalbe Blizzard Sports are another tyre I've had good experiences with.

If you really want to remove the risk of puncturing, then Specialised Armadillos are the way to go, but reputedly at the cost of handling. A friend of mine has had some for 3 years and never punctured, and he rides every day.

I won't be wearing shorts until March/April next year. Thermal fleece bib tights for me at this time of year. On the top I wear an undervest, thin long sleeved top and windproof. If it's really cold, I'll wear my Altura Nevis instead of the windproof.

I don't think wearing shorts at this time of year will do your knees any good. Also, leg muscles work better when they're warm - well mine do anyway.

My wife's got a pannier rack on her OCR4. Hers has mudguard eyes at the back and we bought a replacement seat post clamp that lets you bolt the front part of the pannier rack to it. She only uses a single pannier though...............

I have 2 cars, but they spend most of the week parked on the drive. Me and the Mrs cycle to work most days. Ironically, we need the cars because my son races and has to be driven to get to the races, whilst my daughter works at the weekend and needs the other car to get to work. She won't cycle.

Apparenty, one of the proposals is to get rid of the Fallowfield Loop, a cycle route built on an old railway line, and to turn it into a tram route. So cyclists could actually lose out if the proposal is passed. That would balanced by less cars, making conditions better for on road cycling.

My daughter has a neoprene phone pocket that goes around her arm and is held in place by a velcro strap. She uses it when horse riding and I think got it from a horse riding shop or from the horse dept at Decathlon. This sounds like what you want.

I have the same problem, wearing the pass on a lanyard around my neck. I unzip my jacket on the approach road to work, flick the pass outside my jacket and do the zip up again. I do wear quite thin gloves, though.

I'm always forgetting my pass but they usually let me in anyway. It makes me laugh the gateman recognises you but still needs to see your pass.

Our showers are situated in the Toilet block, so are gender specific. One for males and one for females (I presume, I've never been in the Ladies to check!) We have a small cubicle about 6ft by 6ft, with a shower cubicle in the corner and a chair. There's just enough room for one person to get changed and have a shower.

There are other showers in the building, there's one in each set of toilets. We also have lockers in the same vicinity as the shower, so you can leave your towel, shoes, shampoo at work and leave your cycling kit in the locker when you've changed.

We don't have anywhere to dry stuff, but I leave my towel on the radiator in the toilet block and I dry my vest, hat and gloves on the radiator next to my desk. I let the rest of my kit air in my locker. The lockers are wire mesh, so the security guards can see that you haven't left a bomb in there!

I've worked for several different employers in different buildings and they've all had at least one shower in the building.

Our showers also get used by staff going jogging and playing football at lunchtime.

invisiblemonsters wrote:Daniel B - Can I hijack this slightly and ask how you cut the stays, what equipment did you use? I have some I'd like to trim but I don't think I have anything good enough to chop them, and wondered how substantial a device was needed!

I used a hacksaw on mine, saw them half way through and they snap off with a pair of pliers. Trim the end up with a file.

GrahamG wrote:I'd rather see lots of sensible, assertive cyclists dressed in black with decent lights on their bikes than all the muppets in hi-viz that I see on a daily basis undertaking left turning vehicles, scooting along in the gutter, never looking over the shoulder before squeezing past parked cars with inches to spare.

Peter Longbottom was wearing black when he was killed on the York bypass, he had a decent set of lights on.

I'd rather not take the chance, thank you. You may think i'm a muppet, but i'd rather be a live muppet than a dead, sensible, assertive cyclist.

My bike is called "The Saint", as I go it from SAINT John Street Cycles.