Cycling UK Forum

I thought perhaps wall anchors were to stop the house floating away in a flood..............

I sent them an email over a week ago asking for prices of parts not listed on their web page. They've not bothered replying....

I solved the same problem on my old bike by filing a cheese head screw down thin, and then putting flats on it so that I could use a spanner. By the way, don't forget to make a spare to keep in your pannier in case it works loose and gets lost........

That's great news! Last time I saw Martin was at Eppng YHA, I wound him up by asking whether he preferred Epping or Skiddaw Hse. It's a long time since you saw this sort of co-operation from the YHA isn't it:

"If you are planning a visit and are an individual or in a small party (3 or less), there is no need to book, just turn up."

Roseversand have just emailed me to say that 9 speed bar end shifters are not compatible with the MTB front mech I intend to use (FD-M530-3). I assume they're thinking of the 13mm/19.5mm cable travel issue. I've just measured my existing 8 speed system, the front mech uses 19.5mm of cable, and the bar end end shifter pulls 26mm. Should I really believe that 9sp b/e levers pull less front cable than 8sp, or is Mr Roseversand getting bar end confused with STI?

I'm 6'6" and ride a 64cm Horizon. For a normal rider my size it would be adequate, but I need very high bars and have no end of difficulty finding stems long enough. (My bars are still another 6.5" above the headnut.) At 6'2", I doubt you'll find a 64cm too big.

Thanks CJ. I'd noticed the difference in the dishing, and nearly asked about that too! Since you introduced me to roseversand the other day, I've noticed that I can buy complete new front and rear hubs from them for the same price as renewing just the ratchet from SJS!!

horizon wrote:shortsighted management policies.

The management objective is to turn the YHA from a subsidised charity into a profit making business by getting rid of its image as a provider of scruffy accommodation frequented by eccentric cyclists and walkers, and turning it into a travelodge style chain of budget B&B's for motorists with familys. By these lights, it's not bad management at all. If the Tourist Board threatens to withold grants unless the YHA employ accountants to 'sort out' the business, then it's pointless complaining about management until you can convince the government that the YHA is a socially desirable organisation worth subsidising. But then, I suppose there's no point in expecting a government to legislate for something unless you can persuade the public to demand it from them....

Does anyone know what this means in the context of Shimano hubs? M535 has center lock, M530 doesn't, but what's the difference?

Crazydave wrote:I just daren't try on the hoof.

I always travel unbooked, hence my interest in whether the hostels are flooded or full of refugees. From Essex, I was planning to head west to Pembrokeshire first, so it would take me right through the Gloucestershire/ Oxfordshire flood areas.

If one hostel is full I just use another, or an independent, or as occasionally as possible, a B&B. I wouldn't dare book ahead, I need to be able to take an easy day when I feel I need it. Booking ahead is no guarantee, I've met people who have booked in January, and then had the YHA write to cancel because they've got a school party lined up who want exclusive use.

Are there any YHA's that are closed due to the floods does anyone know?

Wow, aren't they cheap!! What's the catch?

Suppliers are telling me that Shimano won't supply front mechs FD-M510 or FD-M530-3 (and by inference any other model??) to the UK market in 63-66 deg chainstay angle variants. Given that the whole objective is to switch to the smallest chainset I can get (22-32-44T), how do I find a mech that will work reliably without fouling on the chainstay? (My chainstay angle is 64.3)

Tom Richardson wrote:What happened to cotterpins? They were useless but I thought that they were the standard method of attaching cranks from 1878 to 1978.

I see SJS are still selling them, but they're pretty out of fashion now.

How do I include a picture? (This computer's in the library, so I can't leave scanned files on the disk it if that's what's needed.)