Cycling UK Forum

In the "press pack" section, it describes itself as an online magazine only....

Just as a side line question - I didn't realise it was possible to put a Rohloff hub into a "groupset" geared bike - I thought Rohloff's needed to go into Rohloff designed frames (does this make me stupid? )... so why do manufacturers bother making both versions? For example Van Nicholas Amazon frame - "groupset" version £1399, Rohloff £1599. Buying the former obviously saves me money and I can change and swap about when ever I like... afterall, I might not like the hub
How on earth do they manage to sell the latter?! My guess at an answer is the lack of a chain tensioner, so the result looks nicer... or is there more to it?

BTW, in the post above, the zweiradlinss people, who can build wheels with Rohloff's in them, I've used them and they are very good when it comes to communication and flexible if you want to fiddle about with the spec. You might want a dynamo hub in the other wheel for example. They will just deduct the price of what they are not giving you and add in what they are.

36 hole Rohloff's are available from rose bikes......for £805 (silver)

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rohl ... aid:712451

Buying a whole bike does attract a lot of attention. The last time I did this, it cost me double because she wanted - and received - an equivalent on her hobby - fair enough I suppose.

But, I find that I can get away with the odd rim here and odd brake caliper there, so I now buy bits, slowly but surely, though my local LBS, not the post (again, attention) and when Xmas comes around, with my birthday conveniently nearby, I request something for all these bits to hang on...and I get my frame. It's a sort of self inflicted finance option which helps me out too!

You could follow one of these routes...

http://cyclo-long-cours.fr/diagonales/

It's officially a 1992 model so it was likely to have been made the back end of 1991 onwards...

Yes, they are nice bikes, but I would say that, because I own one! (a bit pricey though)

http://www.condorcycles.com/Single-Spee ... e.tpl.html

I run mine as a single speed and bought it because I was new the the wonderful world of single speed set ups and didn't think I would be able to get a "yet another sell and buy something slightly but importantly different"* past the wife, but a modification to SA I could probably achieve..... In the end, my worries were unfounded.

*which is unfair as I would be keeping within the "one out, one in" rule that I am gently reminded of, operating in my life.

Rich - but there will not be the state VAT to pay when exporting out of the US and the price on their website should be the US RRP, not their wholesaling price. So, the UK importer should be buying it at wholesale with no VAT but yes, there will be VAT here and import duty....so we are probably back to our £1250, Robert's pricing territory.

Either which way, they seem very expensive, even in the US and even if they can be put in a case - which is extra BTW - plus but loads of other manufacturers do this; hardly an unique selling point. I don't buy the "handmade in America" thing either - I seem to remember Cannondale making a fair share of "Friday afternoon bikes" when they manufactured in the US.

What about the welding, paint finish etc??? is their anyone out there able to persuade me to put it on my possible list. Anyone???

I've only ever seen a professional picture of one and never a second hand one on here, ebay or the like ....so has anyone actually seen or even ridden one? Are they beautiful and full of lovingly hand made touches, as their website likes to trumpet?

They seem to be very expensive - an off the peg Reynolds 725, rohloff frame at £2250. ouch. A made to measure Roberts is quite a bit less...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Co-Motion-Pan ... 4ac3fcc8d9

Am I supposed to be awe or can they be "ignored"....in the nicest possible way?

If you find the right size for you now, then buy it now. Retailers will stop their offers soon to take advantage of the small peak at Xmas and in the spring there is likely to be huge demand so then why would they discount? They need to make hay when the sun starts to come out.

In your position, I'd be tempted to wait until January when no one has any money and the weather is terrible - bikes are hardly going to be walking (being ridden?) out off shops.

Against all of this, Pauls cycles always seem to offer Cannondale's at attractive prices.

Mine does this from time to time when the battery is on its last legs. I can be stopped at a traffic light going "78.9mph".....
I change the battery in the "computer bit" and all goes back to normal (perfect working order - I've not had any trouble with my Cateye's)

This was in the Press today -

Cyclists deserve to be prosecuted for breaking road laws and identification plates could be the way to make sure they are, one police commissioner claims.
Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne believes that cyclists should be treated the same as drivers on the roads * and if they are, it might "make life easier for everybody,"
A similar idea has already been dismissed by the RAC in 2006 and safety campaigners have already labeled Bourne's proposal as unrealistic.
Speaking to the public on Monday where she answered a range of questions about cycling, Katy said: "I would like to see cyclists wear some form of identification.
"So when they go through traffic lights, you can actually identify them and then you can prosecute them for breaking the law."
Cyclists, unsurprisingly, have a very different view to that the police and crime commissioner and Tony Green, from the Brighton and Hove cycling campaign, has described the idea as "totally unrealistic."
He continued: " Cyclists are seen as an easy target. I don't really know what it is but maybe people think they are getting something for free."
Carton Reid, author of Roads Were Not Built For Cars is another cycling enthusiast who disagrees with Mrs Bourne's views, saying: "Number plates don't stop motorists texting and speeding."It's an ill-thought through idea," he said, talking to the Times.
Whether Katy Bourne's status will mean that her proposal is taken more seriously is yet to be seen, but there is a strong belief that something that needs to be done about the poor cycling standards on the roads.

* so we can act in a whole range of illegal ways and be let off. Great!

First things first, a great choice for a ride...

I did this a few years ago and can tell you that there is more often than not a wide, decent well covered cycle path along much of the river. Nice food stops are plentiful, the scenery is great....and of course, it is fairly flat, or not that taxing at least.

I bought a book by "Velo Guide", text and pics by Michel Bonduelle which will give you 13 great rides in the region. ISBN 978-2-7373-4111-3. Editions "Ouest-France". Yes, it is in French but the maps, pics, opening times, short historical bits etc are hardly difficult to understand. I think there is an English version, the cycling series which come in a slightly smaller than A5 size and are light brown in colour - so sorry to not have the name!!!

Have a good trip.

Garmin have a feature for recalculating the route, if you go off course. If you turn it off, you will be a much happier person....