Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for the links folks, I'd heard of Kelly's takeoffs, but always assumed they were like Paul's brackets i.e. for mounting to the top of flat bars. Still pricey stuff though.

Re: ergo/s.t.i. shifters, surely many of the benefits of these systems could be incorporated into a simpler mechanism? I've been looking at the thumbnail picture on colin531's profile, and that looks like a d.i.y. setup that would offer most of the benefits, without having everything crammed into th...

I do wonder how hard it would be sometimes to manufacture parts yourself. I often look at the lathes/milling machines in Machine Mart and think it would be worth a try. Perhaps s.t.i. units might be a bit ambitious, but things like friction shifters would be worth a try. I met a chap once who builds...

I can see the manufacturers' logic-thinner cogs, narrower chains = more rapid wear and frequent replacement. Simple. However it works both ways. Since the advent of 10 speed, I've been happily taking advantage of the cheaper 9 speed kit on offer. When I moved from 8 to 9 speed, a decent cassette was...

Interesting that you mention junior members, because that is what started me thinking about this whole business. I took my kids to a local meeting once, which was intended as a taster night to get people, especially youngsters, involved. We left quite quickly, because of the offensive language and g...

Your club looks like it has followed a path of common sense, and the results are evident in its healthy membership. Of course no single club/ride can include everyone, that would be impossible. Setting up beginners rides, and easing new riders into it seems such an obvious thing to do, but I wonder ...

It's good to hear of a positive, inclusive club. However it would also seem that others have witnessed the less attractive behaviour of some clubs. Perhaps our human tendency to 'fit in' with groups explains some clubs' more 'unusual' practices. For example, I've seen perfectly pleasant individuals ...

As for 'narrow sightedness', this is in no way a criticism of those folks who just like one thing. It is more a criticism of the minority who only enjoy one thing, but try to insist that others adopt the same frame of mind, the 'get a proper bike' brigade, as I like to call them.

I suppose I would like to know if there is a something in human nature that makes people respond differently when part of a group. I'd be willing to admit, I probably don't have the sort of mentality that responds well to formal clubs. I wondered if these 'loner' tendencies are common in cyclists, m...

That's sort of my original point. I think the majority of cyclists are broad minded, but it's the politics of cycling clubs themselves that encourage the 'narrowing' of perspectives. The best example of positive thinking I've seen lately is in running, and the rise of Parkrun events. You have first-...

'Narrow sighted' sums it up nicely. I know a few riders who simply won't entertain road cycling, because it's 'boring'. They've never tried it of course, but the marketing men have convinced them they can only get a 'rush' from a mountain bike. Conversely, I've met road riders who would not be seen ...

This is an odd query, but has anyone else experienced a strange mentality when it comes to cycling clubs? I've yet to find a club that embraces all aspects of cycling. There always seems to be some unwritten code that dictates that X is a racing club, or Y is for mountain bikes, and you must choose ...

I'm sure I once saw MTB used for 'multi terrain bike', but that may have just been a bewildered journalist trying to explain the 'latest craze'.

I've suffered from back problems for years, and mountain biking especially caused flare-ups. Fitted a U.S.E. post last summer, £85 but worth every penny, as I've had hardly any problems since. Going touring soon, and intend to swap it to my touring bike. I've got one of the Suntour posts too, it's o...

I was just starting to get bored with the whole 26vs29 debate, when along comes 650b. I keep meeting people 'in the know' who are determined to tell me how the 26 in. wheel is dead, and in 2 years you won't be able to buy 26 in. tyres. These people are mainly 'play' cyclists, who's only criteria is ...