Cycling UK Forum

Hi Brucey
Good point which I shall keep an eye on. The chain wheels are 9/10 speed so hopefully I shall get away with it
Graham

Maybe not what you're after but I used these in the 70s

Rubber Cable Ties, Old Style Control Cable and Wiring Straps
eBay item number:361806481068

Well I've ridden 300 miles with a 10 speed chain on my 9 speed groupset with no problem so far. I measured the gap between the inner links and the 10 sp chain is only 0.1mm narrower than a nine sp.

I see that the straddle cable is adjustable on my Mafac brakes so maybe that is why they could be described as better than the Weinmanns?

I used an open tool to remove bearings fitted by my LBS and it cut through the alloy of the bearing holder and rendered it fit only for scrap. Therefore I bought the socket type - and I won't be asking my LBS to go anywhere near the BB in future.

I've used 46/34 front rings with Ultegra (10s) front derailer and 9 speed Sora, the latter with an 11/32 cluster. No problems with any of them. I use medium GS rear derailers. The rear Ultegra works with a 12/30 cluster.

Thanks. Sounds like it should be OK then

This year I took my old Falcon bike down the High Peak Trail - a former railway incline necessitated using the brakes a lot to keep the speed down on the loose surface. I had to get on the drops and squeeze the levers with all my strength to operate the Weinmann centre pulls - new cables, cleaned, lubed, new blocks, alloy rims and dry weather. I reckon with modern brakes I could have braked adequately from the hoods.
I'm pleased to hear that Mafacs are better than Weinmanns because I'm putting them on my old Mercier. Maybe I'll fit them to the Falcon too then?
Graham

I fitted a 10 speed chain to my 9 speed Sora groupset. I only realised when I chucked the packet away and then didn't have time to change it before an 80 ml ride. It worked fine but do I need to swap it for a 9 speed chain really?
Graham

I used a tyre liner called Mr Tuffy back in the early 80s - in my 27x11/4" tyres. I soon became fed up with puncturing during my commute; on the windscreen glass that gormless unthinking motorists knocked out on the cycle path. I was getting a puncture every week. If I rode on the road I was honked at and buzzed by idiots. Thank goodness for laminated windscreens.
Mr Tuffy prevented any more punctures but after about 30 years it began to break up. You can still get a version of it but it's harder to fit in narrow tyres IMO so I rely on protected tyres. I've also heard of riders getting punctures from the tuff tape - but judging by the poor quality of some tubes maybe that's not surprising. This year I've had two tubes with only partially bonded valve stems and one was just weak and ripped. I've just fitted a slime tube in my audax bike so we shall see how that behaves.

I've just done a 126mile (200km) Audax having previously done no more than about 100. I suggest you go easy for the first 60 miles where most of the climbing occurs. Then it is less hilly till you get to St Kenelms Pass near Clent. That will be fairly testing after 85 miles. Other decent climbs are up from Dunley to Great Witley or Abberley (I can't tell from the thumbnail map but both are significant) and later up the B4203 from Stanford Bridge towards Tembury, past Abberley School (recognisable from the very tall tower in the grounds). At the top of this hill you turn right to Tembury on the B4204. I'd guess this is the most challenging climb, (ignoring fatigue which will kick in later).
I'm no expert but I wouldn't think you'll that you'll get adequate training for hill climbing from rollers only, so you'll need to get on the road, I should have thought. From memory I think I first did a 100 miler after having accomplished several 60-70 mile rides, including in the Worcestershire area of the Velo. I'd suggest you try one or other of the climbs just to see what you are up against. Of course none of the roads will be closed when you train so choose a quiet time like Sunday morning or go in a group. You don't say where you live but if you are local you could choose any of the above climbs. I quite often ride from Bewdley to Stanford Bridge, but then turn right up another good hill towards Shelsley Walsh, and those roads aren't too bad at the weekends provided you avoid the lunchtime traffic. St Kenelms Pass is a bit narrow at the Clent end and there is quite a lot of commuter traffic in the weekday rush hour. Other, quieter hills are available in Clent. On the other hand, if not local, you should be able to find some equivalent 3,4 and 5 Category hills somewhere nearer. The Velo prospectus says there are 3 x cat 3, 1 x cat 4 and 3 x cat 5, by the way.
I hope you have at least one riding partner so you can share the riding into the wind.
Best of luck!

By the way, they say they are closing all roads on the course. Most are B roads with a few miles on A roads and are quite important locally. Can they really close the Kidderminster to Bromsgrove road and the Kidderminster to Droitwich road at the same time? And then there is the A449 trunk road from Kidderminster to Worcester which the route has to cross. How will they deal with that? Traffic lights? It will be interesting to see.

I bought one of these: "MT ZOOM 12 function Multi Tool Allen Keys Chain breaker Spoke Key Screwdriver" on Fleabay. So far I have used the spanner flats, screwdriver, spoke key, and Allen keys (3 sizes). The only part I haven't needed is the chain breaker - which was the original reason for buying it . I like it so much I bought 2 more. I also carry a multi tool with pliers and tyre levers + tube.
Graham

Well I use Ultegra 10 speed. I think he uses X11 EL.

I use Shimano chains and a friend uses KMC - we both get about 2,500 miles out of them for 0.6% wear.

A friend had back pains on her new bike, even though the fit was copied from her previous bike. Lowering the saddle 3mm and moving it forward a touch solved the problem - showing that very small adjustments can have a profound effect. Why not experiment a bit (without losing the original dimensions). On the other hand I tried a carbon frame and even with a bike fit and various stems it wasn't going to fit comfortably. I have long legs and short back and the geometry was just wrong for me.