Cycling UK Forum

Which bike do you ride on mild offroad tracks that gives you the desired comfort? Of rigid bikes you're left with MTBs I guess?

That is what I was looking for when I tried out the Pinnacle Lithium. I found my Brompton more comfy than my Btwin 520 on the rough sections of the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath when I was working in Leeds last year. I guess that gravel/adventure/wider tyred touring bikes should be ideal on rough paths and forest roads but I haven't tried one yet but I am a bit suspicious of the advertising hype. FWIW I am currently musing over the suitability of the Genesis Longitude and Surly Disc Trucker for rough stuff touring but they are quite a bit more expensive than Lithiums especially if the OP can get a 50% discount!

I accept 531colin's point that better tyres should/could improve the ride quality of the Lithium but if so, why doesn't Evans fit them? ...To meet a price point I assume.

My usual advice to this sort of question is to make a short list of suitable bikes, which you have already started on, then go to the shops and try them out. Check out the areas around the shops first for appropriate terrain for the test ride; it sounds as if you need some rough paths, e.g. towpaths along canals, for your intended use. If the shop does not offer test rides I would walk away.

For what it's worth, I took out a Pinnacle Lithium 4 for a test ride from the Evans shop in Preston. I went along tarmac roads and around the variable paths in the nearby park and I judged the ride to be too rough, especially considering that it had wide tyres at 40 psi, so I didn't buy it despite it otherwise having more or less the right spec. On returning it to the shop, I told the shop assisstant that I rated it as a boneshaker which did not go down well especially as they had a big banner advert saying something lke "Swap your boneshaker for one of our bikes!"

See recent thread on this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=123128&p=1248247&hilit=Iwanson#p1248247

Yes is the short answer. Chainrings last a lot longer than cassettes in my experience although I cannot quote relative mileages.

It sounds as if you need a new cassette to go with your new chain. The small sprockets tend to wear out first, especially if you use them more than the big ones.

Campsite name: Dol-gamedd
Location: Brithdir, Bont Newydd, off the B4416, just east of Dolgellau, SH 773 201
Fees: £10.50 per person per tent per night including hot showers
Facilities: showers, toilets, kitchen, washing machines, two tumble driers, only one of which worked, the other just gobbled my pound coins.
The owner was very welcoming. There were plenty of flat sites available. There were lots of dogs on the site, some just wandering around and one that peed on my panniers when I was about to get pitched, which did not go down well with me! Not as pleasant and peaceful as you might expect as it is close to the A494. No pub within in easy walking distance. Great views of Cadair Idris going down to Dolgellau in the morning.

It was at the end of a wet day and the site was busy when I stayed. This might be a nice place to stay in fine weather and out of the peak season but I was not impressed and I suspect that there are better places to stay nearby.

Campsite name: Pencelli Castle Farm
Location: Pencelli, SE of Brecon, SO 094 247. The site is adjacent to the Lon Las Cymru = NCN 8 and the Brecon - Monmouth canal.
Fees: £12.50 per person per tent per night includes hot showers
Facilities: Clean, modern showers, washing cubicles, toilets, laundry and drying room, kitchen, play area.
The non-electric hook-up area that I used is not as flat as the EHU area and is further from the facilities. No dogs and no music. Minimal traffic noise but it was busy when I was there in early August so I cannot say that it was peaceful, but it would be outside the school holidays I guess.
It is a short walk to a pub that offers basic but very welcome food and pleasant, efficient service and has outside seating by the canal.
A bit pricey but worth it.

A Van Nicholas Yukon would meet your requirements AFAIK. I got mine in about 2007 and I use 28 mm tyres with mudguards on it. It has a threaded BB, long drop Shimano caliper brakes and eyelets for a rack. I don't know if they have changed the spec at all; their website is a bit short of detail.

I haven't tried one but the Bokor MTB got a favourable review in the latest Cycle magazine and I have seen positive comments about the Bizango MTB on the singletrack website.

I would have some test rides on several bikes at the right price and with the features that you need, weigh up the pros and cons of each, see what you think then let us know how you got on..

Try googling METREA

Have you checked the guarantee on the frame?

Ergon GP5 grips give you more hand positions but they are pricey, at about £60. There are plenty of cheaper bar ends.

You need to determine the bolt circle diameter (BCD) and find a new one that matches. It may be stamped on the chainring but if not you can calculate it from the distance between the bolt holes. Also check that the arms are evenly spaced; it looks that way from the photo. Spa stock a good range of chainrings.

Cyril Haearn asked:

Would you care to briefly describe your regime?

I always have a big bowl of porridge for breakfast. I put chopped dates in it for more flavour. That means that I rarely get hungry before 1 pm so no need for snacks..

Midday I might have a cooked meal if I'm hungry. Often soup in winter.

May be a sandwich at 6 pm. I eat more if I have been out hiking or biking.

Toast at bed time.

This allows me to stay at 84 kg which is the maximum for normal weight based on my height and BMI. (I understand that BMI is only one guide to a desirable/healthy weight).

I don't propose this as a new diet plan for losing/maintaning weight for everyone but it has worked for me and it has the advantages of no starvation, no expensive special diet foods and no calorie counting.

I have just received 4 tyres and a cable puller. No problem, quick service and so I will use them again.

Cyril Haearn wrote:Fruehstueck wie ein Koenig
Mittag wie ein Bauer
Abend wie ein Bettler
..
Breakfast like a King
Lunch like a farmer
Supper like a beggar
..
German saying recommends an "unusual" regime, makes quite a bit of sense I think
Porridge in summer too of course

This scheme and cutting out snacks helped me to lose 10 kg and keep at or below 84 kg.