Cycling UK Forum

A common problem that "newbies" have is that they are unable to name the parts of a bike and ask confusing questions. A webpage like the following can be used to identify the name of a part, and will allow you to format more understandable questions:

https://thebestbikelock.com/parts-of-a-bike/

Will

The Carrera Vengeance was available in both double chainring (16-speed) and triple chainring (24-speed).

I don't think anyone here has a clue what you mean by "the frame is wide on the back" - Please explain what you mean.

Could you give a better description of "a brass coloured thing where the handlebars are". It is quite common to replace parts on bikes. What you may be referring to may be the handlebar stem and this may have been replaced with one with a longer (or shorter) reach or with a greater rise.

Photographs would really help to identify what you are talking about.

Finally, it is highly unlikely that Halfords would refuse to fix whatever problem you have with the bike.

Will

This YouTube video shows the RE13 service I mentioned above (that you can use to get from Düsseldorf or Mönchengladbach to Venlo (Netherlands). If you skip to around the 4 minute mark, you can see the interior of the train (with the many bike spaces).

The transfer at Eindhoven Centraal looks tight (usually only 2 or 3 minutes), but it is on adjacent platforms, so you have a good chance of making it. If you miss the connection, then the next train is only about 30 minutes later from the same platform.

Will

MrsHJ wrote: ↑9 Jun 2024, 6:01pm Finally there are a number of sleeper services like night jet that sometimes take bikes and a number of overnight trains (without sleepers) in Germany that take bikes.

The Zürich - Amsterdam NightJet is coupled with Swiss seating carriages that have 2 bike spaces per carriage. I recall someone posting on this forum that they were able to book their bike on that train after booking a berth via NightJet.

Will

Wald wrote: ↑9 Jun 2024, 1:37pm Hello all,

I'm heading out on the EV15 soon (Rotterdam > Andermatt) and I'm wondering if anyone here has any recent experience with returning to Rotterdam by train.

It looks like it's doable in 12 hours (6 changes) - but I'm not sure if all of these services accommodate bikes. Should I be banking on the return leg taking a couple of days when a bike's part of the equation?

Many thanks for any advice.

Wal.

I believe that trains in Switzerland accommodate bikes, so getting to Zurich or Basel should not be a problem.

There are a number of Deutsche Bahn Inter City Express trains that run from Zurich and Basel towards Köln and Düsseldorf that have 8 bookable bike spaces per train. There is also a couple of slower Euro City services (EC6/EC8) that have many bookable bike spaces.

From Köln there are a number of regional express trains (with non-bookable bike spaces) that you can take to Düsseldorf or Mönchengladbach. From Düsseldorf or Mönchengladbach you can get a Eurobahn RE13 service to Venlo in the Netherlands, This train has a number of non-bookable bike spaces.

From Venlo you then get dutch (NS) trains to Rotterdam, changing at Eindhoven. Dutch trains accommodate bikes, but you cannot reserve a space.

If you use the Deutsche Bahn website, you can filter for trains that take bikes. You can use the vagonWeb to look up individual trains.

Example: EC8

Will

Riley26 wrote: ↑6 Jun 2024, 10:28pm I image it's normal to but from eBay for this kind of stuff. As I am write in saying they don't make new ones any more? Thanks again for all the advice.

I believe your bike was manufactured in 2009 and has a 9-speed group set. I don't know what components are still manufactured, but it is getting much harder to find 9-speed chain rings and cranks. I spent several days over the winter refurbishing the cranks on my 9-speed touring bike (that were looking really scruffy) because I could not find a replacement anywhere.

You may be able to find some NOS (New Old Stock) items from online retailers, but when that stock is gone, there won't be anymore available.

Will

Riley26 wrote: ↑6 Jun 2024, 9:54pm

Will wrote: ↑6 Jun 2024, 12:31pm There is a Shimano Tiagra FC-4550 Chainset 175mm 50/34T 9 / 10 Speed for sale on e-bay for £40. The left hand crank appears to be identical to yours.

Will

If I bought that. It would give be a spare for the over side/crank if ever need it?

That chainset is what is known as a compact chainset. The chain rings are smaller that what you would normally find on a Road bike. It is designed to be used by normal cyclists rather than by professionals.

Chainsets were also available as a standard double chainset (with larger chain rings) and as a triple chainset. The finish on all three chainsets are the same, but they all use the same left hand crank (which is why it has three codes on it).

I assume that your bike has a compact chainset, and is possibly the same as this one. If it is, then your right hand crank will have the FC-4550 code on it. If the chainrings are less worn on this item then it is easy to swap them over, or you could just swap over the whole right hand crank.

There will be other left hand cranks available that could be used as a replacement, but the finish will be different.

Will

Riley26 wrote: ↑6 Jun 2024, 7:39pm I am mechanically minded as am a plumber. Do you think it's within someone like me's capibilties to swap it? I think I would need a crank pulley? Which is a similar thing to an olive puller that I use.

You don't need a crank puller for the Shimano Hollotech cranks, you should be able to pull the left one off after removing the tension bolt and loosening the bolts.

This Youtube video shows you how to do it.

A tool to remove the tension bolt can be had for a few pounds.

Will

There is a Shimano Tiagra FC-4550 Chainset 175mm 50/34T 9 / 10 Speed for sale on e-bay for £40. The left hand crank appears to be identical to yours.

Will

The pedal thread is completely gone in those photos, and you should replace the crank.

Left hand cranks are usually compatible with several right hand cranks, so they have several codes (your left hand crank is compatible with FC-4500, FC-4503, and FC-4550 right hand crank). There should be one of these codes on the right hand crank - this is the code for the right hand crank.

A left hand crank that includes the code that is on the right hand crank is a compatible replacement for the left hand crank.

Will

JerseyJoe wrote: ↑6 Jun 2024, 5:58am Can't be certain (your photo is quite fuzzy) but it's looks like the first four threads are completely stripped

And with it being the left hand crank, it was probably due to the person installing the pedal not being aware that it is a left hand thread, and therefore applying some force when installing the pedal (because it just won't 'catch') and stripping the threads.

Will

Riley26 wrote: ↑5 Jun 2024, 2:40pm thanks i measured it appears to be 175mm, someone said most are 172.5 on road bikes

Shimano cranks usually have the crank length on the inside of the crank next to the pedal hole.

Will

Youtube and Google Streetview can be used to recce the route beforehand:

Youtube video: Cycling with DFDS from Dover to Dunkirk

You can see the red line that they followed to the start of the video on Google Streetview

Will

simonhill wrote: ↑3 Jun 2024, 7:02pm News on the radio this evening (News R4) that long delays at Dover. Mainly kids on coaches.

No other details or reasons given.

Coaches follow a different check-in process at Dover that involves the whole check-in process being completed at the Western Docks before heading down the A20 to the ferry terminal. A large number of coaches being processed is unlikely to have much of an impact on anyone arriving by bike.

Will

The dutch do have a problem with illegally modified e-bikes, which is bound to lead to an increase in accidents:

https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/ge ... w-breakers

Will