Cycling UK Forum

I had a similar experience.

On a tour across the US this summer I had just started the day with a fairly steep hill using my smallest ring, 24T. at the top of the hill I shifted to my middle ring, 38T. There was a rattle like a can of marbles and I came to a quick stop, the chain had broken or so I thought. It turns out the Quicklink had come undone. The chain, a SRAM, had about 1000 miles on it so presumably the link was installed correctly. The QL that separated appeared rather bent so I replaced it with a spare rather than try to straighten it, about 100 miles later I replaced the chain. This was a new phenomenon to me but it seems others have had it happen. It may have been low chain tension as I have a fairly large chain ring spread 51-38-24 that I like a lot. I now make sure the chain is unloaded before shifting from the small ring. That seems to do the trick. Presumably for this to happen the QL has to be on the right part of the chain ring while shifting and I had been lucky for 3000 miles

Sorry I didn't take pictures I was so relieved just to get moving again. I had visions of hitch hiking the 100 miles to a bike shop.

Total (€) 117.50

seems a lot of money. I thought for a moment it would be cheaper to get them from the US, $88 each, at Compass Bicycles but it wouldn't be. If you don't want the Extra Legere other versions are quite a bit cheaper as low as $62. But the shipping would be a killer.

Bar bag. Ortlieb has the major advantage of being waterproof. I have a Lone Peak bar bag (may only be available in the US) and I hate it. It's OK until it rains then you have to stop and put a cover on it which hides your map. Once in a mid-west downpour the cover itself filled with water and everything still got soaked. I groused to the man I bought it from and he suggested cutting a drain hole in the bottom of the cover. Why they can't make the cover with a drain hole is anybody's guess. He recommended the same fix for panier covers if you're unwise enough to buy Lone Peak paniers

for some reason the baggage handler stood the box up on its end ?

There was a gate at Schuypol(?) Amsterdam and that was the only way we could get it through.The baggage handler may have had a similar problem. IIRC something prevented us from sliding it through lengthwise If you are wheeling a boxed bike on one of those supermarket style trollies, on end is the easiest way to do it, otherwise you are banging into everything and everybody.

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=114537
Brucey,
This is a discussion of the print article. In many thousands of miles of touring in the US and Europe I've never had a snake bite flat, gravel roads, rumble strips, misaligned bridge joints, Rode over all kinds of sharp edges. What is there about London that induces them?

best to keep your tyre pressures up if you have had 'snakebite' punctures

I've just finished a 4700 mile tour on Panasonic RiBiMo 700 X 32 tires The back one wore out after only 4500 miles. I had 2 punctures in the back tire: one from those little bits of steel from radial truck tire fragments, the other I couldn't find what did it. Again according to Bicycle Quarterly (print edition), lower pressure does not necessarily mean higher rolling resistance but it does mean more comfort. The back one had 80 psi the front 60. My guess is that snakebites tend to be more of a problem with off-road riding.

Chain cleaning is a religious act with as much evidence for its efficacy as most other religious acts.

Not saying they are "bent" or anything but I do find their prices very uncompetitive to say the least.

There' a shop called Recycled Cycles near where I live. I used to think their prices were steep but there's quite a bit of work goes into making a decent bike for sale and they do offer a warranty for what they sell. Does your outfit offer a warranty?

New England is bonny; verdant, hilly with next to no hostels like the rest of the US but plenty of motels and campsites. If you want to see nothing but corn for days on end go to Indiana or Ohio. In its own way hundreds of miles of corn is a sight to see mind.

Two years ago I found out the hard way why all the guides are for riding south to north when I tried to ride the NSCR from Bergen south. It was hell, howling headwinds all the way and have you ever tried reversing a guide? Every left become a right etc. Esbjerg is very nice and has a lovely hostel. You should be OK and have the wind at your back. One of these days I'll do it the right way myself

I've had good luck eliminating squeals by using Jagwire pads. (without toe-in)

A couple of days ago I used a portable toilet in a seedy area of Seattle. when I came out I was accosted by a homeless man. "Uh oh" went through my mind (to my shame) He was asking me if I wanted some of his hand sanitizer!

you'll be threatened more by the Canadian geese

Too true, I nearly hit a Canada goose yesterday. Round here they are avian yobbos. And the stuff they leave behind is a major pest.

Specialized 'All condition' 28mm tyres. (non armadillo version)

I did the TransAm with these. After about 2500 miles they had worn the black rubber thin, uncoloured stuff was showing through in one spot and I started to get punctures. Mind you it was a heavily loaded bike. Up to then no punctures.

I once worked in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. (Someone said it was so flat you could see your dog run away for three days.) You're going to find the terrain off the canal quite a bit different. You should have a great ride. If you have the time, once you get to the Skipton / Gargrave area make a side trip north into the Yorkshire Dales. There's a bike shop in Skipton (worth a visit) behind the old Town Hall who will help with directions. You won't regret it.