Cycling UK Forum

Fit Jagwire compressionless cables to a Boardman CX with drops and Avid mechanical discs. Vast improvement in feel and modulation. Brakes are no longer spongy. Not cheap but I think money well spent.

Good advice but I would add. Avoid using any sort of high pressure hose, it can drive dirt / grit into bearings. We had a relatively new bike into the shop recently, the owner had jet washed it contaminating most of the bearings.

Sounds like you have the Bike Care Plan service coming up which is pretty comprehensive. That gives you another option - get it serviced and sell it as a recently serviced bike. Then go for the cycle to work scheme, if you can afford it aim for the Boardman range and you will notice a significant improvement on the Axle which is an entry level Carrera. The latest Boardman CX range is worth looking at as an alternative to a hybrid. Halfords website often offers clearance models and if your not bothered about having the latest model offer very good value.

Cheers ! Sorry but I missed that!

If that is really the case and the demand is there for the traditional CTC and its roots, which I don't want to loose from the Club, perhaps those that care should set up an alternative?

I would have thought it could be done on the web, it wouldn't be quite the same but if the will is there I'm sure it would be possible.

Hi Bicycler -

I agree, there are are two aspects - rebranding and a change in the direction of the club.

I don't like the new 'brand' for the reasons I have given. I would have been happy if we had remained the CTC but to change back now - is that really going to happen and what would the cost be?

Change in the policy and direction of the club, I can only go by what I have read and there are plans - it won't happen over night and time will tell.

I have been a member off and on since the mid 80's and have worked in the public sector with local and national government departments.
I have a life long interest in cycling history and on a personal level was disappointed to see the rebrand. But on balance I can see that change was necessary. In the past I have come across the CTC in consultation processes and to be honest it was embarrassing, no professional presence whatsoever and several missed opportunities to influence transport policy. The organisation would have been lost in the wilderness if it didn't change.

I do think its strength lies in it members and its heritage. The powers that be cant please all and with hindsight this mess could have been handled much better. I think the new name is lame and will be lost amongst the other pressure groups that exist, it doesn't suggest that it is a club for ALL cyclists, it could even be a cycling product retailer!. The winged wheel should have been evolved into a modern icon with an added a strap line of something like 'working for cyclists since 1878'. When did an organisation with an iconic brand identity (Coke, Virgin, Ford, Apple, Brookes) completely rebrand without acknowledging its historical underpinnings, its commercial madness. It will be too costly to rebrand again but on the basis that change was essential I do think some recognition of the clubs heritage needs to be added to the brand identity, not a page of history on the web site and a few comments by the CEO to rebut the criticism flying in his direction. This would go someway to make the club inclusive to all members.

The danger is the club fragments and starts on the road to a slow death to be absorbed by another cycling organisation.

Hi Brucey - yes I did know that but I do enjoy the heritage of the 'CTC' and wanted the traditional logo for my frame. You can't put a value on heritage and tradition - the winged wheel looks good on a traditional frame

Thanks for the info, looks like it's eBay then. Shame they can't be purchased direct from the club.

I have rejoined after several years and am trying to find a traditional CTC winged wheel frame transfer.
The club used to sell them via the shop in Godalming. They were about the size of a 50p piece.
I can't find them listed anywhere and it appears the shop has ceased to exist. Any ideas?
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but I only have limited access to the site at the moment.

Thanks for the replies.

John

I have a Dawes Galaxy, owned from new in about 1995. It is the model with the rear brake cable routed along the inside of the top tube, entering and exiting from the top.
I have just changed the headset and noticed whilst it was on the stand that there was a great deal of flaking rust in the top tube.
Presumably this is from water getting into the tube where the brake cable enters and leaves and sitting there.

Couple of questions-
Have any members with this model had this problem and how did they rectify it?
How can I stop the spread of rust in the tube - am thinking of engine oil or waxoil?
How can I tell the extent of the damage so far?

Thanks

John

I was recently in the market for a Mountain Bike to compliment my ageing tourer and went to East Street Cycles in Farnham, Surrey. I went in with a budget of about a grand and came out with a Gary Fisher for under £700.
I spent the best part of 2 hrs with Dom, who I hink is the store manager. He was patient and knowledgable about his stock and above all made time for me wanting me to leave with the correct product. I cant fault the service.

I too purchased the toolkit from Lidl this week, whilst I have most of the tools anyway it was cheaper to buy the kit than two or three individual items from a bike shop or Halfords. The quality is on par with these stores.

I also got the bike computer from Lidl, it comes with a HR monitor, back light and two bike function all for £12.

They are also selling an aluminium track pump with pressure gauge, frame pump and pannier set all much cheaper than the mainstream suppliers.

John