Cycling UK Forum

BikeBuddha

I use an Aarn Pacer Tent, but they are only available from New Newland, though I believe there is a
European distributor.

https://www.aarnpacks.com/collections/t ... arn-2-tent

I select the same tents I would use in the Scottish Highlands for hiking. I chose this tent as you can replace the centre pole with hiking poles, which I plan to take on bike, for extensive touring/farming/hiking trips.

Good in the wind, with ample head room to sit up in (and meditate).

The footprint is not great, though, so I would pack another footprint. I am thinking of weed barrier.

BikeBuddha

Thank you everyone.

Some bus drivers seemed to think I need a bag, to put the bike in the haulage area. That is why I was looking for it.

But, I will just take some plastic bags in case they want to protect the hold and other luggage from grease.

Pictures coming soon.!

PS. Do you use a lock in the trains?

BikeBuddha

Hi

I finally got my bike, but find myself needing to travel with it. I am new to travelling with a bike, and find myself having to use both a train (space reserved) and a bus (in hold of a Scottish Citylink).

I was thinking of leaving the filled panniers on.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice as regards whether to remove pedals, twist handlebars, etc.

What brand/model of bike bag would fit the bike and panniers.

A high quality chain, or something to take travelling and securing bike.

Pictures of bike to come.

Thank you for any adivice you can give.

BikeBuddha

Simon has guided me well to customising the right bike for me.
Thank you all again for helping.
May you be well and free of suffering.
Will posts pictures and spec when bike arrives.

BikeBuddha

rareposter wrote: ↑4 Oct 2022, 10:51am
PH wrote: ↑4 Oct 2022, 10:23am
For my money, I'd always go with Exposure:

https://www.exposure-use.com/Brands/Exp ... 7300a6d139

Unfortunately, they don't do a 36 spoke version for the dynamo.

But thank you for the recommendation.

I think i will stick with sinewave. I doubt i will be riding at night that much anyway. Especially in UK>

BikeBuddha

PH wrote: ↑2 Oct 2022, 10:34pm
BikeBuddha wrote: ↑2 Oct 2022, 9:24pm I went with sinewave beacon for a lighting system. Better for backroads. Also, can plug in battery back to power lights.
Great light for the off road purpose it's designed for, pretty poor light for anything else and of course not EU legal. If i was spending £400 on lighting (Plus the hub) I think I could do better.

Better how? Looked at Edelux 2, but, beam too narrow.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Jdsk wrote: ↑2 Oct 2022, 9:50pm
BikeBuddha wrote: ↑2 Oct 2022, 9:24pm ...
I hope you are all well and will post a picture of bike, if ever i learn how to do it. Do you need to link to an image on the net?
...
You can upload to this site or link to images on a service such as Dropbox. Which would you prefer?

Thanks

Jonathan

Upload to site, i reckon. But i will also look at drop box.

MarcusT wrote: ↑4 Oct 2022, 5:30am If I had to go disc, I would go mechanical. Additionally, disc mounting should not require specialized tools. Along with having the most common brake system for parts availability

@ MarcusT: Going mechanical disc. Would do Rim, but my forearms are knackered at moment.
So, going to have both sets. £400 on Disc brake version, effectively. All because of dodgy forearms.

The other bonus is that i can swop over the two systems and test them. This will allow better bike maintenance knowledge, to help myself and others on the journey.

simonhill wrote: ↑26 Sep 2022, 10:17am
A good quality new rim is only about £30, why skimp. I've just had a new rear wheel because my old was wearing. Long distance bike touring isn't only about pedalling from A to Z, but also managing your gear in a timely manner.

As for rim wearing, I have Andra 40s to carry a 180 kg max. Don't expect to, but with 26 inch wheels and rohloff hub, super strong and i think rims will last with rim brakes a long time.

Finally, it wasn't a steer dampining system, but a Steerstopper I am having fitted. I will let you know how I get on with it.

https://steerstopper.com/

BikeBuddha

Hi all

The bike is being built. Custom made frame, with the components chosen with the help of this forum. So, thank you. All your comments and insights helped finalise the bike.

I am having disc brakes, but with Rim brake rims on wheels. The reason, I can try both systems out. While i heal two tennis elbows, I need disc brakes. And if I learn to change over and maintain both systems, I might be of some use to others when out exploring. Also, i can replace one system with another if there is a big problem.

I went with sinewave beacon for a lighting system. Better for backroads. Also, can plug in battery back to power lights.

I am, however, now confronted with a number of decisions:

Should I have a steering stabiliser? Are they any good? Hear the Hebie dont do too well with two legged kick stands. Any Thoughts or experience with steering stabilisers? Which model do you recommend?

Pedals: Shimano M8140 or DMR V12, or, even, the new DMR V12 SE? Any features should i be looking for in a pedal? I'll be wearing hiking boots, maybe? https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/Comp ... ion/V12-SE

And, of course, colour. I think i'll go with dusk blue. But maybe pink? What do you think?

I hope you are all well and will post a picture of bike, if ever i learn how to do it. Do you need to link to an image on the net?

Best wishes.

And thanks again.

BikeBuddha

Hello all

I've purchased a Stanforth Kibo, Rohloff version. It's designed for world travel. And you all helped me very much. So, thank you.

As some stretches of expedition may require ten day's riding without resupplying, I've elected for the Andra 40 wheels. Weight rating - 180kg. I'm 85 kg, and with food, equipment, and work clothes for working on farms, the max weight i expect is around 133 kg, above the Andra 30s.

The frame will be oversized and rated to 160 kg for similar reasons, with an increase of 0.5 kg on bike frame.

Chris King Headset. Hopefully, will just last.

Rohloff hub, for stronger, 26 inch wheels, easier hillstarts, etc.

I intend to travel to remote parts of the world, so are swayed by compatibility of parts. So, i thought Chain rather than belt drive. This will not compromise the stiffness of the frame by having a break in the seatstay.

Also, thought Rim brakes over disk brakes, the received wisdom from Tom's Bike Trip, and Nomad Trails. This is a final decision i must make. The rim/disc brake is agonising. I am swayed by meeting a man from namibia who was shopping for a friend for disc pads, who could not order them in namibia. Of course, there is the downside of less stopping power, especially in wet, modulation, and rim ware. Not sure how long the andra 40s will last. I must say, not having to go to big cities to get parts is a must.

I still also have to decide between a lugged frame, or a fillet brazed frame. Unfiled. The lugs are from Australia, andI am keen to reduce the carbon footprint of the bike. Lugs may be aesthetically more appealing. Or, having unfiled fillet brazing by Lee Cooper on show might have its own allure?

I have thought to have mountings for a derailleur and disc brakes also on the bike, for future compatibility. But has you need a different rohloff hub for the disc vs rim, so I am not sure this is wise. Does one ever go back to a deraileur? A good back up in case rohloff fails? I will have to buy a different rohloff hub if i ever go full on rim brakes, after electing from rim brakes.

As always, any thoughts on the above are welcome.

Anyway, thank you for your help. I know you thought this day would never come, but the bike is paid for, and i just have to write the final choice. Including, black or silver hubs, bars, etc. Oh, the agony of indecision.

So, i am going on retreat to contemplate the nature of reality, and of course, what colour my bike should be. Black parts and blue. Midnight blue colour scheme, i am thinking.

Again, my thanks to you all.

Bike Buddha.

BikeBuddha

Ok, everyone... again here to annoy.

I'm pretty much set on a Stanforth. I have choices about the frame. So, let's focus on the frame.

Its 631 Reynolds steel frame triangale, forks and chainstay, with extra heat treatment on the steerer tube. The seat stay is Reynolds 725. It will be Rohloff, and will, for an Africa/world tour, have rim brakes.... However, i have these options...

Disc Ready Frame: opt to have discs to use in UK/Europe/Civilised world. Switch to rims on long tour.

Have a load capacity of either 130 kg or 160 kg. I am probably more than 90 kg, now, but probably would lose weight on a tour. However, the extra load capacity might be useful when carrying extra food and water (think Aleister Humphries).

Derailleur ready frame, in case I need to fit a derailleur.

Split in the seat stay for a belt drive long term. Will this weaken the frame, or make it prone to lateral knocks? Is a belt drive nescessary?

Fillet Brazed or Lugged: Which would you recommend? What is best for photography? I will take lots of pictures of bike.

The top tube and seat tube will be custom made for my measurements. Will this be good for disproportionately large femurs?

Any thoughts on the above?
Once i get the frame sorted, i can measure, get it ordered, and then trip out on all the other decisions as i wait for frame to be made by, I believe, by Lee Cooper. (The advantage of procrastinating that it forced me to save a bit more dosh).

Be well, be happy, and I hope you are enjoying riding.

BikeBuddha

Hi all

Any preference for a lugged or fillet -brazed frame for photographing? Which looks better?

The lugged frame seems to have more angles, the fillet-brazed smoother.

I will be taking a lot of shots with the bike. It will have no wordage on it. Any thoughts?

I'll probably go for a yellow bike. I wonder how this will look with monochrome photographs?

BikeBuddha

st599_uk wrote: ↑4 Apr 2022, 2:34pm 26" wheels may be niche in Europe and the US, but they aren't in the rest of the world.

The WBR Bufallo Bike for instance runs on 26", so all of the little workshops that have sprung up employing locals to repair the bikes have 26" rims if you need a new wheel built.

This is fascinating. Thank you. All the posts i have not recently read, are fascinating. You can do a fundraiser to buy more buffalo bikes as well for Africa. Good for carbon emmission as well. I'm primarily interested in having a low carbon life. Maybe i]ll do a fundraiser when i do buy the bike. me, buy a bike? Ha.... i just saw pig fly.

I recently met a chap with schizophrenia, and other labels, who had lost his house and ridden on a thirty year old mountain bike from the south of england, to skye. He slept in doorways a lot. His bike was a bit knackered and i tried to help him fix it, after helping him trust me. Nice man.

I've met characters living in bothies in scotland, who have ridden around on really basic bikes. Old school with beards that dangle around the handle bars.

For the past two years, i just kept picking up bikes from various places, all too small for me to use. They have now been donated to a guy who does them up for refugees.

Bikes are everywhere. Bikes should be more everywhere. They are always in my thoughts, never under my bum.

I look forward to reading about the heroic adventures, while i remain stuck on so many things.

This is all part of the journey.....

Thanks everyone

PS..And there is a japanese way of thinking called Wabi Sabi.... perfection in imperfection. I'm using that in everything, to make me not fixate on perfect things. There is no such thing. I am hearing you.

BikeBuddha

Hi

This will sound crazy. I looked at Stanforth, and hopefully will try and get a bike through a bike to work scheme. In this way, a stronger bike for less money. Not looking promising though.

Simon, like Richard at OBW, was really cool. The bike's are more expensive.... but, made to measure, rather than being off the peg.

USes Reynolds 631 steel. Sounds good?

I am worried about the forks, because you cannot take much more than a 2" wide tire. Do any of you ever use anything bigger when crossing deserts, etc?

Lots more colour options. Seems that the paint works on the bike are also more durable.

I will run rim brakes, but can have the frame DiSC Brake Ready at extra cost, for after any said expedition. Not sure this is worth the extra £120+.

I am going for Rohloff, but, again at extra cost, can have frame ready to fit a derailleur. Not sure if this is necessary. Once you go with Rohloff, you never go back, some say.

The above two option are inspired by the Thorn Nomad, which is derailleur ready, roholoff ready, disc (rear only) ready, rim brake ready, and has a split in the frame for a belt drive.

However, different opinions from different bike builders. One says that the split does not create a weekness in the frame. The other, that it does. Also, another suggests that the weakness also comes when you lug your bike on the back of a truck, and you could take a side impact, which could break the split.

For stanforth, i would have no need for a gate drive. The bike is built for expedition. I could go with disc to start, then switch to V in a couple of years, when I have saved enough to go on the big trip.

It all seems crazy, but a bike will last for years, providing it doesn't get nicked. Oh, the anxiety

Just thought I would keep everyone updated. Half of me is up for this, half is thinking, what a fool. I am just hoping it is not all traffic and mahen on the trip, but nice leisurely rides as well.

BikeBuddha

Wow... i am going to look at all of these.

Currently using a Nikkon D5600 with 18-55mm lens. I take shots in raw and edit in adobe bridge and GIMP, as photoshop is too cumbersome on my laptop.

Currently doing a Higher's (A'Level) in photography. Want to learn more about shots. Doing a lot of portrait work, and exploring Mental Health and Mindfulness as a theme for my course. Also landscapes and cloudscapes and seascapes and flowers (I work as a gardener).

Still learning photography, but enjoy manually changing ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Just need a camera that shoots RAW that can be used to make professional photographs. I've got a couple of years to sort this out.

Will be back when I look at options. Just thought USB charging, or, as you say, charging camera from a USB battery with adapter, is the way to go.

BikeBuddha

Bonefishblues wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 11:14pm As you will see from searching this forum there are many opinions on how best to go about such long distance touring, especially in terms of the bike. On balance you should get a bike (but not the bike iyswim), start cycling in earnest, do some shorter tours, as you suggested, and enjoy the 18 months of speccing up 'The bike'. Others to look at include Thorn and Stanforth, but as your knowledge increases, you'll be able to make a judgement about which builder suits you best.

Hi

Thank you.

I am looking at the stanforth Kobi. Would this be a better bike than the Thorn?

Its been two years. YEs, I could have purchased a bike and tried all this out. I could have also bought a new tent, back pack, socks, clothes, and other things that would make my life very nice. But I didn't, and I have to move on. Now in touch with Simon and Stanforth.

I do like the versatility of the Thorn Nomad. But the custom sized frames of the Stanforth seem pretty sweet too.

BikeBuddha

doodah wrote: ↑22 Mar 2022, 5:54pm Well hello to one and all - especially Bike Buddha,

I cannot describe how much I resonate with the clarity of thinking of the posts from 'slowster'. I do believe he has nailed it, 10/10

If it will help you Bike Buddha, I will be relocating to the Dumfries & Galloway region in late May /early June. I will be happy to cycle up to you and discuss the pro's and con's of my limited cycling experience and my total faith in a Thorn expedition bike.

I cannot ever guarantee the weather, the country, the eco - socio conditions of those countries that I have cycled through... but I can guarantee the reliability of a Thorn bike. Biased?...Yes, based on total reliability.

I will give you a nod when I relocate and see if I can be of assistance - providing there is a pub nearby.

All the best to you.

Doodah

Hopefully i get a bike, Doodah... and look forwards to meeting up.

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