Cycling UK Forum

If you attach anything to the bagman, ensure that you protect the saddlebag. I had a cateye bracket attached to my bagman and in few miles I had a nice hole in the saddlebag. Saddlebag is a Carradice Pendle.

Regards Andy

Hello All

Has anyone had any experience with false cross bars which need to be used when carrying step through and Y design bikes on car bike carriers. They ususally sell for about £20 at Halfords and Evans. I will be using it on my MAXRAX carrier.
Many thanks

Andy

Thanks for the replies, we picked the new bike up this afternoon (Red Dawes Mojave), all the bits look pretty good, my partner very pleased and looking forward to some good rides, easy does it though as she has not ridden for 15 years.

We are gradually converting them!!!

Regards Andy

Hello All

I have been looking for a step through Hybrid for my Partner, who has decided that she fancies riding again. Most of the new bikes that we have been looking at have old school bits ie 6 speed and 7 speed freewheels, cheapo mechs and Rapide Fire changers. I was wondering if the Shimano Tourney and other cheapo components will stand much use or abuse. I assume cheap components are fitted to keep selling prices low for the low step through design which we are looking at. ie Dawes Mirage, Mojave and Kalahari, other makers seem to use the same components at this price point.

There are better Hybrids on the market but the top bar is too high for her to step through.

Have you had any experience of this level of equipment.

Many thanks

Regards Andy

Hello again

I received a phone call from Tim the Manager at the Membership Dept this afternoon. I understand that the other member's card which I returned in May has not been received by the Membership Dept and that there have been a further two cards ordered for me, neither have been received. They have attempted to contact the other member who may have my card, but he/she has not replied.

I agree that it is the way in which problems are solved which is important. I have been a member since 1994 and have had no problems with membership prior to this year and have always received the magazine. I hope that the problem has now been successfully resolved.

Thanks Tim

Hello All.

Back in March 2012 I applied for CTC Life Membership, after about a month a letter arrived with a plastic card attached. The card was put away without close inspection. Some weeks later I noticed the card was not in my name, I contacted the membership contractor who asked me to return the card and letter. This was sent immediately which was about 6 weeks ago.

I am sure that you the reader can guess the rest, the returned membership card is lost in their office, I do not have a replacement card and they have my money.

If you have recently become a life member or you know someone who has, it would be a good idea to check the card, it might be mine.

Is this a familiar story, I think it is a pretty poor situation!!!

Shame on CTC

This animal should be put down, no ands ifs or buts. This is a police matter which must be dealt with urgently before another innocent victim gets permanantly maimed or killed. There are too many of this type of animal about causing problems.

Report it to the police immediately.

I like well behaved animals as well as well behaved humans. Those who cannot conform to should not be allowed to live on this earth.

Hi Claire

Welcome to the club. I have had a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. I have been on Levothyroxine 50mcg since last October and now have more energy most of the time. However the pain from the Fibromyalgia was not cured by this.

I now avoid caffeine, alchohol and foods where a significant ingredient is sugar, therefore not too many cakes. I do not eat any factory prepared food. I feel best when I eat salad, vegetables fish and white meat. I also eat only wholemeal bread which I make myself and wholemeal pasta and wholegrain rice.
I start each day with a bowl of porridge and decaf coffee. I try to drink only filtered water.

It is thought that there is a conection between many of these diseases and the thyroid gland. Having had Glandular Fever is thought to be a cause of many of these problems, as the Epstein Barr virus stays in the body for many years often in the thyroid. There is a link between these diseases and major problems such as Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, Gall Stones, memory loss and Depression. Having had Glandular fever can cause you to have an enlarged spleen, which has its own problems.

Unfortunately these diseases which may be connected with the Thyroid are not well supported by the NHS, they rely too much on blood tests and not enough on the patients well being. The blood test parameters set by the NHS for an underactive Thyroid are too wide and they tell you you are normal when you are clearly quite unwell.

A book worth reading is Your Thyroid and how to keep it healthy by Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield. He covers the subject very widely.

The good news is that regular excercise is recommended as part of ones lifestyle to mitigate against the effects of the disease. Cycling being excellent. I do not cycle as much as I should but find that long rides have been better since I have been on the Thyroxine. The book referred to above also recommends Reflexology to help the patient. I found this to be beneficial.

Good luck, I hope you soon feel much better.

Regards Andy

Hello Mrs Peel

Some of the content of this discussion has given me a good laugh on a dull Sunday morning, what a wonderful idea start cycling at 5am on a day in May and stop sometime in September.

Not sure if any one has mentioned, handlebars come in different widths, I think to do with shoulder width, I find my Dawes Audax bars too wide and the Nigel Dean just about right because of the different bar widths. If you were not measured for your Thorn it may have been supplied with bars which are too wide for you.

Just a thought!!

Best of luck with your long ride, whenever it finishes!!

Regards Andy

Just had a look at Cyclocity website, the kit for £399 looks very similar to kits being fitted down here on the Sussex coast. Several of our members use them. It has given them a new lease of life when out with the group. The wheels come as a 26" standard, so a local chap now builds the motor into a 700 rim. Would say they are a great success.

I know nothing about Cyclocity, just that the technology seems to work.

Hope this helps

Quite a few of our local ladies have had Roberts light tourers built for them, they all seem very satisfied and the bikes are very durable. My own Roberts which is now 13 years old has been very good, a most comfortable bike over long distances.

Roberts has been the closest custom builder to us down here for many years, although we now have Enigma in Eastbourne who are developing a good reputation.

Personally I would go to a bike builder who is well known and close to home.

Good luck

+1 for Pilates and Robin Mckenzie. Do not like taking Ibubrofen though. Have had several episodes of laying on the floor totally crippled by sciatic nerve problems. Doctor advised to potter around when in pain, which eventually eased problems. The pilates/Core exercises keep it at bay most of the time.

Best of luck hope it gets better soon.

Hi Scott.

I am not sure whether you received a helpful reply. The nearest club to East Grinstead I think is Forest Row Cycling Club, who are likely to ride the lanes around East Grinstead. There is also Lewes Wanderers who ride out of Uckfield on Sunday mornings, they are a friendly bunch, maybe a bit fast but not posseurs. Further afield is East Sussex CTC who a generaly based around Hailsham and have a Sunday & Wednesday section, there are rides for all abilities.

I think that the safest way out of East Grinstead is the Forest Way, which will provide a safe exit to Ashdown Forest to the South East, the roads around your area always seem to be very busy.

Ian who owns Future Cycles at Forest Row is very helpful.

I am not sure if Golden Eye maps of Sussex & South Surrey are still available, they do provide a good guide to the lanes.

There are web sites for Forest Row Club, Lewes Wanderers and East Sussex CTC.

I do hope this is helpful to you, I am down the road from East Grinstead near Lewes and was a bit miffed by some of the replies posted.

Regards Andy

Hi Scottmac.

I have sent you a PM

Andy

Hi All.

Does anyone use spd one side and flat the other?

Wondered which may be best, ie: last a long time without the reflectors breaking or falling off.

St John Street Cycles seem to have most choice. Some have plain bearings and others ball bearings.

I did have some made by VP about 10 years ago, cannot remember whether they were any good, they did have plain bearings, I think the reflectors fell off at some point.

Thanks Andy