Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for advice/info.

"may be throwing good money after bad" not really! Came on a bike that after ebaying the saddle that was fitted cost me a net 6 quid! So the dynamo and lights (maybe 3 hours use) stand me at a round nothing (in fact could probably sell the set up for a tenner and be in front!). A few quid to try a steel roller no big deal.

IME it's rarely very difficult to spring most rear ends by 5mm simply manually each time insert the wheel. And many are not precisely the nominal spacing anyway - always worth measuring when "at rest" i.e. no wheel fitted.
Just for interest, seems that many quality Italian (and maybe other) race frames of the early '80s while running only 6 speed blocks and 126 OLN hubs re-set themselves to 130 once wheel removed!

"Pic not too clear as to how they work with no clearance."

Raceblades and the copies don't require "clearance" because they don't pass between the tyre(s) and the seat stay bridge or the fork crown. They are thus as others say very much second best.
P-clips are fine for fitting full 'grds especially at the rear, but the issue is clearance, which many "road" (read race rep) frames/forks simply do not have. Clever DIY brackets which will "join" two half-'grds by bridging above the brake stay are a posibility.

Because it came with the bike, I've just started using a bottle dyno (Nordlicht 2000) for the first time. Impressed in the dry - but not in the wet when simply does not illuminate.
Anyone know if the metal roller sold by sjs an improvement over the rubber one?
And/or tyres with a specific dynamo track?
The price of hub dynos seems a bit excessive for my needs - I just need to be seen on dark/damp mornings and cheap LEDs pretty much fit that requirement.

Absolutely! The current fixed fadistas would probably provide some sales in the short term (especially as such riders re-discover just WHY variable gears were invented) but it's never going to be a mass market.

Well, those few, 2 or 3 speed, that do come up on th'bay fetch a LOT of money, whether the pre-1939 or last fling in late '40s/early '50s models.
I'd rather like a new one - but I suspect that IF do come to the market will be at least 150 quid and I doubt I'd pay that much.
Durability would also be an unknown - as it may be with the newly-designed (or so I'm told by the chap at local shop who has peered inside one) 3 speed.

Long time ago! All part of the "confused" goings-on at Raleigh/Derby etc.

"On the day of the auction preview, 11th December 2000, the following press release was issued by Sun Race Roots Enterprise Co. of Taiwan:

From the Office of The President, Sun Race Roots Enterprise Co., Ltd., is pleased to announce the following:

Sun Race Roots Enterprise Co., Ltd., a public traded company on Taiwan Stock Exchange, one of the largest global manufactures of bicycle drivetrain components of 28 years, one of the key players in the bicycle industry in North and Latin Americas and Asia, has just completed a deal with Sturmey-Archer Ltd., the producer of the 98 years old Sturmey-Archer branded bicycle internal gear hubs, the "original" inventor of the internal gear hub system.

The deal will give Sun Race a strong foothold into the European market. This purchase completes Sun Race as one of the three total bicycle drivetrain solutions provider in the same league next to Shimano and SRAM.

Total investment on the purchase, to bring production back, and to develop new products for introduction in 2002 will be around Three and a Half Million US Dollars (USD$3,500,000.00).

The North American operations will change the name from Sun Race USA to Sun Race Sturmey-Archer USA. The European operations will change the company name from Sturmey-Archer (Europa) BV to Sun Race Sturmey-Archer Europe BV.

The parent company Sun Race Roots Enterprise Co., Ltd., will change the company name to Sun Race Sturmey-Archer Inc. Sun Race's China operations will be renamed as Sun Race Sturmey-Archer (WuXi) Industries.

It is Sun Race Sturmey-Archer Inc.'s intention to continue with the 98 years old Sturmey-Archer Brand which has traditionally been associated with high end. With the back up of the newly added engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities of Sun Race, Sturmey-Archer products will continue and expand to a full Internal Gear Hub Drivetrain Group consist of Shifters, Brake Levers, Chainwheel Crank Sets, Chains, and Internal Gear Hubs with Drum and Coaster Brakes.

Sun Race Sturmey-Archer Inc. will market the Derailleur Drivetrain Groups, which consist of Shifters and Brake Levers, Front and Rear Derailleurs, Chainwheel Crank Sets, Freewheels and Cassettes, Hub Sets, and Multiple Speed Chains under the Sun Race Brand.

The production of Sturmey-Archer hubs and service parts will continue from Sun Race Taiwan factory. The move will make Sturmey-Archer Products much more competitive than before. Production will start January 2001 with resume shipping dates of late March, early April 2001."

Source Tony Hadland web site.

I THINK that this has been "on the way" just about ever since the Sunrace acquisition - I wouldn't hold ny breath!

IF you big enough, dismount, walk OVER "taxi" carrying your bike. Preferably in steel cap boots.

"The Hadrian's wall route is not as remote as the others and there are plenty of bail-out options on the train and even the bus."

Part of my thinking when looking at possible routes. Even taxis I imagine!
Thanks.

The Brompton bit was, I fear, a simple age-related self-deprecating jest. While I don't (and haven't) often do 50 mile rides (hence the need to increase my "training) just about every one that I have done has been on fixed. I shall of course properly assess the gradients before I decide.
B&Bs will surely significantly lessen the weight I need to carry - and fixed will ditto the bike and the tools I need take?
I am certainly re-thinking the timing given comments re weather conditions.
Supported? No, I'm not a group-person and TBH just flashing my card and turning up would render the whole exercise too lacking in any need for planning as to be of no real interest.

Point neatly made - and taken.

Thanks Iain - I had actually (and Posted in it - it did help confirm my resolve!).

My main "doubt" is whether or not to do it on fixed - strictly speaking "without gears" as I'd probably allow myself the luxury of the "single free" option if required! If I find a seconf hand Tricross Single in next few months then I think that that will be my choice of machine.

"Simply be sensible and recognise your limits,...."

But surely Cunobelin if I heeded such advice I'd simply not go (well, not without the two-wheeler with the engine in between!). The bail out potential sounds comforting...

dave j in exile from C+ and now bikeradar!

"Is that a weight gain target to reach 50% of my body weight?"

That's about the size (sic) of it!

"I too am half a century"

Meant I've ben smoking for that time - I collected my free bus pass last week so I suppose with a Brompton and careful planning I could get to/from the start/finish for nowt!

Much respect for your palmares, Vernon.

So I suppose that if I book far enough in advance accommodation should be OK - and if I PAY up front I'll HAVE to go!
My lifelong and unfilled ambition has been to reach half your quoted weight .....but OTOH I have just celebrated my half-centenary as a heavy smoker....so probably balances out!
Thanks for the encouragement.