Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for these replies. I thought it would be difficult to get steel replacements, and it seems it is. I'll search around a bit more, and then settle for alloy - if I can get them with the right holing . Otherwise it's Ayesha's solution.

Mike

I am refurbishing a 1972 Raleigh shopper (not chopper - I'm not in Mick's league ) and though the hubs are sound, the 20" chrome steel rims are shot. Ive found a supplier of alloy rims, but I would like to keep the bike as near original as possible, so does anyone know where I can get 20"(451) 28-hole chrome steel, or at a pinch, stainless steel rims? New preferred, but I'd settle for good used rims or wheels.

Should I be concerned about risk of failure as they are now approaching 50 years old?

I hope not. I've got two sets of Maes nearly as old (Circa 1968 & 1972) still in occasional use.

ANTONISH wrote:Just a thought - tools in back pocket. Not necessarily a good idea.

I don't keep them in my back pocket. I keep them in a screw top jar in the bottle carrier (along with the spare tubes and the flapjack, etc.). I just used 'pocket' to distinguish my day ride kit from the much bulkier (and heavier!) set I keep in a pannier when touring. (Thinks: must get a lighter kitchen sink. )

Thanks, guys, for all the suggestions. I've already got a compact multitool (can't remember who made it!) so the Topeak super gets the order.

I need a chain tool to keep in my back-pocket toolkit. It needs to be compact and/or foldable, and lightweight but reasonably robust. Any suggestions anybody?

It's for my fixed gear work bike that I only hose down once every couple of months, and there are ingrained patches of dirt that the pressure of the water doesn't shift, in fact those patches of dirt are getting bigger and darker every time I hose the bike. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and scrub it with some hot soapy water. What do you think?

In the days when I had a work bike (whoopee for retirement ) I always let well alone - mud and rust is the best thief deterrent!

And an excellent blog too if I may say so Welcome to the forum.

+1

If it is osteo-arthritis, cycling is much better than walking.

I developed osteo-arthritis in my right hip some 25 years ago, when I was in my early fifties. It stopped me walking more than a mile or so - too painful, but I could cycle with no trouble - and still can. Even now I manage about 2,000 miles a year.

I take 10ml of cod liver oil daily - There's good clinical evidence of it's value - so I have done since it was first diagnosed.

I also take 1000mg tablets of glucosamine sulphate and 100mg of chondroitin sulphate daily. The clinical evidence is not so good for the efficacy of these, but I reckon they may do some good, and at least they can do no harm!

The arthritic pain is rarely worse now than it was 25 years ago, and often walking feels better.

As my physio friend said once - while apparently trying to screw my leg off - "You must remember, Michael, the price of mobility is pain" to which I was happy to reply "Not on my bike". So mount up and keep moving.

Just catching up after a busy week, so coming late to this thread, but this may be helpful.

The only time I've had difficulty fitting a new tyre (a bontrager IIRC), on a bike bought second-hand, after much struggling and almost giving up, I thought to look at the rim tape. It looked to be wider and thicker than usual, and I think it was probably hand cut from old inner tube. I deduced it was effectively stopping the first section of bead getting deep enough into the well. When I changed it for a proper one the tyre went on, if not easily, at least without too much of a struggle.

Very interesting.

I had to go to a meeting in Margate, from the Ramsgate side of Broadstairs, and for stability used my Longstaff (upright) trike. That meant four miles pedalling north into the WNW gale, gusting up to 55 mph according to the Met Office. It was hard work all the way. At one point the road goes fairly steeply down a dip and then up. I usually go down about 25mph, which carries me fairly well up the other side. Today I found myself pushing hard in low gear to get down at nearer 6 mph, and up the other side it was big sprocket and granny ring, at times almost at a standstill. It took me nearly forty minutes door to door.

Mind you, it was glorious coming back. I flew up the hilly bits, and didn't need to pedal at all on the level.

I can't help by suggesting other ccouplings, but I have one which leaked where it screwed onto the valve. I solved it by wrapping the valve threads with PTFE (plumbing) tape.
If the leaks in your coupling are where it screws on, it's worth a try.

You don't have to buy a whole bag of them! Available individually, under what I think is the correct description of 'draw-bolt', here... http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/sks-mudguard ... -prod8040/

£1.02 each. Ye Gods. I must have a fortune in the miscellaneous bits bucket!

I need a new brake lever with lever extentions too

If it is a

suicide lever

, and you really want to replace it, I'm sure there's a pair you can have in the (junk)shed somewhere that came off a Galaxy. PM me with your address and I'll dig them out.

Thanks again, Al. I'll have a go at the weekend.