Cycling UK Forum

AlanD wrote: ↑14 Dec 2022, 12:11pm Earlier this year, I 'recycled' some polystyrene sheeting by gluing it onto the thin layer that already faced the loft trap, making it quite thick.

Last winter, I put to work some leftover silvered insulation sheeting, by placing it behind all the radiators. Also bought a few shelves and fixed them over radiators that are under windows, to direct the hot air into the room. Each evening when I draw the curtains, I make sure to tuck the bottom of the curtains in, so that the hot air rising does not go behind them.

This week, I realised that the inside door between our lounge and front porch (single glazed) was acting as a cold-sink because the porch is cold. So I visited a certain popular DIY store and came home with a sheet of 4mm acrylic sheeting and a roll of rubber draught excluder.
The sheet is now secured to the outside of this door, with the draught excluder strip forming a seal between it and the door. Just waiting to see what difference my secondary glazing makes.

It all adds up, it's a 'marginal gains' thing

If you think you're losing a lot of heat through any of your windows, here's what I use overnight
This is ThermaWrap (lots of other similar products are available), which is designed to have an air gap on either face. I used it because it was readily available at outlets such as this

https://www.wickes.co.uk/ThermaWrap-Gen ... m/p/145707

I have folded over the top 20mm, and then use bulldog clips, as it's very light, to hook it onto cup hooks that are screwed into a piece of wood. If the window, or in this case patio door, is wide use multiple strips and overlap. I don't have any measuring equipment, so I can't give any figures, but the lounge feels substantially warmer and the drop in temperature through the evening, (I'm only heating using storage heaters), is a lot less.

Cugel wrote: ↑14 Dec 2022, 1:42pm
The question is: in this day and age why are new houses not all built like this one (with their energy demands a prime consideration) by law rather than just as some sort of market decision? Where we live this house of ours is one of only a dozen or so in the whole county! And even after the current events of huge hikes in energy costs, people we know who are after moving house still take virtually no notice of the EPC and buy based on how it looks, not how it functions.

Cugel

In terms of insulation they are. In June 2022 Building regs part L increased wall and floor insulation 50 percent to 150mm (6 inches). These are interim regulations, with even more strict ones expected from 2025

From 2025 newly built houses will not be able to be fitted with gas boilers. The expectation is that heat pumps will largely take their place

JohnW wrote: ↑13 Dec 2022, 11:15am
I remember using Sun-Tour Ultra freewheel blocks in the early 80s - there were Ultra 6 and Ultra 7 - a bit of a revelation at the time. They needed a narrower chain than the Renolds I'd been using previously.................then along came the Sedisport..
21 gears became fairly common then. I reverted to the Ultra 6, and 18 gears.

JohnW wrote: ↑13 Dec 2022, 10:22pm

853 wrote: ↑13 Dec 2022, 6:22pm In my memory it was Suntour who first launched the 7 speed freewheel in 1979.

I have found an 1979 Suntour catalogue, in Japanese, with a 7 speed freewheel pictured

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/suntou ... 200004.pdf

I've said early 80's (above) but I wouldn't argue - I'm fairly sure that I was riding and Ultra 7 in 1981, so maybe we're not at variance. Lucky you, if you could read the catalogue in Japanese! The Ultra 6 & 7 benefited cycling for many of us.

I think you're right. Although a 7 speed block was in the SunTour 1979 catalogue, and not the 1978 one, I don't think they were widely available in the UK until 1980. I was still at school back then, but they caught my attention, (but sadly not my wallet), around 1980/81

And for those of you who like nostalgia, here is a link to the English version of the '79 catalogue

https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_ ... ewsIndex=1

Of course, anyone with welding skill and equipment could have fixed a large, seventh, sprocket onto the spoke end of a 6 block in the early sixties. Not saying it would be advisable, or safe, but someone, somewhere probably tried it.

In my memory it was Suntour who first launched the 7 speed freewheel in 1979.

I have found an 1979 Suntour catalogue, in Japanese, with a 7 speed freewheel pictured

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/suntou ... 200004.pdf

PH wrote: ↑12 Dec 2022, 8:17pm

853 wrote: ↑12 Dec 2022, 7:01pm I subsequently found an old reading I'd taken on the 25th of November 2012, so almost exactly 10 years ago. I don't have gas, or a wood burner, so all heating is electric. During the period I have used 25197 units, so an average of 2520 units a year.

That's pretty good going for a house, I hope you're on an economy tariff for the storage heater, though my differential is nothing like it used to be.
I live in a two bedroom flat, also using mostly a single storage heater in the lounge, I sometimes supplement that with an oil filled radiator, a radiant heater when I want to heat myself rather than a room, a fan heater in the bathroom for a quick blast. I also rely on a heated clothes airier and a dehumidifier, plus the absolute luxury of an electric under blanket on for an hour before I go to bed.
Full usage for last year was 1,900 kwh, I'm expecting this year to be lower due to the mild start to the year.

Yes, I'm on an two-tier economy tariff, and I've used less than 1000 expensive units in 10 years - which is just as well as I'm currently paying 45.1p a unit for them!!! My house is a 3 bed semi, but the two smaller bedrooms are very small

Before turning the heat on, the humidity in my lounge, (the warmest room), had reached 61 percent. I also bought a small, and cheap, dehumidifier to try and prolong the non-heating period but found it only had a slight difference. Since turning on the heat I have discovered, totally accidentally, a condensation trap that has enabled me to reduce it to 30 percent in two weeks.

Whilst it's pretty much an accepted fact that hot temperatures are more comfortable when the humidity is low, there is not the same consensus about low temperatures. Personally, I find the cold a lot more bearable when the humidity is low, so that is what I strive for. I will take some pictures of my accidental condensation trap for anyone who's interested.

I took an electric reading on the 19th of November, before I turned the storage heater on for the winter.

I subsequently found an old reading I'd taken on the 25th of November 2012, so almost exactly 10 years ago. I don't have gas, or a wood burner, so all heating is electric. During the period I have used 25197 units, so an average of 2520 units a year.

I only heat 1 room, the lounge, and I am very fortunate that the main bedroom and bathroom are directly above it, and as the house was built in the mid 1980s there is no insulation in the floors so the bedroom and bathroom are very lightly heated.

I aim to keep the lounge at around 17 degrees C, and I'm fairly successful in doing so

853 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 7:25pm No sign of recession around here (North Midlands).

Last night was the first evening for a month when I haven't heard fireworks (that doesn't mean there weren't any). I thought this year there might be less, but that doesn't seem to have been the case. I can't think of anything that comes closer to literally burning money, other than actually burning it.

The fireworks were back last night, with a decent display from one or more houses on the estate.

Seems like there are still people with money in their pocket, that they'd like to ignite, around here

Nearholmer wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 7:10pm One thing this thread has barely talked about is the subject of its title.

Just saying, 'cos inflation and a recession are not the same thing, it is possible to have either without the other.

So, what do we think about the recession part?

No sign of recession around here (North Midlands).

Last night was the first evening for a month when I haven't heard fireworks (that doesn't mean there weren't any). I thought this year there might be less, but that doesn't seem to have been the case. I can't think of anything that comes closer to literally burning money, other than actually burning it.

Whilst I think we have covered most things, one thing I haven't seen mentioned is crown running

I am sure most people know that roads tend to be raised in the middle (the crown), so that the water drains to the sides where there are hopefully drains or ditches to take it away.

The issue with the slope is that if you are running on the left-hand side of the road then it means that your left foot is landing 1-2 mm lower than your right. Whilst it didn't trouble me, I know club runners who have become injured from it; one of them I ran with had to switch sides of the road every half mile! As many have said, running on softer surfaces is friendlier on your joints and a varied surface helps prevent repetitive strain-type injuries.

toontra wrote: ↑31 Oct 2022, 7:20pm
I hear what you say about impact injury, but who is to say that people with damaged joints wouldn't have had problems if they had never taken up running.

This is a very good point, with which I totally agree. I am told that obesity is a major factor in a lot of hip and knee replacements.

toontra wrote: ↑31 Oct 2022, 7:20pm
I'm still running at 67 and actually did my fastest ever half marathon on Saturday (1h40m).

Well done for your half marathon PB; I only did two of them, in my first 8 months of running, but managed 1hr19 on a slow course. Worth saying it was a long time ago, when I was under half your current age.

toontra wrote: ↑31 Oct 2022, 7:20pm
Maybe lucky genetics, but also possibly due to regular strength and cardio-vascular training for the last 20 years. Running on its own will lay you open to injury. The same goes for those who only cycle. As you age you lose muscle and bone density. You need to build muscle strength to protect joints and resistance (weight) training to preserve bones. Core strength is also vital for balance, alignment and posture. Without these complimentary practices then your likelihood of injury are greatly increased, whether running or not.

I think running is a great and easy way to exercise and wouldn't like people to be put off because of the widespread idea that it will wear their knees out. People said exactly that to me when I started running in my late 40's. Done the right way it won't. I have less trouble with my knees and hips these days than I did back then.

These are good points, and worth reading carefully for anyone considering running. I was, however, talking to Spencer Duval last year,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Duval

a very good Staffordshire runner who I occasionally ran with, and against, many years ago (I should stress he was WAAAAAAAY better than me). He's currently holds the position of National Endurance Lead at England Athletics.

We were watching a 5km race, and I asked him if he still ran. He told me he couldn't run anymore, and had enough problems walking 5km as both of his knees were XXXXed (his words). He then went on to say "Too much road running when I was younger" (he was 51 at the time). This tallied with my experience, watching club runners take up running and then quitting years later. Everything I saw, and I have read similar things in running books over the years, supported the view that if you run on hard surfaces regularly (several times a week, every week) then you can only do it for about 30 years. It doesn't seem to matter what age you start, you just seem to have a 30 year span of regular running.

toontra wrote: ↑30 Oct 2022, 11:27pm
I don't buy this "wearing the joints out" thing either. With proper shoes (if running on hard surfaces) the impact on knee and hip joints should be fairly minimal in most people. Strength training (again an evolutionary essential) will build up the surrounding muscle groups and help protect joints.

Even at low speeds the impact from landing reaches 3 x bodyweight. I have seen, but can't find at the moment, figures of loads of 12 x bodyweight when running very fast downhill on tarmac, and 15mm of foam midsole is not going to offer much protection to that.

I know two runners who have returned to running after having hip replacements, and both trashed their new joints within 18 months whilst wearing expensive running shoes. I therefore cannot agree with your view that "With proper shoes (if running on hard surfaces) the impact on knee and hip joints should be fairly minimal in most people."

The issue with heel striking is that you can only do so if your leg is straight, or very close to straight, when landing. This leads to the impact force travelling straight up your leg and into your pelvis and back. To anyone who thinks this isn't much of an issue I would recommend the following experiment:

When it is light tomorrow, find a smooth stretch of tarmac and take your shoes and socks off and run 100 metres on it. I can assure you that you will only heel strike once, as the jarring pain through your knee, hip and back will really take your breath away. As our ancestors didn't have 'proper shoes' I very much doubt they landed on their heels

peetee wrote: ↑30 Oct 2022, 2:58pm ....is what I require.
I would like to learn how to run.
All my life as an outdoor person has been centred around cycling. Running therefore is crude, uncomfortable, slow and, frustratingly, exhausting before I have gone very far at all.
I’m reasonably fit, not overweight and capable of cycling at a moderate, occasionally hard pace for several hours. I have the opportunity to regularly run 5 to 6km and would like some tips on how to get to the point where I can sustain a run without feeling like I’ve just been pushed down the stairs and am only halfway to the bottom, as it were.

Running is very different to cycling; there's no freewheeling for a start, which means there's no rest unless you stop completely. Consequently, running is a shorter (in time) and more intense form of exercise.

After over 30 years of competitive running, my advice to anyone is to run as much as possible on a soft surface, like grass. There is nothing wrong with running on tarmac, if your technique is good, but if you heel strike (make first contact with your heel when you land) on this surface then all the bad things other people have mentioned will come your way eventually.

I would also point out that there is more technique involved in running, as your feet are not locked into a 170mm radius circle. You said you wanted to learn, so my advice would be to try and land on the front of your foot, rather than your heel. As a cyclist you will probably have strong, but somewhat inflexible, calves which should make this easy. And, as I said earlier, I would recommend doing as much as possibly, certainly the majority, of your mileage on a soft surface like grass

Jdsk wrote: ↑29 Oct 2022, 1:27pm

853 wrote: ↑29 Oct 2022, 1:25pm I hate corruption, that's why I voted to leave nearly six and a half years ago.

https://www.rand.org/blog/2016/03/the-t ... urope.html

Do you think that the UK has become more or less corrupt in that time?

Thanks

Jonathan

I was commenting on corruption in the EU. I was given the opportunity to leave it, and I took it

I hate corruption, that's why I voted to leave nearly six and a half years ago.

https://www.rand.org/blog/2016/03/the-t ... urope.html

reohn2 wrote: ↑27 Oct 2022, 7:47pm

ambodach wrote: ↑27 Oct 2022, 7:39pm The main reason for Brexit was the potential for the EU to ban tax evasion. Tax avoidance is legal if you have a good accountant but tax evasion has indeed been banned in the EU.
Cannot get in the way of money grubbing whether legal or not so Brexit was necessary.

Spot on!
The rich fat cats needed a way to hold on to as much of their money as was humanly possible(one of them is now PM),as you so rightly say Brexit was a necessity for them,it just had to be sold to the unsuspecting,xenaphobia was a good tool in the rich fat cat's box and a cult was born.
And now as a result the rest of us are left to pay for it!

Tax evasion in the UK has been an offence for as far as I can remember, and was further strengthened by the Criminal Finances Act 2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/collectio ... 0terrorism.