Cycling UK Forum

The easiest way to fit the twist grip is on one of those handlebar extensions for extra lights etcc.

I have also seen a piece of MTB handlebar / Alu tubing clamped to the side of a stem to mount the twist grip there.

SRAM are now doing a 12-32 7 speed cassette which is very handy for luddites like me who refuse to 'upgrade'...ChainReaction and Spa both stock it.

Rolled threads are stronger as the grain is not interrupted across the thread edge, also a hardened surface is preserved.

Also, the bottom of the thread has a radius so hass less stress concentration for cracking of the thread off the bolt.

So there are very good reasons for a rolled thread on a spoke which is thin and has cyclic stresses.

Don't send it until the funds clear fully...surely that's enough?

It would be interesting also to consider drugs in motor racing when there is no dope testing there...

There are some others in shallow drop, try looking at the women specific ones..don't worry they aren't only available in pink!

As with all things, at first you get big improvements for a few extra quid, then it's diminishing returns.

Remember Keith Bontrager's adage:
Light, cheap, strong....pick two!

Personally I don't think there's much difference after about 1500 quid. But there is a huge difference between 250 and 500.

jwcane wrote:Have you heard of these wonderful things called "punctation marks"? There's our good friend, the "comma", the amazing "question mark" and - drum roll please - the "full stop".

If you want to play pedantic, then you should not have a comma after 'friend'...

So that's what everyone has in their Carradice bag!

Mick, I think it depends on where you are touring. I have toured in the USA where towns are few and far between at bikespeed. For there I would definitely want to be able to remove the cassette and replace spokes - but a hypercracker replaces chainwhips etc.

Also, there is a big element of the more you carry, the slower you are and the more stressed the bike is. When touring the USA most of the Americans I met had 30-40kg of luggage. I was camping with 13kg, with a shared tent and cooking stuff. The usual discussion was about how many spokes I had broken...err none, my wheels were just way less stressed.

I did not have mega hi-tech kit - a nice tent and a trangia, but no titanium mugs or daft stuff like that. I'm just very, very strict about keeping to the bare essentials.

I rode the Pacific coast of the USA on an MTB with slicks and flat bars. Having bar-ends was a good move as it allowed a change of hand positions. Pals of mine rode from London to India on Super Galaxies with butterfly bars.

Sounds like proof enough. Use what you find comfortable.

However, the problem may just be that the drops are too low. This causes the neck problems and is usually because the things are setup like racing bikes. My MTB-based tourer nowadays has 3T morphe randonneur drop bars and I wouldn't change back. But to change from straight bars to drops on the same frame will require a shorter stem...probably around 50mm/2". The morphes are different to normal racing drops in that the have a shallower drop and also poke less far forwards, both of which prevents that stretched-out feeling.

Highpath engineering: www.highpath.net do pedal hole repairs and helicoiling. I would try them.

The Campag 8 speed rear hub is essentially the same as modern 9's. The difference is the depth of the splines. I think the 9 speed ones have deeper splines (but don't quote me!)

So rebuild the wheel onto the new hub and swap in the old freewheel carrier if the cassette doesn't fit. Campagnolo used to recommend the reverse for upgrading old hubs to 9 speed.

I haven't tried this, so be careful. They may have changed something in the past couple of years with the hubs.

Yes, I agree. There aren't many things that riding more won't solve: confidence, fitness, bike handling will all get better and in time you'll feel calmer.

I would advise trying to ride early in the morning (fortunately it's getting light at 6 now) so you'll have the roads to yourself, especially at weekends.

Marin Pine Mountain, 1994.

Built in the days of the lightness fashion, but not crazily so. A good all-day-ride kind of bike.

But Americans in general don't tour or commute. It all depends on what you want it for.