Search found 1009 matches

by Lawrie9
24 Jan 2008, 9:09am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Ethical cycling
Replies: 19
Views: 2906

My bike is a metallic shade of dark blue and silver and hence not very green.
by Lawrie9
24 Jan 2008, 9:04am
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: Speed of CTC section rides
Replies: 10
Views: 4827

Sounds a bit technical. The problem with these group rides is that you will always get the speed merchants tearing off and the group getting strung out.
by Lawrie9
24 Jan 2008, 9:01am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tour de France
Replies: 3
Views: 824

You will probably hook up with a couple doing a similar thing. Check the Le Tour website.
by Lawrie9
23 Jan 2008, 7:59pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Optimum cadence rate
Replies: 30
Views: 3160

Cadence where a great band - sadly split up now. They were a melodic acoustic rockband from the US Californian sunset strip in the Air Supply, Styx, Reo Speedwagon vein. There has been rumours of them reforming.
by Lawrie9
21 Jan 2008, 1:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano 10 speed
Replies: 8
Views: 988

I think a 7 speed 14-28 is more than ample. A 10 speed block is a lot of extra weight to lump around and is a bit of a gimmick aimed at weekenders. How did we ever manage in the old days with 5 speed blocks.
by Lawrie9
20 Jan 2008, 3:15pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: What happened to saddle bags?
Replies: 41
Views: 6438

What happened to saddle bags?

There was a time when virtually every bike had a saddle bag ie a bag that clipped to your saddle. This seems a much more practical solution to carrying your day provisions, tools and clothing etc than cycling with a rucksack on your back as seems to be the trend particularly amongst newbie mtb-ers
Thanks also to those who responded to my one pannier thread. I feel strongly about this because it looks unsafe to have weight one one side of your carrier and it upsets my sense of symmetry.
To those of you who have ridden in the wind and rain this weekend - we salute you!
by Lawrie9
20 Jan 2008, 1:26pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Sheep problem
Replies: 17
Views: 2069

Sheep problem

If you cycle around some of the more rural parts of Britain one of the most serious problems you will encounter is sheep at the roadside and wandering onto the road. This is quite a serious issue for roadies with their modern ultra fast machines these days. Another thing is sheepdogs that come running out of there farmyards and chase after cyclists. I'm thinking of carrying a shoo stick around with me - an ulta light carbon fibre one of course.
by Lawrie9
19 Jan 2008, 7:06pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Scary camping experiences
Replies: 62
Views: 9482

We had a strange camping experience once - we forgot the tent poles!
by Lawrie9
13 Jan 2008, 5:10pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Sponsors
Replies: 16
Views: 4072

Why do these things need to be charity stunts. If people want to contribute to charity they will. I would hapily contribute to something that will benefit the community like a litter pick or grafitti removal.
by Lawrie9
13 Jan 2008, 5:03pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike theft
Replies: 9
Views: 2394

Cycle theft is a huge problem in Britain and I read that 500,000 are stolen every year. There is a problem at various railway stations as I've read on previous threads and the answer would be some sort of manned enclosed secure area like where you leave your luggage.
I don't know where all these stolen bikes are ending up given that bikes are so cheap these days.
by Lawrie9
13 Jan 2008, 4:56pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Midge forecast
Replies: 6
Views: 1084

Midge forecast

If your thinking of touring in Scotland you might want to check the excellent midgeforecast.co.uk website. It gives a scale of midge activity in different areas of Scotland. I went to scotland in september and didn't have too much of a midge problem. You also have excellent blackberries and mushrooms at this time of year.
by Lawrie9
13 Jan 2008, 4:52pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Tourer style bike for rough ground - Any ideas
Replies: 22
Views: 3590

I would get a mtb with 2inch tyres, front sus and 48 toothed crank. A very versatile machine that will tackle the roughest, stoniest, most potholed roads you could imagine, will have the strength to carry heavy loads and has awesome road speed.
by Lawrie9
13 Jan 2008, 4:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mountain training in Cambridge?
Replies: 5
Views: 1847

You could have a few days in Mid Wales where there is thousands of miles of mountain and forest roads and would condition you for your holiday in the Alpes. See multi map.
by Lawrie9
13 Jan 2008, 4:36pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cost of bikes
Replies: 38
Views: 3627

My Trek was made in Taiwan and I don't have any problems with that.
In Britain we have produced shoddy unreliable goods, paid ourselves too much, been very strike prone, made it unfashionable to make things and have been stricken with poor management and lousy decision making.
We once had a world class car in the Morris Minor but replaced it with the Morris Marina and Austin Allegro which tells us where it all went wrong.
by Lawrie9
8 Jan 2008, 5:58pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: One pannier cyclists
Replies: 173
Views: 25780

One pannier cyclists

Is it just me that finds people cycling with one pannier irritating? Do they have to cycle a bit lop sided to counter balance the weight and are they saving up for the other one.