Search found 943 matches

by Annoying Twit
31 Mar 2018, 12:20pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Novatech, Gurpil, or BLB Hub for SS Rear Wheel
Replies: 6
Views: 1487

Novatech, Gurpil, or BLB Hub for SS Rear Wheel

Is either a Gurpil or BLB rear hub for a single speed rear wheel worth an extra £20 compared to a Novatech rear hub?

This is for the rear wheel of a single speed daily use commuter bike.

This is for a Viking single speed bike. I regretted not buying a better one, so want to replace bits with reasonable bits. However, I don't want to put a £400 wheel on that frame.
by Annoying Twit
8 Jan 2018, 11:01am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Flashing or Steady Lights?
Replies: 36
Views: 3555

Re: Flashing or Steady Lights?

Cyril Haearn wrote:Both maybe


I haven't got the reference to hand, but I believe that I read somewhere that flashing lights are more easily noticed, while constant lights are better in allowing the driver to judge distance. Therefore, both at once give the best result in terms of safety.
by Annoying Twit
5 Jan 2018, 10:55am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Microshift/FSA/Tourney Groupsets
Replies: 3
Views: 692

Re: Microshift/FSA/Tourney Groupsets

The Triban 500SE is currently marked down to £249. That's a lot of bike for the money. I don't regret buying my Verenti Technique Claris over the 500SE, but if I was making the purchase now with the Verenti much more expensive at £399 and the Triban at £249, I would have gone for the Triban.

In hindsight, I'm pleased to have the 2400 Claris gears so that I'm used to Shimano changing. But I paid a lot less for my bike than what it sells for now.

EDIT: Oh, only small and large sizes available.
by Annoying Twit
5 Jan 2018, 9:16am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Could cars become bicycles?
Replies: 29
Views: 1789

Re: Could cars become bicycles?

Surely it would be motorcycles and bicycles that would merge. The two wheel versus four wheel distinction is always likely to be there.

If internal combustion engines are replaced by electric bikes, then the distinction wold lessen considerably, and become a continuum.
by Annoying Twit
5 Jan 2018, 12:36am
Forum: On the road
Topic: What gear range do you use.
Replies: 91
Views: 5487

Re: What gear range do you use.

<philistine>Whatever was on the bike when I bought it.</philistine>
by Annoying Twit
3 Jan 2018, 10:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Most up-right endurance / sportive road bike ?
Replies: 19
Views: 1391

Re: Most up-right endurance / sportive road bike ?

ChiasseEnSpray wrote:
That surely is nice by why so expansive ? Is it due to the titanium ?


If you look at the prices of titanium frames, then they seemingly amply justify the price difference between that bike and otherwise similar 105 equipped bikes.

Titanium is, I'm told, difficult to work with, and titanium frames must be built correctly or they will fail. Hence, you're paying quite a premium for the workmanship.
by Annoying Twit
2 Jan 2018, 10:13am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: cheap chinese carbon ripoffs
Replies: 16
Views: 1540

Re: cheap chinese carbon ripoffs

mercalia wrote:yes not by the company that commissioned them but by the factory that made them. I have heard this happening in the high quality fashion trade esp when more items are made than commissioned to cover quality control failures - the excess then "vanish"


Yes, that's what I was thinking.
by Annoying Twit
1 Jan 2018, 9:36pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Dealing with verbal abuse
Replies: 58
Views: 3533

Re: Dealing with verbal abuse

Richard Fairhurst wrote:
Cyclingkip wrote:Hi everyone. I have anxiety and I am actually really confident cycling on cycle paths, just not the road. I have encountered a group of mums and children who don’t seem to care that I am cycling towards them on a shared path. So I ring my bell to let them know that I am coming as they don’t seem to acknowledge me and never move.
Everyday this happens and one mum usually shouts at me. Does anyone know how to deal with verbal abuse?
I used to shout back at people saying I’ve done nothing wrong but I found that this usually made the situation worse.


Stick your tongue out at them. The mums won't know what to do and the kids will find it hilarious.


Bonus points if you put your thumbs in your ears and waggle your hands at the same time?

EDIT: I'll point out that on towpaths etc. I'll warn people verbally that I'm coming past on their left/right. It seems to work most of the time except for the occasional person who doesn't know their left from their right. Most pedestrians seem to appreciate this.
by Annoying Twit
1 Jan 2018, 7:42pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: E bikes - do you secretly want one?
Replies: 130
Views: 10534

Re: E bikes - do you secretly want one?

Grandad wrote:
What kind of distances can these people do on their e-bikes?


Wide variation depending on the age of the bike (more recent ones have made a lot of improvements overall) and the size of the battery.

One of our lady members has a top of the range road bike and with a mixture of assisted and non assisted pedalling has done just over 100 miles. Not sure of the split between these.

A member with a much older model reckons his maximum is 25 miles - all motor assisted.


Thanks. 25 miles is too little distance for me. Good for commuting, but not for longer distances. While your lady member stretches the battery out, I wonder how much the additional weight affects the other (say) 75 miles without assistance, if that's how it works out.

However, if I'm thinking about future decades, then battery technology is still progressing. It could be that by the time I really need it, electric bikes will be ready. Without needing additional battery packs as Hemo uses.
by Annoying Twit
1 Jan 2018, 7:36pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: cheap chinese carbon ripoffs
Replies: 16
Views: 1540

Re: cheap chinese carbon ripoffs

For unbranded products, the concern I would have is whether some branded parts have quality control, but the rejects still get sold with no branding. I've no idea if this happens, but as I said: I'm concerned about it.
by Annoying Twit
1 Jan 2018, 7:31pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Dealing with verbal abuse
Replies: 58
Views: 3533

Re: Dealing with verbal abuse

Cyclingkip wrote:Hi everyone. I have anxiety and I am actually really confident cycling on cycle paths, just not the road. I have encountered a group of mums and children who don’t seem to care that I am cycling towards them on a shared path. So I ring my bell to let them know that I am coming as they don’t seem to acknowledge me and never move.
Everyday this happens and one mum usually shouts at me. Does anyone know how to deal with verbal abuse?
I used to shout back at people saying I’ve done nothing wrong but I found that this usually made the situation worse.


Stop, look at her sadly, then say 'I hope you get the help that you need.' Then slowly cycle off.
by Annoying Twit
1 Jan 2018, 10:52am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: E bikes - do you secretly want one?
Replies: 130
Views: 10534

Re: E bikes - do you secretly want one?

simonineaston wrote:
What kind of distances can these people do on their e-bikes?
I simply use my Brompton nano for the week-day journey to and fro' the railway stations, which is a total of 7 miles a day, for which it is Jolly Good! :D


Thanks. But, I was interested in whether people could use electric bikes on cycling club outings, which are typically longer.
by Annoying Twit
1 Jan 2018, 1:06am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: E bikes - do you secretly want one?
Replies: 130
Views: 10534

Re: E bikes - do you secretly want one?

Paul Smith SRCC wrote:The local club riders who have them love their E-bikes, for some there comes a time when they reach an age and perhaps with health issues that mean they found they were often driving to the cafe instead of cycling! For them the assistance an e-bike gives them is the difference between cycling with their life long friends or not, it has simply extended their cycling life with their mates.

When I reach that point in my life; then I will definitely want one.


What kind of distances can these people do on their e-bikes?

BTW: I greatly enjoyed a test ride I had on an e-bike some time ago, but that was before the law change that restricted how they can be powered. I could imagine riding one some time in the future.
by Annoying Twit
31 Dec 2017, 11:32am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Calorie burning
Replies: 15
Views: 1635

Re: Calorie burning

hemo wrote:Cutting out the sweets/biscuits & cakes can be drastic unless you have will power, I like these as well.
Since September I decided to reduce the amount of these I ate and only eat as a small treat instead.
As a driver now in my occupation sandwiches are often the main meal 3 or 4 times a week so no more white bread and use multi seeded brown in store baked fresh bread, with tasty alternative fillings and thinner cut slices. Also more fish and salad with tasty added ingredients for lunch when not working.
Weight loss nothing drastic but down from 13: 7lbs to 12 : 8lbs.

The cakes and other sweet/fatty items I have replaced with ready to eat packaged fruit like prunes and apricots and generally ther fuit witht the ocassional trat of a bit of chocolate or a bakery item once a week instead of daily.


When I had to lose weight (was getting near officially obese) I just calorie counted. This allowed me to eat whatever I wanted, just not too much of it. E.g. I learned to appreciate single squares of chocolate.
by Annoying Twit
31 Dec 2017, 11:30am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How do you Deal with the Cold Winds?
Replies: 19
Views: 1805

Re: How do you Deal with the Cold Winds?

In very cold weather I will wear one of those reflective thick coats sold in various hardware shops and seemingly intended for those people you see working on railway lines etc. I find that they are warm enough such that even in cold weather I can't work too hard or I'll overheat and start sweating. I also wear multiple layers on my bottom half; typically some sort of modern high-tech long johns under my trousers.

And for me, good warm gloves and something to cover my ears are a must. I can put up with wind chill on my exposed face.