Search found 3474 matches

by TrevA
1 Jan 2024, 9:13pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tifosi cassettes?
Replies: 30
Views: 3780

Re: Tifosi cassettes?

I’ve been using Tifosi 9 speed cassettes for the last couple of years. I don’t notice any difference in shifting, but I think they are not as hard wearing as Shimano. I changed my chain at the start of winter, it was less than 0.75% worn, but the new chain was jumping on a couple of sprockets (probably the most used ones), so ended up having to change the cassette too which cured the problem. I’m not too disappointed about this as the Tifosi cassette is less than half the price of the equivalent Shimano one.
by TrevA
30 Dec 2023, 9:41pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24665

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

Mcdors wrote: 30 Dec 2023, 10:45am
TrevA wrote: 15 Nov 2023, 12:20pm
I watch on my iPad, phone and Apple TV box. There an option to have foreign commentary or just ambient sound when watching the racing, if Carlton Kirby gets on your nerves.
If true this has made my day as I like to listen to European races with native commentary. Not had anyone confirm this before. Have you actually tried it?
I had assumed I might have to do some VPNing at best or just not get this at all at worst. Thanks!
Yes, I’ve tried it. If watching on an iPad or phone, there’s a little speech balloon in the bottom right corner. If you click on that you can choose a different language commentary or ambient sound.
by TrevA
25 Dec 2023, 5:57pm
Forum: Family Cycling
Topic: Older child rear seats
Replies: 13
Views: 5451

Re: Older child rear seats

If you can get your hands on one, then an Isla Rowntree Trailerbike is ideal for this age. They stopped making them a few years ago but they are still available secondhand. They are more stable than a tag along, having 2 fixing points on a specially made rear pannier rack, and a head tube arrangement that allows the bike to pivot.

I used one with my daughter, who was a reluctant cyclist, from her age of 4 to 10. This meant we could all ride as a family, as her older brother was a stronger, keen and independent cyclist. We did a number of fixed centre tours with the Traikerbike, as well as riding most weekends, we even did the 50 mile Great Nottingham Bike Ride.
by TrevA
21 Dec 2023, 9:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: a tad out of true? decisions....
Replies: 59
Views: 4088

Re: a tad out of true? decisions....

horizon wrote: 21 Dec 2023, 8:36pm
TrevA wrote: 21 Dec 2023, 12:12pm Replacing the top and down tube likely to cost around £350 plus the cost of a respray

https://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/prices_frames.html

You could buy a brand new Spa Audax frame for the same money. A new Mercian frame would cost considerably more - £1275 for a 631 Audax Special.

https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frames/audax-special/
The OP has had the frame for 15 years. Personally I think bikes should be amortised over ten years so he is already five years into a new frame, which means that the new frame, if Mercian, would actually be costing half, or £637.50. As it would be new (and should last at least ten years), then over the next ten years that is £63.75 per year. However, a new Spa frame would in any case cost £350. On the same basis, that would be amortised at £17.50 per year (five years gone already) which means that the new Mercian frame would be costing an additional £46.25 per year over the next ten years or 89p per week - about the same as a bag of crisps and I know which I would prefer.
I had a Mercian frame and it broke after 7 years. However, this was before they started charging “artisan” prices. I only paid just over £200 for it, new from the Mercian shop in Derby in 1997. That’s about £30 a year. I didn’t complain when it broke, I thought I’d had my money’s worth out of it.

I certainly wouldn’t buy a Mercian now - £1300 for just a frame, though I note that a Vernon Barker steel frame is even more money. It would be a Spa all the way for me, even though the Mercian is UK built and the Spa is probably made in the far east.
by TrevA
21 Dec 2023, 12:12pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: a tad out of true? decisions....
Replies: 59
Views: 4088

Re: a tad out of true? decisions....

Replacing the top and down tube likely to cost around £350 plus the cost of a respray

https://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/prices_frames.html

You could buy a brand new Spa Audax frame for the same money. A new Mercian frame would cost considerably more - £1275 for a 631 Audax Special.

https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frames/audax-special/
by TrevA
21 Dec 2023, 11:55am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Do we really understand what’s happening to the cycle trade?
Replies: 178
Views: 57721

Re: Do we really understand what’s happening to the cycle trade?

Locally, whilst many traditional bike shops have closed, there has been an increase in the number of people who just do repairs. These seem to do a roaring trade, many new cyclists don’t have much of a clue about doing even basic maintenance on their bikes, or just don’t want to do maintenance. Many newer members of my club take the bike to these repairers to have chains and cassettes changed and to have tyres changed.
by TrevA
21 Dec 2023, 9:44am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: SKS Chainbow?
Replies: 26
Views: 1653

Re: SKS Chainbow?

531colin wrote: 20 Dec 2023, 11:13pm Seems a lot of work just to avoid tucking your trousers into your socks.
Yes, that’s what I do, but sometimes forget I’ve done it and end up walking around with a tucked in trouser leg!
by TrevA
19 Dec 2023, 1:29pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: UCI Ban of Turned in Levers
Replies: 56
Views: 7325

Re: UCI Ban of Turned in Levers

I’ve seen children riding with their hands in the puppy paws position and someone was doing it in our evening 10 in the summer. People will copy what the Pro’s do, so banning such things discourages those that seek to copy these antics.

I also question whether flared bars are safe in big bunch racing. I witnessed an accident where riders got their handlebars entangled, one of whom was riding a flared bar gravel bike. Both riders ended up crashing with serious consequences.
by TrevA
18 Dec 2023, 10:58am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: UCI Ban of Turned in Levers
Replies: 56
Views: 7325

Re: UCI Ban of Turned in Levers

Riders and especially racers need saving from themselves. Dan Bigham uses ridiculous 32cm handlebars with turned in levers. Cycling Time Trials have needed to bring in new regulations to stop people riding with their head down - not looking where they are going. All in the name of aerodynamics and saving a few Watts. This behaviour is encouraged by the likes of GCN and their obsession with aero.
by TrevA
18 Dec 2023, 10:36am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24665

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

mjr wrote: 18 Dec 2023, 9:58am
TrevA wrote: 17 Dec 2023, 6:59pm The Digital Cycling feed does not have adverts.
Yet. Wait until after GCN has completely closed and they don't need an adless feed for it.
I’ve seen your cynicism over on Cyclechat, now you’re bringing it over here too.
by TrevA
17 Dec 2023, 6:59pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24665

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

Well I’ve just watched a certain Mr Thomas Pidcock race at Namur this afternoon and I didn’t see a single advert, nor did I for yesterday’s race.

The Standard Plan gives access to several Discovery-owned TV channels, which do have adverts, as do the E1 and E2 channels. I wonder if that’s what they are referring to? The Digital Cycling feed does not have adverts. I’ve watched every cross race this season and the only time I’ve seen adverts, is when I’ve clicked on the wrong feed by mistake.
by TrevA
16 Dec 2023, 10:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?
Replies: 96
Views: 24665

Re: GCN+ closes What are the alternatives?

rualexander wrote: 15 Dec 2023, 7:40pm
Paulatic wrote: 15 Dec 2023, 7:36pm
rualexander wrote: 15 Dec 2023, 7:10pm [

Who led you to believe that?
Discovery+ has ads, I've tried it, some of the on demand races don't seem to have any, others have some, and some have quite a lot.
All the live streams have ads (Eurosport 1 and 2 for the cycling).
See here https://support.discoveryplus.com/gb/An ... /000004067
In the 6th post of this thread @TrevA says
Yes, all of the cyclocross, all of the Spring Classics, all of the Grand Tours, and all of the minor races that you get on Eurosport. It’s the same coverage as Eurosport without the adverts.
Why is there this confusion?
Well, he's wrong, there are adverts.
There's no confusion, it says they have ads on all their plans on the page I linked to above.
I’m not wrong. There are several feeds for each race - the E1/E2 feed has adverts, as it’s the one shown on the TV. the Digital feed does not have adverts. I’ve been watching cycling on D+ for a year now, I always pick the digital feed and there are never any adverts. If you are getting adverts, you’ve picked the wrong feed. It’s subtle but the E1/E2 feed will show either E1 or E2, and the digital feed will not.

Here’s a screenshot of the coverage of the Mol cross on 22/12/23. You can see one feed for the women’s race says E1, and the other doesn’t . Pick the one that doesn’t say E1 and there will be no adverts.
by TrevA
16 Dec 2023, 6:31pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Toxic armpits
Replies: 37
Views: 9385

Re: Toxic armpits

Try shaving your armpits. The sweat gets trapped in your armpit hair and makes the problem worse. Shaving your armpits makes them easier to keep clean in the shower.
by TrevA
13 Dec 2023, 6:56pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Henry Lloyd frame set
Replies: 20
Views: 6215

Re: Henry Lloyd frame set

djnotts wrote: 27 Oct 2023, 8:01am "Mick’s surname was Polish, something like Cziorka, not White, hence the nickname “Chalky”."

I met Mick when he worked at Freewheel and he lived somewhere near me (Carlton Hill). He had built a few frames, I think when between Lloyd's and Freewheel. I sometimes saw him on a tandem with his wife.
A good mate of mine worked at Lloyd's as Saturday lad in '70s and was a Clarion member.
All before my time in Nottingham.
I'll try and forward some of this discussion to my mate Gary C.
Mick used to live on Birch Avenue, just off Carlton Hill, just around the corner from me - I lived on Southcliffe Road. We actually went to view his house when he put it up for sale, as we were looking for somewhere bigger. I think he moved to Cherrywood Gardens, just off Porchester Road. I’m not sure if he is still around, I haven’t seen him for a few years.

A friend of mine, Steve Littlewood, had a Henry Lloyd framed low profile time trial bike with bullhorn handlebars. Unfortunately, Steve is no longer with us, so I’m not sure what happened to it.
by TrevA
9 Dec 2023, 5:17pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: First ride in four months
Replies: 130
Views: 19020

Re: First ride in four months

Having climbed Gunnislake hill on our JOGLE ( and met Mick at the top!) I don’t know how you have managed to cycle regularly whilst living there. I’d be putting the bike in the car and driving to somewhere flatter.