Search found 192 matches

by Mr Evil
11 Oct 2016, 7:37pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Wide tyres again (sorry)
Replies: 2
Views: 384

Re: Wide tyres again (sorry)

28mm tyre on a rim with 25mm internal width? It's clearly about time that ETRTO updated their rim/tyre compatibility guidelines (they currently suggest no less than a 44mm tyre on a 25mm rim).
by Mr Evil
27 Sep 2016, 4:42pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cycle path speed
Replies: 61
Views: 6304

Re: Cycle path speed

Ruadh495 wrote:...Is it so unreasonable to expect them to behave similarly where they share space with cycles? Seems it is...

Shared paths are often not wide enough for two or more people to walk side by side. Is it reasonable to expect people to walk in single file, preventing conversation, just so that you can ride a bit faster? Some shared paths that I have been on have a nicely paved side for bicycles, and a rough gravel side full of muddy puddles for pedestrians. If I was walking, I would be on the cycle path there too.

Squishing bicycles and pedestrians together is bound to lead to confilcts, but it's the situation we have, so we need to deal with it as best we can. I find that a loud freehub and a smile helps a lot.
by Mr Evil
26 Sep 2016, 5:34pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Squealing brakes
Replies: 4
Views: 722

Re: Squealing brakes

I have tried quite a lot of things to stop the horrendous squealing with my brakes (also Spyres) when it rains.

  • Copper grease: Does't really do anything.
  • Different discs: Ones with fewer/smaller holes stopped the slight vibration I had with the standard discs, but don't change the squealing.
  • Various brands of organic pad: The same as the standard pads (no surprise, as the standard pads are organic).
  • Various brands of sintered pad: Slightly more noise in the dry, but no squealing in the wet.
  • Other pads: Semi-metallic, kevlar etc. Various degrees of squealing depending on how similar to organic pads they are.

Therefore I would suggest trying sintered pads.
by Mr Evil
25 Sep 2016, 5:44pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: bent hub flange - safe to build a wheel?
Replies: 25
Views: 2121

Re: bent hub flange - safe to build a wheel?

531colin wrote:...If its dished, then the NDS spokes live the life of Riley and do no work at all..

Since hubs are pretty rigid, plenty of torque is transmitted to the NDS. If you were to apply FEA to a wheel, you would see that NDS spokes can actually see a higher range of tension than the DS.
by Mr Evil
21 Sep 2016, 8:03pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike maintenance stand - which one ?
Replies: 25
Views: 2017

Re: Bike maintenance stand - which one ?

I like the ones made by Feedback Sports. The one I have is pretty sturdy, folds up small, and unfolds again quickly.

I don't like the ones that clamp the BB+axle because you have to take a wheel off, which takes time and means you can't adjust one of the brakes.
by Mr Evil
21 Sep 2016, 7:49pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cycle path speed
Replies: 61
Views: 6304

Re: Cycle path speed

Walk along the path yourself, and note the speed at which passing cyclists make you feel like you have to hug the edge of the path in a perfectly straight line for fear of being flattened from behind. Go slower than that. This may require you to slow all the way down to walking speed on narrow paths.
by Mr Evil
12 Sep 2016, 9:39am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: New tires – no direction arrows – put on different ways on bike. Issues?!
Replies: 13
Views: 2862

Re: New tires – no direction arrows – put on different ways on bike. Issues?!

JohnW wrote:...The thing that could worry me is that there must be a reason for it!

There is indeed a reason for it!
http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/profil.html wrote:In the case of a road tyre the rolling direction is mainly important for aesthetic considerations. Tires marked with arrows simply look more dynamic.
by Mr Evil
11 Sep 2016, 1:49am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Carbon Fibre Frame Paint Chip from Stuck chain
Replies: 6
Views: 1157

Re: Carbon Fibre Frame Paint Chip from Stuck chain

meic wrote:I cant remember the chemistry of enamel paints and epoxy resins, possibly the solvent will be detrimental to the composite. I have a feeling that both are soluble in acetone...

"Enamel" is a pretty generic term - it could have any sort of solvent in it. It's worth checking compatibility with whatever you use, but epoxy is quite resistant to acetone.

taksdd wrote:Hey.. also many people recommend clear nail varnish.. what do you think of it?

It's readily available, and it works ok.

p.s. This is why I put chain catchers on all my bikes.
by Mr Evil
9 Sep 2016, 7:14pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Coloured Mudguards
Replies: 47
Views: 3432

Re: Coloured Mudguards

drossall wrote:As cycleruk said, coloured mudguards used to be standard items. You'd buy to match your bike. I can't really understand why, in this age of customer choice, these and coloured cable housings have disappeared from the market.

Modern mass-production with its economies of scale doesn't lend itself to such customization. Maybe this will change as technologies like 3D printing evolve, but for now, it's still possible to buy bespoke products in any colour you want, like this:
Image
by Mr Evil
30 Jul 2016, 8:30pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Cateye Padrone anomaly
Replies: 4
Views: 588

Re: Cateye Padrone anomaly

I don't know about the Padrone specifically, but other computers I have used exclude stops from the average speed.
by Mr Evil
9 Jul 2016, 5:31pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Stiffer cranks
Replies: 14
Views: 1256

Re: Stiffer cranks

While I'm sure people exaggerate the effects, there really is a measurable difference in stiffness between cranks.
by Mr Evil
6 Jun 2016, 6:09pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Carbon or Alloy Seat Post?
Replies: 39
Views: 3376

Re: Carbon or Alloy Seat Post?

Here is some empirical evidence: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/12/training-center/technology/from-the-pages-of-velo-getting-the-most-from-your-post_267560
Unfortunately the images seem to have vanished some time since I originally read it in 2012, but the text contains the gist of it. The conclusion is that carbon posts are potentially more comfortable than aluminium, having both better damping and higher deflection.
by Mr Evil
29 May 2016, 2:40pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Non-crimp Cable Ferrules
Replies: 49
Views: 4139

Re: Non-crimp Cable Ferrules

I always solder cable ends now. It makes it easier to remove/reinstall the cable compared to aluminium ferrules, and it lasts longer than superglue.

MikeDee wrote:Acid flux will make solder wet to stainless.

Phosphoric acid works nicely to remove the oxide layer. It's non-toxic and water soluble, unlike some acid fluxes.
by Mr Evil
6 Apr 2016, 6:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: what is best way to join frame tubes ??
Replies: 17
Views: 1154

Re: what is best way to join frame tubes ??

RickH wrote:Engaging best pantomime voice, oh yes they have :D

Rick.

That's an amazing frame, but the head tube and BB are separate, so I don't think it quite counts.
by Mr Evil
6 Apr 2016, 5:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: what is best way to join frame tubes ??
Replies: 17
Views: 1154

Re: what is best way to join frame tubes ??

Are you considering metal only here? A "monocoque" carbon frame will have the strongest joints due to not having any joints at all. For metal, a frame 3D printed in one piece would exceed the strength of any traditionally joined frame, again due to having no joints at all (no one has printed an entire frame in one piece yet though, as far as I am aware).