Search found 82 matches

by jk49
28 Jun 2017, 10:18am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Airbed recommendations?
Replies: 20
Views: 1997

Re: Airbed recommendations?

Exped basic, slightly heavier than their ul versions. Its been really comfy for me for about 5 years now and showing no signs of giving up the ghost.
by jk49
10 May 2017, 9:57am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Pyramid or tipi tents?
Replies: 45
Views: 4666

Re: Pyramid or tipi tents?

Happy Golite Shangrila 3 owner for 3-4 years. For such a lightweight tent it is very strong, and has stood up to many bad gales and torrential nights! Its footprint allows for lots of storage room for kit around the sides, while still leaving plenty of room for 2 people to sleep. Single pole supplied with the tent is large diameter and appears indestructible.
Cons are: cooking inside in rainy weather is difficult because of no porch, also getting in and out in rainy weather can be a pain because of sloping profile, means rain drips off open flap into living area. pitching without inner needs a bit of trail and error, but not really too hard, really easy if inner is used.

Never knocked pole out, too much downward tension from 6 quality pegs.
HTH
jon
by jk49
26 Mar 2017, 9:20am
Forum: Off-road Cycling.
Topic: Want to start mountain biking - what bike model should I buy?
Replies: 24
Views: 17058

Re: Want to start mountain biking - what bike model should I buy?

+1 for the voodoo bizango, bought mine in january, good condition second hand, taken front mech and shifter off and changed tyres to more mud based and ridden it through the winter. Its a great bike and very forgiving, compared to the 26" I was riding
by jk49
23 Feb 2017, 2:42pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Salisbury, Wiltshire
Replies: 6
Views: 579

Re: Salisbury, Wiltshire

If you are touring and enjoy looking at the "sights" you could follow the cycle path along southampton rd (horrible), but turn into churchill gdns and follow the path to newbridge rd. Follow it under the bridge with the river to st nicholas rd, into De Vaux place and through the gate into the Cathedral close. Have a look around the Close, beautiful architecture, free sculpture and quite a tall church spire, then out through the high st gate to pick up cycle path past st Thomas church, running north, mostly traffic free into the woodford valley, onto Amesbury, Upavon, on ncn 45.
Hth, if you need any other info about the area, just ask.
by jk49
28 Nov 2016, 5:39pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Restoring a 1970s Merlin
Replies: 8
Views: 952

Re: Restoring a 1970s Merlin

Not much of an answer, but have you tried keeping an eye out on the retrobike forum's classifieds. Perhaps posting a wanted ad on there may yield what you are after. Sorry, can't help with your other q's, as I know next to nothing about campag stuff.
by jk49
16 Nov 2016, 7:40pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Trekking handlebars
Replies: 3
Views: 829

Re: Trekking handlebars

^^^^^^^^+1
Also lots of room for lights, bells, gps, computers etc, if that's your thing.
Although I really like the BBB I'm considering trying to find a slightly narrower version for perfection. But I guess that depends on one's shoulder width.
by jk49
16 Nov 2016, 11:10am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: if the Alpkit Love Mud Juice hub dynamo is any good?
Replies: 8
Views: 3067

Re: if the Alpkit Love Mud Juice hub dynamo is any good?

l've been using the lovemud dynamo hub from around the end of September. It hasn't done a lot of miles as its on the utility machine, although I've done some off-road riding on it, including a fair bit of mud and water...
So far so good, it just works. So yes I'm happy with it.
Well, that's probably jinxed it!
by jk49
12 Nov 2016, 7:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Single Speed Conversion
Replies: 9
Views: 1227

Re: Single Speed Conversion

I've run 2 s/s road bikes and a 2 hub gear bikes, all with chain tensioners. Although it would be undeniably better from an aesthetic point of view to not use a tensioner, in practice I have had no problems with either of the types I've used. Once set up they are really fit and forget, for at least a year anyway. An added advantage is no need to keep tweeking the chain tension with the sprung version, and maybe 10 seconds work with an allen key every now and again on the other. I just wipe them with an oily rag when I clean the chain.
Also +1 for the spacer kits for shimano freehubs from ebay etc.
by jk49
21 Oct 2016, 11:02am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: London to Exeter route advice
Replies: 20
Views: 3578

Re: London to Exeter route advice

I've cycled from Bath to Reading on the K&A. The bit between Devizes and Pewsey is very tricky on narrow tyres, as are fairly frequent sections afterwards. I used 1.75" travel contacts and still had the occasional moment! (slippery stone ledges under the humpback bridges. Everything is doable, but it will be slow, slightly tense going on a good part of the towpath, particularly if there has been rain.....
FWIW I found the canal path north of Taunton faster going, but that's another story.
by jk49
22 Sep 2016, 2:24pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Unmissable places in the Netherlands
Replies: 19
Views: 1611

Re: Unmissable places in the Netherlands

Probably not essential, but I found the museum about the great flood of 1953 very interesting and moving, its near ouverkirke on duuveland,(island in the south).
Also really enjoyed the Biesbosch wetlands near Dordrecht, you could also do the Kinders dijk at the same time,( 19 windmills in one place, some of them working plus nice museum and visitor centre).
We had a good day catching the waterbus to Rotterdam, very modern architecture, loaded with museums and extremely cheap way of getting us and the bikes around.
Prepare to be astounded by Dutch cycling infrastructure and culture!
by jk49
26 Aug 2016, 9:02am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: euro velo 6 tire width
Replies: 3
Views: 490

Re: euro velo 6 tire width

It is mostly tarmac of one sort or another. I don't remember any off road bits, but it could be that they escape my memory! I think you will be fine with your 32's. Have a good tour!
by jk49
14 Aug 2016, 9:53am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano nexus 8 which rollerbrake?
Replies: 6
Views: 1035

Re: shimano nexus 8 which rollerbrake?

Thanks again to everyone for their useful responses. Yes it is for a rear brake, so I'm not too worried about it being overly powerful, it was more a question of which rollerbrake would be compatible with the nexus 8 hub.
Thanks for the info concerning levers and cable pull, I've got deore v brake levers at present, the front operating a bb7 disc, so will have to look at my options for a different lever maybe?
I'll probably end up ordering all this from Germany, (I'm not sure if they sell the br im80 though) as I'm also after some spokes for a dynamo hub I have, so will be able to spread the cost of postage.
jon
by jk49
12 Aug 2016, 5:52pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano nexus 8 which rollerbrake?
Replies: 6
Views: 1035

Re: shimano nexus 8 which rollerbrake?

ok, thanks for your reply. That's good to know. I'll go with the one you recomend.
jon
by jk49
12 Aug 2016, 2:08pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano nexus 8 which rollerbrake?
Replies: 6
Views: 1035

shimano nexus 8 which rollerbrake?

Hello to you all on this beautiful afternoon!

I'm after some guidance about which roller brake(s) may fit my nexus 8 redband premium hub. The serial number of the hub is SG 8R 36. At present I have a black plastic cover over the splines on the NDS. My prefered supplier (a shop in Hamburg) offers ;

BR IM 41
BR IM 50
BR IM 70
BR IM 73

here is a link to the page:
https://www.cnc-bike.de/advanced_search ... =2a&page=2

I'm struggling to work out if any of these will work, so if anyone can help I'd be very grateful.
by jk49
5 Aug 2016, 2:42pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Best camping gadgets
Replies: 23
Views: 2258

Re: Best camping gadgets

Agree about fiddly assembly re the honey stove... but I still never tour without it. I use it with a pop can meths stove if in France or just away for a couple of days in the UK. I go to wood fired if away for longer and don't want to carry fuel. I can only think of a couple of occasions when I've had trouble sourcing dry fuel(never used it up above tree line though).
I particularly like the secure stable pan support it gives, whichever fuel it is burning