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by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 1:12pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Don't do it - it hurts!
Replies: 31
Views: 2570

Re: Don't do it - it hurts!

Yeah, that's my foot there!

Bare feet BTW, generally almost permanently, unless I go out or work in the garden. What bit of my anatomy do you want a photograph of next? 8)

The finger isn't broken, it moves and feels fine - though achey - just swollen and I can't make a tight fist. It's aching less this afternoon than it did before though looking a bit more bruised. Ibrupofen every four hours seems the right way ahead.

But I mean it - leave rotating wheels alone!

I have heard that fixed wheel bikes are the worst sort of bike for losing fingers. The transmission takes no prisoners!
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 1:04pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: What's the price of milk to do with?
Replies: 18
Views: 1453

Re: What's the price of milk to do with?

That's not what I heard on Radio4

The farmer said that the supermarkets supplied it, but he still had to pay for it. Ditto the birds, the hygiene kit, and specified everything.
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 11:58am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Chain Cleaning
Replies: 42
Views: 4326

Re: Chain Cleaning

My question was really aimed at you because you said the chain is consumable. I reckon I'll be changing my chains at 8,000miles ish. I say "reckon" because I haven't got there yet since changing to 10sp. I have three chains and swap them every 1,000miles.

My tyres wear out at about 5,000miles ish.
I swap them over regularly to even out the wear and change them both at the same time, but keeping the best as a spare.
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 11:53am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: The Right Oil for Spoke Threads.
Replies: 26
Views: 4889

Re: The Right Oil for Spoke Threads.

"After training, they are capable of building in excess of sixty wheels a day."

Sounds like a thoroughly boring job!
Much as I enjoy building a wheel, sixty a day - for the rest of my productive life - would bore me to tears. Just the prospect of it is awful.
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 9:51am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Don't do it - it hurts!
Replies: 31
Views: 2570

Re: Don't do it - it hurts!

Thanks guys!

I've taken the plaster off, the wound has healed ok, but the swelling and bruising will take longer.

I am back on the Ergo now, and I found that I had to use my index finger to change with the paddle - I usually use the second finger but it hurt. Braking was hurtful too.

Taking a photo with my left hand was difficult. Sorry about the focus!
Hand.jpg
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 9:37am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Wireless bike brake system
Replies: 9
Views: 595

Re: Wireless bike brake system

Why?
What's wrong with cables?
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 8:27am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Don't do it - it hurts!
Replies: 31
Views: 2570

Don't do it - it hurts!

Out yesterday, nice long ride in the autumn sunshine. Chilly at times, but pleasant.

My peace and pleasantness was shattered when a bit of twig and a leaf or two became stuck under my front mudguard. It wasn't a problem in progress, but it was annoying because of the noise!

I slowed down and wiggled the steering, no difference, and I carried on in the hope it would go away.

I came to a hill, and slowed down of course, so I tapped the front 'guard near the bottom with my right hand.

Then came my mistake, and I ain't doing it again! :evil:

My second finger got bitten by the spokes and pulled out the 'guard stays! OW!! I came to an abrupt stop and was concerned that I'd lost a finger! My finger went immediately numb, and I was really concerned. Luckily, my hand was in one piece but with cut on the first knuckle. The blood dripped for a few miles after I got going again, and changing gear became painful. I finished my ride, washed my cut and put on a plaster.

This morning, my finger is swollen and sore and very very bruised.

Don't do what I did.
Stop and pull out the twigs!
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 7:49am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: JOGLE route help
Replies: 10
Views: 1225

Re: JOGLE route help

Try these:
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=185060 Ludlow to Gloucester
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=185061 Gloucester to Bridgwater
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=185062 Bridgwater to Sourton
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=185063 Sourton to St Columb
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=185064 St Columb to LE

If I can do that on a Raleigh Chopper, it should be good enough for anyone.

Any questions, please ask.
by Mick F
18 Oct 2011, 7:41am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Chain Cleaning
Replies: 42
Views: 4326

Re: Chain Cleaning

What lasts longer for you?
Tyres or chains?
by Mick F
17 Oct 2011, 7:47pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Juddering brakes
Replies: 177
Views: 14333

Re: Juddering brakes

Two answers:
No, not really
No I haven't.

The front brake still judders a bit. I said before that it was a "pulsing" and I reckon it was caused by the rim having a varying width, but now it just judders. If I use both brakes, I cannot feel any problem at all, though I did before. If I use just the front brake, it judders and vibrates and I can see the forks moving.

I haven't measured since my last post on this, and I would suspect that I wouldn't be able to find a variation. I haven't fitted my spare rim either, but since you have raised this subject again, I will do.

Stand by for a report later in the week.
by Mick F
17 Oct 2011, 8:22am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Rugby World Cup - Wales Lose!
Replies: 16
Views: 1506

Re: Rugby World Cup - Wales Lose!

Listening to the news this morning on Radio2, it occurred to me that some news reporting is biased.

It can be argued that the BBC are biased news-wise and I have no comment about that as I don't notice it, but news sport-wise they are VERY biased!

I understand that the sports-lovers want to hear a biased reporting, but if you are not interested in sport, it would be good to hear a balanced view and not saying it's a shame that so-and-so got beaten.

Just report the facts, not a biased tribal view.
by Mick F
17 Oct 2011, 8:15am
Forum: Fun & Games
Topic: Three Word Story Game (again)
Replies: 8855
Views: 433114

Re: Three Word Story Game (again)

The jellyfish bounced bouncily but beautifully right over the moon, casting silvery tendrils along the Kendal Mint Cliffs and jumped off the Milky Way but slipped on Buffys little tiddle and ended up jelly side up. Meanwhile Mick F's lost sock found a home with the pixies as a cosy fan tutti broke into song. However a nasty surprise awaited them later, they peered into Mick F's trailer but only found broken spokes and lonely socks that looked like they had escaped from the laundry basket.

But what was the pixie's cosy little collection of hamsters actually doing? Their bulging cheeks contained lots of banana sundeas and mint choc chips with hundreds and thousands stuck to tiny strawberry trifles with loaded shotguns at the ready. But they loaded rice pudding and raspberry jam into a massively proportioned string bag and catapulted it into low Earth orbit with a slingshot constructed from latex purloined from the spare innertube stash. Initial acceleration exceeded the string bag's terminal velocity which was equal to that of a road-kill weasel. However, the hamsters' cunning brother came along (another hamster, bedad!) He was towing carry freedom wildly waving and weaving perchance to pass pretty pink peonies alongside razor sharp Mensa sans denser apricots in syrup smeared over their man-eating sheep. An excellent bait you'd of thought, but a passing laser cannon and a group of badly dressed hamsters and gerbils being chased by a trio of French hens, two German susages and a cartridge in a Parker pen.

While the dwarfs manned the battlements the pies arrived with custard and Daddies Favourite Sauce, which was also the antidote for snake bites and sockless shoe rash. Secondhand swimming hats were much better codpiece liners than hamster fluff and
by Mick F
17 Oct 2011, 7:43am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: The Right Oil for Spoke Threads.
Replies: 26
Views: 4889

Re: The Right Oil for Spoke Threads.

We may never know the answer about copper grease on spoke threads unless I need to re-true one of my wheels a few years in the future!

I've not built many wheels, perhaps a dozen individual wheels, and until the last pair, never used any lube of any description. My idea a copper grease wasn't to aid building, but to aid the spoke threads to stay free over the years.
by Mick F
16 Oct 2011, 7:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Chain Cleaning
Replies: 42
Views: 4326

Re: Chain Cleaning

Depends on the cost of a chain?

I use Campag Chorus 10sp.
Discontinued now, it's a good job I have three!

Can only get Centaur or Record now, minimum £30 each.
by Mick F
16 Oct 2011, 5:54pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Planning Route Church Stretton to Preston
Replies: 5
Views: 1154

Re: Planning Route Church Stretton to Preston

I've just described your route to Mrs Mick F.
She's "map illiterate" but knows the area as well as I do, and she laughed. Sorry.

We were brought up in south/west Lancs and would suggest that the best/easiest/simplest route to Preston from the south is via the A49.