Search found 351 matches

by andrewk
12 Oct 2016, 12:17am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Newbie looking to commute to work
Replies: 51
Views: 3408

Re: Newbie looking to commute to work

TrevA wrote:
To me cycling is an inclusive activity and should never be viewed as an exclusive activity requiring all sorts of specialist kit, you should be able to just get on your bike and ride 2-3 miles to the shops, park, work etc...... Specialist kit is a deterrent to that ideal...


I wholeheartedly agree with this. One of the things that put ordinary people off cycling, is the perceived need to get dressed up like an imperial storm trooper before you set off, with helmet, hi viz, special shoes, clothes, etc. I think we are guilty on this forum of perpetuating this attitude.

Cycling a short distance should be a normal, everyday activity undertaken in normal, everyday clothes. I often cycle to the shops in my village - just over a mile each way, I just go in my jeans, trainers and never wear a helmet.


+1
by andrewk
10 Oct 2016, 1:18am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Flat bar touring bikes (particularly the LHT)
Replies: 75
Views: 8741

Re: Flat bar touring bikes (particularly the LHT)

Since you have decided on a steel frame flat bar tourer that is what you should be looking for not a compromised drop bar bike that has had its bars swapped out. Problem is that such bikes aren't mainstream in this country so most bike shops won't carry them or even deal with the right suppliers.
I would recommend you take a look at the VSF Fahrrad Manufaktur range as they are specifically designed and built as steel framed flat bar tourers. VSF are German but I beleive that they have a couple of outlets in this country.
by andrewk
7 Oct 2016, 10:09pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Newbie looking to commute to work
Replies: 51
Views: 3408

Re: Newbie looking to commute to work

eileithyia wrote:
andrewk wrote:Lock
Not mentioned yet...be sure to get a GOOD D lock eg. Kryptonite Evolution 4, Abus 540, Kryptonite New York plus a secondary lock or cable. Ignore eye watering bike shop prices... between a Google search and Amazon you should be able to get both for within £50..


Oh yes I did, suggesting if possible to leave it at work to save carrying a hefty lock around... :lol:


Sorry, didn't read carefully enough.
by andrewk
7 Oct 2016, 9:31pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Newbie looking to commute to work
Replies: 51
Views: 3408

Re: Newbie looking to commute to work

Lock
Not mentioned yet...be sure to get a GOOD D lock eg. Kryptonite Evolution 4, Abus 540, Kryptonite New York plus a secondary lock or cable. Ignore eye watering bike shop prices... between a Google search and Amazon you should be able to get both for within £50.
At the risk of stating the obvious....Lock through the frame and rear wheel with the D lock and through the frame and front wheel with the secondary lock or cable.
I do local utility cycle trips in any old walking jacket....hi viz may be helpful but isn't a priority....lights and locks are. A spare inner tube, tyre levers and patches are recommended as are mudguards. You may well find that other than the above lights, locks, mudguards, inner tube and puncture stuff you can use stuff that you already have, eg. I use an old aerosol of motorcycle chain oil to oil cycle chains.
Doing your own basic maintenance: lubrication, changing tyres, fixing punctures, new cables and brake pads, new chain and cassette as required will save lots over using a bike shop.
Decathlon is quite good for cheap cables, brake pads etc.
Lastly enjoy it...riding is far nicer than being squashed up against a smelly person in a bus or waiting ages for the bus.
by andrewk
1 Oct 2016, 8:52pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Consumer Law pertaining to a " Lemon Giant Bike"
Replies: 22
Views: 2837

Re: Consumer Law pertaining to a

Your contract is with the LBS and also with your credit card company if you bought the bike using a credit card. Giant do NOT come into it.

Having decided what remedy you want; full refund, replacement you have to inform the supplier of what you want and give them a time limit to comply (say 1 week). This is best done in writing.

If you fail to obtain satisfaction then you have the option of 1. Small claims court action against the LBS or 2. Claim on the credit card company.

It is up to the LBS to further claim against Giant, this process and its success or failure is of no concern to you.
by andrewk
1 Oct 2016, 8:37pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Tyres
Replies: 11
Views: 950

Re: Tyres

650 b

Schwalbe Fat Franks are a higher quality replacement tyre of the same size for the Kenda original fit ones.
by andrewk
25 Sep 2016, 11:01pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: is it usual...to pay prior to testing bicycle
Replies: 52
Views: 3928

Re: is it usual...to pay prior to testing bicycle

RickH wrote:
The only test ride I did have (with no intention of buying) was a Moulton in Edinburgh in the late 80s when Rohan had them in store. I left Mrs H & the kids in the shop as collateral! 8)


Run off with the bike....cheaper than a divorce and you get a bike thrown in....
by andrewk
25 Sep 2016, 5:20pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: CX or Road for Central London. <£1400
Replies: 18
Views: 1779

Re: CX or Road for Central London. <£1400

WuMyster wrote:So I've been riding MTBs all my life. Terrain was terrible, trails everywhere and I was young and reckless. Now though, I've been using my cheap MTB to commute in central London and love riding over taking public transport.

I have a budget of about £1400 but I honestly can't decide between a CX bike or road bike. It will be my first and while I've had a go on some road bikes (and hated the drop bars / brake system) I can't tell if it is suitable for me.
I'd like an all year round bike only for commuting. ?


If you don't like drop bars then don't buy a bike with them, so forget about road bikes and most CX bikes and classic drop bar tourers.
There are plenty of good flat bar bikes, from fast skinny tyred fitness bikes through to fatter tyred flat bar tourers and some flat bar CX bikes. Aside from the generally stocked American brands have a look at some of the German ones, VSF fahrrad manufaktur and Cube spring to mind.
by andrewk
15 Sep 2016, 10:29pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Getting into Cycling / loosing weight
Replies: 56
Views: 3824

Re: Getting into Cycling / loosing weight

TrevA wrote:If you want new, then Decathlon do a couple of road bikes in your price range. You can go for flat or drop bars depending on preference.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-359113-road-bikes

There's a Decathlon out Dartford way - just off the M25.


And another Decathlon in Wandsworth.
by andrewk
9 Sep 2016, 3:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Electronic Shifting
Replies: 204
Views: 12611

Re: Electronic Shifting

Electronic shifting seems to have been well recieved by the pro pelethon. So it works and works better than cable pull actuated shifting and requires less fiddling with...no real surprises here.
But I am sceptical of the technology's transfer to the inexpensive mass market for a number of reasons.
Pros focus on performance, durability and longevity being unimportant as they will quickly upgrade to the new model. Not so the public who buy a bike and expect to ride it for many years.
Taking the example of hifi and video equipment, newly introduced technology enters at the top of the market at a premium price but quickly filters down at a far lower price, whilst functionality is preserved my experience is that quality isn't...units being built to a price using cheap components which fail rendering the unit useless.
Great for manufacturers and retailers, not so for me when my video recorder fails and has to be junked together with its library of recordings.
I expect electronic shifting to follow a similar pattern.
A second issue being consumables, £3 for a gear cable, £50? for a proprietary battery. Again good for retailers not so good for consumers.
Thirdly the issue of maintence. A bit of DIY or LBS fiddling with a screwdriver and spanner and job done. Will anyone bother to disassemble and fault trace electronic shifting? I can't even get failed video recorders fixed economically!
So in conclusion, electronic shifting works and works well, it will most probably filter down to the mass market but its not for me.
by andrewk
7 Sep 2016, 12:02am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Beretta rims?
Replies: 6
Views: 1224

Re: Beretta rims?

rjb wrote:Could be linked, don't forget BSA - British Small Arms diversified into bicycle manufacture. :wink:


BSA was a short lived company, Beretta is the oldest industrial company in existance and the oldest arms manufacturer in the world, BSA never came close in quality, innovation, profitability or longevity.
by andrewk
6 Sep 2016, 2:25pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Beretta rims?
Replies: 6
Views: 1224

Re: Beretta rims?

niggle wrote:Bought a cheap single wall 26" rim

niggle wrote:made in Italy by Beretta- any history there and any connection with the firearms manufacturer?


Highly unlikely to be connected with the gun co. The giveaway being "cheap single wall", Beretta make very high quality guns, were they to diversify into bicycle wheels their offer would likely be at the premium end of the market.
by andrewk
1 Sep 2016, 9:50pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Relative beginner - advice on new hybrid
Replies: 5
Views: 676

Re: Relative beginner - advice on new hybrid

The main disadvantage of inexpensive suspension forks is the amount of one's pedalling energy that they absorb, this is IMO more significant than their weight penalty.
Personally I like suspension forks as I find them useful for the mix of riding that I do BUT only if they are good quality forks which are lightweight with effective lock out (unlikely on bikes <£1000).
Given your budget I would look for a rigid fork bike with generous fork and rear clearances with 35mm to 42mm tyres or giving the possibility of retro fitting such. I don't think that going back to old school 26" wheels is necessary though, there are plenty of bikes with modern better rolling 700c wheels with generous clearances.
by andrewk
1 Sep 2016, 9:15pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Unused bikes
Replies: 15
Views: 1652

Re: Unused bikes

I read somwhere that Halfords once said that most of the bikes they sell end up with less than 15 hours of actual use before they are forgotten at the the back of a shed or garage. In which case the quality and longevity of the machine is unimportant since they are in reality selling a dream of riding rather than the reality.
by andrewk
29 Aug 2016, 9:41pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Sturmey Archer 5 Speed
Replies: 34
Views: 6457

Re: Sturmey Archer 5 Speed

Why specifically Sturmey Archer? SA are not what they once were, in fact the present SA has nothing in common with the SA of old. Have you considered using Shimano and SRAM IGH's?