Search found 99 matches

by mark aldridge
23 Jun 2017, 4:45pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Wheelie useful revelation
Replies: 7
Views: 2308

Re: Wheelie useful revelation

Over the years I have passed the same chap in Haslemere numerous times. I don't know who he is but he commonly greets me with the clenched fist Soviet worker salute and either a cheerful "keep the faith brother" or a more downbeat "come the revolution brother, come the revolution".

Why riding a recumbent means he counts me as a fellow revolutionary I don't know.

Maybe it is an Haslemere thing.
by mark aldridge
16 Jun 2017, 5:19pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Small bag for harshell seat?
Replies: 12
Views: 7775

Re: Small bag for harshell seat?

Having lots of Ortleib spares and old panniers I cobbled up a couple of mini bags out of old roll-top pockets.
If you treat the pocket as a mini pannier you can fit two rack hooks on a bar at the top and the normal rack hook at the bottom.
I then cut up an old rack and used the tube and a few P clips to create a mini rack on the seat back.
I can mount one or two bags as needed and still have space for a light mount.
Neat, adjustable and bombproof Ortleib technology.
by mark aldridge
21 Dec 2016, 4:32pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: tryker
Replies: 22
Views: 13494

Re: tryker

Does that mean my newish racers will grip better if I take a file to them and hasten the wear process.
by mark aldridge
25 Nov 2016, 4:07pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: WINDCHEETAH KARL SPARENBURG
Replies: 3
Views: 2728

Re: WINDCHEETAH KARL SPARENBURG

Communication restored.
The muliti-route approach got through.
Thank you Karl
by mark aldridge
24 Nov 2016, 2:57pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: WINDCHEETAH KARL SPARENBURG
Replies: 3
Views: 2728

WINDCHEETAH KARL SPARENBURG

Does anyone have alternative contact details for Karl Sparenburg at Windcheetah. I have been trying to contact him for the last week regarding an order I have placed for a Windcheetah and have had no response to numerous e-mails and voice messages.
by mark aldridge
5 Nov 2016, 4:18pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: WINTER SPIKE TYRES
Replies: 1
Views: 3076

WINTER SPIKE TYRES

If anyone is interested I have just listed some Conti and Schwalbe spiked tyres on the Bits For Sale forum.
28" for your road bike
26" for your MTB
20" for your recumbent or trike front wheels
I have used them with great success in the past but due to too many broken bones I am giving icy and snow covered roads a miss from now on.
by mark aldridge
3 Nov 2016, 4:13pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: tryker
Replies: 22
Views: 13494

Re: tryker

I have done many thousands of miles on Trykers having got a very good deal on a job lot of them. With hindsight I think I would have been better off staying with Marathon Racers for my heavier duty use. The Trykers are a fast and supple riding tyre but I just got sick and tired of mending punctures and superglueing the flint cuts, the plus point being that with supple walls you can roll them on and off by hand. The Marathon Racers have had a lot of well proven design in them and have been well and truly tested over years of production (the Marathon family of tyres have been around for almost as long as I have been cycling). My personal favourite are Kojaks, I find them fast rolling and the volume of air allows me to descend rutted lanes with little worries for the rims. They are also surprisingly puncture proof, the only downside being their slight lack of longevity. All in all the Trykers, Marathons and Kojaks are all good tyres with + and - points. My advice is to go for the ones on special offer or in bargain bins.
by mark aldridge
15 Oct 2016, 3:22pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Trike in a terraced house, no garage
Replies: 7
Views: 3707

Re: Trike in a terraced house, no garage

Windcheetah trikes have a very narrow track and can be ridden through standard sized doors with inches to spare.
They are also very easy to manhandle if you flip them up on the rear wheel (not for long distances though).
Most of the lighweight and unemcumbered trikes can be flipped around and carried, it is when you add racks, mudguards, cages, lights etc that you have a problem.
The answer if you are planning to stay a long time is to enclose the walkway/passage with a secure structure with some height and then hook the trike from the wall or ceiling.
Good luck.
ps knocking through an external wall and putting in a door is not a big project for a competent diy person.
by mark aldridge
10 Oct 2016, 2:55pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: SHORT CRANKS
Replies: 0
Views: 3497

SHORT CRANKS

Having read the previous posting about unicycling it piqued my interest and I Googled it.
Lo and behold, a source for cheap single speed chainsets with short cranks.
They are for the giraffe models which run a short length of chain to enable gearing changes.
Whether the tapers are Campag or JIS is unclear but for a cheap as chips set-up just hammer them onto a cheap axle and ride away.
Good luck.
by mark aldridge
17 Sep 2016, 3:04pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Broken wrist recovery
Replies: 7
Views: 3131

Re: Broken wrist recovery

I broke my wrist very badly in a skiing accident and had many bolts and plates inserted.

After the plaster and splint cast was off it felt rather strange but nothing more. The consultant was very matter of fact and said that as long as I listened to my body that I was highly unlikely to do any damage so just get on with life. I wnt to the physiotherapist just to tick all the boxes but found that regular normal activity was as good as targeted excercises to get everything back to normal.

I was lucky to ride recumbents so just carried on as normal using the trike for the first few weeks after the accident as I didn't want to risk being on two wheels.

All it takes is a bit of time.
by mark aldridge
6 Sep 2016, 3:20pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Lip ulcers from water bottle?
Replies: 10
Views: 9923

Re: Lip ulcers from water bottle?

Pineapple should be avoided if you have a tendency to get lip ulcers, it is all due to the enzymes in the fruit.

I tend to get sore lips on long tours in hot weather and it is more common if I am climbing a lot. I think it is down to riding with my mouth slightly open and exposing my inner lip to the elements more than normal (it is more a problem with my lower lip). The solution appears to be extending my slathering of high factor lip balm to include my inner lip (ones based on bee wax are more palatable) and keeping my mouth shut.

Good luck.
by mark aldridge
2 Sep 2016, 4:11pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: PSA TEST
Replies: 11
Views: 1451

Re: PSA TEST

Chris Bell of Egg Ring fame has a very interesting section on prostate cancer on his website.

Well worth a look for a pragmatic appraisal.
by mark aldridge
2 Sep 2016, 3:32pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Pre op exercise with an inguinal hernia.
Replies: 13
Views: 8525

Re: Pre op exercise with an inguinal hernia.

Hello Vertus

I thought in your post that you were very brave attempting running. The vertical impact with the road, gravity and internal body pressure puts a strain on non-herniated stomach walls let alone a herniated one. The image that came to mind was an out of control sausage making machine and grasping hands trying to hold it all in, not a pretty visualization.

It sounds as though your hernia is more developed than mine was.

I am one of those people who realise something is wrong and head off to the doctors chop chop.

A word of advice, be a bit proactive regarding getting the operation. Tell the admissions clerk that you are available any time, any date and at short notice. Consultants often have unexpected gaps in their schedule and can slot in an uncomplicated operation at short notice. I also went round to the hospital and sweet talked the admissions clerk so she could put a face to the name. It appeared to work as four days later it was done and dusted as I was able to get to the hospital within an hour.

I thought old fashioned trusses disappeared from the scene long ago, I well remember the black and white adverts in the back of the more down-market Sunday newspapers and asking my father what they were for.

If you want some excercise pre-operation, I was also advised swimming. The idea is that you can do it and isolate or limit the strain on your groin by doing backstroke.

Good luck.

Mark
by mark aldridge
31 Aug 2016, 2:59pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Pre op exercise with an inguinal hernia.
Replies: 13
Views: 8525

Re: Pre op exercise with an inguinal hernia.

I fully understand as I underwent the same procedure three tears ago at the age of 60.
Luckily my GP is of a sporting nature and the consultant was a cycling friend.
The answer appears to be to listen to your body and apply the Hoovering test. If you can use an upright Hoover without significant discomfort then it is ok to cycle. What you have to do is distinguish between aches/discomfort and pain. Also keep an eye on the hernia (not literally) as you cycle and check it manually once in a while. A lot of it depends on the size of the hernia, it is often possible to massage it back in and tight lycra is a help (an extra bit of padding over the hernia site often helps (rolled up sock?)).
There is a lot of fear spread on the internet sites about strangulation of the intestine but from what I understand it is rare and the likelyhood of it happening is not increased by reasonable excercise.
Posture also affects things, you may feel more comfortable on a more upright bike. I was definitely more comfortable on my recumbent as gravity was working in my favour.
If you keep your gearing low and spin on the hills you will not be doing much harm and do not be too proud to get off and walk.
The main thing to ensure though is that the consultant is very aware that you are a keen cyclist. Embelish it all you need to because it is imperative that he does a good job. Tell him you lift free weights at a competitive level to keep fit, that should do it.
I was back cycling within a week on my turbo trainer and on the road not so long after. All you need to do is ensure that you don't get in a position that will put a strain on the operation site ie.falling off.
Now I don't even think about it and only a couple of very neat scars remind me of the operation.
Good luck.
by mark aldridge
25 Jul 2016, 2:32pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: NuVinci gearing thoughts
Replies: 16
Views: 4368

Re: NuVinci gearing thoughts

It is a Velomo Hi Trike TT.

I bought it because it looked like a valid alternative to a full-suspension Windcheetah and have not been disappointed.
The ride and handling are excellent but to get the weight down some parts have proven to be a bit fragile.
This is not a complaint as I probably take the trike beyong its design envelope at times.
Velomo are a good company to deal with given my lack of German and their lack of English (thank you Google Translator) and the price was very reasonable (Pinion excepted).

One other thing about the Pinion box, don't get too hung up on the quoted weight. If you add together ALL the gear train components from other brands there is not a lot of difference and that is worth it for the convenience. It is a bit like Speedplay pedals, a very light headline weight quoted for the pedals, but when you add in the cleats they tend to be heavier than comparable ones (but worth it for the incredibly knee friendly float).