Cycling UK Forum

ossie wrote:There are two slightly curved poles at the top of the curvature on the transverse section. If you look at the pic its that left to right pole The individual pole lengths are 41 cm. Without doubt the pre manufactured curves assist in obtaining that tight arch and its at the top of the arch where the splits have occurred so I guess thats where the stresses are at their highest. Vaude are saying to replace those with straight sections as they don't stuck curved. Would that not put that area under greater stress ?

Until such time as the poles naturally bend, yes, that would put the joins under greater stress. Here you need to decide whether the difference between "optimal" and "sub optimal" is big enough to be an actual issue (it might be, you got cracks even with the bend).
There is the further point that the more heavily curved your poles are, the less efficient they are in regards to packing bulk.

You choose, you lose...

As a general point (and I'm not suggesting you've been doing this, poles do fail), try and make each join carefully in your hands when putting poles together. With shock-corded poles there's the temptation to throw out the pole and let the elastic pull things in to place, but that's a way that cracks start.

If you really want to travel further in to the anal pole care realm, if you've been camping by the seaside wash the poles in warm water when you get back to base to get rid of any salt. If that sounds ridiculous I'll refer you to a pal who had his Quasar poles fail for no obvious reason after many sea-kayaking trips. Terra Nova insisted on charging for replacements because of salt corrosion.

Pete.

pjclinch wrote:If you really want to travel further in to the anal pole care realm, if you've been camping by the seaside wash the poles in warm water .

are you on a mission to direct more google pushed traffic to our esteemed organ?

Bonjour, I buy a 2m length of ali tubing about once a year, and cut it into 5cm lengths.
At the end of each year I need to buy another length, because I've given each of the 'pole repair kits' away!
Three weeks ago the last one went to a South African lady tourist camping alongside the Loire (pitched in a closed campsite with me), so another trip to Trago is required before I return to France.
The lady did kindly buy me my breakfast coffee and croissant the following morning, not that I was looking for a payment of any sort: come to think of it I'd better buy some more cable ties while I'm at it, cos I've used up most of the ones that I had 'in stock' repairing other people's problems during last summer.
Back in the day Michael Palin did a sketch called 'Bicycle Repair Man' - so if I just rode up and down the Loire a Velo each summer and charged for the repairs I do, I'd be rich! Well, in my conscience, anyway, but I'm that already.
As always, the ones who need assistance never seem to be rich young widows ............. but I'll keep on looking.
Happy days,

Sweep wrote:

ossie wrote:

pjclinch wrote:
IME pole sections that start straight acquire a bit of a bend with time just by using them. As long as it's not a dramatic curve my guess is it'll be okay. But they're the folk to give you a definitive answer so your plan of an email is a good one.

Pete.

Cheers Pete, it looks like you nailed it so many thanks.

Reply from Vaude

The pre-curved sections are formed at the time of manufacture, once the pole is constructed and so, unfortunately, it is not possible to source these as spares, sorry. However, replacing this with a straight section will not be detrimental to the integrity or performance of the tent and you will likely find that it will also take on a natural curvature, once the tent is put to use again.

Are we talking a just ever so slightly curved longish section of pole here or one of those short "gothic arch" bits which you get some modern tents?

A great idea for on the hoof repairs -thanks. I will buy some for an emergency repair.

I damaged a curved Vango pole - my fault. I slipped and went a over t damaging a curved pole in the process. I bought a replacement 8:5mm kit (thinking of future acrobatic acts here) and used my 8mm external plumbers bending spring. Available on ebay for £4.40.https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... g&_sacat=0
For those of you with long pockets and short arms and averse to paying £4.40 (postage free no less), there is the option of using fine sand - readily and freely available from all good beaches. Simply seal one end of the pole and fill with sand. Seal the other end and gently shape the pole over your knee. Cut to length and hey presto, a shaped replacement pole.

Cautionary note..
There may be some cost incurred in obtaining aforementioned free sand such as fuel or wear and tear on bike pedals, brakes and tyres - not to mention the procurement of a cup of tea en route. A flask could be taken but this will involve the use of energy at home unless cold water is used. There is then the cost of the water to be considered. Ah, rainwater. But the cost of the tea bag, I hear you complain. Nettles - nettle tea. Sorted.

About that spring.
Describes it as external.
Does it go inside or around on the outside of the vango 8.5mm pole?

Sweep wrote:About that spring.
Describes it as external.
Does it go inside or around on the outside of the vango 8.5mm pole?

It slides over the outside of the pole, a bit like donning a condom I suppose. A bit graphic but you get the gist?

The 0:5mm difference doesn't make a hinderance at all. Just exercise caution whichever method you choose. The poles are not as malleable as copper pipe but will certainly bend as you wish them to.

Hope you have success with it.

Doodah

I must be having a senior moment here ..... just buy some new ones ...... Vango sell them ...... .... break in the field ... duct tape .... simples ...

landsurfer wrote:I must be having a senior moment here ..... just buy some new ones ...... Vango sell them ...... .... break in the field ... duct tape .... simples ...

For straight bits, you can also get full sets of poles from china in that size - a useful source of spare bits. Ditto pole splints. Doubtless vango's originals of those standard 8.5 poles come from the same place.

Sweep wrote:

landsurfer wrote:I must be having a senior moment here ..... just buy some new ones ...... Vango sell them ...... .... break in the field ... duct tape .... simples ...

For straight bits, you can also get full sets of poles from china in that size - a useful source of spare bits. Ditto pole splints. Doubtless vango's originals of those standard 8.5 poles come from the same place.

It may be a case of For Some Values of "the same". Do the unofficial spares pass the same QA regime, for example. They might... but then again they might not.

China's a big place with lots of factories. They're not all building to the same standards.

Pete.

Am pretty sure they are as good, no reason why they shouldn't be - it would take a lot of effort to deliberately design and make something worse. Those standard vango 8.5 poles are pretty humble things. In fact[, despite liking Vango in many ways, I consider those poles pretty poor. Have had a couple break on my spirit 200 plus.
Vango is I think aware of their limitations - some of their tent models have been introduced with enhanced pole sets.