Cycling UK Forum

Hi,
Hah, well no money so I can't sprout all that super new gear..................

We bought a lap top for her in doors to keep her quite.....works.........given a modern phone to check the weather.......after spending some two hours in the camper buying an item and sending one message, I know why I spend all my time on a desktop pc.
But I did find a museum to visit using phone whilst camping, so it has its values.

Had new bikes and new M/cycles, never regretted them, er had three fat bonuses this year, (seriously) and said do you want a new bike.........well I don't need another and unlikely to be able to buy anything that will make me go faster, so content.
Cant say I tried anything new in 2016 but plan to go further next year.

Would I like to try stuff? Yes, but sensible enough to really need some thing before I buy.

I know how slow fat tyres can be, the novelty of having a tyre bigger than some motorbikes reminds me of pushing a motobike
Have fun.

this is my first time in my entire life where i've owned a bike with at least entry level components. i got a 27 gear bike because my old bikes could never find the right gear. turns out that was because the drive train did what it wanted to, and as long as the deraileueieruisrs are up to scratch i'd probably be ok on 18.

better bikes have their downsides though, as my old bikes managed to dampen the impact of rough terrain, not by suspension or wide tires, but poor assembly.

Stradageek wrote:Learning how to play bass guitar properly and realising I've been a frustrated bass player all my life despite being endlessly coerced into playing and singing with an acoustic guitar

i like to give fellow musoes sonic christmas presents
Carol Kaye - boogaloo (youtube)

also, how do you spell musoes?

Two wheel recumbent semi low racer and loving it.

First ever overshoes yesterday, warm feet like a lot
Sciatica. Worst pain in my life. Still have nerve damage, numb toe and a flappy left foot. not like

Stradageek wrote:- I'm still the only electronics research scientist I know who refuses to own a mobile phone

Can I ask why?

am interested, as, despite my background, I am resisting getting a smartphone as long as possible.

Went on a plane for the first time ever. Okay so it was only an hour to Dublin but loved it. Coming back though was on a propeller plane, not so good but I have now got my first passport at the age of 54!!

A new whisky. Famous Grouse Smoky version. The only blended whisky with a decent touch of peat to it. On offer at £14 Bargain compared to past £20 before you get into single malt territory.

First long train journey. San Francisco - Washington DC over 3 days.

Nothing too much new on the cycling arena. First time with a bike on Islay and Jura. Camped on the shore 30 yds from a seal colony in Islay. Jogging more with the dog and cycling less this year but Xmas brought a pair of new LX/Sputnik wheels from Spa with a view to a decent tour next year.

Liked: Moulton TSR30
Disliked: Shimano STIs

Liked: iPhone 5C
Disliked: Samsung Galaxy in a washing machine

Liked: Fortnightly Repatha injections
Disliked: Statins

Liked: mini, half shoe slip on overshoes. Neoprene, warm and slip off in a jiffy.

Dislikes: Newcastle Brown Ale. It's hard work!

Liked:
Android 'phone (MotoG 3, replacing Win 8.1 Nokia 520): still prefer the form factor of the Nokia and Notepad, but everything else is better in Android
Velomobile (WAW): as a kid I always wanted a pedal car: now, 65yrs later,...

Not liked:
My vision of the future with Trump's finger on the button

Tried a mate's quality American brand (£5k bike!) plastic frame with DA (mechanical) groupset. Hated it. Like riding a 2x4, and the gears felt extremely fragile and inconclusive compared to Campag ones.

Sweep wrote:

Stradageek wrote:- I'm still the only electronics research scientist I know who refuses to own a mobile phone :D

Can I ask why?

am interested, as, despite my background, I am resisting getting a smartphone as long as possible.

I am in the same boat as Sweep - 2 reasons a) replaceable batteries ( not so many have them ) b) cost too much to run re monthly accounts - would be alright if just used over wifi rather than 3/4G. I only have a feature or dumb phone that I used to use to tell clients I would be late etc or for emergancies - is a £10 pay-as-you-go Nokia. Oh One thing it does have is an FM radio, I use that more than as a phone. I am surprised Stradageek says he dont have any mobile phone smart or feature

1. Physiotherapist for my neck. I can now ride a drop bar bike again - although bars definitely need to be level with the saddle, not several inches below as was formerly the case.

2. Still like riding recumbents though (the view is better!) and finally got around to fitting the 150mm cranks (with proportionately sized rings) I picked up on eBay several years ago. What a revelation! I spin faster and contrary to what you might think about leverage etc, hill climbing is easier because I'm not mashing at a low cadence and upsetting the balance. I might even be going faster too! Not sure I'd go that short on an upright though.


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels

Liked - Fat Lad at the Back jersey, it was refreshing to go to a stand at the Cycle Show and try on a jersey that fitted straight away, rather than having to search through the racks of stuff to find an XXXL jersey that still doesn't fit when you try it on. I bought the Goosegog jersey there and then and have since bought a King O' T' Mountains jersey too.

I also really rate the Triban 540 bike I bought in July. I use it as my winter bike/commuter. It has a full Sora groupset, clearance for 28mm tyres with mudguards and the ability to fit a rack.

Dislike - Specialized have changed the design of their base level road shoe, so that they no longer fit! I have a pair bought in 2012 which fit perfectly but the 2016 ones don't, as they've change the positioning of the Velcro straps. I tried the next model up, with the ratchets, but I couldn't even do those up. So had to go up the range again to the shoes with Boa tighteners. So I had to spend £160 instead of £75.

Spirocore strings for my bass. They're supposed to be very good; but I just didn't like the sound they produced
when I laced them up to my double bass.