Cycling UK Forum

Tried drawing portraits after many years shying away from them and found that I could actually produce pleasing results, figures too. Next step, portrait painting… Like doing things I can do, particularly things I thought I couldnt do.

Al

Liked: Catrike 700 recumbent trike, Tern Link folding bike, a wide saddle with elastomer suspension at the rear - bit of a revelation in terms of improving comfort on "upwrongs". Microsoft Lumia 640 smartphone - science fiction brought to life for £99.

Disliked: well, disappointed by Vittora Hyper Voyager folding tyres in terms of both comfort and performance.

UpWrong wrote:Liked: .... Microsoft Lumia 640 smartphone - science fiction brought to life for £99.

It teleports too?!?

Hi,

When my Gary Fisher MTB frame broke I researched replacements. I use it mainly for commuting, the odd (shorter) sportive and want to start touring. I tried a Cyclocross bike and find it perfect for all of the above.

Still miss my Gary Fisher The CX takes some abuse but it will never be as good for anything rough

I've also tried falling off 3 times in the last month not wanting to do that quite as much in 2017.

Paul

Tried Yoga for the first time and although the oldest in the class by a good twenty years... I liked it.....though finding it hard.

Tried a Cannondale Caad12 ultegra and discs. Hated the thing.

Exchanged for a BMC Granfondo CF and discs absolutely love it.

Tried: Fitbit Surge. Not intentionally, the missus bought me it. Used it for maybe three months but stopped because: (a) wildly inaccurate (b) battery needs frequent recharging (c) persistent stress of feeling obliged to look at the "steps" display (c) the great lumpish thing wouldn't fit inside a shirt-cuff and (e) I detest the whole FitBit concept and would never have bought one for anybody. Went happily back to my 1980s Seiko which rides discreetly on my wrist and whose battery lasts for years.

UpWrong wrote:Disliked: well, disappointed by Vittora Hyper Voyager folding tyres in terms of both comfort and performance.

I’m surprised to hear that. What aspect of their performance disappointed you?

As for me, I liked:

1. Downtube shifters. They’re cheap, lightweight, simple, and eliminate the need to run gear cables around the headtube and along the handlebars. Dead easy to use, with little practical downside compared to STIs for anything short of serious sprinting. How did STIs ever displace these?

2. In association with the downtube shifters, Shimano BL-R400 brake levers. Beautiful things to look at and use. Great braking from the hoods (and the drops, of course). Impressive build and material quality, especially for 20-something quid.

3. Northwave Sonic 3S shoes. The first ones I’ve tried that properly fit my feet, which are wide and shallow at the front and narrow at the heel (like a duck’s).

4. Brooks Cambium C17 saddle. Has allowed me for the first time to do 120 km rides in reasonable comfort.

5. Kask Protone helmet. Expensive but very comfortable and noticeably quieter (wind noise) than my previous helmets.

*Lezyne Micro Drive XL.
Nice strong beam, convenient USB charging, neat design, solid rubber-strap bracket.
But the design inside is not very cleaver, a 900mAh battery gives a very short life and for my needs it means charging every two days.

*Endura MTR windproof l/s jersey.
Great stuff for wind/light rain protection, is not a jacket and the lightweight back panel means it can be used when is warm-ish too.
Very light and packs super small. A staple for mountain biking.

*Continental X-King RS tyres.
Superlight, fast, great grip on the loose and when wet. Good in the mud too.

*Montane rapide sofshell jacket.
Not really a cycling garment, but works very well nevertheless. Good when temperature are getting close to 0ºc, very good windproofing and can withstand some good rainfall too. Also, is very light.
Minus, does not have decent reflective points, and could do with pit-zips to adjust body temperature.

Also,I bought two Castelli Gabba jerseys. I don't rate them at all. I seem to be the only guy in the world who finds them overpriced and overhyped.

I haven't even tried similar clothes, way too hot for me. Everyone has a different body temperature, I guess they work for people that do not generate heat.

Zefal spy mirrors on my Bacchetta, I can see how far behind I've left my cycling companions

Discovered that cheap Chinese Cree lights are fine if fitted on the forks at hub level, the wide beam illuminates the road ahead without dazzling oncoming bikes and cars

Vintage clothing shops as a source of super cheap cycling tops

A Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HP Pump, expensive but inflates tyres to full pressure in no time

Gattonero wrote:*Lezyne Micro Drive XL.
Nice strong beam, convenient USB charging, neat design, solid rubber-strap bracket.
But the design inside is not very cleaver, a 900mAh battery gives a very short life and for my needs it means charging every two days.

Have never thought much of usb rechargeable lights, but that battery capacity is ludicrous for a front light.

Liked, while i think of more - xd2 chainset from spa.

GB Biba handlebar stems. Very lovely and slowly adorning more of my bikes. How did I miss these first time round?

Neilo wrote:Sciatica. Worst pain in my life. Still have nerve damage, numb toe and a flappy left foot. not like

Been there Neilo, lying on the floor on Sherwood high street clutching my leg and waiting desperately for a taxi to A&E for the big drugs. Also my worst ever pain. On the plus side, even the flappy foot goes eventually!

JohnW wrote:I bought, about the middle of the year, and also from Spa, an IRD 13-28 6-speed freewheel block. The 13 little sprocket has made a difference and the obvious quality of the item, over currently available other stuff, is quite satisfying. I've not done the mileage on it to make a judgement but it replaced a Shimano 5-speed block which I fitted on the bike about last Christmas and was worn out by about June this year. My conclusion is that, so far, the extra cost of the IRD is worth it.

I'd like to second the praise of the IRD freewheel~ after 10 years of hub riding, I thought I'd go for something even simpler, and swapped the hub gear for a hub brake and a 5 speed freewheel. The 13 tooth top gear has increased the range of the gears, and its quite useable with a single chainring (currently a 38 tooth, which gives me a low of 35" and a top of 76"). The whole thing is worked by s simple friction thumb shifter from the 80s