Cycling UK Forum

Tried and liked:

Linux Lite OS and Solid State Drive to replace Windows and Hard Disc Drive- rejuvenated various old laptops and netbook this way.

Nailing Wrynose & Hardknott passes.

Cubot Rainbow Chinese smartphone: Android 6, silicone case and good screen protector included for £55ish from Appliances Direct, fast, reliable so far, easy to use, good battery life, good GPS, good screen.

Linnear/compressionless brake cable housing: tried it with very good results for two of the uni-bike builds to get more power and less lost movement from the the traditional single pivot caliper brakes. Highly recommended if your brake lever feel is a bit squishy, lever getting close to the bar with minimal rim clearance as with mini v-brakes and road levers- going to try next on my Pompino Alfine 11 build and CB Dalesman with mini-vs as have enough left over from the 2 pairs of BMX linnear brake cable sets I bought for the uni bikes dirt cheap from CRC: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/stol ... lsrc=aw.ds (have to swap in road brake inners for drop bar bikes)

Disliked:

Referendumb.

Windows new wosaname OS

No.1 M2 'rugged waterproof' phone- unreliable garbage (microphone stopped working, GPS never finds satellites, poor mobile signal connection, iffy battery) with no back up from Chinese eBay seller masquerading as a UK seller: said I had to post it to China for warranty repairs.

Liked: Wild camping under a tarp. Not puncturing for the whole year. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
https://www.grossglockner.at/gg/en/moto ... s/cyclists

Disliked: Can't think of anything bike related that I tried for the first time in 2016 and didn't like.

Likes: Shimano XT T780 dyno hub with Axa USB charging front light.
Wider passes by cars seems the norm compared to a couple of years ago (except for age 55+ drivers)
Cheery Poole-Cherbourg ferry staff
Dislikes: Even Campagnolo now seem to be making ugly groupsets seemingly designed by Darth Vader. Shimano went to the dark side years ago.

Likes
I joined the dark side and bought my first recumbent. HP grasshopper. love it
B&M IQ-X light I always thought my Cyo was good but this is noticeably better
SP Dynohub, no noticeable difference to the Shimano 3N80 on the other bike, but aesthetically very pleasing.
Hydraulic disks

My brass bell from Lion Bellworks. I very pleasant happy sound that even draws admiring comments from pedestrians. Simplicity, quality and just a good honest device.

Sweep wrote:

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.

Yes, I am thinking of an USE Sirius: 500lm and 2900mAh in an 80gr package!
USB charging is great for commuter lights, and for touring too, as you can recharge all the electronics via Powerbank or Dynohub

(not bought in 2016 first time, but bought again as the person who borrowed it, liked it a lot and kept it )
Cateye Rapid Mini
http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/TL-LD635-R/
This is an exceptional light for such small and light package.
Very bright, well visible even on foggy days (tested in days with no more than 50mt visibility), micro-usb charging and lasts a long time (2hr a day and after a week is still going strong).
I keep it on its clip, with a big o-ring wrapped around: if I don;t have a bag to clip onto, I can secure it on a seatstay or rack mount.

Endura Convert softshell jacket
http://www.endurasport.com/products/?ProductID=26
Very good jacket for communting an Mtb.
Relatively relaxed cut, good when on the drops of a road bike too. Zipping off the sleeves compensate for the lack of pit-zip vents.
The fabric is soft and does not smell, very windproof and can withstand a shower.
Perhaps a bit warm, but I bought it exactly for when the temperatures are close to 0ºc.

Montane Featherlite cap.
https://www.montane.co.uk/mens-c1/accessories-c26/headwear-c50/featherlite-mountain-cap-p43
Bought for the early morning commuting ride, it's downhill for the first couple of miles, and this hat keeps my head warm and protected from cold wind and drizzle.
Despite the name, is synthetic filled (Primaloft) so it does not absorb water. Very light and compressible.

Scotchgard proofing.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotchgard-Repellent-Outdoor-Fabric-Protector/dp/B00E7W82J8
Finally something that works! I had been disappointed with Nikwax and similar stuff, on some fabrics didn't work at all.
The Scotchgard seems to proof everything, I've had great success with common "windproof nylon" jackets and cotton caps; they all get proper rainproof and the water beads away.

knipex pliers wrench
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&page=group_detail&groupID=1500
I've got them in two sizes, 250 and 125mm. Both are great tools, working much better than an adjustable wrench.
Because the jaws are kept parallel, and grip the bolt as such, there's no damage on the nut.
In fact, I've used them to tighten the collar of a shower, and the chromw didn't get any mark at all!

knipex pliers wrench

Stanley do a 200mm adjustable spanner with a mole grip type arrangement which clamps the jaws on the nut flats. They are very good for random sizes and for gripping things like BB sockets

I fitted Sora gears to one bike in 2016 and I find them very good. However, today I noticed the derailer tensioning was a bit stiff and irregular. I dismantled it and found that it had been assembled without any grease. I had to remove the Aluminium corrosion, grease everything thoroughly and put it back together. Hopefully it will be OK for some time to come.

Disliked (actually, hated): the introduction in 2016 of compulsory bike reservations on GWR. It was the most shattering restriction to my mobility that I have ever experienced in my life. Suddenly and imperiously my freedom was limited. Having to get the written permission from the local Commissar at least two days in advance every time I wanted to leave Cornwall smacked of, well I won't invoke Godwin's Law.

Liked: my new Tern Node 16 folder. It brilliantly did all that was expected of it and was never queried by said railway officials despite its larger-than-allowed 24" wheels, possibly because of its shiny black colour. But it's aluminium and a folder so I still cannot quite forgive GWR for it. Crossing the Tamar railway bridge took on a whole new meaning as it brought a great sense of relief. All those WW2 POW escape films suddenly had a new resonance.

horizon wrote:Disliked (actually, hated): the introduction in 2016 of compulsory bike reservations on GWR. It was the most shattering restriction to my mobility that I have ever experienced in my life. Suddenly and imperiously my freedom was limited. Having to get the written permission from the local Commissar at least two days in advance every time I wanted to leave Cornwall smacked of, well I won't invoke Godwin's Law.

Well, I know what you are talking about, but it's not actually specifically true.

I have taken my bike on the train in Cornwall, and got off in Devon, and vice versa, a few times since the new system came into force.

At no time have I ever needed to reserve, or book, or seek permission.
Just get on the train, and get off at the destination.
It could be true long distance Intercity, but not true on local GWR trains.

Mick F wrote:Well, I know what you are talking about, but it's not actually specifically true.

I have taken my bike on the train in Cornwall, and got off in Devon, and vice versa, a few times since the new system came into force.

At no time have I ever needed to reserve, or book, or seek permission.
Just get on the train, and get off at the destination.
It could be true long distance Intercity, but not true on local GWR trains.

It applies to the HSTs. And that means most of the trains going beyond Plymouth and certainly Exeter. Not taking HSTs would be inconvenient for local trips and impossible for longer ones. The reservations are announced on the loudspeakers and checked by platform staff - I am always asked, even with the folder. The rule is strictly applied. I saw a young women left late in the evening trying to get to London on the platform at Castle Cary. You might not be aware of this as it doesn't apply at Gunnislake but does of course at Liskeard and Plymouth where the HSTs stop. If you only take local trains it might not affect you but I take the HSTs frequently for my work. In fact, reservations were mostly impractical, hence the folder.

Penzance as far as Exeter are local trains, and you could maybe go further.
No reservations for cycles.
I agree, the Intercity HST things are the one's to avoid, but they were terrible even when there were no reservations required.

I took a Cross Country train up to Edinburgh from Plymouth, and I had done my homework. The train started at Plymouth, so I was on early and hung my Mercian up on the bike hangers thingies - labelled and ticketed. I made sure I had a ticket for the bike, and I kept an eye on it throughout the whole journey. I know that some bikes hadn't got a ticket.
We were on a similar train Edinburgh Cross Country train last week to Bristol . Enough space for four bikes hanging up.

I took a 125 down to Redruth some time back. Enough room for a dozen bikes.
The FGW train to Redruth was very different to the CC to Edinburgh. The bikes sat in old fashioned bike racks, and people came and went with their bikes at every station between Ply and Red plus all stations in between. I was horrified to work out that at every station my Mercian could have been uplifted by anyone at any station without my knowledge.

Last your, I particularly liked:

- Trying a fixed wheel bike for the first time - I've now ridden fixed exclusively for nine months and still loving it
- Finally teaching my 8 year old daughter to ride her bike
- Riding the Prudential London-Surrey 100 (on fixed)

foxyrider wrote:Taking a bike on Lufthansa - flight with anyone else will seem like even morw of a chore in future!

I like my collapsible Sea to Summit kettle too - brilliant.

The only other new gear i've bought in 2016 are an Ortlieb seatpost pack and an Ezywheel single wheel trailer - both great bits of kit but both remain unused due to changes in my holiday plans - maybe next year.

I've got some planned kit purchases for 2017, I may even buy a new bike!

How is the sea to summit cookware holding up-very tempted to get some but concerned about longevity?

MrsHJ wrote:

foxyrider wrote:Taking a bike on Lufthansa - flight with anyone else will seem like even morw of a chore in future!

I like my collapsible Sea to Summit kettle too - brilliant.

The only other new gear i've bought in 2016 are an Ortlieb seatpost pack and an Ezywheel single wheel trailer - both great bits of kit but both remain unused due to changes in my holiday plans - maybe next year.

I've got some planned kit purchases for 2017, I may even buy a new bike!

How is the sea to summit cookware holding up-very tempted to get some but concerned about longevity?

If looking for simple quality cookwear/plates/bowls/food storage and the like MrsH I'd check out Decathlon - they do some nicely designed tough stuff.