[hawkinspeter]

Looks like there’s a few KOPS
Looks like there’s a few KOPS advocates on here, so it’s time for the late, great Sheldon Brown: https://sheldonbrown.com/kops.html (although written by Keith Bontrager)

Peted76 – 10cm is way too big an increment.

[hawkinspeter]

10mm isn’t a big difference
10mm isn’t a big difference in stem lengths, so I’d try a 90mm one.

However, I’d be more likely to play with the saddle position first – try moving the saddle forwards and experiment with the height a bit (measure the setup first so you can easily get back to your starting setup). If you don’t have much success with changing your position, then the best bet is to pay for a proper bike fit though I don’t know if they’re still in business at the moment.

Nat Jas Moe – I’ve heard those recommendations before, but although they’re a handy rule of thumb, they don’t take into account different body shapes (e.g. long thigh bones) and flexibility.

[hawkinspeter]

Chris Hayes wrote:

I’ve been experimenting with tubeless and am becoming quite frustrated with the constant attention they seem to need. I’m using Conti 5000s on one set of wheels and Hutchinson on another.  Here’s what I learned. 1. Mavic rims need Mavic tyres, or Hutchinsons – because no others will sit; 2. Fitting valves onto asymetric rims takes patience; 3. Rim tape may come unseated which means you have to take a goo-filled tyre off, clean everything, refit it, reseat the tyre and refill with sealant, 4. If you get a cut in your tyre and you’re not carrying a plug then see 3. 5. Given the above, you’re pretty much obliged to check your tyre pressure daily.

That said, they do ride well and give you a certain amount of (perhaps misplaced) confidence that you won’t get a puncture (unless its a serious one). 

PS: There may be an assumption that this is user error on my part, given I’ve had problems with all my tyres – but they have been fitted and refitted by bike mechanics I trust….

I fitted some new tubeless tyres onto my MTB yesterday and had trouble with the asymmetric rear wheel. I checked the old valve (I was swapping in some Milkit valves) and it had the relevant spacer thing that fits over the valve and provides a stable surface for the o-ring to seal against – that did the trick.

With rim tape, I’ve had issues when I’ve damaged it with tyre levers whilst trying to remove/replace tyres, but otherwise it shouldn’t be an issue.

[hawkinspeter]

I’d vote for Continental

I’d vote for Continental GP5000TL in 28mm. Got them front and rear and haven’t noticed any issues with grip, punctures etc.

[hawkinspeter]

Double check that the thru

Double check that the thru-axle is properly tightened etc. and then go for re-aligning the caliper. It’s easy to do, but can be fiddly to get the caliper just right if it moves when tightening the bolts. Probably a ten minute job.

[hawkinspeter]

For colder rides, I go for a

For colder rides, I go for a long sleeve merino base layer under a jersey and maybe a jacket on top too if it’s really cold. I’ve never used a gilet as like Ktache, I don’t like getting cold arms. I don’t really understand gilets as my body generates loads of heat when pedalling hard, but my arms aren’t really doing much work and have greater surface area so they can get cold quickly.

I’d go for a good cycling rain proof jacket first.

[hawkinspeter]

Ages ago, I tried a Respro

Ages ago, I tried a Respro “pollution” mask, but it was too hot and uncomfortable for use whilst cycling.

I’m doubtful that face masks are much good in stopping viruses as people do tend to touch and fiddle with face masks (as Ktache said). There’s also the problem of removing and putting them on – people are unlikely to remember that the outside of the mask could be contaminated, so every time you touch it you should go and wash your hands again.

That said, I might get around to making one from an old T-shirt just for going to the shops etc – especially if they become recommended.

[hawkinspeter]

EddyBerckx wrote:

EddyBerckx wrote:

Surely a heart attack or stroke would always result in a trip to A&E in an ambulance? (Maybe I’m being naive) Regarding people continuing to commute via bike, apparently there was a decent sized increase after the terror attacks of 2006 and (I think) a lot of people carried that on for years after

There’s such a thing as silent strokes which if they don’t damage anything critical won’t be noticed without an MRI scan or similar. Surprisingly, almost half of people who have had a heart attack didn’t realise it at the time – the symptoms can be almost identical to a bit of indigestion.

[hawkinspeter]

I heard it was cats doing the

I heard it was cats doing the spreading.

https://consciouscat.net/2020/02/21/the-new-coronavirus-and-cats-what-you-should-know/

[hawkinspeter]

Rich_cb wrote:

Rich_cb wrote:

A story that’s starting to gain a little traction is the huge drop in the number of heart attacks and strokes since the lockdown began. At the moment it’s unclear if people are simply not going to hospital with their symptoms or if there has genuinely been a decrease. Given that there was a study published last year showing a temporal relationship between high pollution and rates of heart attacks and stroke I think there’s a good chance it will be down to the pollution.

I hope that it is a real drop and not just due to people not using medical services.

There seems to be a link with Covid-19 disease and damage to both lungs and heart, so the reduction in pollution could have a significant effect in reducing the severity. Let’s hope that people remember this and don’t just go back to forming huge queues of slow moving traffic.

Edit: Found the study that indicates heart damage: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2763846

[hawkinspeter]

I’m hoping for a big shift in

I’m hoping for a big shift in public opinion now that people can see how much nicer, quieter and safer it is without so many motors on the roads.

The air is cleaner, clearer and now even the sun has come back out (though that might be a seasonal difference).

[hawkinspeter]

Now is a perfect time to be

Now is a perfect time to be starting a squirrel hobby. With less people around, they’re becoming a bit braver.

 

[hawkinspeter]

Isn’t the length printed on

Isn’t the length printed on the thru-axle? I’ve got Shimano ones and they have the length written on them.

[hawkinspeter]

No direct experience with

No direct experience with fitting a front derailleur, but could if be that the chainring is too far out and thus increasing the chain angle?

[hawkinspeter]

Canyon48 wrote:

John Smith wrote:

True. Your weight could go up or down depending on a number of things, for a start the gravitational changes as you move and as time passes 

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614741/can-earths-gravity-really-be-affected-by-changes-in-the-seasons/

And (according to Einstein) how fast you’re going…!

If you’re going to get all relativistic, then you’d have more mass at the top of a hill (due to potential energy) than the bottom. However, you may have less weight as the hill-top will probably have slightly lower gravity.

[Author]

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