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Petrol generator? Just make
Petrol generator? Just make sure exhaust is ducted outside. The big challenge power wise is the TV screen requirement. What trainer do you have?I’m seeing so many family
I’m seeing so many family groups out, and also people who clearly haven’t ridden a bike for years. Also gnarly OAPs tanking around on classic 50s and 60s metal (Dawes, Condor, Raleigh) with nary an idea of Eroica. Even saw one wearing one of those 80s-style track helmets.
Bike wise I’ve seen everything from BSOs to classic 50s/60s tourers with full chain guards, stirrup brakes, and downtube shifters. It’s brilliant. The only downside is you can’t drop in with them and have a chat because of social distancing. I just hope they stick with it when things get back to normal.
Rode 17 miles on Sunday
Rode 17 miles on Sunday morning – not super early, around 7am – and all I saw was a couple of oncoming vehicles. And two deer, a couple of birds of prey, and a hare. Unprecedented. Not a single close pass, because noone overtook me. Was glorious.When I went out at 8am this
When I went out at 8am this morning it was zero and that was enough to bring out the full length “super roubaix” brushed lycra bibs and a long sleeve jersey over a thick long sleeve merino base layer. Combined this with spring gloves and found that to be enough, I was warm enough for my whole ride and as it warmed up I just needed to unzip the jersey and take my gloves off.
One thing to bear in mind is that just because you’re exercising your extremities won’t get warm unless they’re insulated, no matter how hard you’re riding. If you’re riding for pleasure primarily – i.e. it’s an optional activity – I’d go with a windproof jacket or a winter jersey with windproof front panel. That should see you through and provide a degree of shower protection.
It’s a glorious time to be
It’s a glorious time to be cycling at the moment. The weather is perfect, particularly if you get out early and there’s almost no traffic. I’m genuinely enjoying road cycling for the first time in a couple of years. Rode for an hour this morning, saw more cyclists than cars. Zero close passes, smiles and thumbs ups from drivers, most odd.First up, lovely bike. I’ve
First up, lovely bike. I’ve got a Layhams that I absolutely love but I was seriously tempted to build up one of these when they were discounted.
A few things.
1. Have you installed the radius washer? It goes between the bolt head and the front of the braze on.
2. Back off the support bolt so it doesn’t contact the frame on installation
3. Install the derailleur such that the outer plate of the cage is angled inwards (rear edge should be about 1mm inboard of the outside of the chainring
4. Then tighten the support bolt against the support bolt plate (make sure the plate is in the right place and the bolt is pushing against the bit that doesn’t have the adhesive pad)
Step four will move the cage outboard and put the whole assembly under tension. This is the critical bit. You do the same thing with a mechanical group and it’s essential to getting the cage aligned correctly prior to installing the cable.
Dealer manual is here – https://si.shimano.com/pdfs/dm/DM-R8050-04-ENG.pdf (page 39 onwards)
Doomsday Book by Connie
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis – time traveler ends up stuck in Black Death Europe
Ken Follett World Without End is a decent romp through The Black Death too (helps if you’ve read Pillars of the Earth).
The Death of Grass by John Christopher is wonderfully bleak considering the time it was written. Tens of millions die due to a Chinese virus that wipes out grain and rice crops. Govts do drastic things and cosy middle class types turn properly barbaric.
The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle – my primary school teacher decided to read that to the class. I was about 9. Billions die. Stuck with me ever since.
Of Wyndham’s work I think The Kraken Wakes is the best cosy apocalypse
For something a little more literary anything from J G Ballard’s early works (The Drowned World, The Burning World, The Crystal World, High Rise are all great)
I’ve got a soft spot for “A Canticle for Liebowitz” but that’s more post-apocalypse.
TFW when you think “Yay,
TFW when you think “Yay, being forced to WFH, no more hiding in the bogs at 4pm to watch the end of stage races”
Oh.
rb982 wrote:
Great advice thank you! I have Mavic Ksyriums – not sure if they are 11 speed compatible? I will consider the Tiagras aswell and see what pops up on ebay. Yes, I do have the thumb shifters to gear down – what do you mean by useful or not these are to me? Excuse my lack of knowledge – do the Tiagras and 105’s not have thumb down shifters? Thanks again for your helpKsyriums will be 11 speed so all good there.
For Tiagra and 105 (and possibly the current versions of the lower level groups) the thumb shifter is replaced with a second lever behind the brake lever. Makes it easier to shift down from the drops but slightly harder than a thumb shift if you’re wearing thick gloves.
Just check your new wheels
Just check your new wheels are 11-speed compatible – I’m sure they are but if they’re not then you can’t run 105.
It will be cheaper to buy a new bike, but you will notice a difference between 8 year old Sora and modern Tiagra/105 if you choose to upgrade the components. Much lighter shift, less lever throw, and better braking. Overall much more responsive and comfortable. And on the subject of comfort, if you’re happy with your frame and position, try and stick with it. There can be a lot of faff and expense getting your position dialled in to a new frame.
Personally I’d look for nearly-new Tiagra on eBay as it’s the time of year people are buying whole bikes as donor frames and selling off the groups. Then it’s just a question of time. Set aside a day and a half if you’ve never fitted a group before and follow the Shimano Dealer Manual instructions. Trickiest bit will be re-taping your bars, all you need for the group is a set of allen keys and maybe a BB wrench if you’re changing the bottom bracket
GRX is carrying a premium
GRX is carrying a premium because it’s new. It was the same for R8000 & R7000, it always take a while for prices to drop. I agree in part though – for example why do gravel/adventure chainsets cost more? They’ve got less teeth for starters! Ditto 1x chainsets.
It has been this way for a while – disc wheelsets are often more expensive than rim brake wheels. And yes, roadie stuff is more expensive than MTB – just look at how cheap 650B wheelsets are, or even 29ers
I don’t agree that the GRX groups are lower quality than their road equivalents though…
I haven’t ridden a
I haven’t ridden a Futureshock equipped bike but I do have a Redshift Shockstop stem on my gravel/tourer – a Fairlight Faran. I’m detecting a reduction in hand pain even though I was already riding on 650B/47c tyres so I’m sold on the idea. Obviously a future shock is a bit more integrated.
If it helps narrow down the choice think about how versatile the bike is going to be – are the stock wheels tubeless compatible? Does it have rack and guard mounts? Also, if you’re comfortable on your road bike can you get a similar position on the prospective new bike – measure your stack and reach and compare.
Difficulty you’ve got is that
Difficulty you’ve got is that you’ve now got scar tissue and inflammation down there. How long are you riding for? It might be better to go out for shorter more intense rides until everything is healed. Are you shaving that area? It might actually be impacted hair follicles causing localised soreness. You’re more likely to get those if you shave or trim.
You say that you’re leaning forward a little more so you have in fact changed position – small changes make a huge difference to weight distribution around contact points and pedalling dynamics. Personal experience of this – intense lower back pain solved by a bike fitter (surprisingly to me) lengthening my stem by 10mm. Completely counter-intuitive but it meant that I was bearing more weight on my hands and my lower back muscles were under less strain.
I think the key here is to get healed up and then make one change at a time and see how it goes. Build your distance/time on the bike slowly – the aim should be to come home with no inflammation or soreness.
Saddles don’t need to be painful, and you don’t need a chamois to ride comfortably as long as you get the right saddle and aren’t doing pro mileage. I now ride a Brooks B17 in padless mountain bike shorts with zero issues, even after an extended time off the bike.
I’ve had plenty of success
I’ve had plenty of success and very little muppetry on eBay. Ideally, try to wait for one of their £1 final value fee listing offers (I get them a couple of times per month I’d say). List it honestly, ideally with plenty of technical detail, and hopefully you’ll get an intelligent buyer. Best Offer listings always work for me. It’s a good time of year to be selling a frame, particularly something current and on-trend like yours. January’s over and finances have hopefully recovered from the Christmas splurge.
If you’re a bloke there’s
If you’re a bloke there’s always the beard option.
Although shaving with a facial injury is a whole different level of annoyance I’d imagine.
Scar formation and healing time is a function of blood supply so keeping the area warm is a good idea. And once the stitches are out make sure you protect the skin from wind/cold
