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Might have Emergency Contact
Might have Emergency Contact info set on it
And unless you want to save
And unless you want to save weight, just go with the 105-level calipers, they use the same pads as the higher groups and are mechanically similar.You could also build it with Tiagra or lower, no issue with running 105 brakes with the lower groups.
Good luck with the internal cabling, can be a bit of a nightmare to route. Are the outers still in place?
I hear you. A clip on handcycle is so, so much easier than pushing a manual chair directly; for starters, you’ve got proper brakes for hills, not just your fingers. Gears for ascending, too. Plus, a large front wheel rolls so much easier than castors. The big problems are cost, and perception; cycles for wheelchair users start at about 1k, and that’s for the most basic of basic. Perception is a twofold problem; there is the perception that cycling isn’t “for” less physically able persons, and there is also the concern of people getting the wrong idea -this ties into performative disability, stuff like the fact that although I can stand and walk a few steps (very slowly), I won’t do so in public – because of arguments I’ve had, accusations made towards me etc. People feel that, if they cycle, they’ll be reported as benefit frauds and lose their (potentially sole source) disability income and/or cars. Yes, this is fucked up.It really does surprise me that more people don’t use a bike. Especially if they are disabled like me.
I was riding with someone the other day whose husband is disabled due to cancer and associated mobility conditions. He can still cycle short distances but is scared that someone will ‘report him’ if he is seen on his bike. Therefore, he hardly gets out.
The sheer state of this country means someone is deprived from doing something which he wants to do, which would be physically and mentally beneficial, because he’s afraid he’ll get penalised for it. It makes me want to cry. I’ve been through these hoops and won, but I had to appeal and it was bloody hard.
There was a lot of stuff on Twitter a few weeks ago about ambulatory disabled and the sheer amount of ignorance some people face.
My biggest fear is someone deciding to push me off my bike because I’m having a bad day and having to cycle (slowly!) on pavement for a short distance – I’m not visibly disabled and ride a normal bike. I’ve already been roughly shouldered by someone twice my size, luckily I had stopped at the time and was balanced enough to not fall.
Even if you’re able-bodied (apols if that’s not the right term) a bike can be easier than walking. My knees aren’t great and I’d find it hard to run a mile or walk a couple of miles but I can easily do 60 miles on a bike. Not great at standing for too long these days either. If I couldn’t cycle the only exercise I could probably do would be swimming, and that would involve driving to the leisue centre…
I’m driving from Hampshire to
I’m driving from Hampshire to York today. Need to be in York for a 10am meeting tomorrow, and it’s cheaper to drive, claim private mileage, and pay for an AirBnB than it is to get the train. If I lived near the airport I could have actually flown Southampton -> Leeds Bradford and it would have cost less than the train. The car option is the longest and most stressful (plus I can’t work whilst driving) but it’s the cheapest.
Fundamentally transport pricing is completely broken, and its not just for long journeys like that.
I used to cycle commute between 5 and 15 miles to my former employer in Southampton on most days but I’d still drive from time to time (motivation, laziness, weather, going on elsewhere after work) and it wasn’t horrible/expensive enough to stop me from doing it, despite that for the short version of the commute it was quicker by bike. £5 to park all day just isn’t expensive enough.
Southampton are running a Clean Air Zone consultation because it’s one of the most polluted cities in the country (because port) and they’ve specifically excluded any restrictions on private vehicles. Says it all really…
New Orbital album is
New Orbital album is fantastic, particularly P.H.U.K & Tiny Foldable Cities
I think its a question on
I think its a question on relying on all your senses – you can see something before you hear it and I certainly listen on approach to blind junctions. Of course that doesn’t account for other cyclists so it’s still a case of approaching with caution. I think over 20mph road noise from tyres is loud enough, particularly in quiter environments. There’s bloke with a monster eBike where I live and that thing sounds like turbo trainer as it goes past.
Going off-topic slightly if I
Going off-topic slightly if I’m riding primary I will actively signal drivers to pass me if it’s safe for them to do so – this usually results in a flash of hazards or a thankyou wave. Equally if I’ve got someone on my arse and I can see oncoming traffic round a bend I give a clear palm-facing them signal that it’s not safe to pass. Assuming they’ve remembered the HC section on police signals they should interpret this correctly.
Perhaps unsurprisingly a wave through is seen as a positive happy exchange whereas me daring to tell them it’s not safe to pass has often yielded a close pass and a load of abuse.
With the single track roads around here I’d rather slow a little and wave people past than have them sat on my wheel getting impatient. Means I take control of the situation, particularly on climbs where I can ease off more to let them through at low speed. The problem with queues is that the first driver has clearly been courteous and each successive driver in the queue becomes less so. Passes also tend to get closer and closer as the queue clears as inevitably someone squeezes past at the last minute.
I tend to drive positioned
I tend to drive positioned towards the centre line anyway, I think I’ve been conditioned by years of riding primary.
I was taught by my driving instructor to “make it yours” – to drive positively and not yield space unless it helps with traffic flow.
There’s been a few comments on here recently about mixed signals and I tend to agree. Almost had an accident last week when I flashed an oncoming vehicle through on a residential road with a long line of parked cars – there was also a driver attempting to join from a minor road and she clearly thought I was flashing her to pull out. Nearly ended up in a three car accident.
When it comes to cyclists I certainly wouldn’t close the gap – it’s the cyclist’s job to get into primary and prevent the pass, not me. But as I say I’m already positioned towards the centre line – it makes sense with free-roaming livestock and random deer around so if the cyclist does take primary there’s no space for a driver to overtake them. If they do still attempt a pass on a gutter-rider I’m usually aware and prepared enough to bail out to the edge of the road to give enough space. Not my job to actively influence the driver’s behaviour and try and protect the cyclist.
Because I’m cycling on rural roads primarily, as a cyclist I usually shoulder check and move in to primary if there’s an oncoming vehicle. It sends a clear message to the driver behind that there’s no room to overtake, and I’m fortunate to have such quiet roads I’m not permanently in primary.
Like the designs, don’t fit
Like the designs, don’t fit me, didn’t make the connection with Kom, assumed it was some Russian reference given some of the dazzle camo designs.
Another vote here for Juin
Another vote here for Juin Tech R1s – the big benefit being you can use your existing cable runs without modification. Swap the standard pads for sintered for more bite and less squeal.
If the frame stops are big enough then another option is the Giant Conduct hybrid system
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/global/showcase/conduct
That’s going to be cheaper than replacing shifters, brakes, and swapping cables to hoses
GravelKing SK got my vote
GravelKing SK got my vote (32mm) – will do light mud, hardpack and still roll fast on the road. I’d imagine they’d be even better if you go tubeless. My commute was a mix of offroad in the New Forest on forestry tracks (not much loose stuff), horrible broken asphalt backroads, cycle paths, and fast new tarmac. Handled them all and weren’t noisy or draggy.
Also take a look at Clement/Donnely & WTB
New Tribans
New Tribans
Due in store any day now. Sora or 105 groups, both an upgrade over the Microshift, and better wheels too.
I saw that article last night and chalked it up to the BBC pushing the “dangerous” cycling agenda (i.e. make cycling seem more dangerous than the stats would suggest and thus push mandatory helmets etc).I didn’t really twig that the writing was in a different style.
They seem to be moving towards SEO-optimisation of their content, particularly in the “Full Story” section of the homepage – list-based articles, how-tos, sprinkled with a healthy dose of keywords. Plus stock photography – not even from a British road.
The Fairlight Secan is probably the darling of the road.cc office right now (two team members have bought one) – https://road.cc/content/review/248008-fairlight-cycles-secanand finally why is a Mason almost a grand more than a Fairlight, is it a thousand pounds more bike?, what am I missing?
Cheers
Skin
Well it’s Columbus vs Reynolds 853 tubing but other than that not really any different – same wheels, similar level finishing kit, and mechanical Ultegra. The original Strael is 6800 and the Definition R8000 but that doesn’t account for the difference.
I’m a very happy Fairlight owner (Faran tourer), the bike and build quality has been faultless and Dom’s customer service also excellent in speccing the bike for me. I’d have a Strael too as a “faster” road bike but wanted rim brakes rather than discs.
The other Dom’s bikes (Mason) definitely look the part in the flesh and I’m sure I’d be happy with one of theirs. Both British-designed by industry experts who understand what sort of bike suits riding conditions here.
I’ve got a B’Twin 20l rolltop
I’ve got a B’Twin 20l rolltop – waterproof, reflective, light mounts, adaptable hook size, and universal (i.e. mounts to either side – there are light clips front and back.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-waterproof-rear-pannier-bike-bag-blue-20l-id_8385323.html
It’s just a single bag without any internal compartments – available in multiple colours – and rolls down pretty tight when not full.
