The Retirement Thread

[oldwheels]

New mugs arrived so had to have a cuppa. Definitely holds a lot more but they are heavy. No way I could lift one with my right hand at the moment. I now need to visit the cludgie after drinking so much!

Not heard that word for a long time. We have so many non Scots here who would not recognise any Scottish words.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Thanks.
Both brake types have advantages and disadvantages. The concept of the disc brake is a valid solution to a limitation of the rim brake, but the market is guilty of mis selling. Manufacturers benefit if they can justify selling a higher priced machine. The cycling media appears to be complicit with the fraud. I watch GCN and the others on Youtube. They claim to be doing science, but the experiments are heavily flawed and show bias. Chris Froome has spoken out in the last week. His new team have given him a disc brake bike and he has real reservations.

Tubeless is a hassle we don't need. Danni bought a new bike. It came with heavy kevlar belted tubeless tyres. I swapped my heavier OE clinchers for lightweight 23s criticized in some tests for having no puncture protection. I also swapped the tubes for 50g Conti Supersonics. Danni had no end of trouble with getting punctures, having to scrap expensive tyres, taking longer to make repairs, and fed up with being sprayed with sealant. On the other hand, I've not had a single incident with this bike. When I was young and did thousands of miles on tubs, I only remember getting one puncture.

I don't happen to think that in frame cables are so bad. At least you will likely be at home when they need attention rather than a failure at the side of the road.

I had a Cube Axial for a short time. I bought it new. It made unpleasant noises, so I took it to the LBS to look at. They told me, 'cable slap, lots of bikes do that' and to 'get used to it'. Other times they pronounced it 'fixed'. It wasn't of course. I found the headset incorrectly set up so that correct adjustment was not achievable. I fixed that, but there was buzz through the frame from the cables.

I have the advantage of being an engineer, so I investigated and found that the incorrect chain was fitted causing driveline vibration to be induced in the cable. The frame acted as an amplifier to it.

My Emonda came with problems too. None were addressed by the same LBS. Cable slap was the excuse again. I found the derailleur hanger screws to be loose, and the hanger distorted presumably due to a pre-sale knock. I also found that the necessary shim behind the cassette was missing and the rear derailleur to be poorly set up.

This trend that is going on in gear design is problematic too. The trend for 50/34 'compact' chainsets on the front, necessitates smaller gears on the back. A chain can not run that smoothly around an 11 tooth gear. I now see bikes are being sold with a 9. My advice for what it's worth - avoid. My preference will be for a 52 or 53 on the front and no smaller than a 12 on the back. I think these mods with the larger jockey wheels in the derailleur look good from an engineering perspective, but I haven't tried them as yet.

I'm aware that I'm being opinionated here, which is not the approach I ordinarily favour - so I'll shut up about it now. That's a promise.

I don't like the current 50/34, the 50 is too big and the 34 is too small, my current set up is 48/38 with 12-28 at the back.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I was in the supermarket early this morning, 8:45 and I'm about to go do the market shop. Physio's been to see my Good Lady this morning, she was most apologetic for missing yesterdays appointment, got double booked aparently, but she did some good work with her today, better than last time she was refered, that time all she got was a sheet of exercises to do, this time she's got what she need's, someone to work with and encourage her, she's done some good work today.

 

[monkers]

I don't like the current 50/34, the 50 is too big and the 34 is too small, my current set up is 48/38 with 12-28 at the back.

To me that sounds absolutely ideal for the riding that you love to do. It avoids those sharp radiuses (radii), ensures smoother running, and reduces noise and wear.

I swapped out my cassette to get rid of the 11. I know a 12 just sounds one tooth different, but it has a significant effect on the pcd of the gear, especially in percentage terms. By chance I spotted an Ultegra one for sale for £20 - too much of a bargain to miss and saved me 80g too, as a little bonus.

For race bikes, where there is a different aspiration, I'd say that increasing chainwheel size is a better engineering solution to achieve taller gearing than those using those tiny gears on the back, I think that's a big ask of the chain pitch that the industry uses.

 

[pawl]

Thanks.
Both brake types have advantages and disadvantages. The concept of the disc brake is a valid solution to a limitation of the rim brake, but the market is guilty of mis selling. Manufacturers benefit if they can justify selling a higher priced machine. The cycling media appears to be complicit with the fraud. I watch GCN and the others on Youtube. They claim to be doing science, but the experiments are heavily flawed and show bias. Chris Froome has spoken out in the last week. His new team have given him a disc brake bike and he has real reservations.

Tubeless is a hassle we don't need. Danni bought a new bike. It came with heavy kevlar belted tubeless tyres. I swapped my heavier OE clinchers for lightweight 23s criticized in some tests for having no puncture protection. I also swapped the tubes for 50g Conti Supersonics. Danni had no end of trouble with getting punctures, having to scrap expensive tyres, taking longer to make repairs, and fed up with being sprayed with sealant. On the other hand, I've not had a single incident with this bike. When I was young and did thousands of miles on tubs, I only remember getting one puncture.

I don't happen to think that in frame cables are so bad. At least you will likely be at home when they need attention rather than a failure at the side of the road.

I had a Cube Axial for a short time. I bought it new. It made unpleasant noises, so I took it to the LBS to look at. They told me, 'cable slap, lots of bikes do that' and to 'get used to it'. Other times they pronounced it 'fixed'. It wasn't of course. I found the headset incorrectly set up so that correct adjustment was not achievable. I fixed that, but there was buzz through the frame from the cables.

I have the advantage of being an engineer, so I investigated and found that the incorrect chain was fitted causing driveline vibration to be induced in the cable. The frame acted as an amplifier to it.

My Emonda came with problems too. None were addressed by the same LBS. Cable slap was the excuse again. I found the derailleur hanger screws to be loose, and the hanger distorted presumably due to a pre-sale knock. I also found that the necessary shim behind the cassette was missing and the rear derailleur to be poorly set up.

This trend that is going on in gear design is problematic too. The trend for 50/34 'compact' chainsets on the front, necessitates smaller gears on the back. A chain can not run that smoothly around an 11 tooth gear. I now see bikes are being sold with a 9. My advice for what it's worth - avoid. My preference will be for a 52 or 53 on the front and no smaller than a 12 on the back. I think these mods with the larger jockey wheels in the derailleur look good from an engineering perspective, but I haven't tried them as yet.

I'm aware that I'm being opinionated here, which is not the approach I ordinarily favour - so I'll shut up about it now. That's a promise.

My cycling these days is purely for leisure and exercise and don’t really need discs I will admit to occasionally sprint for a30 signs always beating my imaginary rival Mark Cavandish by a wheel

Like you I rode sprints and tubs in TT I suppose in twenty years of riding TT I only recall two puncture.

I ride 23c all year round the Have ridden Michelin’s from their endurance range Looking back I would estimate that at the most two punctures in a year have been the most punctures I have had.
I don’t do big mileages these days usually around 2500 to3000 miles a year

 

[Mo1959]

Not heard that word for a long time. We have so many non Scots here who would not recognise any Scottish words.

Would be a shame if a lot of these words died out, so like to try and keep them alive.

 

[classic33]

Good moaning Drago. Good morning everybody else.

My eyes are bleary, my tinnitus is singing loudly, I've got toothache, and my left arm feels like it's hanging by a thread. But enough self-pity from me, hey, I'm still alive, and many have it worse.

I've read some bits of the thread that I missed, and I'm saddened by other people's recent experiences.

There's a couple of Daves on here deserve big hugs. I always feel frustrated under these circumstances and inadequate. I want to do more, I wish I could, but I'm too insignificant a cog to make any real difference.

To anyone feeling down today, have a hug, feel the love.

We try to minimise our energy consumption in this household, but bones were feeling a bit chilled last night, so we turned the heat up a little last night, just a bit mind, and we feel a little better for it.

I was keeping a car on the road so that I could get to Mum at any time in case of emergency. It's just an old 1 litre petrol Corsa, but it's very frugal. Last night I decided that soon I must now bid it farewell to fund N+1; It'll be another road bike, but something for the colder and wetter weather, with eyelets for mudguards and panniers.

I'm not anti car by the way, so not imposing that view. I'm more against the system that more or less imposes car dependency on many people, but I guess that's for a different thread.

The Met Office report that its 275K out there today. I'll take their word for it and stay out of the cold until at least my shoulder feels better. I might try and use the turbo today though until it aches too much to carry on.

Have the best day you can folks. xx

You mean like this?

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dLIfyk8il-g

 

[ColinJ]

I have given up with. the complications of relations as per broken/new relationships. I just refer to then as simple, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law etc, makes life much easier, and less typing

Yes, I agree. It feels a bit disloyal to include the word 'step' but I can't help trying to be accurate. Engineering background!

I have been around since the first few weeks of said (step)daughter's life but am not bio-dad.

 

[Juan Kog]

Monkers more of your opinions and views , good to hear an engineers take on cycle industry B/S .
As to opinionated women, I have lived with one for nearly 47 years I can take it . When I first met the future Mrs Kog I soon realised this was miss right ,only later did I find out her first name was always

 

[BoldonLad]

They look a nice shape. For me a cup is a bit more than a mere drinking vessel. On a cold day there's a certain pleasure to be had from a warm tactile object that fits and fill the hands 'just so'.

Very true, doesn't even have to be. a cold day

 

[BoldonLad]

Yes, I agree. It feels a bit disloyal to include the word 'step' but I can't help trying to be accurate. Engineering background!

I have been around since the first few weeks of said (step)daughter's life but am not bio-dad.

No criticism intended, it is just my laziness. I am bio-dad/bio-grandad to only one of my 6 "children", and their offspring.

 

[monkers]

Very true, doesn't even have to be. a cold day

On this occassion, and just for a change, I'm innocent. I didn't intend that double entrende. 😊

 

[ColinJ]

Used to love Hill Street Blues.
Never heard of A114.......what channel is that on ??

Not quite sure if that was a joke or not...?

Anyway - 'ells' not 'ones' - ALL4! It is Ch4's streaming service, a rebranding of its former 4OD service. Actually, there should be a space - 'All 4'. Take a look HERE.

My pal and I share a subscription. You can watch free but then you also have to watch 15-20 minutes of ads per hour. With a subscription some shows are ad-free but even the others only show about 2 minutes an hour, which is perfectly OK. Literally one short ad and back to the show.

Lot of good stuff on All 4!

I don't like the current 50/34, the 50 is too big and the 34 is too small, my current set up is 48/38 with 12-28 at the back.

I really like 48/38. I have those rings on my best bike and spend an awful lot of time on the 38. I also have a 28 on though for some of the horribly hard hills we have up here. Maybe I could get up a long stretch of 20+% in 38/30 but I would not enjoy it! Much more sensible to use my 28/30!

 

[BoldonLad]

Monkers more of your opinions and views , good to hear an engineers take on cycle industry B/S .
As to opinionated women, I have lived with one for nearly 47 years I can take it . When I first met the future Mrs Kog I soon realised this was miss right ,only later did I find out her first name was always

Are you by chance my brother-in-law?

 

[BoldonLad]

5.5 miles, making 21 miles walking for the week.