Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
What Have You Fettled Today?
- Thread starter threebikesmcginty
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Elybazza61
Guru
More work on the Faran over the last few days, thread here;
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/fairlight-faran-build.294874/#post-7104687
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/fairlight-faran-build.294874/#post-7104687
a.twiddler
Veteran
Audible warning in a bottle
Many years ago when I was young and carefree I adapted a freon horn to fit into a bike drinks bottle. This then fitted into a downtube bottle cage, giving the benefit of an extremely loud self contained air horn, on a bike. It had the disadvantage of needing some forward planning to use so wasn’t so useful if being cut up in traffic as you would be too busy taking evasive action to think about reaching down and pressing a button. Still, it had its uses in deterring dogs, for example.
More recently I’d wondered on and off about fitting an Airzound to a bike, it being more ecologically friendly. When I started riding recumbents the problem was where to mount such a thing when you had underseat steering. I managed to set up a remote control cable operated jumbo bell. Maybe something similar could be set up to operate the trigger on an air horn or Airzound. Too many other interesting things going on adapting recumbents to fit so that went to the back of the queue.
Several recumbent projects later I acquired a HP Velotechnic Spirit which unusually for me, had over seat steering. Although I like under seat steering it’s undeniable that over seat steering gives you plenty of space to mount various gadgets within easy reach. There is a handy bottle cage mount near the top of the stem, even handier now I’ve turned the stem round so it’s facing the rider.
I’d thought some more about fitting an Airzound but decided against it on the grounds of cost, reliability and longevity based on reviews. That left various boat horns. I’ve been led to believe that all such devices are now CFC free so less of a guilt trip.
I came across one in Halfords for ÂŁ8.99 which turned out to be mislabelled on the display. Actually ÂŁ13.99 but I was charged the lower price as it was their error.
I bought a plain 500ml drinks bottle from Asda for £2.99 (branded “Decathlon” on the base).
I measured up the diameter of the top of the gas canister and cut a circle to match in the lid of the drinks bottle.
The drinks bottle is much taller than the gas canister so I taped its lid upside down to the base of the canister and measured a roll of foam which I pushed into the lid. Larger refills are probably available but there is plenty of scope for adjustment.
The lid of the drinks bottle was a press fit on to the top of the gas canister, and when the whole assembly was slid into place in the drinks bottle and the lid screwed on it made a solid rattle free unit.
With the horn and trigger assembly clicked on to the canister, the whole thing was ready to fit into the bottle cage and hit the road.
It will work in any bottle cage, as long as it’s relatively upright, but ideally one in easy reach.
I haven’t road tested it yet, to take it somewhere secluded and give it a good blast, as from previous experience these things are ear fizzingly LOUD, and to be used sparingly. I’m quite happy to ting my bell at pedestrians, don’t want to scare people to death, but it’s there when needed.
Many years ago when I was young and carefree I adapted a freon horn to fit into a bike drinks bottle. This then fitted into a downtube bottle cage, giving the benefit of an extremely loud self contained air horn, on a bike. It had the disadvantage of needing some forward planning to use so wasn’t so useful if being cut up in traffic as you would be too busy taking evasive action to think about reaching down and pressing a button. Still, it had its uses in deterring dogs, for example.
More recently I’d wondered on and off about fitting an Airzound to a bike, it being more ecologically friendly. When I started riding recumbents the problem was where to mount such a thing when you had underseat steering. I managed to set up a remote control cable operated jumbo bell. Maybe something similar could be set up to operate the trigger on an air horn or Airzound. Too many other interesting things going on adapting recumbents to fit so that went to the back of the queue.
Several recumbent projects later I acquired a HP Velotechnic Spirit which unusually for me, had over seat steering. Although I like under seat steering it’s undeniable that over seat steering gives you plenty of space to mount various gadgets within easy reach. There is a handy bottle cage mount near the top of the stem, even handier now I’ve turned the stem round so it’s facing the rider.
I’d thought some more about fitting an Airzound but decided against it on the grounds of cost, reliability and longevity based on reviews. That left various boat horns. I’ve been led to believe that all such devices are now CFC free so less of a guilt trip.
I came across one in Halfords for ÂŁ8.99 which turned out to be mislabelled on the display. Actually ÂŁ13.99 but I was charged the lower price as it was their error.
I bought a plain 500ml drinks bottle from Asda for £2.99 (branded “Decathlon” on the base).
I measured up the diameter of the top of the gas canister and cut a circle to match in the lid of the drinks bottle.
The drinks bottle is much taller than the gas canister so I taped its lid upside down to the base of the canister and measured a roll of foam which I pushed into the lid. Larger refills are probably available but there is plenty of scope for adjustment.
The lid of the drinks bottle was a press fit on to the top of the gas canister, and when the whole assembly was slid into place in the drinks bottle and the lid screwed on it made a solid rattle free unit.
With the horn and trigger assembly clicked on to the canister, the whole thing was ready to fit into the bottle cage and hit the road.
It will work in any bottle cage, as long as it’s relatively upright, but ideally one in easy reach.
I haven’t road tested it yet, to take it somewhere secluded and give it a good blast, as from previous experience these things are ear fizzingly LOUD, and to be used sparingly. I’m quite happy to ting my bell at pedestrians, don’t want to scare people to death, but it’s there when needed.
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Why would you ever need to use an air horn on a bike?!
Absolutely pointless, annoying and to most padestrians, bloody frightening!
Absolutely pointless, annoying and to most padestrians, bloody frightening!
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
I wouldn't use one on pedestrians, but in traffic it would be heard by drivers, when a bell wouldn't.
You mean you don't make "Brrrm brrrm" noises when riding?
a.twiddler
Veteran
Why would you use it on pedestrians? Got a bell for that. Usually don't even need that. More for oblivious car users to make the worst offenders aware of my presence over the distractions of satnav twiddling, phone texting, pounding stereo and so on. Since I've taken up riding a recumbent I get lots of room and consideration. Still, as they say, walk softly, carry a big stick, and hope you never have to use it.
GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
I put a new top cap on the stem of the carbon forks, but it's too cold in the garage. 🆒
fritz katzenjammer
Der Ubergrosserbudgie
A customer left his roadbike at our shop to get the bars lowered by four millimeters. Didn’t want to just shift one of the nifty split 4 mm spacers out of the headset stack from below the stem allowing a standard one to be installed on top. ( where there was none and therefore room for one )
Oh no… he wanted the entire front end disassembled so that the offending four millimeters could be cut off the steering tube. As it was a pretty aero bike everything was routed inside the stem and headset so it took a good few hours and involved bleeding the hydraulics and applying new tape to the bars to get it done.
As I finished up I wondered…
… what if he doesn’t like it?
People can be so silly.
Oh no… he wanted the entire front end disassembled so that the offending four millimeters could be cut off the steering tube. As it was a pretty aero bike everything was routed inside the stem and headset so it took a good few hours and involved bleeding the hydraulics and applying new tape to the bars to get it done.
As I finished up I wondered…
… what if he doesn’t like it?
People can be so silly.
DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
@fritz katzenjammer - son no. 2's Ridley Noah Fast has those bars and is lowered as far as possible, with the steerer cut.
But ... he'd tested it at that point and was happy with it before the saw came out.
But ... he'd tested it at that point and was happy with it before the saw came out.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
stripped the freehub and it is indeed manky , installed a spare but for some reason it doesnt need the spacer like the one that was on it but although it spins better there's a lot of play in the hub ( not cassette wobble ) so i think i have to bite the bullet and get a new one .
After installing the spare the rear brake now rubs but i have had enough today so thats a job for another day .
EDIT new hub ordered ÂŁ15
After installing the spare the rear brake now rubs but i have had enough today so thats a job for another day .
EDIT new hub ordered ÂŁ15
Last edited:
Elybazza61
Guru
Had the pleasure of dealing with these two yesterday.
First spot the mistakes;
And then this;
'Just a brake service please,,'
First spot the mistakes;
And then this;
'Just a brake service please,,'
