Foots sorted, bikes fixed and I'm back on it  

Currently doing about 50 miles a week on the trails preparing myself for my 1st trip to llandegla in june.

Edited 15 April, 20188 yr by SNH

1,000 miles on and my Brooks Flyer is as comfortable as my 25 year old Brooks Conquest.

I now have a new Brooks B17 on the way from Amazon for use on my Fat Bike where there is no need for springs. £57.75, so much cheapness. 

 

 

 

Happy with the new B17 in 'Honey', never had one in the Box with the spanner and proofide before, just in a polly bag.

£57.46 and 4 days to delivered.

 

 

 

Edited 14 May, 20188 yr by Offski

First ride of my 1987 Raleigh Royal on Sunday, a nice thirty mile round trip. Brought it North from Lancashire a few weeks ago, stripped it down, cleaned and re-lubed it before riding it.

 

Edited 7 May, 20188 yr by Zlin

New wheels, tyres, rotors/pads & cassette for the Levo.

Ride around Dalby forest on Sunday - gorgeous weather & splendid views.

No Pics unfortunately, but SWMBO and I were our on the bikes around Clumber Park in Worksop on Sunday, very pleasant leisurely 7.5 miles.

 

It's been a while since the CX has been ridden in anger properly, but it keeps the lube flowing

 

Awaiting the new number plate for the bike rack - camping in Dalby Forest next weekend so it'll get a blast then

Wonderful cycling weather.

 

 

Edited 14 May, 20188 yr by Offski

Three guesses for a SUBLIME ride

Edited 16 May, 20188 yr by Sad555

OK so, no pics of Dalby Forest...we didn't try and cycle to the bottom of the valley then back up...my fitness isn't what it once was :-(

 

We rode around the top end of it (a short 3 miler).

 

BUT I did get some pictures of the Cinder Track between Scarborough and Whitby...

 

I highly recommend a Garmin Vivo active HR,

a GPS Smart Watch with Elevate Heart Rate Technology.

Worth every penny IMO.  About £150.

 

I wanted a GPS Bike computer to use along with a Smart Phone. 

 I hit on this Garmin watch instead of a bike computer and it works great as it is on you and you can just have it on where ever on the bike or on your wrist.

Saving me getting out the Smart Phone to check miles done on the Electric Bike or Push Bike.

(i did a couple of times to see how the phone app i use and Specialized Mission Control were saying the same things.)

 

Edited 2 June, 20188 yr by Offski

Happy as Larry with my latest purchase. 

A 'Carradice' Zipped Roll Bag in 'Limited Edition red'. 

I have had a Cordura rack pack / handlebar bag from Carradice which i have used for about 30 years but never had a Cotton Duck one.

Spotted a 'limited edition red' on Ebay after having seen them sold out for a year or 3 from Carradice. £41 and i am well chuffed, just the size i wanted.

Fantastic quality & finish IMO.

 

 

Edited 5 June, 20188 yr by Offski

I was looking for a rear rack for my 6Fattie and found front racks for £7.50 from a British Ebay seller, not from China.

The type that fit to Brake bosses & mudguard mount.

Turns out they were just what i was after, i fitted a mud guard to the one i put on the rear. Not heavy duty but fine for Sleeping bag / tent etc in drybags.

Edited 9 June, 20188 yr by Offski

OK so I purchased some 700x28c road-biased tyres for my Boardman CX Comp (OEM are 700x35c Cyclocross tyres) - My bike is the 2015 model (so is a nicer blue colour ) 

 

 

Managed to fit them OK - and they look properly slick - Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II's compared to the Schwalbe Tyrago Kevlar's

 

 

 

I'm looking forward to going out on them for their first ride.  The higher pressure should support my heft a bit more than the Tyrago's - though as theres some tread left on the old tyres, I've kept them for winter

Edited 11 June, 20188 yr by hwr1983

GP 4000s are great, have them on my road bike. They came out pretty good in the rolling resistance tests. I think you'll feel the difference for sure. GP4Seasons for the winter are good too.

Also looking at upgrading the Mechanical Discs, with these >> http://www.hopetech.com/product/v-twin-brake/

 

Can't afford new Shifter/Brake levers, so it seems a well reviewed compromise!

18 hours ago, hwr1983 said:

Also looking at upgrading the Mechanical Discs, with these >> http://www.hopetech.com/product/v-twin-brake/

 

Can't afford new Shifter/Brake levers, so it seems a well reviewed compromise!

TRP HY/RD are another option 

 

https://www.trpcycling.com/product/hyrd/

 

Edited 12 June, 20188 yr by DarkPeakCycles

40 minutes ago, DarkPeakCycles said:

TRP HY/RD are another option 

 

https://www.trpcycling.com/product/hyrd/

 

 

 

Yeah I've looked at them, but the real world reviews don't appear to be that great.  I like the idea of the V-Twins, as the cable length is VERY short as they use a remote reservoir (attached to the steerer tube), whereas the Hy/Rd's would be the same length of cable (but probably easier to install properly).

 

I've got some food for thought  

7 minutes ago, hwr1983 said:

 

Yeah I've looked at them, but the real world reviews don't appear to be that great.  I like the idea of the V-Twins, as the cable length is VERY short as they use a remote reservoir (attached to the steerer tube), whereas the Hy/Rd's would be the same length of cable (but probably easier to install properly).

 

I've got some food for thought  

I can't comment on the Hope V-Twin setup as I've never fitted or tried one but I have fitted and run the TRP HY/RD's on my CX bike & never had a problem with them but they will never be as good as a full hydraulic setup.  

 

A couple of my customers also asked me to change their cable disc brakes to  TRP HY-RD's and they were suitably impressed for what they cost & suited their commuting needs.  

 

For me, if I ever have a bike with disk brakes now, they will always be full hydraulic.  I know the initial outlay is very costly but they are worth every penny.

 

I am tempted to try the Hope SH-RX4's on my CX bike, not that there is anything wrong with my Shimano RS785's but, just look at that engineering 

I have  the HY/RDs on one of my bikes and if you use the TRP cables and outers with them they are actually pretty good, not 100% of a full hydro setup but probably 80-90%. They are also a doddle to set up. I am pretty impressed with them to be honest, and the setup looks nice and clean. They certainly blow any cable-disc setup I have ever used out of the water.

 

DarkPeak, I had those Hope calipers on my GF Ti and while they were pretty powerful and had good modulation, the pad/disc clearance when the brakes were off was so tight that I could never quite get them to stop dragging a tiny bit at the back. Tried all sorts, servicing, cleaning, bleeding, adjusting, rotor truing, new rotor etc. and couldn't eliminate a tiny rub. it was driving me mental. Ended up swapping to the r9100 calipers that matched the levers and they are fine and fully clear the disc when released.

 

My current theory is the flat mount disc face on the frame isn't at precisely 90° to the disc and the clearances on the Hope calipers just made this critical, whereas the Shimano calipers release more and the clearance isn't as critical. I keep meaning to put an engineers square on the disc and across the frame mounts to check. I don't have a flat mount disc facing tool as they are £300 :-)

 

The Hope ones do look lovely and they are nice to use, but the rubbing was driving me nuts and the r9100 ones are very very nearly as good and don't rub.

Completed a ride from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower in under 24hrs, was an experience cycling in London and Paris. Some great scenery and no mechanical issues along with good weather made it pleasurable. 

Edited 12 June, 20188 yr by VRS Mike

@VRS Mike Well done. I keep getting told it is a ride worth doing

20 minutes ago, DarkPeakCycles said:

@VRS Mike Well done. I keep getting told it is a ride worth doing

 

Yes it was very good, wished I had planned a route to go around Paris. One of the riders bonked 30 miles from the end, so the reduced pace made it a lot closer than it should have been.

We are now in discussions for the next challenge, possibly cycling to and climbing the three peaks

On 05/06/2018 at 14:40, Offski said:

Happy as Larry with my latest purchase. 

A 'Carradice' Zipped Roll Bag in 'Limited Edition red'. 

I have had a Cordura rack pack / handlebar bag from Carradice which i have used for about 30 years but never had a Cotton Duck one.

Spotted a 'limited edition red' on Ebay after having seen them sold out for a year or 3 from Carradice. £41 and i am well chuffed, just the size i wanted.

Fantastic quality & finish IMO.

 

 

The Carradice Zipped Roll Bag onto a Brooks saddle. You clearly are a man of exquisite taste. 

They are a great combination.........both my bikes similarly equipped.

Getting out early while still cool or there is a haar & no flies or midge are out is the only way i am getting a few miles in every day as 25 *C plus is just not my thing.

Enjoying pedalling as been getting lazy riding the electric bike, only do half the distances though.

 

Edited 27 June, 20188 yr by Offski

I volunteer for Sustran's & the Trans Pennine Trail Conservation group, as part of my role I am the Signage Champion for a section between Penistone & Dunford Bridge, although I often check much larger area's.

 

Yesterday saw me checking some of route 68 heading towards Holmfirth, then going up and over Holmemoss before riding towards Glossop for a cafe stop before dropping down to Padfield and then following route 62 all the way home over the Longendale trail (following alongside Woodhead Pass) crossing the Peak District from West to East.

 

It's always nice to take a little time out of Home & Work life & do something completely different.

 

Byway heading to the bottom of Holmemoss

 

Top of Holmemoss in the distance

 

The smoke from the fires in the Peaks can be seen for miles around.  Huge respect to all those working tirelessly to putting it out and keeping everyone safe

 

No ride is complete without a healthy cafe stop

 

Longdendale Trail, Woodhead reservoir

Edited 28 June, 20188 yr by DarkPeakCycles

Lots of parts changed and a few still to do but whatever issues I had have gone thankfully. 

I've been making the most of it and the sunshine to.

Also done a llandegla camping weekend which was awesome.

Edited 12 July, 20188 yr by SNH