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Further and Faster / Re: New bike for Audax from Halfords.
« Last post by tonyh on Today at 05:20:37 pm »
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Further and Faster / Re: New bike for Audax from Halfords.
« Last post by grams on Today at 05:16:54 pm »By the way, I've always been disappointed by the difference between my effortful speeds on a "fast light bike with fast tyres" and the other sort. On the whole, less than 1mph. Is it me??
Mathematically speaking, bicycle speed is largely a function of power output vs wind resistance (mostly of your body) and on particularly hilly rides power vs weight (again, mostly of your body). While the style of bike can definitely influence those things, for the same rider on two vaguely similar bikes they're going to work out pretty close.
Rolling resistance, bicycle weight, gearing, even the weight of a bit of luggage has a much smaller influence than many
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Freewheeling / Re: Pilgrimage Symposium, 17/Apr/24, London
« Last post by Salvatore on Today at 05:06:32 pm »I wonder when that was taken, it's still quite low rise, but you might see more concrete these days.May 21st 2019 at 9:36 a.m.
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Online quizzes / Re: Wordle
« Last post by Jaded on Today at 05:05:21 pm »Wordle 1,043 2/6
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Arts and Entertainment / Re: circus tours
« Last post by Jaded on Today at 04:59:44 pm »We are now going to one of the Preview shows in Bristol 
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The Knowledge / Re: Secure Public Cycle Parks
« Last post by TimO on Today at 04:55:18 pm »Wimbledon Station has bike storage internal to the barriers, with CCTV. I'm fairly sure the access is restricted in some fashion, I have a memory of seeing a video or article outlining it, but I can't find that.
The National Rail website just says:
I walk through Wimbledon station quite often, although the bike storage is with the lifts down a passage off of the main area, and not obvious when you walk past, so I'm not sure what security there may be.
More useful if you're using the Trains/Tram/Tube, as Googling suggests that just entering and exiting the station will put a charge on an Oyster Card, potentially a maximum fare.
The National Rail website just says:
Quote
Spaces : 108 spaces
Type of Storage : Stands & Racks
Sheltered : Yes
CCTV : Yes
I walk through Wimbledon station quite often, although the bike storage is with the lifts down a passage off of the main area, and not obvious when you walk past, so I'm not sure what security there may be.
More useful if you're using the Trains/Tram/Tube, as Googling suggests that just entering and exiting the station will put a charge on an Oyster Card, potentially a maximum fare.
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Gallery / Re: Members' bikes
« Last post by phantasmagoriana on Today at 04:44:05 pm »Dragging the tone down a bit from all these pretty shiny things upthread, here's my not-so-new hack bike, because it's been far too long since I had something I'd happily leave locked up in town, and I don't do any other cycling these days so thought I might try some gentle utility trips as a way back in.
It's a Raleigh Gemini 6 from the mid-1980s. The paintwork is in a much worse state than it looks (nail polish and reflective tape hide a multitude of sins) but it's 531 frame. I've just been installing racks (plural, because why not?). Gear fettling is an exercise to be left for another day.
It reminds me a bit of my late, lamented early '90s Raleigh Pioneer, though that was 501 and not a step-through frame (it was purple, however; sadly, I discovered that the bottom bracket threads had gone, and the bottom bracket had been riveted in; it eventually got donated to a bike recycling place in Glasgow. I do miss that bike, though - I liked the simplicity of it, and this is similar in many ways).
Edit: yes, that fork-mounted front light is at a stupid angle, and will be corrected.
It's a Raleigh Gemini 6 from the mid-1980s. The paintwork is in a much worse state than it looks (nail polish and reflective tape hide a multitude of sins) but it's 531 frame. I've just been installing racks (plural, because why not?). Gear fettling is an exercise to be left for another day.
It reminds me a bit of my late, lamented early '90s Raleigh Pioneer, though that was 501 and not a step-through frame (it was purple, however; sadly, I discovered that the bottom bracket threads had gone, and the bottom bracket had been riveted in; it eventually got donated to a bike recycling place in Glasgow. I do miss that bike, though - I liked the simplicity of it, and this is similar in many ways).
Edit: yes, that fork-mounted front light is at a stupid angle, and will be corrected.
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OT Knowledge / Re: Underfloor heating pros / cons
« Last post by rogerzilla on Today at 04:41:19 pm »Beware that UFH can KILL pianos!I bet Liberace had one in a bathroom.
I wasn’t going to post this while a bathroom was being discussed!
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Where The Wild Things Are / Re: What is your pet doing right now?*
« Last post by rogerzilla on Today at 04:39:02 pm »Just tested him again and he's still negative for ketones. Mind you, he's still very hungry and drinking quite a lot, so it hasn't had much impact on the diabetes yet. Thankfully, he seems to have escaped the most common side-effect in the first two weeks - diarrhoea 
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The Knowledge / Re: Cycle Hoops - what socket or tool fits them
« Last post by TimO on Today at 04:37:52 pm »
Looking at that image, as Feanor said, wouldn't you just have a large piece of the cycle-hoop left connected to the lock and bike? Arguably that would be theft from the local council, if you removed it (unless it's on a private location, and you have permission).
I looked closely at one of those a few years ago, and that one appeared to just have normal Allen-key fittings, which surprised me, but I'm prepared to accept that better fixings are also used.
Unless it's an exceptional D-Lock, a battery powered angle-grinder seems the obvious approach. My boss removed his D-Lock, when the lock barrel failed, with a lump hammer that he borrowed off of me. However, the lock was next to a convenient wall, which probably isn't the case with the Cycle-Hoop. I've experimented with my small Lidl angle-grinder, and it cut through a fairly random D-Lock in a few minutes.
Borrow an angle-grinder, wear safety goggles, carry ID, and take something to protect the bike from sparks thrown off of the cutting blade (I'd guess an old towel or newspapers would probably do the job). Spare blades and batteries are a good idea, in case you have problems or complexities. Some sort of locking tool, like mole-grips, would also probably be a good idea to hold the lock securely, without getting too close to a rapidly spinning blade!