Recent Posts

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Rides and Touring / Re: York Rally 21-23 June 2024
« Last post by mr ben on Today at 01:51:03 pm »
Geograph's picture of the day on farcebook was from the rally in 1962: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4308733
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The Pub / Re: What have you fettled today?
« Last post by LittleWheelsandBig on Today at 01:35:08 pm »
On the weekend, I knocked over most of the necessary work on my friend's Omega. The replacement rear wheel was properly dished and fitted with the garage stock chain and cassette and existing Marathon Plus. The rear derailleur was properly adjusted and the front derailleur was bodged. The chain has been rubbing on the cage in the middle ring and there is not much metal left, so it will need to be replaced soon. The rear brake pads were replaced from used garage stock but all the pads/ holders need to be replaced as the pad retention screws are corroded in place. A garage stock used front mudguard was fitted. The Brooks saddle tension nut a little tightened, which was much more trouble than you'd expect. Zip-tied the dynamo cable and adjusted both brakes’ worn pivots.

I still need to clean out the non-return valve on another friend's track pump after replacing the damaged chuck from garage stock.
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Further and Faster / Re: New bike for Audax from Halfords.
« Last post by arabella on Today at 01:31:47 pm »
On the subject of handlebars, I can say that I have done up to 600km with straight bars, albeit the allrounder type rather than completely flat which it looks like you have.  And along the way I put a bit of bar tape further in along the bar to get my hands closer together as a change and even rest my elbows on the actual handlebar grips (note particularly comfy but a change of position).  I did a number of years of touring on actual flat bars doing around 100km/day before I even got to audax.
TLDR: dont worry about the handlebars yet either. 

The 25km to a pub sounds like your best place to start, depending on how far you do generally go.
Get some nice padded gloves if you don't already have any.
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Health & Fitness / Re: Zoe
« Last post by Regulator on Today at 01:27:19 pm »
I did Zoe when it first came out and I still follow a Zoe-ish diet (lower carb, higher fibre, higher protein, good fats).

I found eating out OK, as long as I chose wisely.   Steak with lots of salad (and a really nice salad dressing) or fish with vegetables for example.
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The Pub / Re: Tune Association
« Last post by JefO on Today at 01:15:15 pm »
Sweet Sixteen - Billy Idol
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Gallery / Re: A bridge I cycled over...
« Last post by Little Jim on Today at 01:09:49 pm »
So I thought the Curly-Wurly bridge over the M4 on NCN45 between Chiseldon & Swindon,  deserved a bit of a mention for starters.   Not exactly elegant, but kind of fun, with the two turn spiral on the North side.  Been over it a few times, but know nothing about how old it is, and whether there are any other examples.  Anyone?

There is another one of those curly bridges on the M4 just west of Junction 12 at Reading.  We also rode down one in Vienna last year that had possibly 3 turns in it!  Would have been even better (faster!) if it did not have pedestrians on it as well.
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Rides and Touring / Re: Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series
« Last post by psyclist on Today at 12:58:52 pm »
Spiritual Home this week!

Yay ... I'm working at home on Thursday. Will be aiming to be at the Compasses for 8pm.
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Gallery / Re: A bridge I cycled over...
« Last post by andytheflyer on Today at 12:54:17 pm »
When I lived near Oswestry I regularly cycled the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct it has to be one of the scariest bridge rides.
I have enough difficulty walking over it!!
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Rides and Touring / Re: Carretera Austral - Patagonia
« Last post by Lightning Phil on Today at 12:52:32 pm »
Plumbing supplies and supermarkets for your padding, cardboard and gaffa tape etc.  allow a day or two to gather your materials. It will have to be El Calafate, not a lot at El Chalten, least there wasn’t 23 years ago.

You could also ask these guys for where to get packing materials for flight.

https://www.bicyclepatagonia.com/contact/
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Further and Faster / Re: New bike for Audax from Halfords.
« Last post by Blodwyn Pig on Today at 12:52:17 pm »
Hello.
I apologise for probably asking the same old question. I live in Gravesend in Kent UK. There’s a good Cycling club which I will apply to join once I have built up my strength and endurance. I’m fortunate to have a 2.5 Km cycle track locally. my question is I want to buy a bike suitable for Audax. The only local shop is Halfords. My question is which make and model bike should I consider buying. I have a Carrera Parva hybrid bike which I’ve had for five years. It lives outside and is ridden every day. I have a Brooks leather saddle on the shelf so I can overlook that component on my new purchase.

Hi there, might  ask which club you intend to join? Is it the Gravesend Cycling Club, which tend to be very much road/race orientated, or it the Gravesend section of the CTC (that was).  If the latter, then this club is less focused on speed, but does have quite a few riders who are well into the audax scene, and I'm sure the Hop garden Audax linked to above, is one of ours. Why not come along for a ride, we meet every Thursday evening, @ the cyclopark entrance, leaving at 7.30pm for a ride of approx 25km to a different pub every week. No one is left behind, and there will be a wealth of knowlege to tap into.  Friendly bunch, this week I believe we are going to the Kings Arms at Upnor. I also live in Gravesend, and hope to be out this week, Do come along and say Hi, you will be most welcome, Steve Dyer is our main man, might see you Thursday.
Having tried to entice you to come along, this doesn't quite answer your question. I might suggest, if you want to stay local for your purchase, there is Decathlon over the water @ Lakeside, and not forgetting Ribble have a fantastic shop at Bluewater, first floor,  and they  are bound to have something to your liking that is suitable. Or a little further afield there is Pearson cycles at Sutton, and Condor Cycles in London, a short train ride away.
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