Recent Posts

1

Rides and Touring / Re: Have you been out today?

« Last post by T42 on Today at 03:31:19 pm »

50k on the newly-motorized Domane. Loaded for a day ride, but too knackered from 2 days' intensive work on bike transferring motor from eBrute. Bike nae bad, but noticeably less comfy than the eBrute.  Like the eBrute, it needs a shorter stem.  Legs not recovered from doing only 50k rides since mid-March; need to do a decent distance to wake them up.  Getting old is crap. Doesn't do your mood any good, either.

2

Audax / Re: Tribute Audax: 200, 100 and 50km rides from Reading on 27 Apr 2024

« Last post by MattH on Today at 03:31:03 pm »

Broke my nearly 11 years Audax fast by doing the 50 with MrsH - her first ever. Chose this one as it's quite local, and an easy way in to showing her the ropes before doing anything longer. The 58k was by a tiny margin her longest ride so far.

Good day out, the weather held off, the roads were good to ride on (some in a gravely version of good), and the curry at the end was excellent. Got to see Richard Phipps too, for the first time well over a decade (spent ages thinking "I'm sure I know him..."). Now to choose a 100 to do.

3

OT Knowledge / Re: Soil pipe joint

« Last post by rogerzilla on Today at 03:23:52 pm »

The new pipe is chamfered - it's a white one from Wickes with a chamfer on one end and a ring seal socket on the other to take the swan neck 90 deg Multikwik adaptor from the pan.  It should be just the right length, either by luck or by housebuilder's design.

4

Further and Faster / Re: New bike for Audax from Halfords.

« Last post by Delidroid on Today at 03:23:27 pm »

To the OP.  Might I ask some personal questions about you, ie M/F, height , approx weight , and general fitness level, and personal comfort / experience around cars on the road/ road riding in general.  I hope not to appear rude, but it will give the panel a better understanding of your needs. ie, if you are a 4’10” and extremely overweight female, who is terrified of traffic, then there is much work to do before  you consider n+1, even then, I believe female specific bikes are shorter, ( but may be wrong), so finding a suitable bike will be the quest. However if you are avg height/ build, and comfortable in traffic, then less of a problem. As I said, I am NOT being rude, or sexist, or anything other than helpful.

Hello Blodwyn.
Here's my spec. I'm a Man. 5'9". 60 years old about 14 1/2 Stone. I have a full Car and Motorcycle License. I want to build a certain level of fitness so that I'm not the fat git at the back holding everyone up.
I thought the average speed for Audax was 15 Kmh Which is what I gleaned from reading posts on here. but someone just said it's 25 Kmh.

If I may, I'll contact You and Kim directly when I have ridden a bit further and faster.

5

On The Road / Re: On the commute today

« Last post by HTFB on Today at 03:22:21 pm »

My front brake pad disintegrated outside Parliament. I saw it dislodge and hoped it would be rescuable, Looking for a 2cm grey roundish pad on a road surfaced with 2cm roundish chippings is a particularly frustrating Where's Wally.

The braking material had come right off the metal backing plate. I am very glad this was by Parliament and not on, say, Parliament Hill.

And the same thing happened to the rear pads on Tuesday, just 12 days later!

Possibly I changed both front and rear at the same time, a year or so ago. They were less than half worn. Very odd to find the same failure mode striking twice at once. Explanations welcomed.

6

Further and Faster / Re: New bike for Audax from Halfords.

« Last post by quixoticgeek on Today at 03:09:08 pm »

a person can ride anything pretty much anywhere with training.  What the majority of people cannot do is go from 3km to 100km without training.  It is never about the bike.

Almost everyone can ride 100km. They just won't be quick. And it won't be fun.

J

7

The Knowledge / Re: Bikepacking Bags - what's your favourite/hated and why?

« Last post by perdido on Today at 02:54:23 pm »

Hey folks,

After a very long absence from the road, I have just brought a gravel bike for some audaxy stuff, touring stuff and general gentle miles.

I am planning to get some nice matchymatchy bikepacking luggage to go with it but I am looking for opinions. Alpkit would have always been my go to, but I am not happy with them and their customer service (which means they have lost out on both a gravel bike sale, and selling me a lot of luggage to go with it)

So I am looking for alternatives. Currently Ortleib are at the top of my list, but I am open to other suggestions. Things have moved on so much since I last purchased luggage, I literally don't know where to start!

So what do you use, and why? Can you convince me to return to Alpkit and replace my alpkit seat bag and frame bag, both of which have worn through with the use they have had.

I don't have a matching set on my bike, but I can say that tailfin bolt on top tube bag is great. Their smallest, zippered bag is great, does not sway, waterproof and my knees don't rub it.
I'm also liking Carradice's Colorado bikepacking bag. It uses a small rack that clamps to seat rails, much like their bagman racks.
It doesn't sway, and contents don't need to be strapped tightly to prevent sway. It is very fast to remove or put on the bike.
So far only one trip with it, but liking it and not too expensive compared to Apidura et al.

I also use an older Alpkit half frame bag that I don't love but does the job.

Enviado desde mi SM-A536B mediante Tapatalk

8

OT Knowledge / Re: Soil pipe joint

« Last post by Von Broad on Today at 02:50:13 pm »

The word is that these often leak if disturbed after many years, so that brings me back to my original question - is there any way to renew the rubber ring seal in these?

Personally, I'd be pretty confident that [with some silicone spray] the existing soil pipe with come out [gently twist first] without issue and a new one with go in just fine and dandy.
Most important thing is to make sure your new length of soil pipe has a chamfer on it, and not a newly sawn edge so not to potentially damage the rubber seal. Again, plenty of washing-up liquid silicone on there and you'll be good to go....in a manner of speaking!

edit: opps sorry, didn't read Robgul's reply before posting....no harm in repetition sometimes!

9

The Pub / Re: The "I'm Such a Fecking Div" Thread

« Last post by mrcharly-YHT on Today at 02:38:46 pm »

Heating oil tank has run empty.

About two weeks ago it vaguely crossed my mind that I should check the level (the only way is by using a dipstick).

Won't be able to order any until Mon, so we have at least 3 days with no heating. MrsC will not be pleased.

10

The Pub / Re: Heating on?

« Last post by toontra on Today at 02:33:00 pm »

Now it is April the heating is off until late October.   I have TOG 4.5 Duvet on my bed.  I am wearing shorts and T-shirt. If I go out I will wear a little more but still shorts.

How's that going?