Search found 197 matches

by Hamish
Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:16 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...
Replies: 952
Views: 115697

Re: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...

My feeling is that it is a bit different to the Kona and most other new hardtails in that the seat angle is a more traditional 73 degrees. The Big Bro is similar but that has a shorter more Ogre like geo. Most other frames are much steeper now. I tend to prefer a slacker seat tube so this bike looks...
by Hamish
Sat Dec 30, 2023 8:20 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Find yourself a Fogou.
Replies: 10
Views: 777

Re: Find yourself a Fogou.

A friend used to live next door to this place. It was really interesting and cool both metaphorically and literally. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/halliggye-fogou/history/ From memory you could kip in it… but it was close to some cottages on an estate that quite a lot of people vi...
by Hamish
Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:34 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Sleeper Train Question
Replies: 9
Views: 1381

Re: Sleeper Train Question

I am not sure it is always easy to get from the seated carriage into the rest of the train… you have to get into and beyond the dining car. Seated passengers aren’t normally given access to the dining car… I may be wrong though. Also… cheaper to get three seats. Get a two+together rail card for two ...
by Hamish
Mon Jul 03, 2023 10:37 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Caledonian Sleeper
Replies: 20
Views: 1154

Re: Caledonian Sleeper

I must admit that the new seats aren’t as easy to sleep in as the old ones; but I do manage to sleep on the train quite well. I wake up a fair bit but in between I definitely sleep enough to feel reasonable at the end of the journey. Having something like a coat or sleeping bag to lean on is definit...
by Hamish
Sun Jul 02, 2023 11:33 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bargain Alert Thread
Replies: 4900
Views: 1191836

Re: Bargain Alert Thread

SRAM 12 speed (the HG ones) cassettes for £25 in Wiggle/CRC https://www.wiggle.com/p/sram-pg-1210-eagle-12-speed-cassette?utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=base&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwISlBhD6ARIsAESAmp7nU_okGcqdlpniYd0uMGz5T7yyVh86ug8INzEGQMLYQ9rf2iL5sOYaAriLEALw_wcB&g...
by Hamish
Mon Apr 17, 2023 10:34 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Who actually uses a guide book…?
Replies: 29
Views: 1514

Re: Who actually uses a guide book…?

I’m no good at following routes because I like to spontaneously deviate or change my mind. I could never do an ITT for that reason… so guide books are kind of something to look at when planning a route to get a general idea of what’s out there or for a bit of inspiration to get going. Not about cycl...
by Hamish
Mon Apr 17, 2023 9:50 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Raised Reversed Stem
Replies: 18
Views: 1131

Re: Raised Reversed Stem

Perhaps it's just old folks with loss of functional fitness/strength, riding tame terrain, wishing they had the sitting position equal to that on a penny farthing. Perhaps all the "modern" (well, they've been here for 10 years) MTB geometries and bikes simply aren't thought to be made for...
by Hamish
Sat Apr 15, 2023 9:00 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Raised Reversed Stem
Replies: 18
Views: 1131

Re: Raised Reversed Stem

What I'm getting here is that it's a solution to a problem caused by the drive towards ever longer / slacker frames. I wonder how it would make a bike that's more 'normal' behave? I'm sure some people will no doubt see it as an 'upgrade' and it will find its way onto bikes with numbers that don't r...
by Hamish
Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:09 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Neoair users
Replies: 18
Views: 969

Re: Neoair users

I have one of the Neoair mats that had a wide opening you blow into and then roll to seal like a dry bag. They seem to have stopped making them. Anyway, they were designed to be inflated by mouth so I have always assumed Thermorest thought that it was ok to blow them up with your lungs. The problem ...
by Hamish
Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:04 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bargain Alert Thread
Replies: 4900
Views: 1191836

Re: Bargain Alert Thread

I saw on STW that the owner of superstar will keep supporting spares (he posted himself) and it's just the wheel part of the business he's shutting down, apparently the wheel building machine was bought by sounder. Anyway, should hopefully be spares for a good while, fingers crossed! Thanks. That’s...
by Hamish
Sun Jan 01, 2023 9:27 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bargain Alert Thread
Replies: 4900
Views: 1191836

Re: Bargain Alert Thread

I caved in and got a decent boost 29er set for 92 quid delivered, superb. Gives me an excuse to move on some older wheels not used anymore
Me too. I bought a pair of wheels for a bike I don’t even have (yet)! Third set of superstar wheels. I hope they keep making spared for the hubs!?
by Hamish
Sat Dec 03, 2022 8:49 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: How long does a drivetrain last ??
Replies: 12
Views: 677

Re: How long does a drivetrain last ??

As a final word the quality of KMC 12 speed chains is atrocious
:sad: I've just bought a KMC X12 for my full-sus - first time I've replaced that chain. KMC chains on all my other bikes.
I have found KMC 10 speed chains to be excellent - not tried the 12 speed
by Hamish
Fri Nov 11, 2022 9:08 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: What do you cook and what on when out bikepacking
Replies: 49
Views: 2299

Re: What do you cook and what on when out bikepacking

If I’m not worrying about weight I take rice (often microwave rice that only required a couple of mins boiling). Chuck in a curry sauce mix of some kind: usually Spice Tailor and a tin of mackerel or sardines. You can prepare this really quickly and I think it tastes great! The only problem is that ...
by Hamish
Thu Nov 10, 2022 12:06 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: what is a bikepacking bike?
Replies: 68
Views: 2899

Re: what is a bikepacking bike?

Dunno about what is 'A' bike packing bike but a rigid 29+ is a brilliant bikepacking bike. Or even a brilliant bike. *sigh* I agree. People say a 29 x 2.6 is just as good but I don’t find that to be the case for general bikepacking. I don’t find 2.6 any faster and they don’t have the same rollover ...
by Hamish
Wed Nov 09, 2022 8:00 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: what is a bikepacking bike?
Replies: 68
Views: 2899

Re: what is a bikepacking bike?

Hamish wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 10:49 pm Kind of… but the ECR is still an outlier with its low BB and non sus corrected geometry. I think it’s a good bike and was built specifically for bikepacking. If I was ordering a bikepacking bike from you I may well ask for a lighter ECR type bike with a slig...
by Hamish
Tue Nov 08, 2022 10:49 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: what is a bikepacking bike?
Replies: 68
Views: 2899

Re: what is a bikepacking bike?

However I try to avoid it… most of my bikes seem to coalesce around some kind of heavy duty rigid mountain bike thing… I have a Longitude, an ECR and a Pugsley; I think they are all bikepacking bikes. I also have a Tour de Fer which I think is a touring bike and not a bikepacking bike. In other word...
by Hamish
Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:26 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Route advice near Elan Valley
Replies: 5
Views: 412

Re: Route advice near Elan Valley

I have ridden it on a Thorn touring bike years ago and it was fine. A bit rutted and boggy in bits… but fine… but it was a while ago. It was much better than bit of the B 4358 race track that we rode afterwards.
by Hamish
Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:53 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: Parking in Abergavenny
Replies: 8
Views: 795

Re: Parking in Abergavenny

There is a long stay at the station which I have used. I don’t object to paying for parking as parking a car is often burdensome for residents.
by Hamish
Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:19 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...
Replies: 952
Views: 115697

Re: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...

As far as I can see the clip it butts up again the saddle rails in a slight channel. aApair of J shaped clips pull in opposition, hooking this into the saddle rails. If a hook breaks- it all fails.. call me cynical... :roll: I guess that if a hook breaks you have to strap it to the seat rails like ...
by Hamish
Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:45 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: Bearfoot cycling shoes: such a thing?
Replies: 40
Views: 2817

Re: Bearfoot cycling shoes: such a thing?

I have really smooth flat pedals on my Tern GSD which I use for a lot of my ‘utility’ riding about. In the summer I often ride it barefoot (yes I know that’s stupid). It is generally quite comfortable but after a while (30 milesish) my arches do begin to ache as do my calves from time to time. If yo...
by Hamish
Sun Feb 20, 2022 1:37 am
Forum: General banter
Topic: North York Moors
Replies: 11
Views: 1025

Re: North York Moors

I really enjoyed the piece. It’s a long way from me but made me want to visit and do the ride. Great photos and description. Thanks.
by Hamish
Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:13 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...
Replies: 952
Views: 115697

Re: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...

And now the GG page seems to have disappeared!
by Hamish
Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:03 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...
Replies: 952
Views: 115697

Re: New Bike Gear Out And Due Out...

Is this the mythical Ghost Grappler?
It appears to be out… https://surlybikes.com/bikes/ghost_grappler
by Hamish
Sun Feb 13, 2022 10:06 pm
Forum: General banter
Topic: more pressure on Welsh bivvy spots?
Replies: 11
Views: 1130

Re: more pressure on Welsh bivvy spots?

The Gower AONB forum (which acts as an advisory steering group for the management of the AONB) is looking at the impact of the increased visitor pressure experienced since COVID. On the list of issues is what is variously described as wild/fly/dirty camping. It’s not an easy discussion. I guess for ...