I find narrowboats generally dull but that was always a fun day out. Yes agreed -and i own one! There are som eancient old diesel engines with heat rails heavy fly wheels and low revving that are almost interesting - its impressive to see a coin balanced on a 100 year old running engine - for at le...

Enjoyed that too Sean, interesting pics...have you ever bivvied in one? I briefly thought about my local ones (tons of them as i'm on an old 'stop 'line'), but plenty look like they have been - at best - pissed in by people drinking cider.

I liked it too, because it was different and the message was good and i liked the style. The method of tongue-in-cheek worked well I've been to Slovenia (not on the bike) and it looks amazing for riding - and it's very beautiful.

Sounds interesting - but to help you scratch that itch, i'd probably prefer 30-35mm, 40mm max i think so nice as it sounds, I think you better get a front wheel!

After a 29 rear wheel ideally 30mm+ wide, Non-boost, preferably QR or 142x12 (or easily convertible from 142 to QR), shimano freehub. Current wheel is fine but a bit chunky (xt756 rear hub) and rim is painted, so after something a bit lighter and fairly good shape. Not at all urgent, just keen to ke...

Agreed, the Scrambler looks really cool, the colours are brilliant too. When I first saw it I was tempted to go for it, but I have a cool bike in a really nice colour, with fairly similar geo, so there's no real need for me...and no time either with a little 'un. The riverside 920 is going all in wi...

I don't need it, but the decathlon bike looks pretty good. Not sure what the geo is like, but the spec is well thought out (although not heard many good things about DUB BBs) and it's ready to go on a wide variety of trips. Great value too for all that.

All those abandoned airfields sounds really interesting, there's something about the tangible historical feel of the places. My folks live near Tarrant Rushton airfield in Dorset, and it's good to cycle through and along the old taxiways. The old (and large) war era hangers are just used for farm ma...

Stonking effort! I like it that he did day 1 51km in 2hrs 48mins He's a talented rider though, and saw that he had a lauf fork so that probably made it a bit better feeling than a rigid gravel bike

Not quite sure how to tell, but the US ones are more custom I think. Maybe it just has a 'handmade in the USA' sticker?! Merlin ones were mass produced in taiwan under license - but I loved how mine rode, it's pure nostalgia wanting to fix it and ride it again! Thanks for the other tips, i did wonde...

Easily repairable, but as you say, maybe not worth spending money getting it done professionally. The options are: - replace the chain stay - probably a professional job unless you're quite adept with a brazing torch or welder - bend the chain stay back so it's straight and live with the dent (coul...

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:32 pm

If it's a US Rock Lobster I'd consider having a new stay fitted. If it's Merlin, I'd not bother because it won't be a cheap repair.

Merlin one!

Sorry for the poor quality photos, they are 8 years old...I'm wondering if this is repairable with some rolling out or other fix? Would a frame repair place do it? It's not worth the cost to replace the chainstay. The frame is a 2004 rock lobster 853, but the rear triangle is fairly standard cro-mo....

I've used some On-One OG bars upside down, and they felt pretty good. Possibly going to try it again soon, and they're a decent width and price at the moment...

That Ibis looks great! :-bd Gives me an idea for my old rock lobster frame... ZeroDarkBivi - sounds like you've got a bit of a mash of bits that it might not be that cheap to resolve into what you want. See if you can get some compatible calipers 2nd hand maybe? You should be able to get a SRAM mech...

Victor Vulcan and Valiant

Not as much of interest around me, though lots of Apache helicopters from Middle Wallop, and Chinooks from Odiham...

I'm no front mech jedi by any means, but looks like the high limit screw needs reining in...don't think it should sit that far out once big ring is selected. It should nudge it on and settle back a touch, no? Is the mech a bit high too, can't tell from photo though...?

I had a stupid idea while out riding this evening, so I thought I’d share it here and possibly bring it closer to happening. :-bd I was looking up through the branches of a sturdy oak and I thought ... wouldn’t it be great to spend the night sleeping up there. Right up in the high branches. So, has...

Finnish is a tough language to get your head round, but I think over 60% speak English as a second language well enough to have a conversation, and younger people especially will likely speak it better than you. That's way more than you'd experience in France or other European countries...but as you...

Done too, awful things. Cause of recent fire in Wareham forest. They are either littered or cause fires...

I think the TRP RRLs are nice too, often thought of building a bike based on them! But i dislike cable discs so i won't. Other options are Tektro RL520, £20. Assuming the BB7 is the road version. There's a good selection here: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-levers-drop/ Best ones I used were Cane...

Think it'll only feel faster if it's a tan wall barrow tyre. That's what all the #barrow@nkers have...

Had a very similar thing recently and it was an incorrect end cap on the disc side. Luckily I had a spare that did the job perfectly but it was obviously a different cap. If it's not the fork , and the other wheel fits, then maybe it has the wrong end caps on both sides? Maybe it fitted another fork...

The latter in particular looks like the unwanted lovechild of a bike and a lawn strimmer. Yup, or this... https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FFlymo-GardenVac-2700-4-Collection%2Fdp%2FB074H7YHNL&psig=AOvVaw1R3eI-9RpqPxi367RxxAy3&ust=1590679382108000&source=images&cd=...

couple of days ago, my order from Wildcat arrived (very swiftly), with a Dr Jon G-Funk bundle. Have to say it's a tidy set-up, and the discount code from the other thread was spot on!