• The post man's been ...

Posted: **Mon Apr 12, 2021 8:02 am**

New chain and tyres to resurrect the Stooge from it’s winter hibernation.

Also splashed out on some Aiguille Alpine frame wedges and handlebar/contour bag.

Posted: **Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:11 am**

TheBrownDog wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 1:37 pm
Scattamah wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:18 am Working too much...decided it was time for a treat...
Ooooooooooooooooooooooh those are just lovely. Ride report ASAP please.

Yeah...they're well plush. Going from 680 to 760 makes a big difference for me. Yet to dodge sticks with 'em where you have to adjust for being a bit wider, but a quick spin around the block and I'm a happy upgrader.

Greetz

S.

Posted: **Mon Apr 12, 2021 5:30 pm**

And brought me a pair of Shimano MW7 boots. These are to replace my 12-year old MW80s which are now beginning to suffer. I managed to get them off Wiggles Ebay store, "only" £109, but with a plan to bring them into use towards the end of the year. However, as we've had lows of -9C this week, they might get an early baptism!

Posted: **Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:59 pm**

One Exposure MaxxD as I’ve just done my first group night ride since it’s been allowed again and my old MTB Batteries battery has clearly seen better days. I would have been happy to replace like with like but I recently got a cheap Joystick and have become a bit of an Exposure convert.

One Stans Arch Mk3 to replace a horribly dinged rear rim on my Smuggler.

Two bearings to replace those in the Specialized hub on my Stooge SS. Tsk, only got 16 years’ service out of the originals.

Various bottles and sachets of suspension oil. It’s service time.

Posted: **Tue Apr 13, 2021 6:52 am**

TheBrownDog wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:37 pm A Sturmey Archer 5-spd hub, a pile of very short spokes, nipples and a wee little rim. Soon to be a new rear wheel for my Brompton. It's been a long time since I spent two days hunched over a mangled pile of wheel gubbins, hands cramping, covered in sweat, swearing at the dog and questioning my sanity. There goes my weekend.

Squorx nipples are the answer, I have the t bar and also the adjustable release nipple driver. I set it up to compensate for any variation in ideal spoke length and then used a bit driver to tighten. The release is so consistent with it the wheel comes out spot on.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:23 am**

I don't really build wheels often enough to have ever considered specialist tools but having done a little research of all that i wish I'd done so earlier. It all came together well enough with a flat bladed screwdriver and old spoke tool. Dish is good and it's nice and round but I'm still pissing around with trueing. I've got it jammed into the rear drop outs of an old frame upside down on my work stand, with two cut off zip ties as guides. The spirit of Heath Robinson inhabits my backroom. Next time, it'll be different.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am**

Impressed that you're even having a go Tim. Dark art.

Actually, I had you down as more of a Rowland Emett type of character

.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 9:00 am**

Adjustable nipple driver and electric screwdriver are my choice too.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 10:09 am**

Today's delivery from Ultralight Outdoor Gear..

A pair of OMM gloves for Spring/Autumn running (likely they'll live in my running vest all year too).

A lightweight Montane cap to keep the sun off my fivehead.

Polycro footprint for my Lunar Solo. I have the one with the lightweight groundsheet and it has a couple of pinprick holes in it.

My mini buying spree should be ending soon as Covid restrictions are lifted and we once again start spending money in cafes, pubs and restaurants instead.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:30 am**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am Dark art.

People always say this about wheelbuilding. Is it something professional wheelbuilders spread to protect their business? It takes a bit of time and fingers not made entirely of butter, but if you get a good guide (hello Roger Musson) and follow it carefully, it's really quite straightforward. Ruled entirely by physics, no magic involved.

My nipple driver is just an old flat screwdriver bit with the corners filed off. Works well enough for me (no pro, but built at least three wheelsets).

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 1:06 pm**

thenorthwind wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:30 am
RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am Dark art.
fingers not made entirely of butter

Ah.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:09 pm**

Just going out the door to the station when postie comes with new helmet to replace life-expired HardNutz one. Bargain £19 from Field & Trek - "MuddyFox". Probably last ten minutes at that price.

Edit: curiously it looks exactly the same as the HardNutz one. Hmm.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:10 pm**

New custom framebag from Wee Cog just turned up

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:30 pm**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:09 pm Just going out the door to the station when postie comes with new helmet to replace life-expired HardNutz one. Bargain £19 from Field & Trek - "MuddyFox". Probably last ten minutes at that price.

Edit: curiously it looks exactly the same as the HardNutz one. Hmm.

Oh, arse. I've spotted inside the helmet that it's a SportsDirect job. It's also far too small, so that's going back.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:46 pm**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 1:06 pm
thenorthwind wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:30 am
RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am Dark art.
fingers not made entirely of butter
Ah.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 3:18 pm**

techno beer Thanks!!

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:16 pm**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:30 pm
RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:09 pm Bargain £19 from Field & Trek - "MuddyFox". Probably last ten minutes at that price.
..... . It's also far too small, so that's going back.
10% off also included internal dimension. oh pants!
edit: buyer beware...

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:17 pm**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:30 pm
RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:09 pm Bargain £19 from Field & Trek - "MuddyFox". Probably last ten minutes at that price.
..... . It's also far too small, so that's going back.
10% off also included internal dimension. oh pants!

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:25 pm**

thenorthwind wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:30 am
RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am Dark art.
People always say this about wheelbuilding. Is it something professional wheelbuilders spread to protect their business? It takes a bit of time and fingers not made entirely of butter, but if you get a good guide (hello Roger Musson) and follow it carefully, it's really quite straightforward. Ruled entirely by physics, no magic involved.

My nipple driver is just an old flat screwdriver bit with the corners filed off. Works well enough for me (no pro, but built at least three wheelsets).

Rodger Musson nipple tool is brilliant. The way it sets all the nipples at the same position on thd spoke is brilliantly simple. it simplified the first step of building a wheel so it starts round and loosely but evenly tensioned.. unicor makes one at a price I fettled one up in the shakin shed as my wife christened it the other night after freeing up old gate hinges...M20 thread, 30mm nuts and copious swearing..
Edit : ahmm typo, copious sweating.

Posted: **Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:38 pm**

thenorthwind wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:30 am
RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am Dark art.
People always say this about wheelbuilding. Is it something professional wheelbuilders spread to protect their business? It takes a bit of time and fingers not made entirely of butter, but if you get a good guide (hello Roger Musson) and follow it carefully, it's really quite straightforward. Ruled entirely by physics, no magic involved.

My nipple driver is just an old flat screwdriver bit with the corners filed off. Works well enough for me (no pro, but built at least three wheelsets).

Rodger Musson nipple tool is brilliant. The way it sets all the nipples at the same position on thd spoke is brilliantly simple. it simplified the first step of building a wheel so it starts round and loosely but evenly tensioned.. unicor makes one at a price I fettled one up in the shakin shed as my wife christened it the other night *

cranked screwdriver, with slotted end to engages in standard slotted nipple. the extended pin push the slotted driver out of the slot when the nipple is almost thread down to the end, less pin length..

after freeing up old wrought gate hinges...M20 thread bar, 30mm nuts and copious swearing..
Edit : ahmm typo, copious sweating.

Posted: **Thu Apr 15, 2021 6:54 am**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:27 am Impressed that you're even having a go Tim. Dark art.

You should have a go Chris, admittedly I only did after the winter Bivvy debacle when I found out the Broadrib cycles in Banbury are absolutely sub standard.
It’s not a dark art at all. The last wheel I built was with squorx nipples which made the job much easier, built it in the rear triangle with pegs on the stays as truing aids, couple of glasses and a stack of coins as a dishing gauge. Still true and tight.

Posted: **Thu Apr 15, 2021 1:38 pm**

I gave AlasdairMc’s Singular Swift a new home.

Sat eagerly refreshing the tracking code on Tue morning only to say it was sat in the Edinburgh depot. Popped to the shops for an hour at 11am, when I got back it was sat in my hallway.

Posted: **Thu Apr 15, 2021 2:10 pm**

Nice bike

A Garmin HRM Dual because it seems I'm such a sweaty git the optical wrist sensor on the watch gets overwhelmed at times (particularly on the rower / sufferfest).

Why I want to know I'm about to explode I'm not sure

Posted: **Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:28 am**

a few goodies from the Joe's shop.

the piezo lighter has a stronger spark than an old fag lighter.
blimey that stoves is small & compact......and so light 1oz/25g to boot..
now if they could make a titanium gas cylinder...

under 40g at least!

Posted: **Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:51 pm**

...surprising me today. Sub 5 days from the US to Oz for UPS. Maybe things are improving from the 3-6 weeks they were a few months back. Anyways...postie dropped me this to go with the No9's. 100AUD cheaper than the local distributors are trying to flog 'em for.

: postie_160421.jpg (97.88 KiB) Viewed 2138 times

Now I just gotta unglue myself from work long enough to install it.

Greetz

S.

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