Any question answered...

The place I'm moving to has an outdoor velodrome 5 mins away. Rather than buy an expensive turbo trainer I'd like to use it for some structured training laps. I'd like some kind of arrangement for easily setting out training plans and following them.

I'm guessing some app, preferably with audio cues, and a HR monitor would be the best. Ability to track swimming & running also is a bonus. My phone is Android, any suggestions appreciated.

I am hoping to convert my single speed foldy bike to 1x7 gears (it is my most aesthetically undesirable, but seemingly most useful bike). It has served me well on and off for the last year. But the current gearing is cack, and the chainline is awful so it's noisy.

Decathlon already sell pretty much the same bike with 6 speeds, but I'd like to use 7 as I think it will give me a few more shifter and derailleur options to choose from...?

The frame already has the various bits and pieces needed for cable routing, plus a derailleur hanger. The rear wheel has a single sprocket screw on freewheel which can be removed, and, presumably a replacement block screwed back on in it's place.

TLDR / here's where I'm stuck :

will a 7 speed screw on freewheel fit the hub ok, bearing in mind OLD is 130mm. Or should I stick to a 6 speed (boo) setup much like the ones they already sell?

The place I'm moving to has an outdoor velodrome 5 mins away. Rather than buy an expensive turbo trainer I'd like to use it for some structured training laps. I'd like some kind of arrangement for easily setting out training plans and following them.

I'm guessing some app, preferably with audio cues, and a HR monitor would be the best. Ability to track swimming & running also is a bonus. My phone is Android, any suggestions appreciated.

The fact you also want swim & run tracking suggests a fancy Garmin Tri watch might be your best option. You can create workouts online (or within the watch) and then sync to use.

Which track will you be near to?

Maindy in Cardiff. Nice one, it occurred to me after posting that a Garmin could probably do it. I need a new GPS, but I'll check out the watches too.

I suspect a freewheel (6 or 7) will fit the hub but there could well be frame clearance issues.

When I converted a BMX to 1x5 (then 2x5, finally 3x5) it involved an axle spacer, dishing the wheel and cold setting the frame to prevent the chain catching the seat stay when in 'top' gear.

Sounds like a fun BMX! Was yours 120mm spaced? The reason I wonder if my foldy bike can manage a 6/7 is because the dropouts are spaced at 130mm. Or am I being daft?

Fenix 5 + watch does everything now - including mapping. Not sure if it’s the best multisport option though.

If my memory serves correctly, it was originally 110mm OLN and I set it to something around 125mm with a 5mm axle spacer NDS and 10mm on the drive side - including the NDS spacer was an attempt to avoid excessive dishing. I know I tried different approaches - before setting the frame I removed the smallest sprocket, and although the next (4th) sprocket didn't foul the stays, the chain did.
I could be wrong about the sizes - it was around five years ago and I've slept since then. Can you lay hands on the 6 speed from Decathlon and measure their hub?

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will a 7 speed screw on freewheel fit the hub ok, bearing in mind OLD is 130mm

Yes, but as Mr_E says you will probably have to swap spacers around and re-dish the wheel. Also, 7-speed freewheel hubs are a liability, as there is about a yard of unsupported axle between the dropout and drive side bearing. It would be much better to get a new cassette hub (Sora is fine if you're trying to keep the budget low), and that would also facilitate 8/9/10-speed which is even more flexible and future proof than 7-speed.

that's really handy to know - i'd completely overlooked the prospect of something with a road hub. i've found one prebuilt on ebay that uses a 130mm claris hub and it's relatively cheap. I also already have a spare cassette that could go on, so could potentially offset the cost of the wheel a little. i'm also a bit more confident I could get a quality 8 speed shifter and derailleur second hand (which would be future proof as you say) compared to the 6 speed stuff which is either new and looks fragile or second hand 'vintage'.

spoke to decathlon as per @Mr_E 's suggestion and they've confirmed my rear wheel and hub / spacing is exactly the same as their 6 speed stock model. so 6 speed would still be a fall back option.

time to make a handy spreadsheet and have a proper look. thank you both.

Looking at getting a new bike on cycle to work scheme, probably get a Genesis Day One, any suggestions on similar bikes for <£1000. Also spd pedals + shoes, complete newcomer to the idea as I've always had flats + straps.

Been looking on cycle republic as prices look half decent. TIA

Can anyone tell me how this Specialized steerer expander plug is supposed to work?

The flange at the top is part of the expanding sheath, and when I expand the plug in the steerer, it then sticks out beyond the edges of the top of the steerer tube, to the extent that a spacer no longer fits over it.

The instructions show it being installed without any spacer above the stem. It seems like even if I was doing that, the flange would dig into the walls of the stem clamp and prevent the stem being pressed down properly.

Does anyone have a clue?

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Does anyone have a clue?

Clearly Specialized don't. I'd suggest getting an alternative one which allows you to fit it properly.

Yes I'll just get another one. I would hardly feel happy with this thing even if I got it installed.

https://www.voilaz.com/products/zlite-cycling-bike-rear-light?variant=16309798895689

Light question, is this kinetic brake light thing useful? anyone has this light? comments? THX

Maindy in Cardiff. Nice one, it occurred to me after posting that a Garmin could probably do it. I need a new GPS, but I'll check out the watches too.

I've got a second hand Garmin Forerunner 920xt for sale here, just dropped price down to £100. No HR strap, slight scratch on screen (would probably polish out but can't guarantee that). Tri watch so it does swimming too.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/315233/

I have one, its great, bought on aliexpress for less than half of that

The ones I've messed with don't interfere with the spacers/stem, they are a dick to remove though without a little trick and something reasonable large, flat and with a hole in. Are the walls of your steerer particularly thin or designed for a specific bung?

We had a different but similar one hooked up to a dynamo on one of our work bikes, if you're looking for it you notice it but I can't see it being much more than a gimmick when most bike lights do some sort of combination of flash/pulse thing most of the time anyway.

Does it require a certain specialized Stem?

They're definitely thinner (2mm) than some I've seen. Hopefully that won't be a problem with a plug design where the top part doesn't expand

I have the stem it came with, but I don't think that could be it. I think snottyotter is right, it only works with steerers with thick enough walls

anyone hired a car in Iceland? Preferably a 4x4? any recommends?

@BRM?

I hired a ford kuga mini 4wd thing. It was plenty. There were loads of gravel roads but nothing we came across that it wouldn’t have handled

I’ll email you the bits we did that were cool

That's a pretty stupid design; Most expanding plugs I've seen have the flange as part of the upper wedge, not the sleeve.