Any question answered...

Has anyone tried a Columbus futura SL fork? It says 28c max, just wondering if anyone has tried a 32?

Ultimately looking for a carbon, rim brake, 1 1/8 straight steerer fork with clearance for a 32 that isn’t the silly expensive whisky.

I tried a gravek king 32mm on my columbus futura and it touched in some spot because the wheel wasn't perfectly true. I would say that even with a perfect wheel it's really tight.

Thanks for that, exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Whisky $$$$ fork here I come.

Not sure if @Harry.Major of http://wizard.works fame does custom stuff like this?

Looks promising, thanks. I'll drop him a line.

Is there somewhere in the UK or Europe where I can have a go on a hydrofoil bike?

What are the little brake pad stopper things for caliper brakes called? The lad backers that give you a few mm extra drop on a standard brake:

Drop bolts?

Offset holders?
https://bdopcycling.com/brake-pads-and-holders/

What's it like riding a bike with a small child in a child seat on the back ? I'd have though it would feel a bit dodgy if the kid starts squirming around.

We have a 2.5 year old staying with us ATM, and we're trying to choose between child seat and trailer for transporting him by bike.

It feels weird to begin with, is harder to keep a straight line at low speeds, but once you're up and running it's just riding a bike with occasional, and unexpected, minor steering inputs.

And unexpected wheelies when getting on and off the bike :)

If you go for the rear rack, practice with a large sack of compost first...

What's it like riding a bike with a small child in a child seat on the back ?

How bad can it be? Millions of mums have managed it just fine over the last century. OK, I did get dropped once at age 4 due to an ambitious turn into a gravel drive, but no harm done and modern bikes and child seats on modern tyres would probably have handled it anyway.

I find the getting on and off the bike by far the hardest part.

It's also worth dropping your saddle height until you've gained confidence. Being able to get a foot down with some of your weight on the saddle reduces the tendency for the bike to twist under you. Also if you're stopping for lights/junctions, rather than track stand, look for a convenient kerbstone to put your foot on.

Want to put a BB mounted chain tensioner on my bike. It's got a 68mm shell & I have a 68mm GXP BB & crank that doesn't need any spacers.

Will I get away with the extra 2.5mm on the DS, or will there not be enough spindle on the other side?

What is the least shit suspension fork I can buy with the following specifications:

Steel steerer
1 1/8
V brake mounts
At least 100mm of travel
26” (not a deal breaker if 27.5 or 29”)

big apple

Will I get away with the extra 2.5mm on the DS

No. The way GXP works, everything is referenced from the NDS cup. Once assembled, there isn't 2.5mm of axle between the outside of the DS cup and the back of the DS crank.

Steel steerer
1 1/8
V brake mounts
At least 100mm of travel
26”

Probably a Rock Shox Recon Silver TK, although you might struggle to find the combination of steel steerer and V-brakes unless you're an OEM buying a few hundred. Bike24 have one with an aluminium steerer

Something by Suntour maybe? Have a look on Tredz.

Thanks both

Cross post from Home DIY:

Types of plastic/acrylic/perspexy materials:

What is the lightest weight and strongest / least likely to flex/warp?

What is not stupidly expensive and easy to order more of in the UK to the same spec (4x4 and 8x8 sheets with clean edges - or if the edges are rough they can be polished/sanded down by me)?

What can I screw into so it has a metal frame of some kind?

What would glue well to ply (so I could glue a sheet of ply to one side and the metal frame screwed into the other) and not peel away over time despite exposure to extreme heat and potentially bumps?

Lexan for impact resistance, machinable, but not cheap.