Birmingham Trades & Sales

In the last year, I can honestly say I'd Rather have tackled hills fixed. I work better with one gear, and have ridden some long rides without even shifting gears...

Interesting...

You want broader range of gears, like mtb's have right?

Exactly the opposite to what Pistaboy is asking for!

Forum26, where you can't even sell stuff without it becoming a trainwreck argument.

Too true.

^ guru

I'll have the pedals please Mr Void if you don't mind waiting till next Sunday when i'm next about

I haven't forgotten about this but I'm not coming to polo today now, no point taking pics in the rain.
When shall we try again?

Ermmm, maybe we could use Danski as a 'mule' if that's more convenient (and agreeable)?
I'll give him the money today if you like.

I hope to be Polo'ing on Wednesday too if that helps. No rush on my part though.

I'll be at polo on Wednesday too, perfect.

cant do tomorrow,
next sat ok?

Sure, I'll PM you my mob.

Interesting...

Exactly the opposite to what Pistaboy is asking for!

Whats with the long rides without changing gear then?

I read it in another thread where you recommended wider spaced gears and it's valid but the way I read PB's post was that he doesn't change because he's happy in one gear, seems Dan read it the same way too. It's up to PB to clarify but it seems straightforward enough. I didn't say anything previously as I think you take me the wrong way and I didn't want you to get a nose bleed or something...

it's only the internet, it doesn't even exist never mind matter.

Slowpokes like me might do better with a triple, because often creep below 10mph on climbs. Pistaboy is a lot fitter than me though and would be fine on a double. Fitting mountain bike gears would give him loads of gears for climbing around 3-10mph, but he'd be spinning out around 30mph.

As a side point, people always moan that they 'need harder gears'. Cavendish reckoned he span out at 70mph in the tour of switzerland on 53/11. One of the few things average cyclists can emulate of the pros is their cadence. People need to pedal faster if they want to go faster.

From what i gathered, Pistaboy is mostly doing rides by himself. It must be pretty tough to cane it hard enough that you need to use all your gears when by yourself.

Im not a roadie, I dont really know f'all about this. Just sharing my experience as a fellow rider of SS bikes compared to road bikes. Ive never been able to beat my fixed/ss top speeds on a geared road bike. Riding through the city, shifting through 8-10 narrowly spaced cogs on a road cassette just seems a pain in the arse. Like pistaboy, SS+cranking your bodweight seems to work a lot better.

Yet on longer rides where stopping and starting isnt so much of an issue, and steeper long hills are to be found. I at least feel like I need a few ultra low gears to get up them, and yet just 2-3 higher gears for getting down or on the flat.

If there was someone there to race (even if it was a stopwatch), and I was conditioned well enough to not stop cranking hard for the duration of a ride (pistaboy probably can) like the way roadies ride moderately fast in groups, then send someone to sprint up front, I can see the point of narrow spaced gears, otherwise I cannot.

Sorry to interrupt the rutting here. Anyone got a crank extractor I can borrow s'il vous plait?
(preferably before Wednesday)

I have another 20" folding bike you can borrow. The only irritating thing about it is that is has mad rear suspension that bounces all over the place. Also, it has woods valves so tyres become deflated if not maintained.

But it has an excellent rear belt-brake, works as good (if not better) than a disc brake. Gears on it work well, 5 speed gripshift. You can borrow it, and if your mum likes it you can buy it off me.

cool sounds good to me. this means I'm out the lessismore's kingpin sale too.

cool sounds good to me. this means I'm out the lessismore's kingpin sale too.

I actually have wo bikes for you to try out. That folder, and a 24" wheeled MTB.

I actually think that a 24" MTB, even a basic one you can buy brand new for £80 or so, would be the ideal bike for your mum. You had a cheap MTb for ages didnt you? They make perfectly comfortable/durable bikes.

Sorry to interrupt the rutting here. Anyone got a crank extractor I can borrow s'il vous plait?
(preferably before Wednesday)

Yes, even have it out for no good reason, when, can you collect?

For Sale
(You'd think this is a for sale thread or something)
ITM Time Trial brake levers, used maybe once, pair £10?
Spec. interrupter brake levers, pair £10??? (I have no idea how much they cost new)

I can split them if you like.

Sorry to interrupt the rutting here. Anyone got a crank extractor I can borrow s'il vous plait?
(preferably before Wednesday)

Yeah i got one, Pick up any time except now... Im off out!

Tomorrow after 5? Got a wheel set to collect in Kings Heath so could pop over to either of you after?

Yes, even have it out for no good reason, when, can you collect?

For Sale
(You'd think this is a for sale thread or something)
ITM Time Trial brake levers, used maybe once, pair £10?
Spec. interrupter brake levers, pair £10??? (I have no idea how much they cost new)

I can split them if you like.

Dib's ITM levers. PM sent

ALSO WANTED:
brake for my polo bike...any suggestions? Putting the dia compe back on the surly.

Do you know the drop? I have those black tektro's off my plug if you want them.

Im not a roadie, I dont really know f'all about this.

Exactly.

I'm slow and average about 15mph on most local rides over one hour. However, probably 90% of my time is spent between 13 and 18mph. Cadence is crucial for road riding, so close-ratio gears are designed to keep you at 90ish rpm. Changing gear is not hard when you have a modern bike with STIs and are even halfway competent. It's not even something I do consciously, but I probably do it every 30 seconds or so on a road ride.

A compact will take you from about 8mph to 35mph at 100rpm in my experience. If you need more than that get a road triple, but keep your close ratio cassette, because the better you get, the more you use your gears. An mtb gear system would have massive annoying gaps right in that 13-18mph section.

I'm done with this stupid debate now.

WTD: After WTB Dirt Drops or On-One Midge Bars.....Anyone?

Do you know the drop? I have those black tektro's off my plug if you want them.

A bike very similar to the white beater. Not the white beater though of course...

^ Cryptic. I don't understand!

CLUE: It is the white beater...I just don't want to admit it.

Oh right. You don't want to admit you're turning the white beater, the bike I once prized above all other bikes... the bike that got me through tough times... the bike that never let me down (except for that one time)... the bike...

You get the picture.

I was due to end up as my polo bike if I actually got around to giving it a go :)