Current Projects chat and miscellany

i.e. http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/stronglight-dural-110-pcd-5-arm-chainring-silver-prod24270/

Front would look better, rear would be more useful.
You can carry more weight on the back, the available racks are cheaper and plentiful, and less effect on steering.

You're right about the rear. But I think that for her purposes (market groceries, picnics, etc), a wald 137/139 might be more appropriate, especially considering the stability of the wide bars. The only issue is finding a silver one in the U.K!

I sympathise, finding UK goods over here for a good price is a challenge too.

Speak to Tokyo Fixed? they can get them in for you.

Cheers Ed

@whatok - Bike looks sweet. Are those the Velo Orange Tourist bars?

No, I can only deduce that they're made by 'acor'.. the model just says 'citybike'. I got them from BC and they had a good selection of swept bars.

I got them from BC

whoa, flashback to somewhere I used to work where everyone referred to eachother by their initials because everyone had the same name and BC was a total dick.

Loving the Concorde, but seriously wouldn't get a basket. Not on the front anyway.
I had one for a while last year, and it ruined the handling, faffed up removing the front wheel when I wanted to lock up, damaged my headset, rattled around like mad, and made my lunch jump out and land right in front of me when I hit a pot hole (ooouch!). Front or rear, your bag will get filthy if you don't have mudguards, and you'll have to cut and re-drill them for smaller frames because the struts aren't ajustable.

I gave up in the end and got panniers, which I have to say are a big improvement!
(Rubble sacks make them 100% waterproof, too)

Best solution would be a large saddlebag supported by a bagman rack.

I agree it does ruin the handling, especially on those thin walled race frame.

AngelD, The cheapest and easiest solution is to change the front chainring to something smaller like 48t or 47t without buying a new cassette.

Smaller big ring mean you'll spend more time on the middle of the cassette rather than the top three where the gap is wider, and will be able to use the 11t cog.

Yeah, that could work.

But I want as large a range as poss by means of the larger gap in the chainrings from 50-34t with about 35-40% overlap so I can use it for tarmac (50t) and tow paths (34t) with a margin for error either side, but no massive gaps in the cassette, if you see what I mean?

I don't have any issues paying £45 for a new cassette if it means greater usability.

But would like to know if there is much difference between the Shimano or SRAM cassettes at similar price range?

Best solution would be a large saddlebag supported by a bagman rack.

I agree it does ruin the handling, especially on those thin walled race frame.

^or this.
are bagmans the quick-release ones?

Hi
We stock those baskets already:
http://www.tokyofixed.co.uk/accessories/racks-baskets/front-basket-138.html
http://www.tokyofixed.co.uk/accessories/racks-baskets/front-basket-137.html

Woops!

The reason why I didn't consider the bagman is because I've found rear lights a bitch to mount effectively on saddlebags, and you can't just chuck stuff in them.

I think I'll give the basket a punt. If its a nightmare someone will take it off me for not much less.

Edit: gaz I woulda bought yours but you didn't mention any of those negative points in your listing! ;)

I don't have any issues paying £45 regularly for a new cassette if it means greater usability.

Fixed.

The reason I (and other) suggested going for the cheaper option is that replacing them won't be much of a annoyance when the time come (especially with the kind of riding you do/intend to do).

anyone have 1.2mm worth of 1" silver spacers?

Bagman is just the name of the saddle rack, so you can get one with a quick release.

whoa, flashback to somewhere I used to work where everyone referred to eachother by their initials because everyone had the same name and BC was a total dick.

Did you work here? ;)

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&docid=tU9Tg06Q1u5_sM&tbnid=GLXeiooO4Nqt6M:&ved=0CAUQjBwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.orangepower.com%2Fattachments%2F621-brool-story-co-telling-brool-stories-since-1939-jpg.15410%2F&ei=08lJUeDHD4XB0gXRz4CgAQ&psig=AFQjCNEO0fJhoz8NjX30SOMmN2r-GG6SFA&ust=1363876691337978

gaz I woulda bought yours but you didn't mention any of those negative points in your listing! ;)

well, y'know....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnErt_ff8-w

anyone have 1.2mm worth of 1" silver spacers?

I do, all yours if you want it.

^much appreciated, but There was a typo there!!

anyone have 1.2mm 12mm worth of 1" silver spacers?

I'm after 12mm, or 1.2cm, not 1.2mm :P

Fizik!

Y U NO SUPPLY WHITE PLUGS/FINISHING TAPE WITH WHITE BARTAPE?!

Fixed.

The reason I (and other) suggested going for the cheaper option is that replacing them won't be much of a annoyance when the time come (especially with the kind of riding you do/intend to do).

So the cheaper options is going for the 12-28t Tiagra cassette, or the 48t chainring?!

The ratios do look good on the CS-4600 cassette, only the SRAM PG 1070 12-26t comes close.

But would it not make sense to buy the higher quality components that will last longer and better?

48t (or whichever size pleased you) is the cheapest option, quick Google search show this to be the cheapest so far, so keep looking around.

The higher end component are lighter but doesn't necessary mean stronger, they'll wear out all the same, hence the suggestion of Tiagra/105.

Your 11-28 range is this;

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28t

Compare it to the 105 you wanted;

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27t

Tiagra;

12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28t

(bold show the difference).

Thanks Ed, been a big help, I think a Tiagra 12-28t is definitely in order.

The spread on them is really quite smooth with the progression in the last 5 sprockets much more usable which just so happens to look like it would work a lot better with the 50t ring I already have, but will keep my mind open and my eye on it, and decide whether a 48t is in order other next few weeks.

Definitely need the 34t ring, as the overlap on a 50t-36t is daft for tow path pootling.

edit: Mind you, the overlap means I might well be able to use the smaller ring in the middle of the cassette more...

Need to stop over thinking things and go for a ride! >_<