Any question answered...

Hi,

Can someone suggest the best frame saver spray for use inside a steel frame?

I'm pretty fond of my current bike, and would like it to last as long as possible

+gbj_tester I'm thinking of running a GRX FD with a 2x MTB (73mm) crankset, should work right?

I've managed it with a Tiagra mech on XT chainset (ended up using a Jtek offset shim), so I reckon GRX should stretch.

I need to plug my MacBook Air (M1, 2020) into a monitor for working on bigger projects. I think I’d like something around 27"? I will mostly use it for wordy stuff, but occasionally Adobe stuff.

Any recommendations of good products and retailers?

I have seen recommendations for these from reputable frame builders but I haven't seen first hand:

https://www.dinitroldirect.com/product/dinitrol-1000-1-litre-vehicle-cavity-penetration/
http://media.wuerth.com/stmedia/shop/masterpages0000/std.lang.all/02117.pdf

At work, we only use this:
https://progoldmfr.com/product/steel-frame-protector/

I know some people rate Boeshield T-9

thanks both!

I do rate ProLink, good range and works pretty well.

GRX derailleur is 2.5 mm further outboard than conventional from memory, so may have issues dropping into small ring

should work right?

Things which will definitely work are listed in the Shimano compatibility documents. If the chainline of the crankset you're proposing is the same as the GRX crankset identified in the documentation, and the chainring sizes are also the same, then it should work 🙂

GRX derailleur is 2.5 mm further outboard

Ish. Listed as 47mm, which is 3.5 more than most Shimano road doubles. MTB cranks vary, e.g. Deore 2×10 is either 48.8 for 135/142mm frames of 51.8 for 148mm frames. If there's going to be a stretch using a GRX FD and MTB cranks, it's probably going to be in reaching the big ring

I know of the docs and yeah trawled the internet with mixed answers.

Cheers +chez_jay and +Bearlegged

Was trying to not actually experiment it with parts and the actual frame but maybe that's the way to go.

FWIW it's a Surly Ghost Grappler, seen a few on the webs using a MTB front mech with road brifters but nothing with GRX 2× YET!

I'm thinking about a new (or new to me bike) and wondering if a hybrid like this Pinnacle would actually be the sensible choice.

The main use is to have a family bike to put my 2yo and 4yo on.

My thinking is that Alu hybrid frames are usually pretty rigid and tough, and they tend to have long TT's and long chain stays. Also I want to keep costs down and it seems like good value.

Plus I think I can access some sort of cycle scheme through work - which I have no clue about.

The other option is looking for a 2nd hand 26" mtb, then put rigid forks and different tyres on. But I'd probably end up at the same cost right? Likewise 90s steel mtbs seem to represent very poor value nowadays, unless you luck out on a cheap one.

Any thoughts?

As a side question, how long is a "long chainstay"?

Best, cheapest, simplest portable card payment reader thingy ?

Looking for something to accept payments for tea and cake. A family member is running a stall, for fun not profits, so the cheaper the better. Are there any that link directly to Paypal?

I've been trying to get someone to buy one of these for ages as they've dropped in price - you could be that person! Looks like a great all-rounder for the money.

Likewise 90s steel mtbs seem to represent very poor value nowadays, unless you luck out on a cheap one.

Have they become properly desirable now? I reckon you might still be able to source a good one outside of the normal channels.

Go with your name and get a square one? I switched to it from izettle because the app has more free features I needed, like tickets that can be saved and are available across devices, but I doubt that's an issue for you. I think sumup has the lowest fees, all of them have relatively cheap readers available, zettle is run by PayPal so most likely to work well with that, I've got some old readers knocking about if you want one cheap and don't mind that they're covered in grease.

Cheers! I'll tell them about Square then. Do you just get the reader, the app and you can start taking payments?

Yeah, got to register a bank account and that (maybe just a PayPal for izettle) but they're all pretty similar. The cheapest square reader users the phone screen for pin numbers, although I guess most transactions will be contactless, if you want a pin pad on the reader izettle ones have that.

Thanks :)

9 speed shimano allows you to easily use their mtb kit to find triples and long cage RD.

This is definitely interesting, I've got a 9-speed LX RD kicking around and a 9-speed cassette, so I'm thinking that some Tiagra 2x9 brifters and a suitable rear wheel would allow me to at least try it out.

10 speed Shimano road shifters (6703 or 5703, for example) and a long cage 9 speed MTB rear mech combined with an 11-34 10 speed MTB cassette can give you an epic gear range without big jumps. 30F/34R to 53F/11R. I've used this setup before, and it worked well

Can someone suggest the best frame saver spray for use inside a steel frame?

I use Bilt Hamber Dynax S-50. Like Dinitrol it's a cavity wax designed for use in car body shell cavities. Seems to work, it's fairly cheap, and the can comes with a nice long flexible hose for Easy Application.

My fancy scales gave up measuring body composition months ago, since when I've spent bloody ages trying to fix what I assumed was a software problem.

Turns out something I've used to clean it with (either cif or furniture polish) has apparently removed the conductive coating from the glass, since the attached bit of hackery - somewhat incredibly - had things working correctly again straight away.

So the question - is there anything I can use to restore the conductivity?

I googled 'conductive spray' and found this which sounds like it might be worth a shot. Would obviously mask across the existing gaps to keep each quarter isolated, could even bake it as suggested cos the glass can be comletely separated. Clear would be preferable to black if possible.

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