Any question answered...

That's pricey, you can get at the internals with a pin spanner, check for rust, clean up and add some light grease. I'd just buy another £20 sunrace one and avoid spraying water at it and drip some oil in it now and then.

Yes I know,expensive! I did think must be good quality last a life time etc but no. Personally as a brand I'd avoid; now.

Have never had a posh 5 or 6 speed freewheel. Usual with mistreatment is that the freewheel mechanisms rust and become solid. Or getting lumpy or sticky pawls so don't freewheel smoothly.

Here is the Sheldon brown page on how to take a freewheel apart https://www.sheldonbrown.com/rebuild-freewheel.html

If you’re mechanically minded, I’d say take it apart and attempt a fix. You’ll need penetrating fluid and a pin spanner, and you’ll want a tray or other lipped surface on which to work. You may need a vice, chain whip, or other instrument to hold onto the cog body.

If the insides are like the Italian and Japanese ones I’ve taken apart: Copious penetrating lube to prep the cover. Pin spanner in the two holes on the front, usually clockwise threaded but sometimes reverse threaded (or was it the other way around?). The cover is also a bearing race, and comes off to expose tiny ball bearings that love to run off as soon as you open it, hence the tray. You should be able to quickly see the pawls and circle spring keeping them in place and sprung. Pull everything apart, give it a clean, check for anything broken or unevenly warn, reassemble with hearty grease on the bearings and a very tiny bit on the toothed ring that the pawls engage on.

rachet or paws

I like the idea of animal feet allowing the mechanism to grip

Slipping and getting worse on the 14 cog but better on the larger cog sounds like a new chain on an old block? If the internals were fubar then it's just as bad in all gears

What's the best way to wash a pair of cycling shoes? Mine got soaked last weekend and didn't dry properly so they absolutely stink. Hand wash then on a radiator, stuffed with newspaper?

Pop them in a pillow case and give them a short wash in the washing machine.

Good tip, thanks!

Maybe remove the cleats first. Especially if they’re metal.

Good call.

Not necessarily, assuming they're correct and it's slipping internally, like they've actually watched it slip, then things can be worse in the smallest/biggest cog if there's a bit of play in the whole assembly and force on the outside pulls things out of line slightly. It wouldn't be the first thing I'd look at, only after ruling out worn teeth. I'd still just buy a new cheap one though.

Just mulling things over.... I raced 5 speed back in the 70's and even the cheap ones were pretty robust, even when abused.

Still have some wheels from back then, even my old very well used Suzue/Fiamme training wheels with the original block that still ticks over.

Sunrace not a shabby choice...

even the cheap ones were pretty robust, even when abused.

Yeah, they were built to last, not engage quickly or shift well.

Not much point to a Raleigh Arena that shifted quickly :)

Not sure where to post this one…

I’ve had this problem maybe once a month where I start feeling faint, weak and unwell. And I think it’s related to what I’m eating/blood sugar?

I raced at Muddy Hell last night. Plenty of food before the race, 2 beers after, no food. Went home and treated myself to a Cornetto, but too late for a cooked meal.
Woke up this morning, 2 cups of tea, 1 cinnamon roll and a Lucozade sport.

I know I’ve not had a huge breakfast, but surely between the cinnamon roll and Lucozade sugar and electrolytes, that should be enough to keep me going?
The only other recurring theme factor is this normally happens during light exercise (walking/cycling) and when it is warm. I normally start sweating more. Not sure if is a cause or an effect.

Sometimes sugar can mean an insulin spike and actually a feeling of less energy. How much caffeine do you consume? I've previously had problems when I was drinking way too much coffee that at random times I wound get a dizzyness and weakness

You have not had any salt in a good many hours. Running low could cause loss of energy etc. Have something savoury

I know it varies between individuals but you might want to try some more 'long burn' fuel like multigrains. A lot of the food you've mentioned there would have my energy falling off a cliff within hours.

I don’t know where to put this and am tempted/will probably repost it somewhere else (car thread?lol) at the start of the week if that is OK but for now…

My sister in law Louise is part of a venture builder with the mission to eliminate environmental threats to our health. She is working on solutions to eliminate exposure to air pollution. She’d love to speak to some cyclists on Tuesday afternoon as part of user research. It would involve a 20 minute call. Please can you message her if you’re interested on 07966 225049. Unfortunately this is not a paid opportunity but will be met with much gratitude!

Patience and wd40 (even though it was the standard stuff) won in the end, thnx @fredtc @Ben689908 @lynx @gbj_tester

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Interesting, thank you for all the comments so far. Low salt, poor hydration, too much caffeine and no slow burn carbs - all excellent points I hadn’t considered.

Is there any chance that overheating/sweating has anything to do with it? Or just coincidence?

I’ve got some scuffs and scratches on some of the plastic in the car. Is there a clever way of restoring it?

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I splashed out on a shoe dryer, which has helped a lot to avoid bad smells. £13 from Decathlon.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/shoe-glove-dryer/_/R-p-X8790583

Might not be a bad shout at some point! I usually stuff the shoes with newspaper and put them next to a radiator which does the job pretty well. I'd just run out of newspaper and couldn't be bothered to go any buy another one after getting soaked for hours this time! Lesson learnt.