Any question answered...

Is it just me who can't see a quick reply box on any thread?

Yes.

strange, on my laptop now and it's only on my mobile that there is no box...

Cyclists of the Internet,

CSB alert.

I had a very dicey moment tonight on the way home when a car turned right across my path, the driver clearly didnt see me. It was only my elite fixie skillz that saved me from serious injury.

Anyway, I dont think Im adequately illuminated. I have a billion rear lights, but only one front, a 5 LED Cateye jobbie on my fixiebag.

Im thinking about one of those chinese bangers. How many lumens are an acceptable number? I want to blind drivers and be able to see obstacles on the poorly lit areas of my commute.

Is 240 lumens a lot? What is a lumen? Should I just stump up an extra ten bucks for 1300 lumens? Thats ten cents per lumen.

240 lumens, $15
1300 lumens, $24

Singspeed was selling some epic lumen front lights for £10 I think.
The brighter the better I'd say.

What size / model number are 'standard' wheel hub bearings and where can I get some cheap ones?
Tar.

If cartridge, look at your current ones and you will find a code. Google that, there are some online bearing supply places. If loose ball bearings, I forget what the diameter is but you should be able to get some in a bike shop for pence.

I've had a total nightmare with punctures in the last week or so of riding. As the problem was with new rims with new tape and new tyres, I've been constantly questioning myself as to what the cause has been.

All of the punctures look like thorn holes on the INSIDE of the tube along the same mold line in the rubber. This is consistent with all of the punctured tubes.

Anyway, I was beginning to think that there was a problem with my wheel but given that they are 50mm rims it couldn't be the spokes popping through.

I was just out for a 50 miler and after my fourth puncture (and running out of tubes and patches) I limped into a bike shop to ask them to take a look. Luckily, I had three knackered tubes on me for them to have a look at.

The mechanic was sure it wasn't anything to do with my wheel...he reckons everything is in order. The bike mechanic verdict was that my Bontrager 80mm long valve inners had been sitting unsold on a shelf for a long time and the rubber had perished.

This is also backed up by the fact that I only have had this problem with the same batch of Bontrager tubes bought from my LBS at the same time.

Has anybody else come across dodgy tubes before? Surely it must be the tubes if the same failure has happened to all of them multiple times and it is certainly not my wheel? Since fitting some new Schwalbe tubes, I have had no problems although I've only riden 25mi since doing so.

If cartridge, look at your current ones and you will find a code. Google that, there are some online bearing supply places. If loose ball bearings, I forget what the diameter is but you should be able to get some in a bike shop for pence.

Sorry, yes cartridge. I can't read the code. It looks like 6000 S2 but it's not.

The brighter the better I'd say.

i went with the 1300

yeah I had a similar problem with Specialized tubes. New wheels, rim tape, tyres etc. and they just kept breaking.

yeah I had a similar problem with Specialized tubes. New wheels, rim tape, tyres etc. and they just kept breaking.

I bought these 80mm tubes from a distinctly noddery LBS who admitted at the time that they don't know why they had any in as they surely hadn't sold any in a long time.

I think it is far more likely that they are perished rather than this being a manufacturing defect.

Oh well, they're all fucked now so it shouldn't be a problem any more.

my experience of specialized tubes is terrible, always splitting along the seams, making the use of a preglued patch difficult as the seam has to be removed or they leak

All of the above +1

I thought I was ok on Specialized in the past but now you mention it, I did puncture a fair bit at times.

Oh well, I've out of Bontrager and Specialized and now use a less known brand that I buy from Harry Perry which so far seem very good. Heavy duty but good.

As I said above, I think I was just unlucky with the Bonties...they do seem to have been left to perish.

whats that website that's basically a search engine, and you put in a book or film you like and it gives suggestions on other stuff you might like?

Amazon.com

Should I buy a spokk?
Front only.

No. This is not 2007.

Answers like that make me wonder. You’re implying they’re out of fashion, therefore to be avoided. Is that a good enough reason to buy something, or not? Maybe he/she isn’t interested in fashion, and maybe fashion shouldn’t dictate the choice you make in any regard.

Don’t want to appear aggressive, but I read a lot of that sort of stuff and it makes me think that far too much is driven by fashion/trends around here, and of course in general.

I've had a total nightmare with punctures in the last week or so of riding. As the problem was with new rims with new tape and new tyres, I've been constantly questioning myself as to what the cause has been.

All of the punctures look like thorn holes on the INSIDE of the tube along the same mold line in the rubber. This is consistent with all of the punctured tubes.

Anyway, I was beginning to think that there was a problem with my wheel but given that they are 50mm rims it couldn't be the spokes popping through.

I was just out for a 50 miler and after my fourth puncture (and running out of tubes and patches) I limped into a bike shop to ask them to take a look. Luckily, I had three knackered tubes on me for them to have a look at.

The mechanic was sure it wasn't anything to do with my wheel...he reckons everything is in order. The bike mechanic verdict was that my Bontrager 80mm long valve inners had been sitting unsold on a shelf for a long time and the rubber had perished.

This is also backed up by the fact that I only have had this problem with the same batch of Bontrager tubes bought from my LBS at the same time.

Has anybody else come across dodgy tubes before? Surely it must be the tubes if the same failure has happened to all of them multiple times and it is certainly not my wheel? Since fitting some new Schwalbe tubes, I have had no problems although I've only riden 25mi since doing so.

What sort of rim tape do you have? Is it Velox? If not, replace it with Velox.

#brandsnobberythatworks

Do Garmin use DRM on their map files to prevent copying?

yes

locks to one device only - though I suspect there's a way around it.

@ stonehedge - several months ago I repeatedly experienced the same problem when using airwaves tubes from CRC, fitted without tyre levers, rim tape fine. the bike lived in the house at the time, on several occasions it just punctured whilst sat in the lounge, unridden next to me. I'd hear it deflate and begin cursing. Changed to yet another tube and it never happened again. The other tube is also airwaves from CRC, (I had a multipack). Fingers crossed.

locks to one device only - though I suspect there's a way around it.

Bugger.

VB swears by open source maps for his garmin

I'm going to try those tonight, I'd like them to be better!