Any question answered...

What sort of van is this, and who are Abacus?

I refer to the red van with "Abacus" on the left rear door.

Looks like a Renault Master.

Could also be a Fiat Ducato - same bodyshape different badge.

LJ03 TS0 maybe?

have a pair of these

shifted up to the front big ring earlier and now the front lever won't click back down again.

I've blasted the lever with piss WD40, and it's still not working following that.

And the front mech itself isn't the issue, it moves fine.

Apart from buying a new triple lever, wtf can i do?

I've heard something about 105s having a problem when they're shifted too far they break something. Warranty job. Scherrit will know.

Are the old Shimano screw on freewheels at the same standard spacing (for the same number of gears) as the cassettes (for freehubs). Specifically, I have a screw on six speed and would like to use one of these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330909733355&var=540167232435&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en) with it. Is it going to work?

my old ultegra ones used to shear cables and swallow ends like nobody's business :/

my old ultegra ones used to shear cables and swallow ends like nobody's business :/

That's user error.

In that I was using them?

hmm. just having newly acquired shimano 105, is there a way of checking if failure is imminent or a way of preventing such things? regular cable renewal? I've never had STIs (cough) and not sure how flimsy they supposed to feel...

You'll feel mega sloppiness in the shifting if it's about to go. And then when it does go, don't change gear because the unit will swallow the end and cause no end of bother.

I'm buying a decanter for a mate.

I was going to go for this one;

...but it's 0.8 l.

Most whiskey bottles seem to be 0.7 l so I would have thought it should be fine.

Is it, or should I be choosing something with +1.0 l ?

Cheers.

In that I was using them?

Let me clarify: installation error.

hmm. just having newly acquired shimano 105, is there a way of checking if failure is imminent or a way of preventing such things? regular cable renewal? I've never had STIs (cough) and not sure how flimsy they supposed to feel...

They should be fine. There was a particular model of 105 that suffered from the issue I mention. I don't know which one. Ultegra and DA only in my house. ;)

I'm buying a decanter for a mate.

I was going to go for this one;

...but it's 0.8 l.

Most whiskey bottles seem to be 0.7 l so I would have thought it should be fine.

Is it, or should I be choosing something with +1.0 l ?

Cheers.

Fine.

Only cheap airport booze comes in 1L bottles.

Cheers that's what I thought.

The next question is where in London is there a decent glass engravers that knows what they're talking about and doesn't charge a fortune?

i've got these cranks, .... campy record pista...

...can someone just confirm that they have italian threading for the pedals...

...did they do JIS and italian on their cranks ?

No such thing: there are British or (obsolete) French standards.

I'm doubt these were available with French threading.

You'll feel mega sloppiness in the shifting if it's about to go. And then when it does go, don't change gear because the unit will swallow the end and cause no end of bother.

They should be fine. There was a particular model of 105 that suffered from the issue I mention. I don't know which one. Ultegra and DA only in my house. ;)

cheers. I should clarify also "newly acquired" = 2nd hand, not new.

i've got these cranks, .... campy record pista

can someone just confirm that they have italian threading for the pedals ? i have tried some pedals that fit some old shimano golden arrow cranks but they didn't go in smoothly...... i didn't force them don't worry ... they became too tight to screw in by hand so i removed them
what pedal option do i have without emptying the old bank account ?

time to up the torque with which I am tightening them i guess
hopefully i won't be left with a ruined crank and ruined pedals

Buy my Pistas, dicki...

time to up the torque with which I am tightening them i guess
hopefully i won't be left with a ruined crank and ruined pedals
Run around the pedal and crank threads with a needle or similar.

I had exactly the same problem as you, a couple of days ago: the amount of congealed grease that came off both was stomach churning.

ok ok
you do me good price yeah ?

Run around the pedal and crank threads with a needle or similar.

I had exactly the same problem as you, a couple of days ago: the amount of congealed grease that came off both was stomach churning.

i'll have a look at the threads tonight and see if it's gunked up .... they are in quite nice condition so i didn't really consider that last night
i just thought italian threading immediately

They cranks should be marked "9/16th x 20t(pi)", which is British standard.

Sheldon's threads crib sheet is handy.

I'm buying a decanter for a mate.

I was going to go for this one;

...but it's 0.8 l.

Most whiskey bottles seem to be 0.7 l so I would have thought it should be fine.

Is it, or should I be choosing something with +1.0 l ?

Cheers.

I've seen a few quality bottles in a 750 size, I'd go with the .8.