Any question answered...

Hippy- Mobidog got Tom Donhou to machine his freehub: http://www.lfgss.com/thread106713.html

My question:

I could do with some advice from people with experience of long climbs.

21km at an average of just over 7 percent (although the profile looks like long sections of just under 10 percent with slightly flatter bits in between).

It's going to be ~12 degrees at sea level falling to around 4 degrees at the summit.

Hopefully it's not going to rain.

I'm thinking that flexibility would be desirable- so standard bibs with leg warmers, base layer plus jersey, arm warmers and gillet, and a rain jacket shoved in a pocket?

My first thought was base layer plus Pro Team Jacket, but I'm concerned that I'd cook, given that we'll be going quite slowly (10 mph average I'm guessing) whilst trying quite hard.

Any idea where Tom Donohue is based?

I always take as little as possible up the climbs. I might nearly die of hypothermia on the way down but that's a small price to pay. Shorts, maybe knee warmers, undershirt unless it's stinking hot, jersey and maybe a gilet if looking cold/damp. No rain cape unless it's already raining when I leave.

^ put the windbreaker on if you get cold... and wear long finger gloves.

Good call. I always wear short finger gloves and regret it on the freezing fscking French descents.

How much should a 2001 3d Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec be valued at? Parkers is, apparently, no longer free to use.

£1000-1200. I had an01 5 dr 1.8 written off last year and thats what they gave me. I have also bought a couple of other focuses in the last few years and they cost me around £1200.

@ Indra Yeah?
@landslide. I need to cut an entirely new thread, into a surface that's only <.5mm deep.

We paid £2000 for a 5dr 2002 Ghia version of the 1.8. It's was the best example of any of the Ford Focusiiiiii that we looked at around west Londonski. From a small dealer with MOT and stuff. It holds bikes. I don't hate it.

Different kettle of fish dealer vs private sale. I'd say £500 was reasonable given that I've seen said vehicle.

Any idea where Tom Donohue is based?

Ton Donhou's moved to London, he's based in Hackney Wick these days.

I'm thinking more £500 than £1000 - and although it's scruffy, the engine is low mileage & in very good nick.

Let's call it £750.

Either way, I'm only going to insure it 3rd party from now on.

You have a lathe? Or do you mean my water bill? :)

We have a work shop with a lathe at work, yeah. I'm pretty good, even if I do say so myself. I probably couldn't guarentee 1.80/ 1.85 though! 1.80/ 2.00?? Show me that cassette and and the freehub and i'll get her to fit.

Different kettle of fish dealer vs private sale. I'd say £500 was reasonable given that I've seen said vehicle.

My information was provided to indicate a range. I care not for the interpretation of it.

'Itsisaboutthebike'

Did you mean to type 'itisaboutthebike', or am I missing something?

I just wonder every time I see the name.

Don't you start! Yeah it is a mis-spelling on my part!

Hopefully if I tickle Hippies freehub he will change it for me!

We have a work shop with a lathe at work, yeah. I'm pretty good, even if I do say so myself. I probably couldn't guarentee 1.80/ 1.85 though! 1.80/ 2.00?? Show me that cassette and and the freehub and i'll get her to fit.

What sort of tolerances are we talking? I'd prefer not to spend another 80 quid on them if you take too much metal off :)
I don't have a cassette with me yet but where is your workshop? It'd be good to see if it's possible anyway.

When installing a new headset, do the cups need to be greased before pressing them into the frame?

Some kind of anti-seize is probably best but grease them up if that's what you have.

'Itsisaboutthebike'

Did you mean to type 'itisaboutthebike', or am I missing something?

I just wonder every time I see the name.

I hate you for pointing this out.

Ignorance was bliss.

Why is Snottyotter always happy?

Pissed

Sometimes I'm on drugs instead/as well.

@ Hippy: Haaa. I understand your concerns. It will be ok. Worse case I just keep removing the freehub from the lathe jaw and offering up the cassette to check.

What is the freehub made from?

Work is out in sunny Dagenham. I live on the Isle of Dogs. I can meet you around there the evening before if you like.

I can smell a business opportunity here..

If you can reliably machine 10 speed hubs to take 11 speed cassettes then that'd be handy.

@ Hippy: Haaa. I understand your concerns. It will be ok. Worse case I just keep removing the freehub from the lathe jaw and offering up the cassette to check.

What is the freehub made from?

Work is out in sunny Dagenham. I live on the Isle of Dogs. I can meet you around there the evening before if you like.

I can smell a business opportunity here..

The freehub is made of cheese, although Cycleops refer to it as aluminium. I do have some aftermarket steel freehub bodies but I'm not actually sure which wheels these are on. The plan was to put them on all my wheels. I'm so light you see, I'd fly away without the extra weight.

I'd already contacted a workshop nearer me about this but no idea if they'd do it so your place might be a good option.

If you can reliably machine 10 speed hubs to take 11 speed cassettes then that'd be handy.

Apparently Shimanos 10spd freehub bodies are fine (although maybe this is just the newer ones). It's older 3rd party hubs like on Powertaps that won't fit 11spd without modification.

There are 11spd Powertap freehubs available but getting hold of them has been proving a slow process. Paligap are asleep or something,.

I've got no intention of getting anything that is 11 speed at the moment, but it'd be nice to give my 404's a small amount of future proofing.

Also, thinking about it, it might be possible to upgrade my Ultegra to 11 speed with a firmware revision- or it might not.

Zipp offer some kind of conversion already. No idea of cost though.