Any question answered...

Loads of places. PM for a secret (private) spot.

Is there a thread somewhere for London commuting route advice? I need to get from approximately hackney wick to approximately charlton station and back, preferably via the least faff-y route. Nothing seems direct except the A12/Blackwall tunnel and you're not allowed to cycle it anyway!

How about Victoria park, A1205 to Westferry, A1206, Greenwich foot tunnel, A206.

Is there a thread somewhere for London commuting route advice?

http://www.lfgss.com/thread405.html

How about Victoria park, A1205 to Westferry, A1206, Greenwich foot tunnel, A206.

I'll try that, did A1206/tunnel/A206 this morning but not the first part. It was ok apart from the tunnel with its asinine 'No Cycling' signs... Seemed to be mostly used by cyclists, even though I hardly saw any anywhere else.

I want to make rhubarb and elderflower jam at the weekend. Where in London (preferably South) can I find elderflower?

Just a tip in case you get tempted, the other (non fruit or flower) parts of an elderflower plant are poisonous. I would probably end up sticking a few leaves in for visual effect if I did not know!

^ Always good to be reminded of these things. Blackcurrant leaf sorbet, on the other hand, has been a great addition to the summer repertoire!

My girlfriend bought a Trek Lexa SL from Evans about 2 months ago. So far it's had two separate issues. Firstly, after it went in for its 6 week service, it came back with a completely loose front brake and the front gears had been indexed so that it was impossible to use the big ring. That's just a fuck up on the mechanics part. The other issue is both the brakes seem to be picking up a lot of metal from the rims, I've had to dig out the pads twice already, and she's pretty light and is riding ~40 miles a week. Is this expected from stock pads or could there be a problem with them rims? Neither of us are having much luck with our brakes at the moment!

My girlfriend bought a Trek Lexa SL from Evans about 2 months ago. So far it's had two separate issues. Firstly, after it went in for its 6 week service, it came back with a completely loose front brake and the front gears had been indexed so that it was impossible to use the big ring. That's just a fuck up on the mechanics part. The other issue is both the brakes seem to be picking up a lot of metal from the rims, I've had to dig out the pads twice already, and she's pretty light and is riding ~40 miles a week. Is this expected from stock pads or could there be a problem with them rims? Neither of us are having much luck with our brakes at the moment!

Maybe worth checking the rim for any damage or miss machined bits, is very common for new rims to have loose bits from the spoke holes that cause punctures but also the join line might have a ridge/bump that's having bits break away as it smooths out. Similar if it's hit a pothole and had a really nasty knock it can leave a notch on the rim by the tyre but usually that would put it out of true too.

The front gears issue comes from the cable not being pulled tight enough as most will naturally try to shift down and the cable pulls it up. Front brake loose also not pulling cables tight... all have bad days I guess.

I want to make rhubarb and elderflower jam at the weekend. Where in London (preferably South) can I find elderflower?

You're a bit late on both. You shouldn't harvest rhubarb after the middle of June, and most elderflowers were out a month ago.

VHF vs. UHF radios? Which is betterer?

From what I've read VHF is better for outdoor but not so hot if you're in town. What are they like on battery life and how much do you need to know before getting one of those radio licenses they say you need? Don't want to piss off any local truckers.

My aunty has just bought an electric bike and wants a race. Will I beat her/it?? I've whooped them in the past but obviously I didn't know what setting they were on. What gradient and distance would give me the best advantage??.

Shit. I have to win this..

Just make the distance longer than the battery will last. Sorted.

I've raced a bloke on one in RP. They can be fucking quick but I'd rather kill myself than lose to someone on a 'shopper'.

But my legs might not! I know the one I raced the torquey acceleration was very impressive. I'll have to research and see what battery life is like. Might just go for a shorter sprint.

You can always just lean on her - they still crash like normal bikes. #nolovelostinmyfamily

Good idea! I'll just go for a sprintable distance I think. I'll have it, I'm sure. She's a fat fucker.

120/130

Cheers, thought and hoped as much.

130, based on multiples of 26mm clamp ⌀

It's a 25.4mm clamp, does that extra 0.6mm throw off your measurements?

Fingers crossed you're right though.

^^^^
something attractive abut how awful the older easton branding is

The logos on the bar are terrible, I quite like the stem though.

thanks!
anything shorter than 120?
ahead -17 degree, 26.0 clamp, 2 bolt.
x

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/ST3TPINTHE/3ttt-pinarello-the-stem
this type can be found as a number of brands
or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130847604247?var=430119196985&ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=181212346855&alt=web
Done

Maybe worth checking the rim for any damage or miss machined bits, is very common for new rims to have loose bits from the spoke holes that cause punctures but also the join line might have a ridge/bump that's having bits break away as it smooths out. Similar if it's hit a pothole and had a really nasty knock it can leave a notch on the rim by the tyre but usually that would put it out of true too.

The front gears issue comes from the cable not being pulled tight enough as most will naturally try to shift down and the cable pulls it up. Front brake loose also not pulling cables tight... all have bad days I guess.

By brakes being loose, I mean the actually caliper was wobbling about, that's 100% inexcusable in my book.
We took it into Evans this evening and the manager was pretty sympathetic. He's looking into who carried out the service, and is also going to have a chat with his head mechanic in the morning and depending on what they feel about the rims, maybe contact Trek. You could feel the roughness on the rims where the metal has picked up, may have been triggered by bad joins, but it's certainly over the whole of both rims now.

What is that soft and squishy bar tape they put on your average OTP road bike? I would imagine it's something cheap and cheerful?

By brakes being loose, I mean the actually caliper was wobbling about, that's 100% inexcusable in my book.
We took it into Evans this evening and the manager was pretty sympathetic. He's looking into who carried out the service, and is also going to have a chat with his head mechanic in the morning and depending on what they feel about the rims, maybe contact Trek. You could feel the roughness on the rims where the metal has picked up, may have been triggered by bad joins, but it's certainly over the whole of both rims now.

What colour/type are the brake pads? With the level of shoddy your describing maybe they fitted carbon pads instead of regular pads. If I remember right regular pads on carbon won't stop you and carbon on regular will fuck the rims but could have that wrong.

Also:
Eldeflower and gin is a winning combination. And a lime wedge maybe.

Eldeflower and gin is a winning combination

Who knew?

4 Attachments

On my old French track frame with English threaded bb the left hand BB cup (regular direction threading) screws in fine to both sides of the frame, however the main body of the bb with the reverse thread doesn't screw in to the drive side.

What's happening, I'm confused.