Any question answered...

Does bending the spring arm not work?

If I understand @Cupcakes correctly, his issue isn't the magnitude of the spring tension, it's the uniformity from side to side

No, you're an uniformity.

Don't suppose anyone knows of a public pump in central London? Or bike shop open very late?

Look Mum No Hands. Condor maybe.

This should help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iBKjme6mCg

here are some: http://www.cyclehoop.com/pumps/

for late opening shops, as well as LMNH, Cycle PS on Camberwell Church St is open til 11pm (or a little earlier) but no mechanic.

@Mishk

@hoefla you are a wonder! thank you!

cannot guarantee all those on the map are in working order...

Thanks.

I'm going to give them a go, probably the Sora version as I have cartridge shoes that'll fit.

For racing (so-far only in the dry admittedly) the current cantis are fine. For getting back down off the Cotswolds in the wet... they are terrible.

Wow. :)

Actually that explains, cheers.

any Salsa Casseroll owners/riders here that can give a review of the bike...yes I UTFS to no avail, just want to know if it would suit loaded commuting/occasional singletrack

Basically Salsa version of the Surly Crosscheck, you'll be fine with loaded commuting/singletrack.

Salsa Casseroll, sounds like a Shepherds' Pie with red peppers and sweetcorn.

If I swap chainrings so it's 4-teeth lower, any idea how many links I can take out without stressing the derailler too much but keeping the chain tight as possible?

I'd say 1 link (2 teeth worth) since only about half of a chainring is engaged by the chain at any one time.

If I swap chainrings so it's 4-teeth lower, any idea how many links I can take out

Shorten the chain by 1"

Cheers both, I'll remove a link and see what it looks like.

Using a 1/8 chain with a 3/32 freewheel: madness or totally fine?

Think of the Babies! The Kittens! The newlyweds.

No problem at all (IMO).

If brakeless/and or wonky chainline keep one eye on chain tension

Brakeless freewheel sounds fun.

Using 23C panaracer pasela on Hson plus, ok or better to get some 25?

(some people online wrote it's safer for the rim to use wider than 23c)
(but there's no online like lfgss online)
;)

recovering saddles.
anyone on here do this?
or know someone?

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/152663/

:)