Any question answered...

Superstar Components do a cheap copy.

Superstar Components do a cheap copy, works fine.

I need some sort of handlebar mount for tablet or should I just glue a SRam quarter turn job on there and be done with it?

Yes Skully!

Mudguards, waterproof and decent gloves will see you right.

Cheers @danstuff - sorted. New top cap installed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00UIF3MA2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500021065&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=lifeproof+mount&dpPl=1&dpID=41B7QAh7OtL&ref=plSrch

&

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00UIF2GW2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1500021098&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=lifeproof+mount&dpPl=1&dpID=318KNtTv9sL&ref=plSrch

Is the commute 2 miles or 20? Kind of makes a difference.

Fair point. When I had a semi-regular commute of ~35mi per day I did prefer using clipless, carry a change of top (+pants&socks if crazy rainy), maybe use a helmet, carry a bidon etc... but generally on my much shorter commutes (~12mi per day) I use flat pedals, no special gear except gloves and some things for rain stashed with locks in a pannier or saddlebag.

That's quite pricey.....

Sold an Osprey backpack on ebay this week and met the guy in london this morning, cancelled the ebay sale and was cash in hand, he had a look at it when collecting and it was all done.

Received this email from him just now

Hey man,
Thanks for meeting me this am. Hopefully ending the auction saved you a few quid!
To be frank this isn't really as described..it's not excellent condition?...on closer inspection thers a zipper missing and there are loads of stains inside.

I'd like a bit of a refund to be honest. What do you think of sending me £5 by paypal?
EMAIL*

cheers!

h.

I am fairly sure there was no zipper missing and it was listed as used, so a few marks inside a backpack shouldnt really be unexpected. Chancer?

Ask for photos of the missing zipper, see if they differ to photos you've taken, or at least your memory of the bag.

I've found with Ebay listings you have to careful when describing the condition.

It's handy to break it down- functionally excellent, cosmetically good etc etc then highlight any bits that might be a concern. Helps avoid people feeling surprised when their opinion of what excellent is differs to yours. Or just take loads of pics...

Is a fiver a significant refund compared to what you sold it for?

I mean i dont mind refunding the guy a fiver. more just wanted to get an opinion if he was just chancing it for the sake of it

Chancer?

Yes. Refer him to Arkell vs. Pressdram

Are these sort of strides a thing now?
Shit phone photo.

1 Attachment

Are these sort of strides a thing now?

They have been a thing for quite a while

Waxed my chain as per internet instructions. It's dead noisy - at first thought it was bearings as it's an old wheelset but definitely chain. Have I done it wrong or is this expected?

I'd seen that suit. Quite a statement in a race but just walking down the chippy is a bit much. Her shirt said Maggie, Fitness Instructor so maybe she was advertising.

is this expected?

Yes. Dry chains are noisy, because there is no fluid to damp the rattling of the various parts against one another, or to form a hydrodynamic layer between parts which have low pressure to stop them even coming into contact. The main friction losses though are at the high pressure contacts, which at the low speeds involved have no possibility of hydrodynamic lubrication, so everything which is effectively lubricated by liquids in a bicycle roller chain is actually causing more loss by shearing the fluid film than a dry chain loses by metal to metal contact in those low pressure areas.

Thanks for the in depth response.

Mind = blown. But using a wet lube is presumably still a win overall, as the gains from the HP areas being lubricated will outweigh the shear losses elsewhere?

the gains from the HP areas being lubricated

There are no gains, because the HP areas are not lubricated. The pressure is too high and the speed too low for a liquid lubricant to work. That's why he waxed his chain in the first place - it has been demonstrated to be faster.

So the only reason to use a wet lube is rust prevention and quietness? Or do any of them have EP additives &c. that make any difference?

do any of them have EP additives

If you want lubrication at the high pressure interface, you need to get a solid lubricant in there, e.g. MoS₂. I'm not sure how easy it is to do that without some pretty complicated procedures, e.g. an ultrasonic cleaner to get rid of the OEM grease and a vacuum chamber to force the solid lubricant in a volatile carrier into the interior of the chain.

The best corrosion inhibitor, which also seems to make for a very quite chain, is galvanisation. If you want a simple quiet life, galvanised chain with OEM grease is fine. If you look at the total power loss from a clean stock chain, it's clear that whatever you can gain from dicking about is completely irrelevant for 99.9% of cyclists.

Dear hive mind,

Anyone know how early you need to get to Burgess Park to claim a BBQ? Or even if it's an issue? Not really a park I frequent.

DT Swiss 350 rear hub - should I do any kind of regular service on it?

EDIT: Probably (https://www.dtswiss.com/Resources/Support/HUBS/DT-Swiss-Hubs-User-Manual, https://www.dtswiss.com/Resources/Support/HUBS/DT-Swiss-Hubs-Ratchet-Hubs-Technical-Manual)