Local Knowledge

Local knowledge question: is there a secure indoor bike lock up on/near Piccadilly Gdns?

Someone has said the old law college building, but I have no idea where that is. And google is failing me.

How near do you want? Pop up bikes is near Victoria which is only a 5 minute brisk walk. Otherwise here.

A bit nearer than Pop Up I think. It's not for me, for the missus, she's got a new job and wants to park up very central. Indoors ideally. (Employer doesn't have secure lock up).

Here then.

Cheers, appreciated.

Where's good for grub in Levenshulme, main meal stuff really. Looked in POD but looks lunches / snacks only? @snottyotter any recommendations as this is your patch I think?

Any recommendations for a physio? Not so far from rusholme

I don't eat out much but trove is meant to be nice only been there once a while back and it was mainly posh sandwiches, I think they have good pizza too now though.

cheers dude, trove is open 6pm but we need to be on our way before then. Random in park told us POD do big por

POD is probably your best bet, most other places are takeaways or greasy spoons.

Yeah POD was done in the end, nice grub and beer.

(Not sure what happened to my above post not getting finished!)

Does anyone know where I could get a bottom bracket rethreaded in Manchester? And any ideas about cost/how simple it is to do? Please let me know ASAP. Thanks.

Can @snottyotter help via Platt fields bike hub/ Revolve?

If not maybe try Alex Dead Rats or any of the frame builders/restorers e.g. Orrel or Atlantic Boulevard.

LBS type bike shops might be able to help too?

Thanks for your suggestions rhb!

If it's not too bad we can clean it up via revolve, if it's too fucked then you might be better off getting a press fit BB.

Has Life-Cycles in Bolton gone bust?
I sent them a couple of Hope hubs for servicing and rebuilding onto Mavic rims. I got one back a year ago, with a note in the box saying that the other one was on the way. Then I got cancer and the missing wheel slipped to the bottom of my list of priorities.
It was only this weekend when I thought "Hang on a minute, where's that other bloody wheel?"
Their website is down "for maintenance" and the phone seems to be disconnected as well.
As I'm in London, can anyone local shed any light on the situation?
I suspect I'm permanently out of pocket, and will have to search about for a matching wheel, but I'd be grateful of any local knowledge.

@Emyr is kinda that way, he might know.

Never heard of them. Looked at map, I don't go riding in that direction much. Sorry.

I can ask a couple of colleagues tomorrow they live in Bolton so should know.

Asked ahead and already told it shut 6-9 months ago. Sorry.

Ah Balls.
Thanks for asking.

Hi chaps. I'm heading up your way in July to visit a friend/do some riding, and I'm wondering whether it'll be wise to gear down for the trip. I currently ride 49x18 (71.5"), but that's in Norwich/rural Norfolk so there are rarely any hills I can't muster. My friend in Manchester is a bit of a masochist (and also a super-fit GB para-triathlete guide swimmer/rider/runner/) so I'm expecting him to take me on some punishing climbs in the Peaks, but as I've never ridden a prolonged steep climb fixed, I'm not sure what to expect/what I'll be able to take. Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated. Cheers, Al.

Smallest gear I've ever used in the Peaks is that very same gear. You should be fine.

My fixie runs 44x18 => 64" or 45x18 => 65.7". Been over Rivington on it.

My SSMTB in road mode runs 34x16 on 700x28, which is about 56". Been up the Rake on that.

Are you a spinner?

Thanks guys. I generally don't spin too fast - I will happily sit on the flat ~90rpm as that's roughly 20mph - my biggest concern with gearing down is wildly spinning out on any long descents (another thing we don't have in Norwich!). I think I might just go with my current gear and sling another chainring in my bag just in case.