Piers

Most recent activity

• Once upon a time..

  in Miscellaneous and Meaningless • 17 years, 3 months

  

  or he has just sat on something pointy

• Chain line

  in Mechanics & Fixin' • 17 years, 4 months

  

  I am definitely no expert, in fact a mechanical disaster, but I've got a Phil hub and Sugino 75s, and ended up getting the 108mm JIS Phil BB. The spindle is slightly too long (cranks sit too far out with the BB centred) but is adjustable as you say. Adjusting it isn't that easy since you have to put the crank on to measure the chainline, take it off to adjust the BB, put it back on to check etc etc. I am sure there must be a better way but got the chainline right in the end.

  The cranks don't sit perfectly on the BB though, I guess becase as pip says the cranks are an ISO taper and the BB is JIS?

• Boris Johnson

  in Miscellaneous and Meaningless • 17 years, 5 months

  

  agree with smiling budda, I really went off Ken after that episode.

  Boris is much more likeable, but would be hopeless. Could you see him bringing the tour to london?

• Funny frame... help me build this thing!

  in Mechanics & Fixin' • 17 years, 6 months

  

  That looks a bit tight; also something could stick to the tyre then jam it against the fork, seen this happen with front mudguards, front wheel stops dead.

  This may be a stupid suggestion, but could you use chaintugs on the front dropouts?

• What bikes do you ride?

  in Bikes & Bits • 17 years, 6 months

  

  Thanks for all the advice - I'll leave it there for now. Anyway, braking with the pedals hurts my pathetic roadie legs.

• Recommend a bike maintenance book

  in Mechanics & Fixin' • 17 years, 6 months

  

  Zinn is really good.

• What bikes do you ride?

  in Bikes & Bits • 17 years, 6 months

  

  Thanks David. Is there a reason (other than it being uncool) not to have the back brake? I like to hold the hoods when climbing.

  The frame is a 'cheap' custom titanium one from China, I had some of the components in my shed, but then went a bit mad on eBay & hubjub.

  I've got a place for the etape on Sunday, but am racing on Sat (well, TTT) and I am not sure that I can cope with getting to Greenwich for 5:15 or whatever from SW london. It's hardly worth going to bed...

• What bikes do you ride?

  in Bikes & Bits • 17 years, 6 months

  

  here is a pic of my new bike, a setavento - just built it up. I know it has too many brakes, I was planning to build it up as a ss is my excuse

• I Hate Mondays

  in Miscellaneous and Meaningless • 17 years, 7 months

  

  Hey 1bhp I have a spare Fizik Aliante carbon. It's been in a crash so a bit scuffed/torn but is fine to ride. Would you like it? It looks (or did look) like this:

  

• Which puncture protection tires?

  in Bikes & Bits • 17 years, 7 months

  

  Also respect to Conti GP4000, rode through winter on one pair with minimal punctures. I think they're a lot better than gatorskins which I had before. Grip is good in the dry, so-so in wet, but the new GP4000S are supposed to be grippier(£22 from Ribble, less 10% discount at the moment).