Search results for:

The Alf Webb does look great once the psycho tribal dance paint work has been defeated. It's just the sloping top tube, it makes me all giddy, reminds me of my hybrid days.

I read somewhere that the Nelson's are just cheap because they want to clear the stock? At the RRP a Nelson comes in at £350, which drops it at the lower end of decent alu frame price lineup. Which again, strangely makes me worry about the build quality!

I didn't realise the Condor alu Pista didn't have reinforced dropouts? That does give me hope for the Nelson.

What a palaver. Does anyone ride an alu frame, without reinforced dropouts, brakeless? That would be my intention for the Nelson. I'd hate to get one and tear the back end off after a week of heavy skip stopping.

I'm thinking of buying a cheap-ish aluminium frame, like for example the Nelson. It has decent geometry, a horizontal top tube and a paint job that doesn't involve any go faster stripes or whoosh graphics.

It doesn't however have reinforced dropouts. Does anyone know if this is an issue with an alu frame? I read something somewhere that said that tightening and loosening the back wheel a few times creates little ruts on the dropouts which can dictate the future position of the wheel, meaning you can't get a decent alignment.

Has anyone experienced this? Or who has a Nelson Frame? I know someone has, I've seen him belting through Clapton of a morning.

Cheers
Malko

I stripped my Bianchi with NitroMors.

Thanks for all your advice and links.

After taking into account all the information you've given me I figure a week of healing physically and a hundred or so pound on repairs will have everything back in order. My main question I suppose was whether I should involve the Police and insurance companies. I think for such a minimal (all relative I know) amount of repairs, it seems a little foolish to get into a long drawn out claim.

I've decided to chalk it down to experience and obviously ride a little more carefully next to a stationary line of traffic.

Thanks again everyone for your help and time. It was much appreciated.

Malko.

I know this is probably one of the most common threads, so please bear with me. I could do with some advice.

I was just riding home – Maida Vale to Lower Clapton.

– Riding up Camden Road on the way home 18h20, just getting up some speed to take on the hill.
– Riding up the inside of the almost stationary line of traffic.
– Car crossed the line of traffic from the opposite direction to pull into a junction.
– I hit the car, near-side front wing, spin across the bonnet, end up in the road, bike on top of me.
– My front wheel is slightly bent and my forks also seems slightly out of shape, ie. a bit more bent under my down tube than I'd ideally like. Although this could also mean the top tube, down tube and head tube got a bit of a whack.
– Got the guys name and number but didn't get the registration of the car. I did read a thread a while back about getting all the details, or more details than I did – honestly, it's harder than you think when you've just been flying – I forgot a few things

So here's the thing. Bar a few cuts and scrapes, I'm OK.

A new set of forks, even frame and wheel alignment on my cheapo Bianchi Pista isn't going to set me back that much. I also ride brakeless, not that a brake would have helped at all during the incident, I'd already locked the back end up as soon as I saw what was going on.

Please can anyone advise on the following:
– Do I call the police to report the incident – I think I have 24 hours to report anything? Is it worth the time, potential cost of court action, insurance claim etc. for a couple of hundred GBPs of damage?
– Do I need witnesses? Three people stopped, none of them said they saw anything. The driver of the car asked if they'd seen anything, they said no.
– If I do report the incident, how do I stand legally riding brakeless?
– And who was in the wrong here? I was undertaking – illegal. He was cutting across a line of traffic and whilst giving way to cars, obviously hadn't considered bikes, maybe pedestrians.

Thanks in advance for anyone's input. And I do feel a bit of a twat, being a grown man and not really knowing what to do next. Sorry for that.

Isn't it all to do with the banks? Because of their theft, fraud and morally questionable activities of late, the GBP is pretty much useless. Most of the Japanese parts imported into the UK come via the USA and you need a load more GBP these days to buy the same amount of shiny Japanese parts in USD than you did 6 months ago.

So how come those guys that tried to sell you hi-fi speakers (box of bricks) from the back of a van got arrested and sent to HMP, but the bankers that repackaged all those high risk mortgages and sold them on as sound investments get to carry on as if nothing happened? They're cheeky young scamps aren't they?

I just got stung for an extra £50 for some Sugino.

Public transport:
Smelly / Overcrowded / Overpriced / Unreliable

Cycling:
Love / Light / Peace

To be honest, on a fixed wheel bike, all you really need to take care is simply the chain (and the front brake), otherwise it's fine.

not a new bike, just look completely different now due to having a new project, this is the last change I'll ever make on the Bianchi;

that is a nice front wheel. radial spoking is lovely, shame you can't set the back up like that.

Some really long bloke on a matt black Fort. This morning at 8.50ish riding down Balls Pond Road, turning into Essex Road. Couldn't get any other features, he was hoodied up. And I couldn't keep up with him.

Amazing. So do you reckon most of those bikes are kept in sheds – gently rotting away. It hardly bares thinking about.

I fitted some Soyo Long Grips about a month ago. I tried hot water, spit, petrol and hair spray. Hair spray was the outright winner, although it was still a tough job. Like you said, they barely fit over the end of the bars anyway, so you've really got to push and twist, push and twist like your life depends on it. And don't stop, the moment they stop, that's where they stay.

I did find however, the grips act as an excellent exfoliant on the palms. I removed at least a couple of layers of skin from my hands installing the Soyos. The grain of those grips is quite aggressive, do be careful.

blinkin' flip. he's good.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts are with you.

Or the Catlike Kompact! Depending which key you press on the keyboard.

Looks like the Catlike Impact 2.

The Fuji even has old school gear shifters. Surely that's just making it difficult for yourself? At least they didn't put an A-head stem on it. I'm with deadly fanny pack here, for the same money buy an authentic original from the bygone era.

Interesting. Liking the idea of the metal flake white, I might have to look into that. However phasergunalex did have a point. There are an awful lot of white bikes around – although perhaps maybe more chrome Binachis! Oh the dilema. I'll see how I feel about it once the seasons change. Those Acne Pistas are nice though, especially for the ladies.

+1

The Sugino was exactly where I was going to go with the crank. It was going to be a spring treat to myself. I'll check the Miche out as well.

I was thinking about getting the frame powder coated as well (white). That would be the summer treat.

I didn't realise you could do that. That's amazing. I just found a thread that said Cycle Surgery at Spitalfields know all about that kind of operation. Do you recommend? Or know better? Actually, I could just drop into Kiwi and see if he can sort it out for me.

Threaded headset would be lovely. Nice quill stem with that as well. What were they thinking with the A-Head set up on the Bianchi? I've gone with the Nitto Ultimate Ideal until funds allow for an upgrade.

That was probably me. On the commute to, or maybe from Maida Vale.

I'm in Lower Clapton, so I suppose I should stop being such a lazy arse and get over to the East drinks at some point soon.

Cheers Superprecise. Now I feel crap that I'm going to miss the Tweed Run. After all your kind words it would have been great to meet some of you on Saturday. Alas I'm off up North to visit family. Next time.

Cheers you guys. I feel all warm inside now. Not in a gay way you understand.

Thanks edscoble, especially coming from another Bianchi owner. It really was a whole load easier to ride once I'd taken a litre of Nitromors to the frame and gotten rid of the Bianchi advertising.