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Morning bump

As per title, I have just managed to repair a long since thought broken rear 6800 shifter, the matching front I gave away a few years ago which is ironic as now I need one to marry up the set again.

So anyway if you have a working left hand "front" 6800 shifter, based North East London but obviously could work with other locations, PM if you think you could help.

Regards

(https://flic.kr/p/2j8E1Tj)

test

I actually had a detailed thread sorted but I cannot get pictures to show up?..

Long and short is I have some basically NOS 10 speed Centaur shifters from what I believe was the Limited edition "Century" range, dark blueish grey levers and shifter.

The right shifter has a issue in that it will not select smoothly, they have been in storage for years and I have just put my hands back on them and think it is time I got them working.

It seems prior to them being sold to me the shop had harvested a few washers without informing me of this fact.

I believe the parts I need can be seen on this page from the US.

https://branfordbike.com/small-parts

I seem to be missing parts 28 and 29... Apart from that the internals are as new and it is the only thing I can imagine causing any issues?.

I know there is a wealth of knowledge on here and a picture says a thousands words and will post them if I can get them to load.

So currently looking for a source for these washers and my knowledge of all things Campagnolo is about minus 42....

Regards

Honestly that about sums up what you come up against when you point out these issues..

I know of a few fairly obvious and straight forward issues that have been pointed out to Essex with previous issues and nothing was done.

I have been using the section from Robin Hood-Towards Woodford recently and I have seen riders are now riding in the main carriageway where car and lorry tyres have smoothed the surface some what towards the nearside. For me this was the issues that I would of expected to have been sorted with this current resurface in making the cycle lane safe and efficient.

The time before last they had left a ridge within the cycle lane right where you needed to place yourself to give a safe distance from the curb, this in turn pushed riders into the main carriageway which caused conflict with other road users.

Currently we have the same issue again with a sub standard surface.

I would love to hear why they could not use Tarmac as they have with Avey lane (Hang man hill road), esp as they have resurfaced the same stretch a number of times within a few years.

It has to be one of the busiest roads for cyclist in the area as most will use it to and from the lanes that run out to the sticks. I just hope that someone does not get hurt riding along there esp Woodford end where the surface is already broken up and stones are being flung up. This is not a slow road either..

Regards

Thanks for that,

Indeed I was planning to climb then come down to a far lower altitude. This is a bit of shake down test TBH, I have plans for a far bigger trip and thankfully having checked the weather it seems to be bright sunshine 20 degrees for 7 days so hopefully I can iron out a few setup options.

Google maps seems to be pants for this region, I am currently looking at Strava heat maps and then plotting route onto RWGPS..

Regards

Afternoon all,

Since I had such a great response regarding migraine busting energy gels I thought I would put out the question here..

Rather than heading to Majorca or south of Spain for my normal cheeky winter get away I have decided to head to Cyprus and to be honest there is some information about the Island but not a massive amount.

I am flying out in the next few days and have a solid week free for cycling, I am taking a slightly more fluid approach to my winter trip than years previous where it would be planned out day by day. I am taking a sleeping bag and my large Ortlieb tail pack complete with Bivy etc.

I have taken an absurdly good deal on a apartment in Paphos and will most likely aim for 3 days as a mini tour then back to apartment for a rest day then 3 more days either taking in the climbs or I may just head out on another 3 day expedition.

When I say I know sweet f,all about Cyprus that is a understatement, so for anyone that has been what is the food options like as you head away from the main cities, I am thinking heading into the Troodos range, I hear it can be very cold at altitude this time of year so any advice?.

I have a MSR Pocketrocket that will need the regular fit Coleman/Camping Gaz canisters, can these be sourced in Paphos?, I see there are a few hunting shops but sadly my emails have gone unanswered. I do have a MSR whisperlite but that needs a bottle and can be used with almost any fuel such as Unleaded etc but flying with this stove and needing a brand new bottle just for the trip can be troublesome.

As always any advice greatly appreciated..

Regards

Going to be in the kitchen today as I have bought some Maple syrup and other odds and sods..

I will be rolling a few samples out in the coming days to see what works, shame the weather is so crap as I wanted to get a long ride done prior to boxing up a bike for Cyprus but what can you do...

Any idea on packets to self fill?, I see the style that Adam Hansen uses would be great for ultra long days but would like something smaller when throw away for weekly training.

Edit: May have found something that is basically a refillable baby food pouch, otherwise will just get a marathon style gel bottle..

Regards

Wow, thanks for the response,

Maple syrup seems to be the way forward, think I will get one of those pouches that Adam Hansen uses and go from there.

Regarding the actual ingredient that triggers it I would have to say, no I have not been able to fine tune it down that much.

I can drink orange juice without issue, and citrus does not seem to be a factor for me.

I have spoken to a number of companies ref ingredient change and Clif was by far the best help I could have asked for, certainly they went well above and beyond what I could ever imagine and as such I can eat certain bars from them without issue, Peanut Butter for example is my go to..

@PhilDAS, seems we share the same symptoms, 2-3 days I am man down, certainly they can come and go with mild discomfort but when the big one's hit they are absurdly terrible. luckily I have had so many that I do not panic with them like a lot of people. I know that certain cheese would trigger mine off hence I now avoid all dairy products, at the very least my heart will thank me long term.

Any recipes for Maple syrup that people have used that works?, quantities of ingredients etc?..

Regards

Need a wee bit of advice..

I suffer with spectral migraines (temp blindness caused by strobe like lights that go across one's field of view for 45 minutes followed by banging head ache), I had my first one when I was about 12 and over the years I can say that they are 100% related to diet and certain foods, I can go a year with none then have 10 in a matter of weeks if I start eating something different that triggers them.

Obviously in the cycling world we have copious amounts of energy gels and bars and I can be certain that a majority of energy gels will bring on an attack almost timing it to the hour after consumption.

I thought I had this little chestnut in the bag in that the last 3 years I had been using a marketing leading gel in a certain flavour without any migraines, I have tried other flavours from this brand and will get a attack by that evening. Sadly it seems that maybe the composition of this flavour has changed recently and I am now getting migraines with it also. I will make it clear there is zero issues with the product, it is my own sensitivity that is causing it, even certain bars will start a episode as will certain tablets and so on...

What I am looking for is a company large or small that offers a organic energy gel without the chemical elements that maybe causing these attacks. I changed my diet drastically about 5 years ago so I am borderline Vegan and that has improved my situation vastly, not to mention my overall well being and fitness. However with the distances and intensity of my riding and training I really need to have the option of a gel that works for me and sadly I am currently buggered as every one thus far is causing issues.

If anyone knows of a truly organic gel or even a recipe that could be home brewed please let me know. There is fairly limited information regarding spectral migraines and energy products, and it is relatively rare for men to get them (but certainly not unheard of).

I am off bike packing at the end of the month to Cyprus and was expecting to have a ton of gels stashed away for the Troodos range, currently it is looking like I will have to sustain myself on grass and tree bark...

Regards

I had a very polite email back from them stating it should be directed to Essex Authority but could not forward my email due to GDPR..

I will re submit in the coming seconds..

I used it 5-6 days a week as part of my training route, I tend to totally miss out the first section from the Shell Garage to the Robin Hood pub now by going via the High beech tea hut route and cutting down to the Robin Hood roundabout. Sadly I have little option but to dive head first down the second section where my soul is rattled out of my ears.

I wonder if the Dunwich Dynamo will use it this year?. I can only imagine how soul destroying going the other way must be?. ;-)

I sent a email to the actual Highways agency and instructed them to direct it to the relevant department.

Hopefully they can at least review the road surface there, as already it is breaking up in parts.. It was only resurfaced I think in 2015?? and I do not recall any excavation work as there are no power lines along said route or houses etc, so they certainly have spent a fair bit of coin doing it twice, I just wish they would have done it right!!!!..

The section from the Rangers Road junction on wards is perfectly acceptable, just the fast downhill 30mph sections that are stretchy as hell..

Out of shear interest I wonder what the cost was for this work and if they are happy regarding the quality??, my guess is that it is acceptable for cars so yes perfectly fine??.

I would have thought putting anything down that could cause issue would be a big no no, esp as it is far easier than ever before to bring a case against the council.

It does seem bizarre that they have replaced the previous poor surface with something magnitudes worse, the main carriage way I guess for cars was fine, would it not have been sensible to spend the monies that they have resurfacing the whole stretch on sorting out the cycle lane?.. Just how much has this cost the council I wonder?.

Honestly I didn't want to be the one to say it but WORD,...

Truthfully I am shocked and stunned that a road that is known to be used by cyclist was resurfaced in such a manner, (Reference Epping), I would have thought it justified to make sure there was a smooth safe surface along there. It must have been spoken about in consultation?..

Indeed,

Well when it was resurfaced previous it was substandard and that meant riders tended to ride to the right of the cycle lane marking where the surface was slightly less bumpy, now the cycle lane has been widened a small amount you really would be in the main lane on what tends to be a very busy bit of road.

There certainly are other options although less direct and by then I have done my intervals etc.

The furthest end heading towards Woodford from the Robin hood is especially bad, the surface is breaking up and stones are being flung all over by passing cars, I wonder if firing off a email to Essex council would be a idea??..

I have just gone back to using this stretch of road the last few weeks and my god it is absolutely hideous, I know it was resurfaced last summer and I can only think they ran out of money to finish it properly?, I do not think I have ever ridden on such a poor road surface in the UK after so called improvements works.

Granted the old surface was not great but this new surface with the loose stones everywhere and bone shaking ruffness is honestly not acceptable. Do they not know what tarmac is?.

Anyone else come to the same conclusion?.. I guess it could be of a advantage if you are heading over to the Cobbles this Spring?..

Just a side note for anyone using Eurostar you are not allowed to transport a bike with luggage attached.

I had to remove all my bike packing bags and carry them on board. Also the staff at the terminal was miserable as sin bunch of job worth wankers.. Not good when you are tired having just completed the journey..

As above I have done the London Newhaven-Dieppe-Paris route..

Over a few days however, ended up camping out in a Forest just on the outskirts of Paris, freezing cold in a Bivy.. Nice ride until you hit Paris proper.

Came back on Eurostar. I will do it again forsure..

Not so keen doing it in one go, but then i am soft.. I was also lucky with the wind which was a constant light tail wind, I meet someone a few weeks after getting back who did the same route the week previous and he had a block headwind from the moment he departed his house.. Fingers crossed it will be behind you..

Regards

Any idea on size compared to say Castelli or Rapha summer/core???..

Currently a large in Castelli and medium in the expensive stuff if that helps??, I would post my height and weight but honestly that means fuck all as I tend to be sized like ET with stupidly long body narrow shoulders and short legs...

A right sight in the morning when I am walking around in Y fronts heading to get the TV on for Jeremy Kyle ..

PM if needed...

What is the current asking price for Frame/forks,seatpost and wheels??...

I am flying out to Manila and someone may well want this if the price is right.

Welcome to PM

Rent is hideous in many parts of London and I honestly could not see how any LBS could turn any meaningful profit other than the ones that have a niche market such as Rapha and a strong customer base such as Condor.

The cycle trade really has a lot against it sadly with a saturated used market selling high quality cheap products, Wiggle and their power to deliver quick free delivery on well priced goods has to be the over riding factor I would guess?, even with price matching in the main stream high street stores I have noticed a distinct down turn in footfall whilst browsing their establishments.

Then there is value for money on the current range of shop floor built bikes, I was fairly naive to the prices of bikes in 2018 and what you actually get for the money, recently I was looking for a gravel type bike and the price to component specs was questionable for myself and I guess many people that could source parts and build a bike.

I have to ask how is the Velodrome doing and cycle circuit?, are they still getting enough people in to make the setup viable??..

Just putting this out there as a idea. debatable how good it will be.....

Would it be possible to offer up a short travel suspension fork to something like a Genesis Vagabond frame, having seen the Cannondale setup from the London show that was built by one of the head office guys running a lefty fork on a CX frame I would like to get something built up for the jungle trails in the Philippines that are near to my house there..

I see Curve are are also messing around with this concept if Rhinos Insta is anything to go by, I know there are a few off the peg options, well maybe one I can think of but I have a fair bit of kit lying around including a Ultegra 6800 group and a 11-40 11 speed cassette and wheels, thinking about it I would literally just need a Frame and 80-100mm fork..

Rake could be a issue?, and I guess the Vaga runs a 1 1/8th headset so I guess a older fork is needed and a quick rebuild which is no issues..

What you say??...

I did London to Paris last year as a bit of Bike packing prep, I have never seen a Paris to Le Harve route TBH as most people take the ferry back from either Dieppe or Calais..

I would suggest having a look at Strava heat maps, these helped me recently in Malaga...