Recent content by steve_sordy

There are at least six different ways to do it, but for all of them, you need to fully compress the rear suspension to check that the any rearward movement of the axle during compression does not overtighten the chain. If you don't, a deep compression might rip the mech clean off. I do this...

On my first night ride I followed a new riding buddy, using his bar light. He had a helmet and a bar light. He detoured through the grounds of a stately home. We were going down one of the paths when we approached what looked like the columns at the start of a flight of steps. My bar light...

I can't be the only one thinking of Trigger's broom!

A more subtle and hence harder for the thief to see would be a 7" spike that launches through the saddle, unless disarmed. Just don't forget to disarm it before riding it yourself! :eek: I saw a USA video made by some students who left a trick bicycle for people to steal. It had a counter...

I was chatting to the head Ranger (a very keen emtb and mtb rider) on my last ride out. He confirms that Forestry England had nothing to do with clearing the NCB area. He believes that those doing the clearing must have been given specific instructions to leave it like that, probably to keep out...

Avoid e13 freehubs. I thought that their 5-year warranty on the wheelset indicated confidence in their quality. I was wrong. The freehub failed at typically 710 miles interval. I had three freehubs fail on me, the last one while a buyer was test riding the bike! On each occasion, the tech guy...

I asked ChatGPT for ten pub quiz questions on the theme of "orange". It complemented me on what an interesting question it was and printed off ten questions. I then had to ask for the answers as well! I then had to ask for Q&A for a British audience, not the obviously American audience the Q&A...

I thought that I'd give a chance to impress us to ChatGPT, an AI available on the web. Question to ChatGPT Disc brake pads on bicycles. When fitting new pads, it is a required procedure to "bed them in". This involves hard braking up to a score of times. As this is underway, the braking...

I may come to regret this but I ask you to conjure up your own picture. Last time out, I was aware that something was not quite right in the shorts department. There was an unsightly bulge at the front, but also an odd slightly uncomfortable feeling in the saddle area. Anyway, I was too busy...

You have planted a seed of doubt. Now I need to know. :unsure: Does anyone know for sure whether bedding in the pads is essential for pad longevity as well as stopping power?

PFFFTT! 52 is YOUNG! :ROFLMAO:

I wear Fox Ranger long pants, with Troy Lee Designs knee & shin guards underneath. They fend off all nettles & brambles. Brambles have vicious hooked thorns and will penetrate flesh quite easily and make a right mess if they drag. The straight and thin spines on Gorse are more fragile and would...

I have always believed so. The event I described served to reinforce that belief. I was riding alongside the same guy and I had no problems with my brake pads. Are you asking a question because you want to know one way or the other, or are you expressing disbelief? You see, now I want to know...

Oh shit! I was bought that set last year, not had to use it yet. I hope mine is one of the genuine ones! I'll have to get out my micrometer now!

I don't use a chain gauge. The most consistently accurate method is to remove the chain, lay it on a flat surface, stretch it out and measure 100 links with a metal tape measure. It is dead easy to do and more than accurate enough. 100 links of new chain will measure 50 inches exactly. 50 and...