And today I did......

[epicyclo]

Re: Re:

...So whats the review of the surly now you've had it all these years ?.

I'll give you one.

I rode it from Jamie's to JoG. (Sounds epic but not that far really).

What I noticed about it was - it is a bike! Not some unwieldy contraption. I was prepared to make allowances for it, but none necessary. The only place I noticed its heft was trying to U-turn in narrow roads, but that was more lack of familiarity.

I haven't ridden it loaded though, but what impressed me is it isn't just a cargo bike, it's a perfectly cromulent daily rider.

Impressed enough that I tried to pry it out of Jamie's unwilling hands.

 

[dyna-ti]

It's the laden bit im also interested in. Thats its function, so weighted, bound to have the same effect as with any laden or touring kit, and as haulage it the purpose, then that weight can be significant.
Currently I ride everywhere on the Cove(Dear Lord, modern geometry is fantastic.)
As such how you ride in town and how or what route you take are going to have to be different too. Certainly using a toe to propel yourself around a pedestrian(cycle) crossing is going to be trickier with a longer bike, possibly more difficult, and should while wheeling it have a pedal to the back of the leg propelling it around a bit, and likely engaging the motor. Horror show in the making.
So
So my urban journeying route wise will need to change and be less crow fly, as on the roads 90% of the time. Big hills too(Prospecthill Rd)
Something like the surly would be fine as its really long, but a tern or R&M and weight on the back is going to lift the front wheel.
This is where I think the R&M packster 40 is the better choice. :? The route would be changing so best maybe something that doesnt have lifting or or unbalanced when tilted(Tilting is what bikes are all about)
Thew packster is low weight, so no tilt issue, and no need to toe around anything as the route have changed to accommodate E riding style.

I was looking at the R&M packster or multicharger, but with the latter, it has a frame mounted front rack. the weight is on the front of the bike,and braking is going to cause dive, so seems a dumb place to mount a rack, especially if theres a limit of 15kg, thats a lot of weight :?.

 

[Jamiedyer]

I will do a later write up for you mate but laden, it handles fine, not what you would expect. The length and stability thats built into it belies the actual differing loads it can take. If you put a set of wideloaders on you can carry anything. We have towed wheelbarrows, carried heavy steel folding bed on one side, a huge terracotta plant pot filled with soil and a tree on the sidecar and all carried safely for miles. You have to load it with the weight in mind etc but I think these modern longtails would surprise you if you haven't ridden one.

Jamie

 

[velomaniac]

Re:

Finally after 12 years I relocated all my bike crap into my 3 sheds and converted one to my workshop complete with electric :shock:

Before anyone gets excited the workshop is the least dilapidated shed with the tallest roof so I can stand up. Had to rip out the rotten floor but discover a completely slabbed base, result, no need to replace floor, just stand on slabs
Electric is just extension cable from back door but maybe install armoured cable next year permanently in situ.
Badly needs budget insulation so will be wrapped in bubble wrap and tarpaulin and likely resemble a crustie tree huggers basha but it's cheap.

It's a strange but nice feeling to be able to work in an enclosed space dedicated to the task with all my tools near to hand

Henceforth my workshop shall be known as the Cunning Artificer Technical College, Department of Bodgineering.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

You cant beat having a dedicated space to work on your bike(s), especially as the days are getting shorter, and colder! Just use an RCD plug on your extension and you should be fine, and if you plug in a heater that'll probably max out the extension lead fuse... my workspace has sockets but is taken from the outside lighting circuit :facepalm: so as I found out, too much load trips things out .

 

[velomaniac]

Re:

Thanks for RCD plug suggestion, I shall get one of those. As for heater, my tiny thermostat controlled fan heater has not blown anything yet. Plan though is dress warm and keep moving, lounging around best done in front of TV in house

 

[Mr Panda]

Re:

Been working from home and stupid busy pretty much since March like many of us I guess, but today I logged in to RETROBIKE

Been a while and cycling certainly hasn't been the highest priority for me recently, despite the cracking weather we had in lockdown, but as the winter nights close in I feel the need to be out

So, got my BLT lights fitted to this again

 

[Bullpup]

I have just finished building a Chumba HX-1 as a 69er using On One fat forks and a 29" front wheel with a 135mm axle.

I think I should now try half fat - does anyone have a suitable front wheel for sale please? I willl put a wanted ad in Trading Post.

 

[clubby]

Due to childcare and weather I’ve barely been out of house since Monday. Didn’t help myself this morning by settling down on PlayStation this morning for a wee hour and finally finishing up at ten past one. At least by that point the roads had dried up and the sun had softened the cup de sac enough that it was actually passable. Fuelled by hot soup I headed up and round the country park for a wee burl. Riding actually improved the higher up I went as the tracks there hadn’t had the same thaw/freeze cycle we’d had down by the coast. Nice covering of crispy snow on top of a frozen base gave surprising amount of grip, considering I’m still running a semi slick on the back. Also the upside that the boggy trail of doom was rideable for the first time this winter and the bike didn’t need cleaned when I got home.
Hope you’re all staying safe but still getting out.

 

[dyna-ti]

There are a number of small plug in heaters available that only draw 500w, fairly cheap too, though there it depends on quality/longevity, but all the same probably as much as you would really need as sometimes 1000 or 2000w is just overkill for one small room.

eg
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8829733 ... lsrc=aw.ds