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Tomm

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Posts posted by Tomm

  1. Cyclocross

    Although it depends in what ratios you will be commuting vs riding for fun. Mostly commuting - I'd probably get a cyclocross bike. Although I'd just buy two separate bikes to be honest, one cheap runaround and a decent play bike, whatever you like the look of.

  2. Right, some advice please:

    I need a VW Golf MkIV bumper in one of the slightly more obscure colours - Shadow Blue (LD5Q). Is there anywhere I can order this online? Or any breakers I should contact? Am I better off getting a plain bumper and getting it repsrayed? Doesn't have to look perfect but ideally should look decent from, say, 5 yards away.

  3. Looks nice. How do you find it relative to your Civic type-R? Obviously it has advantages of roof-down/ RWD but I mean in terms of noise / drama / how much of an event it is to drive etc?

    The s2k as it stands now, only had it a few months now.

  4. Obviously you should, or at least that's what the helmet manufacturers suggest... But my helmets have taken much harder knocks and I haven't replaced them. Stupid? Maybe. But then I get a knock like you describe a few times a year and I could never afford a new helmet each time. Replace at 5 years or visible damage is my rule.

  5. I find it slightly embarrassing to say that I've got a few different lycra bits (bib shorts, bib long trousers, bib 3/4 length trousers) but anyway, the 3/4s are the ones I wear by far most often in UK weather.

    They're all different brands.

    The long ones are Gore, they're very nicely made

    3/4s are DHB, also pretty nice (but slightly strange sizing which I knew before ordering so all was well).

  6. 100 miles a week is pretty doable. It's only 10 miles each way x 5 days. Still, it'll keep you fit and should be pretty enjoyable in this weather. There are lots of second hand road bikes on eBay, but like you say the problem is your height, and there will only be the odd one or two that would fit you. Might be easier to buy new if you can afford it - road bike prices don't seem to decrease so much second hand anyway (compared with mountain bikes/trials bikes).

    For me, SPDs definitely. Probably MTB SPDs for commuting (cleats are easier to walk in). Again, lycra yes for me, but it's optional. As soon as you get over the looks, you realise it's comfier and more aerodynamic / efficient. If you commute a lot on one bike, it's worth getting mudguards and consider a rack. It just makes it a lot nicer for when the weather's not brilliant. At the moment I've taken my mudguards off, but I got caught in a massive shower last week and got soaked from road spray. Unless it's completely pouring, the road spray onto you is more significant than the rain falling from above.

  7. Nah don't go full sus. £400 really isn't a lot and a full sus for that price will be ropey at best... Get a hardtail. Something around 17-19" will probably be OK, but there's a lot of variability in top tube lengths etc. Just go off what the manufacturer recommends (they usually have a guide related to your height) and you can't go too far wrong.

    Have a look on the pinkbike classifieds and singletrackworld. If you can push your budget a bit higher it'll open a lot of doors.

  8. Where is the best place online to get a VW OEM bumper from? It's for a mk4 golf by the way. I've found some on eBay which seem ok but I want to know how much an OEM one should be so I can compare with the quote from the vw garage...

  9. Can you get a moto trials bike into a Berlingo / Multipla or similar?

    My understanding is that car-derived vans (or even people-carriers / MPVs etc) are cheaper to run / tax/ insure. And you have the same speed limits as a car whereas in a van you're more restricted.

    EDIT: Pickup?

  10. That's a lot of money. I've been looking at a car, but it's in Essex White and I was wondering about the cost of respraying. I think it's gonna be prohibitive, for me at least. Mind you, if you were spending that sort of money you could go for something original / interesting, not just a stock colour.

    I think there's also some sort of implications with needing to change the V5 and it therefore affects the insurance? Whereas wrapping is apparently fine as it's not considered permanent. Have you considered a wrap?

  11. I wouldn't get too upset if you can't mount with a track pump - I can't mount my dedicated tubeless tyres (Hans Dampf) on my dedicated rims (Stans Flow).

    The bottle thing helps loads though. Use a 3l bottle for more volume.

  12. I don't think a 12v compressor will do the job, it's like trying to pump a tyre with a shock pump - the volume of air you're moving just isn't great enough.

    I can confirm that this is indeed true. You can pump more volume with a track pump. Ghetto bottle thing *** though.

    You shouldn't really put more than 40psi in tubeless. They can pop off the rims at high pressures, allegedly.

  13. Sounds like you're doing the right things. Some thoughts in no particular order:

    Don't expect it to all work with just a track pump - if you've got access to a compressor then use it! Otherwise, make one of these. Inflate with the compressor, then remove the valve core and pour in the sealant. They should go back up with just a track pump (the bead usually stays sealed if you don't manipulate it too much).

    Even on tubeless-ready tyres, the sidewalls still leak a bit initially. Just top them up with fluid, pump up to 40 psi and wait or...

    Top tip - going for a ride usually fixes tubeless issues (I guess it sloshes the fluid around a good bit).

    No idea about OKO sealant, but Stans is labelled as suitable for cars / motorbikes / lorries etc as well as push bikes.

    Single cream consistency sounds about right, maybe slightly thinner.

    I carry a tube with me anyway - even though my tubeless setup is leak-free and reliable, you can still pinch...

  14. Thanks Dave for clearing up the confusion.

    I didnt even take the time to look at the picture as I am on my mobile so just took a guess that it would be those speedplay pedals. My bad.

    Why did you guess? Any idiot can guess and get it wrong, why on earth did you think that was a helpful thing to do? >_<

  15. Yeah I don't need anything super-practical (Rachel has a Golf Estate which is fine if we need to move furniture / go away with bikes etc) but I want to be able to at least stick the bike in/on the car and go for a ride.

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