Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
...then stick a 700c wheel on the back with an 11t block, and watch my kneecaps pop off when I change down....
How was your cycle commute?
- Thread starter ChrisFilter
- Start date
...then stick a 700c wheel on the back with an 11t block, and watch my kneecaps pop off when I change down....
sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
Had a trip over to camberwell and got a flat on some of the glass smashed up by the side of the road, why don't councils clean this stuff up?
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Nope.
You can't really buy a specific 6 speed chain anymore - I've used these for years on 6, 7 and 8 sp setups with no problem whatsoever.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CMTsxvX33MICFWjItAoda1AAHg&gclsrc=aw.ds
BTW I've also used 9 speed chain on 6 speed blocks with no ill effects whatsoever, they just wear out more quickly.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Think it'll be something like this for me:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/sunrace-7-speed-freewheel-prod22242/#bottomsection.
The cycle coop place I go to has the six-speed Shimano screw-ones in stock all the time, but they deal with an lot of older bikes. None of them are 13t though.
Other issue might be the compatibility of the rear mech, it's an oldish Shimano SIS, but pretty sure it'll be fine.
Tonight's commute was sapping, strong headwind & light drizzle all the way, a detour to Screwfix put on another couple of miles.
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/sunrace-7-speed-freewheel-prod22242/#bottomsection.
The cycle coop place I go to has the six-speed Shimano screw-ones in stock all the time, but they deal with an lot of older bikes. None of them are 13t though.
Other issue might be the compatibility of the rear mech, it's an oldish Shimano SIS, but pretty sure it'll be fine.
Tonight's commute was sapping, strong headwind & light drizzle all the way, a detour to Screwfix put on another couple of miles.
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
Those are pretty horrid and unless you've got friction shifters they're best avoided. Sorry. I've fitted them to a number of bikes with indexed shifters and the shifting has been so awful we've eventually had to take the freewheel off and fit a Shimano one. If you've got friction shifters it won't be an issue though
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Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Thanks Weepiper. I've got an indexed shifter but I'll have to replace it as it's a six-speed (I've not been able to find any six-speed freewheels that start with a 13t). Other one I was considering was the pricier IRD one, which sounded like what I wanted but the reviews aren't all that positive.
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
Tbh Dogsauce you can get into all sorts of bother with spacing trying to put a 7 speed block on a bike that was designed for 6 - the rear hub spacing may not be wide enough to fit a 7 speed one on without the chain hitting the frame in the smallest cog. It's not impossible but it's full of pitfalls. I'd be inclined just to stick a new Shimano 6 speed block and chain on and get used to pedalling a bit faster
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
I thought he was going from 6 speed (with an original 6 speed chain) to a 7 speed block.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Very unlikely there would be any practical problem with that, the great thing about old tech is the tolerances are barn door compared to 10 or 11 sp.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Tbh Dogsauce you can get into all sorts of bother with spacing trying to put a 7 speed block on a bike that was designed for 6 - the rear hub spacing may not be wide enough to fit a 7 speed one on without the chain hitting the frame in the smallest cog. It's not impossible but it's full of pitfalls. I'd be inclined just to stick a new Shimano 6 speed block and chain on and get used to pedalling a bit faster
Yep, totally agree.
These are better freewheels than the ubiquitous shimano 14-28. Nickel plated sprockets, freewheel is much better shielded from crap and they have a nice cush drive that butts up against the edge of the thread. I use the 14-24 which is close enough to fit in modern short cage rear mechs with no drama. Works really well with first gen SIS 105 (1050).
A wise retrohead told me the 14-28 was plumped for as so many old bikes run 42t small rings and your modern punter wants lower gears. 70s and 80s gearing was insanely high by modern standards, my '79 Mercian came with a 'corn on the cob' 13-18 straight through freewheel and a 44t bottom ring(!). Lots of old guys with fucked knees.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
I'm not really having serious problems with the 14-28 that's on there, it'll last a while longer yet, I just want something that'll give me a tiny bit more speed to chase the times of those guys running 53/11 set ups etc.
There's a little sprint bit on my commute where I've hit 1:27 about five times now, so close to catching the top guy who's done 1:26! I need that extra 1%.
There's a little sprint bit on my commute where I've hit 1:27 about five times now, so close to catching the top guy who's done 1:26! I need that extra 1%.
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
Longer cranks?
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
The guys running 53/11 setups have the advantage of a bike that weighs significantly less, has wheels with half the rolling weight, has stiffer frame/cranks/whatever so not losing energy transfer through flex etc etc. I think that's where they have the advantage over you, not the gear setup
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Will increase leverage but slow cadence - the benefit in this scenario will only be felt in conjunction with a bigger ring.
Dogsauce - maybe approach it from the Cavendish angle - reduce frontal profile and increase cadence to somewhere in the 140-150rpm region. Maybe consider wearing a skinsuit for your commute
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Morning commute from Penge to Farringdon and I saw 5 other people on bikes - one of them was a courier. The joys or working xmas eve.
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
As long as DS can turn the same rpm on the longer cranks he will get more power and win at Strava.
Or he could go on the 'Bjarne Riis Diet' and attack the other side of the power/weight ratio.
ferrelhadley
There is no love between us anymore.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Managed a ride this morning before the weather closed in. Borrowed my dad's chunky hybrid and was aiming to do a route I used to do as a teenager, including a few punishing climbs up the side of this valley and the next one. Checked my phone to see my progress after 20-odd miles and it had shut down, something it does occasionally in the cold. Couldn't get it back on. I bailed out then (as the weather was also getting worse) and cut home. About 23 miles I reckon, Strava got 18 of them before my phone died, so the 'official' (i.e.recorded) annual total is now up to 1971 miles. Two of the big climbs done (Naish and Wraxall), chance I might go back out for another loop tomorrow to pick up Providence Lane & Rownham. I reckon another 15 tomorrow will keep me on target for 2000, I've estimated I have about another 15 I'll pick up as routine before the end of the year anyway (station rides, trips into town etc.). Then my feet are going up for a few days!
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Ah, but there's got to be a few grammes of weight in it. Mind, I'd probably make the same saving cleaning my bike at the moment, the winter filth is everywhere.
alsoknownas
some bloke
To be comprehensive you'd have to factor in the psychological advantage of having a beard, versus the drag and weight disadvantages, taking in peak beard, etc. No wonder they say the river is flowing towards those who have the algorithms.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Bike experts: my nephew has a new bike for xmas. His house is too small for keeping it inside, so he has a cable lock for locking outside. Trouble is, it's not long enough to go round the frame and both wheels and the only thing to lock it to is a breeze block wall with some holes in it. I advised my sis to at least get a D-lock to use in conjunction with the cable lock, but are there brackets you can get to attach to walls to make it more secure? The wall in question is free standing and could easily be kicked over by a determined thief.
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Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Too expensive.
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Brilliant! Ta!
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Another 21 miles this morning, a bit flatter than yesterday. Cool and sunny to start with, but a lot of surface water about from yesterday. I did the last third mostly on narrow country lanes which had a lot of mud on them, a bit scary at times, with streams running down some sections or puddles at the base of dips, some of which were hiding pretty nasty potholes/surfacing that you'd only see late on while you were going full pelt. For some reason I saw tons of squirrels today, and a nice Jay just as I was getting near home. No dead badgers today (two yesterday).
Two minutes after I got in the hail came down pretty hard, which made me feel a teensy bit smug.
1993 miles in the bag now.
Two minutes after I got in the hail came down pretty hard, which made me feel a teensy bit smug.
1993 miles in the bag now.
ChrisFilter
Like a boss.
I'm on almost exactly the same. Target for 2015 is 80 miles owner.
Was lovely and dry and sunny today so thought I would go for a bike ride rather than visit the gym. Not strictly a commute I know, but it was so fucking cold it felt like something bad was waiting for me at the other end none the less.
Started off fine cos, y'know, you just pedal faster, but going downhill was hard work. And someone really, really needs to invent heated shoes. Or I should have worn my neoprene overshoes. Or I just need to harden the fuck up.
Otherwise it was a great ride. Think I'm about 8kg lighter than the last time I was on my bike and the difference was really noticeable going uphill.
Started off fine cos, y'know, you just pedal faster, but going downhill was hard work. And someone really, really needs to invent heated shoes. Or I should have worn my neoprene overshoes. Or I just need to harden the fuck up.
Otherwise it was a great ride. Think I'm about 8kg lighter than the last time I was on my bike and the difference was really noticeable going uphill.
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