Jameso:

Looking at buying an Arkose Alfine frame as a stopgap due to one of my other bikes getting tired, with a view to running it geared (2×11) and having the option of single speeding it for the winter when funds allow for replacement…….

Is it possible to run the alfine version geared? I take it there is sufficient cable stops for a rear mech cable and front mech cabling?

What else would I need? Extra dropout etc?

Thanks!

A

No idea on the mount, I had K-edge mounts on the MTB, gravel and roadie, so I just changed the inserts.

Original post updated to add comments ref size and LEDs

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Ex 810 user here.

It was ok, but kept shutting down mid-ride and was flaky with sensors as you say. Plus a bit of a faff loading routes onto TBF.

Elemnt Bolt user since January – it’s brilliant! It’s like someone took my Garmin and made it 100 times better!

Thought I’d miss the touch screen and colour screen, but screen (particularly for navigation) is so much clearer!

It’s fair bit smaller than the 810, (its closer to a 520/820 form factor) but I’ve gotten used to it. Didn’t want to go for the original ELEMNT due to size. A few guys at work have both the original ELEMNT and the Bolt.

It’s a doddle to set up with the app too.

Sensor pairing is quick and painless too.

I like the row of LEDs too – have started to use them for heart rate, and actually trying to stay in certain zones rather than guessing on the Garmin.

Really happy – definitely wouldn’t go back to Garmin now.

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I got a pair of the cheap wheels from On-One, £70 the pair. They are disk rather than rim brakes but I’m sure they do an equivalent. They stood up to the Dirty Reiver last month so I’ve no complaints about their suitability. Add in a single speed kit and you should be fine.

Got a link to those?

Thanks!

A

^

This.

I’m pretty local (about 15/20 mins away)

I like to go and do 3 laps – one in the daylight, one as it’s getting dusky and then a night lap! Night laps around there are great fun.

I usually park up at ferndown golf course and pedal in (about a 15min ride)

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For any one that is interested the drill only without the battery is now on the Argos ebay site at £16.99

Got a link Tracey?

Thanks,

A

I’ve got a Praxis 48/32 set up with an 11-32 cassette on my gravel bike – have exactly the same issue.

Pretty sure I read on the praxis chainring packaging this was to be expected!

In use I don’t notice it, only when bike is in the stand

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I’ve picked up a Camelbak Chase Bike Vest for doing “Gravel” endurance rides and CX sportives etc.

I’ve been pretty impressed so far! Seems comfy – I have taken the minimalist approach following a badly broken collar bone a few years ago.

https://www.camelbak.com/en/packs/R01075–Chase_Bike_Vest

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Shameless plug:

I’ve got a Giant conduct unit in a box in the garage if anyone wants to buy it? Bought it used to go on my wife’s Liv Invite, but she likes her chicken levers so never fitted it!

Think I’ve got a 90 and 110 stem i can chuck in too.

Can measure up hoses later. Post mount calipers.

Email in profile in anyone is interested!

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I’ve got one of those praxis works sub compact 48/32 chain sets in my diverge – picked up cheap on eBay.

Shifting has been fine – paired with a medium 105 mech and 11/32 cassette.

Might be worth looking for one of those?

Thanks,

A

Gah – can’t edit previous post.

But found it via search function on gpsies- thanks!

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^

Nice one – hadn’t thought of looking on gpsies! Thanks!

Link doesn’t seem to find the route though?

Yeah – some of their events look like they could be fun – a nice blend of road/off road too.

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If you’ve got a go-pro style mount already GoPro Mount

I’ve used this on a vortex pro on a Bell super – works great!

Or moons own helmet mount:

RB-16

HTH

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Shimano road stuff uses BH-59 hoses (brass insert – 2.3mm bore)

Lever fitting is usual compression nut, barb and olive. So you should be able to just remove easy-fit hose and whack new hose straight in.

I’m using the BH-90 hose (silver insert – 2.1mm bore) as used on newer Shimano MTB stuff on my RS685s and RS505s following a recommendation by a Shimano tech guy as a way to sharpen up the brakes. (I like mine with very little lever throw and very on-off feeling)

HTH

A

Edit – beaten to it!

Shimano Road stuff uses the “older” BH-59 (with the brass insert) whereas newer MTB stuff uses BH-90 (with the silver insert)

I’ve fitted mine (RS505 and RS685) with the BH-90 Hoses on the recommendation of a Shimano tech guy in order to “sharpen” the brakes up – I like little lever throw and very on/off brakes even on the roadie!

HTH

A

Absolutely loving mine so far!

Arrived Christmas Eve – washed the road bike after my ride, then have used it just now after a Boxing Day social 30 on the road bike this morning.

Has cut down cleaning time – and without risk of blasting into seals etc.

Got home from this mornings ride – kettle on, sprayed bike with muc-off and drivetrain cleaner. Tea made whilst that was doing its stuff then a 5 min spritz with the hydroshot. Boom – done.

Dead chuffed.

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Onzadog – Member
We must be buying too many of them, the bastards have just put the price up

Amazon? Yep – just gone up by £15

Grumpy here – was supposed to be here today, now saying tomorrow! (Plus side amazon have just given me 2 months free Prime as an apology when I called and asked why!)

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Damn this thread – one “slipped” into my Amazon basket and is arriving tomorrow…….

Wonder if my wife will notice if I wrap it and put it under the tree??

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davidr – Member
I’d suggest Raceblade longs rather than Pros. A bit more faff than Pros as you need to remove the brake caliper and they mount with the qr through the stay but much more coverage.

Ta – but no caliper to worry about, it’s an SL4 disc.

Just want something I can pop on and off quickly if I see rain when I stick my head out the door before i leave for a ride!

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Great – thanks all. Raceblades it is.

Off to the LBS in my lunch break tomorrow then!

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Yeah, they snuck that one in under the radar!

I’ve been really impressed by them – shame they didn’t do that design to start – would have saved me taking a notch out of my mudguards!

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salad_dodger – Member
I have both and the Crud MK3’s are terrible on all of the three bikes I’ve tried them on.

How are the raceblades in comparison? Worlds apart or still a compromise? (Accept they’ll never match full guards for performance!)

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Yep – got RS685 shifters on an R9000 front mech (purchased before R8000 was announced) and RS505 Shifters on an R8000 front mech and it all works sweet!

Would have gone for the new (cheaper!) 105 level FD-5801 if I could have found one for sale at the time!

Much cleaner looking and easier to set up than the long-arm 11spd front mechs.

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JakD95 – thanks.

Just realised mine are D711DB and D712SB – anyone know if these can be converted?

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Sorry for thread hijack but does anyone know if superstar use the Novatec D771SB / D772SB combo rebadged as something else and/or if they can be converted (currently set up as std 9mm QR)

Thanks,

Andy

46’s arrived today – gonna be too big!

Sending back tomorrow unless anyone wants them for the £15 quid (plus 3.50) postage I paid for them?

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Managed to find a pair of 46 for £15 – so have taken a punt (usually a 45 in Shimano shoes) so will try them with some sealskins socks. If not they’ll be in the classifieds soon after they arrive!

They’ll be for the 10-15 min walk to school (pushing bike) then a quick 2 mile ride to work.

Can chuck my overshoes in bag for the longer ride home, to help alleviate any cold feet!

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As for comfort, we’ll let you know next summer . . .

Ha ha – after reading similar comments above I might need to rethink my plans…..

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Esme – Member
Regardless of sizing, they’re definitely not suitable for winter commuting. Your tootsies will be frozen!

But to answer your question, Mr E takes a size 10 in normal shoes, and bought the Cadets in 45 (for summer riding only).

Ta!

Luckily commute (if I take short version – which I’ll have to in order to do school run!) is 2miles – usually ride about 10-12 miles home though to shake the day off…..

How does he find them size-wise?(and comfort wise?)

Reckon sizing up with some toasty socks could be the way to go for commute duties then!

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Just bumping for some advice/experience re: sizing.

Usually take a 45 Shimano Shoe, and a UK 10 shoe.

Thinking a 46 is the way to go?

Need some cheap new SPD’s for “revised” commute starting in January – which includes the school run walk! (So my Roadie disco slippers have to go!)

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kilo – Member
Is the replacement of the 685 hoods a lever off job or do they go on in situ. Mrs has them on her ibis and they’re a bit crap

I did it lever off as it prevented me stretching to hoods too much (and risking them going baggy)

I was swapping hoses at same time so it wasn’t a big deal to me, but could be a hassle if you weren’t planning on doing other jobs at the same time.

I found some alcohol gel worked as a good lubricant that evaporated nicely to leave them snug without too much pulling/tugging on the hoods.

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RS-685s on the “nice” bike – had the sloppy hood Issue to begin with (had them about 2 years or so now?) but replaced the hoods with another pair from SJS and problem seems cured, so hopefully later production hoods were “tighter” and no one should have that issue anymore.

RS-505s on the Gravel bike. Better hood design IMO, but only looks a mother could love……easier bleed port location which prevents need to disturb hoods as much (which was what made my 685s go sloppy) and easier cable replacement too.

They seem much longer than the 685 hoods, so much so I went to a 10mm shorter stem! Some people complain that the hose entry point hurts their hands, but mine have been fine – YMMV though.

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I was tempted to get myself some Shimano full hydros, but my bike isn’t flat mount, so no go with the tiagras, which would mean an upgrade to 105 which is over £50. By the time I’ve done that I could just sell the Saracen for a couple of hundred quid and get a brand new bike with all modern fittings.

I’ve got RS685 (ultegra level) hydros on the “best bike” and RS505 (105 level) on the Gravel bike. Yes – the 105s aren’t a looker, but I’ve not found them uncomfortable – YMMV tho!

Plus – New bike

Minor faff but the Tiagra levers would be compatible with post mount calipers if you wanted to. You’d probably be able to recoup most of the Cali per cost by selling the flat mount ones to someone going from post > flat?

But yes – your last pint is very valid! Who doesn’t like a new bike?!

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^

Have often heard that expression about air-to-air refuelling (what I do for a job) but probably my favourite is from an US Airforce pilot doing flight test of one of our AAR systems:

“It’s like taking a running f*** at a rolling doughnut….”

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One of these:

Problem Solvers

And/or a Specialized Zee Cage.

Can vouch for the Zee Cage – been perfect on my bikes.

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^

:cry:

Last few parcels I’ve had on next-day delivery have either been DPD (yay!) or Hermes (boo!)

But have always been next day though. DPD much better on the comms front.

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I like the photo above where they’ve clearly altered the front mech

On closer inspection that looks like the new R8000 front mech rather than some photoshopping?

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^

Yep – was going to go for the 105 mech but couldn’t get one in the UK, so ended up going for the ultegra one from wiggle instead.

Probably worked out about a tenner more?

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simondbarnes – Member
I think the latest generation Shimano road mechs would probably work (R9100, R8000)

Yep – do that. I’ve just done the same on my Gravel bike after having the same issue. New ultegra R8000 mech works perfectly.

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