Shouldn’t be a problem on either count.

Your mechs, BB, crankset etc. should fit without any worries on any reasonably modern frame.

The type of tyres you’re talking about will be a lower profile than 99% of MTB tyres so will fit easily. There are quite a few 26″ specific slick tyres knocking about. I’m happily using a pair of Schwalbe City Jets on an old hardtail frame as my on/off road commuter.

If you do use an old MTB frame and you’re used to road bikes on the road, be warned: it will feel heavy.

I’ve had this when the low limit screw isn’t set low enough, basically the cage is so close to the chain in the lower ring that it doesn’t have time to catch the middle ring before the cage pushes it into the edge of the middle ring

Sram X5 shifter/derailleurs – Got them on my first bike, been on 3 different frames, I’ve never touched them except to take them on/off.

Currently waiting on a CRC order that I paid for AM delivery on, so not them. The bastards.

I’ve had this recently on Deore cranks on the commuter I built up.

It’s fine now, I removed a spacer from the drive side to show a bit more crank, cleaned everything to make sure it was all pushing up correctly and paid a lot of attention to correct tightness of preload cap and crank arm bolts.

As long as you didn’t put too much force through the cranks and do a proper job it should be fine, I’d have thought.

EDIT: Pics didn’t come up for me the first time I posted. Those look a bit far gone imo, don’t think you’ll stop them working loose, but you might be able to mitigate it to a certain extent with proper setup.

I kept my motorbike under a cover (at night) on the main road through the village I lived in (in Saddleworth, Oldham/Manchester outskirts) and never had a problem, when I moved to the outskirts of Manchester proper I never saw a bike kept on the streets, now I’ve moved more rural again I see one or two. Mine is now garaged and has been since moving away from the village.

End of the day there is no catch all answer, those saying “it will definitely be nicked” don’t know that any more than those who say “it’ll be fine”.

I rent like the OP and when I was last moving and the prospect of not having a garage came up I looked into building a lean to at the back of the house, seems like a good compromise.

It’s forecast to waz down most of the week up here, I’d do the weather proof route Vertebrate Publishing put out a few weeks ago.

That being said, someone who is more of a trail guru will be along soon with some other options, I’m sure.

Nothing to say on fixies one way or the other, but I’ve never come across them with brakes on. How does that work, then? I thought you were just supposed to stop pedalling and brace against the cranks/pedals?

The noise you make as you come off seems a bit disproportionate to the crash. :wink:

WWWUUUHHHHHH!

Indeed I do. Stupid auto correct.

That setup might work best anyway, should mean you can eliminate any running I’d you drop down the cassette in the larger ring.

It’s just a case of setting the high limit screw until it won’t shift into the third click.

If you haven’t got enough adjustment in the screw you’ll need to pull the cable through further and clamp it higher up. Did you remember to put a wedge in the derailleur before clamping the cable?

You’re on the ‘Following’ feed, not ‘Me’ feed. Seems like they’re pushing for it to become more of a social network, used to be the ‘Me’ was the default.

but im not seeing any evidence of deliberately carving up the pony and trap

Don’t think you’re looking closely enough in that case, middle pic shows the bus passing far too close to the trap and it’s already on it’s way back in despite not clearing the trap yet.

Given that and positioning on bottom pic I don’t see any reason to doubt they all did it, close/punishment passes normally result in “he did it so I’ll do the same” from following vehicles in my experience.

I refuse to let the actions of a few scrotes dictate what I ride

Is the correct answer.

Sounds like my sort of ride!

As I say, I’m without bike for the next few days but I’ll keep an eye out in the upcoming weeks.

Out of interest, what’s the pace (really) like on these rides? I’ve just moved to Milnrow and I’m looking for new riding buddies (unfortunately bike is out of action until the weekend). I’d be dead interested in coming along but unfortunately I’m unfit, fat and not that good at riding a bike, wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone, like!

MSV (who run Oulton Park along with other circuits) run novice only trackdays, one of those would probably be your best bet.

Saying that I did my first track day at a general session at Cadwell and I didn’t have any problems. The safety briefing makes it very clear that overtaking is allowed only on the straights and as a novice you can ask for a bib that marks you out as such, as much for your own piece of mind as to let others know.

The other thing I did was wait at the back of the group in the first few sessions until I calmed down and got my eye in a bit.

You’ll be fine, go for it.

Parts haven’t turned up to get my bike back on the trails after my road bike was nicked resulting in me nicking a load of parts to build up a commuter. No fun for me this weekend. Just moved to somewhere with trails out the door as well. :(

Yer. I bought the blank portafilter and the caffex (sp) but I didn’t realise you can’t backflush a “Coffee” as you can a “Classic” unless I’m muchly mistaken.

You’re not, you can’t. I have the same machine and the only thing to be done is to use descaler in the water tank and pull through the machine followed by many tanks of plain water to rinse.

Surprisingly easy, yes.

Fitting the parts to the frame is really easy, indexing will take up most time, in my experience.

Have you got much experience fettling, is there anything in particular you’re concerned about?

Oh my, the bogling baby has had me incapacitated for fully five minutes. If you’ll excuse me, I need a lie down now.

Horses for courses, innit.

My bikes are all for riding, not looking at so they all get ridden as and when the urge strikes me, I’m not interested in keeping them ‘for best’ (best what?).

That being said, I can’t afford Titanium frames and the like and don’t have any really nice bike gear, maybe I’d feel differently if I could but I suspect I wouldn’t.

Clue is in the video title, my friend…

I can’t see a Tour de France with the teams running a motley selection of recombants, flat bar hybrids and slicked up mtb’s being much of a spectator sport?

Oh, I don’t know…

I found myself wondering a similar thing yesterday when I was in Evans, there’s a suprising number of road bikes with disc brakes available now, all out road bikes too, not multi-use hybrids CXs etc. Surprising to see a feature that hasn’t trickled down from pro level bikes, more of a welling up in response to regular users (presumably).

Also, that bike with no seat tube looks ace to me, probably shows that I’m on a different page to most when it comes to this.

My understanding is that Lactic Acid build up isn’t debunked. There was a study put forth that claimed the idea was a construct, but this has in turn been responded to by another study that claims there were flaws in the considerations.

The long and short of it is that the muscles in your legs worked by running and cycling are different, but the muscles in respiratory system are the same, hence you feeling the benefit aerobically, but not in leg power/endurance. I THINK

I’ve been within the last two years, so recent-ish.

You’ll easily get a few hours out of it, there’s the retro video games room if all else fails. There’s enough shiny/touch-y stuff to keep them going, even if they don’t understand or aren’t interested in the science-y bits.

Wot, no Feist (especially ‘Let it Die)?

Haim’s latest album is really great.
Lorde is my new hero.
The Distillers, featuring Brody Dalle, are/were ace.

Yep, me too.

Looks like the tone is going to be a modern take on the Star Wars/Indiana Jones type adventure-serial-comedy films. Chris Pratt is great in everything I’ve seen him in, too.

Thanks both, much appreciated.

@therevokid It is indeed that part, if you fancied bunging it my way I’d be very appreciative!

Heh, think I’d take that one on the chin considering the cost.

More bothered about the time out of action and thought someone might be able to say definitively either way.

@thisisnotaspoon

Unless it’s a spectacularly poorly designed car, no.

The best illustration I can find without giving it more time than it merits is here:

http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/BlindSpot.htm

Essentially, a portion of the car will be in view in (at least) one of your mirrors at all points.

I ride motorbikes too and the lifesaver had become a habit in the car took, this takes some getting used to but is honestly 100 times better as far add I’m concerned.

@thisisnotaspoon

With respect, you’re wrong: http://m.wikihow.com/Set-Rear%E2%80%90View-Mirrors-to-Eliminate-Blind-Spots

Not trying to call anyone out, just trying to pass on a good top. Worked for me for several years in different vehicles.

No condemnation, just a quick tip.

The act of checking my blind spot at that exact time removed about a second of reaction time.

Set your mirrors up correctly and there’s no such thing as a blind spot. You shouldn’t be able to see any of your own car in the side mirrors to give proper, three lane coverage. Stops you having to look backwards whilst travelling forwards.

Last day of 5.5 miles each way, 11 miles each way from next week. Gulp.

Looking forward to it long term but combined with having my road bike nicked and having to do it on a 26″ wheeled slightly-too-small hardtail mtb means it’s going to be a slog for a while.

Alright guys, sounds like slicks are where it’s at.

Thanks for the help, appreciate it.

I’m running a triple and running out of gears hasn’t been an issue so far, not entirely sure of the lie of the land on the new route though.

I think slicks is thew ay to go short term but would appreciate any other views/advice.

Better now? You’re not my real Dad!

Thanks

How does that help if the only televised game tonight is the Scouse derby?

Exackerly.