ron jeremy, I run an Ortlieb back roller on the non-drive side of a Tortec Expedition. Pros are a less sweaty back, no weird back aches when you have to carry a heavier load and ortlieb’s are waterproof without much faff. Cons are errr, it rattles a bit if you dont put leccy tape on the rack rails.

I don’t seem to ride my road bike differently when i’ve got a rack/pannier on. Always fun to burn past the mamils on full on carbon road bikes/rucksacks with a rack/panniers on the back and the dynamo light on :)

Now you’ve made me think I need some new cable cutters!

Which ones do you reckon?

Knipex – £24
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ctm/Knipex-Leverage-Diagonal-Cutters-Comfort-Grip-74-180-?refItemId=250808071486

or

CK – £16
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CK-Aircraft-Cycle-Brake-Bowden-Cable-Wire-Rope-Cutter-T3744-/110808723579?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item19ccb6f07b

or

Super B – £19
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/super-b-professional-cable-and-housing-cutter-tb-wc30-prod28486/?src=froogle

or something else I’ve missed?

Seemed simple enough…

Not that I use them thou. Didn’t find them comfy at all.

Is this that Deloitte thing that everyone seems to training for at the moment?

In that case, they’ll be loads of other riders to sit behind out of the wind ;)

Not much. Just do a couple 80-100 mile rides to see how you fare at those distances/get used to eating.

I’ve used 6700 shifters with the cheap Tektro mini vees (which are shorter I think) and they were ok. Just had to be careful with out of true wheels.

The other option (which I use now) is a normal v-brake with a Problem Solvers travel adjuster. The travel agent is a bit pricey but normal v-brakes are quite cheap these days.

I’ve done a 10 mile each way commute for about 7 years now from NW London into the outskirts of London town. A few things I’ve thought about:

1. Use a relevant bike. I use a road bike with mudguards, decent tyres, rack/panniers, dynamo lights and a hub gear. Means you rarely have to think about whether the bike is working and even worse cleaning it! I can’t remember the last time I had a puncture (28c schwalbe Duranos).

2. You DONT have to do it everyday. Sometimes I ride 2 times, somtimes 5 times a week. All depends on whether I’m going out after work and how my legs feel. Always have the option of the tube. Plus eventually you’ll miss it if you don’t do it at least 3 times in a week!

3. Keep clothing simple. I have tons of bike clothes, but I tend to use the same one set for commuting. Means I dont need to decide in the morning! Merino baselayers and Torm sportwool jerseys are good: dont smell. This may sound weird but I also think about how long stuff takes to put on/off. I dont want 4 layers to take off and hang up. I just want 2.

4. Pick a good route. No-one wants to sit on an A road getting buzzed by traffic for 40 mins. Even in London, you can always find a less busy route you’ll find more enjoyable.

I’ve never found my commute stops me riding at the weekend. Still want to go out on the club run every Sunday. Thou if I’ve got big weekend of riding planned, I’ll just get the tube in for a few days.

titusrider, your welcome! Will think about the route we took and let you know any changes I might make. Good luck!

These two I met at Penzance did it without a porter with all that stuff!! They even had a laptop i think. MTFU :p

Me, I like the lightweight approach. You can see the entirety of my luggage for 9 days in the carradice bag in the left of the photo.

Ah.

The Gregarios meet in Hatch End if you’re after a slower club (thou with better looking kit!). http://www.gregarios.co.uk/

(I may be one of them)

I wouldnt think it was mandatory especially if you’re new, but after a while its always nice that members buy kit.

Saying that, I won’t buy our club shorts as shorts are personal thing and I’m not spending 50+ quid only to find I don’t get on with them.

What club are you joining?

Ask a chav to teach you how to ride no hands?

Thou seriously, practice and you should be able to eat pretty much anything on your road bike from your back pockets. I can even put on/take off my rain jacket while riding now. How pro is that! ;)

:) Here’s my write up from last year…

http://www.gregarios.co.uk/cycling-clubs/blog-cycling-news_/Entries/2012/6/30_The_story_of_a_Double_D_Dynamo.html

Most probably (and maybe back again).

Done it a few times before. Its great fun!

Just did it at my desk.

The fat person opposite me eats a packet of Snack a Jack sour cream and chives every morning. The way he systematically rips the packet, lays it out, removes the creases and then finger-licks every last crumb annoys me a little every single day!

mtbtomo – Designed them in Illustrator and got them printed by James at http://casementsigns.co.uk/

Yep, its a SP pv-8 on a Velocity A23 rim with Sapim Lasers.

My new audax/touring bike…

I built a Salsa Casseroll fitting that description…

Alfine hub, Jtek Shifter, Front dynamo.

The rear Philips lights are brill. Had numerous people comment on mine on my commute home.

BitCoin? :)

Should be an adventure! (and you’ll feel doubly hard at the end).

Here’s some inspiration from when I did it:

Got mine from Creation Watches: http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-automatic-sports-89/

Arrived from hong kong in 2 days.

Bargain. The price on that one kept on going lower and lower; was waiting for someone to buy it and post a pic!

Looks good! A clubman?

Salsa Casseroll. Currently on sale at Triton cycles. (theres also a 5% off code floating about) http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m14b0s21p8311/SALSA_Casseroll_Complete

Steel, lots of clearance, very long headtube (first bike I’ve had where I can slam the stem!).

I bought the frameset only a couple of weeks ago…

As above, best to try some on (saying that thou I bought 5 pairs of mtb shoes last week to try on, picked one, then only when I actually rode it on my bike realised it wasnt right).

If you want to take a chance, I’ve got a pair of used once Bont A3 size 44 (velcro only style) I could sell you :) (email me).

Another Casseroll

Finished building this today:

Dont forget, the new website has many items on it that they don’t carry in store.

Had this problem on Tues with my new Salsa. Wire brush on the Dremel worked a treat.

Thanks all. Just ordered a 4mm Teng P handle.

Thou, I want a set of these just for the colours ;)

Thanks, will check out Teng.

True, my current ones are P handles, with the long end a ball end.

I’ve got the aluminium version of the old Van Nic Amazon, the Airborne Carpe Diem. Over the years I’ve used it as a road bike, cross bike and tourer. Very versatile!

So something like would be good. I’m just in the process of transferring all the parts over to a Salsa Casseroll (the new version takes canti’s, thou I’m unsure how CX orientated it is), as they were cheap at Triton Cycles.

I live in Edgware.

ELRM – guess the rest… (its my winter trainer)

Doh, mine arrived last week.

Yes, the old casseroll has bee a great commuter.

Wise man remove silly amount of headset spacer before post internet bike pictures online

I knew someone would comment! :p

In my defense, there’s a fairly big saddle bar drop

Mcmoonter, yep that one except I’ve got the non-disc version. I estimate I’ve done about 2200 miles on it since July. Seem’s to be working fine, but I’m gonna hold out judgement for a bit longer.

Makes a fairly light road wheel…

Oh, you want some pics? ;)