As with all things, your experiences will vary.

I’ve been there several times, for months at a time, and I’ve never had any trouble; although I’ve only ever been there in a professional capacity, and never with my family. Their economy relies on westerners, so they tend to have a slightly more relaxed attitude than they otherwise might.

I still don’t like the place, though. Oman is much nicer. And Kuwait is much worse. You pays your money, you takes your choice. Unless you’re going there with work, in which case your boss takes your choice!

Is that a 4-day thrash? Or an enjoyable pace? I fancy a long-distance, short period, challenge-myself, charity fund-raiser thing.

A thought once awakened, doth not slumber…

SRAM 9sp here. Never had any trouble.

Some interesting thoughts on the Surly website, if you’re interested:

4. 1/2×1/8″ chains vs. 1/2×3/32″ chains. 1/2×1/8″ chains suck. Run whatever you want, but bigger isn’t better here. Yeah, they’re wider, but according to manufacturer-supplied data, they’re not stronger and they are definitely not of better quality. Multi-speed drivetrains is where the bucks are at, and chains that work on such drivetrains are where the manufacturers of chains showcase their innovations and developments in quality. The rollers are better, the plates are better, the pins are stronger, and the construction method (riveting procedure) is better on all multi-speed 3/32″ chains. I guess if you grind your chainring and chain down the handrail every night at the local pub, a bigger 1/2×1/8 ” chain will last longer, but most of us don’t and it won’t.

For reference.

Would you feel violated if you caught your bike getting licked by someone else?

The best games stay with you like the best films or books… I was at uni when I picked up Final Fantasy 7, I remember more from that game than I do from General Principles of Scots Law It’s a wonderful story, a cinematic experience that you drive yourself… Superb music (the soundtrack’s been performed in full orchestration round the world) a great world to explore and characters to live with. Funny and sad and haunting and hopeful and beautiful. Only trouble is you can’t just recommend people to give it a bash because it takes about 60 hours to finish…

[Top tip] Get yourself over to Steam and do a search for the newly re-released FF7 [/top tip]

I love gaming… a throwback to a mis-spent youth, perhaps…

450 hours on TF2 and counting! 25, by the way. With a wife, two children, a dog, a serious job, some bikes and other perfectly-normal-socially-accepted stuff!

Edit: That’s 450 hours since i bought it in 2007!

I broke 1 spoke (quite predictably) but otherwise it’s looking a little better. Cheers for the info.

I quite fancy building some wheels at some point. I’m considering building up a Pompino soon, so perhaps that’s the ideal opportunity…

Cheers for the info!

In this weather, practically nothing!

Epicyclo – No Pompinos anymore? I’ve been researching them recently, and your STW posts come up time and again; especially those with the SA hubs… Loving your work.

Drofluf – That Singular is gorgeous.

I used to have multiple bikes, until i got fit and discovered Singlespeed. I subsequently sold all the others (bar my Pitch, which i’ll probably be getting rid of soon).

Now i really enjoy batting my mates around trail centers on my Gaspipe Special On-One Singlespeed! One mate in particular rides a £7k Yeti SB66, and i take extra satisfaction from dropping him!

Never thought there was much of an issue crossing either the road or the railway…

Whatever i’ve got lying around…

*nips out to the shed*

Currently a little bottle of “Weldtite Cycle Oil”. I’ve had the bottle for about 5 years, which should give you some indication of how often it gets used! I don’t think it matters too much.

(also a Singlespeeder, by the way!)

Staying with the aviation theme:

Youtube doesn’t really do it justice, but you can certainly feel it when it’s a few feet above you (not me on this one, by the way).

But lets be honest with ourselves here – imagine a time when the hills echoed to Rolls Royce Merlins:

As above; i only really “service” stuff when it starts to complain.

Degreaser – fairy liquid in hot water.
Lubricant – light machine oil.

Headset – Strip, clean, oil, reassemble.
Bottom Bracket – Strip, clean, oil, reassemble.
Freewheel – Strip, clean, oil, reassemble.
Hubs – Strip, clean, oil, reassemble.

See the pattern? 😉

I’ve genuinely never known a Mech Hanger to break and leave the Mech intact

duffer – are you serious??

Totally serious. I understand the function of the hanger, and appreciate it’s value, but I’ve never experienced one fail correctly.

I should caveat that; I’ve never had a mech fail on my own bike, this is all experience gained from witnessing the misfortunes of riding buddies / folk i’ve stopped to help at the trailside.

Big muscles aren’t necessarily strong muscles. To develop big muscles you’ll need to work them HARD (squats, calf raises, etc), and then give them plenty of time to recover (while eating plenty of good quality proteins). Once a week is generally accepted as a good frequency for leg work.

As for the cycling piece, if you’re fit enough on the bike, who cares? If you’re just after big muscles, then that’s fine. But from a cycling point of view, there’s more pieces in the jigsaw; such as core muscles and cardio.

I’ve genuinely never known a Mech Hanger to break and leave the Mech intact…

Personally, I’ve Singlespeed’d Hardtails before, but i wouldn’t like to try it on a FS (excepting frames that pivot around the BB, such as some Konas).

Fair enough! I just use 32:16 on a magic ratio…

Edit: on proper sized wheels

Your wheels are too big 😉

17 means the chain is the right length

How so? I don’t get it.

Big’un up front, little’un on the back. Test and adjust as required.

On a more serious note, 52″ is a good starting point.

26″?

Retrobike.

HAHAHAHA!

On-one 456 – way better than your turdcycle

My first tattoo…?

Anyway, the 456 is wonderful in every regard. Even better if you buy a metallic one, instead of plastic.

My steel 456 is an 18″ and i’m a smidge under 6′, and it’s bordering on being too small for me; loads of seatpost showing. I’d recommend a 20″ personally, although i agree they look a little gate-ish.

The actual Sherwood Pines trail is a good laugh. Doesn’t really require 160mm FS, but it’s good for a quick blast.

The thing to remember about CP is exactly what Wobbliscott said; loads of unattended bikes in secluded places. It’s an incubator for bike theft. Be sensible about it, and you’ll be fine.

I’ve never had any problems with On-One’s customer service. That said, i’ve never really had any problems with their products, either…

And another vote for the JLD; my boy is only 5, but i’m sure he’ll fit!

I honestly can’t comprehend how anyone can still be living with mummy at that age. I moved out at the age of 18, having left school with no qualifications. I now earn enough to support my family of 4.

I’m 25, by the way.

32:18 = 46.2″
34:18 = 49.1″
32:16 = 52″

As someone mentioned earlier, 36:18 also equals 52″, and will create less wear on components.

I seem to remember reading on Sheldon Brown™ that the “inches” measurement corresponds to the theoretical diameter of a Penny Farthing drive wheel….

Also, if the Surly blog is to be believed, your drivetrain might last longer.

Some interesting articles on there. Thanks for the link.

4ft 4in is pretty much perfect, as long as you can maintain the prerequisite facial expression…

Jokes aside, 32:16 is pretty much accepted as the norm. You can fiddle about with it for extra niche points if you like, but bear in mind that changes on the back will have a much greater impact than changes up front.

Oh balls! Just rounded the bolts changing out the cleats.

The dangers of STW are clearly evidenced here!

They wear out?!

Move the seat back on the rails…?

I’m always the first to recommend a 456 in any situation, but I honestly don’t think you’ll achieve anything. They were designed by the same man, after all.

26″, you say? How quaint.

1130? At least he’ll have just caught the end of Jeremy Kyle before being stood up…

I am one of Gods chosen few…………

Are pilots called gods chosen few because they once expected to see him soon?

He’s not a pilot… The only people who talk that way are Gunners, Scuffers and TG1s. Based on the fact that Renton has been known to use three-syllable words, i’m saying TG1. 😉

Congratulations on making the correct choice! You going for rigid forks?

Pics please!

You could spend 5x the price on a Soul; that way you’d save 500g!

Seriously, forget about the weight if you’re on a budget. Spend the difference on a better set of wheels. you’ll end up with a much better bike at the end.

£150 for a frame?! That’s a little extravagant, don’t you think!? This is much more like it….

I was OIC Cycling there back in 08-09 and we ended up with about 40 qualified MBL

I’ve done a little digging, and it seems to have died since then… The best i can get is “such and such is an MBL”, but nothing formal in place.

I went and had a chat with the PTIs about formally re-invigorating the Cycling club, but they just didn’t seem interested. Looks like i’ll just have to arrange Expeds on an ad-hoc basis.