@Jameso and other Pinnacle enthusiasts, another tyre clearance question for you!

I have a Pinnacle Dolomite 4, 2017 model.  Takes 32mm 700c tyres comfortable.

I’m curious about a 650b retrofit, for no other reason other than i (potentially) can and it would be a bit of a laugh blasting around bridleways with the mrs.   I know there’s no way you’d get a 650 x 47C Horizon in, but something like  a 650 x 40C would be interesting…

Any ideas what the max size 650b tyre you might squeeze into a Dolomite frame is?   Anyone given this a go!?

I realise the correct answer here is probably “buy an Arkose frameset”, but would be interested if anyone’s been down this route.   Bike would spend most of it’s day with 700C x 28s anyway.  Also, dry weather only (so mud clearance not a big deal).

I have a Mk7 Golf with the standard Halogen lights. On the original fit bulbs they were average at best. Maximum possible height set, but didn’t really give much spread and the actual light output was woeful.

But, having now changed to some GE ‘Megalight’ bulbs, they are now as bright as I would have expected initially.

Also a royal PITA the change. On the 2.0TDI model there is no clearance to remove the dipped beam bulbs without taking the headlamp unit out. Not difficult, but frustrating and time consuming.

You’re unlikely to get consensus here as there are many good options!

In the spirit of recommend what you’ve got, I’ve had a lot of success with Schwalbe Duranos. Standard carcass, not the double defense ones. I’d say not the fastest rolling, but seem (anecdotally) to have been nice and durable. No punctures over several thousand KMs and the carcass isn’t too badly worn.

Assuming bargain means up to £300, Dolan? Some Aluminium framesets in the £200-300 mark that I think take tyres of that size.

I find full guards, especially the SKS Chromoplastics are an absolute pain to fit. Never yet managed it in less than an hour to my bikes, but it is a bit of a rite of passage to be able to fit them properly!

Trouble is, once fitted well, stays adjusted and clearances are fettled, I’ve found them bullet proof and none of the ‘temporary’ guards come close for true wet weather coverage. Mine stay on all year to avoid the faff of refitting :lol:

Exposure do a stem faceplate mount that might give you another option. It puts the light well ahead of the handlebars.

I presume it also works the other way up (mounted on top two bolts) but I don’t own one, so can’t comment!

I’ve spent some time trying to find the perfect solution for this to, as I also don’t like riding with a pack if I can avoid it.

Current setup is a Bar Fly Hopper strap, holding a lightweight spare tube, two pedros tyre levers, a park tools set of sticky patches, emergency tyre boot and a tiny multi tool. All the bits are wrapped in a sandwich bag, inside the tube. Tyre levers slot down the sides. I’ve got some quicklinks taped to the cable housing of my rear shifter, up by the handlebars (#BecauseEnduro).

Don’t have a dropper post, but pretty sure the bar fly strap would be fine here as it is only held on the saddle rails.

I then have a Specialized CO2 combo pump thingy mounted under a bottle cage. Stores a CO2 cartridge in the pump body.

Spare tube gets covered in crap, but it’s never particularly bothered me.

That’s useful feedback, thanks guys. It seems to be a common complaint that the ‘standard’ cut Proviz stuff is both boil in the bag and poorly fitting, hence I thought Pixelite might be worth a look.

Spicypedro – do they come up small compared to other brands? I.e. Italian sizing?

I’ve done the cheap ebay light vs Exposure thing now.

Used to use a couple of generic “2000” lumen versions, the type you get on Ebay for £20 with a battery. Used them infrequently (once a week in the winter) for several years, got through 3 lamp units and 5 batteries in about 4 years I guess. In pure financial terms, that’s not too bad I guess.

Then got a load of evans cycles vouchers that meant I could afford an Exposure Toro Mk8 earlier this year – what a difference! A really superb light.

I now use it multiple times a week, on both road and MTB.

Is it worth £250+ at face value? No, probably not. I would have had to got through a huge amount of the cheapie ones, but the performance difference is massive.

I see your budget is £200 ish – I think I’d go down the Exposure or Hope route if it were me.

I’ve always found this interesting – I got into MTBing as a teenager, buying and riding inexpensive bikes until they broke. Used to be out in the local woods all the time with friends.
As we all drifted off to Uni/jobs/apprenticeships, I’m the only one who stuck it out and continued to ride. So, in my current group of MTB mates I’m easily the youngest by 15 years. Sadly, youth does still not make me the fastest!

On the road bike however, there are loads of folk like me in their 20s who are part of the local club, or as one of them aptly (ironically?) described it, scene.

I think it’s quite trendy and fairly easy to get into Road cycling, whereas MTB riding perhaps isn’t as accessible if you’re new to cycling as a sport. Also regularly organised and well attended road club rides, centered around a cafe or coffee serving bike shop has a great social element that attracts people.

These types of Caterpillars are much more interesting :D

Tropic Thunder.

I fitted a pair of Avon ZV7 to the fronts on my car about 5000 miles ago, same size as yours (205/55 R16) – they have been fine. Previously had Pirelli and Continentals from Black Circles, all around the £55-£65 each.

Avons were £53.75 each fitted via Black Circles and a garage near me. Grip seems identical (not that I’m driving anywhere close to finding out!) but road noise seems interestingly reduced over both the previous options I’ve had. I’m sure it’s subjective but I do prefer them so far!

DrP

I’ve no need for two scandal frames, so if you fancy the welded one, let me know..

Might have to weld both together to create something big enough! Thanks for the interest thought :)

Cheers all – some great suggestions here and plenty that I had missed off the shortlist!

I’d buy OEM replacements as I know what I’m getting; non-OEM is a lottery. I’m also slightly uneasy leaving them on charge if I’m not around.

This +1. Have played the non-OEM lottery with varying success with my Nikon cameras. Some worked fine, some had no longevity at all.

I’d stick with OEM batteries.

Interesting reading the experiences here – seems pretty mixed!

For what it’s worth, I had a 1.7TDI Astra Estate, ’05 plate. Bought 1 year old with about 10,000 miles on it, gave it away part exchanged 9 years later with 180,000 miles on it.

Aside from the usual service items (tyres/oil/filters/cambelt/discs/pads etc) in that time, all it needed was two new windscreens and two new rear coil springs.

Maybe I got lucky! That said, it was completely knackered at 180k miles but it owed me nothing :D

I’ve driven modern Astras as hire cars and honestly, they’re fine – but so is any of the competition. Not particularity exciting, not exceptionally comfortable. All the comments in this post (mine included) just reinforce that it’s all anecdotal and subjective.

Go drive a couple and pick whichever one looks/drives nicest for you :)

Renthal Fatbar lite 30mm rise, Renthal Apex stem in unfashionable 70mm length.

Matching but purely by accident as both were bought at different times, for different bikes, then combined.

I once managed to setup my email signature so that rather than saying “regards, xyz”, it said, “retards, xyz”.

Went several weeks before I realised and no one told me (or didn’t notice!)

+1 Here/Nokia stuff.

+2 – I have offline Nokia Maps installed on all phones with maps downloaded so that if I’m out and about without signal, I still have a viable sat nav. Works well on both Android and IOS.

have you tried memory foam tips, like comply? I never got on with rubber tips, sold on the comply tips.

No I haven’t done, was not even aware these existed – the foam tips sound spot on in fact :) Think I’ll give that a go! Thanks all!

I took up fencing whilst at University and was initially taught as a right hander (I’m mostly ambidextrous so had no real preference) but it soon became clear that being left handed gave a combat advantage*, particularly against less experienced fencers. As you progress through the ranks and become more competent this advantage quickly fades, but works for me!

*This is probably of no relevance to karate.

If it’s a long cage mech (likely if it came from a 2 x 10) then absolutely – I have a 1 x 10 setup with a SRAM x9 long cage, Sunrace MX3 11-42 10spd cassette. Works great, just wind the b-screw out and off you go.

There are different cage lengths available and I can’t comment if the shorter cages work without bodgery and fiddling.

Some of these are brilliant! :D
I have only ever come across a couple of note:
Randy Bishop
Paige Turner
And several James Bonds

I went from a Nexus 5X to a iPhone SE, having previously had an iPhone 4s before. Nexus was a great phone when it worked, but I went through 3 warranty handsets in 7 months and rapidly got fed up. I also found it very cumbersome and difficult to use one handed, even with my spade sized fingers.

I thought about a 6/6s but couldn’t justify the cost and didn’t want one that big. iPhone SE is about spot on for size, but it’s not the best device for browsing the web if that’s your main phone use. On the plus side I can quite easily squeeze 2 days battery life with moderate use.

I’m in too. theotherjonv, email sent!

Weighed in on Jan 1st before I spotted this thread – 113kg at 1.90cm. Not quite the heaviest I’ve ever been, but not far off :(

I’m also up for some Swinley Chub action – work at the end of the M3, so a 25min blast down in the car for me.

I guess it depends how sensitive you are to the distortion, but I’ve had a lot of success with super cheap Decathlon stuff:

Link

Bought on a whim for similar reasons to keep mud and grime from eyes. I can’t really notice any distortion through them. Use them for road and MTB rides.

At £3.99 they’re expendable too. If there’s a decathlon near you, worth a punt.

Nexus 5X? Can be had for around £250 on Amazon now. Although I will confess I did just swap mine for an iPhone SE because I found the Nexus both unreliable and too big…

I’ve got pretty close a few times riding out around the Surrey hills! Closest I have ever gotten was on Yoghurt Pots where one emerged about 2m in front of me a speed. Cue a fistful of brake and much skidding. 8O It foxtrot oscared long before I would have collided with it though. I suspect it would hurt on a bike…

Based on my experience, if it’s a DIY style impact wrench I wouldn’t use it on the car. I have a Bosch impact wrench that is pretty good at driving big screws into things, but I’d be pretty hesitant to wrench on the car with it. Probably Ok for wheelbolts, not good for small bolts (likely to shear) and probably not powerful enough to shift real stubborn things.

Assuming you have enough access, go with a breaker bar.

Isnt it a bit dodgy with potential breakins after dark

I’ve heard of this on occasion. Have to admit it has never crossed my mind or bothered me enough to stop me parking there.

There’s usually a surprising number of people even in the depths of a shite winters eve.

I regularly end up leaving after the closing time night riding in winter, never been a problem. Automatic barriers just let you out. £2 charge for 4 hours parking at the moment.

If it’s only rubbing on one side, is the wheel dished correctly?

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Good question, I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll have a check of that tonight. It is only rubbing on one side, but non-drive side clearance was also pretty tight hence I thought the likely culprit was large tyres.

Appreciate the suggestions all!

Nobby Nic can be had in 2.25 Double Defence variant, might suit? With proper compund, rather than cheapo

Did not know they made these in DD variant now. Also I’ve since realised there’s a completely different tread pattern for the 2015 onwards Nobby Nics. My spare is a 2013 plastic one that was fitted OEM to a bike, so the compound is hard and slippy. Think I shall look into this!

Some good ideas in here, thanks!

Wider rim is an interesting one – I thought that a wider rim gives you less tyre height, but equal/if not wider carcass width? I doubt I’ll end up doing that, existing wheelset is decent so until my lardy ass pringles a rim I think they’ll stay :)