Gringo

When I use to carry two motorcycles in a van I found old fashioned rope and ratchet straps worked fine

Thanks for that, I first spotted the spring wire thing a few years ago and at the time though it looked crap with no lateral support your saddle would yaw and roll from left to right fully agree with your cheap sprung saddle, I don’t currently use one myself but I had one on my diy cruiser for some time before moving to one of those tractor style saddles found on beach cruisers. Same thing with my sister, cheap sprung saddle for a year and then replaced it with a more expensive version of the same type. If your bum’s not happy it can spoil the best of rides

SW, How much damage can screws like this actually do ? yes that’s a £1 coin

Do you actually know how small 3mm screws are? The peak/visor is 2mm thick so the 3mm screw is only in the helmet by 1mm and if the visor gets “ripped off” the screws go with it. You managed not to mention the camera on your helmet that will be impacted into your forehead when you head butt a Tree (or pensioner who gets in your way) at 30mph.

1mm dia x 3mm long ! Do you know how long 3mm actually is, get your ruler out and see what damage that can do That great lump of technology called a camera strapped to your helmet would do a lot more damage

I see many people wearing a cycling cap underneath there helmet ! I have grafted a spare peak from one helmet onto another, this did mean using 2 extremely small/short screws, just enough to bite in the helmets outer shell (1mm dia x 3mm long) it’s been on for a couple of years now It’s a lot of faff when you can buy a new lid with a peak/sun visor for around 20 quid.

I’ve never been to the tip on a bike but I’ve come back with a few (that was many many years ago when you could buy scrap from them) In your position I would contact the council and get written confirmation of your rights. The next time I went to the tip and gotten challenged, I’d show the proof and ask for the challengers name so you can pass it on to the council. You may not be a popular visitor but you’ll be recognised and maybe get in with less hassle in the future.

The OPer has lost his nerve and given up on the project (I ain't chancing it! ) so whatever anyone else w or wouldn’t do is now academic

Just spotted a Rubbee X on a local app, I don’t know the seller or anything about the product but I thought it may be of interest for someone. https://nextdoor.co.uk/for_sale_and_free/672fb9b9-e6ab-400a-b353-eb526f2a64ca?init_source=copy_link_share

My sisters Crossfuse has the same Active line plus motor as my Cube acid one, the only difference being my 500 battery vs her 400. Both cost less than 2K and ride pretty much the same and both capable of 40 miles but my 500 battery has a lot more juice left after a 35mile ride. I’d happily buy another bike with a Bosch ALP motor witho thinking about it.

do you know any engineers ? If it was my bike I’d strip it down to just the frame, put said frame on a milling machine and bore it out to size. Alternatively, I’d spend a few hours with a drum sander in a pistol drill ! https://www.toolstation.com/drum-sanding-kit/p15110

Hi Mark, I’m a similar weight an have 60-622 big apples on my acid one. my pressures are 35 psi rear & 25 front for the road bu when I go off the beaten track, I’ll drop down to 25 x 20 maybe a little less.

No it’s not a recommendation as I’ve never had a need for such a product. There are also such things as waterproof helmet bags available.

this one has two holes for a padlock (on the left of the latch) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323795390363?hash=item4b63b58f9b:g:95YAAOSw28Bcyqv- if it’s just your helmet you’re worried about you could simply put a cable lock through one of the many holes in the helmet and lock it to your bike, just like many motorcyclists do.

Hi folks, 6 of these used Drift USB power banks came my way for only a small outlay. Initially I thought they were made up from 18650 cells and i could strip them to use the cells in other applications that use 18650’s like my 8.4v lights. Alas, the description on the case says “polymer Li-ion” so that probably means they will be the same soft Li-po’s that I use in my RC stuff, albeit with a lot lower discharge rating. I'm now reluctant to smash (carefully disassemble) these as they are still functional as power banks even though I don’t have a need for them. Im looking for inspiration before I do something there’s no coming back from what would you do?

You may as well ask Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki etc to make there motorcycles with interchangeable motors or Bosch and Black&Decker to use the same batteries. There’s no financial incentive for any manufacturer to make there products live any longer than the designed life. They don’t even have “standard fit” motors within there own product lines.

Mike I’m afraid you’re thinking of the wrong type of clamp. Rob’s clamp doesn’t have a serrated part, it has a solid top clamp plate and a smooth floating bottom plate. The two clamp screws adjust the angle of the saddle, as you tighten up one screw, you loosen the other to achieve the desired saddle angle. Unfortunately Rob has reached the limit of adjustment and its still not enough. Rob, it’s worth looking for a seat post With a different type of clamp, possible second hand from eBay, you’ll need to know the diameter of the post you have in order to get one of the same size.

Why can’t you raise the bars ? https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=ADJUSTABLE+STEM&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=ADJUSTABLE+AHEADSET++STEM

eBay, simples https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=ADJUSTABLE+STEM&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=ADJUSTABLE+AHEADSET++STEM

I have the same problem, What saddle are you using ? Wittkop medicus trekking has been mentioned favourably on this site in the past, I have 2 on the bike i ride for hours at a time but I still wear padded shorts On long rides (2 to 5 hours) alternatively, I’ve a big ass saddle on my cruiser (the black one) and that gives me no discomfort in street clothes, my sister has an extremely plush saddle that she favours without padded shorts (the brown one)

Yes indeed, my 57-622 Smart Sam’s are more than happy on 20c rims and on another bike I have 60-622 Big Apples on 19mm rims, I must admit the frame clearance is only 3mm but it’s a cruiser so doesn’t go in the mud

Here’s Schwalbe’s fitment chart so you can see what width of tyre fits on different rim widths

The alternative tyres you mentioned are available in different sizes, not just 42-622 (42 is the width of the tyre in millimetres and 622 is the diameter of the rim it fits) your biggest limitation will be frame clearance, you need to see how much space there is between your current tyres and the bike frame. bigger tyres can be run at lower pressures for better off-road grip and rider comfort. Ive just swapped some 42-622 for 47-622 on my sisters bike (Crossfuse) and it has improved comfort a little. I would have preferred 50-622 but it would have meant re-routing the shifter cable that exits the frame on the inside edge of the chain stay. As to the model of tyre, I favour Smart Sam plus’s and have 2 pairs at the moment, they are good off road while still being reasonable quick on road.

Also an ALP owner. I had the same problem and used a short counter sunk head hex bolt to plug the hole, I can’t remember for sure the size as I have screws and bolts scattered throughout my garage, maybe 6mm or 8mm. Also as the cranks can be blumin tight, I warm them with a hot air gun first, I’ve found a warm crank comes off easier than a cold one

just spotted this and I thought some may find it interesting https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/mtbleadership/article/20210429-mtb-leadership-news-Major-new-research-project-launched--into-E-mountain-bike-use-in-Britain-0?utm_campaign=1781209_Membership%20member%20news%2029.04.21&utm_medium=email&utm_source=British%20Cycling%20V2&dm_i=480K,126E1,VTEZL,4TARZ,1