Sunday Jaunt

Keith Willoughby said:

Looking at the surface of the trail in some of the later
shots - will slick tyres such as the City Jets cope with
that? Small stones, flint, etc?

I know City Jets. Main tread would probably be tough enough
(there's quite a depth of rubber to them). Sidewalls are the
"skin" type so I'm not sure how those cope with really nasty
stuff. Grip won't be good on wet mud.

Quoted message said:

I definitely need new brake pads now, too. I have
Shimano V brakes (or so the levers say). What pads
should I go for?

These stop very well on my brother's MTB:
wiggle.co.ukwiggle.co.ukOpen ↗ - Dual
...although can be squealy.

wiggle.co.ukv2 product detail.aspOpen ↗
3394 (Salmon or Dual) ...Are chunkier so even more effective
but can be even noiser. It's interesting that the same brand
and compound pads in the road bike versions tend to be
silent - I think that's because they're so much smaller.
Dual (half black half salmon) should be slightly quieter.

Quoted message said:

And is fitting them easy?

Yes except getting the alignment just right (with any pads)
is a chore.

Instructions: parktool.comhowfix liOpen ↗
nearbrakes.shtml

Quoted message said:

(I take it I need to take the wheels off to do it.)

No need, just adjust the cable to get enough clearance. You
can work by initially fitting blocks below level of rim then
slide them up.

Good pictures, by the way. ...Make me feel like getting an
MTB myself.

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

Keith Willoughby said:

Looking at the surface of the trail in some of the later
shots - will slick tyres such as the City Jets cope with
that? Small stones, flint, etc?

I know City Jets. Main tread would probably be tough
enough (there's quite a depth of rubber to them).
Sidewalls are the "skin" type so I'm not sure how
those cope with really nasty stuff. Grip won't be good
on wet mud.

I'm not at all fond of wet mud myself, so I try to stay
away. There's the odd bit on the Taff Trail, but not
generally more than a few feet at a time. I'm also
hoping to get out on the quiet roads a bit more and away
from the trail

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I definitely need new brake pads now, too. I have
Shimano V brakes (or so the levers say). What pads
should I go for?

[...]

Quoted message said:

wiggle.co.ukv2 product detail.aspOpen ↗
003394 (Salmon or Dual) ...Are chunkier so even more
effective but can be even noiser. It's interesting that
the same brand and compound pads in the road bike versions
tend to be silent - I think that's because they're so much
smaller. Dual (half black half salmon) should be slightly
quieter.

Ta. Are those prices for a pair? I'm hoping so. I really
don't fancy paying 40 quid for four of them!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And is fitting them easy?

Yes except getting the alignment just right (with any
pads) is a chore.

Instructions: parktool.comhowfixOpen ↗
linearbrakes.shtml

Cheers!

[...]

Quoted message said:

Good pictures, by the way. ...Make me feel like getting an
MTB myself.

Ta. Recognise the saddle? 🙂

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ "I'll have ten
Kit Kats and a motoring atlas"

Keith Willoughby wrote:

[brake blocks]

Quoted message said:

Ta. Are those prices for a pair?

Yes indeed.

Quoted message said:

Recognise the saddle? 🙂

Funny, I've got one just like that!... Now, where did I put
it?

Matron, another sniff of Proofide please.

~PB

Very nice pictures, and very nice place, too!

Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever
learned in school". No Surrender

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It appears that the early morning Sunday ride is
becoming a tradition already. I left it until 7:45 this
morning, and went off south along the Taff Trail down to
Castell Coch.

I think I managed to get up the hills ever so slightly
better - I forced myself to stay on the bike a little
longer than I wanted to each time, not long, just a few
tens of yards, but enough. Coming back was huge amounts
of fun - I hit 20mph down a dirt trail, cheesy grin on
my face.

I remembered to take a camera this time, and there are a
few shots at flat222.orgcastell cochOpen ↗ . I'm
no photographer, mind.

Looking at the surface of the trail in some of the later
shots - will slick tyres such as the City Jets cope with
that? Small stones, flint, etc?

I definitely need new brake pads now, too. I have Shimano
V brakes (or so the levers say). What pads should I go
for? And is fitting them easy? (I take it I need to take
the wheels off to do it.)

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ Smoke
yourself thin

On 18/4/04 1:28 pm, in article [email hidden], "Keith

Willoughby said:

It appears that the early morning Sunday ride is
becoming a tradition already. I left it until 7:45 this
morning, and went off south along the Taff Trail down to
Castell Coch.

It is nice being out that early in the morning..

Quoted message said:

I think I managed to get up the hills ever so slightly
better - I forced myself to stay on the bike a little
longer than I wanted to each time, not long, just a few
tens of yards, but enough.

I am impressed. Those are horrible hills on a trail designed
to put people off cycling.. It does feel good though getting
that much further each time. One incentive might be to
promise yourself something you want when you can finally
ride to the top.

Quoted message said:

Coming back was huge amounts of fun - I hit 20mph down a
dirt trail, cheesy grin on my face.

Until you hit the gate ;-)

Quoted message said:

I remembered to take a camera this time, and there are a
few shots at flat222.orgcastell cochOpen ↗ . I'm
no photographer, mind.

Good enough for the purpose and far better than most. Clear
and show what you want to show. Technically great.
Artistically, well, each to his own.

Obviously the well earned scone and coffee disappeared too
quickly for the camera to get to them.

Quoted message said:

Looking at the surface of the trail in some of the later
shots - will slick tyres such as the City Jets cope with
that? Small stones, flint, etc?

Yes, no problem. Mud and sandy bits no, but the surface you
have shown should be fine. The odd patch of leafmould in the
autumn would be a good time to swap the tyres back, but
spring and summer should be fine.

Quoted message said:

I definitely need new brake pads now, too. I have Shimano
V brakes (or so the levers say). What pads should I go
for? And is fitting them easy? (I take it I need to take
the wheels off to do it.)

You should be able to just unhook the noodle thingy if there
is enough play in the cables..

..d

In article <[email hidden]>,

Keith Willoughby said:

It appears that the early morning Sunday ride is becoming
a tradition

I did the Birmingham leg of the BHF charity ride this
morning. 48 miles, 3hr38 (I've not previously ridden more
than about 30, and rarely on anything with a slope). I am
not a little pleased with myself. I stuck slick tyres on the
bike for the occasion.

ian

Quoted message said:

I am not a little pleased with myself.

Good for you. You have every right to be pleased with
yourself.

d.

Ian G Batten said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Keith

Willoughby said:

It appears that the early morning Sunday ride is becoming
a tradition

I did the Birmingham leg of the BHF charity ride this
morning. 48 miles, 3hr38 (I've not previously ridden more
than about 30, and rarely on anything with a slope). I am
not a little pleased with myself.

There's a lot of it about! Nice one, fella.

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ Freedom is
slavery

David Martin said:

On 18/4/04 1:28 pm, in article
[email hidden], "Keith Willoughby"

Quoted message said:

It appears that the early morning Sunday ride is
becoming a tradition already. I left it until 7:45 this
morning, and went off south along the Taff Trail down to
Castell Coch.

It is nice being out that early in the morning..

It really is. Nobody about, cold but I warm up
quickly. It seems
. . . fresh. And I get back in time for dinner.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think I managed to get up the hills ever so slightly
better - I forced myself to stay on the bike a little
longer than I wanted to each time, not long, just a few
tens of yards, but enough.

I am impressed. Those are horrible hills on a trail
designed to put people off cycling..

Thank you.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Coming back was huge amounts of fun - I hit 20mph down a
dirt trail, cheesy grin on my face.

Until you hit the gate ;-)

It was round about then I realised I needed new brake
pads . . .

[...]

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ "No problem is so
formidable that you can't walk away from it"
- Charles Schultz