Tire/pedal advice

Quoted message said:

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I don't
need the sort with a strap or a clip. I realize that I will need to buy a
pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones back on.

--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc.
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio

If you have some open ended spanners you will probably find that one of
these fits your pedals quite happily. You can then use the money to upgrade
your pedal choice; sadly cheap usually means lots of friction andunsealed
bearings which given your planned riding will not last too long. Your best
bet is if someone here has taken off some "normal" pedals to go clipless. I
changed the pedals on my EBC bike but would hesitate to offer them to
someone else for the reasons given above.

Julia

in message <[email hidden]>, killermike

(') said:

Last March I returned to cycling after an absence of about ten years.
The type of cycling that I am interested in is 20-40 mile day trips,
daily work commute and longer multi leg cycling camping trips.

My bike is a mountain bike. As the bike was left standing in a garage
for ten years, the rubber of the tires has perished. I am very lucky to
have got a years' use out of them. They really need replacing now and I
would like to replace them with specifically road orientated tires.
Occasionally, I cut across a piece of woodland or across a field but
that is the extent of my off road use. The current tires are 26x2.

The town in which I live provides excellent services - I never see the
council workers at work but it seems as though they have glass-breaking
teams working around the clock. Some resistance to bits of broken glass
would be an advantage; on my last journey, I had to pick a chunk of
glass out of the front tire with my pen-knife.

Question - Do the replacement tires have to be exactly 2" across? Could
I, for example, use 26x1.9?

Yes, you can. A narrower, higher pressure slick will roll much better on
roads.

Quoted message said:

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my
bike would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

Far too much tread. For road use you want a pure slick; for light off
road use you need a little tread, but not that much. Tread slows you up.
Consider something like the Nokian AWS:

<URL:http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/95-7410>

Quoted message said:

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I don't
need the sort with a strap or a clip. I realize that I will need to buy
a pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones back on.

You need a 15mm open ended spanner. It is important to remember that the
left hand pedal has a LEFT HAND THREAD, and consequently undoes
clockwise!

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

killermike said:

Last March I returned to cycling after an absence of about ten years.
The type of cycling that I am interested in is 20-40 mile day trips,
daily work commute and longer multi leg cycling camping trips.

My bike is a mountain bike. As the bike was left standing in a garage
for ten years, the rubber of the tires has perished. I am very lucky
to have got a years' use out of them. They really need replacing now
and I would like to replace them with specifically road orientated
tires. Occasionally, I cut across a piece of woodland or across a
field but that is the extent of my off road use. The current tires
are 26x2.

The town in which I live provides excellent services - I never see the
council workers at work but it seems as though they have
glass-breaking teams working around the clock. Some resistance to
bits of broken glass would be an advantage; on my last journey, I had
to pick a chunk of glass out of the front tire with my pen-knife.

Question - Do the replacement tires have to be exactly 2" across?
Could I, for example, use 26x1.9?

Yes, and probably quite a lot narrower still, depending on model of rims.
Someone may know what sizes they'll take if you mention rim make & model.

Quoted message said:

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my
bike would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

Argos may think it's "suitable for road" but the tread doesn't look at all
roadie to me. I don't know what it's like otherwise.

It's worth spending a bit more if you can. Apart from being a bit slippy
on any wet mud off road, I reckon one the following models would be good
for your needs: Specialized Nimbus EX, Schwalbe City Jet, Panaracer
Pasela TG -- www.wiggle.co.uk . Possibly also Vredestein S-lick 1.3 in
the summer months.

Quoted message said:

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I
don't need the sort with a strap or a clip.

Any local bike shop should have a decent collection if you really want
straightforward ones. But for the mileages you have planned, you'd
benefit from "clipless" pedals -- definition:
www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_cl.html . Very few people regret making the
switch.

Decent general purpose/beginner/budget pedals: Shimano M520 (new ones
frequently on eBay), shoes: Shimano MO21.

Quoted message said:

I realize that I will
need to buy a pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones
back on.

For a better spanner than an ordinary 15mm one:
www.mwdyason.ltd.uk/shop.asp?no_category=23&text_company=TOOLS

~PB

JBB said:

If you have some open ended spanners you will probably find that one of
these fits your pedals quite happily.

As long as it is not too thick - proper pedal spanners are thinner than
most. Proper pedal spanners also have a long handle for extra leverage,
cos pedals do tend to get themselves stuck on v.tight during use.

Quoted message said:

Your best
bet is if someone here has taken off some "normal" pedals to go clipless.

Or get something like the Shimano double-sided pedal - platform on one
side, SPD on the other, in case the OP decides he does want to go
clipless after all. Or would like to try clipless but not all the time.

d.

killermike said:

Last March I returned to cycling after an absence of about ten years. The
type of cycling that I am interested in is 20-40 mile day trips, daily work
commute and longer multi leg cycling camping trips.

My bike is a mountain bike. As the bike was left standing in a garage for
ten years, the rubber of the tires has perished. I am very lucky to have
got a years' use out of them. They really need replacing now and I would
like to replace them with specifically road orientated tires. Occasionally,
I cut across a piece of woodland or across a field but that is the extent
of my off road use. The current tires are 26x2.

The town in which I live provides excellent services - I never see the
council workers at work but it seems as though they have glass-breaking
teams working around the clock. Some resistance to bits of broken glass
would be an advantage; on my last journey, I had to pick a chunk of glass
out of the front tire with my pen-knife.

Question - Do the replacement tires have to be exactly 2" across? Could I,
for example, use 26x1.9?

Don't go smaller than the rim width, and ideally aim for 1.5 times rim
width. Tyres' marked widths are rarely accurate - they tend to be
overstated (marketing: wow! our 1.9 tyre is 100g lighter than brand b's
1.9 tyre...because ours is really a 1.6).

If your rims are 1" or less in width, I would recommend Vredestein
S-Licks as being very grippy and puncture resistant. Some people swear
by Schwalbe City Jets, but I would not use them again. No punctures,
but no grip in the wet.

davek said:

JBB said:

If you have some open ended spanners you will probably find that one
of these fits your pedals quite happily.

As long as it is not too thick - proper pedal spanners are thinner
than most. Proper pedal spanners also have a long handle for extra
leverage, cos pedals do tend to get themselves stuck on v.tight
during use.

Easily solved with 3ft of old exhaust pipe (which sits against the garage
wall as a universal spanner torque multiplier). Slide pipe over spanner and
push gently towards the far end of the pipe. If that doesn't undo the bolt,
you're either pushing the wrong way (LH pedal has a LH thread!) or it will
never undo.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Your best
bet is if someone here has taken off some "normal" pedals to go
clipless.

Or get something like the Shimano double-sided pedal - platform on one
side, SPD on the other, in case the OP decides he does want to go
clipless after all. Or would like to try clipless but not all the
time.

Agreed. A good choice for many bikes.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

killermike said:

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I don't
need the sort with a strap or a clip. I realize that I will need to buy a
pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones back on.

I have a pair of reasonable platform pedals somewhere in the hut. If
you email me (brian instead of junk) I'll send you them for the cost of
posting.

--
Brian G

Nigel Cliffe said:

Easily solved with 3ft of old exhaust pipe

Not having any spare exhaust pipe lying around, I have used a vacuum
cleaner extension pipe (extracting crank bolts).

d.

davek wrote on Sunday 12 Feb 2006 11:15:

Quoted message said:

Nigel Cliffe said:

Easily solved with 3ft of old exhaust pipe

Not having any spare exhaust pipe lying around, I have used a vacuum
cleaner extension pipe (extracting crank bolts).

I inherited a length of brass tube from my Father whose inside diameter
just fits over my socket tommy bar. Perfect for freewheel removal.

--
Regards
Alex
The From address above is a spam-trap.
The Reply-To address is valid

Brian G said:

killermike said:

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I don't
need the sort with a strap or a clip. I realize that I will need to buy a
pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones back on.

I have a pair of reasonable platform pedals somewhere in the hut. If
you email me (brian instead of junk) I'll send you them for the cost of
posting.

Repying by email now.

--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc.
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio

JBB said:

If you have some open ended spanners you will probably find that one of
these fits your pedals quite happily. You can then use the money to upgrade

I'll dig around.

Quoted message said:

your pedal choice; sadly cheap usually means lots of friction andunsealed
bearings which given your planned riding will not last too long. Your best
bet is if someone here has taken off some "normal" pedals to go clipless. I
changed the pedals on my EBC bike but would hesitate to offer them to
someone else for the reasons given above.

Thanks for the advice.

--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc.
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio

davek said:

JBB said:

If you have some open ended spanners you will probably find that one of
these fits your pedals quite happily.

As long as it is not too thick - proper pedal spanners are thinner than
most. Proper pedal spanners also have a long handle for extra leverage,
cos pedals do tend to get themselves stuck on v.tight during use.

I've got an open ended 11/32" which does just about every pedal I've
tried. This size seems to be standard for pedals, although 15 will work
(I've even had some Looks with 11/32 stamped on them)

You can get away with cone spanners if the pedals aren't too jammed
with corroded alu grot

Simon Brooke said:

Quoted message said:

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my
bike would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

Far too much tread. For road use you want a pure slick; for light off
road use you need a little tread, but not that much. Tread slows you up.
Consider something like the Nokian AWS:

<URL:http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/95-7410>

I'll add those to the shortlist. TBH, they look a bit extreme in terms of
their smoothness. Would they be utterly useless on wet grass or a muddy
path?

Quoted message said:

You need a 15mm open ended spanner. It is important to remember that the
left hand pedal has a LEFT HAND THREAD, and consequently undoes
clockwise!

Thanks for that. I'm sure I knew that but had forgotten it, if you know
what I mean.

--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc.
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio

killermike said:

Simon Brooke said:

Quoted message said:

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my
bike would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

Far too much tread. For road use you want a pure slick; for light off
road use you need a little tread, but not that much. Tread slows you up.
Consider something like the Nokian AWS:

<URL:http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/95-7410>

I'll add those to the shortlist. TBH, they look a bit extreme in terms of
their smoothness. Would they be utterly useless on wet grass or a muddy
path?

Quoted message said:

You need a 15mm open ended spanner. It is important to remember that the
left hand pedal has a LEFT HAND THREAD, and consequently undoes
clockwise!

Thanks for that. I'm sure I knew that but had forgotten it, if you know
what I mean.

It's the sort of thing you tend to forget only once ;-)

the only mnemonic I know (and still recite in my head when doing
pedals) is

cLockwise
counteRclockwise

killermike said:

I'll add those to the shortlist. TBH, they look a bit extreme in terms of
their smoothness. Would they be utterly useless on wet grass or a muddy
path?

On wet grass they are 'interesting'. Muddy paths - depends on just what
kind of mud. They are fine if there are some rocks amongst the mud.
Clay - they'll be impossible.

...d

Pete Biggs said:

It's worth spending a bit more if you can. Apart from being a bit slippy
on any wet mud off road, I reckon one the following models would be good
for your needs: Specialized Nimbus EX, Schwalbe City Jet, Panaracer
Pasela TG -- www.wiggle.co.uk . Possibly also Vredestein S-lick 1.3 in
the summer months.

Thanks, I've looked all of those up on google/froogle/wiggle. A couple of
the wiggle two tires + inner tube deals look like good value.

I think I need to spend the next few days mulling over how much off road
capabilty I really need.

--
***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s)
http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc.
http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio

in message <[email hidden]>, killermike

(') said:

Simon Brooke said:

Quoted message said:

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my
bike would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

Far too much tread. For road use you want a pure slick; for light off
road use you need a little tread, but not that much. Tread slows you
up. Consider something like the Nokian AWS:

<URL:http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/95-7410>

I'll add those to the shortlist. TBH, they look a bit extreme in terms
of their smoothness. Would they be utterly useless on wet grass or a
muddy path?

Depends how much mud. Fine on grass, dodgy on much mud.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Copyright (c) Simon Brooke; All rights reserved. Permission is
granted to transfer this message via UUCP or NNTP and to store it
for the purpose of archiving or further transfer. Permission is
explicitly denied to use this message as part of a 'Web Forum', or
to transfer it by HTTP.

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

Quoted message said:

Last March I returned to cycling after an absence of about ten years. The
type of cycling that I am interested in is 20-40 mile day trips, daily
work
commute and longer multi leg cycling camping trips.

My bike is a mountain bike. As the bike was left standing in a garage for
ten years, the rubber of the tires has perished. I am very lucky to have
got a years' use out of them. They really need replacing now and I would
like to replace them with specifically road orientated tires.
Occasionally,
I cut across a piece of woodland or across a field but that is the extent
of my off road use. The current tires are 26x2.

The town in which I live provides excellent services - I never see the
council workers at work but it seems as though they have glass-breaking
teams working around the clock. Some resistance to bits of broken glass
would be an advantage; on my last journey, I had to pick a chunk of glass
out of the front tire with my pen-knife.

Question - Do the replacement tires have to be exactly 2" across? Could I,
for example, use 26x1.9?

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my bike
would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I don't
need the sort with a strap or a clip. I realize that I will need to buy a
pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones back on.

Get slicks. Narrower tyres are no problem as long as you don't go
ridiculously narrow. Schwalbe City jets are 1.5s, puncture resistant etc but
never feel massively planted on the road to me - compared to MTB knobblies
or my Schwalbes on my road bike.

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

Quoted message said:

Last March I returned to cycling after an absence of about ten years. The
type of cycling that I am interested in is 20-40 mile day trips, daily
work
commute and longer multi leg cycling camping trips.

My bike is a mountain bike. As the bike was left standing in a garage for
ten years, the rubber of the tires has perished. I am very lucky to have
got a years' use out of them. They really need replacing now and I would
like to replace them with specifically road orientated tires.
Occasionally,
I cut across a piece of woodland or across a field but that is the extent
of my off road use. The current tires are 26x2.

The town in which I live provides excellent services - I never see the
council workers at work but it seems as though they have glass-breaking
teams working around the clock. Some resistance to bits of broken glass
would be an advantage; on my last journey, I had to pick a chunk of glass
out of the front tire with my pen-knife.

Question - Do the replacement tires have to be exactly 2" across? Could I,
for example, use 26x1.9?

Any recommendation for some cheap road tires that would work with my bike
would be much appreciated.
Do the readers of this group have any opinions on these tires?
(Argos link)
http://tinyurl.com/czegr

I also need a recommendation for some cheap replacement pedals. I don't
need the sort with a strap or a clip. I realize that I will need to buy a
pedal spanner to get the old ones off and the new ones back on.

Just read about the off road requirements - Schwalbe (the daddies in
puncture protection IMO) and others make some half and half tyres. Slick
central section for the road, knobblies on the side for off roading. They're
not fantastic at either, and you'd want different pressures for each task in
an idea world (lower off road to get the knobblies to dig in but I've still
had some interesting moments in thick mud MTBing with them on). I'd be
tempted to be very careful on the rough stuff and use road tyres if you
mostly ride on the road.