porca misèria Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Just for you ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XYY Man Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 So your that confident that you don't "test brake" to scrub the water off the rims regularly in the wet? you just oouze confidence by rocketing down that steep hill, safe in the knowledge that your rim brakes will snap into action instantly? Aye right Let that water build up on the rims and you have no brakes (at least not for the few vital seconds that you need them) Fair comment. But let's be straight about this - having no brakes at eight-mile-an-hour isn't something that should ever worry anyone born with a functional pènis...! XYY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 No point in spending more money, £90 was enough. I`ve now given up cycling. Spot the connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Well, I went up to Waitrose for the first time in 5 or 6 months . It was a bloody long way, boring as hell. (5 miles) Riding a motorbike is a completely different experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibbon Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 Thanks everyone for the advice. Thought I'd update and say I narrowed it down in the end to the Decathlon B'Twin Triban 500 flat bar road bike and Hellfrauds Carerra Subway 2. Couple of the reviews of the B'Twin mentioned the gears playing up. Haven't got a Decathlon nearby if I had problems but got a Hellfrauds just down the road so went with Carerra in the end. Also lots of people seem to be using them as an urban commuter which is exactly I wanted. Ordered the 22" frame, hoping its not too big, don't know much about bike sizing but according to their size guidelines that's the right one for my height. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Get an adult bike, you know, one with an engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Get an adult bike, you know, one with an engine. Artichokes are nice once in a while, but what do you use when they're out of season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turned Out Nice Again Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 I found the bike I've been riding for the last 10+ years in a scrap pile outside a posh bike shop, sans pedals and seat - an old Specialised Crossroads. The front derailleur was frozen so I disconnected it, 7 gears being more than enough for where I live now. And if it wasn't impressively ugly enough, I added a crossbar child seat and foot-rests, which along with the strategic rust and cobwebs (it lives outdoors) renders it un-stealable. Runs very smooth and fast, notwithstanding all the above, so long as I don't leave it to fur up. You don't have to lash out money for a serviceable bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 I found the Korean subtitles very surreal, Mr Nice-Again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbIlaRkAWo Great song....Belize park old stomping ground.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Thanks everyone for the advice. Thought I'd update and say I narrowed it down in the end to the Decathlon B'Twin Triban 500 flat bar road bike and Hellfrauds Carerra Subway 2. Couple of the reviews of the B'Twin mentioned the gears playing up. Haven't got a Decathlon nearby if I had problems but got a Hellfrauds just down the road so went with Carerra in the end. Also lots of people seem to be using them as an urban commuter which is exactly I wanted. Ordered the 22" frame, hoping its not too big, don't know much about bike sizing but according to their size guidelines that's the right one for my height. Great choice. The Subways are well respected commuter bikes. Providing it's set up properly (insist Halfrauds fix any niggling issues within the first six weeks or so) it'll serve you well. 22inch will be fine at your height and expected usage - although depending on preference for riding position you might need to change the stem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Great choice. The Subways are well respected commuter bikes. Providing it's set up properly (insist Halfrauds fix any niggling issues within the first six weeks or so) it'll serve you well. 22inch will be fine at your height and expected usage - although depending on preference for riding position you might need to change the stem. You'll be lucky to get a staff member half-competent to do that at Halfrauds. It's not impossible - you might get for example a student who knows about bikes working part-time there - but staff in general are likely to be unskilled numpties. 22 inch is a regular/oldfashioned frame size for shorties. But in mountain bike sizes it would be for someone tall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgul Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 I found the bike I've been riding for the last 10+ years in a scrap pile outside a posh bike shop, sans pedals and seat - an old Specialised Crossroads. The front derailleur was frozen so I disconnected it, 7 gears being more than enough for where I live now. And if it wasn't impressively ugly enough, I added a crossbar child seat and foot-rests, which along with the strategic rust and cobwebs (it lives outdoors) renders it un-stealable. Runs very smooth and fast, notwithstanding all the above, so long as I don't leave it to fur up. You don't have to lash out money for a serviceable bike. In my world that is were all normal bikes come from. Perfect to riding to the shops, pub, whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibbon Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 Great choice. The Subways are well respected commuter bikes. Providing it's set up properly (insist Halfrauds fix any niggling issues within the first six weeks or so) it'll serve you well. 22inch will be fine at your height and expected usage - although depending on preference for riding position you might need to change the stem. Cheers I'll be straight down there at the slightest problem. I'll also see if I can find someone who knows bikes to check it over or find some local bike mechanic. You'll be lucky to get a staff member half-competent to do that at Halfrauds. It's not impossible - you might get for example a student who knows about bikes working part-time there - but staff in general are likely to be unskilled numpties. 22 inch is a regular/oldfashioned frame size for shorties. But in mountain bike sizes it would be for someone tall. I went down to the Hellfrauds where it's getting built. Ended up talking to the young lad there for good 30 mins, he definitely knew his thing, been working there 5 years. Even brought up his own new foldable to show me as I was asking about them. Said he builds up to 8 bikes a day I think and said it'll most probably be him who builds mine. I'd take that over some lycra clad weekend warrior talking crap on bike forums all week from their bank job. But yeah def think I've lucked out there considering some of my other experiences with Hellfrauds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibbon Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 You don't have to lash out money for a serviceable bike. Yeah I know where you're coming from, I'm always happy to use something which iust gets the job done. That's why I've been driving a 20+ year old car for the last 5 years. But this is intending to be a daily replacement for my car which I've just SORN'd and the cost of the bike is the same as my road tax. Don't want to get something I couldn't live with and just end up going back to the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 I had a random Halfords incident few years back. Car battery changing. Bloke took about 30 mins and kept on coming in saying it was so tricky as the bolt was at an angle and so difficult to get too etc.. Changed my battery myself few weeks back. I had the same issue. I noticed it was the small plastic panel in front that was blocking. It had 4 screws on it. I undid them all then lo and behold access was simple. Took me about 2 mins to work out and I am not exactly a mechanic. How can someone who does this all day every day not work this out ?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Took me about 2 mins to work out and I am not exactly a mechanic. That'll be the difference between you and a regular employee in a big retail chain. Independent specialist shops are different: they're run by enthusiasts who care about what they do, and whose survival depends on maintaining a decent reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibbon Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 Spoke to soon got f**** around by Hellfrauds and their subsidiary Cycle Republic. Managed to get the bike in the end after plenty of arsing around, only to find both hydraulic brake pads are rubbing against the disc. I've also not been supplied with manuals so have no idea how to adjust them. Haven't even tested the gears yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Well...I`m no expert but.... surely hydraulic brakes will unbind automatically ? Keep riding and apply firm pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Spoke to soon got f**** around by Hellfrauds and their subsidiary Cycle Republic. Managed to get the bike in the end after plenty of arsing around, only to find both hydraulic brake pads are rubbing against the disc. I've also not been supplied with manuals so have no idea how to adjust them. Haven't even tested the gears yet. Squeeze them on and off a few times - and they may stop rubbing as they should be self centering. If not, go straight back to Halfords. They are likely either not quite aligned properly, or the discs are slightly bent/warped. Hit YouTube for adjustment videos, but make Halfords fix it to your satisfaction first. Well...I`m no expert but.... surely hydraulic brakes will unbind automatically ? Keep riding and apply firm pressure. Not necessarily. See above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Hydraulic disc breaks can be a **** to align. A bit of a you tube search could save you a lot of hassle . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtermrenter Posted September 9, 2016 Share Posted September 9, 2016 Specialised Sirrus always plenty for sale. Good hybrid. Older models sometimes better spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Hydraulic disc breaks can be a **** to align. A bit of a you tube search could save you a lot of hassle . Yes if I'm honest, I won't have them my bikes anymore. The braking power is good, but I have wasted lots of money/time on getting hydraulic disc brakes set up right. I've never spent more than five minutes setting up any v-brake. I can only think of one time where I would have really benefited from disc brakes - cycling down Telegraph pass to join Snowdon Ranger path - pouring with rain and effectively riding in a bog with at least two inches of water downhill. That was somewhat scary, but also partly due to rather worn pads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workingpoor Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Spoke to soon got f**** around by Hellfrauds and their subsidiary Cycle Republic. Managed to get the bike in the end after plenty of arsing around, only to find both hydraulic brake pads are rubbing against the disc. I've also not been supplied with manuals so have no idea how to adjust them. Haven't even tested the gears yet.Firstly are you sure they are "hydraulic" disk brakes? The Carrera subways i have seen have cable disk brakes not hydraulic? Assuming they are "hydraulic" (unusual for a low priced bike) then they will likely require bleeding if the pads have come out of the calipers slightly. One thing with hydraulic brakes is if you take the front wheel (or any wheel) off you must never knock or pull the brake leavers because without the disk to keep the pads centered in the caliper the hydraulic fluid will push them out and fluid may start leaking also, then you either wont get the wheel back in because the pads wont allow the disk in, or if it does go in the pads will rub & bind on the disc. I have a special tool that i slot in the holes on the back of the caliper when i remove the front wheel to stop this happening, you can use a bit of stiff folded up cardboard slip it in between the pads on the caliper where the disk would ordinarily be. It sounds like the disks just need centering slightly in the calipers, its common. To fix your bike now: 1. squeeze brake leaver hard and keep it squeezed 2. release the tension on the quick release on the wheel (just pull the QR leaver down dont unscrew) 3. do the quick release leaver back up on the wheel. 4. finally release brake leaver. 5. marvel at your free spinning unbound wheel! (all you are doing here ^^^^ is centering the disk in the caliper) whilst doing all of the above keep downward pressure on the front fork from the handle bars. Gotta go im chatting bike crap on a forum from my bank job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Get an adult bike, you know, one with an engine. We have a winner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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