Most recent activity
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Very good use of a certain newly-acquired Castelli jacket for the last two days, but now I need better tights (so I ordered two pairs, to work address of course)... This morning a single balaclava under helmet wasn't enough, need to think of something else. Maybe a forehead+ear warmer kind of thing, Mark Knopfler style but thicker. Also a bummer I can't use my Aftershokz with the balaclava on.
Significantly fewer commuters in my usual route, a black cab completely ignored us (and probably didn't appreciate our drafting efforts) and joined into Grovesnor Rd from the left as we came in. Good reflexes all around. 7/10
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Difference between full-size mudguards and inferior stuff like raceblades (which I now have) or cruds (good at protecting drivetrain and headset, bad at protecting the person behind you. which I used to have, concidentally)
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Happy to report that I got it right the first time using:
- AForce AL33 rims
- Hutchinson Fusion5 11Storm tires
- Milkit valves + syringe system (very nice)
- A bit of washing up liquid + water to wet the bead
- Doc Blue sealant (sealed half a litre bottle, almost 2 years old)
Process:
- I was able to put on the tires on the wheels just by using my hands (no Tyrekey, levers, etc) I think the wide rim bed helped.
- Use very little amount of soapy water alongside the beads (push the bead in, apply small amount with fingers, let go, move on alongside the tire)
- The beads seated not long after I frantically pumped it up with my regular Lifeline track pump, valve cores on. (Milkit lets you pump it without the valve cores too, innovative)
- I let the air out, unscrewed the valve cores and managed to put in 30ml of Doc Blue using Milkit's syringe/valve/hose system, without getting it anywhere else.
- After sloshing it around, pumped up to 90psi (the box said 80-120...) and let it sit for 36 hours.
- Commuted 2x14km today, nice ride quality
Came back home, writing this message. I decide to check the final pressures. I connect the pump to the rear tire. To my surprise, the pressure is low, maybe 35 psi. I pump it to 60psi and as the pressure rises I start hearing a hissing sound. Investigate and find a piece of glass stuck to the brand new, 28km-mileage tire. I pick it off (it's exactly at the opposite side of the valve) and the pressure starts escaping. I rotate it to get the cut part downwards (the bike is on a stand btw) and after a few seconds it's sealed. Doc Blue jizz under the stand. Pump it to 75psi few minutes later. For now, pumping more will aggravate the sealant and more will squirt out. (1 hour later I successfully pump it to 80psi. Just some bubbles on the hole, nothing big)
I check the front tire and it's happily sitting at 70psi. I pump in 10psi more for good measure.
Later I'll let the air out and check the sealant level using the Milkit syringe thing.
- AForce AL33 rims
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First commute on tubeless + new wheels. 8/10
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Maybe... Looking at full neoprene gloves like the Diluvio C, my friend swears by them, maybe that's the way to go. I've also thought about getting merino liners inside, but the gloves are already too old and starting to fray.
I once went down to -3C (-5 with wind chill) with the current gloves, my fingertips started sticking inside the glove (rest of the group wasn't comfy either) so we had to stop and turn back. Had coffee instead. To overcompensate, next day I bought a pair of Santini Fjords (they were on sale...) but didn't have a chance to use them so far.
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I think COB might be more efficient in terms of lumens per watt. (One of the reasons might be them being easier to cool down due to the copper backing on the PCB acting as a heat sink)
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Does your phone also have a "swipe to unlock" kind of situation?
Ah yes, it will analyze the DNA and only my snot will unlock.
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Looking to replace my GripGrab Windster gloves, with something better. The GG site says 0-10C for these but they're not that comfortable below 5C... So I'm looking for something that will handle the current morning commute, and preferably thin with touchscreen compatibility. (Trying to "touch" the phone with the tip of a snot-wet nose is not fun) Recommendations?
I really enjoyed my MAAP Glove purchase this autumn but they're really weak for this type of weather (no touchscreen too)
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If another product with brake mode + COB LEDs existed, I would definitely switch. Not sure why Knog or Lezyne don't have similar products. Find the mounting mechanism fine btw. Button's a nightmare especially with winter gloves. (Good mini review of the ACE light...)
I digress. The alarm, not really sure. Maybe on bikes that you can't easily lock up or take inside, like a cargo bike, or something with a trailer etc. Other than that, I don't really see the appeal.
After spending months on how to mount my front cam (it was a Mobius, light) to the underside of the Wahoo mount (using 3D printing and everything. It kept cracking after some time, etc) I finally bit the bullet and got a K-Edge combo this fall. £££ but real nice, though this time I had to add bunch of faff to get the cam to play nice with the gopro style bracket mount. All solved by getting a Cycliq to the front (Sportpursuit sale) and moving the better-quality-but-gps-jamming Mobius to the back (under saddle)
Now I can send picture-in-picture (front-back sync'd) videos to roadsafe reporting all sorts of minor infringements. Just reported two cycle box violations the other day, clearly showing the motorcyclists' approach to the box, also violating the mandatory cycle lane (lucky junction with the cycle lane positioned in the middle) after the light being clearly red and all traffic already stopped.