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I've got System-Ex's (same as Formula I think) and they are pretty reasonable. I don't think they're made any more though? What I was told.
I swapped the rear cartridge bearings a while ago but I've no idea what the mileage was on them. I ride through all weather.
If the nuts are dodgy on these I don't know because I use a combo of third-party and DuraAce nuts. Not hard to swap 'em ya know!
Gromadas.. Yet another Polish product I need to bring back on next visit! :) -
ImOnCrank:Damnit, where's fucking tofu?
Did you try the dairy section? Maybe health-foods? -
I'm sure most people have done their collarbones? This was an almost-compound-collarbone-smash:
But, how many of you have had brain surgery? ;) (warning: 2.5MB animated gif)
Brain Surgery -
Wine? Still can't bring myself to drink it. Horrible shite for women and 'cultured' people with taste buds that work.
Vodka, rum, brandy, whisk(e)y, cider, (insert every cocktail & spirit mixer here) and beer on the other hand..
As for London drinking.. I lost movement in my right hand for a month after a weekend-long bender and 5hr blackout.. something I'm not planning on repeating (this week) so you 'step up' and I'll see you in A&E :) -
velocity boy:I despise a lot of cycle lanes as they are nothing more than a painted gutter, but I do enjoy bus lanes. Cycling in London would certainly be a little tougher were we not able to take a whole (bus) lane without anyone being able to give us flak. There's a lot of places where bus lanes give you access to different routes as well, as sometimes the roads go one-way with the exception of a bus lane. So bus lanes are cool, cycle lanes are just crap though.
Ealing is having some issues with these at the moment. The council was fighting Tfl over the bus lanes and has won the right to shut them down or at least alter the times they are effective.
This is harmful for cyclists. Bus lanes are good and motorists should be kept out of them. I've written a letter already but if you are in Ealing or Northolt etc. perhaps you should join the LCC for the area and campaign to keep the bus lanes as they are. It's not just about the buses! -
If anyone gives a crap, I'm loving the change to 44-17 from 46-17. It's definitely more suitable for spinning along and gets the HR that much higher whilst not trashing the legs so much.
I tend not to stand up as much to get going from lights and it's easier to put a bit more speed into the pedals to scoot over hills. Skids are easier although I killed a Rubino and swapped to a very soft and grippy Bontrager X Lite that's not so much fun. I use the brakes less now as it's easier to slow down with legs only. I'm still a roadie at heart though so brakes are my friend. Not much else to report 'cept it's SHINY and CLEAN for a damn change!!!
http://www.thehippy.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=134&page=2 -
fixedpip:
hippy: What ARE these frames?! I keep seeing pics of the 'ghetto' style one and now this!
The frame is an polish pursuit frame. The gussets are pretty much decorative. See here for more details: [http://www.ostro.com.pl/](http://www.ostro.com.pl)That's extra cool.. my girl is Polish.
Next time we visit her folks.. there might be some extra luggage coming back! :-D -
I ride fixed to be cool.
I don't even like bikes.I wish I owned a BMW X5.
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I wish I had a garden, I could put the telly outside, light a bar-b-q and still have parking space for a few guys to come over and watch the race unfold. Living in a flat sucks.
Dude, I don't even have a TV and I live in a studio. Tell me about it!
'course, if you do get the tv outside and the barby fired up then it's only right that an Aussie should attend. I'll expect an invite in the post then shall I? ;) -
I'm glad you chose Slamm and not 'Damage'. Damage is my 'other' nickname.
Hope you heal up quick! -
fixedpip:>The Condor ones better be lovely if they're 20 quid.
Your call really..
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I used an angle grinder to modify Vegemite. But this was knowing I was going to have the whole frame blasted and powder-coated after. Oh, I also 'bought' the frame for a 6-pack so if I slipped and put the grinder through tube it was no biggie. If you like the frame, leave it alone, if it's a hack, use the grinder to take the bulk off and then file the (what's the proper term??) 'solder'?? down until it's smoooooth. Paint.
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Late night and girlfriend (or should that be "with") meant I skipped the ride in. I saw velocity boy's bike chained up and I'm guessing FixedWheelnuts is the blue one with "Fixedwheelnut" on the toptube?! Ray from Willesden CC was there. Spotted Jos at a pub after the event. As for meeting up, I dunno what you lot look like so not much chance! Scored a cheap jersey and arm-warmers from the stall near turn one. The gf and I managed to get nicely sunburnt too - her nose is still red! Twas a good day out!
Pics can be found here, for playing 'spot your bike' :)
hip's good friday pics -
velocity boy:I'm paying about £25 for my Phil Wood sprocks... but this is duty and postage free as my wife brings them over from the US for me.
How often does she travel there? Are you taking orders or what? How much can she carry d'ya reckon? ;)
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A guy was running these Spox on his road bike during a recent club run: Spox
Carbon hub body, vectran(sp?) spokes. Rare.
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How much are those Phil sprockets? I just paid £20 for a 17T Condor one.
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velocity boy:I absolutely adore these old raleighs: 
Hey, I'm sure I've seen something like that before...
I actually prefer mine, even if the photography ain't up to scratch.
Since I gave away my childhood bmx before my trip to the UK I'm over chrome. Those saddles are like block spitters to my nether zone. I don't do clips/straps any more. But I am fond of my brakes and the original fork and bars are in storage should I want to ressurect the original track setup. -
velocity boy:Done... 8.45 at Earls Court it is.
I might join you lot but it depends on the other half, the level of intoxication tonight, the can-be-fuckedness, etc..Someone take a camera coz if I don't make it I wanna see what I missed so I don't make the same mistake again..
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1bhp:not everyone's cuppa i know but go for the white Level or dis... 
What ARE these frames?! I keep seeing pics of the 'ghetto' style one and now this!
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Mine have been at speed when a pot hole has 'appeared out of nowhere' :)
There's a split second hesitation when I get off the saddle and try to coast, small 'notice' from the bike and carry on as if nothing happened.
I'm not even sure anyone could see it to be honest - it happens so fast it's like I'm just adjusting where my arse is or something. -
velocity boy: What do you all use and find most comfortable? Have you tried both horns and drops? On the brake front, should I just be looking for a BMX lever for my front brake? Why is it that front brakes are fixed to the left hand? Is it just so that with a single brake you can still signal right? My bullhorns didn't strike the top tube flat on when the bars were turned, does having drops make a top tube protector more essential? Does anyone have the Brooks leather bar tape, and is it worth the money?
Drops are preferred by me, after using bullhorns and drops.
Look for a lever that works and is comfortable.
My front brake is on the RHS. It varies in different countries, probably because of the signalling thing. The cable run is shorter when it's mounted on the right and I prefer my strong (right) arm on the bars. Signalling comes 'after' safety, ie. I only signal if it's safe to do so.
Top-tube protectors are kinda ugly but having scratch the new powder-coat off Vegemite I can see their benefits. Taped bars shouldn't mark though unless you crash, in which case you have more to worry about than top tube paint.
Brooks saddles hurt my arse, I ain't buying their bar tape! :)hth
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velocity boy:The alter's are garish I know. But the Thomson is hardly elegant. If I can't have a nice classic and under-stated quill stem I'll go the opposite route and get the loud stem.
I had heaps of enquires about the stem on this.. I don't even know what model it is!
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2004/d/hippy.htm..those Nitto stems Momentum posted look sweet AND have the removable front face plate which is a BIG plus over any of the old school stems where you have to strip your bars of bits to remove them.
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Fixedwheelnut:Ducks and covers from the flak. I'm a BMW technician ;)
http://www.bossbi.com/bike/bmw/bmwbikes.php
What's so bad about that? :-)
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I can't believe I paid £4.50 for a pint of Bulmers at Couch on Dean St.
10m away was Tesco where I could've had three cold bottles for the same amount! Fscking west end shite!
Okay, so I don't go out with bike much - I've got no idea about cheap, bike-friendly pubs. Chandos on Tott Crt Rd is cheap but not bike friendly.
LFGSS
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of fixed gear and single-speed cyclists.
I've got some stuff I brought from Oz with touring in mind - pedal spanner to build bike off plane, Alien II multi-tool, pump, etc.
I've bought one of those Lifeline?? tool sets from Wiggle. A cheaper but not too shabby copy of Park stuff with useful tools.
Also odd things like a 17mm Park cone wrench for the larger than normal locknuts on my System-Ex hubs, grease, Park chainring tool, DuraAce lockring/chainwhip tool from HubJub...
Carry: One of those Surly Jethro Tules, couple of tyre levers tied to a box of patches and glue, 1 or 2 tubes depending on distance, Alien II multi tool sometimes and an ancient Blackburn mini-pump.