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What do you all own, what would you say is essential?
I've just ordered a Park Tools Torque Wrench and a set of Vernier Calipers, these were both way into the luxury end of a toolkit, but what are you going to do with Amazon vouchers and having discovered that Park Tools are on Amazon.co.uk?
Beyond those splurges, I have some tools but not everything I probably need:
- []15" Wrench[]Pedal Wrench[]Set of Allen Keys (simple kind on a little key ring loop)[]Tyre Levers[]Crank Puller[]Pin Tool[]Wire Cutters[]Track Pump[*]Chain Cleaner[/list]
And then for consumables:
- []Muc Off[]Grease[]Lube (Purple Extreme 400)[]Innertubes (long valve, smooth valve wall - no dust cap)[/list]
What would other people recommend? What do you carry?
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Right, I'm down to either the Mavic CXP 33's or the Ambrosio deeps (can't remember the bloody product name and it's gone and changed since last year and they don't update their website).
Are the Mavic Rims as awesome as their popularity suggests?
If so, the sheer lack of good information on the Ambrosios will lead me to take the Mavics.
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Hope no-one is running their brakes on a single-speed:
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer ProductSafety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below,
today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.
Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
(To access color photos of the following recalled products,
seeCPSC's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO ) Name of Product: SRAM Force Road Brake Caliper Sets Units: About 5,400 units Importer: SRAM Corp., of Chicago, Ill. Hazard: The brake caliper sets could break and detach from the bicycle's fork or frame. This could cause the rider to lose control and crash. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The recall involves the SRAM Force Road Brake Calipers sets sold as aftermarket components. The brake caliper sets have "SRAM Force" and some have a date or production code embossed on the unit. Code Example In Recall Not In Recall Date code 01JUN06 Dates between 01JUN06 Dates after (Day/Month/Year) and 25DEC06 25DEC06 No date code --------- All sold between --------------- July 2006 through March 2007 Production Code 35T61234567 Codes beginning with Codes beginning 35T6 through 51T6 with 52T6 and codes with "7" as the fourth digit The SRAM brake caliper sets may have also been installed on thefollowing makes and models of bicycles: Specialized (S-Works Tarmac SL,
S-Works Roubaix); Trek (Project One Madone models); Fuji (Fuji SL1); Scott
USA (Addict R3); Bianchi (Bianchi 928 SL); Kuota (Kuota KOM, Kuota KREDO,
Kuota KEBEL); Orbea (Orca, Aqua, Loboular, Opal, Arin, Aqua Dama, Dama Race
and Diva); Kestrel (Evoke SL/Force, RT700/Force), Titus (Vuelo, Solera) and
Sampson (Diablo).Sold at: Specialty bicycle retailers nationwide sold individual brake caliper sets from July 2006 through January 2007 for about $270 and bicycles which included these sets through March 2007 for between $3,000 and $7,300. Manufactured in: Taiwan Remedy: Consumers should stop using bicycles equipped with these brake caliper sets immediately and contact their bicycle retailer for a free replacement. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact SRAM at (800) 346-2928 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at http://www.sram.com. Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 346-2928 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908</code></blockquote> -
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Sounds lovely really.
I loved bombing it down to Brighton and back via the London Dynamo "blue train" last year, but damn it's knackering when you then continue along the coast and back over the downs.
A slightly more leisurely pace and I would've been pretty fresh towards the end I think (rather than dying on the downs as I was).
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kipsy:48 x 16
Worse than me!
Did you do the same thing I did of calculating a nice cruise speed on a road bike and working out the gearing from that?
I've got the not-falling-over-whilst-weaving-through-traffic thing sorted now :) Took a while though, high gears do not lend themselves to tight weaving.
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We got a little tipsy at the Old Mill in Plumstead. Riding home was a laugh, we followed the Thames Cycle Path back on the South Bank, around the Dome and past the old aggregate work yards.
Alex was perhaps a little more tipsy, or at least a little more reckless. After learning how to skid I think he forgot how to brake, and when we took a blind corner too fast and oncoming cyclists came into view I hit my front brake and shouted a warning "Slow!" to Alex and damnham behind me. Alex didn't really slow, he just flew into the side of me and lent on me to make the corner.
I don't know how we didn't end up in the dirt, or worse in the Thames. We made it another few miles to the pub for bangers and mash without further incident though.
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I was in two-minds about the congestion zone extension, but after having seen so many new cyclists out there, it's worth it.
A few weeks of wobbly and dangerous cycling to contend with, but the new cyclists seem quite eager to learn and get comfortable. I've been pointing out road-markings, traffic-light sequences, advising them to get in the lane they want in advance, and also making them aware of free training that all councils offer. Just helping them get comfortable, be less wobbly and nervous (which can be pretty dangerous).
It is a huge benefit to have cycling more visible and more people riding. Ultimately it's not about the bikes, scenes, what's cool, it's about the people. It always is. That's a strong belief of mine, and you see it a lot in the cycling community, a lot of really great people helping each other out and looking out for each other.
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Oh, and this is a mate of mine, he did mountain biking until this got the better of him.

He severed the top of his right arm, just below the shoulder. Those pins hold it together :)
He'd landed on a rock whilst biking over the downs north of Brighton. The accident was so bad that he was helicoptered out. It puts my small scrapes into perspective.
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This is really just for slamm/beatz... come on, you must've taken a photo of your finger in a before and after type thing! You've got to show us.
And seriously, we were all surprised you did it... doesn't everyone know about the Sheldon Brown warning? If not, here's the tip:
The other danger of fixed-gear bicycles is at its greatest when the bike is in a repair stand. If you hand-pedal it and then accidentally have a finger an article of clothing come into contact with the chain or a sprocket, the momentum of the wheel will keep the drive train rolling. You can lose a finger that way.   Sorry to gross you out with these photos, but this is a real danger!
Does it look like one of those?
I've only got a few scars from cycling. One on my left palm when I attempted a wheelie on an old Grifter about 20 years ago... the bike was too heavy so I decided that hitting a curb would give lift to the front... it did... for about 2 seconds... and then the back wheel hit the curb. I went straight over the bars and landed in gravel, with a stone embedded in my left palm.
The only other scar is now barely visible on my right fore-arm. A chunk of muscle that got dug out by the bar-end of another cyclist. I was going too fast, he was going too sideways. It was a bad recipe. It also resulted in my right shoulder having some ripped ligament/tendon things... it was painful, but no scar for that bit. Just 3 months of physio.
Oh, one more scar... right foot. Happened at Box Hill during a Surrey Hills ride. I'd been out drinking the night before and went along for the club ride. Very tired, bonked shortly after Box Hill, but the real sign of the bonking was falling off attempting to mount my bike in the car park of the café. I went straight over the bike and landed on my face. To this day I don't know how I did that. Nor do I know why feet scars never seem to heal like the rest of the body does.
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But don't they only have that really small telly in the corner, and the one above the doorway to the left? Those are miniature.
Decent screens are what we need... and tour? That's far away, Paris > Roubaix next weekend, the Sunday in Hell. It's going to be great, it always is.
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.


Condor seemed very confident about getting them, I bet they're lying to me.