New Stuff July Part 2

Yes, it's August but I bought these in July. Been buying quite a few new accessories lately, so to keep the blogposts shorter, I've split them out. Here I'm covering an allen key set, some dusters and some chain lubricant.

Even though I got some good made in Germany ones with my Kettler bikes, I thought it was about time I got an allen key set - the ones with long handles for leverage and a "ball" on the end (for hard to reach places). Kept together with a plastic thing and better for home use as they're easier to use than the shorter foldup ones for use when out riding. £5.24 from Evans Cycles, very reasonable, I thought. There are far more expensive and elaborate ones available eg Park Tool, but I thought these would more than suffice in the meantime. Quite like that neat plastic thing for holding them too.

Bought 3 microfibre dusters from one of these pound/99p stores - cannot quite remember. Thought they might come in useful for wiping the bikeframes especially of the Gazelle in this warm weather we're having, making the frame dusty. Given that warm weather and the UK don't usually go in hand, probably won't be using them much...

And lastly, but not leastly, I bought some chain lubricant. Am going to try and follow the advice of the Total Bike Maintenance book and keep my bike chains nice and clean in a bid to keep the drivetrain in good order - something I neglected at first on my first Kettler. This Epic Ride lubricant is described on the bottle as an "all conditions" lubricant providing "long haul durability without the excessive grime build-up common with conventional wet-style lubricants". You're supposed to put lots of it on and then wipe the excess off. Chains are supposed to just have enough lube - too much on the outside attracts dirt etc which can damage the chain as it acts as a grinding paste.

You have been warned.

New Stuff July Part 1

Bought myself some bits and bobs: a Lidl wireless computer - £6.99, an Asaklitt track pump from Clas Ohlson (£19.99) and a rear rack basket also from Clas Ohlson for £16.99.

Lidl must have had a "cycling week" recently, where they have for sale lots of cycling accessories and clothing during a particular week of the year. I haven't kept up but when they do, it's news on the cycling internet fora. They have a great reputation for great value stuff especially their workstand, which I covered in an earlier post.

Pretty much all their cycling (and other hardware) I've found to be good value - and so's just about everybody else - inexpensive and unsophisticated but well made with a 3 year guarantee demonstrating confidence in their products. Wireless computers with the exception of Wilkinson's wireless @ £15.99, cost upwards of £19.99, so quite a bargain. As you can see, I've fitted it and it works, but I haven't quite figured out totally how to set it correctly - will have to read the instructions a few more times. Bit like the other one really where I had to go back to the instructions every time I needed to change the battery...

I do like the nice shiny barrel...don't like those weeds on my patio...

Decided to get a new track pump as my other one wouldn't fit the woods valves on my two new bikes; of course, I could have just bought some new inner tubes with presta valves and fitted them instead. But to be honest, I couldn't be bothered: put it this way, removing tyres, replacing inner tubes and then putting the tyre back on isn't exactly my favourite bike job, and not something I do unless I have to...I also think the Woods/Dunlop valves add a bit of character as they're rare in the UK (Interesting how two consecutive bike purchases have these valves which are otherwise quite rare in this country and which I'd hitherto only read about). Conversely, they're hard to get here, so better make sure I have plentiful spares...

I bought the pump from Clas Ohlson - sort of like an upmarket Danish Wilkinson with all sorts of hardware, DIY, chainsaws etc. An excellent shop I think. New to the UK (I think). The type of shop I look for an excuse to buy something from, seeing if they have anything new that takes my fancy.

purposeful...but unkool...

Also from Clas Ohlson was a rear rack basket. Baskets are probably the uncoolest bike accessories whilst at the same time probably the most useful. This one just hooks over the rear rack and is probably quite safe as it is but you might like to use zipties and rubber spacers to stop it rattling about when you're riding as I have. You can just dump things in there with no fuss. Seriously thinking about buying one for the other side too.

Bought a few other things which I'll cover in the next post - looking to publish twice a week - Thursday and Monday from now on, provided I can consistently come up with something to write about...

Sturmey Archer Rear Axle Nuts...And The Importance Of Keeping Spares...

So, whilst tensioning the chain and intending to adjust the gears on my Kettler Selection, I accidentally strip the drive side (right) axle nut thread putting the bike out of action until I can replace it. Yes, I had tightened it to the recommended 28 Newton Meters torque with my torque wrench per the instruction leaflet sent with the hub. But the 28NM may have been a misprint, because the German translation on the leaflet says 25NM which might explain it...

Apparently this is not uncommon; the nut is of a softer metal than the axle, the reasoning being that damage to the axle is a lot more complicated to fix than just replacing the nut. Fair enough.

But typically this turns into a bigger problem than it first appears. I go straight to ebay and order 3 of what I think are what I need. I also check with one of the local bike shops to see if they have one in their parts bin. They don't. So, my bike's kaput because of a nut costing 99p...The ebay order arrives - and they don't fit...It's also a bit confusing because they're called left hand axle nuts, as in for the left (non-drive) side. This gives the impression (at least to me) that they won't fit the right hand (drive) side which is what I needed. So you have to email and phone these people to confirm that you're buying the right thing. They're suitable for both sides :-)

The one on the right is the right one...

From what I can make out on the internet, the ones from ebay - the one on the left in the picture, are front axle nuts. Oh well, more for the parts bin, might come in useful, they also refunded my money when I told them, so credit where due. So I order 2 of the correct ones from SJS Cycles. The part code is HMN128. Must remember this, oh, and I've got this blog post for future reference ;-)

Now, I'm learning all the time and I've learnt that the nuts and bolts for bikes are specifically for bikes and have to be bought from a bike shop; you cannot simply just go into a hardware/DIY store and buy replacements even though they might look the same. For example, the near universal 15mm wheel nuts have a specific screwthread for bikes - my local hardware store told me when I tried to buy some there.

Which has taught me to be prepared and to ensure that I have at least 2 of everything before I actually need it...

Spontaneity, A Bargain And Another New Bike...Three Times Goodstuff...

Rather good looking I think...indisputably a bargain most should think...

I enjoy a bit of spontaneity, it's good to just treat yourself on the spur of the moment. Some things we want are too expensive for this, so we have to save over a period of time for them. Unfortunately, during that time, all too often you go off whatever it was you were saving for. I do like having the money and seeing something I like that I didn't plan on buying.

I've also learned to appreciate a bargain when I see one; it's good to go round car boot sales, second hand shops and sale/clearance items, just to see what you might find. This often combines with the spontaneity thing.

A new bike is a welcome thing too, even though in this case, I hadn't planned on it. Originally the plan was to give the Kettler a big overhaul and replace most of the parts once it had covered 10,000 miles (currently 9540). This included the suspension forks, rear wheel and hubgear, handlebars, light, chainset, maybe the brake units too. An email was sent to Kettler GB to get prices. Would have cost over £500...more than the bike cost originally...You have to expect this: generally, private individuals will pay more to have a bike made up from new parts because you'll be paying the profit markup on each one.

OK, maybe get a bit more flexible - buy the parts piecemeal from a variety of sources over time, fitting them myself. These would have still cost over £200. Great project, really go town, labour of love etc.

On the other hand, I need a bike for daily use and whilst I love my new Gazelle, I prefer the Kettler for general utility as it's just a little bit more practical, especially during this summer when I intend to do a bit more long distance riding on days out etc. Not sure how long the overhaul would have taken or how much a bike shop would have charged, but it certainly would have taken longer and probably cost more.

So surfing for special offers, I found Kettler GB had an entry level Spirit city bike going for half price - £295 instead of £595; Result! Certainly the best option - it doesn't get any better than this for that price. A reputable German brand with lots of equipment ready made up (needed to fit the pedals) and I can ride it straight away. I can service the other one at my leisure.

I think Kettlers are one of the best kept secrets in the UK cycling world - you get so much for the money. Below, the photos show the various extras per my "what makes a town bike post?".

But also, I like the spontaneity of it - finding and treating yourself with an unplanned for bargain. Good service too: ordered it late Tuesday and it arrived on Friday.

Neat instruction manual in English and German. See the way the rider is dressed on the photo on the cover? Refreshing...

Manual comes with pages which your dealer is supposed to record the annual service on your bike over 10 years; the frame comes with a 10 year guarantee in Germany but 5 years in the UK.

I do like shifters with little windows telling you what gear it's in

With the manual comes 3 allen keys and a little plug for the hole in the stem where you can adjust it for height with the inset bolt. Not just the bike I like, but the thoughtful little extras too

Selle Royal (the people who own Brooks) saddle mounted on a sprung stem; pretty good, but might replace it with a Brooks.

Standard fitment throughout Europe, but pretty rare UK-side; a frame mounted wheel lock for short term parking outside shops and cafes (don't know how to type the accent (I think it's called) above the e). The bike seat stays have to be drilled and tapped for one of these to be attached; you cannot just attach one to any bike.

Rear rack - 18kg capacity, with spring clamp and provision on the left for the little pump that comes with the bike. Rear dynamo powered standlight stays on after the bike has stopped for several minutes as a safety feature when you're stationary.

Single kickstand - not the big stable thing on the Gazelle mind, so be careful... 

Dynamo powered headlamp, fenders, sorry mudguards and forks with shock absorber things; also V-brakes which are pretty powerful

Shimano Nexus 8 internal hub and chain guard. Look how clean that chain is - wonder if I can keep it that way?

The Total Bike Maintenance Book

I borrowed this from the library and, thinking it very good, decided to buy a copy. Normally £18.99, I, being out of work decided to get one that had been discounted and was very pleased to find one at the local discount bookstore (The Works) which had one advertised at £7.99 on the net along with £3 or so, postage. Pretty pleased with myself: another bargain: not only less than half price, but no postage fee :-))

Now, I decided awhile back that I was going to take care of my bike(s), only going to a bike shop when necessary for things I cannot do myself, for whatever reason. Part of this was down to the fact that I was unemployed, but also, I think it's better if you can do the work yourself as you probably take better care of it. Plus, I enjoy it...when it goes right...which hasn't been that often...

To be expected, much of this bike covers derailleurs so not relevant to me (although it's good to have the knowledge), but there is a useful section on hubgears and most of the other content applies to most bikes - brakes, wheels etc. as you would expect it to.

Nice colour photos and a narrative, first person style with the odd anecdote, personal experience of the author plus tips on how to make bike maintenance easier, make it quite enjoyable to read, more than just an instruction manual. I've already taken the author's advice and bought myself a "biscuit tin" - an organiser for nuts and bolts and other small parts I might need when the shops are shut - see my post on getting organised. In addition, what I like, being a relative beginner, is the explanation at the beginning of each chapter of the language of bikes - what a chainset is etc which can get a bit confusing at times, especially if it's something you don't have and almost never use - ie a cassette...nothing to do with tape recorders...

I wish that I had bought this sooner, as to a degree, I have neglected the some of the maintenance on my Kettler especially the chain, which I didn't start cleaning or change until I'd ridden several thousand miles. So you get a stretched chain which ruins the chainset. This wasn't because I didn't care, but because I didn't know. Ah well, lesson learned for the now and the future.

Keeping Up With Blogging - Thoughts And Observations - Save Exam Conditions For Exams...

OK, I've tried to continually refine this blog on content - writing and pictures. The publishing has been a bit haphazard - sometimes 2 posts in a week, sometimes over a week between posts. Juggling blogging with manual work I was doing recently has sometimes been difficult. The organisation is getting better - I'm adding stuff as and when I think of it instead of trying to do it all in one sitting.

Am going to try to publish a post once a week every Thursday for those who are interested.

Having thought about it, could it have been a school/exam thing when you try to do everything in one sitting?

I can understand the reasoning behind doing everything at once under exam conditions - still the best way to test what you have learnt in my opinion - seeing how you perform under pressure. And I say this as someone who wasn't exactly a trail blazing qualifications superstar prizewinner with blue chip companies lining up to hire me...

The problem with this is, you can carry this over into adulthood and apply it to everything else - like problemsolving  and creativity. Where it's inappropriate sometimes because you need time to think about something you haven't done before. So I've found: you cannot think of a way to solve problems or create something within a short space of time. I often gave up. Now, I've found, when I start something, hit a barrier, have a think about it, repeat if necessary, the solution or creation either gradually evolves, or it's a bingo!/Eureka! moment. It all becomes clear. This is applicable to working on the bike, especially when I wanted to fit that saddle mounted toolkit. Of course, I tend to think "why didn't I think of that at the time?" (A bit like bicycles really...in all the thousands of years of mankind's existence, it took until the latter half of the 19th century before a simple thing like the pushbike was invented).

Which IMO goes to show that pressure is a good thing; when applied at the right time...

New Bike - Riding And Ownership Impressions

No, I don't ride it down steps or anywhere bumpy if I can avoid it...

OK, so the Gazelle Toer Populaire is a classic Dutch bike made by Royal Dutch Gazelle. It has a very sedate, comfortable ride because of its weight, configuration and steel frame. It is very upright - like an office chair - classic sit up and beg, the type of bike for which that term was invented. Having tried a few steel framed bikes including a 12kg Brompton, I see that they were right: steel does give a better ride.

It is heavy and it is slow - like I expected it to be.

I seem to get comfortable with any bike after 1-2 short rides and so it is with this. There are a few things to get used to though:

The Brooks B67S saddle needs wearing in; this wasn't the case with the Brooks on my other bike. Have applied Proofide, this wax stuff recommended and made by Brooks to wear it in quicker. Think my posterior can detect a difference already.

Being very upright with sweptback handlebars as you can see; you have to position them right so you don't knock them with your knees when steering and getting on and off which could ruin your day if you fell off.

The single propstand is on the left and I'm used to getting off on the right, so I'll have to get off on the left so I don't have to lean it against anything or hold the bike whilst walking round to the left to extend it. Then again, I can move it forward with my left foot whilst I'm still on the bike and still get off on the right - I'm practicing.

This type of bike is fairly rare in the UK overall and even rarer outside London in a medium sized town where I live, so it gets a few looks, sometimes admiring, sometimes not...and a few comments good or bad too from people who haven't seen one before...

Anyway, in anticipation of some of the comments I've heard in the past with regard to my other bikes, I've got some answers ready:

"That's a funny looking bike"

That's because you don't know what it is...

"That doesn't look like it would be very good off road"

Neither would a Smart car; cuz that's not what it's for...

"You would need a low loader, not a car to carry that to the trail"

The idea is to ride it from wherever I happen to be at the time, not putting it on a rack on the back of a car so I can drive for 25 miles before I ride it...

Other thoughts on typical UK sport oriented cycling for which it was never designed:

Club riding: OK - so long as everybody else is riding one, or I'm gonna be at least 5 miles behind them and they'll have to come back for me thinking I've got lost...

Road racing, triathlon, other glamorous lycra and shades events looking cool; yep, provided you don't mind finishing last...and looking daft...

Random-thingy (French word), Audax/mid distance commuting/London to Brighton/John O' Groats to Landsend/travel all round the world etc: err no, not if I want to enjoy it...these things must be hard enough as it is, there are no prizes for making life difficult for yourself unnecessarily...

Time trial - that thing where you wear that big tear drop shaped thingy on your head so you can break the sound barrier over half a mile or whatever: Yes - but measure the time taken with a calendar not a stopwatch...

Anyways, the bike is fine for cruising along on not too hilly terrain for shortish distances and shopping trips in style - like these bikes are made for, and I am delighted with it. If this is going to be your only bike, best use it this way. I recall meeting a retired couple, the lady of whom which had a similar 3 speed Batavus, that she used for long rides together. They told me she'd bought one because she liked the looks, and had enquired about importing one from Holland. Pleased to find a British shop selling them, she bought one. But she was considering an electric bike because she was struggling to ride long distances on a 20kg+ upright 3 speed...

Quelle surprise?

One other weight issue to bear in mind: this bike weighs 22.5kg or fifty pounds. You'll have to lug it up and down the stairs if you like to keep the bike indoors, live in an apartment/flat above ground floor, and the lift/elevator is too small...jus' so's you know...