Help me. Sad and tragic tale

thelawnet

thelawnet wrote:

I think I need some lessons.

Correction, what I need is:

lessons - I bet I'm doing it wrong
someone to tell me why my wife's new bike, which I inexpertly assembled, is clunking between derailleur and chain
someone to tell me whether bike handlebars and seats are at the right height
someone to tell me why my son's bike's front wheel appears to be slightly off from straight ahead

and probably some other things I haven't thought about yet.

Driving a car is so much easier (well after you've spent hundreds of pounds on lessons it is)

Jay dubbleU

jimmcdonnell wrote:

I'm like the flat-ish tyre fairy.

Hang on; if I understand the use of the term 'p*ncture fairy' correctly, it's a mythical creature who causes p*nctures, right? So logically if you're the flat-ish tyre fairy, doesn't that mean people find their 115psi tyres suddenly go squashy when you pass?

This is why LiT is so successful in 'The Game' - sudden deflation by the opponent

laughingboy

thelawnet wrote:

thelawnet wrote:

I think I need some lessons.

Correction, what I need is:

lessons - I bet I'm doing it wrong
someone to tell me why my wife's new bike, which I inexpertly assembled, is clunking between derailleur and chain
someone to tell me whether bike handlebars and seats are at the right height
someone to tell me why my son's bike's front wheel appears to be slightly off from straight ahead

and probably some other things I haven't thought about yet.

Have you been introduced to the late Sheldon Brown?

thelawnet

laughingboy wrote:

thelawnet wrote:

thelawnet wrote:

I think I need some lessons.

Correction, what I need is:

lessons - I bet I'm doing it wrong
someone to tell me why my wife's new bike, which I inexpertly assembled, is clunking between derailleur and chain
someone to tell me whether bike handlebars and seats are at the right height
someone to tell me why my son's bike's front wheel appears to be slightly off from straight ahead

and probably some other things I haven't thought about yet.

Have you been introduced to the late Sheldon Brown?

I've read some of it, I just wasn't expecting so many things to learn. Plus I guess sometimes it helps to have somebody to tell you you're doing it right/wrong.

simon_ramsey

Kieran - got to admit I am with you 100% on this one (as sad as it is to admit to it). Never really spoken to anyone but you are crying out to tell them a) How much easier and more enjoyable cycling would be if they sorted their bike out and b) How much more they would enjoy cycling with a half decent £200 Hybrid rather than a £69 full sus special.

The only person I have ever stopped and given some advice to was someone riding a £200-300 Road Bike that was riding along with the rear quick release undone (even then it took them a while to understand what I was going on about !!)

The "thelawnet" sounds like a trip to your local bike shop is in order - they might charge you for adjusting the gears but everything else / advice they will dispense for free.

Mike400

some of the best tips I have picked up came from other cyclists pointing out the error of my ways, and I was quite impressed someone went to the effort.

For example my seat was at a height I thought was fine, but a cyclist following me one day pulled along side and explained where my seat should be and why - I adjusted it there and then and it made a difference to me

we arent all blessed with natural biking knowledge

tardington

I want to be blessed with the knowledge of Kieran chasing a girl up a bridlepath - does anyone have a link?

(I'm not reading back through a week's worth of stuff!)

Kieran_Burns

muttergrumblebahhumbug

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... =bridle%2A


muttermutterbleedingpeetakingbloodylot

tardington

Cheers!

1) I feel your pain (except for the pursuing teenage girls bit)

2) And this?

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I hate everyone on this forum,

You all smell

and pick on me

and smell

Kieran_Burns

tardie wrote:

Cheers!

1) I feel your pain (except for the pursuing teenage girls bit)

2) And this?

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I hate everyone on this forum,

You all smell

and pick on me

and smell

I was not pursuiing her! Well okay I WAS, but I WASN'T if you see what I mean.

Not pursuing per se, as such, in a manner of speaking. More trying to get past the daft tart

beside you do,
and do,
and do

especially people who think my dhb kit is cheap....

itboffin

Are you still banging on jez! :P

Kieran_Burns

Cheek :P I'm not the one that keeps alluding to the alleged incident. It's the smelly folk that seek to drag me down :shock:

roger_merriman

thats a mighty deep hole their...

UndercoverElephant

thelawnet wrote:

lessons - I bet I'm doing it wrong

If you're cycling, you're doing it right. Oh, but buy a track pump and pump your tyres up to the rated pressure (which it tells you on the side of the tyre).

thelawnet wrote:

someone to tell me why my wife's new bike, which I inexpertly assembled, is clunking between derailleur and chain

It's probably very slightly off for the gear she's in. On the derailleur, there should be a couple of screws which set the range of the movement.One controls the outwards range, the other the inwards. Turn the bike upside-down, put it on the biggest cog and work out which one's which, and adjust it very slightly whilst turning the pedal until the clicking goes away. Do the same on the smallest cog, with the other screw,

thelawnet wrote:

someone to tell me whether bike handlebars and seats are at the right height

Try this site:

http://mikesbicycles.com/page.cfm?pageID=32

Basically, you sit on the saddle with your heel flat on the pedal at the 6 o'clock position. Your seats fine if you can do this without bending or stretching your leg. But when you are cycling, pedal with the balls of your feet. Handlebars should be between 1 and four inches lower, and they require different tools, so just leave them as they are.

thelawnet wrote:

someone to tell me why my son's bike's front wheel appears to be slightly off from straight ahead

Grip the front wheel between your knees and twist the handlebars.

Hope this helps.

Feltup

lost_in_thought wrote:

However, I also do lights - it surprises me how many people aren't aware that red = back and white = front.

:shock:

But where do the blue neons go?

girv73

Feltup wrote:

But where do the blue neons go?

They stay in the shop. For the love of God, they stay in the shop.