For no reason I started investigating Sturmey Archer gears, leading on to Derailleur gears. Then I came across this which I'd never heard of before:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft-driven_bicycle

My last bike which I had until 1990 ish was a Peugeot. Everything on it was French - brakes, saddle, gears (Simplex). It had ten gears but I rarely used more then four of them. Of course there seems to be have been a revolution in bike technology, thinner chains leading to more gears, hopefully better wet braking (I had brake blocks that were supposed to be better in the wet and they were, marginally), and of course weight.

Carlos the Great wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:09 pm

Late night Carlos

Bike tech has certainly come on leaps and bounds.

My mountain bike has wireless gears! I thought it would be a pointless novelty until I tried them, they work so much better.

The best saddle bags in the world are made in Nelson. Carradice have been going for many many years and they are top notch.

https://carradice.co.uk/shop/?v=79cba1185463

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:46 pm

Bike tech has certainly come on leaps and bounds.

My mountain bike has wireless gears! I thought it would be a pointless novelty until I tried them, they work so much better.

Can you get the Internet on it?

Hipper wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 4:46 pm

For no reason I started investigating Sturmey Archer gears, leading on to Derailleur gears. Then I came across this which I'd never heard of before:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft-driven_bicycle

My last bike which I had until 1990 ish was a Peugeot. Everything on it was French - brakes, saddle, gears (Simplex). It had ten gears but I rarely used more then four of them. Of course there seems to be have been a revolution in bike technology, thinner chains leading to more gears, hopefully better wet braking (I had brake blocks that were supposed to be better in the wet and they were, marginally), and of course weight.

Bicycle 1981.jpg

Got to say Brakes have come on since I had bikes as a kid and teenager ... Disc Brakes on a bike whatever next ... as have bike luggage ... I have a quick release Topeak MTX bag with panniers on my Carrera E-Bike

What's the black on the wheel sides for?

Here is a picture of my fully laden touring bicycle from cycling the length of the Rhine last Autumn.

Last one now. Just getting the hang of posting pics. This one was up a mountain pass in Switzerland around 15km from Llanz.

ALP wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:55 pm

The best saddle bags in the world are made in Nelson. Carradice have been going for many many years and they are top notch.

https://carradice.co.uk/shop/?v=79cba1185463

They are indeed good pannier bags. I use Ortliebs but have seen many Carradice bags on my travels.

I had Sturmey Archer 3 speed gears on my bike. As much as I could handle!

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:08 pm

I had Sturmey Archer 3 speed gears on my bike. As much as I could handle!

Nothing wrong with those pal. I think most of us had those gears late 60’s early 70’s.

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:46 pm

Bike tech has certainly come on leaps and bounds.

Pity you cant say the same about cyclists

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 15, 2023 8:19 pm

Nothing wrong with those pal. I think most of us had those gears late 60’s early 70’s.

Yeah, there's no question that derailleur gears look cooler though.

Sturmey Archer hears still exist although now designed and made in Taiwan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmey-Archer

Not so long ago a local fellow who was going to ride from Lands End to John O'Groats chose Sturmey-Archer gears for the trip. He claimed they were more reliable.

Chobulous wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 16, 2023 10:23 am

Pity you cant say the same about cyclists

Ooh dear!

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 15, 2023 2:37 pm

Here is a picture of my fully laden touring bicycle from cycling the length of the Rhine last Autumn.

My backside begins to ache just looking at that saddle.

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:15 am

My backside begins to ache just looking at that saddle.

That saddle is actually really comfortable! It’s a Brooks of England leather saddle and superb for touring. Fine British craftsmanship, although the company was recently bought out by Selle Italia.
A good saddle is essential for bicycle touring when you can be on the bike for 8-9 hours per day. Still get a sore “gooch” though on long tours. This is where packing a tube of hydrocortisone cream is essential!

Chobulous wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 16, 2023 10:23 am

Pity you cant say the same about cyclists

Most cyclists I know also have a car, and I'm talking about family, friends, colleagues and people in my local, and that's a lot of folk.

One thing, though. Some of them do wear different hats for different occasions, if you catch my drift. I once got a lift into work with a bloke I used to work with. He was taking a shortcut, while bombing around a narrow country lane in his 4×4, when he overtook a cyclist. I bet there wasn't half an arm's length between his Chelsea tractor and the cyclist. I'd go as far to say it was a near miss.

I had a go at him for being way too close, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said there was plenty of room. This was from a bloke who used to spend most of his weekends biking around the Dales. He would also come into work on Monday mornings and moan about car driver and the near misses he had encountered. Like all too many people, he was a self-centred two-hat.

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:03 am

Most cyclists I know also have a car, and I'm talking about family, friends, colleagues and people in my local, and that's a lot of folk.

One thing, though. Some of them do wear different hats for different occasions, if you catch my drift. I once got a lift into work with a bloke I used to work with. He was taking a shortcut, while bombing around a narrow country lane in his 4×4, when he overtook a cyclist. I bet there wasn't half an arm's length between his Chelsea tractor and the cyclist. I'd go as far to say it was a near miss.

I had a go at him for being way too close, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said there was plenty of room. This was from a bloke who used to spend most of his weekends biking around the Dales. He would also come into work on Monday mornings and moan about car driver and the near misses he had encountered. Like all too many people, he was a self-centred two-hat.

I have a car and a motorcycle. I have had a few people nearly wipe me out on my motorcycle and many people far too close to my bicycle. Close enough that they have almost brushed my panniers or jacket.

I’m not one of those militant cyclists though with the helmet cams who regularly send footage in to the police, although on some occasions it is justified.

The problem is, we have far too much traffic on our roads for a country as small as the UK. Many people are in a rush and cyclists are seen as an obstruction. I have motorcycled and cycled extensively in Europe and I have to say I have had less near misses over there than I have in the UK and feel safer on the European roads as they seem to tolerate cyclists better than we do here. This is only my personal view though based on mine and my cycling friends experiences.

You're absolutely right. Here the car and it's all too frequent moronic driver, rule the road, their rushing from one place to another takes priority and it's wrong.
There is absolutely no reason, as in Spain or the Netherlands, we can't share the roads in a civilised fashion.
Most do, of course, but as we've seen from the silly comment earlier, stupid prejudice and selfishness make some road users behave recklessly.

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:37 pm

I have a car and a motorcycle. I have had a few people nearly wipe me out on my motorcycle and many people far too close to my bicycle. Close enough that they have almost brushed my panniers or jacket.

I’m not one of those militant cyclists though with the helmet cams who regularly send footage in to the police, although on some occasions it is justified.

The problem is, we have far too much traffic on our roads for a country as small as the UK. Many people are in a rush and cyclists are seen as an obstruction. I have motorcycled and cycled extensively in Europe and I have to say I have had less near misses over there than I have in the UK and feel safer on the European roads as they seem to tolerate cyclists better than we do here. This is only my personal view though based on mine and my cycling friends experiences.

People in England & the US tend to drive too fast & too close to each other.
The difference in France & Ireland is startling, people tend to keep a safe distance & are generally considerate of others on the road....bikes, cars, Horses or people.
Here in Los Angeles cyclists & motorcyclists are despised openly & sometimes deliberately hit by drivers....they can't stand watching them weave through traffic & getting ahead of them.
People can't see beyond their own nose....selfishness is celebrated.

https://twitter.com/Rainmaker1973/statu ... V-aWw&s=19

This should be compulsory with all car drivers.

Amazing how many drivers do not know that there should be a minimum of 1.5 meters (5 feet), further for more than 30mph, when overtaking. Cyclist should not be closer than 2 feet from a curve and typically 3 feet, even more important with the current poor state of our road surfaces. Even more amazing is the amount of car and van drivers that rant, rave and blast their horns behind me when I am depriving them of 5 seconds of travelling time by following safe cycling rules. Cycling on major roads is now tantamount to running the gauntlet with their lives due to close shaves from overtaking motorists.

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 17, 2023 4:51 pm

People in England & the US tend to drive too fast & too close to each other.
The difference in France & Ireland is startling, people tend to keep a safe distance & are generally considerate of others on the road....bikes, cars, Horses or people.
Here in Los Angeles cyclists & motorcyclists are despised openly & sometimes deliberately hit by drivers....they can't stand watching them weave through traffic & getting ahead of them.
People can't see beyond their own nose....selfishness is celebrated.

I was behind 2 ladies on horseback on Sunday morning on a country lane near Hertford, wide enough for 2 cars to pass comfortably. One of the ladies was wearing a hi viz vest saying please pass wide and slow. Now I don't know if they were the names of the 2 horses or indeed the 2 ladies astride the equine beasts, but when you ride 2 abreast on horseback on a reasonably narrow country lane, it renders complying with the request somewhat of a challenge. Not being one to endanger the beasts, or indeed the horses they were astride, i followed very slowly at walking pace until we passed over a humped back bridge. I expected at this point they may pull to one side or at least ride single file to allow me to pass safely, however it seemed that riding alongside each other and discussing the previous night's Strictly episode or whatever took priority over the mobile roadblock they had created. Eventually i passed slowly but closer than i would normally due to the narrow lane only to be met by a barrage of abuse and some interesting hand signals that were absent from the Highway Code the last time i read it.

Mmmmm…better than drums, for sure.

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 18, 2023 12:55 pm

I was behind 2 ladies on horseback on Sunday morning on a country lane near Hertford, wide enough for 2 cars to pass comfortably. One of the ladies was wearing a hi viz vest saying please pass wide and slow. Now I don't know if they were the names of the 2 horses or indeed the 2 ladies astride the equine beasts, but when you ride 2 abreast on horseback on a reasonably narrow country lane, it renders complying with the request somewhat of a challenge. Not being one to endanger the beasts, or indeed the horses they were astride, i followed very slowly at walking pace until we passed over a humped back bridge. I expected at this point they may pull to one side or at least ride single file to allow me to pass safely, however it seemed that riding alongside each other and discussing the previous night's Strictly episode or whatever took priority over the mobile roadblock they had created. Eventually i passed slowly but closer than i would normally due to the narrow lane only to be met by a barrage of abuse and some interesting hand signals that were absent from the Highway Code the last time i read it.

You should have hooted to indicate you were there.

Middle-agedClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 18, 2023 1:06 pm

Mmmmm…better than drums, for sure.

You can have both:

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 18, 2023 12:55 pm

I was behind 2 ladies on horseback on Sunday morning on a country lane near Hertford, wide enough for 2 cars to pass comfortably. One of the ladies was wearing a hi viz vest saying please pass wide and slow. Now I don't know if they were the names of the 2 horses or indeed the 2 ladies astride the equine beasts, but when you ride 2 abreast on horseback on a reasonably narrow country lane, it renders complying with the request somewhat of a challenge. Not being one to endanger the beasts, or indeed the horses they were astride, i followed very slowly at walking pace until we passed over a humped back bridge. I expected at this point they may pull to one side or at least ride single file to allow me to pass safely, however it seemed that riding alongside each other and discussing the previous night's Strictly episode or whatever took priority over the mobile roadblock they had created. Eventually i passed slowly but closer than i would normally due to the narrow lane only to be met by a barrage of abuse and some interesting hand signals that were absent from the Highway Code the last time i read it.

I ride horses and I would have to agree that riding 2 abreast would not normally be the way to do it

Having said that, if the inside rider was inexperienced, or that horse was particularly nervous, then the outside horse would be used to shield the inside rider from behind directly in contact with passing traffic

Croydon Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 18, 2023 5:10 pm

I ride horses and I would have to agree that riding 2 abreast would not normally be the way to do it

Having said that, if the inside rider was inexperienced, or that horse was particularly nervous, then the outside horse would be used to shield the inside rider from behind directly in contact with passing traffic

If only there was millions of acres of fields, a horse's natural habitat, to ride in.

Just one more! Scotland tour from pre Covid times on my old bicycle. This bicycle was very heavy but bombproof.