dollar

Anyone hear of a "John Allen" Reynolds steel frame? Spotted one for sale recently. I think it may have been local many years ago?

I go through red lights pretty often. You have to - most lights are induction triggered and I would still be waiting for them to turn green. Also - I dont feel like waiting at a pointless red light at 5 AM - waiting to get mugged. I dont sail through without checking though - how dof is that?

Did they sail through or did they check it out and then sort of slip through?

They used to, in the distant past, have a "pro" line called "Carlton"?

I will be smart this time and refer you directly to someone else. Sheldon is dead so nobody can argue with him Look at http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

I see that most of us say "because they can". I probably would too "if I could". Many factors come into it. The way I ride I dont need a top bike. I dont race. I am however finding that my chinas are leaving me a tad behind - on their fancy bikes. I ride vintage. At the same level of fitness I am going to have to get a bike that compares better with theirs. But I wont have to spend R100k because it's not that important to me. It is important to others - every second counts. Good luck to them! What is a tad amusing are the old farts (like me) with the R100k bikes who are only as fit (or less) as me. Ha Ha - an old Armstrong (not Lance) 5 speed would be enough

What I find the most amusing is that my Honda CBR600 cost R80k. Now I can easily buy a road bicycle for R80k. Ok - so now we put the two together in my garage and I compare the technology used. And I must be happy with my bicycle? - no chance in hell.

Ok. Fair enough. Interesting thread. Thanks.

Correction. My appologies Johan.

John - I am confused. You told me that correctly built wheels would never need truing because the spokes would maintain the same tension forever? I mentioned a few things that may change the tension - you shot them down - fair enough - you have built more wheels than I have. How would you have spotted this problem in the early stages? Spoke tension? Pap spokes?

I have no experience of "new" Raleigh bikes. Are they any good? Why is it an issue that they are falling on their swords? Is it that they are pretty good and are stirring up the market a tad? 9% is bs - nobody can survive on 9%!

Gee - what happened? I was learning lots from this thread, then it just died? Promise I wont say anything. Just read!

No Big H - I was having a "discussion" (and some fun ) but I will hou my bek now as instructed What do I know about bicycles?

Are we going to spar a little The holes in hubs elongate over time. Soft material elongates more than hard. A very slight elongation will tend to loosen the spokes. The nipple holes in the rims are constamtly being stressed and unstressed. Depends on the rim but they can work loose over time - thats what I mean by settle. Nothing to do with frosties I bet you that my 25c spoke is going to suffer from greater permanent deformation than your R2 double butted spoke? No?

Yes - If you have a well built wheel with perfect components you may never have to touch the wheel - agreed. BUT not all wheels are perfectly built with perfect components - only the select few

I have seen that some hubs wear more than others. Some rims settle in more than others. I guess that some spokes strech more than others etc etc. I am not a total s/steel convert. It's nice for corrosion but it also has a few other nasty properties.

Agreed. There is one point that I would like to make that I dont see yet. Spoked wheels need pretty constant maintenance. Many of us allow our spokes to go a bit pap over time and this leads to problems. Remember that as some of the spokes loosen up it places more stress on the others around it. You need to check your spokes every week or so to ensure that they are all at the same tension. If you find a shirker he needs to be sorted. Dont touch unless you know what you are doing!!

Can only give opinion on a road bike - agreed with climate. It's quite a story to get it exactly right because everyone who is 1.78m is slightly different in proportion. It's not only the inseam reach to the pedals but your arm reach and proportion within your legs that impact where the saddle should be and how high the stem should be. Go to a good bike shop!

I dont think that it would be lighter nesessarily - but it may be stronger and more fatigue resistant. And because of this they may make it lighter....

It looks like scandium is a pretty exotic stuff. Very small percentages are alloyed with aluminium to give it better properties. Good aluminium frame? Strength, resistance to fatigue and weldability?

Dont see 7046?

7005 makes sense. Main alloy component is zinc.

Most alumimium made is alloyed with other metals to give it particular properties. There are standard descriptions - some are particularly suited to frames others not. I would say that aerospace type aluminium - 2024 would be good for frames?

There was an oke looking for Audi tyres earlier? Those may do it....

Have a look at http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html