I finally got a BOV.

[FEISTY]

Yes itsy you're correct and I at least will apologise to joe90 for his thread going off on a tangent.
Back on topic, while I can't offer any real technical advice it's my own belief that a BOV is more about increasing one's confidence irrespective of what type of vehical it is , whether it's an all terrain , all wheel drive jobby or a push bike ,
being prepared and having the ability to react if the necessaty arises.

Yes, my BOV would be the quad but it's hardly discrete and next to useless without fuel so I'm on the look out for two sturdy pedal bikes.

My kids' bikes and my fold-up Brompton are deteriorating in the garage where they've lain for years - time to get them out and see if they are still usable. DH isn't too good on two wheels - he falls off . Time to get us up to speed on the bikes! Any advice for us on what to do with son's bike chain, which, even from new, kept falling off?

[Briggs 2.0]

Yes itsy you're correct and I at least will apologise to joe90 for his thread going off on a tangent.
Back on topic, while I can't offer any real technical advice it's my own belief that a BOV is more about increasing one's confidence irrespective of what type of vehical it is , whether it's an all terrain , all wheel drive jobby or a push bike ,
being prepared and having the ability to react if the necessaty arises.

Yes, my BOV would be the quad but it's hardly discrete and next to useless without fuel so I'm on the look out for two sturdy pedal bikes.

My kids' bikes and my fold-up Brompton are deteriorating in the garage where they've lain for years - time to get them out and see if they are still usable. DH isn't too good on two wheels - he falls off . Time to get us up to speed
on the bikes! Any advice for us on what to do with son's bike chain, which, even from new, kept falling off?

With regards to your son's bike, there should be a way to tension the chain. I'm assuming it doesn't have a derailleur (a springy contraption with a pair of wheels that the chain passes through) so I guess he just has the one sprocket at the back, like a BMX bike. If there are no adjusters then it's a case of loosen off the axle bolts and pull the wheel back so the chain tightens then re-tighten the axle bolts, hopefully tighter than they were before when the chain could pull the wheel forward. It can be a two man job as one pulls the wheel back and the other tightens.

I know it's a huge expense but I'm looking at what the trendy, hip cyclists are calling Fat Bikes. It's well named for us chaps with a widening waist but the Fat bit relates to the wheels and tyres. Over twice the width of a standard mountain bike. It's not going to go so fast but I reckon it would be more stable when riding with a pack, panniers and/or a little trailer. I'm trying to see if the budget will stretch to two or whether two low cost old mountain bikes might be a better, more disposable, option.

[Yorkshire Andy]

see here for bike maintenance or repair,,,

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help


as above how does the chain fall off and what set up is it on a derailure set up often the front or rear mechanism might just need a tweek with a screw driver (unless its bent or the hanger is)




As for a robust bike take great care in what your buying...... Cheap - Light - Strong You can usually only have 2 of the 3


The problem with over built wheels and wider tyres is a combination of Grip

(wide tyres on mud dont grip as well as many skinny ones (the thinner wheel sinks more and finds secure / stable ground under the top slimy layer) wider wheels also increase clogging of mud between tyre and frame or fork crown

They often offer more rolling resistance = hard work to ride anywhere

Often distort due to narrow rim width.....


Wide rims are also heavy and unless a decent brand / build will probably go on the wonk very quickly


Thats before you get on to the other components such as hubs spokes and Nipples



For example this sort of quality will outlast many cheaper "heavy duty wheels" many times over

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hope ... -prod63713



Then you get onto the other bits... Steel frame if well made lighter than cheap aluminum frames and stronger plus it will Bend normally long before it snaps (unlike aluminium) and in a SHTF any one with a basic welder/ oxy kit can weld or braze a repair


Brakes A trade off here Disc brakes are great they are clear of mud and crap BUT when they go wrong they need a lot of specialist specific parts and tools.... where as older rim "V" brakes you can just chuck them away and buy a new brake for £10 -£15 and brake pads can be had in almost every bike shop / hardware store/ car shop


This is what i would bug out on if i needed to....

[J23]

as the conversion goes about bicycles - I bought bicycle last week after about 7 years without pushbike - I thought my stamina is great, and after 5 miles of city cycling I had enough. honestly I lost confidence on street so I was riding on pavement and after I got to my new house I had to lay down for good 20 minutes thinking if I won't die on heart attack, and I used to ride cross country years ago, mostly forests and hills.
As I'll settle here I have to work on my stamina and muscles. being fit is part of prepping, also self confidence goes high

Sorry, J23 - thought you were a nutter - subsequently checked some of your other posts and I think we all misunderstood. A sense of humour is crucial . If I have to bug out, it will be in a Jaguar or a Peugeot 107 ! I don't fancy our chances, so I'll be staying put unless it comes to a life-limiting situation.

no worries mate some people here want to shoot me anyway

[ForgeCorvus]

Recently bought a bike (a Raleigh Firefly to be exact), 20 quid because the rear brake didn't work.... Turned out to be the cable not being in the right place (two minutes with my MT as soon as I was out of sight )

Anyone looking to get a good deal, try Ebay (set the display for "Distance, closest first").

Bikes prove what I said about the best BOV is one you use often

[Yorkshire Andy]

My bike fitness was high till i knackered the ligaments in my foot about 2 1/2 years ago literally falling down drunk having had a massive monumental blow out session over a recently ex'ed girlfriend....

took me 2 years to be pain free on that foot and im very dubious of doing too much i spend 8-9 hours a day at work on my feet now but really need to get back out on my bike in a big way

(all be it steady and slowly build up the mileage) a good, semi prepping mate of mine has just got a new road bike so it looks like there will be two lycra clad loons hitting the roads of Yorkshire very very soon (this week infact if i get my bike back road worthy and get the silly SPD-R shoes sorted so they dont wreck my knees.....)


Must admit i don't like road riding much at all too many err BMW drivers much prefer off road riding or at least mountain bike riding on the road as they are far more resilient to potholes speed humps and have the saving grace of been able to ram up curbs ideally with a swift bunny hop out of harms way.... It amazes me how many car drivers see red when they see a bike