Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391 
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Post by Jem on Jan 8, 2016 17:30:58 GMT
I have been pondering this question for a short while and wondered what other people's opinions are. If you were going to do a short bike tour of between 2 and 4 days, with some road, some gravel path and then some completely off road with possible tricky terrain (almost mountain biking territory ), carrying all your stuff on the bike (spring weather, which might mean boiling hot or wet and/or freezing) Would you rather take Bike A with traditional side pull brakes and derailleur gears or Bike B with Nexus 8 hub gears and hydraulic brakes? (No front suspension though) I have pondered it over thinking that with Bike A, you need some tools and the majority of maintenance could be handled by myself, and punctures would be a piece of cake. Plus, the road would be a pleasure, the gravel a bit tricky but after that, I'd be pushing it or falling off most of the time. Or Bike B , where it is very unlikely anything is going to 'break' but if it did then you are pretty much well and truly stuck, and even punctures could be quite a pain. And the road riding would be less pleasant too. Although it is hypothetical, I am going on a short tour at Easter and I have an old steel framed heavy Raleigh hybrid bike that is fine for most things, but it can't really handle heavy off road (it has carried all my stuff without problem before). But, I have been tempted by a light alu bike that I might be able to get just under £100 (identical to one in picture) Not produced anymore but called a Carerra Subway 8. If the price of the one below wasn't so tempting, I don't think I'd be chewing the over. What are your thoughts on this choice? 
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Post by cusqueno on Jan 8, 2016 17:44:14 GMT
Seems like something you should ask on the CTC forums. I'm sure you would get tonnes of advice there.
Personally, I've always thought that disk brakes for bikes, under most conditions short of deep mud, were solutions in search of a problem. And hydraulic ones I consider just a way to con people out of hard-earned cash.
Hub gears are a different matter and, if you can get all the ratios you need, might be sensible, if hardly essential - after all, most CX bikes have derailleurs don't they? The old Sturmey Archer gears go on for ever but even they aren't really field-serviceable. You can (almost) always fix a broken derailleur so that you can get at least one gear. I have seen on the CTC forums that Nexus hub gears have had durability issues, but you should check that for yourself.
Carrera Subway is a Halfords' brand isn't it?
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jan 8, 2016 18:41:53 GMT
The Nexus hub needs periodic servicing but not really looked into them much.
It is a Halfords own brand but the components are branded (i.e. Shimano hub)
I didn't dare ask over on CTC for fear of too much information.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jan 8, 2016 21:08:22 GMT
Jem, hypothetically, I'd be asking myself if I actually wanted the technically 'interesting' Carerra Subway as an N+1 beyond the Easter trip, having first confirmed whether it is actually lighter than the Raleigh, allowing for rack, barbag, mudguards etc. If yes, get bidding. If not, could you treat yourself to some decent lightweight X/c type tyres and comfortable bar grips for the Raleigh to give it a new lease of life for less than the Carrera would cost? I have a 1997 V-braked, steel-framed Raleigh MTB and a 2008 hydraulic disc-braked aluminium GT hybrid, both with suspension forks*. IMHO, there isn't that much to choose between them for my 15-20 mile canal towpath rides that a tyre swap or some saddle tweaking wouldn't sort out, though the rim brakes on the MTB can get a bit grit-infested if there are a lot of muddy puddles. For a long weekend of riding, my first thought would be to make sure that my riding position didn't put too much weight through my hands and arms, but that might just be my sensitivity. Nice problem to have! Enjoy. Rob. *PS, You're welcome to borrow either of them for your trip. They are 19"/Medium frames, both with trigger-shift 24-speed gears, and have rear dropout eyelets for a rack/mudguards. |
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Post by velocipete on Jan 9, 2016 7:46:05 GMT
Jem,the Subway 8 wasn't one of Halfords better selling bikes when I worked for them. The brakes are actually roller brakes not disc.
What looks like a disc is actually a heat sink! They are cable operated,not hydraullic.
From what I can remember,the gear adjustment can be a bit tricky and cable replacement a faff. You'll probably be surprised how
heavy the bike is without your added gear.
If I were you,I'd be putting some slightly more knobbly tyres on the Viscount,it'll cope with your trip,especially as you already
expect to walk in places,and use what's left of your £100 for beer on route! Sounds like you'll have earned it.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jan 9, 2016 8:17:02 GMT
Thank you for those thoughts Rob and Pete.
I guess I might not have much use for it after the trip. So, I think i'm leaning away from it even if it were £80. The seller does say it needs a replacement cable- so might not be the bargain I was picturing once I have faffed with that, messed it up, and then paid someone to do it. If you think they are tricky work on Pete, then I would be pulling what little left of my hair out after 5 mins.
I appreciate your offer of a loan bike Rob. I will see how bigger knobbly tyres go on the Raleigh. I really don't want to risk the Viscount over very harsh surface. I have gone up as wide as I can get tyres for that and they are still very much road tyres (32mm if memory serves me?)
With £100, I could pick up a Viscount Victor and an Aerospace 'Pro with change to spare!
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Post by velocipete on Jan 9, 2016 9:30:50 GMT
I used to ride my Pro over some very rough tracks on my way to work at one time,on standard World Tour tyres.
My only problem was digging out the sheep crap from the mudguards twice a day! That's the bike I rode at
DFR1.
I wouldn't think twice about going over just about anything on it.
Cheers,
Pete.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jan 9, 2016 13:01:39 GMT
Jem, our correspondence inspired me to take the GT for a lap of my local canal loop this morning, taking in parts of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Grand Union Canals via Kingswood Junction at Lapworth. Taking Pete's point, I was glad I left plenty of clearance between the WTB 'All Terrainasaurus' tyres and the mudguards. The towpath surface had turned into deep grease at some points. All good fun, though I saw more canoeists than cyclists on my way.  Untitled by RMT@261, on Flickr  Untitled by RMT@261, on Flickr |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 9, 2016 17:10:53 GMT
The question of what kind of bike is a do everything bike. This calls for a bike that is not the best at anything, but acceptable for everything. An old rigid frame mountain bike will do. I would equip it with the narrower 26 x 1.75 MTB tires. This would be simple rugged and cheap. Being a bit crazy, I think I would prefer to make something of my own. I would start with an old touring frame designed for the old 27 inch tires and having a great deal of wheel clearance. Like my old Carabela frame in the attached photo; it has very generous wheel clearance. I might be able to squeeze in a set of the new 29 inch MTB tires and use very long reach brakes. The 27 inch frame should allow more mud clearance than a 700c frame. A MTB 29 inch fork might help as well. I would use drop bars as I like the variety of hand positions but I would find some old safety lever brakes to allow braking while on the top of the bars. Dang, I have the parts, am I talking myself into another project? Jim  |
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jan 10, 2016 0:26:25 GMT
That looks like too nice a frame to just hang in your garage, Jim. The polished lugs and dropouts are particularly attractive features.
We're looking forward to the progress reports on your classy 'acceptable for everything' project!
Will the rear dropouts take a 130mm hub, or would you plan to lace an old-school narrower hub into a 700c/29er rim? I read that the latest MTB hubs have an OLD of over 140mm.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 10, 2016 2:58:40 GMT
For what its worth, the frame is unusual as it was made in Mexico. The old frame is spaced at 126 and it would be easy to cold set the stays to 130. I have also respaced 130 axles down to 126. I do have an extra set of wide 700c wheels spaced at 130.
Jim
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jan 10, 2016 8:09:49 GMT
It sounds like a great project Jim.
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Post by velocipete on Jan 10, 2016 12:50:19 GMT
Problem with the mtb forks for a 29er is the steerer tube diameter not being compatable with an old road frame.
I suppose a new steerer tube could be machined up to fit. You could do what I did with my sport and use an old
front fork from a cyclo-cross bike which was already 1".Works well and improves the braking.
A lot of early up market MTBs were built with Reynolds tubing,often 531. These are now being saught after for
26" wheeled tourers. A good practical conversion.
Best of luck Jim.
Rob,that's a good area for DFR4 perhaps. I do an annual charity ride from Balsall Common,the only trouble is getting
accross the main roads,particularly on our tandem!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 11, 2016 3:39:29 GMT
I have a couple of 1 inch MTB forks sized for 700c (or 29"). They are suitable for 700-40 cyclocross tire and maybe a bit wider. I have too many projects for me to jump into that one at this time. Ahead of it I need to finish my current Cannondale System Six, Viscount road bike, and my Viscount cyclocross bike (it will get one of the forks) projects. Then my klunker and then maybe this thing. I also am rebuilding an engine for a Porsche and have fences to replace. Oh yeah, my wife wants me to paint some rooms in the house. Now that I am retired, I cannot believe how I ever had time to go to work.
Jim
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Post by velocipete on Jan 11, 2016 7:58:04 GMT
I know that feeling Jim! Just because you don't have "official" work,other people try to fill your day
to stop you getting bored. More like to stop you enjoying your retirement!
Cheers'
Pete.
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