Comments for Dave McCraw http://mccraw.co.uk Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:24:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on Caution – Long Vehicle! by Rob http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/caution-long-vehicle/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Rob Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:24:19 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=448#comment-109 Yup, spotted that you'd written about it elsewhere after I posted that comment. Minor incompetence on my part... The stock frame is tempting, but I have access to a friend with a MIG welder and am vaguely near a B&Q that sells metal things. Might have to add up the weight and compare what the end results would be Yup, spotted that you’d written about it elsewhere after I posted that comment. Minor incompetence on my part…

The stock frame is tempting, but I have access to a friend with a MIG welder and am vaguely near a B&Q that sells metal things. Might have to add up the weight and compare what the end results would be

]]> Comment on Sturmey Archer X-FDD by Dave http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/sturmey-archer-x-fdd/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Dave Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:51:06 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=453#comment-108 Also see my edit (in italics). If your fork isn't too large, you can get a band-on which allows the wheel to slip in and out. One is actually supplied with the hub but it would only fit the nice steel classic forks, not a burly one like mine: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/sturmey-archer-brake-arm-clip-7-8-inch-hsl703-prod19293/ Also see my edit (in italics). If your fork isn’t too large, you can get a band-on which allows the wheel to slip in and out. One is actually supplied with the hub but it would only fit the nice steel classic forks, not a burly one like mine:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/sturmey-archer-brake-arm-clip-7-8-inch-hsl703-prod19293/

]]> Comment on Sturmey Archer X-FDD by Dave http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/sturmey-archer-x-fdd/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Dave Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:49:25 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=453#comment-107 You have to loosen the clip, yeah. My multi-tool has a screwdriver anyway so it's not much extra hassle, apart from the time - a few turns is all it takes. In the top photo, the vertical black arm is the brake pivot lever sort of thing, which the cable attaches to - while the one pointing 45 degrees down and away is the reaction arm - it keeps the brake part from spinning around when the pads hit the inside of the drum. When fitted, it will be the one pointing up! The only other thing you need to do to get the wheel off is disconnect the dynamo wires, but that's just a plug that you push on and off, half a second. You have to loosen the clip, yeah. My multi-tool has a screwdriver anyway so it’s not much extra hassle, apart from the time – a few turns is all it takes.

In the top photo, the vertical black arm is the brake pivot lever sort of thing, which the cable attaches to – while the one pointing 45 degrees down and away is the reaction arm – it keeps the brake part from spinning around when the pads hit the inside of the drum.

When fitted, it will be the one pointing up!

The only other thing you need to do to get the wheel off is disconnect the dynamo wires, but that’s just a plug that you push on and off, half a second.

]]> Comment on Sturmey Archer X-FDD by Aushiker http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/sturmey-archer-x-fdd/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Aushiker Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:34:09 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=453#comment-106 Thanks for the write-up. Most interesting. I have no idea of drum brakes and assumed this hub was a rear wheel hub so you have an idea of my knoweldge of them, so this question may sound pretty stupid, but if you need to remove the wheel for a puncture repair does the jubilee clip need to be removed as well? Other hassles in such a situation? Thanks Andrew Thanks for the write-up. Most interesting. I have no idea of drum brakes and assumed this hub was a rear wheel hub so you have an idea of my knoweldge of them, so this question may sound pretty stupid, but if you need to remove the wheel for a puncture repair does the jubilee clip need to be removed as well? Other hassles in such a situation?

Thanks
Andrew

]]> Comment on Caution – Long Vehicle! by Dave http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/caution-long-vehicle/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Dave Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:03:53 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=448#comment-104 Yep, it's just a stock Y-frame large. (Definitely recommend the large over the small as it's still a very practical size for manoeuvring, but a lot more flexible). I've written a bit about it on the site so far (the second one includes some shots of the hitch): <ul> <li>http://mccraw.co.uk/2011/carry-freedom-y-frame/</li> <li>http://mccraw.co.uk/2011/life-with-four-wheels/</li> <li>http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/got-wood/</li> </ul> Yep, it’s just a stock Y-frame large. (Definitely recommend the large over the small as it’s still a very practical size for manoeuvring, but a lot more flexible).

I’ve written a bit about it on the site so far (the second one includes some shots of the hitch):

]]> Comment on Caution – Long Vehicle! by Rob http://mccraw.co.uk/2012/caution-long-vehicle/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Rob Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:36:03 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=448#comment-103 Have you got the red 'lollipop' hitch on that? Been browsing carry freedom's website and it looks like a really neat solution. Tempted to acquire one for the 'welded leviathon' project that's creeping to the front of my mind... Have you got the red ‘lollipop’ hitch on that? Been browsing carry freedom’s website and it looks like a really neat solution. Tempted to acquire one for the ‘welded leviathon’ project that’s creeping to the front of my mind…

]]> Comment on Paris-Brest-Paris: Kitlist by RickH http://mccraw.co.uk/2011/pbp-kitlist/comment-page-1/#comment-99 RickH Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:01:57 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=154#comment-99 I feel for ya Dave. My first long brevet taking me into no cell phone coverage areas had me packing everything for the "what if" factor. Horribly I took enough rations for a week and half a bike shop full of spares. What did I need... Nothing. Now, I make sure my bikes ok and major failures are out of my hands. As for bike weight, Ha! Only if you race without anything on you. If you add water, patch kit and pump, total that with your weight and the percentage difference is.... Happy to read of your achievement and get those knees sorted. I want to read more... Rick. I feel for ya Dave.
My first long brevet taking me into no cell phone coverage areas had me packing everything for the “what if” factor. Horribly I took enough rations for a week and half a bike shop full of spares.
What did I need… Nothing.
Now, I make sure my bikes ok and major failures are out of my hands.
As for bike weight, Ha! Only if you race without anything on you. If you add water, patch kit and pump, total that with your weight and the percentage difference is….
Happy to read of your achievement and get those knees sorted. I want to read more…

Rick.

]]> Comment on Life with four wheels by Dave http://mccraw.co.uk/2011/life-with-four-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Dave Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:56:58 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=359#comment-91 Ha! I love the vertical jack-knife (bet it wasn't so amusing at the time!) Thanks for getting in touch! D. Ha! I love the vertical jack-knife (bet it wasn’t so amusing at the time!)

Thanks for getting in touch!

D.

]]> Comment on Life with four wheels by Mick Allan http://mccraw.co.uk/2011/life-with-four-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Mick Allan Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:37:12 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=359#comment-90 Interesting article! I've a very tired old Mk1 which I recently rebuilt. I drilled rudimentary grease ports onto the hubs to allow me to purge the bearings. They have a tendency to fill up with water since it's stored outside. I also remade the deck to be 50% or so longer. Now it can lug a hay bale without it dragging on the road! Got a we story here you might like to read: http://www.cyclorama.net/blog/ramblings/trailer-tales/ All the best, Mick Interesting article! I’ve a very tired old Mk1 which I recently rebuilt. I drilled rudimentary grease ports onto the hubs to allow me to purge the bearings. They have a tendency to fill up with water since it’s stored outside. I also remade the deck to be 50% or so longer. Now it can lug a hay bale without it dragging on the road!

Got a we story here you might like to read: http://www.cyclorama.net/blog/ramblings/trailer-tales/

All the best, Mick

]]> Comment on Carry Freedom Y Frame by Dave McCraw » Life with four wheels http://mccraw.co.uk/2011/carry-freedom-y-frame/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Dave McCraw » Life with four wheels Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:23:06 +0000 http://mccraw.co.uk/?p=304#comment-75 [...] I’ve now put a hair under 50 miles on my Carry Freedom Y-Frame trailer, so I thought it was about time to post a quick update on four-wheeled living since the introductory post. [...] [...] I’ve now put a hair under 50 miles on my Carry Freedom Y-Frame trailer, so I thought it was about time to post a quick update on four-wheeled living since the introductory post. [...]

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