Tom is our frame builder who owns Barbastelle  which is our inhouse brand.  Tom has been building frames for a number of years and exhibits at Bespoke.  The first part of the process is to get some dimensions which were ‘customer produced’  and then plug them into Bike CAD.

We are working to a schedule that puts the building process in January 2021 so there is plenty of time to have an iterative process that converges on a design that satisfies all the requirements.  We start the process with a ‘first cut’ design that we can take back to the customer for comments.  

We want a flat bar Gravel bike with a sloping top tube and seat stays that attach just below the top of the seat tube.  We initially decided on a 70 degree head tube angle to provide stable handling and 72 degree seat tube angle for comfort.  The bike needs to be able to fit 650B x 47mm and 700C by up to 40mm tyres the idea being that that long distance can be done on 700C while trails can be done on 650B. 

The decision to implement quick release dropouts over thru axles was driven by availability coupled and customer familiarity.  Thru axles are becoming increasingly popular but standards have yet to fully converge however, in this case familiarity was a driver.    The rear dropouts also incorporate mudguard and rack fittings.  We already had a suitable set of forks that would give the required tyre clearance and mudguard fittings so this was programmed into BikeCAD together with a reach that would give good toe clearance.  The initial deign gave an effective seat tube size of 55.6cm which feels about right for a 5′ 9” person and is presented below with 650B x 47mm tyres.

The next post will work on the tube details together with component selection.

The post Custom Gravel Bike appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.

The post Motherload appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.

This will start in London but will hopefully come to Corsham. Electric Bike delivery would be faster, easy to park and more efficient. Well done Coop.

See more details at
https://cyclingindustry.news/co-op-launches-new-online-delivery-service-with-e-cargobikes-com/

The post Coop to use cargo bikes for last mile delivery appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.

We have recently recruited Tom Skinner of Barbastelle.cc who also builds bespoke racing bikes. We can therefore offer a bike fitting service that currently costs £25 as well as providing frame repairs.

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The Finished Bike

Pulling a Trailer full of wood

Jones H-Bars provide great riding position

24 speed Hub Gears

The first thing I noticed was the speed at which gears can  be changed.  It’s almost instant compared to derailleur gears and gears can be changed when stationary.  I found myself changing gears more often constantly tuning the cadence for the gradient.  I can see why hub gears are the best solution for commuter bikes.  

The next observation was the affect of the wide Jones handlebars on oncoming traffic.  The width coupled with the front rack made me appear bigger and I was being given a bit more room.  

The bike comes into its own when pulling heavy loads which I do all the time.  It can be a pain changing derailleur gears on an incline with 40kg on the back, but with hub gears its a doddle.

So how are the GTRO gears? so far they have behaved perfectly,  The Alfine has missed a gear occasionally but that may be my changing technique.  The GTROs have been flawless in their operation and have provided a comprehensive range given its the equivalent of a 28/40/50 chainset.  I’m still experimenting with different sized rear sprockets having started with 24 tooth, then gone down to 17, I think 20 would be ‘plenty’.  

The GTRO can certainly cope with heavy loads, however I do detect slight efficiency losses in the high gear compared to 1 to 1.  I have not tried to replace a cable yet as the cable is embedded in the gear shell.  That would be for a future occasion.  I think the guys in Poland, where GTRO originated, are working hard to get the price down and find a distributor.  I will be keeping this configuration for the foreseeable future. 

The post Migrating to Hub Gears appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.

We have learned over that past two years that there is a constant need to adapt and reinvent ourselves in terms of brands, services and look.  More than half of our business comes from the shop window which can always do with a change. If the same bikes stay in the window then the interest goes down.  The stock and brands have fluctuated as we acquired different suppliers and learned more about the product ranges. Different brands ‘fit’ different demographics, Raleigh bikes are popular with women, men prefer the GT and Charge bikes.  It is guaranteed that next year that the demand profile will be different.  If I was to guess one specific trend then I think that there will be more women wanting a bike that is specifically designed for women.  They will come with a better understanding of ‘fit’ and asking for women specific geometry and components.  There are already signs of this from the manufacturers who are producing lady specific models within their bike ranges.

The number of bikes being imported into this country declined this year by a million which is primarily due to reduced demand.  However there has been a rise in demand for electric bikes primarily due to an ageing population and commuters seeking alternatives to cars.  This is part of the industry that will steadily grow.  The cost is prohibitive but conversions provide a compromise that may be suitable for majority of needs.  We expect this trend to continue as parking and congestion become increasingly worse.

This last year has seen Cargo bikes regularly used in Corsham to take kids to school one of which was renovated by Spindles.  We have also sold a FollowMe tandem coupling that provides the best way of attaching a child’s bike to an adult bike.  Is this the start of a real change in Corsham.  I can see that some of the new housing developments in Corsham are just too far for kids to walk into school however the bicycle would be the perfect way to beat the morning traffic however for some people the prospect of venturing on the A4 in the morning is intimidating.  We do need meaningful cycle infrastructure in Corsham.

We plan to embark on a revamp of the shop after Christmas not only to provide a better experience but also to allow us more storage.  But its Christmas next.

The post Thoughts coming up to Christmas appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.

URBAN 900 £80

Conscientiously designed to provide class-leading output and unmatched protective visibility both day and night. An innovative feature set including powerful amber side lighting and daylight pulse mode creates the most visible, reliable, versatile headlight available.

URBAN 500  £50

Conscientiously designed to provide class-leading output and unmatched protective visibility both day and night. An innovative feature set including powerful amber side lighting and daylight pulse mode creates the most visible, reliable, versatile headlight available.

Featuring:
• 500 Lumen Output (FL-1 Certified) With CREE LED
• Daylight Visible Pulse Mode
• Amber Side Lighting Increases Visibility at Intersections
• Micro-peened Reflector Creates A Smooth, Even Beam Pattern
• Waterproof Design Provides All-Weather Reliability
• Micro USB Rechargeable
• Quick Release Handlebar MountIncluded:
• Quick Release Handlebar Mount & Micro USB Charging Cable

URBAN 350 £40

Thoughtfully designed with daily commuters in mind and powerful enough to satisfy the needs of singletrack addicts. Simply the lightest, brightest, most compact light in its class.

Featuring:
• 350 Lumen output certified to the FL-1 Standard
• Engineered with top of the line CREE LED and enhanced firmware.
• It is the only light in its class with an accurate 4 level battery charge status indicator so you know if you have the juice to get home
• Custom engineered reflector optimizes the light to provide the most efficient and effective distribution of light for cycling.
• Amber Side lighting for a full 180 degrees of visibility
• IP67 Rating – Tested to be fully waterproof in 1 meter of water for 30 minutesIncluded:
• Quick Release Handlebar Mount, Micro USB Charging Cable

The post Just In Light and Motion Lights appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.

We first heard about this crankset a few months ago and we immediately recognised its potential.  We contacted the manufacturer EFNEO in Poland and ordered 2 sets then looked for a suitable frame that would suit as a demonstrator.   We settled upon a Charge Bikes Mixer hybrid as a demonstrator for the GTRO 3 speed gear box coupled with a standard 8 Speed Shimano Alfine hub to provide 24 speed in total with a vast range of gears suitable for touring and adventure.  This frame has an eccentric bottom bracket allowing the chain to be correctly tensioned.

The GTRO comes with either a grip shift or trigger shifter.  we chose the latter as we already had a trigger shifter for the Alfine.

The installation was easy.  Although working with an eccentric bottom bracket required some careful adjustment, I was able to find a ‘sweet spot’ that gave a good chain line, chain tension and allowed the anchor to sit correctly.  If the BB is rotated forward in the eccentric fitting then the anchor will not fit.

There is a good installation video at https://vimeo.com/117575597 that provides decent instructions.

Care needed to be taken with a eccentric BB as the protruding screws can foul on the BB shell.  The main issue is with the length of cable.  I used a small frame which produced a large loop of cable at the front of the bike. We have since been told by EFNEO that a solution that uses cable splitting will be incorporated into future models.   This would allow the cable length to be tailored and would also allow installation on Moulton bikes or bikes that use S&S couplings.  I think this is key point that would increase the systems flexibility.

The installation job was completed after 45 minutes.  The rest of the bike took a further 3 hours to complete but included the Alfine 8 speed hub and Avid hydraulic disc brakes.  I used Sputnik Rims for strength.

The inaugural ride proved to be a revelation.

Being use to derailleur gears, I was initially baffled as to which gear to be in.  There was almost too much choice and I need to think about the what I was doing.  The new Shimano Alfine hub that was used was operated by an outdated thumb shifter where the pull is in the reverse direction. This complicated the situation however after a few miles I thinks settled down.

I noticed that gears could be changed on steep hills which is a great a advantage.  I was also taken by the quick shift of the GTRO which seems to be a very robust piece of kit.   When I got back to the shop I installed mudguards and a rack with some Carradice panniers for effect.

In conclusion the ‘do anything’ bike has a new incarnation that uses hub gears, GTRO and a 1/8” chain for durability.  The following table shows the gear chart in inches based on a 17 tooth sprocket.  I may change this to a 25 tooth sprocket for lower gears.

The applications are endless from Cargo bikes and Tricycles, folders, single speeds to mountain bikes with derailleurs.  I have not checked if there is a width limitation on the chain ring.  EFNEO tell me that the cable pull is the same as a Shimano Deore 3 speed but in reverse.  This would allow operation using a STI shifter which would be another worthy setup to undertake.  It also makes the Rohloff 14 speed obsolete.

The post GTRO 3 Speed Crankset appeared first on Corsham Tue to Fri 9.30 to 4pm, Sat 9.30 to 2pm.