Power problems maybe

The thing about me is that sometimes I noticed the VERY tiny little things that people miss.

While test fitting the PSU into the new case I noticed that when I screwed in a screw for the PSU holder into the PSU itself that something inside the PSU looked like its being pushed. Its hard to see and take pics so i tried a to take a little video instead. 

Will be emailing my supplier just to see if this is normal as this is the first time I'm using this make of PSU. Will be linking this video and see what they say.

Also noticed that the motherboard I'm looking at getting is now part of a bundle too and is cheaper and comes with a FREE Intel 256GB M.2 PCE-e SSD which will come in handy.

till the next ride, bee safe.....

#30DaysofBiking Slideshow

30 Days of Biking was a pledge to ride your bike every day in April and share your adventures online! Seeing I missed the April one I decided to try and do it for September as it also had 30 days.

I would put a little spin on it though and also take a photograph of BumbleB each day as well as riding everyday.

Here is the slide show of the photographs I took each day. Enjoy...

till the next ride, bee safe.....

Review: Sigma Brake Stop Light

I heard about this brake light though the London Brompton Club and thought I’d give it a go.

The tiny efficient BRAKELIGHT is suitable for all mechanical cable operated brakes. The product is equipped with a Good visible Red LED and is operated by the brake lever on the handlebar.Mounting of the BRAKELIGHT is done by an Hex screw clamping onto the inner cable of the rear brake.Fitment is possible to almost all cable operated brakes. 

The Sigma Brakelight illuminates when the bike's brake calipers close together, alerting anyone nearby that your bike is about to brake.

Unlike my rear dynamo light that only lights up when the front wheel slows down. This could be a good thing especially if you have other riders behind you and want to give them a little more warning that you are slowing down and the rear dynamo may not register the braking til its too late.

Sigma Brake Stop Light

It’s actually quiet small.

The light is water-resistant and is attached using an Allen key to the rear brake cable between the two brake calipers. It is compatible with any cable-activated mechanical rear brake. When the calipers are squeezed together while braking, the device acts like a switch completing a circuit which turns on the LED.

The Brompton brake calipers are a different design to most other bicycle brake systems as the cable doesn't enter from the top of the caliper but from the bottom. So to fit on a Brompton you have to install the Sigma Brakelight upside down to the instructions given.
I am unsure if the water resistance accounts for this so I may put some tape over what is now the top of the light to ensure water doesn't get in and causes a short circuit.

Installed and ready for action

Here is a short video of the brake light in action.

Link here: E Bikes Direct on eBay
Also comes in green, blue & black (£9.99) with 1 X CR2032 battery.

til the next ride, bee safe…..

Onboard at the Brompton World Championships 2015

Well its finally here. I hope you enjoy it & gives you the feelings that you was actually there.

I think I will try to find a better more stable place for the front view, saw someone mounting a camera around the headset by taking off the front block and using the GoPro big tube mount.

as always best viewed in FULL HD mode & FULL screen ;)

till the next ride, bee safe.....

When good tires go bad

This week B's rear has been feeling very wobbly. I thought damn rear wheel is buckled or something so I checked it. Found the marathon plus tire I had on had lumps in.



It's a common problem with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres I've later found out but it's the first time this has happened to me so badly.

My local bike shop Londonfields Cycles tried reseating the tire but it was too far gone to be saved. It was pronounced dead at the scene. So they replaced it there and then under warranty no charge even though they didn't fit it but I bought it from them a few months ago.

Now that's what I call customer service. Keeping it local with independent bicycle shops is the way to go. Londonfields Cycles.

till the next ride, Bee safe

#JupiterNocturne Folding Bike Heat 1

Here is the video I shot of my heat at the Jupiter London Nocturne Folding Bike Race.

 till the next ride, bee safe.....

Woolwich / Greenwich Figure of 8 Ride Video #30DaysOfBiking

A little video I shot on the LBC Ride yesterday



BBB

#YearoftheBus SlideShow

Thought I'd make a little slideshow of all the buses we visited on the Year of the Bus Trail.

Enjoy




BBB

It's broken again....

Well after getting B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light back in November 2014 we was fully dynamo'd up and thought we would never have to worry about batteries or lighting again.

Well we was wrong.

The first rear light broke after about a month of use. The "standlight" function stopped working so anytime we stopped the rear light would go completely out instead of staying on for about 4 mins. I sent it back and got a replacement (under warranty) just before Christmas.

B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light

After week the same thing happened to the replacement. From what people have told me is that with some rear dynamo lights component that stores the charge for the standlight function sometimes isn't held in place properly so with normal bike use after a while that component breaks loose and breaks its connection. It certainly seems the case for this one as you can actually see what I'm guessing is what's making the rattling noises and can see moving about inside the light itself. Other than the "standlight" function it still works fine.

Another member has had the non brakelight version of this for over a year without any problems.

We may just have really bad luck with getting 2 bad rear lights or maybe there was a bad batch from the manufacturers B & M.

I'll return it as I really do like this light as its pretty bright and the brake function is really cool too.

Maybe the 3rd one will be the charm?

Screen printing at Brompton Junction

Something new and different was happening at Brompton Junction shop today.

Screen printing  our very own Brompton Christmas cards.

We was able to make out very own Christmas cards using the screen printing process and ofcourse with it being Brompton they had a unique take on it.

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil to receive a desired image. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A fill blade or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink through the mesh openings to wet the substrate during the squeegee stroke. Basically, it is the process of using a mesh-based stencil to apply ink onto a substrate, whether it be t-shirts, posters, stickers, vinyl, wood, or other material.

Teaching screen printing

Brompton Stencil

I was surprised by the amount of force you needed to push the ink though but also to keep it all in balance at the same time. Takes alot of practice.

Squeezing the ink though

Sometimes just needed to "draw" the fill blade though a couple of times to make sure you got the ink in all the right places but after a 2 or 3 goes you got the hang of it pretty well.

The moment of truth....

The finished print

Here is a short video of the process

 

I was surprised at the amount of detail you could get though this print process.

The details

Brompton BumbleB card

 
 Everyone got to do about 4 cards but we got to take more if we wanted.

 

Look at that detail

Do visit  the Thornback & Peel website for more beautiful, intricate screen-printed pieces for the home.

"Let there be light" Part 2

Last month we converted to a dynamo system for lighting.

Got the SON XS hub wheel, SON Edelux II LED Headlight (Gold) & B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light for BBB.

"Let there be light" Part 1

But what I didn't know at the time of ordering was that BBB needs a 50mm fitting for the rear bracket for rear lights and had ordered the wrong size. So I had to exchange it for the proper size which took a little while.

In any case I finally for it today and couldn't wait to fit it on BBB. So now BBB is fully dynamo powered lights.

B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light

The B&M connects directly to the Edelux with the wire supplied with it so its just a case of routing the wire to allow for the fold and pushing it on the connectors. Setting the Edelux to automatic and the B&M will also come on. 

Designed and built in Germany the Toplight LineTec Brake Plus is very small - 16mm thick, 90mm wide and 44mm high. It fits into many spaces that previous lights would not fit! It has good all round visibility and is very light weight. 50 or 80mm fitting for pannier rack mounting.

LineTec is a very clever concept developed by B&M. Before LineTec cars approaching a bicycle from behind could only see a single rear light spot without being able to judge the distance very accurately. To judge distance the human eye requires spacial relation - especially in 'spaceless' darkness. B&Ms lights with the LineTec light strip emit 'spatial' light. With LineTec other road users can estimate the distance to a cyclist much more accurately.

BrakeTec - How does it work for bicycles?

Motorised vehicles signal braking with bright shining red light to following traffic. This style of function is now available for bicycles. The new BrakeTec technology is integrated into rear B&M light. Unlike vehicles no connection is need to the brakes. Simply exchange your existing rear light for a BrakeTec rear light. This new function is approved by German road traffic regulations.

How does it work? Firstly your dynamo system needs to be operating. A processor inside the rear light analyses signals from the dynamo. If the velocity of the bicycle decreases significantly the processor registers deceleration and the rear light shines noticeably brighter.

- Patented lighting technology - Made in Germany!
- Extremely bright light exit at 320 degree all round visibility and glass protected red reflectors
- With plug contacts (central) for power and mass connection
- Beam shape helps motorists gauge your distance more easily
- Very light weight approximately 53g
- Switch for standlight deactivation

Fitted and ready to go

Here is a little video I made demonstrating the "BrakeTec" function & how bright & wide the beam actually is in real life. The standlight I've noticed actually stays on much longer than the Edelux II.

The legend meets the Tour of Britain

Yesterday BBB & I went to Brighton. This was to be a recce small ride with just 4 of us. Anne M & David P & my cycling partner OrangeBrompton. But at the last moment OrangeBrompton had something come up so couldn't attend.

The weather promised to be good but for some odd reason I still packed my waterproofs. It was clear as soon as I got to Victoria Station to catch the train to Brighton it would be a perfect cycling day & we may even catch a glimpse of the "Tour of Britain" which was finishing in Brighton later on in the day.

Legend is ready

I was expecting the train to be busy but it was pretty empty all the way though. I was guessing the train back would be busy with the Tour Of Britain finishing there so had mentally prepared myself for that.

Once I settled BBB down for the train ride I got a msg from Anne & David had boarded the train  after a couple of stops but further down.

Finally we arrived at Brighton station where I spotted Anne & David, had out usual hellos and hugs and seeing we was all here we set of for our little ride in Brighton.

The Legend, Bobo & HotLips are prepared

First off we headed off to the UnderCliffs where we have been many a time on a Brighton ride.

At low tide

Instead of going our normal route around Brighton we went east so we could meet up with the Tour of Britain at the top of a hill, atleast there the tour would be slower and me and BBB would get our first look at professional rides in action.

Port of Newhaven

Then before we left civilisation as David put it we stopped off for some proper fish 'n' chips with mushy peas.

Cod 'n' Chips with Mushy Peas yum

Now it was time for some proper hills after lunch which I will admit is still hellish for me. But now with the 44T chainring isn't so bad for me and BBB. As David and Anne motored off into the distance I started my slow climb up I think I got about a 1/3 of the way but my gearing had bottomed out for me, well I couldn't keep it going so I had to walk up the rest of the way. I was actually getting cheered on but a few people there where camped out by the side of the road waiting for the Tour of Britain to pass by. I always get a good energy boost when that happens.

HUGE  Eastdean hill

Thank god we hadn't gone all the way to Beachy Head as planned cause there was a couple of BIG hills which was actually on the Tour the Britain Route.

We got to the top of a major hill where quiet alot of people had gathered to watch the riders come past. At this point the riders would have just finished a major hill so would be tired and about slower so we got a chance for some good photos.

After the tour had passed we went to see how close we could get to the cliffs from the top by going though Crowlink right by where we was. It was across a field which had LOTS of sheep grazing.

Seeing 3 Bromptons had the sheep looking at us, probably wondering what the hell are these crazy humans up to now.

"baaaaaa!"

Well there was ALOT of sheep and with ALOT of sheep there was ALOT of sheep poo. It was pretty hard to cycle around it and find actual grass so it was near impossible not to hit it. I've never been so focused in my life when riding but was something new I can tell ya.

Looking towards the future...

After the excitement of the tour it was time to head back. Thankfully David P cut out some of the really rough bits we came though aswell as any more big hills.It was much quicker heading back to Brighton as alot of the traffic had died down as well. Just one quick stop for ice cream outside of Brighton and we got to see the finish of the race on a big screen.

By the time we got back into Brighton everything was just about packed up and gone and you would have never have known there was a big cycling event had taken place.

With plenty of time top spare we had alittle drink at our fav coffee place "Milk, No Sugar"

Good day cycling with good friends

All in all a good day of cycling, alittle disappointed that I walked up the really big hill but I did alittle of it. I always see an improvement on my hill climbing so I'm relatively happy with that.

Thanks again for Ann M & David P for having me along and waiting for me at the top of the big hills.

See you all on the next ride,
BBB

To Gravesend to meet "The Abombination"

Once again the Legend and I launch ourselves into the abyss of another great LBC ride outside of the big smoke, London. The meeting point was the ever popular Charing Cross Station which has see the LBC and the legend go on many a ride so we knew it well.

Turning the corner from the underground exit I spotted a very colourful array of Bromptons & ofcourse welcomed old friends & a few new ones. I hadn't seen Rachael E since the Brompton World Championships in 2012 when she actually won, so I made sure I got to say hello cause I had a feeling I probably wouldn't be seeing much of her and she speeds off into the distance.

With a little time to spare so I got my ticket and something to eat before we set off on the train to Gravesend. There was a few new riders with us and one young lady who has never done more than her commute to and from work on her Brompton M3L ( I believe)

On this particular ride we was going to be met by a camera man from "Fake Britain" to get our reactions to a "FAKE" Brompton. I heard that Rachael E had a very intense dislike (to call it mildly) to the thing. The legend and I would also past our judgement on the "Abomination" in time.

Once we all gathered together and made sure we had tickets etc we heading towards our train. I have to say we had the whole carriage to ourselves which was great so we didnt have to keep watching our B's so intensely but I still made sure BBB travelled in style.

First Class all the way

Racheal E's Brompton

Having got to Gravesend pretty quickly and met up by another long time LBC member Geoff S who met us there we unpacked.

BBB's cockpit

Mark L was leading this ride and we where going though some little paths, alleyways and even abit of off-roading which was abit interesting to say the least( cheers Mark L :P)

Finally we had to cross a little canal/waterway which at night-time is a deafening chorus of wild frog mating calls.

Up & Over

The chalk path was so rough in places my Garmin VIRB Elite almost shook off, I thought NOTHING could loosen its clamp. It was that bad in places.

Finally the chalk path turned into some decent tarmac road and we all sped along.

 

I have to say we had a very new rider Luka G with us on this ride, from what I gather her longest ride was a few miles commute in London on her M3L. Luka did extremely well for her first ride with the LBC, I just hope we haven't put her off riding with us as this ride was pretty demanding with the few hills thrown in. I did promise her that not all our rides are this hilly and we never leave anyone behind.

*thumbs up Luka G*

Now my dear readers, for those of you with a sensitive stomach may need to skip the next few paragraphs as we now come to the second part of this ride.

As we approached our lunch time stop at "The Six Bells Pub & Restaurant Cliffe" I felt a change in the air.

The clouds darkened,

The birds stopped singing,

There was a chill in the air.

I know there was a presence close by, an EVIL presence & BBB didn't like it one bit.

As we pushed our Bromptons into the rear garden of the pub we passed this cardboard box.

As soon as we saw it we knew this was the I use the term "bicycle" for the FAKE Britian filming for a few of us to make comment on it.

Just looking at the box I was reminded by a scene in the Indiana Jones film "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where they are transporting the ark in a box and you can actually hear its power radiating killing some rats nearby.

On opening the box we was greeted by this, this ABOMINATION.

Pieces falling off already

Racheal E & fivemile cyclist had ALOT to say about this FAKE bicycle, I won't even use the name Brompton in the same sentence as that ABOMINATION

Geoff S looks on

The look on Geoff's face says it all

Racheal E being filmed

My dear friends I have a confession to make. Me and Mark W actually rode the ABOMINATION. Fake Britian wanted us to ride a few miles on it with cameras but after we saw it we knew it was totally unsafe to do so but we did manage to patch it up enough to have a quick ride around the carpark of the pub to get filmed that way.

Things I noted where:

• No brakes what so ever
• Very spongy tires
• Chain kept coming off 
• Handlebar position was all wrong
• Weld joins where a huge mess
• Blocky edges
• Loose handlebars even after being tightened
• Cheap pedals
• Cheap everything

I know for sure if I really put some effort in it I would have snapped the thing like a twig.

I did apologise to BBB for riding the ABOMINATION but I needed to know what it felt like and I promised I'd give BBB some serious TLC when I had the chance. That seemed to calm BBB down abit but was still angry at me, can't blame BBB for that tbh.

After finishing our lunches we headed off again, a couple of us had cameras onboard BBB ofcourse had a couple as well as my Garmin VIRB Elite so we had about 3 cameras in all  filming us as we rode though the rest of the ride. At certain points the camera man which be at a junction we was passing and would get some footage as we rolled past. I think he liked the Brompton so much that he was even considering buying one himself ;)

Having got back to Gravesend Station we passed this great little moral which I just had to get a shot of with BBB ofcourse.

On our journey home I also spotted a big rainbow. Luckily we had missed all the rain which is always a bonus.

After saying our goodbyes me, my cycling partner in crime Mr. O & Racheal E headed down The Mall where I would go to Green Park Station & home. 

Another great ride with my LBC Bromptoneers as always & felt like ages since I've ridden with my bud Mr.O. 

Next weekend is going to be busy with a LBC ride on Saturday & A 52 miler Bikeaton on Sunday for charity. 

My cycling data : LBC: Eastward Hoo - The Peninsula Tour