Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Thorn General => Topic started by: jags on April 04, 2012, 12:45:32 pm
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OK i need a reall good nice sounding small ish bike bell ;)
i have no room left on my bars to mount it :(
so maybe i'll mount it to the side of the stem.
any ideas lads .
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jags,
some nice lookers here with stem mounts as well.
http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Accessories.html (http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Accessories.html)
julian.
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Cateye bell sounds clean, has unobtrusive appearance, requires about half an inch on your handlebar, and rises high enough to sit over other fittings. -- Andre Jute
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jags,
Where you use brifters (Shimano STi combined brake/shift levers), I have just the solution for you...a Mirrycle Incredibell Road Bicycle Bell:
http://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-Incredibell-Road-Bicycle-Black/dp/B001SMNC90/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
...and...
http://www.mirrycle.com/road_bell.php
They are available in black or silver.
An alternative is a bar-end bell, but they don't seem to work very well, based on user reports:
http://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-Incredibell-Bicycle-Bell-Chrome/product-reviews/B001CJXB9U
...and...
http://www.mirrycle.com/barend.php
The home page for Mirrycle's bells is here, showing the entire line: http://www.mirrycle.com/incredibell_bells.php
If you were running a Thorn 105mm Accessory T-bar to mount your handlebar bag, it is also a great place to mount a bell. See:
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3896.0;attach=1028
Best,
Dan.
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lads thanks for the help but i was hoping for a real old fashion bell.
i dont want a ding bell i want a bell that's a happy sounding bell ;D
ok you probably thingk i'm crazy but when warning people of your presence you dont want to scare them to death, you want them dancing out of the way with a nice smile on there face as you pass by.
Serious. ;)
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when warning people of your presence you dont want to scare them to death, you want them dancing out of the way with a nice smile on there face as you pass by...
Agreed, jags!
I am...a bell-collector. Yes, it's true. Wherever I travel, if I see an interesting bicycle bell in a store, the proprietor will make a sale! Friends also bring them home to me as souvenirs. I've found the most interesting ones in The Netherlands and on eBay. To meet your needs, I would suggest...
1) A Chinese Spinning Bee Bell. The bracket and central ring and striker stay mounted to your handlebars, while twin domes rotate with each press of the lever. It makes a sort of dual-bell trill that makes people smile, and it rings for quite awhile if you give the lever a good press. See: http://luxlow.com/products-page/bells-horns/bell-retro-spinner-bee-bicycle-for-vintage-cruiser-bikes/
2) Something like the Dutch Goofy Tomato bell, with bobbledy eyes that roll with every bump. That has a cheery single "ding!", but it is the sight of it that brings smiles (more to the rider than observers unless stopped at the time, which sort of offsets the need for a bell. It is a bit dangerous, as the bobbledy-eye effect is a little hypnotic). The kids' section of department and variety stores as well as bike shops have the best examples of this sort.
3) Maybe the best bell for the purpose is not a bell at all, but a novelty squeeze-bulb horn. The Cheeky Parrot pictured on the right in the photo below is mounted on the front of my tandem. When squeezed, it makes an "Eeep! Eeep!" sound that really does draw smiles and positive comment on the bike path, especially from pedestrians. I think it is because it goes back to the squeaky toys of our infancy and dredges up happy memories from wherever they're stored in our brains. Even dogs like it, 'cos the sound resembles their squeaky toys. A panic-fueled squeeze results in a pretty loud tone that can be heard some distance away. Alas, years of faithful service have dulled the Cheeky Parrot's plumage, but he still sort of matches the Mercedes-Benz Glasurit red paint on the tandem. I resisted such a thing for years (a Cheeky Parrot and Danneaux's Tandem did not seem a viable mix) but finally relented after finding people just did not respond (at all or well) to a conventional bell of any sort; on passing, they waved without using all their fingers and were not in a cheery frame of mind. Cheeky Parrot saved the day, and all are smiles again. Of all my bicycle mounted warning devices, this is the most well-received and has never, ever been greeted with other than a delighted smile, so that gets my recommendation for you. See: http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-Bicycle-Squeeze-Polly-Parrot/dp/B000AO9PJS
SJS Cycles carry similar things here:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/widek-giraffe-animal-squeezer-prod4936/
...and here...
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/widek-lion-animal-squeezer-prod4934/
...and in the Sumo Wrestler version here...
http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-Bicycle-Squeeze-Horn-Wrestler/dp/B000WY3Q8C
Pyramid and Sunlite/Co-Union make them as well in a great variety of styles...
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=pyramid+bicycle+squeeze+horn&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1440&bih=726&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=16686219068164735663&sa=X&ei=Xod8T6DdB4eZiQK6mbWgDQ&ved=0CHEQ8wIwBw
I just have no idea where or how you'll find room to mount it. Perhaps on an accessory bar? See:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/page/find/?name=accessory%20bar&page=1
4) Lacking one of the above, you might like something resembling the bright, trilling ring of a Gazelle bell. They're pretty standard issue throughout Europe and should be available by mail order if not in a local store. They are also cheap, but not cheaply made, adding to their virtue.
I recorded and digitized the sounds of the various bells and tried to attach them here for you. Alas, the sound files were simply too large to make it through the server, and sounded terrible when compressed. Oh, well. I'd still suggest either something trilling and bright in a conventional bell or a squeeze-bulb "novelty" horn for the best results. The big "Dinnnnng-Donnnng" bells I have aren't as well-received. They never fail to bring comments saying they sound like the floor indicators on old elevators, with comments like "Next floor, ladies lingerie, housewares, and mens furnishings". Fun for me at first, but it gets old the tenth time you've heard it and doesn't really work as well as the Cheeky Parrot.
Hope this helps. Please let us know what you end up with...
Best,
Dan.
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Dan thats exactly what i want spinning bee bell now could i buy that on this side of the pond thanks DAn..
btw great collection. 8)
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...thats exactly what i want spinning bee bell now could i buy that on this side of the pond
eBay UK to the rescue; several are on-offer there for reasonable prices:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_pppn=v3&_kw=revolving&_kw=bicycle&_kw=bell
I favor this example 'cos it is new and the price with shipping is the most reasonable:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-STYLE-TRADITIONAL-REVOLVING-DOUBLE-CHROME-BICYCLE-BELL-RARE-NOS-/280857267893?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item416465ceb5
I think you might have room for one on your handlebars 'cos it sits vertically, taking up the minimum possible real estate. If you get one, make *sure* you pad your alloy handlebars with a turn or 6 of tape to prevent any scratching by the clamp.
Tip: They spin longest if mounted vertically (bell up, clamp down). They also drain water best in that position. They're easiest to activate that way, too.
Warning: They are addictive, and will soon cause your tour-mates to harbor thoughts of killing you. OTOH, the bell is good revenge if they treat you badly.
The Chinese Spinning Bee bell is a variation on the traditional revolving bell that has been sold for years, as shown on eBay above.
Best,
Dan.
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jags,
Bicycle bell recordings by brand/model are here:
http://blog.dutchbikebits.com/2010/11/testing-and-recording-bicycle-bells.html
...and on the Mirrycle site:
http://www.mirrycle.com/incredibell_bells.php
For the techie, there's always the Oylbell, with your digitized voice telling people you'll be passing on the left or whatever you choose to say (why not just yell it and save the weight, bulk, cost and three LR44 batteries?):
http://www.oylbell.com/
Go to the 1min 46sec mark here to hear Queen's classic bicycle-bell chorus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGw2y_EYVRE
Always makes me smile. Ol' Freddie M seems to have had a soft spot for bikes, judging by how often they appear in Queen's musical catalog.
Best,
Dan.
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thanks Dan i really don't know how you manage to come up with all this info in jig time your a genius ;)
i asked my son to see if he can get that bell for me on ebay.
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http://www.roseversand.com/article/xtreme-bell-free-tony-xs/aid:355988 (http://bell)
Bought this for my missus's bike, its a very nice ring.
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http://www.roseversand.com/article/xtreme-bell-free-tony-xs
My, that's a beauty, Stephen. I surely like the brass. As good as gold, this small bell!
...the ad copy says, and I believe it! The brass bells have always caught my eye as especially pretty, and this one is no exception.
Good to know about; thanks!
Best,
Dan.
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The Gazelle bell is a modern version of the revolving bell. The upmarket Gazelle version on my Toulouse spins around the handlebar at the end of grip. It sound good, but has little latitude for tuning, and if you get it wrong sounds like hoarse frog.
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If you need to warn pedestrians of your presence, you could try this approach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=when3v7NVFk&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=when3v7NVFk&feature=player_embedded)
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...you could try this approach
:o
<speechless>!
Best,
Dan.
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I use this one (http://www.mirrycle.com/gripbell.php) on my straight bars - makes a nice match with the Rohloff shifter.
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a nice match with the Rohloff shifter.
Looks absolutely made for the purpose, Pete. Such nice, clean lines, and handlebar/grip symmetry; what a match!
Best,
Dan.
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That one is nice. Sometimes I think an air horn would be more the thing, though.
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That one is nice. Sometimes I think an air horn would be more the thing, though.
This?
;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=when3v7NVFk&feature=player_embedded
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No ... a bit bigger. :)
I noticed you cycling in the background (that was you on the Thorn right?) I'm impressed by the speed and am going on a training program right away. Well after I find peace of mind with that horn.
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If you need to warn pedestrians of your presence, you could try this approach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=when3v7NVFk&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=when3v7NVFk&feature=player_embedded)
Here's the bicycle equivalent:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/fed-up-cyclist-develops-world-s-loudest-bike-horn-to-alert-motorists.html
Cheers,
Iain.
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I have, at last, found a bell that sounds as good as it looks and it does not have to travel very far to get here (UK) it's a Lion Bell from http://www.lionbellworks.co.uk/
The tone is angelic and it won't go rusty to boot.
Hopefully it won't frighten horses !
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I just love the fact that they've provided an actual sound sample too ( bit if spatial shifting thrown in for added realism too!) Briliant!
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The actual sound is even better than the clip on the website !
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I have, at last, found a bell that sounds as good as it looks and it does not have to travel very far to get here (UK) it's a Lion Bell from http://www.lionbellworks.co.uk/
The tone is angelic and it won't go rusty to boot.
Hopefully it won't frighten horses !
I like the idea of it being stem mounted but do I have a 1 inch or 1 and one eighth inch stem on my Raven?
Looked at the Thorn site but could not see the answer?
:'(
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Matt,
Your Raven steerer is 1-1/8".
Best,
Dan.
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Matt,
Your Raven steerer is 1-1/8".
Best,
Dan.
Thanks Dan
Where should I have looked to find out for myself?
Matt
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Hi Matt!
1-1/8" (28.6mm) outside diameter is the current de facto threadless headset standard. Though there are larger and smaller models on the market, the vast majority of threadless - 1-1/8".
The surest way to check is to remove the top cap and the first spacer beneath it and use a caliper (the jaws of an adjustable wrench checked against a ruler will do) to measure the outside diameter of the steerer.
One can also check on the diameter of the headset used. In this case, Thorn nearly always fit the Orbit XII, which is listed here:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/fsa-orbit-xl-2-1-1-8-inch-aheadset-prod3101/
Sheldon Brown's site has a terrific article on headsets and mentions steerer size as well: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html
...and a handy crib sheet here: http://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-headsets.html
Best,
Dan.
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Another location to consider for the bell is the "stem" of the accessory bar. It has worked well for me keeping the bell out of the way of the bars but still vry easy to access when needed
Andy
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Thanks agin Dan. Nice articles to read.
I have ordered the correct size and asked for it to be engraved with
Matt's Old Bird.
Any guidance to offer re the fitting? Guess I undo the hex nut on top and lift things upwards?
Got a few spacers so can fit the bell at a nice height.
Can anything go wrong?
Matt
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Can anything go wrong?
Anything can! ;D
No, Matt, you'll do fine. If the bell's mounting plate is fitted between the spacers beneath the stem, you might have to re-adjust the headset, but that's easy enough. If there's a T-bar clamped below the stem to hold the headset bearings in adjustment, then even that concern is gone.
Best,
Dan.
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Anything can! ;D
:o
Yikes
I'll have to take a couple of clever pills before I start loosening my nuts.
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Noticed the LionBellWorks also sell wingnuts.
M9 x 1 threads with integral grip washer.
http://www.lionbellworks.co.uk/index.php/shopecwid#!/~/product/category=3884036&id=16654134
Could someone explain the sizing? M9 would fit?
They look very retro and could suit my Raven.
Would they fit anywhere?
Matt
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They look very retro and could suit my Raven. Would they fit anywhere?
Hi Matt! Sorry, no...these wing nuts are intended as a "quicker release" (no wrench needed) for those using nutted hub axles. Your hubs are equipped with genuine quick-releases (a lever you throw by hand) and won't accept these pretty wing nuts. And no, I can't think of any other fittings on the bike that would accept that diameter/threading.
All the best,
Dan. (...who also likes the look of wing nuts, but is very grateful for the tool-free ease and security of genuine hub quick-releases)
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Thanks Dan.
New bell took just 3 days to arrive, with engraving!
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LixxOk3SZ9g/UXur5mnj8uI/AAAAAAAAALE/lh_QaCB8Z5Q/h120/Bell+004.jpg)
Very impressed indeed.
Fitted with no problems - thanks Dan
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YDjv3olRqnY/UXuryAXCuAI/AAAAAAAAAK8/EDZyfcnu6NY/h120/Bell+002.jpg)
Looks great - so off this afternoon for a test ride.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5nFWtFJ1QRI/UXurso41jrI/AAAAAAAAAK0/TyeSZ9zRBKg/h120/Bell+001.jpg)
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Wonderful job of fitting, Matt, and that bell looks ever so nice on your beloved Old Bird -- "just right" in appearance and "well done" to you!
The engraving is an especially nice touch.
A treat to see the photos!
Best,
Dan.
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Thanks Dan
Much appreciate the advice and compliments
Just back from my first run with the bell and much enjoyed the sound of the ping.
On a technical point...
my pictures don't open up when i click on them. Is that because I saved them 'small'?
Other ones I have posted here, do expand.
Matt
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my pictures don't open up when i click on them. Is that because I saved them 'small'?
Kinda.
They only "open up" if you upload them as attachments (the pictures appear in thumbnails below your text. These are stored in a separate section on Thorn's server). You do that by clicking on the blue "Additional Options" link below and to the left of your text when composing a post.
In this case, you inserted your photos in the body of your text using html tags to reach out to where your photos are stored off-site and display them when the post is accessed. Photos you link to that way will display at whatever size you uploaded.
Best,
Dan.
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Sunday morning so I have polished my bike bell much to the amusement of family. Gentle ride this afternoon on quiet (hopefully) country roads with wife to visit Roman Archaeological dig. Oh how I love summer.
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17C here, sunny, and the pedalpals want to ride to Newcestown to avoid the big hill in the shade which was my suggestion. I don't have anything to polish as my bike was thoroughly shampooed as a recently as three years ago and I'm a very clean rider, but I've dusted the cobwebs out of my cycling sandals, which I haven't worn in a couple of years, what with the miserable weather we've had. Leaving at 1pm when all the Sunday drivers are home from church and sitting down to a big meal after which they will, we hope, be too sluggish to go on the roads.
Andre Jute
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HI Dan
Trying out your advice for the picture as an attachment.
Need to polish my brass bell. Any advice on a cheap solution - as in cheap solution
;)
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Wow! Very nice job on the photo attachment, Matt...and a self-portrait in the bell as well!
As for polishing, my favorite of all is Blue Magic metal polish: http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/blue_magic/products/96/blue_magic_metal_polish_cream/
http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/blue_magic/products/94/blue_magic_liquid_metal_polish_8_oz/
It is largely non-abrasive, and also works well for removing scratches on clear plastic lenses. After polishing, it leaves a protective coating to protect from tarnishing. The MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) for it shows it to be largely harmless as such things go: Kerosene, non-fibrous aluminum oxide, fatty acid and ammonium hydroxide. Amazon carry it, of course: http://www.amazon.com/BlueMagic-400-Metal-Polish-Cream/dp/B000BO8Z9I
A lot of people use and prefer Brasso ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasso ) or Happich Simichrome polish ( http://www.simichrome-polish.com/ ). I know a number of people who have had good results using various automotive polished and waxes. One I know did well was Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and rust remover. It contains what amounts to solvents, silicones, water and fine abrasives. Nu-Finish car polish works well also.
Your pretty brass bell is really an alloy of zinc and copper, which are reactive metals. A lot of commercial and decorative brass is coated with lacquer to shield it from air and prevent corrosion, so many brass items stay nice for a long time...until the lacquer breaks down or wears off. If you're dealing with uncoated brass, then -- yes -- it has to be polished if it is to stay nice and not corrode.
Most commercial brass polishes -- Brasso comes to mind, as does Simichrome polish -- (and their inexpensive homegrown alternatives) tend to be either acidic, abrasive, or some combination of the two, and incorporate a protective component to prevent re-corrosion. If you're really after "cheap", there's lots of DIY methods, all of which might alter the appearance of your brass bell. Among the methods I've seen or heard...
• Rubbing with tomato catsup (ketchup) -- or tomato chutney, precursor to ketchup. (acid)
• Vinegar/salt/flour paste (acid, abrasive). I have seen this cause pitting.
• Water/salt/white vinegar mix. (acid)
• Lemon juice. (acid)
Matt, the homegrown products will get your brass shinier, but they can also cause scratches or pitting, and leave no protection behind to prevent corrosion. In fact, being unprotected, the brass may corrode even faster. For these reasons, I'd strongly suggest buying a small tube of a commercial polish like Brasso and using that to keep the bell looking pretty. It is a real beauty, and it would be a shame to have it damaged in some way while trying to keep it nice. By the way, the engraving looks especially nice!
Hope this helps.
All the best,
Dan.
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Gentle ride this afternoon on quiet (hopefully) country roads with wife to visit Roman Archaeological dig.
E-man, that sounds wonderful to me...you do realize, of course, it sounds very exotic when viewed from my location some 4900mi/~7900km away, at the edge of another ocean. Oh how I love summer.
Oh, me too! If I could arrange it, most of the year would be like this...but then I'd have to name it San Diego, California, where it really *is* like this most of the time (an annual temperature average of around 70°F/21°C...and the place I'd most like to relocate to for that reason alone. Not so much the city as the county, where it quickly becomes rural outside the towns).17C here, sunny, and the pedalpals want to ride to Newcestown to avoid the big hill in the shade which was my suggestion.
Andre, see, this is one of the reasons why I enjoy this Forum so much. It is often the equivalent of meeting up at the corner cafe for a spot of tea and catching up on cycledoings. It must have been a lovely ride. Did you happen to take photographs? ...cycling sandals...
Now *that's* emblematic of summer in much the same way as the scent of fresh strawberries. I recall a quote and title from the late Ray Bradbury, one of my favorite authors: "All (of) Summer in a Day". A brief synopsis of his story is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Summer_in_a_Day ...and a .PDF of it to read in its entirety available for free here: http://staff.esuhsd.org/danielle/English%20Department%20LVillage/RT/Short%20Stories/All%20Summer%20in%20a%20Day.pdf For those who are also Bradbury fans and familiar with The October Country, Something Wicked This Way Comes and even Dandelion Wine, I am not an Autumn Person, but a Summer instead. Both tendencies live within us, but I have embraced the sunnier climes of Self. This theme ran through all of Bradbury's works to some extent, sometimes as a major plotline and was a proxy for man's better self versus his baser impulses.I don't have anything to polish as my bike was thoroughly shampooed as a recently as three years ago and I'm a very clean rider...
'Mark of a Gentleman Cyclist, Andre (intended as praiseful admiration).Leaving at 1pm when all the Sunday drivers are home from church and sitting down to a big meal after which they will, we hope, be too sluggish to go on the roads.
<nods sagely at a familiar strategy> Agreed. I've found it is best -- especially -- to avoid riding past the driveways of church parking lots immediately after the conclusion of services when people seem focused only on that big meal, completely forgetting the lessons of the sermon just heard. I've had some of my closest calls and narrowest squeaks in such places/times. I forgot to account for staggered services, which can run as often as three times on Sunday at some churches. Surprised me! :o
Thanks for sharing the rides of the day, fellows; wish I could have joined you on each.
All the best,
Dan.
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Oh, me too! If I could arrange it, most of the year would be like this...but then I'd have to name it San Diego, California, where it really *is* like this most of the time
Dan and all,
I used to think I wanted to live in San Diego as well. Then I found REAL heaven. These photos were taken this morning, in the first week of "winter", a few hundred meters from my place in Newcastle NSW. The temperature at the time was about 18C (65F), before reaching 20C(68F) later in the day. As it was a public holiday (someone else's Queen's Birthday ;)), the beach was full of visitors, families, surfers, etc. A great place to start the day with a well-made coffee, and finish it off with a top beer!
All was well with our part of the world today...
Slammin!
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It always strikes me as weird that the Queen's birthday (which isn't her real birthday) is a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand but isn't a holiday in the UK.
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I used to think I wanted to live in San Diego as well. Then I found REAL heaven.
Wow, Sam...what a magnificent scene and some really outstanding photos showing it all. And, to think it is all just meters from your home! Lovely indeed, and absolutely picture-book perfect! What a place for a bike ride!
You're even further from me than the UK listmembers at 7593mi/12,220km...so why does it look like San Diego's Mission Beach, which is just 978mi/1574km away? ??? :D ::)
Best,
Dan.
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It always strikes me as weird that the Queen's birthday (which isn't her real birthday) is a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand but isn't a holiday in the UK.
Hi that is a good point! but its the start of winter too.
Why is Mum's day not on the some day in New Zealand and the UK?
I may have to go back to School and lean Why?
It in the end is nice to have have a day off.............
Pete
8)
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On bells & polish, Matt:
Dan votes for Blue Magic metal, and I wouldn't challenge that. Here's a few things that I've found useful in restoring old motorcycles, which tend to beheavy on the alloy and largely devoid of plastic, bless 'em:
> Autosol is the standard British product, works well. Blue, comes in a tube, the consistency of lite toothpaste (of which, more later)
> Flitz is a comparable German product; pink, similar consistency to Autosol
Have found both of the above superior to Brasso. Both are solutions which are not solutions, if you get my drift. (WRT Other Famous British products: avoid Marmite. It's neither a solution nor a solution.)
Better than all is a product by a US firm, Meguiar's (pronounced as if it were M'Gwire's). I've used two of their products:
> Rubbing compound, good for buffing out small surface imperfections, on alloys, stainless, brass, and good paint jobs.
> Meguiar's All Metal Polish (i.e., polish for all metals): a firm paste, THE BEST I've found, and smells like pina colada (even tho' I'd guess it's mostly petro-chemical byproducts...)
Good luck with all this. BTW, the vintage motorcycle network is a good source of info on these kinds of things. Has a strong presence in the UK, for obvious reasons.
Oh yes, the toothpaste: Of course it has a fine abrasive in it, so you could try it on something you don't value much, to see what happens. Not sure there's any post-polishing protection, despite what the ads say.
No photos chez nous to compare with Sam's beaches, for sure. But, it was brilliant yesterday on the Ottawa Valley escarpment, 25 degrees, sunny, warm, and breezy enough to keep the bugs away. High above the big river, we had a clear view due NW (whence came the wind) glinting in the sun for a good 50-60 kms or more. Lovely sight, dark blue against the greenery. No photos to prove it, of course -- took only water, banana, toolkit & energy bar on my 4-hr ride.
J.
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...avoid Marmite. It's neither a solution nor a solution
<sighs> John, John; we've established Marmite is a saddle spread, goes with bananas and peanut butter and is highly addictive to those under age 16 as well as novelists named Sierra. See thread: http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=4965.0
Speaking of which, Jimmer mentioned it tasting of greasy steel in his Great Banana-Marmite Experiment. Hmm. Perhaps it may also work as a metals polish.
;D
Best,
Dan. (...who simply must acquire some Marmite...for Science!)
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I feel that you are all missing the most relevant thing about metal polishes.
You can drink Brasso..........
Lion Bellworks was a good find - I am now waiting for delivery.
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You can drink Brasso
My nose went shiny when I did that.
;)
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No photos chez nous to compare with Sam's beaches, for sure. But, it was brilliant yesterday on the Ottawa Valley escarpment, 25 degrees, sunny, warm, and breezy enough to keep the bugs away. High above the big river, we had a clear view due NW (whence came the wind) glinting in the sun for a good 50-60 kms or more. Lovely sight, dark blue against the greenery. No photos to prove it, of course -- took only water, banana, toolkit & energy bar on my 4-hr ride.
Ontario! Land of Lakes. I've been there once, a very long time ago.
You don't need photos to prove it John, after a description like that! ;D
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You can drink Brasso...
:o Yikes! :o
Not for long...*
All the best,
Dan. (...who is the only person he knows who actually reads the MSDS for products he uses...)
*So...what's really in the stuff? Depends on the kind one uses.
The MSDS ( http://www.wardrobesupplies.com/assets/products/8499/safety_sheets/Brasso_%20Polish_%20MSDS.pdf?1360078967 ) for the multi-purpose formula shows it contains petroleum distillates (Stoddard solvent and desulfurized distillates), some crystalline silica as an abrasive, some kaolin clay as an absorptive, a fatty oil commonly used in soaps, and ammonia water.
Not much to float a boat there.
The MSDS ( http://www.uafacilities.ua.edu/custodial/msds/sheets/Brasso.pdf ) for the brass-specific formula shows Isopropyl alcohol, ammonia water, silica powder as an abrasive, and oxalic acid dihydrate as a corrosion remover/chelate.
The probable attraction there is the isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which causes horrible effects and can be lethal in surprisingly small quantities. The rest would definitely leave one ehm, "horribly unsettled".
Eew.
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The rest would definitely leave one ehm, "horribly unsettled".
Possibly......
But look at the cost of alcohol in Norway!
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I feel that you are all missing the most relevant thing about metal polishes.
You can drink Brasso..........
Lion Bellworks was a good find - I am now waiting for delivery.
Firstly Lion Bell Works was an EXCELLENT find. My son is getting one for his birthday.
Secondly if you filter the Brasso through a long loaf of bread it is, apparently, quiet passable - things one learnt when at sea ( MN - many years ago mind you and I never did partake of that particular brew !)
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...things one learnt when at sea...
! 'Things one learns on the Thorn Cycling Forum! :D
Fascinating!
Best,
Dan. (...who thinks Chris' son will be awfully happy come his birthday; those LW bells look and sound wonderful!)
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Another Lion here....
(http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc356/Kilroy8282/0fc50ca9-f602-45e3-910e-b854f4d39444_zps52970275.jpg) (http://s527.photobucket.com/user/Kilroy8282/media/0fc50ca9-f602-45e3-910e-b854f4d39444_zps52970275.jpg.html)
;D
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Man! What a gorgeous bell!
Best,
Dan. (...who thinks the photo editing ain't bad, either! ;D )