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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by John Saxby on March 26, 2025, 05:05:28 PM »Agreed 👍. Well said, Dan & all.
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2
Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by Matt2matt2002 on March 26, 2025, 04:01:02 PM »One of the (many) refreshing aspects of this forum is that it's almost ONLY about bikes and bike related travelling. The other 'noise' of life is for elsewhere - long may it continue.
Quite agree; and with other sentiments above.
Matt
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by Tiberius on March 25, 2025, 09:15:17 AM »One of the (many) refreshing aspects of this forum is that it's almost ONLY about bikes and bike related travelling. The other 'noise' of life is for elsewhere - long may it continue.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by Andyb1 on March 25, 2025, 07:25:45 AM »Agreed Dan, better to stay on the common ground (cycling) that we all share.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by Andre Jute on March 25, 2025, 01:58:50 AM »Accord.
Well put, Dan.
Well put, Dan.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by in4 on March 24, 2025, 09:09:25 PM »Agreed. I’ve come across this on other forums. The ‘spill-over’ into contentious issues does diminish the timbre of topical, friendly discussions.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Politics on Forum
« Last post by mickeg on March 24, 2025, 04:48:02 PM »Thanks.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Politics on Forum
« Last post by Danneaux on March 24, 2025, 02:35:20 PM »Hi All,
Danneaux, Thorn Forum Administrator here.
I started following the Forum informally in 2004 and have been Forum Administrator for the last dozen years.
I've always been impressed by our membership, the tremendous knowledge resource they comprise, and their unselfish willingness to help out members through sharing so generously.
From my work here and elsewhere, I also know there are certain topics that can split a Forum apart and kill community in a hurry because they cause needless and divisive internal strife. One of those "toxic" topics involves the wearing and value of helmets. Another is politics. That is why I -- with the help of member restraint -- have kept those topics to a minimum here so we can concentrate on bicycles, cycling, cycle-camping, touring and all the things related to them.
Recent world events and political developments have brought rapid and abrupt global changes to trade, tariffs, travel, visas, entry and exit policies, restrictions and punishments for violations. Things are very much in flux and evolving almost daily. Such cannot be ignored for those who love to travel by bike or purchase bikes and things related to them. Bicycles are among the most international of products with components sourced from around the world and we love to travel on them, so there really is no avoiding such influences.
At the same time, we find ourselves in a world of ever greater division over politics and I am concerned if allowed to run rampant in our little village here, it could tear apart what we have, enjoy, and value so much.
In that spirit, I'm requesting we keep the Forum a politics-free zone except as it pertains to the practicalities of travel and goods purchases and safety while traveling and crossing borders and to do so with an eye toward helpfulness and camaraderie in solving problems or working around them as we pursue our shared passion.
If we can do this, the Forum will be more likely survive as a useful bike-related community than if it devolves into off-topic tribalism.
With thanks, gratitude, and all best wishes, Dan.
Danneaux
Thorn Cycles Forum Administrator
Danneaux, Thorn Forum Administrator here.
I started following the Forum informally in 2004 and have been Forum Administrator for the last dozen years.
I've always been impressed by our membership, the tremendous knowledge resource they comprise, and their unselfish willingness to help out members through sharing so generously.
From my work here and elsewhere, I also know there are certain topics that can split a Forum apart and kill community in a hurry because they cause needless and divisive internal strife. One of those "toxic" topics involves the wearing and value of helmets. Another is politics. That is why I -- with the help of member restraint -- have kept those topics to a minimum here so we can concentrate on bicycles, cycling, cycle-camping, touring and all the things related to them.
Recent world events and political developments have brought rapid and abrupt global changes to trade, tariffs, travel, visas, entry and exit policies, restrictions and punishments for violations. Things are very much in flux and evolving almost daily. Such cannot be ignored for those who love to travel by bike or purchase bikes and things related to them. Bicycles are among the most international of products with components sourced from around the world and we love to travel on them, so there really is no avoiding such influences.
At the same time, we find ourselves in a world of ever greater division over politics and I am concerned if allowed to run rampant in our little village here, it could tear apart what we have, enjoy, and value so much.
In that spirit, I'm requesting we keep the Forum a politics-free zone except as it pertains to the practicalities of travel and goods purchases and safety while traveling and crossing borders and to do so with an eye toward helpfulness and camaraderie in solving problems or working around them as we pursue our shared passion.
If we can do this, the Forum will be more likely survive as a useful bike-related community than if it devolves into off-topic tribalism.
With thanks, gratitude, and all best wishes, Dan.
Danneaux
Thorn Cycles Forum Administrator
9
General Technical / Re: When to replace eccentric BB shell and Rohloff sprocket
« Last post by mickeg on March 24, 2025, 12:07:17 PM »John, thank you very much for the detailed reply,
Canadian lapel pin, I think I have one or two. From decades ago I have one that has both Canadian and USA flags. I am quite sure nobody makes those with both countries on a single pin any more. I wonder if I should start wearing that here at home?
I think it might be considered deception if I was to wear my PEI jersey or my Nova Scotia jersey in Ontario when I am not from either of those provinces.
Yes, Waterfront Trail. I rode from Kingston to Niagara Falls. Planned to continue west, but when I got to Niagara Falls, that was the start of a severe heat wave that promised to continue being miserably hot for the rest of my trip, so I bailed out early at that time. I think you can read the post and see the photos without registering. More detail at:
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1298296-bike-tour-near-lake-ontario-part-erie-canal-june-2024-a.html
I like to start my tours in early June. That is usually before things get crowded and most people are not yet vacationing. Thus, campgrounds typically empty, but last summer I found that provincial parks in Ontario can fill in early June. That was not my experience in Nova Scotia, PEI or New Brunswick in 2019. June is usually wetter, but I would rather have a bit of rain if that means that campsites are less crowded and traffic is lighter.
Thank you for mentioning the Rideau Canal. I will have to look into that. I was thinking that if I went to Canada this year I would start at Buffalo NY or possibly some other place east of Buffalo where Amtrak (the train system in USA) stops, then ride to where I get on a ferry to Wolf Island, then another ferry to Kingston. (Repeat from last year.) Then go East. Beyond that, I had no plans yet, other than the trip would have to end somewhere that has an Amtrak station that accepts checked luggage.
I like to use MapQuest for my trip planning, that is a GPS mapping program that Garmin discontinued many years ago. My new computer (new a year ago) will not run MapQuest, so to plan this trip I have to dig out my old computer, which is a bit of a hassle, so have not done any planning yet. And that is more than two months away, if I am not getting on an airplane I am not in a rush to plan this trip.
The way you capitalized "Serious Unpleasantness", that suggests that it is a common term, that when you hear it, you know what that means. If so, I really hope that there is not another such episode at any time in the next four years. I like to travel in Canada, I honestly do not remember how many times that I have been in Canada. Attached photos are from past Canada trips, first by bike (Sherpa, 2012), second shows a border marker in the wilderness in Northern Minnesota, and the third, also in Northern Minnesota shows the border which is in the middle of the river, no evidence of that river being the border and I do not remember which country I was in when I took the photo.
I may have more questions later.
Canadian lapel pin, I think I have one or two. From decades ago I have one that has both Canadian and USA flags. I am quite sure nobody makes those with both countries on a single pin any more. I wonder if I should start wearing that here at home?
I think it might be considered deception if I was to wear my PEI jersey or my Nova Scotia jersey in Ontario when I am not from either of those provinces.
Yes, Waterfront Trail. I rode from Kingston to Niagara Falls. Planned to continue west, but when I got to Niagara Falls, that was the start of a severe heat wave that promised to continue being miserably hot for the rest of my trip, so I bailed out early at that time. I think you can read the post and see the photos without registering. More detail at:
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1298296-bike-tour-near-lake-ontario-part-erie-canal-june-2024-a.html
I like to start my tours in early June. That is usually before things get crowded and most people are not yet vacationing. Thus, campgrounds typically empty, but last summer I found that provincial parks in Ontario can fill in early June. That was not my experience in Nova Scotia, PEI or New Brunswick in 2019. June is usually wetter, but I would rather have a bit of rain if that means that campsites are less crowded and traffic is lighter.
Thank you for mentioning the Rideau Canal. I will have to look into that. I was thinking that if I went to Canada this year I would start at Buffalo NY or possibly some other place east of Buffalo where Amtrak (the train system in USA) stops, then ride to where I get on a ferry to Wolf Island, then another ferry to Kingston. (Repeat from last year.) Then go East. Beyond that, I had no plans yet, other than the trip would have to end somewhere that has an Amtrak station that accepts checked luggage.
I like to use MapQuest for my trip planning, that is a GPS mapping program that Garmin discontinued many years ago. My new computer (new a year ago) will not run MapQuest, so to plan this trip I have to dig out my old computer, which is a bit of a hassle, so have not done any planning yet. And that is more than two months away, if I am not getting on an airplane I am not in a rush to plan this trip.
The way you capitalized "Serious Unpleasantness", that suggests that it is a common term, that when you hear it, you know what that means. If so, I really hope that there is not another such episode at any time in the next four years. I like to travel in Canada, I honestly do not remember how many times that I have been in Canada. Attached photos are from past Canada trips, first by bike (Sherpa, 2012), second shows a border marker in the wilderness in Northern Minnesota, and the third, also in Northern Minnesota shows the border which is in the middle of the river, no evidence of that river being the border and I do not remember which country I was in when I took the photo.
I may have more questions later.
10
Tandem Talk / Re: centre stand
« Last post by mickeg on March 24, 2025, 10:36:12 AM »Generally, Thorn recommends against kick stands for Thorn solo bikes. I have never heard this question for a tandem, I do not know what their position on that is.
For some of their Rohloff bikes they make a add on plate to attach a side stand to.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/thorn-dropout-adaptor-with-kickstand-mount-18-mm/
I was unaware of their policy until years after I had installed a side stand on my Nomad Mk II. I have had no problems with my side stand, still use it.
Have you asked SJS?
For some of their Rohloff bikes they make a add on plate to attach a side stand to.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/thorn-dropout-adaptor-with-kickstand-mount-18-mm/
I was unaware of their policy until years after I had installed a side stand on my Nomad Mk II. I have had no problems with my side stand, still use it.
Have you asked SJS?