Quote from: in4 on July 24, 2026, 06:21:42 PM

....I might use BC's for audio route prompts though.

Here's an example from JL

https://www.johnlewis.com/shokz-openmove-bluetooth-wireless-open-ear-headphones-grey/p110575797

Yes, I thought routing instructions might be one use for cyclists.

I don't know anything about the John Lewis item you refer to, but I wouldn't have thought it would be particularly suitable for a cyclist. Mine have a half-loop over the ear to position them positively (photo in my original post) while the one from JL you illustrate looks like backwards cafe-racer sunglasses that will slide off your ears -- also backwards -- at the first sleeping policeman you ride over. More fashion than kinesthetics...

When I was doing cycle couriering/delivery (For 5 years) I used an earlier version of those Shokz, for google routing, job notifications and occasionally phone calls with the client, I'd also listen to audio books or podcasts between jobs. My experience is they work fine, are comfortable and don't move about (There's a photo in the link of someone wearing them) sound quality is OK for basic stuff but quite poor for music, for my use they'd last days and charge quickly.  For google routing, they're best used in conjunction with the map on a handlebar mounted phone, following the spoken instructions and using the map as confirmation, in heavy rain, I'd put the phone in a pocket and rely on the headphones, doable but not as good. The only issue wearing them is possible conflict with glasses, caps, helmet straps... particularly if you forget you're wearing them when removing something else. The price doesn't seem to have gone up, I paid about £70 in 2019, hundreds of hours use and they're still fine.
The should you argument is more complex, they are a distraction, although you can physically hear traffic over the headphones, you hear it less, you are filtering it out.  I've used them a couple of times on long Audax rides, but generally choose not to.
 

Ok, but sometimes when your replace only the chain, an unpleasant noise appears the first hundred kilometers

Then you've left it too long, the wear on the sprocket, and possibly the chainring, is beyond the tolerance of the new chain.  What you're doing, that noise, is premature wear on the new chain till it matches the sprocket.  the economic thing to do in that instance, is to put the old chain back on.  If you're going down the route of swapping chains to preserve other components, you have to frequently measure and not go by mileage.
Riders can do what they choose, but there are two practical options, wear it all out and replace together or replace chains before anything else is worn.  Doing something between those two has no advantage and will cost more in components than either.

Thanks for the useful reply Andre. Ill take a look at yours. The JL ones might be aimed at runners, I dont know. I did try them for sound and the bass was quite shallow. That might be in the nature of BCs though. Thanks again

I'd consider using them, despite finding the audio quality a bit poor. John Lewis stock them. I never use earbuds on the bike, in fact I've decided not to use them at all because they prevent ears from 'breathing' I might use BC's for audio route prompts though.

Here's an example from JL

https://www.johnlewis.com/shokz-openmove-bluetooth-wireless-open-ear-headphones-grey/p110575797

Quote from: HugoC on July 23, 2026, 08:53:05 PM

Hello,
On my Thorn Raven Twin, I replace my chain about every 7500kms and have just recently replaced the chainrings and sprocket for the first time after accumulating about 44000kms.
Regards
Hugo

44000 kms with a Rohloff Sprocket ! Are you sure ? it’s a lot of kilometers

If you change the chain often enough, you can make a sprocket and chain ring last almost indefinitely.  The question is if it makes economic sense, as in - are you spending more on chains than you would replacing the other components? There is some disagreement on the answer to that, it depends... IMO it makes little cost difference, but letting it all wear out requires less maintenance.
I swapped (Or flipped) the lot on my Mercury at around 27,000km, though that bike doesn't see the worst of the weather or much off-road. On the wet weather/off-road Nomad I'm still expecting 15,000+ km.