Matt's old bird

[Matt2matt2002]

New camera delivered at the weekend so here's the first snap showing my Old Bird.
Took a run into Aberdeen from home. 21 miles each way, some of it along a bike path so no traffic problems.

[Matt2matt2002]

A couple of more snaps from my day out.


Statue of the Gordon Highlands unveiled by Prince Charles on 11th October 2011


In Dyce park on the way home. Autumn arrives earlier here in this part of the UK

Matt

[Matt2matt2002]

A day at the seaside.
Carefull not to get the old bird wet. And watched out for sand on the chain.
But we both enjoyed the fresh air and ozone.

Matt

[Danneaux]

That new camera was a good investment, Matt. Thanks for this latest; a very nice scene, indeed!

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

great stuff Matt what camera did you get

BTW don't let sand into any moving parts right bugger to get out.
anymore photos I'll happly  view them all.

[Matt2matt2002]

Thanks Jags.
In the past 2 years I have lost 2 cameras. All my own fault.
So for the third effort decided to go for a cheap n cheerful one.
Really wanted something I could play about with apature film speed and exposure wise. But set myself a limit on cost v what I could loose!

Decided on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 Black + case + 8Gb card. eBay £71.99 inc.postage.

Still getting to grips with it although there isn't too much to tweak.

Quite pleased with the focus and definition. Nice n compact. Easy to fit into the bar bag.
Ticks all the boxes so far.

Almost went for a Nikon Coolpix but wallet stayed shut!

More pix to follow.

Matt

[jags]

cheers matt those photos look good to me

[Matt2matt2002]

Last month Dan kindly sent me a few small rubber bungs for the handle bar stem bolt on my Raven.
Today I managed before and after pictures.
What a great improvement.




Its the small things in life that sometimes make the biggest difference.

Cheers Dan.
There's a cold one waiting for you here in Scotland

[Danneaux]

You're very welcome, Matt!

My, what a terrific positive difference for such a little thing.

Terrific photos with the new camera, too -- well done, Matt!

All the best,

Dan.

[jags]

say Dan you never sent me anything in a while

anymore photos matt 

[Matt2matt2002]

Out on my usual run from Inverurie to Aberdeen harbor.
Recent rough storms ( not on the USA scale!) had deposited plenty of sand onto the broad-walk / esplanade.

Tide was out at time of picture but you can see my Old Bird standing in sand thrown up from the beach.

Had my sandwiches there and chatted to a fellow my age on a Dawes tourer.
Didn't catch his name but he had been up North to John o Groats recently so knew one end of a bike from the other.
He asked about my Rohloff and appeared impressed.

On the way home I pulled over to chat with a couple on a tandem.
I had passed them earlier in the day and first thing I noticed was the Thorn badge on the front of their frame.
Terry and Pat from a few miles from where I live!
Amazing.
They had done the LEJOG last year so we chatted about this and that.
They had had a bad experience with the seals on the Rohloff but good service from SJS and Rohloff when it went back to Germany.
Apparently there is only so much that can be done to seals? If a big problem - then back to Germany.
Here they are.
(I asked if I could post their picture.)
They hadn't heard of this site so I was pleased to inform them of how useful and fun it is.


So a very good day indeed.

[jags]

Thats a brilliant photo Matt  the joys of cycling.
matt just a thought on your barbag,why not turn the stem unside down so as the top of bag would be just below the handlebars ,much better for your lights.
just a though either way bike looks great.

jags.

[Matt2matt2002]

Many thanks Jags
Always like to receive advice on improving my set up
Here are a couple of shots taken a few mins ago.

Are you suggesting I set the stem in a downwards direction?

This will involve removing the cap cover and the rings?
In order to maintain the handlebar height I would ned less rings above the stem than at present?




I think there are 11 rings above the stem now.
Will they come off easily when the cap bolt is removed?

Thanks again
Matt

[JimK]

If I understand what Jags is getting to, it's trying to get your bag lower so it doesn't block your headlight. With the bag fixed to the bar, if you don't change the height of the bar, then your bag isn't going anywhere either. Of course it would be upside down priorities to change the height of the bar just to make lights or bar bags work better!

The way you have that light mounted now looks quite clever! It's on your handlebar at the end of it? I've never seen that before!

Seems like your auxiliary bar is underutilized. If you like what you have, why change? But my suggestion would be... you could move that auxiliary bar to below the handlebar. Maybe you'd have to flip both stems to get it all to fit well but no big deal. Then mount your bar bag to the auxiliary bar. With the auxiliary bar angled downward, you might have the bars high enough above it so the light would clear it when the light is mounted more conventionally. The computer could go on the bar too.

But really, the way you have that light now looks quite effective! If you don't mind the loss of the  hand grip possibility there, why change!

[JimK]

but yes if you pull off that top cap then the rings are free to slide off and the bars just need to be loosened a bit and they come right off too. They make 1 cm wide spacers if you'd rather get the job done with fewer but I don't think it matters outside of aesthetics and your set-up looks fine anyway.

It's a little more finicky putting things back together. Just slide things on the way you want but don't tighten the bars at first. Get the top cap back on and slowly tighten it until there is no more play in the head bearings. There are probably many mystical teachings on an eighth of a turn this way or that, bearings being bearings. But once you have the bearings moving just so, then you tighten the bolts on the bars to fix them in place.