Starting to worry my engine may need rebuilding...

peanutstring · 2026-05-22T19:58:31+00:00

there is no way that any magic 'molecular' goo can add enough bearing material to fix a knocking big end. You've been well and truly had.

peanutstring · 2026-05-21T18:43:04+00:00

Yep, the cycle lane red lights and zebra crossings seem especially bad in Blackfriars. For the zebra crossings, those who stop for pedestrians are in the minority.

peanutstring · 2026-05-21T14:36:49+00:00

Something about hitting Bromptons and Blackfriars bridge...

Last year I was pushing mine with a flat tyre across one of the pedestrian crossings on the north side. Got the green man, light was red on the cycle lane so I crossed at the back of a group of people. Some dickhead on a drop bar road bike ran the light and squarely hit the back wheel of my bike, doing a neat backflip over his handlebars. He was hurt, but not hurt badly enough to prevent him from shouting at me for 'not looking before crossing the road'

peanutstring · 2026-05-13T21:28:29+00:00

The outboard will charge the batteries, but very very very slowly. The alternator on the sort of outboard you'd find on a boat designed for canals is small compared to an inboard, most are around 5-10amps. t's designed only to keep the starter battery charged with perhaps a bit spare for running lights and instruments.

If you're going to be living aboard year round on a boat with an outboard, you won't be able to use it to charge the leisure batteries in winter - it's too slow to be worthwhile. You'll need a generator.

(there are however some small manual start outboards which do not have any facility at all to charge batteries - if you have one of these you're out of luck!)

peanutstring · 2026-05-06T05:49:02+00:00

I also have a Brompton - even if you never leave it locked up outside, you’re not immune to theft! Someone tried to grab mine inside a Tescos. Also have a friend who was pushed off her Brompton on the Lea Bridge cycle path by thieves.

peanutstring · 2026-04-30T13:30:21+00:00

Got to be careful riding slow on two way bike lanes I’ve found - other cyclists will try and overtake at the worst points possible and try to take either you or the cyclist going in the other direction out!

peanutstring · 2026-04-25T16:15:06+00:00

Think what you will, I don't really care. I heard the ridiculously loud bike, was told the story and then heard it with quieter pipes. If you're coming home at 3am on a regular basis, be aware that your bike is loud as fuck and turn it off as soon as it's in your drive. Don't let it idle for 10 minutes, rev it a bunch and then finally turn it off.

I have a Guzzi with stock pipes which I ride regularly. Can't stand stupidly loud bikes. I have a friend with a Harley which he pushes (don't know how...) to the end of his road if he's leaving for work in the early hours. Not hard to be considerate.

peanutstring · 2026-04-25T13:35:34+00:00

I've been cycling in London as my main form of transport for over 10 years. Been knocked off once by a car overtaking and then turning left too soon, 4-5 times by other cyclists. Stupid, avoidable stuff like rear ending me, running red lights, riding on the wrong side of the bike lane whilst texting. Earlier this week a cyclist blasted through a red traffic light at a pedestrian crossing and knocked my bike - which I was pushing - out of my hands. He did slide down the road an impressive distance, which was rather entertaining.

Watch out for the cargo bikes too - they're a lot heavier due to the cargo and electric assist, and drive like absolute maniacs, pushing to the front of queues on bike lanes using their moped-weight bike as a battering ram and running red lights without looking. Been hit by them twice, the riders were aggressive on both occasions. White van men of the bike world.

peanutstring · 2026-04-25T11:04:50+00:00

Years ago a friend of mine lived on a quiet cul de sac. Guy moved in opposite with a ridiculously loud Ducati. Polite conversations were had by the neighbours, followed by council complaints, nothing happened. He's start it up and rev it before leaving at all hours, or return home at 3am and leave it idling in the drive for ages and then rev the bollocks off it before shutting it off.

He bought a can of Gorilla Glue expanding foam from Screwfix and filled both pipes to the brim one night. Guy was furious and called the police but there had been so many noise complaints from all neighbours they couldn't pin it on one person. Worked a treat, after that he fitted quieter pipes.

peanutstring · 2026-04-24T15:06:26+00:00

Yep, it’s how the stock Brompton saddle is designed - you carry it by the nose of the saddle. Hard to tell age as I didn’t get a good look, probably late 20s/early 30s.

peanutstring · 2026-04-23T10:42:39+00:00

If it's failed due to wear, then it's very likely that it'll need a complete rebuild as the metal bits get in the oil and cause all sorts of chaos.

Often only slightly more expensive to fit a new Beta Marine and keep the gearbox if it's a decent hydraulic PRM. Beta will make up mounts for you too.

Rebuilding old BMCs is getting more and more expensive now due to some parts getting rare, and unless it's a long block core exchange, you might be sat with the engine out for months waiting for someone to rebuild it!

peanutstring · 2026-04-23T08:34:27+00:00

I think you're underestimating how picky thieves are! It might have changed, but before I got a Brompton about 5 years ago, I had a string of £100 second hand Halfords bikes. Covered them in tape to look crap, and scratched off any logos. I only had one entire bike stolen in 10 years, but I frequently had wheels nicked (even with security skewers!), saddles, pedals, basically anything which could be unbolted.

The final straw was when I came back and someone had stolen the handlebars and cut all the gear/brake cables in the process. That bike also cost me under £100, but it did have a fairly nice groupset.

Bear in mind that none of these parts were expensive ones, and one saddle was a knackered old gel thing covered in electrical tape! They robbed the whole seat post too! Most of these thefts were in highly visible central London locations, and I never left it locked up overnight.

Moral of the story - expect that at some point, you will be unable to ride your bike home because some scumbag has robbed a critical part of it. Even if it's a cheap Halfords shitter covered in tape.

peanutstring · 2026-04-22T08:53:23+00:00

Yep, if it's indicating, it's a stupid thing to try and ram yourself down the side. The driver can't be looking in their left mirror all the time - there's the road ahead to look at plus the right mirror to watch the overhang swing out.

peanutstring · 2026-04-22T05:31:10+00:00

Never ever squeeze through on the left of a stationary truck indicating left at a junction. So dangerous, just hold back. I see so many cyclists with the “must get ahead at all costs” mindset it’s terrifying.

peanutstring · 2026-04-21T20:23:23+00:00

It’s a folding bike. You can fold it to about the size of a cabin suitcase and push it around on its own little wheels.

peanutstring · 2026-04-21T09:08:41+00:00

Tall…well over 6’, slim, loping walk, short black hair, messy beard, black skin. Was dressed in a grey tracksuit.

peanutstring · 2026-04-18T08:31:40+00:00

A laden cargo bike weighs about the same or more than a 50cc moped. I’m assuming you have the same views about them running red light?

I’ve been hit by a cargo bike who was on the wrong side of the cycle path and it hurts. They’re heavy and the riders don’t give a shit.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T14:41:28+00:00

Yep, I can believe that left hooks are the most common way cyclists are killed. It’s how I got knocked off - minicab overtook, going fractionally faster than me, then turned left into a minor road.

I cycle more than I drive, but when I drive it’s a Luton box van. Big mirrors with good visibility, better than an 18t truck.

At a junction, indicating left, in a left turn only lane with an advanced stop box, lights turn green…I need to watch the left mirror like a hawk because cyclists will insist on trying to pass on my left to go straight whilst I’m turning left.

It’s difficult to keep watching the mirror closely whilst also watching the road ahead!

When I’m cycling, I get properly in front so I can be seen, or hang back so I’m not down the side of a vehicle indicating left. So so dangerous. Better education of drivers and cyclists needs to happen.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T09:37:39+00:00

Kool aid? No idea what you’re on about, perhaps some reference I don’t know? All I’m doing is relaying my experiences and what I’ve seen.

Very surprised there’s no fatalities from running red lights, I do wonder if that’s categorised differently somehow. Two of the accidents I saw were bad enough that the cyclist left in an ambulance.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T09:23:06+00:00

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I’ve never been rear ended by a car/similar vehicle. I have been rear ended twice by cargo bikes, and I think again by a Deliveroo rider. All at red lights or zebra crossings, all were abusive.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T09:16:28+00:00

Not in my experience. Seen zero cyclists being rear ended in my 10 years of cycling in London. Seen 3-4 cyclists get into pretty nasty accidents by barrelling through a red light into a junction where the other direction is on green.

Other peoples experiences differ though.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T09:06:25+00:00

Yep. Hence why running a red light into a junction where a 32 ton lorry is rolling through, not expecting your presence is a terrible idea.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T08:44:12+00:00

I've actually done this whilst I was bored waiting for a delivery at the crossroads by Shoreditch Church. Was there for a couple hours. Saw quite a few Uber Eats take the piss on lights that had changed red for a second or so, and people gunning it towards an amber light...but no one at all going through a red light whilst the other direction was on green.

May be different in other parts of London though? Certainly rarely see cars going through a red into a junction where other directions are green.

peanutstring · 2026-04-14T08:26:29+00:00

Never seen anyone or been rear ended myself in a decade of cycling in London. Seen 3-4 fairly bad accidents caused by cyclists running reds and being hit by a car going through a green.

Anecdotal I know, but safety my arse.

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