top of page

Steve Cowles
Search


Understanding my transport costs
It is a whole year since I started to try to understand how I manage to spend so much on getting from A to B and it has been quite...
stevecowles
Aug 8, 20221 min read


Is mixed-mode travel viable/beneficial?
When I had a car, I used it for almost all of my transport ‘needs’, I just hopped in and went whether that be a short trip to a local...
stevecowles
Jul 12, 20223 min read
Five miles of drama, a tough Tesco trip
I’m feeling rather sore and a bit sorry for myself this morning. Yesterday's wee jaunt into town on my bike unexpectedly turned into one...
stevecowles
Jun 12, 20222 min read


How to use a micrometer
I have wanted to measure the thickness of the disc brake rotors on my bike for a long time to see if they need replacing. The problem is...
stevecowles
Jun 10, 20221 min read
500 Bike Rides - Any Lessons?
Yesterday marked my 500th bike ride since my 40-year break from cycling, it was just a short dash for lunch on a workday but no matter....
stevecowles
Jun 2, 20223 min read
Yellow Sticker Soup
I went out for a bike ride yesterday afternoon, only about 20 miles but probably the longest of the year so far. On the way back I popped...
stevecowles
Apr 19, 20221 min read


Thought I'd dodged Covid-19, thought wrong
Covid-19 was first reported in the UK on 31st January 2019, since this was over two years ago I don't think that I was being...
stevecowles
Mar 21, 20221 min read


What is Bad Cycling Weather?
I’ve been sitting here listening to the wind howling and thinking “I don’t want to go out in that”. This got me wondering what really...
stevecowles
Feb 8, 20223 min read
Why I'm not a 'Cyclist'
The latest changes to the Highway Code seem to have prompted an increase in the rage against 'Cyclists'. Now don't get me wrong here, I'm...
stevecowles
Jan 26, 20222 min read
Am I a Green?
The other day I was accused of being ‘one of those greens’, what did they mean? a lettuce? a sprout maybe? This came about because I...
stevecowles
Jan 9, 20222 min read


Do rechargeable batteries still have a role?
I’m old enough to remember the days when almost all portable devices used replaceable batteries, we spent a lot of time and money...
stevecowles
Jan 5, 20222 min read
Should we electrify our buses?
There seems to be a focus on getting electric cars adopted on a wider basis but I'm wondering if this is focusing on the right thing. The...
stevecowles
Dec 29, 20211 min read


Global Warming - Giving the Wrong Messsage?
I'm wondering if the wrong message is being given out by the press on this topic. Assuming that the people I meet on a day to day basis...
stevecowles
Dec 26, 20211 min read
Bus Wanker
Early this month I had an operation on my stomach so have not been able to ride my bike, if I had a car I would not have been able to...
stevecowles
Dec 24, 20212 min read


Running a 'Budget' eBike - My Experiences
The Internet is full of bike snobs who assure us that any eBike costing less than about £5k will break down in a matter of weeks and...
stevecowles
Dec 9, 20211 min read


Am I an Alien?
Seem like a strange question but the case for it is growing. To be fair, I've always had the ears but there are recent developments. For...
stevecowles
Dec 8, 20211 min read


Shopping eBike Build Completed
It is now about 6 weeks since I bought my secondhand Dutch-styled NCM Venice to use as a shopping bike. I have put just shy of 300 miles...
stevecowles
Nov 24, 20212 min read


Which Thread Lock Should I Use?
Thread Lock is good stuff but what does it do and which one should you use? This is just a basic introduction as I'm certainly no expert...
stevecowles
Nov 18, 20213 min read


Tektro M290 Front Brake Pad Change
I thought it was worth documenting the process for changing the brake pads on these entry-level hydraulic disc brakes so here it is. If...
stevecowles
Nov 14, 20211 min read


Improving Trailer Visibility
Even after adding better reflectors to my bike trailer, I still nearly got taken out by a car the other day in the dark. Time for action....
stevecowles
Oct 27, 20211 min read
To stay in touch with my random ramblings add this to your RSS Reader. If you believe this stuff you are dafter than me.
bottom of page