u/BroadInvestment2013

Hi all,

I recently started cycling to work. I live in the Netherlands, so hills are not an issue, but wind definitely is.

My commute is 28 km each way. I’m trying to make the bike as comfortable as possible for that distance. With a tailwind everything feels fine, but with a headwind I notice that my very upright position makes me work much harder than I think is necessary and i'm loosing quite a bit of speed.

I do like the comfort and visibility of the upright position, but I would also like the option to get lower and more aerodynamic when the wind is bad.

My idea is putting a redshift top shelf handlebar on the bike. My thinking is that it could give me both a normal, upright touring position (comparable to what i have now) and a lower position when i need it. I would pair it with hydraulic drop-bar brake levers and hydraulic sub brake levers, so I can brake from both the hoods/drops and the top of the bar.

I’m not sure if this is actually the right direction, though. I have never ridden a bike with drop bars, so I wonder how much of a difference it actually makes.

The full setup would cost around €600 for the handlebar, Shimano hydraulic brake levers, sub brake levers and the required parts. That feels like a lot of money for something I’m not sure will work for me.

i've made a mockup trying to visualise the idea but couldn't get the sub brake leavers right, hope you get the idea.

Has anyone tried something similar for long, windy commutes? Would drop bars or a bar like the redshift top shelf make a noticeable difference while still giving a comfortable option, or are there better alternatives for my situation?

Hi all,

I have a Montblanc 114 that I really love. In terms of size, weight, and balance, it is probably the best pen I have ever owned.

The problem is that it is not reliable. It does not start properly, and while writing, I often get letters that are only partly inked. In almost every sentence, there is at least one letter where the ink flow seems to fail for a moment.

I have owned the pen for about two years and have already had it serviced, but the issue is still there.

I am not really a “pen guy” in the technical sense. I just enjoy writing with fountain pens. I do know what a good writing experience should feel like, though. I also have a Montblanc 264, and that pen does not have this problem at all.

So my questions are:

• Is this kind of issue usually fixable on a Montblanc 114?
• I suspect it is a nib issue. I've googeled and i think it is a baby's bottom issue. Does this make sense or am i probably looking at the wrong thing?
• And is this something a careful beginner could learn to fix, or is it better not to attempt this myself?

Any advice would be appreciated.