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After iPhone screen replacement the phone passed all of our quality assurance tests and released to a customer with 3 months warranty.
At the time of my visit, a traction change from electric to diesel was undertaken at Villupuram and WDP-3A locomotive No. 15516 was tasked with taking the Vaigai Express onward to Madurai Junction.
All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse
www.stvincent.edu | | Dr. Gregory A. Bisignani, Visiting Clinical Professor of Human Anatomy at Saint Vincent College, performed a surgical demonstration on Wednesday, October 17th, in the Liberatore Human Anatomy Laboratory. Dr. Bisignani began his lecture at 6 p.m. in classroom 203 of the James F. Will Engineering and Biomedical Sciences Hall, followed by the surgical demonstration. Attendees were able to view a live video feed of the procedure from the classroom. | Photos by Cristy Marsh
E008 Royal Danish Air Force, Lockheed Martin F16AM Fighting Falcon @ RAF wadddington international air show 2014 05/07/14 lincolnshire england uk
History
In the late 1970s, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands started looking for a replacement for the F-104 Starfighter. These four nations, known as the European Participating Air Forces (EPAF), became the first international customers for the F-16. Together with the US, they started a unique multi-national development program for the F-16.
Under the terms of the agreement, F-16 Fighting Falcons for the EPAF nations were to be produced in Europe. Danish F-16s for the initial and follow-up order were built on the SABCA production line in Belgium and the Fokker line in The Netherlands respectively.
Denmark considers the F-35 Joint strike Fighter as a possible F-16 successor. It has participated in the JSF project since 1997, and for the time being JSF is one of a few candidates. A number of Danish companies are associated with the JSF project, which entitles them to compete as subcontractors.
Initial Order
The initial Flyvevaben (Royal Danish Air Force) order was for 46 single seat F-16A's and 12 two-seat F-16B's. Final assembly of these planes was carried out by the SABCA plant in Belgium, and all were built to the initial block 1 standards. Deliveries to the RDAF began on January 28th, 1980, with the arrival of the first F-16B.
Since all European built F-16s were assigned USAF serials for administrative purposes, RDAF F-16s carry the last 3 digits of their USAF serial numbers on the fuselage. For F-16A's, the serial number is prefixed by E, for F-16B's it is prefixed by ET.
The 58 F-16A/B's in the initial RDAF order were later upgraded to F-16A/B block 10 standards by the RDAF's Aalborg workshop in the Pacer Loft I program.
Follow-On Order
After briefly considering buying 24 additional F-16s to replace its aging Saab Drakens (an order which never came through), a follow-on batch of 12 block 15 (large-tail) aircraft was ordered in August 1984. The order consisted of 8 single seat F-16As and 4 two-seat F-16Bs. Contrary to the aircraft of the initial order, the aircraft of the follow-on order were built by Fokker in The Netherlands, and were intended as attrition replacements.
RDAF F-16A #E-004 was part of a follow-on order for 12 Block 15 aircraft. Note the PIDS on the middle hardpoint [Photo by H. Kristensen]
Attrition Replacements I Three former USAF Block 15 aircraft from the 170th Fighter Squadron of the Illinois Air National Guard were delivered to the RDAF in July of 1994. The serial numbers of these aircraft were #82-1024, #83-1075 and #83-1107.
RDAF F-16A Block 15 #E-024 was one of three ex-USAF attrition replacement aircraft that were delivered to Denmark in 1994, and is seen here dressed up for for the holiday season [RDAF photo]
Attrition Replacements II
A second batch of 4 attrition replacements arrived in early 1997. They will be spread among the existing units and will be upgraded to MLU-standard. The -A Block 15's are former 704 FW, Texas AFRC aircraft and the -B Block 10 is a former 162 FW, Tucson ANG machine.
RDAF Inventory
ProgramModelBlockQty.SerialsDelivered
Initial OrderF-16ABlock 13E-174/E-1761980-1983
F-16B2ET-204/ET-205
F-16Ablock 512E-177/E-188
F-16B3ET-206/ET-208
F-16ABlock 1015E-189/E-203
F-16B3ET-209/ET-211
F-16ABlock 1516E-596/E-611
F-16B4ET-612/ET-615
Follow-OnF-16ABlock 155E-004/E-0081987-1991
3E-016/E-018
F-16B3ET-197/ET-199
1ET-022
Attrition IF-16ABlock 153E-024,E-075, E-1071994
Attrition IIF-16ABlock 153E-011, E-070, E-0741997
F-16BBlock 101ET-626
Modifications & Armament
Identification Light
All Danish F-16s are equipped with a search light, mounted on the port forward fuselage, in front of and just beneath the canopy. The search light is used for identification during nighttime interceptions, and uses a 450W light bulb. This modification is the same as the light on Norwegian F-16s, and similar to the ADF's. The RDAF already installed this searchlight during initial production.
All Danish AF F-16s are equiped with an Identification Spotlight on the port side of the cockpit, used to identify night-time intruders.
Pylon Integrated Dispenser
The RDAF's F-16s have been given extra wiring to the no. 3 and 7 wing stations, in order to be able to accept the Pylon Integrated Dispenser Station. The PIDS is manufactured by Per Udsen Co. Aircraft Industry (Terma A/S since 1997) in Denmark, and is in fact a pylon equipped with chaff dispensers. Normal configuration is to carry a PIDS on either 3 or 7 station, and the Advanced Miniature Jamming System (AN/ALQ-10) on the opposite pylon. AMJS is a very powerful system comparable with the AN/ALQ-131 series, and is also built in Denmark.
The chaff dispenser used by the RDAF right now is the RR-170 with 30 chaff cartridges in each. After briefly considering the RR-180, the RDAF has ordered a new type called Cherming Chaff Block (CCB) from Cherming Ltd., England. The CCB is the same size as the RR-170 but carries 60 charges.
All chaff/flare/ECM activity is controlled by the (digital) Electronic Warfare Management System (EWMS) which is made by the Danish company Terma. The mechanical firing mechanism in the chaff/flare canisters have also been replaced by a digital one from Danish origin.
Reconnaissance Pods
Some Danish F-16s also have the capability of carrying the Red Baron Recce Pod. The Red Baron Pod has been replaced by the Modular Reconnaissance Pod (MRP), locally developed by Per Udsen Co. (now Terma). This pod has also been exported, amongst others to to Belgium.
Royal Danish AF F-16A in recce configuration, equiped with the Baron recce pod and the Pylon Integrated Dispenser System (PIDS) - a countermeasures dispenser in the outer wing pylons. [RDAF photo]
Mid-Life Update
The RDAF participates in the MLU program and has modified all of its remaining 61 F-16s in the Aalborg workshop.
Armament
The primary air-intercept weapon carried by RDAF F-16A/B's is the AIM-9L Sidewinder, but the RDAF plans to acquire the AIM-120 AMRAAM fire-and-forget air-to-air missile for its F-16s. It will also acquire the Hughes AGM-65G Maverick air-to-surface missile for ground attack missions, with the LAU-3, Mk 82 and Mk 84 also staying in service in the near future.
With the modernization of the Danish F-16s to MLU standards, also other weapon systems were introduced on the fleet. Besides the purchase of some LANTIRN pods, also LGB weapons were acquired consisting in GBU-12 and GBU-24 weapons. Denmark was the first of the four EPAF countries to purchase the GBU-31 JDAM for its F-16 fleet.
Danish F-16 at Karup AFB with weapons line-up [RDAF photo]
Avionics
Since Danish pilots found that the built-in clock/timer in the instrument stack was not ideal to use, a cheap digital quartz watch was fitted next to the HUD on all Danish F-16s.
Currently the aircraft are being upgraded with the LINK 16 advanced tactical data link, JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System), and an advanced EWMS (Electronic Warfare Management System)
Operational Service
Units
Please refer to the F-16 Units section for an overview of units.
Deployments
Allied Force
Grazzanise AB, Italy, 1999
During operation 'Allied Force' in 1999, Denmark participated with a number of F-16s stationed at Grazzanise AFB in Italy, together with F-16s from Norway. Danish F-16s most of the time undertook CAP missions. During the conflict, the RDAF also sent their updated MLU F-16s to Italy to take maximum effect of the AIM-120 missiles and the other advantages offered by the upgraded airframe.
Enduring Freedom
Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, 2002
In 2002 the Danish government decided to send F-16s to Afghanistan in support of operation 'Enduring Freedom'. Their aircraft are stationed at Manas AFB in Kyrgyzstan together with aircraft from The Netherlands and Norway. Operations have been flown from October 2002 to October 2003. All EPAF countries, except for Belgium, have flown together in this operation, showing a multinational detachment can operate in a hostile environment very effectively.
Baltic Republics Air Police
Lithuania, 2004
After Belgium provided for the first 3 month rotation for the air policing of the three Baltic republics - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - the RDAF send 5 F-16s to Lithuania to take over from this detachment. From July 1st till October 10th, 2004 they provided air cover over the Baltic states being supplemented by RAF Tornado F-3 aircraft from the latter date.
Iceland Air Policing and Surveillance
Keflavik, 2009 and 2010
Iceland has been a NATO partner since 1949. During the past decades the USAF provided air coverage over the island from Keflavik AB untill that deployment ended in 2006. From then on sporadic deployments have taken place with the RDAF F-16s providing air cover over the island both in March till May of 2009 and 2010.
The next part of the scene shot from another angle a few seconds on, has the boy in the dark jumper and grey shorts replaced with a different boy in similar clothing, the first boy possibly didn't make it in time when the word cut was uttered.
As to those in the Home that were required to give Sister the secret sign that you needed to go to the toilet by tugging the sides of our shorts, sometimes it was down to loose trousers.
One of the old black & white photos now automatically
colourised.
Haslemere Station Forecourt, Haslemere.
Rail replacement Haslemere-Woking.
D&P Coaches YX19DXC
Stagecoach 10961 SN18KOD
Arriva 4209 YJ61CJV & 4214 KX61FHM
SMB81B on East West Line Replacement Service
Mercedes-Benz OC500LE (Gemilang Coachworks)
SMRT Buses, Singapore
During a major rail service disruption, replacement buses will be deployed. In Singapore's multi-modal transport scene, subway operators have their own bus companies to draw resources from in such an event.
The scenario above was from 2014, during a train disruption along the East West Line (between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris).
On four Fridays in April and May 2017 (14, 21, 28 Apr and 05 May), Rail Replacement Services will be fielded again due to early closures along the line.
Bus model:
landtransportguru.net/mercedes-benz-oc500le/
Subway Line:
landtransportguru.net/train/ewl/
Rail replacement service (Apr/May 2017):
landtransportguru.net/parallel-bus-service-apr-may-2017/
Picture taken at:
When the community committee had identified their needs, they needed to choose people to benefit from the programme. In Mesta, like everywhere in the country, there were a number of young healthy men who had lost everything they owned when floods took their homes and crops. In most cases, these men were chosen as the recipients of the three-wheeler cycle vans.
The benefits are immense - with one van, a one-hour walk into town to go to the market to buy or sell becomes a ten-minute cycle. The operators of these vans became the defacto delivery men, taxi drivers and lifelines for the community, carrying an amount of goods well beyond what is possible on foot. It not only benefits the person who operates the van, but also every community member, by allowing them greater access to the markets they need to diversify their incomes..
To see why I was in Bangladesh click here, or take a look at the previous or next photo in the series.
If you are interested, please view the series to see what I found and what I learned in my few weeks in Bangladesh, visiting some of the most vulnerable people anywhere on our planet.
Our journey on The Bittern Line from Norwich to Sheringham to a railway event at the heritage North Norfolk Railway with Greater Anglia was interrupted at Cromer due to ongoing engineering works between Cromer and Sheringham. So like many others across the network at the weekend, a rail replacement coach it is then.
The irony here is that this very pleasant, clean and tidy luxury coach was light years better than the Greater Anglia train we travelled in from Norwich to Cromer.. Unusually for me, I completely neglected to record in my travel notes the details of this unbranded coach, make, model, operator, year of manufacture and so on etc.
Note the British Rail 'double arrow' logo at the top of Cromer Station location marker post thingy. This logo is designed to show two arrows showing the direction of travel on a twin track line.
The British Rail logo which first appeared in 1965 with the British Transport Commission's rebrand of British Railways was designed by Gerald Burney. It is brilliantly simplistic, instantly recognisable and arguably one of the most enduring of any logo design for a United Kingdom only brand .
Despite privatisation and the end of British Rail from 1997 the double arrow remains in use on tickets, direction signs, outside stations as shown here and as the National Rail brand logo.
My Bus and Coach album flic.kr/s/aHsjJgWqCA
assumption being the mother of all f**** ups! The Technika is so handmade that the holes in the springs/screws only align for their particular place in the frame and the groundglass opening is not quite a true rectangle........ hence the somewhat less than proper lefthandside of the glass, what a pain when you are too close and it won't go in.
The screen that came with the camera was not original, the glass was too thick and I suppose whoever changed it shattered it immediately upon tightening the screws. The cut corners were very good though it keeps the bellows from drawing a vacuum when pulling them out.
PMS.......Periods......Menopause anyone? My answer to the Hormone Replacement Therapy dilemma!!!! CHOCOLATE....AND LOTS OF IT
Some pictures taken by the late Michael Cleary. Early 1989.
No sooner had the DLR been finished than they were having to rebuild it to increase capacity, since it had been constructed on the cheap. Even in 1989 the use of Routemasters was a rarity. I suspect this was a Sunday when they would otherwise have been sitting idle.
This is Poplar, with RML2695 picking up a good load.
Major engineering work to renew Stoats Nest Junction (Coulsdon) has led to main London-Gatwick-Brighton line being blocked from Christmas to New Year.
Alternative routes advertised include trains running to Gatwick via Sutton, Dorking and Horsham ; to Brighton via Dorking, Horsham and Littlehampton ; fast trains to East Grinstead for bus connections to Gatwick and Three Bridges ; and buses linking Coulsdon Town (on the Tattenham Corner branch) with Redhill, Gatwick and Three Bridges.
The Coulsdon Town service has provided a use for the crossovers and signals installed to facilitate terminating trains that were installed when Coulsdon North was closed. However, the facility has not been regularly used for many years.
Buses from Coulsdon Town were operated by Go-Ahead London General with a mixture of vehicles, many running non-stop via the M23 motorway to Gatwick or Three Bridges. The stopping services to Redhill I saw were being operated by Metrobus who are of course also a Go-Ahead company.
Plenty of rail and Go-ahead staff were on site to assist passengers with luggage of which there seemed to be a great deal.
It was probably as well that there werew no school services required as this meant spare buses and crews were available ; including work for the Tridents with LED destination displays which cannot, of course, operate TfL services.
Seen here in Birkenhead is one of Arriva Merseyside's Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs with the registration of BT66 MTV and fleet number of 4806 on the Rail Replacement Shuttle betweeen Birkenhead Central and Birkenhead North. 11/2/17
The part is discontinued. There are a couple of people making replacements - but they want $40 for it. So I spent $3 on parts and 30 minutes and did it myself.
The idea is to thread the post so a knob can be attached. I tried two different knobs but went with the smaller.
I started out with the tripod assembled, but later decided to remove the post - it needed to be clamped to thread. It looks like cheap metal - it's not. It was a pain to thread. I sanded and filed it several times to get to the correct diameter.
At the end I show two different knobs. I decided on the small one - the column does not take much torque to hold in place, so a small know works.
In step 14 you'll see I use a clamp with wooden pads on the jaws. Wood, plastic - whatever works. But it needs to be padded.
In step 15 I had to use small vice-grip pliers to prevent the post from spinning.
Toy crossbow replacement sight for popular suction cup arrow toy crossbow.
This is a spare part for a popular toy crossbow where the front sight often get lost. The model is easily 3D-printable with built-in break-away support structures.
It should fit most variations of this toy weapon. The source CAD file is also provided so that changes can easily be made.
• Download the STL file
• 3D print it
• Remove the support structure with wire cutters or a sharp knife. (don't cut yourself!)
• Place it on the front of your crossbow
• Start shooting strait :)
Download the 3D file from: www.thingiverse.com/thing:71846
3D-printed on a makerbot.creativetools.se
One of four ex Stagecoach East Scania OmniDekkas in the Seaford and District fleet on Rail Replacement in Brighton today, 19th January, 2025.
Airbus A320-232
MSN 4238
G-EUYG ✈
British Airways
BAW BA
Copyright © 2018 A380spotter. All rights reserved.
Pull the sound damping material out at the corner of the firewall, reach up behind it, and pull the hood cable's grommet out from the firewall toward the rear of the car.
The railway line from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare has been closed for maintenance for the first weekend of 2016 , following a similar closure for the first three weekends of 2015. On the Saturday the buses were provided by First with Independent coaches on Sunday.
66937-43 , the last of these Volvo B7RLE / Wright B43F new Nov / Dec 2005 left at Bath where they were new , were all transferred to Marlborough Street depot in Dec 2015 , when Bath received 2009 Volvo B9TL deckers from Lawrence Hill.
66939 is leaving Yatton for Weston-super-Mare.
Meant not as a replacement for but an enhancement to your regular RP, the Garden of Allah is a getaway spot for those who wish a little luxurious time away.. but you get more than you bargain for here. Bring your sweetheart, or find a little love on-site.. just don't bring your guns. They aren't necessary here.
Anne Rice ( Rampling), Exit to Eden, Explicit, erotic rp. Violence, Dark rp, Kink. Vampire, Lycan, Illumanati , Rituals, Fae, Satan, BDSM, Romance. Japanese Garden, Fetish, Training of O, Upperclass, Vacation, Roleplay. Eyes Wide Shut.Coming soon!
Taken at The Garden Of Allah Opening July 6th!, Blue Spirit (23, 33, 22)
In 2012, 23 City playgrounds were completely replaced and four playgrounds received a new fall surface at a cost of approximately $2.6 million. Maintaining safe and wholesome places for children to play and families to socialize supports The City of Calgary’s goal of complete communities.
The City maintains 1,048 playgrounds and each one is inspected seven times a year. Life expectancy of a playground is approximately 15 years. Replacements are prioritized through a rating system that evaluates:
Condition of each piece of equipment
Usage of equipment
Opportunity of leveraging funds from partner organizations. Seventeen of the 23 playgrounds received funding from Parks Foundation Calgary’s Building Playgrounds and Communities Grant Program in 2012.
calgary.ca/communityinvestmentfund
Picked up a replacement for my dream bike, Surly LHT, that was stolen earlier this year. I have gone for another LHT with a few tweaks.
Surly Long Haul Trucker
58cm bike in the 700c wheelsize, Truckaccino colour.
Added the following
BBB Multibar - silver
Stem to suit above - silver
Shimano R550 flatbar brake levers
Adapters to allow bar-con shifters on flat bar
Pletscher twin leg kickstand
Soma Fabrications mudguards - silver
Brooks B17 saddle - brown
Hub dynamo front wheel: Shimano Deore LX, 36H handbuilt to Alex DM-18 rim
Schwalbe schrader valve inner tubes
B&M Lumotec IQ Fly Plus
B&M Toplight Line Plus
B&M E-werk & mobile charging unit battery
Topeak Super Tourist DX rack - customer may take & paint silver
Tubus Tara lowrider rack - Silver
Shimano PD-M324 or PD-A530
Stem Captain - compass Mk II
Silver bell
Silver drink bottle holders
Brooks leather tape - brown
Many thanks to Lewis and Bill from Human Powered Cycles
Toy crossbow replacement sight for popular suction cup arrow toy crossbow.
This is a spare part for a popular toy crossbow where the front sight often get lost. The model is easily 3D-printable with built-in break-away support structures.
It should fit most variations of this toy weapon. The source CAD file is also provided so that changes can easily be made.
• Download the STL file
• 3D print it
• Remove the support structure with wire cutters or a sharp knife. (don't cut yourself!)
• Place it on the front of your crossbow
• Start shooting strait :)
Download the 3D file from: www.thingiverse.com/thing:71846
3D-printed on a makerbot.creativetools.se
Are you suffering from pain due to faulty implantation of the hip?
Need Help? Drop here: hip replacement lawyer
Wow. This has been tough I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to everyone. Thanks for all of your wishes prayers and kind words. I made it through it and was doing so well they released me last Wednesday ( a day earlier than anticipated). The surgeon was amazed that my range of motion was 100%. So they took the femoral nerve block out.......and that's when everything went backwards and the troubles started. From my knee up to the top of my thigh is like pins and needles and numb. I've gone through a few days of felling sorry for myself and I finally snapped out of it. I was suppose to have a Physical therapist here the day I came home and he didn't show up until today after my surgeon called and gave him the how to and what for! So...he came with an attitude...and I said " Lets forget about what you didn't do and focus on what can be done... My main concern is will I ever get the feeling back in my leg and he promised me that yes I would but the medication from the nerve block is stuck in the upper leg so he gave a deep tissue massage which hurt like you know what. I feel much better now and am focusing on getting well. I've gone up and down my staircase all by myself 4 times now. ( with hubby right there ...just in case) I am confident Ill be back to normal very soon. Don't you hate how tightly they put those stitches in????? I hate it but supposedly it leaves a better scar. I will be back on tomorrow and hopefully reply to some comments. Thanks again....I'm well....safe and home.
On Sunday 27th and Monday 28th December First Berkshire operated a non-stop rail replacement service between Slough and Hillingdon, to connect with Metrolpolitan Line trains to and from Central London. Trident 33179 is seen resting at Hillingdon on Monday 28th December before working the 13.47 journey back to Slough - the buses were timed to connect with a half-hourly shuttle train service between Slough and Reading.
****************************************
On Sunday 27th and Monday 28th December 2015 the railway was completely closed between Slough and London Paddington to allow various Crossrail-related works to take place.
Long-distance services were curtailed at Reading or diverted into London Paddington and London Marylebone, whilst a limited half-hourly shuttle train service was operated between Reading and Slough. A half-hourly rail replacement bus service operated between Slough and Ealing Broadway, using RATP London United Darts, Enviro200s and Optare Versas supplemented by coaches from a number of local operators - the route was single-decked because of the low bridge at Langley Station (this was supplemented by additional 'shorts' between Hayes & Harlington and Ealing Broadway, some of which were double-decked). A half-hourly service was also operated between Slough and Maidenhead to serve Burnham and Taplow, which could not be served by trains. This was nominally a separate service but was worked in practice as an extension of the Slough-Ealing Broadway service with buses pausing at Slough for several minutes.
An alternative service was provided between Slough and Hillingdon Underground non-stop for Metropolitan Line connections to Baker Street; this also ran half-hourly this was operated by First Berkshire using Tridents and a Green Line Volvo.
As well as the dedicated rail replacement buses rail tickets were widely accepted on alternative rail, Underground and bus routes in Slough and West London, and the 81 in particular was carrying good loads between Slough and Hounslow West.
For completeness, on both days Reading Buses and Horseman Coaches also operated rail replacement buses between Maidenhead and Marlow, extended to High Wycombe to connect with Chiltern Railways services to and from London Marylebone.
Having owned the 2008 Kona Sutra for ten months, and just completed the first chain/cassette replacement, I thought it was about time for a long term review, to give other people an idea of what living with the Sutra has been like. My previous post explains why I chose the Sutra - I came up with what I thought was an impossibly eclectic list of requirements from a bicycle, and the Sutra ticked every single box.
Here's some specs, for the statophiles out there: Frame size C54cm Frame tubing Dedacciai COM 12.5 Butted Cromoly Fork Kona P2 700c TB Disc w/Lowrider Headset TH Crankarms FSA Gossamer MegaExo Chainrings 30/39/50 B/B FSA MegaExo Pedals Shimano PD-M520 SPD - Silver Chain Shimano HG53 --> Shimano HG93 XT Freewheel Shimano Deore (11-32, 9 Spd) --> Shimano XT M760 (11-32, 9spd) F/D Shimano Tiagra Triple R/D Shimano XT Shadow Shifters Shimano Bar-Con Handlebar FSA RD30 0S Stem FSA OS-190LX Grips Velo Wrap with Gel Brakes Avid BB7 Road Disc Brake Levers Shimano BLR-600 Front Hub Shimano M525 Disc Rear Hub Shimano M525 Disc Spokes DT Stainless 14g Tires Continental Contact 700 x 32C --> Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700x38c Rims Mavic A 317 Disc Saddle Selle Italia XO SE --> Brooks B17 Seatpost FSA SL-280 Seat Clamp Kona Clamp Rear Rack Tubus Logo Panniers Bikebins Computer Sigma DTS 1606 L Fenders SKS Chromoplastic
My primary (i.e. 99% of the time) use of the Sutra has been for commuting. I have covered over 2700 miles (4500km) in the time I have owned it. My commuting route through London is pretty tough on bikes - the roads south of the Thames are awful and full of potholes, through the City there is broken glass all over the place, and further north of the river there are speedbumps everywhere. When I first got the Sutra she was wearing Continental Contact tyres, and they were pretty poor for commuting. They punctured easily and transmitted the bumpiness of the road right up into my forearms. Not much fun. After one puncture too many I replaced the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Pluses, in their largest diameter, and the difference was marked. The increased volume of air provides a lot more cushioning for the arms, and I have not had a single puncture yet, despite having pulled 6mm long pieces of glass out of the tyre surfaces. The tyres are relatively heavy, but then so is the rest of the bike, and extra weight makes you stronger!
The original rear rack was pretty flimsy, and it did not allow the attachment of the Bikebin panniers I bought to try and add some rigidity. I ended up having to angle grind chunks out of the rack to fit the panniers, which can't have improved their structural integrity. After a month of experiencing the odd sensation of the bike wagging its tail whenever I stood up to pedal hard, I bit the bullet and upgraded the rack to a Tubus Logo. It was a tight fit with the rear disc brake, but the difference was immense. Gone was the sensation of a jelly-like bike, to be replaced by a sensation of rigid stability. Whilst the rack was expensive, it made all the difference, and I would highly recommend it.
Speaking of the brakes, they have saved my life on more than one occasion, usually when a Taxi decides to perform an emergency stop to pick up a fare. The brakes stop consistently in all conditions, and so far I have not had to replace the pads, althoguh I think it will be time to do it soon. Not bad considering I have travelled almost five thousand kilometres in all weathers in the stop-start conditions of London. I was concerned that the brakes might be too powerful, but the modulation provided by the levers and the flex in the arm of the brake means that whilst the power is there if necessary, you have a lot of control over it. There is some disc drag, but this is owing more to my laziness than the brakes themselves, and seems to have little impact on cruising speeds.
Using the bike in all conditions has been excellent. The all-over fenders (something I have never fitted to a bike previously) really keep the rain off and eliminate spray from the road. I had to saw a bit of the front fender off to fit it over the larger tyres, and a little bit off the rear for the same reason, but after the modification they have been flawless.
I had heard reports of spokes snapping, and nothing happened to me until recently, when I noticed a detached spoke whilst replacing the rear cassette. I had no idea how long the spoke had been damaged for, and replaced it myself. The rear wheel is slightly askew, but it does not foul on anything, which is good considering the small tolerance between it and the fender. To be fair, I have been jumping off kerbs and sometimes it is impossible to miss a massive hole in the road when you are in busy traffic. An upgrade I am considering is a stronger rear wheel, although it is not pressingly urgent.
The ride of the bike is super smooth, and certainly not anything like the road bikes I am used to. I use my other road bike for triathlons, and whilst it is a lot more nimble, it is much less comfortable. The Sutra is comfortable all day long, owing in no small part to the Brooks B17 saddle, which took about two thousand miles to properly break in! It was worth it though - sitting on the bike is like sitting in an armchair (albeit a very odd armchair, but an armchair nonetheless). I tend to cruise at about 20mph on her, and my 10.5 mile commute to work takes about 37 minutes. I have started seeking out hills in preparation for some touring of Wales, and the sutra certainly loves to climb. The aggressive, mountain-bike-like frame geometry no doubt assists in this, and is confidence inspiring when climbing and descending. The bar-con shifters were a novelty for me, but they make a lot of sense, especially if replacement shifters were needed on a tour. There are even bosses on the downtube to fit truly old-school shifters in an emergency.
The weight of the bike was a shock initially - weighing in at 15kgs without the accessories, she weighs significantly more than my Specialized Hardrock mountain bike, which is saying something! Over time I have become accustomed to the weight, and now it feels normal. The main advantage of this is that when I ride anything else, it feels super light and goes very rapidly. This makes this bike an ideal training steed.
In conclusion, I have found a lot to love about the Kona Sutra - she's tough, strong and surprisingly fast. There were some niggles about fitting add-ons, but they were all easy to overcome, and the result has been a reliable bike that I think will keep delivering for years.