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the 'there's no such thing as a stupid question' bike maintenance thread

magicbastarder

is there a simple list of chemicals which you should not get near disc brake pads? i.e. would even something like a detergent cause issues with contamination; i was wondering as i was cleaning the bike earlier if i can be overcautious in cleaning the bike near the brakes.

any tips on looking after a steel frame? my latest purchase has mountings for racks and also a couple of unthreaded holes - should i tape those up to keep water out, or leave them uncovered to let the water out should it get in?

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magicbastarder

fingers crossed, i've never punctured on that bike anyway - not a particular surprise, it's my dry weather bike,

salmocab

Hey folks, was given two kids MBs for my two kids, they wont be needed for a while as they aren't at that stage yet. They are in good condition and I gave them an oiling as they will be in the shed for a while. They have 7 gears so only a rear derailleur operated by a twist on the right side grip, I notice though that as I twisted it through the gears the derailleur didn't seem to shift each time so only seemed like maybe 4 worked if that makes sense. Question is does this sound like an easy fix or even a problem at all and would I be best getting it sorted in a service? Dont mind spending a few quid as they were free. Any answers will need to be exceptionally spelt out as I'm clueless about bikes although I'm a tradesman so handy with things and have access to tools if its something that is straight forward enough. Cheers

Type 17

Sounds like the cable might be too slack - if you're handy, you'll definitely be able to follow this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkZxPIZ1ngY

magicbastarder

the simplest explanation would be that the rear derailleur is simply out of alignment. it's the easiest to deal with too, it can lead to inconsistent shifting.
if you flip the bike upside down, can you see if the jockey wheel (the small cog on the rear derailleur) is lining up correctly with the cogs on the cassette as you shift gears? or is it sitting halfway between them?

cletus

salmocab wrote: »

Hey folks, was given two kids MBs for my two kids, they wont be needed for a while as they aren't at that stage yet. They are in good condition and I gave them an oiling as they will be in the shed for a while. They have 7 gears so only a rear derailleur operated by a twist on the right side grip, I notice though that as I twisted it through the gears the derailleur didn't seem to shift each time so only seemed like maybe 4 worked if that makes sense. Question is does this sound like an easy fix or even a problem at all and would I be best getting it sorted in a service? Dont mind spending a few quid as they were free. Any answers will need to be exceptionally spelt out as I'm clueless about bikes although I'm a tradesman so handy with things and have access to tools if its something that is straight forward enough. Cheers

Sounds like the derailleur needs to be adjusted. Relatively easy to do, plenty of videos online showing how (Park Tools video is probably the best)

As an aside, those grip shifters are pants

07Lapierre

salmocab wrote: »

Hey folks, was given two kids MBs for my two kids, they wont be needed for a while as they aren't at that stage yet. They are in good condition and I gave them an oiling as they will be in the shed for a while. They have 7 gears so only a rear derailleur operated by a twist on the right side grip, I notice though that as I twisted it through the gears the derailleur didn't seem to shift each time so only seemed like maybe 4 worked if that makes sense. Question is does this sound like an easy fix or even a problem at all and would I be best getting it sorted in a service? Dont mind spending a few quid as they were free. Any answers will need to be exceptionally spelt out as I'm clueless about bikes although I'm a tradesman so handy with things and have access to tools if its something that is straight forward enough. Cheers

First thing to do is disconnect the cable from the rear derailleur. Then, while turning the pedals with one hand, move the rear derailleur with your other hand and see if if moves the chain onto each of the 7 sprockets (My guess is it will). If it does, because the cable is disconnected, the chain will stay on the smallest sprocket. Now hold the end of the cable and while pulling it, twist the shifter so it's in the 7th sprocket position (this usually means twisting it clockwise). Then reconnect the cable (keep as much tension on the cable as you can, while tightening it) and try again.

salmocab

Cheers folks I’ll take it out over the weekend and have a go.

Thargor

The rear wheel on my junk MTB has a definite wobble to it, not really visible when you pick it up and spin it but when you ride and look down you can see it. Its very slight, is there any action I can take myself or should I just order a new wheel?

Do you just order any 26" wheel and swap the sprocket over or what?

magicbastarder

just a slight buckle? no reason to replace, no harm to ride, might cost you 15 or 20 quid to have trued.

07Lapierre

Thargor wrote: »

The rear wheel on my junk MTB has a definite wobble to it, not really visible when you pick it up and spin it but when you ride and look down you can see it. Its very slight, is there any action I can take myself or should I just order a new wheel?

Do you just order any 26" wheel and swap the sprocket over or what?

Does the wheel lock up when you apply the Brake? If not, no action required. Just don't look at it.

magicbastarder

Type 17 wrote: »

Apparently, for a bike tyre to need tread to avoid aquaplaning, you'd need to be doing 300km/h.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

CramCycle

magicbastarder wrote: »

what are people's thoughts on swapping front and back tyres around to maintain equal wear?
note: neither tyre is heavily worn at all. front still has the mould line visible down the centre.

I think its a silly idea, replace each tyre as it needs to be replaced. The effort of switching tyres around to gain something seems ridiculous, they either grip or not . You don't save money, or get any extra value and the claims of increased grip etc seem negligible unless you had really sh1t tyres.

Roger the cabin boy

salmocab wrote: »

Hey folks, was given two kids MBs for my two kids, they wont be needed for a while as they aren't at that stage yet. They are in good condition and I gave them an oiling as they will be in the shed for a while. They have 7 gears so only a rear derailleur operated by a twist on the right side grip, I notice though that as I twisted it through the gears the derailleur didn't seem to shift each time so only seemed like maybe 4 worked if that makes sense. Question is does this sound like an easy fix or even a problem at all and would I be best getting it sorted in a service? Dont mind spending a few quid as they were free. Any answers will need to be exceptionally spelt out as I'm clueless about bikes although I'm a tradesman so handy with things and have access to tools if its something that is straight forward enough. Cheers

If the cables are ok, then its highly likely they just need adjusting.

Look up on youtube.

Grip shifts, deraileurs on 7speeds are pretty bomb proof.

Roger the cabin boy

Thargor wrote: »

The rear wheel on my junk MTB has a definite wobble to it, not really visible when you pick it up and spin it but when you ride and look down you can see it. Its very slight, is there any action I can take myself or should I just order a new wheel?

Do you just order any 26" wheel and swap the sprocket over or what?

Buy a spoke key.
Use youtube.
Win.

For minor adjustments, its very easy.

Tony04

Thargor wrote: »

The rear wheel on my junk MTB has a definite wobble to it, not really visible when you pick it up and spin it but when you ride and look down you can see it. Its very slight, is there any action I can take myself or should I just order a new wheel?

Do you just order any 26" wheel and swap the sprocket over or what?

There might be play in your hubs?

cletus

Is the cable in the picture a specific type, or can I use the end of MTB brake cable

Type 17

You can use standard brake cable with a barrel nipple - you won't have the handy gripper bit on the end, but that's the only difference.

magicbastarder

yeah, the flared end of the 'stopper' is provided to make it easier to lift out of the cradle it sits into IIRC, rather than providing any functionality specifically for braking.

new2tri19

I want to swap the wheels on my bikes. I have a TT bike with 10 speed shimano casette . I have a road bike with an 11 speed shimano casette. My basic understanding is 10 speed will work on 11 speed with spacer but not vice versa. So can I just swap the freehubs bodies so the casette will be compatible to swap? Are freehubs interchangeable? Thanks

Type 17

Unfortunately, unless both hubs are the same make and almost the same model/series, it’s very unlikely that they’ll be interchangeable.

Roger the cabin boy

cletus wrote: »

Is the cable in the picture a specific type, or can I use the end of MTB brake cable

That's a cantilever cable which has nipples on both ends.

A std cable only has one

Type 17

Hard to see in the pic, but some have two nipples and some have a pinch-bolt at one end.

cletus

Roger the cabin boy wrote: »

That's a cantilever cable which has nipples on both ends.

A std cable only has one

If you have a look at the picture, it's clamped in at one end.

magicbastarder

new2tri19 wrote: »

I want to swap the wheels on my bikes. I have a TT bike with 10 speed shimano casette . I have a road bike with an 11 speed shimano casette. My basic understanding is 10 speed will work on 11 speed with spacer but not vice versa. So can I just swap the freehubs bodies so the casette will be compatible to swap? Are freehubs interchangeable? Thanks

as i found out, to my benefit, mavic wheels made going back years are (nearly?) all both 10 and 11 speed compatible. so if both rear wheels are mavic, you could be in luck.

new2tri19

magicbastarder wrote: »

as i found out, to my benefit, mavic wheels made going back years are (nearly?) all both 10 and 11 speed compatible. so if both rear wheels are mavic, you could be in luck.

Thats good to know thanks. It's a set of cosine wheels and a set of sram s60 wheels , a bit of googling it seems the sram s60 uses a Reynolds freehub and it's possible to get a 11 speed freehub from Reyonlds that will allow me to fit a 11 speed casette on. Thanks for replies.

cletus

So, I started a thread in the adverts forum, but said I'd ask here just in case. I'm missing a straddle wire carrier, and while they're cheap enough online, the shipping is stupid, so on the off chance someone has one lying spare in a box in the shed

CormacH94

Out of curiosity, how much of a hassle is it to turn a triple into a double? Currently have a Tiagra 50 - 39 - 30 but would like a bigger chainring - 52/53?

Most obvious route I imagine is just buying a full 105 groupset and new wheelset? But what is the bare minimum that would you would need to do for triple to double?

Type 17

New chainset, new front derailleur (cage-shape is different) and new front shifter (only sold in pairs).

Unless you've got used/spare stuff lying about, it's easier/better value to buy a new/complete used groupset.

CormacH94

Type 17 wrote: »

New chainset, new front derailleur (cage-shape is different) and new front shifter (only sold in pairs).

Unless you've got used/spare stuff lying about, it's easier/better value to buy a new/complete used groupset.

Was thinking as much, hoping to pick up the same frame as I have now but in a darker color, swap the Tiagra to that and put 105 on the current frame and have a summer/winter combo.

Hairy Japanese BASTARDS!

I cycle a hybrid bike.

I find when cycling my crotch area gets numb, I googled this, apparently it's because the blood flow is inhibited by the shape of the saddle or how you're sitting. Does anyone else get this? Is it bad for you?

I am looking at ordering a saddle online. Are the steel things that slot into the bike one-size-fits-all? Will it make a difference buying a soft saddle to my numbness?