Today I did something to my bike thread...

LollipopJimmy · 18-08-2018 2:55pm

Miklos wrote: »

You shouldn't need to do any chopping to singlespeed it so long as you have a chain tensioner. There's a lot to be said for it in terms of ease of maintenance and if your commute is only 6km e/w you'll be laughing provided you choose the right gearing.

Thanks for that, I was doing this on a budget and can do the welding myself but having looked at chain tensioners they are fairly cheap. Gearing will also be whatever I can put together in the shed but if I need to change it down the line I will

Boscoirl · 08-09-2018 8:47pm

Stripped down the Groupset off my old(now winter) bike to replace it with a new one, brakes were though to remove, the rest was fine

Next step is to clean the frame

Then put the new one on.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 08-09-2018 9:01pm

dahat wrote: »

Did you need to use the shims? Set mine again and while it's tight now it looks just a fraction too far out.

Yes I used the two spacer sleeves on mine. It sits perfectly in my opinion, not too far out or too near.

dahat · 08-09-2018 9:31pm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Yes I used the two spacer sleeves on mine. It sits perfectly in my opinion, not too far out or too near.

Managed to get this sorted, I was missing a washer that took some time to locate after I dropped it.
I'm happy with the mount and will likely order another for the winter bike.

LollipopJimmy · 08-09-2018 9:35pm

dahat wrote: »

Managed to get this sorted, I was missing a washer that took some time to locate after I dropped it.
I'm happy with the mount and will likely order another for the winter bike.

Any pics of it in situ with computer mounted?

dahat · 08-09-2018 9:58pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Any pics of it in situ with computer mounted?

I can get a couple in the morning and upload here.

dahat · 09-09-2018 8:36am

Two pictures attached as not set up to embed pictures on mobile.

Alanstrainor · 16-09-2018 7:17pm

I had the great idea to change my stem. I've owned my Giant Contend for a year and a half and I've always felt it was too stretched out, no matter how I tried to get comfortable, it just wasn't happening. So I bought an identical Giant stem that was 20mm shorter. So off I went and popped it on last night, nice and easy... until this morning and I realised I was an idiot.

Of course, reducing the length of your stem also changes everything to do with your gears, as now all your gear cables are loose. I spent a good amount of time, and a lot of frustration trying to get everything lined up. All sorted now, but I haven't taken it for a test ride. Tomorrow will tell all.

BrianHenryIE · 19-09-2018 1:18am

GoPro Session 5 below my saddle.

Abus Bordo 6500 as a second lock.

Deano12345 · 19-09-2018 12:37pm

BrianHenryIE wrote: »

GoPro Session 5 below my saddle.

That looks excellent, reminds me I must do something similar with mine!

Fitted my new pedals while I wait for the shoes to arrive. Pity they don’t match the pattern on the crank!

BrianHenryIE · 05-10-2018 11:29pm

Added a Go Pro Session 5 on the front too, using a Recmounts Spacer mount and some Go Pro extensions. It's pretty crowded there and I think I'll have to buy a different extension to be able to angle my light properly. It's a Sinewave Beacon mounted with Additive Spacer One+One, which is also the bottle cage mount.

I'm also working on fitting a front basket so I can go to the supermarket after work. It's Sunlite Mesh basket with two cheap lights from dx.com (I think) on the front. The basket mount allowed the basket to hang too low and touch the wheel. I bent, hammered and cut the hooks to shorten it but I messed it a bit and it's not symmetrical anymore.

veganrun · 29-10-2018 6:03pm

Bought some SKS Bluemels mudguards for my road bike. Watched a video on how to fit them and it seemed straight forward enough. As always seems to be the case, I ran into difficulty. The rear mudguard uses a bridge stay to keep it clear of the wheel but my brakes are bolted on with some sort of hollow threaded bolt with no obvious way (to me) to fasten it on. I decided to unbolt it and try to fit a longer one only for me to mess things up, a spring and some wee black thing to jump out of the brakes and them clamping so tight the wheel cannot fit back between the pads.

Got frustrated and just went to the bike shop to get it sorted. He straight away pointed out the stay could have been fitted the other side of the bolt which I hadn't even considered for some bizarre reason.

Bike maintenance really frustrates me.

cdaly_ · 30-10-2018 10:14pm

Converted my Thorn tourer to single speed this evening after the rear mech wrapped itself around the axle. I suspect it was due to a very badly worn chain that I've been meaning to change.

New mech in the post...

Alanstrainor · 31-10-2018 12:46pm

And of course my first dark commute home, my big LED on the front failed as I pulled into the house. It's externally powered with a battery pack, but the cable in the light had frayed. Had to cut the cable and solder it back to the chip inside it. Runs grand again, but we'll see for how long. I do have a backup and bright light for the unlit roads in case it fails at the worst spot, but fingers crossed.

triggermortis · 28-11-2018 9:08pm

I replaced my bottom bracket on the commuter and was shocked at how much water ran out of it!
Also swapped the wheels from another bike to this one, so had to transfer over the cassette and tyres.

Weepsie · 09-12-2018 4:53pm

Gave my commutter a thorough clean and degrease, but kicked over the bike cleaner that I had and most of it ended up all over the ground. Thankfully it was just the dealz stuff, but it must have been loose from new.

Swapped out my chainset from 105 to a Tiagra (all 10 speed anyway). Need to replace jockey wheels too. Replaced brake pads, and in doing so discovered the little screws in the shoes are made of cheese or something.

Nothing major there really. Thought about changing the BB while I was at it, but will do that in a few weeks.

neris · 09-12-2018 7:59pm

finally cleared the shed out so set up one bike on the turbo for when needed

ED E · 15-12-2018 8:19pm

No spin during a storm warning so got to a few bits.

1. Older Ultegra STI eaten its cable

Pulling and prying involved to extricate it. Not sure what model/series it is but the opening at the side of the shifting rotors is quite tight compared to some others. Got her there in the end. A job I'm well familiar with from the Tiagra bike.

(Sorry for the sh1te photo)

2. Cleaning and what it uncovered

Jockey wheel somehow got a big gash in it, think it wants to be harry potter. Due to other issues its time for a full new RD anyways. Thatll go on once delivered.

3. New pads
Done. Frankly the old ones were into danger territory. Tut tut me.

4. Tyre
Went through it with a drill bit(lumber) to pull out glass etc. Armadillos are kings. Plenty of glass "balls". They'd been in there long enough to be rounded and smoothed off. Kevlar doing its job. Unfortunately theres a gash thats elongated so time to refresh.

August 17 -> December 18. Daily usage in and out of the city with all the glass etc that entails.

BrianHenryIE wrote: »

Added a Go Pro Session 5 on the front too...

How do you find that for vibration? I run a Session on mounts in similar locations but one is just in front of the bar with the other being about 5cm forward. The forward one appears to suffer a fair bit more vibration.

site_owner · 15-12-2018 11:13pm

i added a session 4 to the fork of the bullitt. video is pretty smooth, but the lens is pointing upwards so theres a lot of sky in the shot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vCzaC48s-A

Fighting Tao · 15-12-2018 11:17pm

site_owner wrote: »

i added a session 4 to the fork of the bullitt. video is pretty smooth, but the lens is pointing upwards so theres a lot of sky in the shot

That might cause issues on sunny days. Can you make your own mount and attach it to the bolt on the show in the photo?

site_owner · 15-12-2018 11:31pm

Fighting Tao wrote: »

That might cause issues on sunny days. Can you make your own mount and attach it to the bolt on the show in the photo?

the one on the frame might be too far back but there are some other options on the front. just wanted something quick to try it out

BrianHenryIE · 19-12-2018 9:49pm

ED E wrote: »

How do you find that for vibration? I run a Session on mounts in similar locations but one is just in front of the bar with the other being about 5cm forward. The forward one appears to suffer a fair bit more vibration.

Vibration is no problem – one of its features vs Session 4 is the stabilization. The camera is able to do 4k, but only 2.7k when stabilization is turned on, and with looping mode also on, it's been forcing me to use 1080p. In general, I'm not hugely impressed with the camera but I've nothing to compare it to.

Weepsie · 19-12-2018 9:58pm

FIT a Disc Dynamo wheel for the Croix de Fer and my B&M light . DT Swis 545D Rim with a SP-PD8 Hub. 36 spokes front and rear. Should be bombproof if a little bit heavy.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 17-01-2019 9:24pm

I bought an S-Works Roubaix SL4 frameset and stripped my Felt F5 and built up the Roubaix. Just need a new chain and cables (inner & outer) and she’s good to go. Also treated myself to a Deda Superzero seatpost and stem for that stealth look to match the frame. Can’t wait to get out for a spin on it.

site_owner · 17-01-2019 9:29pm

Put some better pedals on the bullitt. Feet were constantly slipping off the crappy plastic basic ones it had on when I got it

LollipopJimmy · 17-01-2019 10:34pm

I'm going to attempt a Di2 installation on Sunday, there will be many questions coming!

Hurrache · 30-01-2019 4:08pm

Took my old flat bar commuter from the shed the weekend. Bike is almost 10 years old at this stage, hasn't been ridden regularly in easily 6 years apart from 1 day. I had expected a big job in getting it sorted, probably new tyres, chain etc, but nope. Not a trace of rust, everything still well greased and smooth. There was even air still in the tyres from that one time a few years ago. Gave my son the job of removing all the spider and cob webs from it with a toothbrush though.

Weepsie · 30-01-2019 4:12pm

My seatpost is seized in my Croix de Fer. Took one of the botle holders off, tipped it upside down and sprayed a load of WD40 in hope more than expectation/ Let it sit for a few hours. After several hours, I gave it a go, and not budging, but the WD40 found it's way around the bike and came out in a few places and required the floor getting a thorough cleaining!

Going to try some sort of penetrating oil and leave it a few days in the outside shed. After that, I'm giving up. It's only marginally too low, but still.

Hurrache · 30-01-2019 4:24pm

Actually I was expecting a seized seat post as it seems to be a common issue on this forum alone. I loosened the bolt with an allen key and it immediately moved freely.

Fighting Tao · 30-01-2019 4:25pm

Hurrache wrote: »

Actually I was expecting a seized seat post as it seems to be a common issue on this forum alone. I loosened the bolt with an allen key and it immediately moved freely.

She's a keeper!

Hurrache · 30-01-2019 4:27pm

My wife has it now, that's the reason it's been revived.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 02-02-2019 12:51am

Weepsie wrote: »

My seatpost is seized in my Croix de Fer. Took one of the botle holders off, tipped it upside down and sprayed a load of WD40 in hope more than expectation/ Let it sit for a few hours. After several hours, I gave it a go, and not budging, but the WD40 found it's way around the bike and came out in a few places and required the floor getting a thorough cleaining!

Going to try some sort of penetrating oil and leave it a few days in the outside shed. After that, I'm giving up. It's only marginally too low, but still.

Try Coca Cola instead of penetrating oil.

magicbastarder · 02-02-2019 9:55am

aluminium seatpost? heat won't help, aluminium expands faster than steel. maybe try some ice?

magicbastarder · 02-02-2019 9:55am

maybe some iced coke.

Weepsie · 02-02-2019 10:24am

Getting coke into it in the first place might be a bit of a pain without removing the bottom bracket. I can spray oil in the holes for the bottle cage bolts.

saccades · 02-02-2019 11:28am

Just keep adding penetrating oil, do you have a vice?

Put a sacrificial saddle on, put that in the vice and use the frame as gentle leverage.

Might need to remove the wheels if your shed is small.

Weepsie · 02-02-2019 11:46am

No vice, saddle is end of life so no problem with damaging it. It's nearly the correct height anyway, so I'll probably just leave it as is until I don't need the bike in a couple of weeks.

iwillhtfu · 02-02-2019 11:58am

Weepsie wrote: »

No vice, saddle is end of life so no problem with damaging it. It's nearly the correct height anyway, so I'll probably just leave it as is until I don't need the bike in a couple of weeks.

stillson and a long steel pole, lay the frame flat on the floor and get someone to hold it down. Leverage is your friend and a saddle wont offer enough of that if it's really stuck.

Pinch Flat · 04-02-2019 12:35am

Had neglected the commuter a lot lately, mostly due to time pressures and being away a few weekends on the trot. Bike Was starting to creak and groan and a lot of small jobs needed doing. Missed my chain and cassette replacement, so Picked up a new chain and cassette, new brake pads and changed out a jamming gear cable on the front derailleur.

Took apart the rear brake, it was sticking and full of gunk. Full strip down, clean, regrease and reassembly and put back. Bike running like new again.

Trekker09 · 04-02-2019 10:05am

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

I'm going to attempt a Di2 installation on Sunday, there will be many questions coming!

How did that go for you? Curious as I might be going down the same road soon.

LollipopJimmy · 04-02-2019 3:07pm

Trekker09 wrote: »

How did that go for you? Curious as I might be going down the same road soon.

I opened the box with the brakes - the only bit I don't have and they were 6800 rather than 8000 (which I ordered and paid for) so have sent them back and waiting for the new package to arrive. I'm not doing it until I have everything

cletus · 04-02-2019 8:44pm

Today I 'ave mostly been...installing bar end plugs

triggermortis · 06-02-2019 8:55am

Weepsie, Plus gas is better than WD40 for loosening seized parts. It’s a spray so should be easy to get to where it’s needed

secman · 06-02-2019 9:07am

Weepsie, I had and still have a siezed seat post, it's Alu on an Alu frame. Tried all sorts of penetrating oil sprays, coke, heat. Managed to damage frame using leverage. Rode it without clamp , it's well seized. It's. Marginally too high,
Winter hack, just accepted the fact,

Weepsie · 06-02-2019 10:17am

triggermortis wrote: »

Weepsie, Plus gas is better than WD40 for loosening seized parts. It’s a spray so should be easy to get to where it’s needed

Couldn't find plus gas. I have 3 in 1 penetrant spray though, just waiting til I won't be needing the bike for a few days. I don't want to damage the frame, seatpost I could care less about so if I really want to I cut probably cut it and slowly file it away.

smacl · 06-02-2019 2:58pm

Put new pinned flat pedals on my old hack MTB which were feeling like the business heading up Cruagh road today until one of the feckers fell off! To add insult to injury, turns out my trendy little ratchet bike tool set doesn't have an allen key big enough for pedals so no roadside fix option. Walked home and got the pedal back on ok though the first couple of threads on the crank arm look stripped. Dithering now between getting new crank arms, a whole new group or going large and just getting a new bike. Going to waste half an hour on the bike sites now to alleviate the frustration of missing my lunch time spin.

magicbastarder · 10-02-2019 5:20pm

just finished giving the bike a wash, which i'd been meaning to do for a week or more, but worth noting that there were spots of rust on it in places you don't expect to see rust, e.g. the cassette - must have been the salt being spread on the roads in the last few weeks.

saccades · 10-02-2019 10:51pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

just finished giving the bike a wash, which i'd been meaning to do for a week or more, but worth noting that there were spots of rust on it in places you don't expect to see rust, e.g. the cassette - must have been the salt being spread on the roads in the last few weeks.

Loads and loads of it. Car is filthy in a day when it's damp, before the frost it looked ok for over a week.

magicbastarder · 13-02-2019 11:08pm

also worth mentioning - disc brakes had gotten very squealy (though OK when warm), even in the dry.
on the offchance it was just salt, i soaked them in boiling water and a little degreaser, and it seems to have done the trick, with an important caveat that i haven't tried them in the wet.

ED E · 14-02-2019 1:14am

Just put a bit of degreaser on my hivis to try and remove some drivetrain crud from my sleeves. Will see in a bit if I've f#cked the jacket or not.

Today I did something to my bike thread...

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