refurb - update
Bike fit:
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/fit-bike.htm
Merlin cycles:
SRAM 7-speed chain £12
pair Mach 1 MX rims + Deore hubs £77
3.2.2011 list of ailments to take to bike doc:
- rear hub making noise - bike man said don't worry, it's minor
- 12-tooth sprocket looks worn - new 7-speed shimano cassette fitted. have adjusted the gears as best i can but it's hella noisy. not entirely happy. possibly i left it too long between new chain and new cassette and the chain is fucked, but it has only done maybe 40 miles max.
- check other sprockets and chain rings
- front derailleur wobbly - bike man said don't worry it's not right but hey
- front gear shifter bit messed up
- chainring guard thing cracked
- 30.2/4mm seat post closed at top - have a go with a cork or similar
- 1.5" road tyres + mudguards
- bars + stem with less reach?
- reflectors - rear and spoke?
---
reposting an old one, still relevant, but feel the need to get onto the bike rather more urgently now. i just want it better and soon.
- worried about internal rust: new saddle from last year lets water to top of seatpost which isn't closed off. so when i leave it in the rain it is all getting inside. need to get it out and have a look, maybe anti-rust the inside somehow. it's corroded into the frame at the mo, have WD40'd it, hopefully tomorrow it will be out. don't recall seeing any weepholes around the bottom bracket so tipping it upside down should tell me whether it's wet inside too. sealed seatpost required. -> Argh still stuck. opened out the clamp with a screwdriver and got more WD40 in there but still stuck... guess it's not penetrating any further than the clamp. boo.
- worried about bottom bracket: turning cranks is noisy. pedals new so not them. will take the chain off tomorrow which should eliminate any noise from the drive train. With chain off, the BB sounds sweet (ie. silent).
- need new chain. should probably check extension on it, give me some idea whether new sprockets required. -> Doesn't seem to be 'stretched' too badly, surprisingly. new chain installed, old chain cleaned. Remember to oil it a bit before putting away.
- go buy some friendly/biodegradable degreaser and clean out the derailleurs properly. Derailleurs CLEAN(ish). Front one well wobbly though.
- considering a new wheelset, can get one second-hand inc tyres and 7-speed cassette for about £70, will be the cheaper option if i need a new freewheel, easier if i need anything changed on the rear casette, but expensive if i don't. in which case just some decent tyres should do the trick. -> Rear hub is where the noise is coming from. Smallest sprocket also looks like a little set of waves...
- should look at cleaning up /replacing any rusty bits, lots of the nuts and bolts are looking pretty messy. what comes of leaving bike in rain a lot... -> Autosol, brass brush and touch up paint (in gold, not really gonna match but nevermind) acquired.
found original specs, can't quite work out if it's a 1994 or 1995 though.
---
so, i decided not to get a new bike at all, but to just spend a bit of cash and time on my good old beast. i reckon it'll cost around £200 if i just go for the easiest option of new parts from the shop.
def:
+ chain
+ sealed seatpost -> DIY it
+ new handlebar grips - have decided i want bullhorns, closest thing to what the bike came with.
+ set of road tyres (1.5", puncture-resistant) Schwalbe Marathon Plus 1.5" fitted and feel good :)
+ set of road mudguards
+ touch-up paint - acquired
optional:
+ new front wheel
+ anti-theft wheel pins
+ new lights - just cos they've improved. but then what do i do with the old ones? wait until all companies who make things are forced to take them back when unwanted? - i have the new ones, still don't know what to do with the old ones.
+ new brake levers
+ maybe new gear control, they're plastic and crappy and one of them the cable end got wedged in the wrong place at some point and made a hole in the plastic. but that side's the gears i don't use anyway...
i should probably take it for a service too. it's been making a bit of clicking lately, i think from the bottom bracket. i just changed the pedals, so it's not them.
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/fit-bike.htm
Merlin cycles:
SRAM 7-speed chain £12
pair Mach 1 MX rims + Deore hubs £77
3.2.2011 list of ailments to take to bike doc:
- rear hub making noise - bike man said don't worry, it's minor
- 12-tooth sprocket looks worn - new 7-speed shimano cassette fitted. have adjusted the gears as best i can but it's hella noisy. not entirely happy. possibly i left it too long between new chain and new cassette and the chain is fucked, but it has only done maybe 40 miles max.
- check other sprockets and chain rings
- front derailleur wobbly - bike man said don't worry it's not right but hey
- front gear shifter bit messed up
- chainring guard thing cracked
- 30.2/4mm seat post closed at top - have a go with a cork or similar
- 1.5" road tyres + mudguards
- bars + stem with less reach?
- reflectors - rear and spoke?
---
reposting an old one, still relevant, but feel the need to get onto the bike rather more urgently now. i just want it better and soon.
- worried about internal rust: new saddle from last year lets water to top of seatpost which isn't closed off. so when i leave it in the rain it is all getting inside. need to get it out and have a look, maybe anti-rust the inside somehow. it's corroded into the frame at the mo, have WD40'd it, hopefully tomorrow it will be out. don't recall seeing any weepholes around the bottom bracket so tipping it upside down should tell me whether it's wet inside too. sealed seatpost required. -> Argh still stuck. opened out the clamp with a screwdriver and got more WD40 in there but still stuck... guess it's not penetrating any further than the clamp. boo.
- worried about bottom bracket: turning cranks is noisy. pedals new so not them. will take the chain off tomorrow which should eliminate any noise from the drive train. With chain off, the BB sounds sweet (ie. silent).
- need new chain. should probably check extension on it, give me some idea whether new sprockets required. -> Doesn't seem to be 'stretched' too badly, surprisingly. new chain installed, old chain cleaned. Remember to oil it a bit before putting away.
- go buy some friendly/biodegradable degreaser and clean out the derailleurs properly. Derailleurs CLEAN(ish). Front one well wobbly though.
- considering a new wheelset, can get one second-hand inc tyres and 7-speed cassette for about £70, will be the cheaper option if i need a new freewheel, easier if i need anything changed on the rear casette, but expensive if i don't. in which case just some decent tyres should do the trick. -> Rear hub is where the noise is coming from. Smallest sprocket also looks like a little set of waves...
- should look at cleaning up /replacing any rusty bits, lots of the nuts and bolts are looking pretty messy. what comes of leaving bike in rain a lot... -> Autosol, brass brush and touch up paint (in gold, not really gonna match but nevermind) acquired.
found original specs, can't quite work out if it's a 1994 or 1995 though.
---
so, i decided not to get a new bike at all, but to just spend a bit of cash and time on my good old beast. i reckon it'll cost around £200 if i just go for the easiest option of new parts from the shop.
def:
+ chain
+ sealed seatpost -> DIY it
+ new handlebar grips - have decided i want bullhorns, closest thing to what the bike came with.
+ set of road tyres (1.5", puncture-resistant) Schwalbe Marathon Plus 1.5" fitted and feel good :)
+ set of road mudguards
+ touch-up paint - acquired
optional:
+ new front wheel
+ anti-theft wheel pins
+ new lights - just cos they've improved. but then what do i do with the old ones? wait until all companies who make things are forced to take them back when unwanted? - i have the new ones, still don't know what to do with the old ones.
+ new brake levers
+ maybe new gear control, they're plastic and crappy and one of them the cable end got wedged in the wrong place at some point and made a hole in the plastic. but that side's the gears i don't use anyway...
i should probably take it for a service too. it's been making a bit of clicking lately, i think from the bottom bracket. i just changed the pedals, so it's not them.