Should have been so simple...

[BluesDave]

Well I finally managed to get all the bits I needed for my mountain bike. Rear Derallieur, Freewheel 5 speed, Chainset and crankarms, brakepads and cables, new chain.
I shopped around phoning for quotes from bikeshops and found one who said they would fit everything for £35 plus £22 for a new bottom bracket if I needed one. When I took the bike there they told me that the chainset I had bought was too small by 6 teeth and that it would affect the speed of the bike slowing it down, the freewheel was slightly smaller and it was not shimano so to supply and fit a new bottom bracket and chainset plus all the other bits would cost me £107. I left the bike there as they said they could do it tomorrow but quite simply I can neither afford that or justify the cost on my 14 year old bike. So I'll just have to phone them tomorrow and go and pick it up. It's practically unrideable but I should be able to get it home. Then maybe I can sell some of the bits on ebay again. Slowly but slowly it all slips away until finally there is only despair.
I'll also be selling the Raleigh Racer I bought, it's nice but it just doesn't feel right when I ride it.

 

[chillyuk]

I know how you feel, you reach a point where you just want to say "stuff it". You could start again. Ebay has 5 speed freewheels for loose change, and you can pick up cheap bottom brackets on ebay. The one on my road bike cost £7 and has done nearly a thousand miles without issue. Once you have your bottom bracket then you can match up the cranks (chainwheel) to suit the BB, probably square taper. Ask yoursel if you do the work yourself, even allowing for buying the BB tools, plus the bit you lose on bits you have bought by mistake, could you replace the bike with all the new bits for that price. I suspect not. Dive in and give it a go. people on here will give you advice and there are hours of know how and step by step guides on You Tube.

Then, what is your Raleigh you may be selling?

 

[Monkspeed]

Well I finally managed to get all the bits I needed for my mountain bike. Rear Derallieur, Freewheel 5 speed, Chainset and crankarms, brakepads and cables, new chain.
I shopped around phoning for quotes from bikeshops and found one who said they would fit everything for £35 plus £22 for a new bottom bracket if I needed one. When I took the bike there they told me that the chainset I had bought was too small by 6 teeth and that it would affect the speed of the bike slowing it down, the freewheel was slightly smaller and it was not shimano so to supply and fit a new bottom bracket and chainset plus all the other bits would cost me £107. I left the bike there as they said they could do it tomorrow but quite simply I can neither afford that or justify the cost on my 14 year old bike. So I'll just have to phone them tomorrow and go and pick it up. It's practically unrideable but I should be able to get it home. Then maybe I can sell some of the bits on ebay again. Slowly but slowly it all slips away until finally there is only despair.
I'll also be selling the Raleigh Racer I bought, it's nice but it just doesn't feel right when I ride it.

I think you should have a go at putting it together yourself since you don't have the money to pay someone to do it.
I would just try the chain you have, so it may effect the speed, but by how much? Only one way to find out! At least you will have a bike you can use.

I agree with Chilly, just get on youtube and get watching, and I'm sure the experienced folk on here will help you out if you get real stuck.

Well that's what I would do anyway. My 2p worth.

 

[screenman]

Maybe the forum could set up a network of people willing to help little things like this, something like pop the bike around and we will fix it together, I have done this often with the locals in the village where I live.

Chainset will slow you down, I have news for the muppet in the shop it is the legs that make the difference, spin a little faster and the speed will be the same.

 

[Shaun]

Also have a look in the Free/Exchange classified forum here - you might be able to pick something useful up.

 

[guitarpete247]

Maybe the forum could set up a network of people willing to help little things like this, something like pop the bike around and we will fix it together ....

I, for one, would sign up for this. I have a few tools for most jobs on my bikes and I'm willing to help anyone out local to me .
(Looking at the map there is no-one within 10 miles though)

 

[Chris-H]

I, for one, would sign up for this. I have a few tools for most jobs on my bikes and I'm willing to help anyone out local to me .
(Looking at the map there is no-one within 10 miles though)

+1 i may not be an expert but i know my way around tools having worked on cars for years plus i have picked up a fair bit of knowledge from the good people on here.

 

[fossyant]

Maybe the forum could set up a network of people willing to help little things like this, something like pop the bike around and we will fix it together, I have done this often with the locals in the village where I live.

Chainset will slow you down, I have news for the muppet in the shop it is the legs that make the difference, spin a little faster and the speed will be the same.

Some of us have already done stuff like this - I've helped out one CC member a few times as his local bike shop was rubbish.

Anyone near the OP who could pop round ?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Maybe the forum could set up a network of people willing to help little things like this, something like pop the bike around and we will fix it together, I have done this often with the locals in the village where I live.

Chainset will slow you down, I have news for the muppet in the shop it is the legs that make the difference, spin a little faster and the speed will be the same.

+1, especially given the OP said in a previous post that he carries a lot of work/trade equipment on his custom outfitted bike.

Coincidentally on 6th November I responded to a query from the OP (no I am not a professional bike mechanic) and offered to assist (provided he is willing to take a chancce with my amateur level abilities).

 

[bobg]

I'd be happy to help anyone local too, This is an excellent idea,

 

[BluesDave]

Maybe the forum could set up a network of people willing to help little things like this, something like pop the bike around and we will fix it together, I have done this often with the locals in the village where I live.

Chainset will slow you down, I have news for the muppet in the shop it is the legs that make the difference, spin a little faster and the speed will be the same.

+1, especially given the OP said in a previous post that he carries a lot of work/trade equipment on his custom outfitted bike.

Coincidentally on 6th November I responded to a query from the OP (no I am not a professional bike mechanic) and offered to assist (provided he is willing to take a chancce with my amateur level abilities).

Well to update everyone the parts were sent back to the suppliers, luckily they agreed to take them back. So when the credits arrive and having sold some stuff on ebay myself I will be buying a 48 tooth Shimano chainset, new bottom bracket and 14 -28 tooth shimano freewheel. The LBS not to mention names (Global Esprit in Earlsfield) that I took it too has some nice nice new metal caliper brakes bracket so I'll pop in there and buy those as well provided they are no more than the £20 he quoted me.

I liked the legs comment. I did think it was a bit fishy that comment but he did say that the existing front derallieur would not be compatible with the curve of the 42 tooth chainset I purchased as my current chainset was 48. Somehow I can't see that. Obviously it's the speed you cycle that makes a difference. I think they see me coming.

I also remember the kind offer from RAFN and would take him up on it if I thought I could cycle the bike that far in it's current state. Perhaps I might take the risk.

So to clarify, I am replacing: Chainset, Chain, 5 speed 14-28 Freewheel, Rear Derallieur, Brakes all in Shimano then Brake Pads (Jagwire anti screech), Brake Cables, Gear Cables.

To be honest I don't believe the brakes themselves need replacing only the brake pads but again the guy in the shop said that because they are made of plastic they don't have as much power because they flex before they brake. I've always thought the brakes were excellent though.

As for

Then, what is your Raleigh you may be selling?

I might not sell this after all. I have thought about it and all I think it needs is a new saddle like the one on my MTB. That feels very right. Also the suicide levers, which are riveted, taken off. So maybe new brakes.

Isn't cycling expensive when things need to be done. I suppose I'm lucky with the MTB though as over 14 years it's only need two new tires and two new inner tubes plus a new rear wheel.

The trouble is my decorating work seems to have gone very quiet at the moment, time of year, so I don't have much money coming in.

I have some cycling books but obviously I am reluctant to attempt this myself because at this rate it's practically a strip down and rebuild.
I plan to do a couple of Cycle Maintainence courses next year both beginners and advanced at a local college. There is a City & Guilds course run by Cycletech but unfortunately it only seems to be in Manchester which is not much good for me living right on the edge of London.

I wonder if I should get a front pannier rack for the MTB hmm.

 

[Mugshot]

I liked the legs comment. I did think it was a bit fishy that comment but he did say that the existing front derallieur would not be compatible with the curve of the 42 tooth chainset I purchased as my current chainset was 48. Somehow I can't see that. Obviously it's the speed you cycle that makes a difference. I think they see me coming.



To be honest I don't believe the brakes themselves need replacing only the brake pads but again the guy in the shop said that because they are made of plastic they don't have as much power because they flex before they brake. I've always thought the brakes were excellent though.

As for

If you think your LBS is taking the rise why do you continue to use them and why are you taking their advice on your brakes which you feel are excellent?
Or am I missing something here?

 

[BluesDave]

If you think your LBS is taking the rise why do you continue to use them and why are you taking their advice on your brakes which you feel are excellent?
Or am I missing something here?

That was the first time I'd been there. I had phoned around quite a few trying to get a quote to fit the bits and they quoted £35 until I took it there of course. As for the brakes I am in two minds about that but as they are 14 years old and have had much use it might be sensible to replace them. They have worked well so far but may just go at some point so it seems better to get everything done at once. Plastic does have a shelf life as it were and these Shimano ones look very nice. I think I keep the same levers though, not sure if the Calipers come with the levers. Perhaps someone could tell me if they all come together. I used to have a bicycle repair man before but he died recently and his prices were always more than reasonable hence me wanting to do the course.Then perhaps I can help others in my situation on the weekends. Course is in April. I will simply go there to buy the new brakes as I thought £20 was reasonable for metal Shimano brakes if I decide to have them fitted, they won't be doing the work though.

 

[Mugshot]

Not sure I'd bother to replace them if they're working well, I assume you've checked them for signs of fatigue? Whilst it's lovely to have nice shiney things on the bike, if I can't really afford them I don't buy them. Also if I thought the LBS had been taking the piss then I wouldn't buy anything from there even if I was doing the work myself either, resonable or not. But it's your money DD, and it's nothing to do with me where or how you spend it

 

[BluesDave]

Not sure I'd bother to replace them if they're working well, I assume you've checked them for signs of fatigue? Whilst it's lovely to have nice shiney things on the bike, if I can't really afford them I don't buy them. Also if I thought the LBS had been taking the piss then I wouldn't buy anything from there even if I was doing the work myself either, resonable or not. But it's your money DD, and it's nothing to do with me where or how you spend it

Well the LBS man said that because my brake assembly was plastic that it would be very difficult to fit and adjust the new brake pads to it. This begs the question is that true because surely when these things were made the manufacturers must have realised that occasionally the pads would have needed replacing. Indeed I have had these pulled aside to change the tyres so one must be able to remove and adjust them possibly with a special tool. My late bicycle repair man adjusted the brakes so they bit onto the rims better, I think, but the pads have finally worn down now so need replacing.

If anyone has any advice on that score I'd like it.