What Have You Fettled Today?

[Hacienda71]

Due to a bit of unexpected precipitation in Macclesfield this afternoon I thought a mudguard was in order. So lacking real mudguards I printed off a template for an " Ass Saver" got a clear plastic cover from an old report and cut out and folded myself the said device. Worked fine no dirty stripe up the back of my white softshell. Jobs a goodun.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Serviced @gavgav's bike. Was surprised to find how little the chain had worn (probably due to his style of riding) but disappointed to find that the rear brake pads had worn unevenly so needed replacing and that there was a pit in the left rear wheel bearing cone, which the LBS couldn't find available as a seperate spare part so I've had to order an axle.

Last time I serviced the pedal bearings I noted that they were quite badly pitted and recommended that Gav got some new ones. He hasn't yet, and as expected the unsealed bearings were pretty filthy but the pitting has worn down to a fairly smooth track so they'll probably go on for a while now..... go figure.

 

[DCLane]

Had a bit of time in the afternoon so I:

• Finished off the bar tape on the Raleigh Clubman and re-did the front wheel bearings. It's finished, or as much as I'm going to do, so here's the before/after pics:

October:

Now:

It's got a single 53-tooth Thun crank:

Also worked on a few other bits:

• Cleaned the Ridgeback Platinum. It needed it! I also fitted some new front pads.
• Cleaned the Carrera Virago after a club ride this morning.
• Fitted new front pads to the GT Timberline. Looks like the old ones were original = 25 years old.
• Fitted tyres/tubes/Ultegra cassette to my 10yo's Pro-Lite Bracciano 650c race wheels. They're very light.
• Changed the tyre onto the spare rear wheel on my Raleigh Team. It won't fit properly though so I'll look again tomorrow.

 

[howdenbiker]

No work on the bikes today, tinkered with the shed put some bolts through the hasp to improve security.

 

[howdenbiker]

After my ride, it being such a sunny day I had a ride out on each bike, it was an interesting experience to try one after the other.
My winter bike is ally with carbon forks and much heavier and not as smooth over the road, however it is the only one I'd use in the winter.
I had a first ride out on my new carbon bike, felt very wrong at first but adjusted the seat and much better, I think it will take some getting used to but certainly a smoother faster ride.
Next the Raleigh, titanium and steel mix, as smooth as the carbon and (probably due to a more comfy saddle) felt better.
Finally my Rossin, all steel but still with plenty of give and felt lively on the road, it has Chorus gearing so has a lovely smooth gear action.

 

[DCLane]

Last job for the weekend; the Raleigh Team blew several more spokes last week on the rear wheel. There aren't many original spokes left thanks to Leeds City Council's poor road maintenance . The commute's 12 miles each way and I'm sure they keep all the road funding for the north of the city. Going south it's like a wasteland at times. Typical Leeds riding roads:

I have a couple of spare wheels already organised so changed the tyre over and fitted this instead; it's now running Rigida front & rear wheels. Not a matching pair but close enough.

 

[Psycolist]

Had my first ever go at sorting out a BMX's gyro. Neighbours kid asked if I could sort it out. Its a very ingenious design. Not something you can cobble together. So off I went to the internet to see if I could find a replacement, to find Chainreaction selling whats needed for 99p. Result.99p, it must be costing them more than that in p+p.............!

 

[DCLane]

Having used the Carrera Virago on Saturday the fit didn't feel just right. However, the bike does feel fast. So tonight I ...

• Fitted a new Ritchey WCS longer stem I had
• Fitted a new Deda RS01 layback seatpost
• Re-greased a spare front Shimano WH-R535 front wheel and fitted it.

The back wheel's still to be done but it feels better. It looks better as well, which is probably just as important

 

[Mattonsea]

New rim tape on the Issac, then a bit more work on my Dolan X . I decided as a January project to strip it down and treat it to new mechs, bearings ,cables . Plus a set of
Schwable X tyres . Next on the list is to sort out #3 sons Xrated BMX.

 

[Psycolist]

Nabbed a set of retro 3X7 brake shifter combo st-ef28 on fleabay to replace the shifter/brake levers on my utility bike. ( they had seen better days when I fitted them and were only ever temporary ) Got the old ones off, installed the new ones and got the gear cables fitted tonight, I will do the brakes on another evening. Thinking I may treat myself to a new pair of grips while I am doing it. Will pop along to LBS tomorrow and see what he's got. I prefer the wrist resters. Will have to see what's in stock.

 

[xzenonuk]

trying to sort out my gears, thought i had em but during a 19 mile ride i spent half off them adjusting the barrel adjusters lol

think i got it sorted now

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

The axle for @gavgav's bike came yesterday & I fitted it this evening along with the new chain.

 

[gavgav]

The axle for @gavgav's bike came yesterday & I fitted it this evening along with the new chain.

 

[DCLane]

@Rickshaw Phil - does @gavgav not service his own bikes? If this is a public service you're offering, do you mind doing mine for me too?

This evening I:

• Fitted a tyre to the spare rear Shimano WH-R535 front wheel and fitted it. Then
• Re-greased the rear Carrera wheel.

Only to find the WH-R535 wheel's worse that the Carrera was . Ah well, that's tomorrow's job and it looks better anyway!

The bike's off to my university's workshop tomorrow to see if we can sort out the derailleur issues it has. Still to do:

• Fit new front derailleur to the Secteur, which has been sat in a box for 6 weeks.
• Re-grease the rear Shimano wheel on the Carrera.
• Oh, and organise the collection of my Benotto which has been upside down in the LBS for the past 4 months where they've tried to soak out the stuck seatpost (and failed).

 

[Bazzer]

Did maintenance today on my old Raleigh hybrid, which should see it through this year, for the times my main road bike isn't suitable; brakes adjusted, new chain, headset bearings and rear axle.
Axle wasn't as bad as I was expecting, despite it having non caged bearings.
Minor adjustment to seat post on main road bike and gave both bikes a wipe down.
Overall well chuffed with how the bikes look and looking forward to tomorrow and the weekend making sure everything works as I want it to.