What Have You Fettled Today?

[Salty seadog]

Nothing yet, I'm still in bed but thanks for asking.

 

[palinurus]

I get the old 'cross bike out when it snows or is icy so it gets a lot of road salt flung at it. Found out one of the rear brake pad bolts had seized on a couple of weeks ago when I tried to adjust it to stop it squeaking. Cut the bastard off today, removed the canti brakes and cleaned them up, greased the posts, re-assembled and put new pads on with a load of anti-sieze on the threads. Did the front ones at the same time.

Noticed the cables outers are a bit tired, will have to do these before next winter.

Cleaned the commute bike, filthy it was after last week's rain. Still want something like a Burrows 2D with a fully-enclosed chain.

 

[overmind]

I bought some Schwalbe Marathon 700c X 28 tyres for the winter roadbike about 2 weeks ago. I have been really impressed with the 700c X 25's I have on my BTwin Triban summer bike. I have never had a puncture.

Well yesterday a particularly tenacious shard of glass set out to prove me wrong !

edit: I have put some rubber solution in the crack of the tyre and will put a tyre boot on the inside.

 

[C R]

The front brake in my sons bike was rubbing and squealing, so sorted it. The bike needs a service, but it is now too small for him, so he is going to graduate to daughter one's bike and she will be getting the next size up, so no point in spending a lot of time on his bike, just keep it ticking for a couple of weeks.

 

[Seleucid]

First ride on Merlin, so adjustments to saddle and handlebars compulsory ( even if not needed and probably adjusted back next ride) but most fettling done on 1970s Puch Pursuit, including much hard staring at an inaccessible nut and bolt combo that probably haven't been touched since....ooohh, 1970s?

 

[BianchiVirgin]

Had a nice long spin today on the Bianchi and it confirmed that I need to move the brake levers slightly further down the drops as I can't reach the brake lever properly when in the drops. First job for LBS when in for its first 'service' inspection.

 

[overmind]

I fixed the puncture (post about 4 about this one). When I was putting the wheel back on the chain was making a funny noise. I thought it was the brake alignment but it turned out to be the dreaded bottom bracket.

So I took it apart. The pictures below was the outcome. The adjustable cup caged bearing has seen better days (picture 1 below). The adjustable cup was pitted and the spindle races were badly pitted (picture 2 below). The drive side caged bearing were in several pieces. Fortunately I have spares for both. Working on the reassembly right now ...

 

[Low Gear Guy]

On Sunday I replaced the grotty white bar tape with red and raised the bars. I also changed the brake cables.

Memo to self: work out how to replace internal cables before starting work

 

[Heltor Chasca]

On Sunday I replaced the grotty white bar tape with red and raised the bars. I also changed the brake cables.

Memo to self: work out how to replace internal cables before starting work

I love doing bar tape. Other than black or white, it’s well worth having a look at a colour wheel (artists’ one) to see what compliments or goes with the frame colour. For example my burgundy bike looks great with bright green bar tape because those colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel.

 

[Domus]

As no riding for a week from today (Dr's orders) Started a major (for me ) service, wheels off, mudguards and rear rack off, chain off, bottom bracket out and bar tape removed. Will give frame a good clean, lube all screws, new bottom bracket and chain, new wheels and cassette, new bar tape and mudguards. May dispense with rack, will think about it.

 

[biggs682]

Swapped rear mudguards over and gave the chain some mickle treatment

 

[raleighnut]

I love doing bar tape. Other than black or white, it’s well worth having a look at a colour wheel (artists’ one) to see what compliments or goes with the frame colour. For example my burgundy bike looks great with bright green bar tape because those colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel.

Like red bar tape on a green bike.

 

[Illaveago]

I fitted the bracket to my mudguard and gave it another polish. It isn't too bad for my first attempt.

 

[robrinay]

Fetched the Holdsworth Mistral frame I found in a skip last week, back from the bike shop where I’d left it to have the bar stem and crank removed, to save my knuckles being skinnned etc. Next stage is for tomorrow - strip it down to a bare frame ready for painting.

 

[DCLane]

Son no. 2's bikes needed work. And as they're his bikes ... he was helping:

Columbus X-Wing commuter cross bike had a new headset bearing fitted by the LBS and my 13yo fitted a new rear tyre.

Then we set to work on his Giant TCR Composite (which we built together 2 years ago), where he helped me fit:

• New Swissstop front brake pads
• New KMC lightweight chain
• Adjust the rear pads
• And the biggie; a new front derailleur cable including cleaning out all the gunk inside the frame from 2 years of use as the front derailleur cable goes through the frame

All done. He's learnt a bit I hope for when he does it himself next time and I'm only the helper. He is helping me continue the BeOne build though later this week: front derailleur, cables and chain to do.