What Have You Fettled Today?

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Andy in Germany

Legendary Member
Customer came in with a 24" wheeled kids bike and asked us how much it would cost to "make is so he can ride to school" Started checking:

Brake blocks worn down, cables stretched
Rear brake, boss screw on one side of V-Brakes missing, but as the boss was also missing, that wasn't so serious,
Real wheel loose
Rear-wheel bearings loose
Tyres more cracked than a mudhole in a drought.
Front mudguard rusted through
Chain had never seen oil, and worn down
Lights missing.

There may have been more, but I stopped there, as repairing that much would cost over 200€.

Next question:

"What if we do the minimum to make it safe?"

Told them that would cost at least 100€ with parts & labour.

They were disappointed, but at least not unpleasant about it.
 
Last edited:

roubaixtuesday

self serving virtue signaller
From yesterday... noticed a flat on the commuter rear at home - the tyre was nearing the end of its life anyway so for once in my life decided to do the right thing: swap front to rear and new tyre on the front (I keep one in stock anyway).

On removing the rear, found the inner had a mahoosive hole in it and traced it to the tyre bead coming away from the tyre wall. Must have exploded sitting in the garage, much better than when riding!

They're 700x25 marathon tyres, a bit of a pig to get on. The new one needed a VAR lever, couldn't mount it without even after lubing the bead with washing up liquid.

Ordered a couple of new tyres as they were on offer, and pitched in with a couple of chains and cassettes too.
 
Friday 20th

I went to get my ‘Aubisque’ out of the shed this morning, for the ride to work
It just went ‘clunk’ as a flat rear tyre thumped over the threshold
“Bugger!”
No time to investigate (04:30), so a quick change & a car commute in

On getting home, it was looked at
The Marathon came off the rim far easier than expected (one tyre lever & fingers)

Nothing could be found, until l turned the tyre inside out
It was either a bit of wire, about the same thickness as a toothbrush bristle, or the tyres own casing?
I decided to boot it, so a trio of layers of gaffer tape went inside (in case it was the tyre itself)
The opportunity was also taken to clean the cassette/jockey wheels/chainrings
The chain was scrubbed in diesel, then lubed with a mix of chainsaw oil & diesel

The rear Marathon is getting past it!
If it was on a car, it’d be worth 6 points, not just the usual 3!!

Should be okay for tomorrow mornings ride in?
 

EckyH

It wasn't me!
Fitted cleats on the new winter bike shoes.

E.
 
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