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Control Box: Anyone want to help me fix my bike?

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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     
    So we're starting our Brussels-Venice tour next weekend (missing London Calling... booo) and I really need to get my bike in shape. It seems impossible to get it done in time in a shop, so I thought someone here might be able to help... Basically, the BB needs regreasing and both tires are a tiny bit buckled (really, not much) so maybe they need to be trued. I don't have the time to learn how to do it properly at the moment, but would happily sort someone out some money to do it one evening or sunday?

    Let me know...
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      CommentAuthorwill
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     
    when you say the tires are buckled? the tires or the wheels?
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      CommentAuthoroverdrive
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008
     
    @frommemory
    Do you know Sleepy Joe?i think you do,he's working at the shop today give him a call maybe he can help.
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      CommentAuthorselim
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008
     
    It's probably best to clean and give your bike a check over yourself. That way you'll know how it all works, will love it that little bit more and know the difference between creaking chain-ring bolts and thudding wheel bearings. Doesn't take too long and most of the tools you need are cheap(ish).
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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008
     
    I'm pretty sure it needs a bottom bracket check... I've had problems with it before. I just degreased/cleaned the chain and cogs and re-oiled, and adjusted the gears to perfection. In the past week it's started getting really gritty in the pedalling... what else could it be? A few months ago the BB was clicking and grinding, but then it sort of just started being cool again.

    The problem is, I just haven't got much knowledge. I've ridden bikes my whole life, but never got round to knowing their inner workings, and have learned alot through being a courier but I didn't even know what a BB was a year ago. To answer people's questions, I think it's a square-tapered cartridge... does that sound right?

    And yeah, I meant the wheel's buckled, not the tires, don't know what got to my fingers while typing that...

    So, it would be excellent to sit down with someone who knows what they're doing at some point in the next week (like I said, saturday afternoon/sunday would be ideal, but could do an evening early-ish next week), and I'll happily pay someone for their time.
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      CommentAuthorwill
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008 edited
     
    Sheldon Brown has a lot of useful stuff on his site; truing wheels isn't difficult, you just need a spoke key and a bit of patience.
    If it's a cartridge BB and it's knackered you'll have to replace it, which again isn't difficult if you have a crank extractor and the correct BB tool (Is it Shimano? Campag?) though if it's not been taken out in a while you might need one very large spanner and two strong arms to get it moving.
    So you need to know what kind of BB it is before anyone can tell you if they have the correct tool. I guess a friendly bike shop would be happy to sell you the relevant tools and really if you plan to keep on couriering it's a good idea to have the basic stuff you need to keep your bike on the road. It's not spending, it's investing:bigsmile:
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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008
     
    I'm super keen to learn, I just don't want to go fucking around with it until I have some sort of clue what I'm doing, and it would be preferable to be shown by someone who does know what they're doing, that's why I posted this. I'll find out and get the tools then come back : )
    • CommentAuthorJP
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008 edited
     
    Isnt the bike only a few months old? if the bb is fucked perhaps it might be covered under waranty? Shouldnt wear out that quick man. If its a clicking noise could be a loose chainring bolt?
    • CommentAuthorJP
    • CommentTimeAug 15th 2008
     
    Or if you use more or less the same gear, could be the most used cog on the cassette is worn out...
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    I think there's a drop in mechanic thing at the Shoreditch Festival this Sunday. And there's also a fairly regular Sunday morning DIY open tool-box run by Matt (I posted something about it a month or so ago).

    To be honest, though, it really isn't that complicated.
    • CommentAuthorsleepy
    • CommentTimeAug 15th 2008
     
    sorry i can't help- running rig and djing tonight and sleeping saturday instead of working in the shop.

    if you're still stuck next week i may be able to lend a hand :smile:
    • CommentAuthorsleepy
    • CommentTimeAug 21st 2008
     
    a little help for those on the forum who are not intimately aquainted with the technical function of a bicycle:

    any bicycle's chain will stretch, it is a function of pedalling. if you ride with derailleur gears the shunting lateral to the plates will exacerbate stress stretch and wear. this makes your bike much much less efficient, you may not notice it though as the damage is very gradual. the only way to fix it at this point is to replace chain, cassette and possibly (definitely in alex's case :wink:) chainring.

    when i was riding gears (albeit on an mtb with road bike groupset- well known for excessive wear) i would go through a chain and cassette every 2 weeks to month, even with my most favourable setup in a certain local bicycle shop this was too expensive. that is what made me go fixed/single... as well as the fact that all the cool kids were doing it :wink:
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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2008
     
    Thanks again for your help dude!

    So, me and a few pals are off on our Brussels-Venice ride on Saturday, hope everyone has a blinding weekend at London Calling and I'll be back in 2 weeks. Easy!
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    Missing you already mate. :cry:
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      CommentAuthorSideshow
    • CommentTimeAug 30th 2008
     
    2100 metres up in the Alps... sweet°°°°°°°°°°°

    done nearly 400 miles so far with lots of breaks to do holiday shit. everyones gone up the cable car today but iäm teh madz brokez so iäm gonna sit in the hills and read some hunter s. excellent riding, excellent hills... see u on the circuit x

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