What you done t' your bike today

[redefined_cycles]

Looks absolutely lovely. Never owned a Cotic but always had mega respect for them and Si... Well done at getting it ready.

[Rapideye]

Haven't ridden my hardtail for months but started prepping it for a trip to Scotland this week. What an absolute pain! Re-did back tubeless tyre, re-taped and new sealant and that went well. Thought I'd do the front too...it gave me such a hard time. Re-taped and added sealant before making a school-boy error trying to get the tyre on. Broke 2 levers until I moved the edge of the tyre from the rim to the centre to allow it to fit over the rim. What a mess that was. Once that was done, realised the valve was bunged up with sealant. Removed core and still no air coming out. Then tried to remove stem but nut was stuck solid! Ended up getting the angle grinder out and chopped it off until I can get a new valve tomorrow. Hopefully, that will be a quick and easy job. Heading around Cairngorms from Friday and really hoping not to have any mechanicals. It'll be fine, right?

[fatbikephil]

Finally finished hammering the latest bolide together.....



Salsa Stormchaser. I'd ruminated on this since Lyon started selling them for 700 quid but figured the short top tube would lead to horrible toe / wheel overlap. Anyway I read a report where the 6'1" tester stated his toes were miles away from the front wheel, did some measuring of the Straggler and calcs and worked out I'd have 20mm more toe clearance on this. It would also be shorter than the strag and the top of the head tune 40mm higher so no horrible upright stem. Also a slightly slacker head angle and more tyre clearance should make it ideal. Currently sporting mudhugger guards but will probably gain a pair of full length guards for the winter. Still a lot lighter than the Strag - bare bike 9.25 kg with pedals and bottle cages; with guards and frame bag, just shy of 10kg so happy with that.

Super skinny chain stays look a bit feeble and the coke can down tube won't be idiot proof so I'll try not to crash it... Not ridden yet (this weekend!) but looking forward to it.

[redefined_cycles]

Hapynew bike day Phil. Sorry yo see hear abou your woes Rapideye. I usually throw a bit of lube of some sort through the tubeless valve after getting everything working. Then redo the core. Always seems to work wonders at stopping any gunging.

[Rapideye]

Nice bling tyres, Phil.

Shaf...I'm my own worst enemy and bulk of issues are of my own making. Rode around Cairngorms over last weekend and there were some annoying issues that I should have sorted sometime ago. Nevermind, the loop gave her a bit of a hiding and she needs a bit of TLC before embarking on her next trip. TBF, she handled it well...she just liked grumbling about it throughout the trip. Much like myself.

[faustus]

Really like the colour of the Stormchaser, looking good!

[fatbikephil]

Really like the colour of the Stormchaser, looking good!

Green tyres were cheap from Banana industries!
I thought the grey / gunmetal / whatever would look a bit dull but the polished cranks and seat pin set it off. I'd rather have stainless spokes rather than black but the wheels were nicked off the Straggler so I didn't have any choice...

[redefined_cycles]

Got the train home towards the end of the ride. Saved a good twenty minutes. Best get home and service the rear hub and pedals. Then maybe bleed the brakes to get some fresh Putoline in there. Bet it's burnt fluid in the rear as the bite point wandered after a long down.

[Hyppy]

While heading out for a pre-BB200 shakedown ride last weekend my shifter stopped shifting: the cable had ripped through the spool. I've grabbed a replacement CNC'd spool from the guys at Ratio Technology and fitted it this afternoon.

Screenshot 2024-10-01 at 22.05.51.jpg (159.43 KiB) Viewed 8232 times

[godivatrailrider]

Ruined its good looks with massive mudguards

The front isn’t too obtrusive tbh but that back one is a bit of an eyesore! It’s not as bad with a seat pack fitted and probably works pretty well … but man, it’s fugly!
Then again, I’m a grouchy 57 year old, I doubt I’m getting marked on my sartorial elegance !

[L2R24]

Well, yesterday technically...
Son and his girlfriend returning home from Banff next week, and asked if she could borrow a bike for the month they'll be staying with us. Decided to stick some gears back on the Arkose singlespeed...
- Set up 40mm tubeless Nano on spare rear wheel, fitted 11-40 cassette.
- swapped out the single speed wheel (didn't want to mess around with the spacers as has been running sweet with the AbsoluteBlack sprocket)
- fitted Apex 1x rear mech, after changing out the mech hanger
- had left a Sram bar end shifter and outer on it from last time it had gears, so just needed a new cable and rear mech fettling.
Done in about 30 mins ...just needs new chain; ordered a couple of KMC 11sp from Wolf bike for about £16 each...

Only issue is rear mudguard rubs with the 40mm Nano, was fine with a 38mm GKSK..

[PaulE]

Cleaned the dirtbomb post bb200, thinking I'd need some new rear wheel bearings and a left hand lever bushing as there was rattling from those parts.

Turned out I'd forgotten to loctite the driveside dropout bolts and the bolt holding the tubeless kit into my bar end... Now I just need to find the loctite or buy a new tube

Then realised that I'd burned through a brand new set of rear pads at bb200 so changed them. fronts are almost done too, but they've been on the bike for ages.

[redefined_cycles]

Ruined its good looks with massive mudguards

The front isn’t too obtrusive tbh but that back one is a bit of an eyesore! It’s not as bad with a seat pack fitted and probably works pretty well … but man, it’s fugly!
Then again, I’m a grouchy 57 year old, I doubt I’m getting marked on my sartorial elegance !

I bought that exact same one. You reckon there's some sort of mathematical calculation which tells us where to chop the mudguard. For optimal benefits v ugly looks. Maybe a bit more than halfway!

[godivatrailrider]

I bought that exact same one. You reckon there's some sort of mathematical calculation which tells us where to chop the mudguard. For optimal benefits v ugly looks. Maybe a bit more than halfway!

Had EXACTLY the same thoughts Shaf ! It's stopping 'fling' and as you're moving a) forward & away from the fling and b) fast enough to create fling.... surely a line from the tyre to your back should be enough... anything extra could be trimmed

[redefined_cycles]

I bought that exact same one. You reckon there's some sort of mathematical calculation which tells us where to chop the mudguard. For optimal benefits v ugly looks. Maybe a bit more than halfway!

Had EXACTLY the same thoughts Shaf ! It's stopping 'fling' and as you're moving a) forward & away from the fling and b) fast enough to create fling.... surely a line from the tyre to your back should be enough... anything extra could be trimmed

That's a very smart but hopefully simple way of figuring it. I think for me, it's the 'flappy' bit which doesn't contour around the wheel. So I might cut mine a few cm extra to get some sort of curve-maintenance. Nice1.

[fatbikephil]

Ruined its good looks with massive mudguards

The front isn’t too obtrusive tbh but that back one is a bit of an eyesore! It’s not as bad with a seat pack fitted and probably works pretty well … but man, it’s fugly!
Then again, I’m a grouchy 57 year old, I doubt I’m getting marked on my sartorial elegance !

Nah - function over form! Plus when you remove the large amount of sprayed mud from you and your kit, then it's and improvement of the overall aesthetic

[redefined_cycles]

Ruined its good looks with massive mudguards

The front isn’t too obtrusive tbh but that back one is a bit of an eyesore! It’s not as bad with a seat pack fitted and probably works pretty well … but man, it’s fugly!
Then again, I’m a grouchy 57 year old, I doubt I’m getting marked on my sartorial elegance !

Nah - function over form! Plus when you remove the large amount of sprayed mud from you and your kit, then it's and improvement of the overall aesthetic

Very (well, almost) convincing argument.

[Hyppy]

Nah - function over form! Plus when you remove the large amount of sprayed mud from you and your kit, then it's and improvement of the overall aesthetic

This! FWIW though, I use the SKS 'Mudrocker' and the rear follows the arc of the wheel far more elegantly than these in my opinion. Pic in the BB200 thread if you're interested.

[godivatrailrider]

Nah - function over form! Plus when you remove the large amount of sprayed mud from you and your kit, then it's and improvement of the overall aesthetic

This! FWIW though, I use the SKS 'Mudrocker' and the rear follows the arc of the wheel far more elegantly than these in my opinion. Pic in the BB200 thread if you're interested.

That looks quite slick !

[Richard G]

I moved it from my car to my garage... and it's going to stay there until I completely strip it down at some point in the year (December maybe?).

It's been a rough year for it and I think it definitely needs some TLC!

[fatbikephil]

Nah - function over form! Plus when you remove the large amount of sprayed mud from you and your kit, then it's and improvement of the overall aesthetic

This! FWIW though, I use the SKS 'Mudrocker' and the rear follows the arc of the wheel far more elegantly than these in my opinion. Pic in the BB200 thread if you're interested.

I'd not seen those mudrockers, look pretty good actually. The mudhugger on my Jones does follow the wheel more closely as my chainstays are at a steeper angle. Likewise the one on the Krampus which tucks in over the wheel nicely.

Maybe get the heat gun out Godiver? (or buy a diamond frame Jones )

[redefined_cycles]

Non-waterproof waterproof jacket, ebay special.


No longer porous. Sadly a Polar H10 HRM ruined in the process (when getting the washing machine ready by running on what should've been an empty 95 degrees wash).


Any professionals that know how to stick rubber back to this fabric as minimally as possible!

[faustus]

Got the Cotic ready for a trip to the Black mountains this weekend. Fuglied-up with mudguards, and a few parts swapped for comfort and food carrying. I barely use this bike locally, but it should thrive in the descents at least.

[redefined_cycles]

Not quite been a month since that last (stupid) ride in Wales. Bikes been sat patiently, neglected on the boot. Got it out yesterday after washing the car. Gave it a clean.

Chain, looking rusted and stiff. Threw it in the engine oil (6500 miles, 5w30 I'm case you wondered) and let it sit. Today I had it shakedown up (but not stirred) in the little bottle with used degrease (or that other denatured alcohol type stuff, can't recall since last time).

Darn thing wouldn't come back out so stabbed it open with cable cutters (BBB in case you wondered, not the Shimano ones). Then in the plant pot full of water and into the house (carefully). Into a plastic tupperware type tub (don't tell the missus) and boiling water over.

Then slowly pulled it out and scrubbed with one of the little ones toothbrushes (well, 2 of em... they'll never notice) without scalding self. Did that thrice with a wash and a shake in between.

Then the lint free cloth (which is now soaking in boiled dishwasher liquid water) to really scrub it down and hung up to dry. Feels very fluid in the hands now and you'd never have known what it's been upto!

[redefined_cycles]

Oh yeah... I bought some Wolftooth chain lube. It's very blue and apparently good for winters. Sick of these rusting chains from non-oil lubes!