Forum: Bicycle Mechanics

I'd like to get a new wheelset for my wife's bike: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/TromboneAl/CenturionNewTape004.jpg I had wheels on my Bottecchia that lasted 18 years with no truing necessary, no broken spokes, and no rust. That's what I want, even if I (oops, I mean "she") has to...

Bought a fsa sl+k light carbon compact crank and didn't do my reseach on the bb-30. Figured it screwed in the bottom bracket shell like most bottom brackets. Can you install the bb-30 on a 2006 kestrel talon? Do i need a adapter kit? Any info is appreciated, thanks, ...

This also happens to be my first post, so hello! I've acquired a rather neglected GT Palomar that I'm trying to just get functioning again (hey, it was free, I don't have a mountain bike, if I can, why not?). I have been searching the forums reading up on other peoples experiences with this...

I've got a mezzo folding bike that uses fairly standard parts. I've had it serviced by several different people, so when I had it serviced last time, the guy told me someone had put a 7 speed shift in despite having a 9 speed cassette I took him at his word. He told me he'd adjusted it to give...

I have an Athena 11 speed group, but the rear hub on my old Shamals won't accept an 11 speed cassette without a spacer between the cogs and hub so the free hub can only hold 10 cogs. (apparently some Mavic hubs also need a spacer but can still take 11 cogs) Any idea if this will bugger with...

In my attempt to find a rigid steel fork.. I see a predominant number of them are threadless. My glove has a threaded fork. If I can if I buy a threadless fork can I switch it out and what more if anything else would I need to change?

I have a Trek 7000 that's about a year old with approximately 3500 miles on it. All original except for the freewheel and chain. This just started on the way home today. On the downstroke on the right pedal, I get a clicking. I don't hear it so much as feel it in my foot. Where should I...

I'll be tearing down my 2010 Rival BB/crank assembly soon. I'm switching to a compact, and getting new cups with it. My current setup has been OK, but has suffered from some mystery creaking that I think is coming from the chainring bolts. Anyone else find that Rival cranks are creaky out of the...

This morning I was about 5 miles into a ride when, I started to feel more rolling resistance than I am used to. It felt like a brake was rubbing. I stopped and checked things out. I couldn't find a problem. The wheels, cranks, and chain all spun fine with no unusual resistance. Both tires had...

Long story short, I destroyed my 2001 Manitou sx-r fork driving into the garage with the bike on the roof of the car :( I piked up a Rock Shox Tora at the local Rei. It seems to be a nice enough fork. My question, why is it so heavy? It seems much heavier than my 10 year old fork that i am...

Almost every nipple on one of my front wheels is rusted. Would this work: Replace each nipple one at a time, truing up the wheel after each, and then taking the wheel in to be professionally trued?

I went to a bike shop and they said it was fine, but I am not so sure.... check the photos and let me know what you think please. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4845871360_33f156288c_b.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4845871528_e40168f4fb_b.jpg ...

I have an old Trek 9700 mountain bike that I'm resurrecting. It originally had a square taper crank/bb that I'm replacing with a Shimano LX & octalink setup that's coming off of another bike. I'm having trouble finding the right bottom bracket size for it. The original was a 113 spindle width,...

Naturally I would think the default answer would be yes, however I was thinking more about the design of how bottom bracket shells are. It's only a 5 mm difference, and not only that but I would think the weld quality in that area which holds the shell to the actual tubing would weigh in heavily in...

I had the chance to buy some great break cables from jagwire to have spares. I have also some regular brake cables from the local lbs. Trying to adjust the r breaks i snapped the cable so I said big deal, I have great cables to replace with. When i tried to replace the cable surprise surprise....

Hello, I am a fairly new rider that is just getting into commuting to work. I have a 2006 Bianchi Brava, equipped with all Shimano Sora. There is a triple up front, 52/42/30, and an 8 speed cassette, 12-25. On my ride to work, there are a couple pretty big hills, and with the extra weight I’m...

Hi, I am currently in the process of building a Cross Check using the drivetrain from an old bike. So far everything works as expected except the rear derailleur. It is some sort of old Shimano "Altus" which comes with an adaptor claw (which I believe cannot be removed from the derailleur) that...

I have a couple of sets of older Shamal wheel sets I think they are 96/97 they're silver with 12 spoke HPW hubs. I was hoping to use them with an 11 speed cogset. The free hub bodies are 9 speed, the 11 speed cluster slips on without problems and they have previously worked with 10 speed...

I have two questions on my shifting and cassette. I just replaced the chain and now have a few hundred miles on it with a new cassette. However, I took my racing wheel, placed on the bike, and the chain skips in a few of the sprockets even though this cassette probably has only a few hundred...

Lately, sometimes/once per ride probably, the front fork (?) of my bike makes a loud noise. A relatively loud "tick" - I cannot pin point when exactly. One time when riding hard over a bump in the road and it's there, riding again over several bumps no "tick"at all. But then again it can also...

I have an old Western Flyer-branded 3 speed bike from the 1970s, which I got for $100. I've spent another $100 fixing it up and had been using it to commute to work for a few months, until the rear hub gave out. The 3-speed hub is an old Shimano model from the 1970's, from what I can tell, and is...

my chain wont stay tight it goes loose like every couple of peddles. and what does a chain tensioner do and how do i use it

Hello, I'm in the process of building my first wheel, a front 700 36H Open Pro to Ultegra hub if that matters. I've laced it 3-cross pattern and begun to tension it one turn at a time. The tension is not enough yet to hear any tone when the spokes are plucked, but enough that there is no looseness...

I'm looking for a headset for my 1989 schwinn prelude (columbus tenax tubing, made in Japan, threaded fork). I was wondering if this particular headset will work, or in general if all threaded 1" headsets will work ...

I rode for 30 years without a spoke protector. Last year I pulled the rear derailleur into the spokes, ruining it, a few spokes, and the rim. I keep the limit screws properly adjusted. It happened immediately after leaving a bike hitching post where it had been for a few hours. I suspect...

Hey All!!! I m really an amateur n as I am, I have a standard question... Can I build a Rossin Frame 53 ctc with a Sunlite 26" MTB Fork Threaded Length 100mm, 1" OD, Chrome, ST 200mm together? the picz: ...

I have some cheaper Sugino track bolts and a couple of them spin (they don't tighten) but they aren't stripped. What causes this? Would the models with the knurled bottoms solve my problem?:(

Hi Folks, I've got a 2006 Kona Jake with a Trivativ Elita GXP Triple Crankset/BB. Mostly I use it for commuting, and its a lot of fun. Lately the left crank has been coming loose, causing creaks where the right crank meets the hollow BB. Its relatively difficult to tighten up, I had the...

So I have a double.... not a compact. A 52/42 double married to a 12-25 cassette. I am finding some times the 42t limits my climbing options lately. I am wondering will I see a significant improvement if I were to replace it with a 39t. Or even a 36t if it comes with a 130 BCD. Your thoughts? Or...

I did search and found few tutorials but still have some questions. I have 2009 Fuji Crosstown 4.0 hybrid bike. It has Fuji 13-34T 7-speed cassette, Sunrace RDM4S 7-speed Mega Range rear derailleur and SRAM MRX Grip shift 7-speed shifter. My RD shifts only 4 out of 7 gears. I can't reach the top...

The Frame Is a 2008 Bianchi Bravo Sora Triple Gloss Black 800$ bought of ebay for 200$ The Crank is an Shimano Acera XT 80$ The Derailuers Are Shimano Acera XT 80$ the Shifters are Adjustable Shifters Dont know what there Called The Brakes Are Shimano Deore XTR's With replacable Pads With...

Recently I purchased a 53cm Merlin Extralight that, according to the serial number was built in 1998. It has straight chain and seat stays. Besides that, how does it differs from a current Extralight model?

Does anybody know offhand how big(wide) i can go on a 700c tire with regular 105 road calipers?

Hello, I was hoping someone could enlighten me on an issue I am having with my Dura Ace 7800 derailleur: Recently I switched from Ultegra SL triple to Dura Ace 7800. It is a complete DA setup (except brakes) including chain, cassette and crankset. My issue is with the rear dérailleur...

Had a new bike delivered yesterday and although it was supposedly tuned up and ready to ride after assembled it was nowhere close, ok, I expected that. After I got it all set up I noticed the probable cause of the terrible noise and shifting issues was the crooked RD. It is a new SRAM Rival, just...

my 8 yr old son and I took apart an old beater bike, spray painted it and we are now putting it back together again. I was trying to repack the bottom bracket (for a one-piece crank) and looks like I did it wrong, it was not fitting tightly and when I took it apart again the bearing retainer on...

I've been using a 1986 Bridgestone 300 mixte to commute for about a year, and have decided to upgrade to indexed shifting on the rear and add bar-end shifters. I added traditional looking upright-style Albatross handlebars when I started commuting. The bike currently has 6 gears with Shimano...

i need to pop into sears and pick one up. would like to get it right on first try without having to buy whole hex key set. thanks!

When I was adjusting the slack in the brake I noticed that if you turn the wheel free and let it spin there is a slight sensation of 'grinding' reverberating in the frame. Normal? It isn't loud or apparent - just there. You wouldn't notice if you were on the bike.

older mtn bike. 7spd cassette. changed rear wheel and reused old cassette. now it has funky shifting. i will be on the 4th sprocket and click it to 5th and it won't shift. click again and it will go. than a minute later it will click to 6th. new hub and old hub are same dimensions. same cassette....

My bike: http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+SOLO_CX.html?BIKE=848&Y=2010&CATID=2&SCATID=25 For braking I have this combo: Avid Shorty 6 F+R with standard pads Top mount Tektro RL721 Tiagra STI brake/shifter combo levers I've read couple of posts about how hard is to setup the brakes in...

I have a 1972 Motobecane Jubile Sport. I'm considering trekking bars for it. Are there any special considerations I should be aware of? What diameter of bar will be correct. Another question if you please, are the pedals standard thread or something special. I'd like to put some SPD's on it...

I am new in bike riding and even more new to bicycle mechanic.... What should I check before a ride and after? I guess, check air pressure would be good, but what else?

Hi guys, I know that in the heart of Campy Ergos is a cam that dictates the number of gears the shifter can handle, and I belive that Campy bar ends use the same cam. So how about Campy down tube shifters? Do they still make them, and do they use the same cam? Suppose I have an older pair of...

I ride an old Schwinn Continental though I put a lot of my old Varsity parts on it. I keep snapping the pedals off, this is the third time, and as I have been climbing a hill and out of the saddle, I crash. They break off right through the bolt where the pedal meets the crank. The pedals I use are...