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please sir can i have some answers?

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

please sir can i have some answers?

Old 04-19-11, 01:46 PM
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please sir can i have some answers?

Okay let me see if i can organize this in a nice way lol.

I currently have a Eighth-Inch Scrambler/Nashbar/used wheel set bike. Now the stem/bars/seat post/saddle are all fine and dandy for me because I'm not looking to drop like all sorts of money on things i just sit on lol. What I'm more focused on; are things that spin. The hubs on my wheel set are unsealed bearing, crappy, "to get me by" hubs. I was looking at IRO's website and was thinking about purchasing their hubs and rims. Now I've never built wheels before so I'd probably taking them to my friend's dad who has a truing stand, etc. What sort of spokes and nipples would I need? I know they come in certain lengths and gauges but that's where my knowledge stops. I had to build my bike on a super budget, so I got the Nashbar special, lol. I got their cheapest bottom bracket, lack of funds will cause you to do so lol. Would it be a good idea to get a new BB? Will their be a noticeable smoother ride?

One more thing, what sort of grease do you guys recommend?

ps. If there was a thread here for all these questions just link me, I'd be more then happy to read up and learn.

EDIT #1: I also forgot that I have the worst pedals in the history of the world. Would it be a nice upgrade to get nice track pedals(all city or something) and Metal cages?

Last edited by EhrikETFG; 04-19-11 at 01:50 PM.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:01 PM
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Before you pull the trigger on buying wheel parts, take a look at the Wabi Cycles wheelset. It's $150, and might be the best-performing set of affordable wheels out there. Made with double-butted spokes and sealed hubs.

Pedals: since you're on a budget, it's a LOT cheaper to get some BMX-style platform pedals and velcro straps. Track peadls + cages = $$$.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:03 PM
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Thanks for the link to the wheels, bookmarked. Also I would buy platforms and stuff but I really want/like cages.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:23 PM
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for good but not to expensive pedals + cages go look at
https://www.retro-gression.com/produc...n-track-pedals or https://www.retro-gression.com/produc...-pedals-silver
plus
https://www.retro-gression.com/produc...s-straps-combo
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Old 04-19-11, 02:25 PM
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What that guy said.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:35 PM
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You can probably buy a set of wheels cheaper than you can build them. But because building wheels is a cool thing to learn, read this: https://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

There are LOTS of other wheel building articles online but I feel like Sheldon's is at the very least a great starting point.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:37 PM
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i was on that website earlier today, but didn't see those. thanks guys.

its so weird coming from tarck to here, where people don't hate you right away and actually like to help ya.

EDIT: so would you recommend building my wheels?
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Old 04-19-11, 02:41 PM
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Depends if you want to save a little money or learn something. If you're mechanically inclined and at all interested in it, I say build. If budget is an issue, buy.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:47 PM
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I do enjoy a good learning myself.

I also just thought of another question. The bottom bracket axle length I was told I needed was 107 mm, but it seems that the cranks set further away from the bottom bracket shell then they should. Is this an issue? I know you should try and keep your drive line as straight as possible but?
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Old 04-19-11, 02:51 PM
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The cranks should be set up so the chainring and what ever you have on the rear wheel run straight. If that is happening your cranks set out just as far as they need to, no matter if it looks wrong visually or not.
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Old 04-19-11, 02:56 PM
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Okay thank you.
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Old 04-19-11, 03:30 PM
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They are definitely not in a line lol.
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Old 04-19-11, 09:25 PM
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I second the wabi wheels
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Old 04-19-11, 09:29 PM
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For pedals, MKS GR9s or MKS Sylvans with MKS steel clips and some single leather straps are a pretty solid for around $45-50. If you're into BMX platform style pedals, the ones available in Scrod's shop (Retro-gression) seem to be the most affordable and highly rated ones around this forum.

As far as grease goes, I use Park Tool Polylube 1000 and it works really well for me:



When I go to the co-op they just have normal automotive grease that's either some shade of blue/green/red and they all work fine.
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Old 04-20-11, 05:13 AM
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Personally, I think you have your priorities backwards.
Most bike people (aside from this forum) suggest that contact points are the most important places to get right and the other stuff won't add any noticeable improvements. I'm sure you won't see any noticeable improvement by going to a sealed bearing hub.
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Old 04-20-11, 05:33 AM
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Originally Posted by EhrikETFG
Now the stem/bars/seat post/saddle are all fine and dandy for me because I'm not looking to drop like all sorts of money on things i just sit on lol. What I'm more focused on; are things that spin.
Steev is right. This is ass-backward logic. Points where you make contact with a bike are much more important and will create much more noticeable differences than different hubs.
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Old 04-20-11, 05:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
Steev is right. This is ass-backward logic. Points where you make contact with a bike are much more important and will create much more noticeable differences than different hubs.
So what do you recommend then? I just figured it would be better to fix the things that suck at rolling, then bars and stuff.
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Old 04-20-11, 05:46 AM
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Your cog is slipping.
 
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That depends. Are you uncomfortable with your current setup or "upgrading" just because?
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Old 04-20-11, 05:58 AM
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I have these: https://www.giantnerd.com/vp-vp-399t-...ke-pedals.html

Probably the best per dollar imo.
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Old 04-20-11, 06:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
That depends. Are you uncomfortable with your current setup or "upgrading" just because?
Uncomfortable in regards to saddle,bars,etc? Not really. Uncomfortable in regards to my front wheel, yes.

ps. if you guys want to actually see the bike i put it on PedalRoom.
pps. any insight is greatly appreciated
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Old 04-20-11, 06:12 AM
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Your cog is slipping.
 
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I don't understand how your front wheel is "uncomfortable". It's a wheel.

Looks like a Kilo TT wheelset to me. Clean and repack the bearings, properly adjust your cones and ride your bike.
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Old 04-20-11, 06:15 AM
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I dunno, if your front wheel was chronically coming loose and shaking all the time would it make you feel uncomfortable? And I have cleaned and repacked the bearings, that was one of the first things I did.
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Old 04-20-11, 06:22 AM
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As a bike mechanic, I've probably repacked and adjusted 1000+ loose/caged bearing hubs. If your front wheel keeps coming loose and shaking, you're not doing something right. Take your wheel to your local shop.
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Old 04-20-11, 06:24 AM
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awe man you edited.

Okay, I'll take it to a shop.

Last edited by EhrikETFG; 04-20-11 at 06:30 AM.
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Old 04-20-11, 06:33 AM
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For real. I'm not trying to be snotty...it just sounds like something isn't right. While those hubs aren't the best on the planet, you shouldn't be having such trouble with them.

I rolled on a stock Kilo wheelset for a while and had no problems. Hell, I even actually liked them.
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