Post your latest upgrades here!
11-01-10 | 02:38 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,155
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
Bikes: rockhopper, delta V, cannondale H300, Marin Mill Valley
Post your latest upgrades here!
I changed the chain on my bike this weekend, but I think I jumped the gun on that. My chain measuring device was showing the old chain to be in fair condition (between good and replace) but I replaced it anyway. Upgraded from Shimano to Sram.
Changed my front tire with a new one and then changed my back tire with the used one that came off the front rim. All Specialized Nimbus 1.5, but I'm planing to upgrade to Schwalbe next time, based on all the great things I read about them here.
The rubber rim strip on the rear was kinda messed up so I replaced (upgraded) it with Velox cloth rim tape. The width I usually use on 26 inch rims was too wide so I used the narrower width that I use n my 700c rims. One problem with narrow rims drilled for Schraeder valves is the hole in the rim strip is almost as wide as the rim strip.
Changed my front tire with a new one and then changed my back tire with the used one that came off the front rim. All Specialized Nimbus 1.5, but I'm planing to upgrade to Schwalbe next time, based on all the great things I read about them here.
The rubber rim strip on the rear was kinda messed up so I replaced (upgraded) it with Velox cloth rim tape. The width I usually use on 26 inch rims was too wide so I used the narrower width that I use n my 700c rims. One problem with narrow rims drilled for Schraeder valves is the hole in the rim strip is almost as wide as the rim strip.
11-01-10 | 03:40 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 305
Likes: 4
From: Eastern NC
Bikes: '81 Puch '13 Cafe Noir
Bought a cheap bike computer for $8, https://www.meritline.com/wireless-cy...--p-42402.aspx, as you can see the price went up. Still a good deal and it works well.
Then I bought a cheap light off of eBay, https://cgi.ebay.com/5w-LED-CREE-Flas...#ht_3491wt_906, it just blows me away.
This makes 2 cheap Chinese gadgets that I couldn't be happier with.
For my next purchase I'm going to the other extreme, a Brooks b33 as you see in my avatar. I'd order it now but I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks and I don't want it to just sit on my porch.
Then I bought a cheap light off of eBay, https://cgi.ebay.com/5w-LED-CREE-Flas...#ht_3491wt_906, it just blows me away.
This makes 2 cheap Chinese gadgets that I couldn't be happier with.
For my next purchase I'm going to the other extreme, a Brooks b33 as you see in my avatar. I'd order it now but I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks and I don't want it to just sit on my porch.
11-01-10 | 03:59 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 305
Likes: 4
From: Eastern NC
Bikes: '81 Puch '13 Cafe Noir
Edenton, https://www.edenton.com/ "The South's Prettiest Small Town".......according to the chamber of commerce anyway.
11-01-10 | 06:32 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville FL
Bikes: 2013 TREK 7.6 FX
I installed new saddle, Bell Memory foam, Topeak rack for disk brakes, new peddles, awesome headlamp Sigma
Triled, Planet bike Blinky 7 light, and Kendra Kwick 26 x 1.95 tires. Those are amazing, super fast on the road,
but still feel like MTB tires, pretty inexpensive, so we will have to see how they last. Did seat perfectly on install,
and feel like road tires.. ( LOL )..For me anyway..
and here is after a ride with my son..
, He still thinks they are to big ! If he goes Roadie on me ! and that is where
he seems headed....( Laugh) ..Richard
Triled, Planet bike Blinky 7 light, and Kendra Kwick 26 x 1.95 tires. Those are amazing, super fast on the road,
but still feel like MTB tires, pretty inexpensive, so we will have to see how they last. Did seat perfectly on install,
and feel like road tires.. ( LOL )..For me anyway..
he seems headed....( Laugh) ..Richard
11-07-10 | 09:23 PM
#7
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
Cross levers! Tektro RL-740's, which were the only levers I could find that'll work with long pull brakes. Wrong clamp diameter for the Albatross bars, but some strips of beer can aluminum and electrical tape closed that gap right up.
I like riding up in the bends when fighting a headwind, or whenever I feel like really boogying, but I was nervous about cranking hard while my hands were nowhere near the brakes. I also ditched the cork grips, which were conflicting with the black/silver color scheme that the bike's got going.
Hey Richard, I think that your F4's the same model that my father-in-law is currently using to cross the continent. He left Seattle almost two months ago, and is now within 300 miles of DC. He loves the ride.
I like riding up in the bends when fighting a headwind, or whenever I feel like really boogying, but I was nervous about cranking hard while my hands were nowhere near the brakes. I also ditched the cork grips, which were conflicting with the black/silver color scheme that the bike's got going.
Hey Richard, I think that your F4's the same model that my father-in-law is currently using to cross the continent. He left Seattle almost two months ago, and is now within 300 miles of DC. He loves the ride.
11-07-10 | 11:53 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville FL
Bikes: 2013 TREK 7.6 FX
Cross levers! Tektro RL-740's, which were the only levers I could find that'll work with long pull brakes. Wrong clamp diameter for the Albatross bars, but some strips of beer can aluminum and electrical tape closed that gap right up.
I like riding up in the bends when fighting a headwind, or whenever I feel like really boogying, but I was nervous about cranking hard while my hands were nowhere near the brakes. I also ditched the cork grips, which were conflicting with the black/silver color scheme that the bike's got going.
Hey Richard, I think that your F4's the same model that my father-in-law is currently using to cross the continent. He left Seattle almost two months ago, and is now within 300 miles of DC. He loves the ride.
I like riding up in the bends when fighting a headwind, or whenever I feel like really boogying, but I was nervous about cranking hard while my hands were nowhere near the brakes. I also ditched the cork grips, which were conflicting with the black/silver color scheme that the bike's got going.
Hey Richard, I think that your F4's the same model that my father-in-law is currently using to cross the continent. He left Seattle almost two months ago, and is now within 300 miles of DC. He loves the ride.
I little narrower tires, it is light weight, lock out HeadShock, and a MULE for hauling things..( Your Father-Law-Is living the dream !
11-07-10 | 11:57 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville FL
Bikes: 2013 TREK 7.6 FX
Cross levers! Tektro RL-740's, which were the only levers I could find that'll work with long pull brakes. Wrong clamp diameter for the Albatross bars, but some strips of beer can aluminum and electrical tape closed that gap right up.
I like riding up in the bends when fighting a headwind, or whenever I feel like really boogying, but I was nervous about cranking hard while my hands were nowhere near the brakes. I also ditched the cork grips, which were conflicting with the black/silver color scheme that the bike's got going.
Hey Richard, I think that your F4's the same model that my father-in-law is currently using to cross the continent. He left Seattle almost two months ago, and is now within 300 miles of DC. He loves the ride.
I like riding up in the bends when fighting a headwind, or whenever I feel like really boogying, but I was nervous about cranking hard while my hands were nowhere near the brakes. I also ditched the cork grips, which were conflicting with the black/silver color scheme that the bike's got going.
Hey Richard, I think that your F4's the same model that my father-in-law is currently using to cross the continent. He left Seattle almost two months ago, and is now within 300 miles of DC. He loves the ride.
11-08-10 | 02:05 AM
#10
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
The father-in-law's running 1.5" slicks and trekking bars on his F4. He travels ultralight, and packs all he needs into two rear panniers and a handlebar bag. And he's retired, so he'd definitely living the dream.
My bike's got Nokian Extreme 296's mounted for the winter, been riding on studs since mid-October. In the summer I run Schwalbe Big Apples, big fat slicks.
My bike's got Nokian Extreme 296's mounted for the winter, been riding on studs since mid-October. In the summer I run Schwalbe Big Apples, big fat slicks.
11-09-10 | 06:53 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville FL
Bikes: 2013 TREK 7.6 FX
Well since the last post on this thread, I have added bar ends, vertical L shaped curved to give me that more up right riding style, seems
easier on my back when riding more upright. Left hand bar end mirror, ( ONE OF THE MOST USE FULL THINGS ), just glancing down at the
mirror to see whats coming behind you, no turning your head, not that I really ever did. But it is nice to just check with just a look. Also
Clip pedals with straps, only using the straps at this point, took a whole 30 minutes to get accustomed to, did have to raise the seat a
little. Was riding a little more flat footed. The bar ends are AWESOME, can sit up straight now when I feel the need, mirror, would never want
to road ride without one again, pedals ? I have only used them for 5 miles or so, the difference did not jump out at me like the other two changes.
Was a pretty long day for me biking, rode to town, then a small trip to the post office, ( 3.5 Miles ) and a a few takes off a staged video shot
with all the new stuff..Here is a video before I installed the pedals..
..and here
the is the other..
.....Pedals are on in this video...It is hard to build a bike that
can double as a MTB, then go road riding, commuting to town etc..( BUT I AM TRYING ! ), Richard : )
easier on my back when riding more upright. Left hand bar end mirror, ( ONE OF THE MOST USE FULL THINGS ), just glancing down at the
mirror to see whats coming behind you, no turning your head, not that I really ever did. But it is nice to just check with just a look. Also
Clip pedals with straps, only using the straps at this point, took a whole 30 minutes to get accustomed to, did have to raise the seat a
little. Was riding a little more flat footed. The bar ends are AWESOME, can sit up straight now when I feel the need, mirror, would never want
to road ride without one again, pedals ? I have only used them for 5 miles or so, the difference did not jump out at me like the other two changes.
Was a pretty long day for me biking, rode to town, then a small trip to the post office, ( 3.5 Miles ) and a a few takes off a staged video shot
with all the new stuff..Here is a video before I installed the pedals..
the is the other..
can double as a MTB, then go road riding, commuting to town etc..( BUT I AM TRYING ! ), Richard : )
11-09-10 | 08:07 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville FL
Bikes: 2013 TREK 7.6 FX
and still have the bike ( LOL ) God Bless, Richard
11-09-10 | 08:54 PM
#14
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
What, I'm supposed to post about my dynohub lights again???
Okay.
It started when I got a wheelset from a friend of mine this spring. The wheels came of an A Homer Hilsen bike... so pretty good stuff, including Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tires and a SON 28 dynohub on the front wheel. It didn't begin well, though. I put the wheels on my bike. I had to put the rear wheel on partially flat to get it around the fender. Then I pumped it rest of the way, checked clearance around the fender, adjusted the brakes and BANG! The tube blew. When I checked further, I found the rim was screwed up at the seam-
After some checking I found it was a Ritchey OCR rim which is not made anymore, but I found an online source and ordered one. I swapped out the bad rim for the good and it came out pretty well.
So I went ahead and ordered my lights from the LBS who got them from Peter White.
I went with a Lumotec IQ Fly LED with standlight (and senso, but only because they were out of stock of the non-senso ones) for the front, and a Toplight Line with standlight, both made by Busch & Müller.
The finished product- the lights mounted on the bike:
Okay.
It started when I got a wheelset from a friend of mine this spring. The wheels came of an A Homer Hilsen bike... so pretty good stuff, including Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tires and a SON 28 dynohub on the front wheel. It didn't begin well, though. I put the wheels on my bike. I had to put the rear wheel on partially flat to get it around the fender. Then I pumped it rest of the way, checked clearance around the fender, adjusted the brakes and BANG! The tube blew. When I checked further, I found the rim was screwed up at the seam-
After some checking I found it was a Ritchey OCR rim which is not made anymore, but I found an online source and ordered one. I swapped out the bad rim for the good and it came out pretty well.
So I went ahead and ordered my lights from the LBS who got them from Peter White.
I went with a Lumotec IQ Fly LED with standlight (and senso, but only because they were out of stock of the non-senso ones) for the front, and a Toplight Line with standlight, both made by Busch & Müller.
The finished product- the lights mounted on the bike:
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-10-10 | 06:52 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,155
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
Bikes: rockhopper, delta V, cannondale H300, Marin Mill Valley
Ritchey will probably send you a new rim if you let them know what happened. That is not a normal rim failure, I have destroyed many rims, but I've never split the seam like that. I enjoy your pictures. No, you don't have to post about your lights again, but I'm glad you did, I missed it the first time.
Last edited by qmsdc15; 11-10-10 at 07:02 PM.
11-10-10 | 06:59 PM
#17
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,155
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
Bikes: rockhopper, delta V, cannondale H300, Marin Mill Valley
Thanks, Richard. After A posted that, I thought I should have waited until I had a better picture of the wheel. When I post pictures of something that might be a little boring, like a trailer wheel, I try to get something else of interest in the background or sometimes, as in this case, the foreground.
