Mojo31

I bought mine 3 hours away, so I've been learning to make adjustments as I go. I had a loose crank bolt, and the bike was making a "clicking" sound on the left down stroke. I checked pretty much everything on the bike that I thought it could be with no luck. I then decided to go over every nut and bolt, and found that the crank bolt was very loose. I pulled up a Park Tools video about installing cranks, and in 5 minutes I had it fixed. Super easy.

The process is to tighten the crank bolt first, and then tighten the left crank arm. I believe that is what the recall was about - the arms were tightened then the bolt. The bolt is tightened to a very low torque, so if you do it first, the crank arm tightens around it and holds it in place (that and some blue Locktite).

I would rather learn how to do this stuff as it is all easy rather than run to the bike shop for every adjustment. There are some things I will leave to a shop though since I don't have all the tools (wheel truing for example).

The tolerances on a lot of these bikes are a lot higher than our old Schwinns, and are just going to need adjustments from time to time. No different than maintaining high end sports cars versus Camrys.

Way2Slow

This is why forums are great!

Mojo31

That's why I say go get your bike back. There's nothing wrong with the bike. It just needs a little adjustment!

Have the shop fix it while you are there.

Unlike cars, bikes are pretty simple.

Way2Slow

Already ordered another bike, be here next week.

Mojo31

Great! What did you decide on?

Way2Slow

x5

Mojo31

Very nice!

Way2Slow

I hope so, all this searching and finally being able to test ride bikes has been driving me nuts! Sad to say but I just couldn't make up my dam mind on which model I wanted. I rode the X5 again and after riding the Sirrus 3 I realized the 1x drivetrain had plenty of gearing for me. If I'm wanting to go fast I should buy a road bike and call it the day but I don't as I just want be comfortable and and get a good workout. I thought I wanted the Cast Blue X5 but it looks purplish to me, the Sage Green grew on me so they told me I have to wait about 10 days if I want it so I pulled the trigger. Now it's hurry up and wait! Then I hear this little voice say maybe you should wait for 2021 models haha then I was like no!!!

Mojo31

There won't be much difference in the '21 models other than the cost.

When we ride, I find that I use the large ring and smaller 5 cogs about 99% of the time. But, that's all street or paved path.

If I keep riding like I have been, I may go to a road bike in the spring or late winter. If I don't, then I won't waste the money. My brother has a Giant Defy Advanced that he rarely rides, and has offered it to me to try for as long as I like. Since he is the same size as I am (just not as good looking and 10 years younger), I'm going to pick it up one of these days and see what I think.

Way2Slow

My buddy has the a Giant, same model I think. That sucker is hella light, he's been telling me to go take it for a spin. The air quality here is finally better, man so much destruction from the fires.

Mojo31

I'm jealous of the good places you have to ride - Headlands, Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Angel Island.

Hills might do me in though.

Way2Slow

Presidio and Golden Gate park are my favorites. Living in the Bay Area comes at a cost, that's for sure. Yeah some of hills would kill me for sure, ain't no spring chicken lol. My most memorable is walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, view is insane. You can ride but you're on the Pacific Ocean side and it's nice too.

Mojo31

I've been wowed by people riding up the Headlands. I get gassed just watching them do it.

That area is one of our favorite vacation spots - all the way from Big Sur to Carmel to San Francisco. Would love to live in Sausalito, but no way can we afford it the way we live here.

Way2Slow

Yeah it's crazy expensive for property in the Bay Area.

Mojo31

I have a sister in San Diego. She tells me my house in Texas would cost at least 10 times what it's worth here if it were in her area. My cheap house lets me buy more toys.

FM1178

what kind of wait time are you looking at for your X5?

Jagamov

Good choice, Sage Green is THE color....LOL...

Way2Slow

Plus I'm sure you have a pretty nice sized lot that your house sits on, pretty much non-existent here unless you're one of the tech millionaires. Property is scarce unless you got some deep pockets to buy up the whole block lol

On Monday, they told me I'd have the bike in about 10 days. So I'm hoping to pick next Friday.

Have to order some XPEL, got plenty of Windex lol - the guys at the LBS said this stuff works pretty good:

https://www.amazon.com/Muc-Off-Finis...23754530&psc=1

Mojo31

about 1/4 acre. Plenty for us. House and pool consumes most of it.

GeoffNA

I love the 2020 Sage Green, but the 2021 Redwood is growing on me.

Way2Slow

Very nice! By the way, how are them Stix lights?

Have you seen pics?

GeoffNA

I have.

GeoffNA

And with one more post...

GeoffNA

I can show you this: https://www.landrys.com/product/spec...0-383638-1.htm

Redwood and Gloss blue. Both cool looking but the red just screams fast. Would like to order it with transparent sidewalls and an offset carbon seat post for a speedy look.

If you go to Specialized's site, and switch your region to Canada, you'll see much better pics, including the subtle upgrades for this year.

But the site seems to be down at the moment. Maybe they're updating other regions.

Mojo31

Stix lights are good for daytime lights. The headlight is not very bright for night though, although I didn't buy the brightest made. I bought them for riding around cars and they work well for that. Very noticeable. Like the way the front mounts to the headset spacer.

By the way, I'm using this to clean the matte finish with good results: