but I have $68 burning a hole in my pocket

I highly doubt you'll notice a 4mm difference in rake.

Awesome - I have ordered it.
Thanks!

Umm, did I miss something? :wtf:

Ah, found it :thumb:

Dearest Scrodzilla,

Is my wheel/hub ****ed? Here's the deal: a couple days ago I started hearing a weird ticking sound coming from my bike. I can't reproduce it on the stand, only when I'm riding it. I removed all gadgets and doo-dads (spoke cards, water bottle, a little charm that was hanging off the saddle rail, etc.) to make sure it wasn't something stupid just being noisy.

I've really tried to pay attention to the ticking. It's totally random and irregular in terms of how loud it is and when it happens, and doesn't seem to have anything to do with pedaling so I don't think it's the drivetrain. (I did check my chainring bolts to be sure and they're fine, and the chain is dirty but fine.) It doesn't seem to change with speed, although by the end of my 10mi commute this morning it was barely happening. I think it's coming from the front of my bike. And then this morning there was a new sound - a jingle! Hooray! Well at least this one I could figure out. Forgive me for not knowing the names of the parts, wheels are still a mystery to me, but the silver washer/cap thing on one side of my hub was loose and jingling. I pulled over and pushed it back into place. Later in the ride the same part on the other side of my hub did the same thing. Ugh. Picture:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8548/8...b1a18b645f.jpg
Untitled by miss_kaz, on Flickr

You can see it's not pushed in like it's supposed to be. I have no idea if this is related to the ticking/creaking.

Any thoughts on what's going on? Is my wheel going to catastrophically fail while I'm riding it? Should I take the bus home today? Am I going insane?

Those dust caps pop off all the time. Check to make sure all the bearings are still inside (and that nothing else is in there that shouldn't be) and press it back in.

It would be a good idea to service your hub while you're at it because I'm sure a lot of dirt has gotten in there.

hey scrod, can we ask you any type of question? if yes here's my question :)

what would you buy if you're looking for a fixie and have $600 to spend? would you build one up or buy a complete? research has led me to kilo tt or premium brew as members have suggested. I will not be racing this bike, it will be for flat city riding no harsh uphills. I am mainly a mountain biker with my yeti 575 but wanting to joing other crowds who does road bike only. I was in the retrogression site and saw the sexy looking bikes and wanted to get your opinion on it. thanks in advance.

Scrod, how much weight can I save if I shave off my beard?

Approx the equivalent of 87 grams of seatpost.

Ok, I showed the pic to my friend here who works in a bike shop sometimes and he offered to overhaul the hub for me at work tomorrow. Woo! I just have to hope nothing fails on my ride home, then ride my other bike to drinks tonight and carry the wheel with me to hand off to him.

I think you'll be alright. In the meantime, pull off your front wheel and try pressing them back in to keep more dirt and gunk from getting in there.

It's not the weight that will be beneficial but the aero advantage.

A beard helps with break the wind for the rest of your head. Just like the dimples on a high end disk, a golf ball, or that Kansas City time trialer's eye patch.

Do you by chance know what kind of saddle bag that is? It looks pretty cool and I'd love to have one.

http://www.leaderbikeusa.com/?p=2420

Thanks

I have no idea.

Not Scrod, but it looks like this might be it http://www.archivebag.com/saddlebag.html

Thanks for the help, I don't know much about saddle bags and I'm looking into getting one just to hold small equipment rather than having to bring with me a backpack that's like 10% full. I hate the feeling of a mostly empty backpack, it just doesn't feel right.

Dave- What do you think of Sram S80 wheels? Or any deep wheel for that matter.

I don't think of Sram S80 wheels. If you're not racing, neither should you.

What kind of digital scale do you use to weigh components? The Park Tool DS-2?

He borrows Nagrom's.

I've got a DS-1 and DS-2.

What could you sell a DS-2 for w/shipping????

I'll let you know tomorrow.

Wooops..............wrong thread to ask. I'll check in the proper location.;)

Wouldn't any digital scale do the trick? Although, looking at prices, I guess they all run about the same for a decent one.

Sure, but as a shop owner I can buy Park stuff at wholesale cost.

Hey Scrod:

Newb here. I currently have a 2009 Specialized Langster NYC Edition with a frame that's too big for me. I'd like to move to a Leader 725 frame, and just move all my components over for now, then piecemeal replace them as I go forward.

How important is going to a bike shop to get an actual fit done before buying the frame - or can I just use the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator to get a "close enough" fit, then get the actual fit done when I get my components on the frame?

(Fit calculator puts me in a 51 Leader 725, while my Langster is a 56.)

If your Langster fits, pick a new frame with the closest top tube measurement. Leaders are notoriously long and low, so be sure to do your homework before you buy.

Dude's (Jemi9od's) Langster DOES NOT fit him, let alone me at 6'1 (with the OEM stem, chode stem currently swapped in as a stopgap for him). (I work with him, so i know). Thanks for the reply, and I have encouraged him to call you to talk thru the fit further if need be :). Sometimes the phone is the best way forward, unless you don't do phones. Thanks for confirming that Langsters are long and low; my 55 Kilo feels like a featherbed compared to that thing.