aaand now it's stripped

at least it was stripped in the loose position so I can get the seatpost out for more angles. really trying to avoid the 'saw off' method if possible.

/doesntownasaw

Got a dremel? It's a lot easier than ye olde hacksaw.

/notscrod

nope. all my tools are basically wrenches / bike specific. i actually bought a cheap one once to find out it didn't come with a blade (was for a project) and returned it before getting to use it.

anyway. grease or lube or anything? if not I'm going to go grab a handsaw or something :/

Is it loose enough to grease up the collar and slip it off, may make it a little bit easier.

It's integrated into the head tube.

Scrod's gonna be real mad when he wakes up. I don't wanna be around for that.

Borrow a dremel, cut a slit in the face of the bolt and you should be able to get it off with a flathead screwdriver.

edit: obviously using much caution not to score up your frame

yeah the collar is integrated, there's just the bolt in the back of the seat tube.

http://cache1.bigcartel.com/product_...-blue-3-wm.jpg

was afraid it'd come to that. swear this was the most delicate bolt in the history of bolts. let the gf tighten it (she wanted to "build" it herself) and just the tiniest bit of stripping it set all this into motion.

Everyones stripped a few things, nothing you cant fix. Just hand her the dremel and come back in a half hour, that'll teach her.

You got some nice rides by the way, good luck with the seatpost bolt.

Scrod, would I notice upgrading to actual double straps from current equipment of two single straps? I had them lying around and while they do okay, they seem to stretch a lot being that two are nylon and two extremely cheap leather.

IN regard to hamfoh's stripped binder bolt, I have no idea without having it right in front of me. If your lbs didn't suck, I'd tell you to bring it in and have them figure it out.

I definitely noticed going from non-laminated singles to laminated doubles (regardless of adriano's bull**** claim that doubles are no more secure than singles) and in my experience, nylon straps just plain suck.

Is Leukybear a guy?

Yes.

a trip to the LBS for help or Home Depot for a handsaw!?

Is a 25:9 gear ratio even possible? I have a friend who wants me to build him a ss mountain bike, and hes saying thats the ratio he wants. I have heard of a 24 t chainring, and 11 t cogs, but not of 25:9

Scrod,

would you trust kinlin xr200's under a 245lb rider?
handbuilt with 32 spokes

main use will be on the track and occasionally country roads but not urban riding so no potholes to worry about

same question but with city riding

I'm pretty sure BMX drivers go down that small.

If you're riding track/on smooth roads and take care of your wheels, I think you'll be okay.

You may be alright but I probably wouldn't do it.

I hope he doesn't plan on doing any mountain biking.25/9 gives 72.1 GI on a 26 and 80.9 on a 29er.Also,the smallest ring for a standard 104 bcd crank is 32T.A 25 would have to be the granny on triple which looks odd without the bigger rings IMHO.

not scrod,just sayin'

Scrod, how should I gauge the tension in my spokes? I am using my Sun M13's from velomine to compare them, and they're rock hard compared to my spokes (which I can still somewhat bend). It's just that every time I give the nipples a twist (quarter turn now), I hear a popping noise and I feel like it's getting towards it's limit..

Lasers are a little more springy than straight gauge spokes. With mine properly tensioned, they move about 3-4mm when pinching a crossed pair of them together.

Dear Scrod,
when using a spoke calculator do you round up or down to the nearest odd spoke length?

Thanks, man. Just by eyeballing it and trying to go by feel, it seems pretty good now. How do I know though.... :( <-- Total self-doubt