/bqg/ - Bike Questions General

>>976016
First I must ask; did you pay $3,000 for these on credit?

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Rate my workshop

>>976020
needs more work surfaces and storage containers, less unlabeled boxes.

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>>976018
No. The wheels I have now set me back about $700 CAD. It'd cost about the same (less actually because I'd use Sapim Laser instead of CX-Ray spokes) for another set of carbon wheels, or like $500 for a set of alloys (using Stan's Alpha 340 rims).

>>976021
What part of fresh cut salads did you not understand?

got questions about shoes/pedals

I. i think ive got an old pair of sampson step ins, where its not like little pins, it looks kinda like a ski binding. Are there cleats for those anymore that arent super hard to get ahold of?

II. Are cleats interchangeable on all shoes? or is that only a high priced sorta thing?

III. Best brand with lots of support and compatability? Probably shimano huh?

>>976033
1
http://www.sampsonsports.com/pedals-1/ ?

2
Between road shoes, mostly yeah,

3
Spd-sl and spd and the road and mtb standard respectively, but the others are good too. The best brand for shoes is whatever is at a local shop and fits you the best. It's not worth buying shoes online and guessing at the fit. Sidi are the best shoes.

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>>976040
Thanks for the input bud!

I've got pic related, shoulda just posted a pic at the start huh? Doesn't really match anything online I've seen and their home site doesn't even list them.

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>>976020

Needs more wall hangers.

>>976033
>1
No idea.

>2
There are two main mounting systems: 2-bolt and 3-bolt. Cleats for MTB pedals mount to 2-bolt; cleats for road pedals mount to 3-bolt.

>3
Shimano's a good bet, not the only horse in town though.

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does anyone recognize this? It looks so familiar but I can't put a name to it.
the hassles of buying used bikes from people who can't photograph properly

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>>976082
Here.

>>976083
thanks man. the light is from berko and I think they stopped producing in the 50s.
I just can't place that red stick figure but I am certain that I have seen this before.

How often should I clean and regrease bearings in my hubs?

How often should I apply frame saver to the internals of my frame?

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looking for some help. Is this ok bike for 500 euro? I don't know much about bikes because I had the same one for 10 years. Now looking for a new one

some info on parts: Shimano ultegra
Shimano ultegra
Shimano 105
Shimano hyperglide 8speed
Shimano Dura Ace 2speed
Shimano ultegra
Mavic MA40
wheels: Continental Grand Prix 4000
Shimano Dura Ace
saddle: San Marco BlazeK
stem: 3TTT
ITM
brakes: Modolo speed

>>976016
i'd get a cheap set of alloy clinchers for training and commuting, then save a nice set of carbons for racing or whatever... to many fucked up things in the road that can destroy rims.

>>976114
I got a better bike than that for $400 aud which is $270 Euro. Dunno what the market is like in Europe though.

What do y'all think of fairings? They're banned by the uci? Makes me wonder what we would see if they didn't ban everything.

>>976114
worth 100/150€ max.

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>>976121

>>976126
what's the point of those ?
aero ?

>>976118
Lets see your 'better' bike. Because that is a pretty high end classic bike. The mismatch of parts does devalue it slightly but won't impact the ride.

>>976128
it's still a 20 years old bike.

>>976129
Its a 25 year old handbuilt bike from a small builder with TDF winning pedigree, chromed lugs, columbus SLX tubing. a stunning paintjob, and a build old enough to look gorgeous and new enough to be servicable with in production parts.

It's not merely old, it's a vintage classic. It's meant to be ridden too and i bet it rides fantastically. If kept in good condition the value of it will never fall, and probably increase.

400 Euro would be more fair. 150 is an insult.

>>976127
Yes. And one heck of a lot more efficient than deep rim profiles without the inertia.

>Suspend bike
>Tune shifting
>Works flawlessly up and down no problem
>On road
>Shift on highest ring
>REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>Won't shift unless you hold the trigger for half an hour

>>976142
Bet you're using shitmano. SRAM is the way to go.

>>976142
That's what barrel adjusters are there for, for micro-adjustments after test riding.

Is a 55 cm frame too small for someone that's 6 feet tall? I was told if I extended the handlebars that I would be fine.

>>976180

Depends on your build a bit.
You may need a setback seatpost, or you may fit perfectly.

>>976180
5'10 here with a 56 for a road bike, its workable for me but slightly too big. 56 in CX is uncomfortably big for me but still rideable.

>>976181
I'm 190 pounds if that helps. Last time I rode it, I went for a 25 mile ride, and my hands kept falling asleep one me. I was told that might be from having a weak core and not being strong enough yet though.

>>976180
potentially ok if you want an aggressive aero position. If you want a more upright relaxed position, it's retarded.

Not technical, hope it still fits here.

I usually ride around 90-100 cadence, but struggle putting out enough power. Would I progress more at a lower cadence (~80/85) or do I just need to train more and the power will come up while riding higher cadence?

>>976188
Ride steep hills. Lots.

>>976184

That's usually symptomatic of ulnar nerve pressure. It can be the result of a poor bike fit, poor core strength, or a couple of other things. There's really no way for me or anyone else to e-diagnose.

Are 27 inch forks longer than 700c ones? I'm building a cheapo gravel bike out of parts bin and all I have left is forks made for 27 wheels. Would running a 37 inch for on a 700c frame be bad ?

Will riding a fixed gear 5-10 miles/day keep me fit? Or should I go freewheel?

Also, just bought a barebones PureFix, what should I do with it first?

>>976202
Fitness wise it makes no difference. You should invest in some decent tires.

>>976203
What do you mean it makes no difference? Recommend good road tires?

>>976202
>PureFix, what should I do with it first?
throw it away

>>976202
>Also, just bought a barebones PureFix, what should I do with it first?

Into the garbage.

>Will riding a bike 5-10 miles/day keep me fit?

No.

>>976210
>>976212
Rude. It was a 200 dollar bike I'm using to commute, I don't need anything that costs more than that.

>>976213
you could have used that $200 on a used bike that was complete and would have been able to ride it for years and years. It would be more functional than what you just bought and probably still have a higher resale value. You are about 3 years late to fit in with the fixie hipsters which just makes you retarded. We gave you an honest answer, you should have expected that hen you came here asking for opinions... throw the cheapest tires you can find on it, hows that? does that advice work for you?

>>976204

Rides don't get easier, they just get faster.

>>976213

You overpayed by more than $200

>>976221
I agree with this guy. You could have gotten a schwinn world sport or something cheap on cl and convert it. Not only is it personally gratifying but you also Learn a ton about wrenching on bikes.

>>976228
>>976225
I already wrench on motorcycles, I have no need for the satisfaction of wrenching on bikes. I bought it so I specifically didn't have to do any work on it.

>>976232
Regardless, you could have gotten something much better and longer last than that 200 hi ten crap. To each his own I guess

>>976236

>hating on hiten

Shit's comfy bro

The problem with PureFix isn't even the shit materials. The problem is that they don't even use proper jigs when doing frame assembly. Most of their headtubes, bottom brackets, and dropouts are crooked. Sometimes dangerous so.

And of course all of the components on them are worthless garbage. So you're paying for a bike and getting nothing.

>>976238
This is a first for me. I've never seen anyone express anything other than disgust for hiten before.

>>976256

99% of the people that shit on hiten have never actually ridden it, just like 99% of the people that shit on carbon have never actually ridden it.

Let's not kid ourselves here: hiten is heavy as fuck. especially straight-gauge. It is nowhere near as nice as butted cromo.

But it still rides nice in it's own way. Less springy than better steel - almost spongy. And there's something liberating about being on a frame that you give absolutely zero fucks about.

>>976272
This makes me wonder how PureFix bikes are so light.

>>976274

TIG welded frames are always going to be lighter than lugged frames, and a lot of parts are much cheaper to manufacture in aluminum than steel these days: headset cups, spacers, hubs, wheel rims, etc

>>976274

It's also likely that they straight up lie about the weight of their bikes. Pretty standard practice.

>>976020
Needs another blonde kid.

>>976285
There was an anon a while ago bought a PureFix. I asked him to weigh it. I was expecting it to be fuck heavy, hiten and all, but it was lighter than my cromo ss.

has anybody here put dropbars on an old steel mtb with gripshifts?

>>976274
They're not, for what they are.They're a similar weight to a decent aluminium multi speed flat bar road bike ("hybrid").

>>976317
There's no way you'd get them up to the flats even if they were the right diameter, so if they are they'd have to go at the ends of the bars (I may have seen this done before). I don't really know why you'd want to do that instead of just getting bar end shifters instead.

>>976324
>I don't really know why you'd want to do that instead of just getting bar end shifters instead.

it's old and it's my beater, and it would not be worth the hassle desu, thanks anyway anon

>>976328
So converting to drop bars isn't a hassle but changing the shifters is? Drops are a dumb idea anyway.

>>976307
That was me, it is super light. 20 lbs I believe. Can be lighter if I replace the bars, pedals, and wheels.

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So my buddy brought his bike over to air up his tire yesterday. I opened up the valve cover and discovered this "presto" valve which I had never seen before. Decided to look it up and found this pic. Every bike I've ever known has used the "schrader" valve.
So what's the difference? Is one better than the other?

>>976361

Smaller, simpler, (lighter?), gives you manual control over valve (schrader is spring activated, presta you manually twist the nut to open/close). Presta maybe better with higher pressures? people often say so, but not sure about that one. All good road bikes and most high end mountain bikes use presta. You might need a different pump head to inflate them, depends on which pump you have.

>>976338

20lbs is not "super light" for a fixed gear bicycle.
It's just not "unusually heavy"

>>976361
Smaller hole in the rim means stronger rim, and the valve design is simpler and can be opened by hand if stuck by tapping the top when unscrewed. It also doesnt ingest dirt and get clogged up if you're not using a valve cap.
The presta (aka Sclaverand, aka french valve) is simply better.

>>976324
>There's no way you'd get them up to the flats even if they were the right diameter
There was some impressive idiot who made hit way into the troll bike threads by sawing his bars in half to get the gripshifts up there, and then hoped and prayed the stem clamp force would keep the handlebar halves together.

>>976361
>>976370
>>976374
To add to these they're easier to attach a pump to as you don't have to push down hard to depress the pin like Schrader, the air pressure as you pump opens the valve. Also this means that less air escapes as you remove the pump head.

One downside is you have to take a bit more care when lining the pump head up because if you knock the pin you'll let out a load of air and have to do more pumping.

How can I build confidence carrying speed through blind hairpins? Any particular things I should think about or focus on beyond just repetition? I'm always worried about cars coming up in the opposite direction

>>976016
Get carbon wheels if you're a serious racer.
If not, then get aluminum.

>>976386

Ride on closed courses

Alternatively, stop caring about your physical wellbeing

>>976373
>implying a gear box adds more than a couple lbs

>>976394
He's not implying that and 20lbs is quite a lot even for a bike with a "gearbox". What in the name of satan are you smoking, hipster?

>>976394

>gear box

lolwut

Are you talking about the front & rear shifters, the extra chainring, crank & bottom bracket material necessary to secure the extra chainring, front & rear derailleurs, cassette, freehub assembly, derailleur hanger, cables, housing, braze-ons and cable guides?

Yeah bud, it weighs more than a couple lbs.
If you buy a high-end group it's not going to weigh a whole lot more, but we're talking about bottom-of-the-barrel BSO shit so that is hardly relevant.

>>976397
>>976398
I'm not a hipster(well, mostly), I'm just a college student who would rather not worry about taking care of/paying for all that shit

>>976404

and that's totally fine.
just saying that when you take it all off, you save quite a bit of weight.

>>976128
My bike came with 10 speed Tiagra and is newer. That bike is old as fuck and only an 8 speed. Who wants to ride an 8 speed? I don't know much about older bikes but I'm going to guess a lot of the components are inferior to my bike even though it was good in its day and mine was never high end itself.

>>976134
The only thing that you just said that I find appealing is that it is possibly very durable. I don't care about any of the other shit like vintage or paint jobs. Whatever man.

Odd question here.

I have a k edge combo mount and want to install a light under my garmin. Does anyone know of a (GoPro bracket) compatible light?

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This is more of a math question, but can anyone tell me the fork length and offset for the 55cm version of this frame?

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>>976435
check out this dumb pleb over here

interested in some (shimano) dynamo hubs, is there any reason they can't/shouldn't be used for the rear wheel? anyone else use/used them before?

as I'm aware, they're up to a kilogram heavier and there's drag due to electromagnetic forces, but are there other reasons they're not more popular?

How do you carry phone, wallet, keys, etc. on a road bike?

>>976476
Put em in your saddlebag

>>976475
The rear hub is already complicated, it doesn't make sense to cram a dynohub in there.

Dynos are less popular because of price, mostly, and the market for more-expensive commuting bikes and randonneuring bikes is very small in most of the world.

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>>976442
If i understand your question and reading the chart correctly:

Z = ((Y-D)/sin(G1)) - E

>>976478
makes sense, but modern dynamos are lightweight and aero enough that only competitive cyclists needing to cut a few hundred grams would care. seems like the self-powered lights would be useful for anyone road biking

I'm building my own wheel so the hub itself goes on sale for well under 100$. Little worried about drag but we'll see i guess.

>>976335
you just change the bar, which I have done before, but I am pretty certain that changing the shifts is a bit more complicated than switching a handle bar, it is a dumb idea, I'll probably just get ergo barends

>>976476
Jersey pocket or saddlebag or in a bidon.

Phone: in a ziplock bag if its wet

Wallet: eftpos card & ~$20 note- don't take your wallet

Keys: key- don't take your keys

How hard is it to make your own carbon parts? If I understand correctly they use molds. Some Chinese sellers sell open molds which means everyone can make that design.

>>976490
You'll also need to change the stem and brake levers (and find levers that work with your brakes) and then learn how to wrap the bars.

>I'll probably just get ergo barends
That's a good idea.

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>>976483
It's not though, because the fork terminates here.

>>976527

It's easy.
Just messy, annoying, and time consuming.

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How to remove these reflectors?

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>>976616
alt

>>976617
That thing in the middle is a plastic screw, isn't it?

Use a coin, or a screwdriver, or your thumbnail.

>>976619
screw driver didn't work so i gave up. felt like i was going to break it. will try a coin as it's a bit thicker. are these things single use? would be nice to put it back on again if needed for night rides.

>>976616
>>976617
Smash with hammer

>>976616
Unscrew the little plastic screw in the middle, you only need to move it like 1/4 around, then slide down.

>>976590
So what is it you want to know?
And why do you not know basic trig, to figure it out yourself?

>>976742
He wants to know the fork length (axle to crown, from the bottom of E to the point on the straight line adjacent to the one that's circled) and the fork offset which would be the distance from the circled point to the centreline of the headtube.

I wouldn't say it's basic, the actual math may be fairly simple but there's a lot of working out and there may not even be all the required info in that diagram.

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Is it feasible to DIY replace an alloy handlebar with an internally-routed carbon fiber handlebar for a Di2 drive train without needing to take it to a mechanic? Or is it far too dangerous/risky to do this manually?

>>976771
Get the proper tool to plug and unplug the wires or you will have them come loose while riding and that sucks.

What's the difference between a cheap chain and an expensive chain? I want one of those purple anodized ones for cool.

>>976791
how well it shifts, mostly

>>976791
>purple anodized
It's not anodised (chains aren't aluminium), it's paint that soon comes off and looks like shit.

>>976783
I just Googled a bunch of information thereabout and see that the tool is the Shimano TLEW02. With this small plastic inserter is it as easy to unplug and replug the cables from the junction box (I have the 6770 Di2 version) to the shifters as mechanics' tutorials make it appear?

>>976799
Incompetence can overcome anything

>>976749
I settled it for measuring in Photoshop and assuming the drawing is to scale. Shouldn't be off by inches or anything, and it really was just to confirm cockpit positioning relative to my current bike. Choices for stem length are in 10mm increments so it doesn't need to be like, surgically precise.

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so.
I got these pedals and their fairly light.
I'd like to use them on my city bike.
I did use them without shoes before andi t works out well but I think the would be great if the were the other way around.

that is, the platform part to the front ,instead of the clipless part to the front.

could I somehow switch them ?
like change the axels or something ?

>>976875
I really have no idea why you think that would be a good idea, but in theory I suppose you could swap the pedal spindles to make the left pedal fit on the right and vice versa.

>>976876

that's what I thought, I might try it out.

well one thing that would improve would be weight distribution, as in , they wouldn't flip on the non usable side.

right now the narrow end is pointing towards the fork when using. when my foot is not on the pedal the thing flips over and the narrow side is pointing to the rear and thus the non usable side is facing up.

I hope this would stop happening if I could flip them because even if the longer, narrow and sags down , the rideable side would still be facing up.
also the beefier pplatform side would be directly under the ball of my foot (is that he right word ?).

does that make sense ?

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>>976880
Either get some cages and straps or get some actual platform pedals you stupid fucking fuck

>>976882

I much appreciate you constructive criticism.

I have these around and the are quite allright to ride even the way they are, I suppose they would be even better when flipped , so why should I buy more stuff ?

>>976880
>>976886
The previous anon already got this, but yeah, that's dumb. The pedals will still flip themselves over and you'll still have to learn to get into them.

Get some proper platform pedals, basic ones are cheap.

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Has anyone had any experience with those cheap chinese carbon wheels you can find on ebay?

I know chinese frames can be quite good but I'm even more sceptical with the wheels since I value my health. Any input would be great. I'm looking at a set with 50mm carbon rims for 399$.

Also, how long do carbon rims last given that you use the right brake pads? Do they wear out significantly faster than aluminium?

>>976949
Just save up for a pair of Reynolds Strikes and buy the RAP insurance for a 2-year plan, that way you can get two pairs of wheels for the price of one, and can use your first set as workhorse/beaters

Hey im somewhat new to biking and i noticed some issues with the grips on my hybrid bike, my hands slip all over them when wet and they are. Really firm and cuase hand stress when riding for extended times, can you advise me. A replacement set for a reasonable price?

>>976616
>>976619
You don't just unscrew it like a normal screw. You have to push in hard while you're unscrewing.

>>976022
>Stan's Alpha 340 rims
Don't do it. Noodly, narrow and unaero rim. Its inner diamatre is an illusion caused by using much shorter bead hooks than real rims, also causing blowoffs when tubed and burps when tubeless. Google for Stans 340/400 blowoff.

Go for the Velocity A23 is you want soft and comfortable and don't care about aero, or H+S Archetype for looks and HED C2-like aerodynamics.
The Pacenti SL23 is slightly deeper but has the same sort of profile as the C2/Archetype, is a good compromise between stiffness and comfort, and weighs only forty grams more than the 340.
The 340/400 is a bad choice any way you see it.

>>976949
>Do they wear out significantly faster than aluminium?
Yes. It's plastic at very high temperatures vs relatively cool metal. What do expect?

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What forks should I buy? the previous owner has run the stock suntour NEX 4610s into the ground and then some, so I'm considering getting something in the $80 price range, like a NCX or NRX. I have no clue what i'm doing, really
700c wheel, 255mm long, 1 1/8" diameter steering tube.
I tried to rebuild these ones, but the costs are quickly adding up: new seals, new slide tubes, blah blah blah, totaling like 50% of a new fork's price while still being rusty-ass shit

>>977084
Don't spend anything on a shit bike that's not even the right size.

>>977090
wait what? how do you know it's not the right size

>>977093
A) He bought it on Craigslist. He no doubt got this unbelievably great deal and couldn't resist in spite of the frame being "a bit high". This is always the case when silly people go bargainhunting for a used bike.
B) I have eyeballs. He has a picture.

>>977102
I've ridden four other bikes in various shops and liked this one best specifically because it was the only bike I could find that I didn't ride with the constant fear of banging my knees on the handlebars or having to hold myself up with arms.

>>977084
Replace it with a rigid fork.

>>977104
but then how will i willy

>>977105
You will willy nilly. Silly Billy.

>>977061
Do you use gloves?

>>977105
Well, it'll be easier as there's less weight at the front.

What's the best way to clean white bar tape? I'm going to replace it with black in the future, but I wanna wait till the tape is more worn down. Right now it's totally usable, just ugly.

>>977103
>i have no idea what im doing but i did it lots
If the setup in the picture is anywhere near what you have then the bike is the wrong size. By a mile. Suck it up.

>>977110
Depends on what got it dirty. A damp cloth with some washing-up liquid is a good start. Other than that, getting bar tape dirty is part of signaling that you actually ride your bike. Keep it dirty to impress your fr(i)e(n)ds.

>>977110

Rag soaked in diluted vinegar.

>>977118
will the same thing work on saddles?

>>977120

Yeah, vinegar is pretty much magic. Works good if you made the mistake of buying white shoes too.

people who commute 20+ miles 5 days a week, what bikes do you ride?

>>977124
20+ miles each way or round trip?

>>977125
round trip

>>977126
OK then I guess I count. I ride a relatively aggressive hybrid, mid-2000s Sora, with a rack and panniers. 28mm tires.

>>977128
just wondering if it would be smarter to ditch the old steel mtb (with 2,1 in tyres) for something lighter

>>976016
Looking for a mountain bike to ride a couple times a month over the next 2 years. I want to spend less than $200 and I don't mind going to craigslist. If you were me what would you buy retail/keep an eye out for on craigslist?

>>977131
probably yeah. rolling resistance is gonna get you. even switching tires would be really helpful.

>>977131
Depends how hilly your route is and how much crap you carry. Weight doesn't make a huge different on flats unless you have to constantly accelerate from lights.

And to answer your original question the bike I use for commuting is an "all-road" adventure bike or whatever you want to call it with rack and panniers etc. Also 28mm tyres, but I want wider ones next.

>>977135
>retail
> <$200
I would

>craigslist
90s rigid mtb (with slicks)

>>977137
Sorry my reading comprehension is retarded. Are you implying you would rather shop on retail for a rigid(meaning no suspension?) mountain bike than try to find a decent retail mountain bike for under 200?
If so, why would you do rigid? It sounds like riding a rigid bike on a trail would pound my amatuer ass.

>>977136
>>977137
alright, tyre switch

and it's quite flat here, but it's windfuckingcentral, as to weight, like you said it wouldn't make much of a difference, bike is a tank as it is already, thanks anons

>>977143
Sorry, I mistyped that. Meant to say "I wouldn't".

Maybe you'd be able to find something second hand at that price with front shocks, I don't know.

>>977146
>windfuckingcentral

Get some clip on aerobars :v

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>>977149
... May the Velominati Gods award you with saddle sores.

>>977167
Don't be a velominazi now mate

Looking for some new bike recommendations for a 5'7.5" female, in the gravel/any road category.

$1500 ceiling.

So far the Giant Brava and Invite Comax look like the best value, abit above budget though

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I think I asked this earlier but I forget the answer.

I'm missing this part, and I know what it does, I just don't want it because it's simply going to fall off again.

The techs at the spot I bought it from should be able to tune my bike and take out the slack that was taken up by the missing part, right?

I need some ammunition because all they did was lock out my front derailleur and order the part, but I don't want it.

Do I really need gloves for road racing?

>>977197
Yes, and they have to be at least $200

>>977195

It won't fall off if they locktite the bolt properly. Whether you need it or not depends on how aggressively you ride, how willing you are to put up with the occasional dropped chain, if you have a clutch rear derailleur(and its on and providing enough tension.) etc etc

>>977204
I couldn't care less about what it does for me, I just need to convince the bike store that it's not essential for the operation of the bike.

>>977206
You're paying them right? Just tell them to shorten the chain if you really can't do it yourself.

>>977197
No. I only wear mine because my hands sweat a lot.

>>977197
Here's how I did it.
Cat 4/5 yes, since crashing is likely and I like skin on my hands.
Cat 3 yes, until I knew the usual racers in my field.
Cat 2 no, but it's rubbing parts of my palms raw now.

>>977215
That's what needs to be done, though? Shorten the chain?

>>977240
Possibly, depends what length it currently is. That said even shortening it won't give the same chain retention as simply putting the roller back on. I'm not sure why you're so adamant to remove it instead of just using some threadlock.

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So i just bought this aluminum road bike and the PO put these duro fixie tires on it. I've probably put around 100 commutung miles on it and they seem pretty solid, but am i sacrificing anything having these on? Braking maybe?

>>977247
If they call me within the next few weeks I'll put it on, I just don't want an on-going issue. Thanks for the loctite suggestion. I'll make sure it's oozing out of the threads.

>>977251
Forgot to mention the bike isn't a single speed

>>977251
Grip and comfort

>>977252
If who calls you, and why are you waiting weeks? Just order some threadlock and screw the damn thing back on when it arrives in a couple days.

>>977262
The bike store. They have a year of service for me.

turbo plen here

why are Chris King headsets heralded as the absolute shit? More specifically, what can their top-line headsets do that the rest of the market cannot do as well, to warrant their high prices?

>>977262
Also I have none of the mechanism. I don't know where I'd find one.

>>976377
those GMC branded BSOs come like that stock

>>977251
>PO
the post office? your parole officer?

I have a rigid trail bike with 700C wheels. Rim brakes. Right now it has 32-spoke A23 rims, and they don't really seem up to the rigors of off road - I've bent one pretty badly after only 200 miles.

What's the most beastly 700C/29'er V-brake rim I can buy? Tubeless preferable but not required, and probably looking for a 36-spoke rim.

Velocity Quill? Velocity Cliffhanger? H SON Archtype? Mavic A719?

I'm also looking at the HED Belgium Plus, Pacenti SL23, WTB ChrisCross, and WTB Dual Duty - but AFAIK these are only available in 32-spoke.

>>977347
Surprised to hear you're having trouble with A23s (poor quality wheelbuild?), but if you want the strongest wheels I'd say it's a toss-up between the Velocity Atlas and the Mavic A719, but you might also go for Sun Rhyno Lites if you want to save some money and don't care about weight. I built a set of wheels with A719 rims a couple years ago for my heavy hauling bike and have been very happy with them.

>>977282
CK stuff is expensive because it's a famous brand name and because of all their color options - their parts are uniformly high quality, but not necessarily better than other quality brands.

>>977350
This was a quality wheelbuild - I have a set of wheels with Dyad rims on my touring bike that were built by the same guy, and they're laser-straight many hundreds of miles later.

These wheels just taking some heavy hits in use on a rigid MTB that the A23 wasn't really intended for. The front wheel didn't just come out of true, I actually *bent* it on impact. This bike was built as a gravel/fire road rig but I've been taking it out on bigger stuff since it's just so damn fun.

All of the tougher wheels seem to be non-tubeless, and if I'm giving up on tubeless, the Atlas sure looks the part - love me some silver rims.

Sport's authority is closing, not sure if it's a national chain but did they sell any bikes I should look into if I'm a beginner?

>>977251
>$20 tyres

grip
speed
comfort
flat resistance maybe?

>designed specifically for skidding
wat

Not to mention dignity with how they look...

>>977358
>This was a quality wheelbuild
Yes, the A23 is a very soft rim even for its weight class. It's built for road comfort and not offroad madness, so I'm not very surprised you managed to taco one. Even less with a rigid mountainbike.

Stick with 32 spokes to give you a wider choice of both rims and hubs, and go for unbutted spokes if you must have that last bit of stiffness. It'll come at a cost of spoke longevity but hopefully nothing major.
Or go the other way and build with 1.5mm spokes to reduce the risk of tacoing the wheels, but this will probably lead to (some) brake rub unless you ride with generous brake pad clearence. Your wheelbuilder can explain the tradeoffs in detail.

On chosing a rim I'd suggest looking for beefy, heavy, wide CX rims.
Of the ones you listed I'd advise against the Quill that is only marginally stiffer than the ultra soft A23, the SL23 that is also a rather soft road rim if not as soft as the A23, the Archetype, Belgium and CrisCross for being perhaps stiffer but still relatively light road rims. I'd disregard the Mavic rim on account of being Mavic. Their Maxtal alloy is brittle and known to crack around the eyelets when overloaded, and they're french.

I'd go for the WTB Dual Booty on 32h rims with standard 2.0/1.8/2.0mm butted spokes.
>>977282
Finish and bling value.

>>977371
Any reason other than rim availability to not go for 36 spoke? I actually have a nice set of 36 spoke hubs that have been on the shelf for a while waiting for a wheelbuild.

I've had great luck with WTB rims in the past, but the Velocity Atlas looks incredibly similar and not going to lie, I looove shiny silver rims.

>>977282
Everyone who replied to you is correct: Nowadays, Chris King threadless headsets are popular almost exclusively because of bling bling. A Cane Creek 40 costs less than a third as much and works just as well.

It's also partly because their threaded headsets were DAMN good back in the day, actually better than most other options.

>>977383
>DAMN good back in the day, actually better than most other options.
but what exactly made them standouts? Their water-tight bearings, their vibration dampening, what?

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>>977366
Jesus are they really that cheap? Pretty sure grip isnt a problem due to the overly aggressive tread. I haven't really cared too much since I've just been having fun enjoying the bike. Whats even worse is the front and back are different fucking colors..

>>977344
PO = previous owner. You serious?

>>977411
>Pretty sure grip isnt a problem due to the overly aggressive tread
Unless you're riding on loose dirt that's not the case. Chances are it's a fairly hard rubber (because it's designed for skidding, it's cheap, and coloured tyres aren't as good) so on a smooth surface it's not going to deform or grip as much and having tread cutouts just means there's less contact area.

is it a good decision to get a work as a salesman at your local bike shop?
have someone had expirience with this kind of job?
what can you say about it.

>>977411
eh tires are disposable, just wear them out, and then upgrade. Dope bike btw. Those colors actually look pretty cool imo. On the other hand tires are the most important component on a bike and a pair of nice slicks- 4000s v pro 4s- would improve your ride a lot.

>Pretty sure grip isnt a problem due to the overly aggressive tread

It doesn't work like that, see:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/slicks.html

>>977417
Find the bike shop feels thread.

>>977423
ty

>>977416
>>977420
Ah makes sense. That's why car racing tires have basically zero tread on them.. tires and pedals are on the list.
TY

>>977383
>Any reason other than rim availability to not go for 36 spoke?
Not that I can see. If you have the hubs and can find a rim I guess it might be worth it. Unless you plan on ever replacing said hubs. Unless it triggers some OCD you could skip every eighth hole and run it as a 32h hub.

On the Atlas, I don't think I would. It's expensive for a Velocity ($120 polished!?) which I would never pay given their record of crappy finish and tons of bur. The Atlas is also both narrower than the WTB (19 vs 23) and weighs 630g while the WTB at least keeps it under 600.
So, three times the money for something likely worse. If you want polished rims I'd take some paint stripper and polishing paste to the WTB instead. For the difference in price you could even pay someone else to do it.

>>977411
>Pretty sure grip isnt a problem due to the overly aggressive tread

Lord God Sheldon says aggressive tread is actually more slippy in the rain.

His word is sacred and must be obeyed

>>977460
Heine reckons knobs are bad, but having some texture on the surface (ie not a perfectly smooth slick) is very useful for wet grip.

>>977461

Ah yes, the second coming. Praise his words and the words of the old testament of the late Lord God Sheldon. Amen

>>977460

Granted this assumes that the road you're on isn't fucked up...and most roads aren't exactly pristine.

>>977484
>Granted this assumes that the road you're on isn't fucked up
Unless you mean 'fucked up' as in a few inches of mud then no, no it doesn't. Smooth tyres give better grip even on worn and rough roads.

>>977497
>Smooth tyres give better grip even on worn and rough roads.
How do you figure?

>>977503
>wahwah educate me on aspects of the subject we already covered
Read the links you lazy fuck.

>>977505
R...ead?

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>>977224
>Cat 2 no, but it's rubbing parts of my palms raw now.

The circle is complete. It is time.

>>977507
Allow me to quote it for you
>Tread patterns have no effect on surfaces in which they leave no impression. That is to say, if the road is harder than the tire, a tread pattern does not improve traction.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/slicks.html

Rubber deforms to take the shape of the surface you're riding on, if you remove rubber (a treaded tyre) you have less rubber making contact and thus less grip. Tread matters on surface that can move such as mud and gravel.

>>977530
Less contact, but more pressure per contact point. Also, why don't cars all have bald wheels?

>>977602
Because cars have flat tyres that like to hydroplane, if you'd read the linked article you'd already know that.

>>977616
I don't actually know how to read.

What about shoes then?

>>977619
>i was only pretending to be retarded
>the post
You're an embarrasment to the world.

>>977619
Why do shoes have tread? Because they're also flat so it gives somewhere for water to go and they're also used on softer surfaces.

For a shoe that would only be used on a hard surface a completely smooth sole would give the most grip. There are however downsides to this such as flexibility and cushioning/shock absorption.

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Anybody riding tubeless on road? Is it worth it?

>>976016

>Gotten back into cycling.
>Look at shed.
>Best bike there is an old mountain bike.
>It's been there for 10 years - metal parts have rust on them.
>But the tires seem fine.
>The breaks work, although the front one cause some squeaking that concerns me.
>Back derailleur works, but the front one needs adjustment - it doesn't shift to the lowest gear.
>I think the seat needs some adjustment as well.

Are there any other repairs that I should do? I like to do some one day excursions around the region with it, mostly on bike paths. Are there any upgrade suitable for me, or should I get a new bike?

>>977692
tubeless is never worth it.

>>977459
Oh yeah, definitely would not be paying the $30 premium for the polished version.

Still, fair enough point about the cost (the non-polished version of the Atlas is still nearly twice the price of the Dual Duty) and the size - not only is the DD wider, it's a taller rim section as well which should really give it some extra impact resistance.

Thanks!

Sorry if I'm retarded, I'm crossposting.
Today I was riding my hybrid and I rode onto a curb too fast, resulting in a loud clunk sound. Now when I pedal, my pedals skip every 5 seconds or so, almost as if I'm shifting gears. It seems to happen more the harder I pedal. I checked the chain, and it looks like it's aligned alright. Anyone know why this is? I'd really rather not have to bring it into a shop.

>>977710
How about tubulars with sealant?

Where is the best place for me to order a pegging seat from?

>>977708

After a decade of storage the bearings - wheels, crank, & headset - could probably stand to be re-packed with grease, though they may or may not be fine.
and the chain could probably stand to be replaced.

Upgrades - not really. Bar-ends would be a nice addition to add a comfortable hand position or two. They're inexpensive, widely available, and just a nice improvement.

A good saddle could be a worthwhile investment, but this will be a more personal choice.

Anyone have suggestions for a good chainstay protector

I have Shimano Sora STI shifters. Right (rear) works fine, but I may have some problem with left one (front). When I want to put lower gear I have to press shifter harder and then front derailleur makes this loud shot. It doesn't sound nice, I don't want to break/rip something.

I loosened derailleur strings and it didn't helped.

Is it normal? Or should I visit service?

>>977772
Loosen derailer strings until it won't shift up onto the big cog. Then tighten derailer strings little until it does but not too much.

>>977776
I loosen string under the down tube and at the end of the string (near front derailleur). Now I have to press shifter twice to change gear but it's easier than it was.

>>977810
>Now I have to press shifter twice to change gear
It's caled a trim step. It's not a gearshift, but to trim out chain rub. When you're in high gear in front and shifting to a low gear in the back you tap the front shifter past the first click to have the derailleur move in slightly, allowing you to crosschain (large front/large back) without the chain rattling against the front derailleur cage.
You can keep pressing past the first click through the second click in one motion for an instant front shift.

I have no knowledge about cyclocross so I'll ask a dumb question.

Why do cyclocross bikes have no fork suspension? I don't understand how top-end high-modulus carbon cyclocross frames and wheels can take such sustained impacts without cracking

>>977826
>wahh i don't like my brand new hybrid i want a cyclocross
>why don't cyclocross have suspension, i want that

rrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

>>977826
>Why do cyclocross bikes have no fork suspension?
Because fat tyres they're not allowed, and possibly not even an advantage in the muddy conditions cyclocross is raced.

Also, carbon fibre is not brittle. Aluminium is brittle and has horrible fatigue life. Carbon fibre is extremely tough and has excellent fatigue properties. It is mostly plastic resin, after all.

Why are suspension seatposts bad?

>>977831
>(you)

>>977834
Because they're heavy, have no damping (pogo stick), suffer horrible stiction and you're supposed to be out of the saddle in any technincal terrain anyway so they're completely useless as a rear suspension substitute.

>>977834
They are a poor excuse for bump absorbant that your legs should be handling. Except they are
reactive where your legs would be proactive, making, me at least, every ride wheel slightly queasy.
And the do nothing for actual handling characteristics of the bike.

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Does anybody have a recommendation for a phone mount on my bike? (LG G4)

Bonus points where it would protect my phone in case I biffed it or something.

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>>977852
Topeak Drybag. Touch works. Protected against rain. Not a lot of bumber protection, but also not nothing. I have one and it's ace.

Would citriclean paint stripper be OK to use on a wheelset? Po sprayed bombed the set black and it's starting to chip.

>>977833
>aluminum is brittle and has terrible fatigue life.

This meme needs to fucking die

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/frame_fatigue_test.htm

>>977879
>i dont understand something so i better throw around the m word hurr
Aluminum does have shit fatigue life. Carbon fibre has great fatigue properties. Nothing in that very well known test goes counter to this. It just shows frame build and design is more important to absolute fatigue life than the properties of the raw materials.

GP was under the mistaken impression that carbon fibre was brittle and unsuitable for rough sports like cyclocross. I used aluminium as an example of a truly brittle and low fatigue strength material that has been made into excellent frames for decades. You didn't even understand the point of the post you made your nonsensical reply to, you twat.

>>977862
Some strippers eat aluminium. I know nothing of this particular stripper, but ask the nice guys at the paintshop and they'll guide you to the right products. It's what they know.

Sunrace drivetrain components

Shit?
or
Super shit?

>>977920
Super shit

>>977857
Alright, I might grab that then. I guess if I mount it close to the enter of my bike, it's gonna struggle landing on the phone if I fall off anyways.

Cheers, anon

>>977922
kthx

Do you smoke while you ride?

>>977958
only before and after

>>977958
night rides yeah cigs or cigarillos
a little weed after every ride

>>976052
That tile is disgusting

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what bike is this?

>>977986
It looks like some kind of cheese

>>977989
Looks like some prebuilt SS like Purefix or similar.

Shimano SPD vs Time Atac? Specifically Shimano M520 vs Time Atac MX2. I know they're not in the same category, as MX2 have a bit of additional platform, XC2 would be a closer analogue to M520, but these are my current favorite options for a first clipless pedal.

>>976374
>It also doesnt ingest dirt and get clogged up if you're not using a valve cap.
Kek, it absolutely does.

>>978018
I've never tried Time Atacs, but I'd go with SPDs just because of availability of cleats and whatnot

>>978021
Yeah, that's a serious advantage that I've taken into account. It's just that I keep hearing and reading that Time Atacs and Crank Brothers offer a way better system. Crank Brothers are overpriced, and the cheap models break easily, so they're out of the question for now. Hence I'm eyeing Time Atacs, the bottom end MX2 model has very good reviews and supposedly good reliability. I just don't want to by SPDs only to switch on to a "better system" afterwards.

>>978025
>to switch on to a "better system"
I've seen some people who switched from spd to eggbeaters. They are just like people switched from pcs to macs
>muh usability
>muh simplicity
>muh ingenious design
etc.

>>977958
>destroying the physiological systems you're trying to build up

For what purpose

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30 year old steal bike with ukai wheels

back wheel has a little wobble, is it worth spending 15 to get it trued, tried myself but failed. Also worth getting overhaul or buying tool myself? here weird noise down there, guessing its bearings

should i swap my clip and strap and get shoes and new pedal or just ride with regular shoes.

thanks

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>>977958
Weed, yes. Drugs and cycling just go together.

>>977995

Makes sense, it's an Italian house.

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What is this piece? It came off of my old brake pads

>>978106
Don't steal bikes. You should have grown out of that now that you're thirty years old.

>>978307
The slot is where you attach brake pads via a bolt and nut. The top bit should attach to the rest of the brake assembly.

>>977891
>It just shows frame build and design is more important to absolute fatigue life than the properties of the raw materials.
Exactly, which is why - in the context of discussing the materials used in bicycle frames and components - it is silly and unhelpful to spew shit like
>aluminum is brittle and has terrible fatigue life.

>>978316
great

Doing 110 miles tomorrow for the first time. Its all flat terain and i got the wind in the back. I've been doing 40 miles a couple times a week for 5 weeks now. Any pro tips?

>>978325

Bring more food and water than you think you'll need. Bring at least one container of an electrolyte/sports beverage.

Use sunscreen.

Absolutely do not wear soft-soled shoes.

Can I meme my deore m610 3x crankset to 1x by just using some spacers and the middle chainring? or do I need more things?

>>978358
Yes you can. You don't even need spacers, just shorter bolts.

>>978358

I did that by removing the granny and installing an aftermarket bashguard where the outer ring used to be. Works just fine, although the chainline is slightly outboard than where a "ready-made" single speed mtb crankset would put it.

>>978325
take it easy in the beginning, you may feel strong and want to go faster but dont, just save that energy for when you need it. Dont take long breaks. Eat while you ride.

>>978360
>>978363

Alright I will give it a go. I use the middle ring all the time anyway.

GOD FUCKING DAMN I'VE TRIED THREE SEPARATE BIKE SHOPS AND SEVERAL HARDWARE STORES FOR <1 MM DIAMETER TUBES TO REPLACE MY INTERNALLY ROUTED REAR BRAKE CABLE AND NOTHING FUCKING FITS IT GETS JAMMED HALFWAY THROUGH THE FUCKING TOP TUBE WHAT DO?

>>978325

Limit your breaks, and keep them short when you do stop and catch your breath. I would say under 5 minutes. Eat more than you think you'll need, and take sips of water/sports drink VERY often. If you chug every 30 minutes it'll feel weird in your stomach and you might still get dehydrated.

>>978387
>1mm tubes? What is this a bicycle for ants?

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>>978390
fucking BMC why must their internal ports be so narrow?

>>977124
Cross bike with slicks.

>>977733
It will probably be some kind of derailer issue. You may need to re-index your gears, which is a big pain in the butt.
You should also check the chain and make sure there aren't any twisted or bent links.

>>978429
could also be that he somehow stretched the chain on impact... though the rim should probably be destroyed long before that

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Guys, my althus mtb drivetrain has 2500 km-old, same as my tires.

How do you know when is time to replace them?

How do you choose the best tire for the use? Pic related, paths i bike.

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Should I restore this fuji back to original condition (10 speeds) or do I turn it into a single speed bike?

>>978447
Those are the shitty memeskins though, not much better than schwalbe. Get the gatorskin hardshell.

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>>978448
K updated.
Really just want a long lasting,grippy tyre
Price is no concern

>>978451

My favorite endurance tire is spesh armadillo elite, none of the UK suppliers stock them though.

>>978447
http://www.wiggle.com/continental-grand-prix-4-season-folding-road-tire/

If you need bombproof, they are tougher than memeskins. Better wet weather grip than anything short of open paves.

http://www.wiggle.com/continental-grand-prix-4000s-ii-folding-road-tyre/

Really this is what you want though.

No need to fuck with inferior tires.

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>>978453
>none of the UK suppliers stock them though.

Well at least the select-all-trains capcha cheered me up

>>978460
Specialized doesn't allow online sales

The GP4K are a good all-around choice if puncture protection isn't your #1 priority

You should also look at Michelin Pro 4 Service Course

>>978451
>K updated.
>Really just want a long lasting,grippy tyre
>Price is no concern

Marathon Supreme > Durano

>>978444
>Should I restore this fuji back to original condition (10 speeds) or do I turn it into a single speed bike?

put some speeds on it. why spend similar money for a less useful bikeu imho

I would go idiot-mode 1x + fat tires if I was you

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>>978464
>Specialized doesn't allow online sales
Oh yeah,this from a company that sued a bike themed cafe or something IIRC
But anyway I wud like em

>>978471
Ive ad those on my commuter,VERY supple tyres and no punctures yet
However my road bike frame manufacturer is tigh-gap horny so nothing more than a 23mm fits

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>>978472
>why spend similar money for a less useful bikeu imho
>1x + fat tires if I was you

>>978475

Damn 23mm max clearance? That's some old school design. Not necessariliy a bad thing, just unusual in a market designed more and more for fatties

>>978439
>How do you know when is time to replace them?

Chain: measure with a chain tool... they stretch. A stretched chain will wear your cassette and chainrings faster

Cassette and Chainrings: The teeth will start looking shark-like, with a curve on one side. Probably shifting will start to suck before you notice the sharking

Derailleur: will last a long time, but you should take it apart and clean the wheely jobbies once in a while

Tires: these start to wear out visibly. More flats will occur. You see people running then worn down to the threads where I live. Depends on your care level. If you don't need the pokey bits on the tire ride for longer

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>>978439
>How do you choose the best tire for the use? Pic related, paths i bike.

There is a lot of information about bike tires and thread that will exhaust you.

If that is what you ride, you probably need something with modest tread. Not anything too crazy because you aren't climbing roots and piles of loose rock

You should find out the inner width of your rims and consult the chart here

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width

Make sure it won't be too wide or too narrow

Now go get the tire that has the highest TPI if you want them to roll fast, or the one with the best flat protection if you want to roll slow. Or spend $$$$$ on one that does both like a Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or something like that

Fast option pitcured

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>>978478
yeah,im not happy with it either,I used to sport lugano's which had about a 1mm gap both on the vork and the seatstay bridge.
But the vittoria rubino 23's there maybe 1/4th of a mm at pic related.

Come to think of it,a super-duper anti puncture layer might be thich enough to make contact with the fork.
Fuck...

>>978481
>>978478
To add this is a 2015 designed and made frame

>>978482
That's cool though. Why would you ride a new racing bike with luganos and rubinos?

>>978481
maybe you should get some 650b conversion meme going

>>978475
>Ive ad those on my commuter,VERY supple tyres and no punctures yet
>However my road bike frame manufacturer is tigh-gap horny so nothing more than a 23mm fits

Yeah I'm an idiot I realized after I posted that it wouldn't fit

One insane idea that I ALMOST did to my cannondale roadie was to go old-school rim brake 650b

There are some long reach calipers out there that could reach, then you could go very wide with your 23c fork

It's a stupid, expensive thing to do, but it's an option. A very lol and ridiculous one but there you go

I had a very good experience commuting in city streets on Rubino Pros, but that was 6 years ago and maybe the Conti is the best choice now, I don't know. I would get about 1 flat a year, riding between 30-40 miles a week. They were 120 TPI and I'm about 175 lbs.

>>978485
>>978489

great minds meme alike

>>978481

Again, with my cannondale, I also considered a wide-rim wheelset. It would theoretically bring the tire down a mememeter or two

>>978484
Came with lugano's(crap)
Had some rubino's left
Hence Im looking fo sum new rubbah

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>>978479
>chain tool
Never heard about that, show me how to use it.
If chain is not too stretch, is it possible to replace only chain without relacing cassette? what is the admissible chain stretch to do that?

The other points are clear.


>>978480
Tell me more about TPI and its relationship with rolling. I've never heard about that. Pic related, my actual tires.

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>>978516

If you switch out the chain before it gets too worn, cassettes should last 2-3 or even 4 chains before needing replacement.

Chain wear checkers are super simple to use. the one I use looks like pic. If it's worn, the straight end will drop down into a gap.

>>978516
This is all technical but
A low TPI consists of a woven carcass in which the individual threads are thicker both in length and with,thus needing less threads to fill,in this case one inch of width

They typically are less supple,but because of the coarser nature of the treads they are harder to cut by foreign objects but can lead to a sliiiiiightly higher weight and higher rolling resistance do to having less ability to deform to the roads contours

A higher TPI basically is the opposite side of the low TPI count typically found of lower-end tires.

Many other factors do come in play so dont let a (slightly) lower TPI put you off.
Its certainly not the only measurement of quality in a tire.

>>978528

you infographic is backwards I believe

I've heard high TPI gets less flats but I have no experience with low TPI really... always put the money down for 120~

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>>978537
Fuck you're right.
Thanx for the heads up

>>978537
BTW I hate TPI numbers myself because tyres often have 3 layers of fabric woven over each other

Some manufacturers will counts 3 layers of 60"TPI" as 180 TPI
Others will just count the single layer of 60 TPI,even though there'es 3 of em

>>978541
Only Conti triples the TPI count.

>>978528
>They typically are less supple,but because of the coarser nature of the treads they are harder to cut by foreign objects but can lead to a sliiiiiightly higher weight and higher rolling resistance do to having less ability to deform to the roads contours
>harder to cut
You are wrong.

High TPI:
>lighter
>less rolling resistance
>MORE puncture resistance

Low TPI:
>heavier
>more rolling resistance
>LESS puncture resistance

High TPI is superior in all three areas. The only area it is inferior is price.

>>978439
>>978479
Rear derailleur pulleys will wear out just like cogs and chainrings. These can often be replaced without replacing the full derailleur.
>>978516
Chain measuring tools come with instructions. Chains should be replaced at 0.75% stretch. Generally you can go through multiple chains in a single cassette's lifespan, but if you wait too long to replace the chain, then it will cause premature cassette/chainring wear.
>>978516
High TPI=lighter, less rolling resistance, more puncture proof
Only downside is more expensive

>>976114
i can make this bike with old parts for less than $100 aud

>>978106
>back wheel has a little wobble, is it worth spending 15 to get it trued,
If you can't do it yourself, yes.
>Also worth getting overhaul or buying tool myself?
Always nice to be able to do your own repair work. You'll need the tools as well as grease and bearings because you'll want to clean it out, add fresh grease and new bearings.
>should i swap my clip and strap and get shoes and new pedal or just ride with regular shoes.
Personal preference. I ride clipless (which is the new style with cycling-specific shoes that snap onto the pedals) on my road race bike. I have the old style toe straps on my steel 80s road bike; much nicer for commuting and adventure rides when I'll be spending time off my bike. If you use your bike for fast hard group rides, training rides, races -- clipless. If you use it for adventure rides, commuting, cruising around -- toe straps.

How often should i really remove the bb to reapply anti sieze if my frame is ti? And the seatpost.

>>978569
Check the seatpost every few years, don't worry about taking the BB out since that will likely need replacing every couple years anyways.

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>>978564
Fenks.

Bought used MTB, set up tubeless. Now tread is all worn down, need to replace tires. Do I need to worry about sealant getting everywhere if I remove the tire?

Also any tricks for removing tubeless tires?

>>978565
*I can buy those tires alone for more than 100aud

>>978480
What's the point of the rubber bits that stick out on the tyre?

>>978640
It's from the moulding process.

>>978640

There's little holes in the mold so air bubbles can escape when they're being vulcanized.

>>978579

Break the bead loose from the rim all the way around before you start using the levers. It'll make it way easier. Once you get one side off, you can pour the old sealant out without making a mess.

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>>978566
thank you ill do just that

>>978570
aight m8 thnx

Total bike newfag here

is Kona Dew a good bike for a begginer? i live in the city but sadly no bike paths and maybe sometimes ill go to some ligt rocky road.

i just want a bike that just works i dont need any special shit.

>>978804
There's nothing wrong with it but most people here will jump down your throat because it's a flatbar hybrid. There are reasons why people do this: most people getting a flatbar hybrid chose it because drop bars are scary and they think "hybrid" absolves them the need to think too hard about what they actually need.

That said, for infrequent short trips (under 5 miles) it's fine. You could probably save yourself a couple hundred bucks by buying one of the endless "pretty much OK" hybrids on craigslist and get it tuned up at the shop, but that would involve actual effort. Also most people selling those kinds of bikes were clueless when they bought them and remain clueless, so they genuinely believe they should get 85% of its original purchase price, 5 years later, and negotiating a fair price will be a pain in the ass.

>>978805
i want to use the bike to go to work

its 12.5KM in one direction, so that around 25km per day i guess, dont know how many miles that is

i heard that Kona is a good quality brand so thats why i want to get it.

>>978809
Every brand has good bikes.

>>978809
If you're riding on a daily basis you'll probably appreciate having drop bars (for comfort and for windy days), disc brakes (so you can stop better when it rains), a rack (so you can carry stuff without suffocating), and fenders (so you don't get as filthy when it rains)

That said, doing all that properly would cost a fair amount more than a Kona Dew. Also this >>978810

>>978815
>drop bars (for comfort and for windy days)
>fenders (so you don't get as filthy when it rains)
So much these.

>a rack (so you can carry stuff without suffocating)
Eh, depends on how much you tend to carry. I hardly ever use my rack.

>disc brakes (so you can stop better when it rains)
Not this. This is silly. Rim brakes have been perfectly adequate for decades, even in the rain. They've not suddenly all gone gone to shit because the UCI decided to allow dick brakes.
I'm not hating on discs, mind you. I'm just not concerned over the stopping power of rim brakes.

>>978823
You know what else is "perfectly adequate"? A single speed with flat bars.

Thing is, discs are objectively better than rim brakes. The reason they've never had much appeal with roadies is that roadies are a bunch of prissy little bitches who stay inside when it's a little damp outside.

Sure, you can stop just fine with rim brakes, but you can stop better with discs, and if you live somewhere that has a lot of rain, you'll appreciate the difference.

>>978824
>A single speed with flat bars.
>perfectly adequate
No. You're an idiot.

When i said perfectly adequate i meant perfectly adequate, not "perfectly adequate".

>you live somewhere that has a lot of rain
I do.
>you'll appreciate the difference
And i don't.

>>978824
>roadies are a bunch of prissy little bitches who stay inside when it's a little damp outside.

lol coming from an MTB bro who has to drive 20 miles to get to the nearest trail... roads are too scary!

>>978861
>When i said perfectly adequate i meant perfectly adequate, not "perfectly adequate".
It's the same thing. I rode a single speed to work for several years, 15 miles each way. It's not really a great way to do things, but it's perfectly adequate. Or "perfectly adequate" if you prefer. Kind of like rim brakes. I mean if it's good enough, then so is just having a front brake, right? Most of the work is done by the front brake, you don't NEED a rear brake. Some people have that point of view, and they are entitled to their opinion. Their money, their riding experience, their choice. Personally, for urban riding in all weather conditions, I'd rather have two brakes, and have them be discs.
>>978893
It comes down to what you're used to, I guess. I haven't owned a cage in 16 years, I legitimately find riding in them stressful, and being on a bike relaxing. But I took a relative for a bike tour of the city last year and it freaked her out to be riding on city streets, we turned around early because she was too stressed out to enjoy it. Meanwhile she can drive around in a cage all day and be perfectly happy at the end of the day.

>>977756
>>977708

sounds like you're OK in this regard, but just for general info:

after ten years, if the R derailleur was under tension the whole time, the spring could be stretched and won't compress to pull the chain back anymore like it should. this happened when my uncle gave me an old bike out of his shed. couldn't for the life of me get the RD to shift correctly. Luckily my shop identified that as the problem and threw a new spring in there. pretty cheap and fixed it right up.

>>977834
the other guys are right. the expensive "Thudbuster" models supposedly actually work, they don't rob pedaling energy from your body movement. but suspension is to improve handling. to protect your ass, no sus seatpost will ever be better or lighter than your knees. just raise out of the saddle slightly over bumps and let your body do what it does best.

>>977989
>>977996
I thought the B on that seattube was for Bianchi but that can't be true---the third-from-bottom letter has a straight edge so not a "c" and the last letter has no dot above it so not "i." Not sure what the hell it could be. The cockpit is obviously aftermarket pleb shit. some weirdly-angled, hipster titegapz riser bar with BMX or MTB brake levers.

>>978444
I personally have a low opinion of fixies (but singlespeed can be OK) and especially fixed-conversions, which is intentionally crippling a more functional machine. but if you live in places like Florida or the midwest in the US, where everything is flat as hell, then at least a singlespeed makes more sense.

I'd urge you to rebuild it geared, but hey man, it's your bike.

>>976016
i can't find the laws regarding riding on the interstate in oklahoma. I'm going to be homeless in a few weeks and need to get to tulsa from okmulgee on bike. Is this legal?

>>981084
this thread is pretty dead, try the new one. >>978610

you might get good info on /out/, too.