Road Cycling

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Vonhelmet said:
Has anyone got any experience of replacing loose balls in headset bearings?

The steering on my TdF is really heavy. I mean, it's manageable when you're riding, but when I compare it to my Pompino or RT-58 it's just worlds apart. I think it must be the headset, because it feels like that even with the bike still, so it's not some quirk of geometry or fork rake or whatever making it more resistant to steering.

The bike has a really cheap headset in it, like one that I've seen on ebay for like £5. It's got loose ball bearings in it, rather than sealed cartridges. So my choices are either to just pull the entire headset out and replace it with something like the FSA 11n, or I take the bearings out, chuck all the old balls, clean out the old grease, and then pop some new balls in, regrease them and re-assemble it. The latter is cheaper and easier - balls and grease vs. a new headset and cup removal tool - but I'm wondering whether maybe the headset won't be rescued by new balls.

Any ideas?

Or do I just need to adjust the headset in some way or other?
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Open it up and check it. Probably just needs cleaning out and re-greasing because the old grease goes hard. If it's brinelled (i.e. if the steering snaps into position in the middle where the balls have worn divots) then it'll need replacing

Shamrock said:
I think someone asked this not too long ago, but what happened to Asprilla/Chris?:confused:

Nothing on strava since the end of August!
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Didn't he injure his knee, or am I mixing him up with someone else? Maybe he's on mojo level zero like I am :p
 
Asprilla is registered on bikeradar (saw his name while reading some old random thread) so if anyone has an account on there they may be able to see when he's last posted there.
 
grudas said:
pfth, just lazy ;)
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Yeah yeah :p

RVwDIo6.jpg.png
 
Liefrich said:
I like the look of that Pencombe Hill climb and I think I will give it a go over the festive period (depending on the weather). How hard is it in comparison to say Haugh Wood?

Good effort going up it twice!
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It's a great climb, much nicer than Haugh Woods! It kicks up quite early to 7/8% for half a mile, eases off and then is a fairly steady almost 4% for best part of a mile. The road surface is good all the way up, a fairly quiet road with set back hedges so you have good visibility most of the way up too! I wanted to do a 3rd rep but was running short on time and glad I didn't as my legs were dead 10 miles later! Glad I was nearing home! ;)

FrenchTart said:
https://www.strava.com/activities/445881423
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Bwhahaha! ;):p
 
There's a piece on fake bike parts on Fake Britain tonight. BBC 1, 7:30pm. I think it's a repeat, but probably worth a look.
 
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Anyone tried the Wiggle Energy Gels? Seem a good price even without much discount...

Guys! Have found what I want for Xmas! Minion socks! :D

I'm still hunting for a good Glove brand that does long fingered gloves comfortable for riding on hoods where I'm suffering soreness/numbness... Most have seams (or no padding) right on the pressure part of my hand between thumb and index finger...! Suggestions?

I've been through - DHB, Gripgrab, Gore, Galibier, Castelli & Sportful. The Giant Horizon ones I have are the best so far but still not quite padded enough on the inner thumb... Tempted to try Endura Full Monty next or some Specialized BG (which my LBS should have as they did a BG bike fit on me).
 
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Pretty cool.

I think I've watched dozens of Bosnianbill youtube videos in the last couple of weeks trying to decide what padlocks to get for securing bikes with abus chains in our shed. If he can't get into it, then it's a pretty good sign it's secure from picking.
 
2 bikes secure with
Almax security chain 3 with their stronghold lock + Kryptonite New York (18mm one) + Kryptonite New York flex for wheels + Alarm
 
If you're locking a bike up you only need it to be a bit crapper than the other bikes around and a bit better locked up. Nothing is unbreakable. Besides, if they really want it they'll lock it a second time with something you can't break and then come back at 3am.
 
One More Solo said:
"Show me where the fake stem touched you"
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I spat coffee everywhere reading this! :D

FrenchTart said:
I've stolen some from a friend on rides in the past. They're somewhat less horrible than the High5 gels I normally use and seem to do the job.
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Ok thanks, I'll try some next time I'm stocking up! Quite like the 'collection' idea they're doing as I like different flavours when I ride. I'll always take two bottles of different tabs out.

grudas said:

quite impressive! not so much that's it's unpickable.. more along the lines of "too much to bother with"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301807066649
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Interesting, but all I see is *another* padlock with the same problem - a thin U. I dare say most locks are cut/sawn rather than picked!

Vonhelmet said:
Besides, if they really want it they'll lock it a second time with something you can't break and then come back at 3am.
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This.

What's the general consensus on what to do? Didn't it happen to Tart? Someone else locked their bike around his frame?

If it happened to me (unlikely as I don't lock my bike in public places very often) I'd probably notify the local police & tell them I'm going to superglue the strangers lock and then come and cut it with tools.

My bike has developed a click, I thought it was QR or derailleur hanger as I know my hanger screws have worked loose previously. I rounded the head on one of them again last night (done this 3 times now, I'm out of spare screws!). They seem to be made of cheese...! I refitted the hanger with carbon grip (and a good clean) last night and had to cut a slot in the 1 screw. It doesn't budge now but I still have a click...

It's not when I'm putting power down, no pattern or frequency I can determine. I'm going to tighten my headset to rule that out... My next target is wheels (loose spoke/valve washer) followed by BB.

When it 'clicks'/'ticks' I can feel it through my pedals/crank arms. Would this be a symptom of BB bearings? Bike is almost a year old! (& 3k miles) :eek:
 
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