Are bikes becoming like computers?
I'm currently holding out for an internally routed, flat-disc-mount carbon frame, but now I see I may have to wait fir the next gen...
Why/what you holding out for?
When in the LBS yesterday I had a quick scout of a
Giant Defy with Shimano Hydraulic Di2 on it in the Workshop... With the integrated stem. Looks a little bit messy as on the model there it had the cables outside the bars then entering the sides of the stem. I thought the newer ones where all internal
but might be mistaken. Integrated stem looks really tidy and the guys said very service friendly. Hex bolts holding the top cover on, internals held inside, little flaps on the sides to get to the stem bolts without tools. Very impressed. Although the guys said the Giant hydraulic brakes are horrible as they have a reservoir in the stem so really awkward to work with and best avoided. So go full Shimano with them. Di2 works best, as mechanical things get a little bit tight, but still much better than the Trek Madone/Domane integrated combo. That one is just a nightmare by all accounts. The Specialized one is good when setup but a pain to build with and get right, then not that serviceable afterwards.
Really think at the moment my next bike is going to be a Giant Propel... I can't justify the cost of top end Specialized. But then I am also thinking 2 seasons ahead - who knows what elese will have taken my fancy by then!
I'm going out delivering JustEat at 4.45pm though so I'll see how that goes.
20 miles on a mountain bike making paper
Timestamps on your post - it took you 5 hours to do 20 miles?! Cold food!
Shimano calipers go in the **** it bucket.
Make sure the part number is the same. BR-R785 will be a banjo fitting requiring a MTB caliper. BR-RS785 is a straight hose fitting and in line with all the up to date calipers.
Yup straight fitting for me.
Anything to watch out for when just buying and fitting a replacement new BR-RS785 (thanks for the pointer) to an old system? I didn't bleed the system but inverted the bike last night and unscrewed the caliper, host twists a little but rather than putting a kink in it I rotated the caliper to unscrew it, is that the usual trick? Hose nut-fitting bit doesn't spin? Or mine is seized? Will do a full bleed when new caliper is fitted. Is it just a straight screw in & fit? No additional sealing or anything required? I don't have any kit to do with with cutting/fitting hoses/banjo's etc (yet, may need to in future)!
the cost of labour for a bike shop to rebuild your caliper probably wouldnt be far off the cost of a new one - probably why there's no spares - the money goes in shimano's pocket and not the shop.
Yeah I wouldn't get them to repair, but looking at that guide last night will take it apart myself to judge what's happened (
expecting similar to this). Just quite interested in the internals as they look so simple now!
Have seen compatible ceramic pistons and new seals being sold on the 'bay. Non-shimano but for a couple of quid I may do that to see how repairable/swappable they are. Would have a spare caliper then.
