Big Bike Thread

robj20 · 20 Mar 2013 at 11:04

Rigid forks, V brakes and 1.35 tyres... you sure you're talking about a mountain bike?

weescott · 20 Mar 2013 at 11:35

shadowcreaper said:
Hey guys need some help.
I'm currently in process of converting my rock Hopper into a commuter.
I've stuck some slick 1.35s duranos on them but looking for a rigid fork.

I was going to get a kenises maxlight but no one has stock!
So I need a good alternative
Suggestions? (Must have v brake bosses)

I heard the Santacruz Nomad is pretty good at jumping off kerbs. Ideal commuter!

Greenja · 20 Mar 2013 at 11:43

Greenja said:
My new bike, just went and picked it up yesterday

Been pretty disappointed with this so far, not because of the bike itself.but the way Decathlon set the bike up. Firstly my front disc brake rubs very badly, the wheel stops spinning almost instantly when span by hand. Also, the gears are fine when on the middle ring at the front, but changing to any other of the 3 rings up front it does not like it. Will just.click click click away for ages, if it does go into one of the others up front then changing the rear gears has the same problem.

Considering I spent £750 altogether I think its terrible. Its probably just the store that I went to but I really couldn't recommend Decathlon to anybody else.

I've now got to pay my LBS (bought the bike from Decathlon Bolton and I live in Blackpool) to set up the bike properly.

robj20 · 20 Mar 2013 at 11:45

weescott said:
I heard the Santacruz Nomad is pretty good at jumping off kerbs. Ideal commuter!

It is, also great for riding round all the trails i go to. I would have been pretty upset if it wasn't capable of dropping down a kerb. My commute takes me along bike trails so what else should i be using, doubt my car would fit.

Supercow · 20 Mar 2013 at 11:48

Greenja said:
I'm being a girl's blouse

Can't really expect a "rack em high, sell em cheap" shop to be able to give each individual bike detailed attention. Besides, pull your finger, those are trivial things to sort out

Also, all gearing will need to be re-tuned post a couple rides while it beds in and cables stretch etc.

Andelusion · 20 Mar 2013 at 11:52

Greenja said:
I've now got to pay my LBS (bought the bike from Decathlon Bolton and I live in Blackpool) to set up the bike properly.

Or better still; do some googling/asking here and learn to set it up yourself. Save £££ and keep your bike running properly for longer.

booyaka · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:17

Andelusion said:
Or better still; do some googling/asking here and learn to set it up yourself. Save £££ and keep your bike running properly for longer.

This - youtube and bikerdar etc for videos. I've recently serviced my forks, seatpost, bleed brakes etc all just following/watching videos. Probably saved 50% on shop services and have all the stuff to do it again next time.

Greenja · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:20

Good to know that these are trivial problems, for someone who hasn't owned/ridden a bike since I was a teen its not obvious that this is a trivial issue.

Yeah I agree that I can't expect a large chain store to focus on one bike, but I can definitely expect it to change gear! I still think its not right that the bike was sold in a state where it wouldn't even change gears. The guy in my LBS agreed and was quite shocked it had been sold how it is.

So could someone help me out then and give me some advise or a link to a guide on how to fix the problem? I'm all for learning how to set up / repair / maintain my bike. I took it to my LBS and said I would drop it off after work tonight for them to fix but if I can have some information on how to do it and it looks like I could get it sorted by this weekend (when i'm heading to Gisburn forest for my first ride!) then i'll do it myself. I'd have a look for a guide or something myself but i'm at work.

Thanks guys.

robj20 · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:26

Front brake problem, loosen the two bolts that hold the caliper onto the forks/adapter, leave them tight enough so you can move the caliper but it stays put. Center it over the disc so there is an even gap on each side of the disc then tighten it back up. (It can take a couple of tries to get it spot on)
Next if you have rubbing but only in a certain spot, you will need to bend the disc slightly, look through the caliper and find where the disc is out.

Hope all that makes sense.

booyaka · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:34

Workshop: How to set up the gears on your bike

touch · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:45

robj20 said:
Front brake problem, loosen the two bolts that hold the caliper onto the forks/adapter, leave them tight enough so you can move the caliper but it stays put. Center it over the disc so there is an even gap on each side of the disc then tighten it back up. (It can take a couple of tries to get it spot on)

You can do it by loosening the bolts then holding the brake on to centre it while you do up the bolts again.

thecremeegg · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:45

robj20 said:
Front brake problem, loosen the two bolts that hold the caliper onto the forks/adapter, leave them tight enough so you can move the caliper but it stays put. Center it over the disc so there is an even gap on each side of the disc then tighten it back up. (It can take a couple of tries to get it spot on)
Next if you have rubbing but only in a certain spot, you will need to bend the disc slightly, look through the caliper and find where the disc is out.

Hope all that makes sense.

Or even easier is to loosen the bolts, hold down the brake lever and tighten at the same time

Supercow · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:47

Or you can loosten the mount from underneath the bolts and rotate the earth in the opposite direction.

(Do as touch / cremeggg said

)

robj20 · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:50

Thats not the best way though.

neil_g · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:51

touch said:
You can do it by loosening the bolts then holding the brake on to centre it while you do up the bolts again.

hope dont recommend this method, i guess as the pads can be stuck out more on one side and the caliper becomes un-centered when you press the lever?

Supercow · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:55

robj20 said:
Thats not the best way though.

I've always found it to work the same / better.

robj20 · 20 Mar 2013 at 12:55

neil_g said:
hope dont recommend this method, i guess as the pads can be stuck out more on one side and the caliper becomes un-centered when you press the lever?

Yes, its very often one piston will move more than the other, brakes with 4 or more pistons often have one pair move before the other pair to aid modulation, this too can cause misalignment.

touch · 20 Mar 2013 at 13:00

How could you centre them any other way if one piston moves more than the other?
When both pistons are fully retracted, you have no way of knowing where the centre is unless you pull the brake on to see how far each piston moves?

Supercow · 20 Mar 2013 at 13:09

robj20 said:
Yes, its very often one piston will move more than the other, brakes with 4 or more pistons often have one pair move before the other pair to aid modulation, this too can cause misalignment.

No, I meant the quicker way being the bestestsest way.
My pistons move perfect, I don't use Hope brakes.

Greenja · 20 Mar 2013 at 13:10

Thanks a lot for the help guys, the brakes seem easy enough to sort out.

The main issue now then is the gears, had a quick scan of that guide and the only things I don't have are the chain tool and chain lubricant. Will look to pick these up after work and having a bash at it tonight. Will take to my LBS in the morning if I fail lol, its gotta be sorted for Friday.

Cheers for your help guys, hopefully I can follow that guide tonight!