Road Cycling

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grudas said:
is this after new? I guess first service is fine but after that, meh... my triban 3 did over 8k miles and I serviced it once! - properly.

the rest was just consumables, tyres, brakes, cables, chains etc.. !

my headset is loose again on my SS!!! grrrr... - I can't tighten it properly because it obviously compresses the bearings and it refuses to move freely, but I can't keep it like this either.. it seems to become loose after 100 or so miles :rolleyes:
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Yeah from new (December), mine is a Defy 1 2015 and James' is a Defy 3 2015 but think his is a month or two older. I'm guessing it's just components 'bedding in', certainly things like headset and spokes will always work themselves loose when commuting (lots of stop/starting, braking, different weather and temperature conditions).

Regarding your headset is it just the stem bolt working loose or more serious? Some temporary 'thread lock' style sealant on the thread may be enough to hold it better? (like the blue stuff you see on some PC component threads).

FrenchTart said:
Withington Cycles were still unable to give me an ETA this morning (which I guess is fair enough in some ways, it's a busy time of year given the change in weather) but Edinburgh Cycles have kindly donated a hydraulic cup/funnel reservoir thing so I can do the brakes myself, woo. Picking up the funnel and the bike in a moment and a carbide blade so I can cut the steerer myself. Assuming it doesn't all go horribly wrong I'll be done by the end of the day *jinxes himself horribly*.
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Pretty bad of them to not give you an ETA after them having the bike more than 12 hours. They've either started the work (and got an idea) or not (so should know when they have a time slot today)?!?!

I've noticed part of the service you get from a LBS can depend on your relationship with them... Last time I 'popped in' (when my spokes were making noise) they were busy and a guy had gone home ill (normally 3 mechanics), the store manager actually did it for me - he normally wouldn't get involved in repairs but does bike fits/sizing for sales. As it was me (and I ride with them some weekends) and the end of the day (quiet on sales) he made an exception. I've 'popped in' like this 4 times now and they've fitted me in (only called once before). More than happy to pay for their time but they've refused my offers :D (so far...) Guess it does mean I buy things in the shop I'd otherwise source online...! ;)
 
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FrenchTart said:
Picking up the funnel and the bike in a moment and a carbide blade so I can cut the steerer myself. Assuming it doesn't all go horribly wrong I'll be done by the end of the day *jinxes himself horribly*.
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You got the proper tools for chopping the steerer off? Doing it by eye? Using a hose clip?
 
Roady said:
I've noticed part of the service you get from a LBS can depend on your relationship with them... Last time I 'popped in' (when my spokes were making noise) they were busy and a guy had gone home ill (normally 3 mechanics), the store manager actually did it for me - he normally wouldn't get involved in repairs but does bike fits/sizing for sales. As it was me (and I ride with them some weekends) and the end of the day (quiet on sales) he made an exception. I've 'popped in' like this 4 times now and they've fitted me in (only called once before). More than happy to pay for their time but they've refused my offers :D (so far...) Guess it does mean I buy things in the shop I'd otherwise source online...! ;)
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Yeah my old LBS was very much like this. The owner was usually quite shirty until unrelated we got chatting at a classic car hillclimb and found we both had classic Fords. After that he always recognised me and was always dead helpful.
 
Roady said:
Yeah from new (December), mine is a Defy 1 2015 and James' is a Defy 3 2015 but think his is a month or two older. I'm guessing it's just components 'bedding in', certainly things like headset and spokes will always work themselves loose when commuting (lots of stop/starting, braking, different weather and temperature conditions).

Regarding your headset is it just the stem bolt working loose or more serious? Some temporary 'thread lock' style sealant on the thread may be enough to hold it better? (like the blue stuff you see on some PC component threads).
Click to expand...

You say that, but say... my campy wheels, 6k+ miles on them and I've literally done NOTHING to them bar replace casettes and tyres..?! spokes coming undone is a new one, I do brake spokes but that's different ha ;)

can't say that I've had anything bar my headset this time come undone on any of my bikes? :confused:

I dont really know.. I think the crown race is a little different - couldn't remove the old one of the fork! which is why it might come undone? there's probably half a mm worth of movement which is not bad at all

but I'm getting a crown race removal tool and see if I can get that thing off..

can't see the bolt undoing it self, even tho there is a lot of force going through the bars when I pull off lights.
 
FrenchTart said:
Ah... I don't drive so I need to get to somewhere I can walk back from unfortunately. I popped into Bikehaus a few weeks ago though on an unrelated matter and the family that ran the place seemed nice.

Withington Cycles were still unable to give me an ETA this morning (which I guess is fair enough in some ways, it's a busy time of year given the change in weather) but Edinburgh Cycles have kindly donated a hydraulic cup/funnel reservoir thing so I can do the brakes myself, woo. Picking up the funnel and the bike in a moment and a carbide blade so I can cut the steerer myself. Assuming it doesn't all go horribly wrong I'll be done by the end of the day *jinxes himself horribly*.
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I can lend you a steerer cutting guide if you want. It's at home, natch, so you'd have to wait until tomorrow and come into town to fetch it.

I don't know who did the steerer on my Carrera TDF - it came second hand from my neighbour and he had the original aluminium fork replaced with a carbon one - but they cut the stop of the steerer all wonky. Fortunately the spacers cover it up!
 
The preload cap and bolt on your headset don't hold anything on, they're just there to pre-load the headset bearings. The stem is what should be holding everything secure.
 
Jonny69 said:
Yeah my old LBS was very much like this. The owner was usually quite shirty until unrelated we got chatting at a classic car hillclimb and found we both had classic Fords. After that he always recognised me and was always dead helpful.
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The LBS of choice round our way - Geoff Smith's in Bolton - can be a bit tricky, as he is incredibly busy and in very high demand. I've only been in there once and I bumped into a mate of mine who was buying a carbon seatpost at the time who said to the owner "Do you want to help Von while I'm looking at this?" and Geoff said "I don't know, do I want to help him?" and I was like :eek: I actually introduced myself by reference to my neighbour who I knew spends a ton in there :p
 
It does seem like a common problem with many LBS. They must get a lot of work in which results in the unknown ETAs. I've had a few bad experiences, but then a few good ones.

Slightly different situation but its just easier, and benefits me to do it myself. I'll buy tools, tool by tool when needed. My most expensive tool has been the bearing press, but it has come in useful on 4 occasions in the last year resulting in me keeping my bike on the road.
 
grudas said:
You say that, but say... my campy wheels, 6k+ miles on them and I've literally done NOTHING to them bar replace casettes and tyres..?! spokes coming undone is a new one, I do brake spokes but that's different ha ;)
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Saytan said:
a properly built wheel won't come undone.
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The fact mine is an 'off the shelf' Giant Defy may account for some of the adjustments/wear and tear. Certainly don't hear many/any people talking about buying a Giant P-R2 wheelset!

The wheels are one of the first things mentioned about 'upgrading' on the Defy... I wonder if this is why!

grudas said:
can't say that I've had anything bar my headset this time come undone on any of my bikes? :confused:
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Maybe it's just my 'bad luck' with this Giant Defy 1 then! :(

6thElement said:
The preload cap and bolt on your headset don't hold anything on, they're just there to pre-load the headset bearings. The stem is what should be holding everything secure.
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Worth knowing, thanks! Got that impression from when I took mine apart (for the first time last night). Obviously without the preload the bearings will be 'loose' and the stem will wobble so they're all interlinked in the stem... The stem/caps/bearings won't 'hold' tightly enough to stop play without that preload.

topgun06 said:
It does seem like a common problem with many LBS. They must get a lot of work in which results in the unknown ETAs. I've had a few bad experiences, but then a few good ones.
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Vonhelmet said:
I actually introduced myself by reference to my neighbour who I knew spends a ton in there :p
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I've always got that as 'backup' (guy from my work spent £20k+ on carbon bikes the last couple of years with them!) but to be honest 'my' LBS (3rd I tried) were really helpful in my first dealings with them - a damage repair quote from when I was knocked off. My missus sorts their insurance out through work so she initiated things (foot in the door). I guess once they figured out I was likely to buy a bike from them they thought it was worth the effort! ;)

After the service with them, the friendly staff (some good banter, wide range of staff ages & all always in good spirits) the other 2 smaller LBS I had been to about different things really felt like 'local shops for local people' - they looked at you strange as you had no bike with you and hadn't been to them for anything before - without any sense of humour.

Nature of the beast I guess - Around here lots of clubs have usually affiliated themselves with a particular shop. Riders will swap between clubs (and possibly shops) but you don't generally get clubs swapping between shops. With cycling coming increasingly popular many of these LBS find themselves really busy, unable to provide the personal service they may have before. One way around this (and to 'jump the queue') can be the club/rider affiliation, at least until you've built your own relationship with them.

Taking cakes/biscuits along to the shop/club social ride is another great way for the shop guys/gals to remember you! ;)
 
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So... I may have squirted degreaser/water into my hub when cleaning my bike the other week. Either that or I just didn't notice the noise when free wheeling before :o

I'm going to try my charm to get a free hub service when it goes in for its 6 week check up but when this fails am I better off handing over £20 or is it a simple job that even a numpty can't mess up?

I've had a look online and it looks a bit tricky :o
 
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