What did you do to your bicycle today?

topgun06 · 22 Sep 2017 at 09:47

Fair play to ya! I've always just chucked the inner tube out after it has punctured. Doesn't really make sense to spend £3 to replace one tube when you can patch them up for much less!

Saytan · 22 Sep 2017 at 10:25

binning punctured tubes is so wasteful. I love the near infinite repairability and reusability of the bicycle.

Vonhelmet · 22 Sep 2017 at 16:41

I imagine a lot of people have been put off by trying to use rubbish kits at the roadside. That certainly wouldn't be my first choice, so I carry spares for that eventuality. Decent kits at home is a different matter.

Lethal` · 22 Sep 2017 at 16:58

Vonhelmet said:
I imagine a lot of people have been put off by trying to use rubbish kits at the roadside. That certainly wouldn't be my first choice, so I carry spares for that eventuality. Decent kits at home is a different matter.

Got some examples of rubbish and decent kits?

I carry some Park Tool super patches for the road / MTB but only actually used on other people's tubes.. and they've worked. Haven't heard of them repuncturing.

Vonhelmet · 23 Sep 2017 at 08:54

I use Rema kits. I've never had success with any of the kits without proper rubber cement.

Saytan · 23 Sep 2017 at 09:58

couple of years back I bought a few ex-Halfords stock ones on ebay (it was after they changed their branding, and someone had just crossed the Halfords logo out with a permanent marker)

as good as anything.

Fusion · 23 Sep 2017 at 12:01

Not very exciting, but got a Continental X-King protection front tyre to replace the XR3 Expert. 4-ply, kevlar puncture protection, faster rolling. Bit of a tyre geek. Got a Race King Protection on the rear. Ride XC.

BennyC · 23 Sep 2017 at 19:57

Saytan said:
binning punctured tubes is so wasteful. I love the near infinite repairability and reusability of the bicycle.

I agree, I will sell you all my punctured tubes

DarrenM343 · 24 Sep 2017 at 12:10

Picked my commuter up from its Evans free 6 week service/check-up and fitted light mounting brackets ready for the darker evenings.
Is a front reflector required by law during daytime? I know lights and rear reflector are required between sunset and sunrise but not seen anything about a front reflector. I've replaced the reflector and bracket with the bracket for the light and Brompton have provided a handle bar mounted reflector that looks fine but I think I'd prefer not to have it mounted on the handlebars so am tempted to remove it. I suppose it would be handy during low light conditions where lights are not yet on so maybe should just leave it on

Vonhelmet · 3 Oct 2017 at 11:19

Rode it for the first time since replacing the freewheel. Ah, so much quieter! So much smoother! The old one was definitely way past it.

Lethal` · 4 Oct 2017 at 11:31

Moved saddle back a few mm... saddle comfort far better. Slightly more aero. Back comfort far worse.

Saytan · 4 Oct 2017 at 11:36

Lethal` said:
Moved saddle back a few mm... saddle comfort far better. Slightly more aero. Back comfort far worse.

Top pros get custom length stems so they can have the best of all worlds. it'd be nice if there were more 105, 115 etc options for us mortals.

topgun06 · 4 Oct 2017 at 11:40

Wrapped some tape. First time I've done the "figure of 8" method around the shifters. Superb finish.

Lethal` · 4 Oct 2017 at 11:57

Saytan said:
Top pros get custom length stems so they can have the best of all worlds. it'd be nice if there were more 105, 115 etc options for us mortals.

Actually not a bad point... I think my original Cube stem is slightly shorter than the deda stem I have on despite them both supposedly being 110mm. May have to give it a go.

I have a few new saddles arriving from Wiggle this week that I'll inspect for potential comfiness too. This Selle Italia X1 has never been great but recently I've found it terrible.

GSVBagpuss · 28 Oct 2017 at 18:14

Winter bedtime for my good bike - new bar tape (first time I’ve ever attempted that), greased all the headset bolts, greased the pedals, fixed the indexing and gave it a good clean. It can sleep happy now for 6 months!

MM-Seat · 1 Jan 2018 at 14:44

Put the crank and cassette back on the back after a deep clean (which was done in September!!!)

Mark A · 3 Jan 2018 at 13:41

I'm currently trying to remove a Raceface Aeffect crank arm and it isn't having it. Feels like the 8mm allen key is going to snap before it budges. I heard a crack and thought it might have loostened, but its still just as tight. I wish I had an 8mm allen socket as I have a long heavy duty breaker bar in my socket set that would do the job. I think the flexing of the allen key is stopping it from breaking the bolt loose.

GSVBagpuss · 7 Jan 2018 at 07:16

I broke my chain whip today trying to get a cassette off my spare wheel to put on my new direct drive turbo. Didn’t think you could do that!

Vonhelmet · 7 Jan 2018 at 10:05

Fell off it on some ice. Later on I will put ice tyres on it so I can commute on it tomorrow without doing that again.

muttclugg · 7 Jan 2018 at 11:54

New chain! Replaced the bog standard KMC chain that came with the bike with a new Shimano one as the old one broken yesterday.