Merlin

Many thanks for your call and the setup files, Mike. Above and beyond. I suspect it's more an issue with my shock pump than my shock. I spoke to Ruan at Spoke Works and am going past there tomorrow for some help with the setup. I'll take a look at your files beforehand.

Hi everyone, I have a Manitou Swinger 3-way Air installed on my bike. I have been back and forth to just about all of the mainstream bike shops in Sandton over the last few months. None of them have been able to help me out, and all have generally made the situation worse. Some even declined to even try adjusting it. HtF can a bike shop be scared of tinkering with a bike shock!? The problem is that I am leaving on Wednesday for a big bike trip and my rear shock is now @#$^ed... I have a shock pump, which was checked out and apparently serviced, recently. I cannot get it right, and am now in dire need of assistance. I am in the Woodmead/Buccleuch/Kyalami area and really could do with some help. If you know how to setup rear air shocks, especially making them a little harder for bigger jumps, etc. and wouldn't mind helping me out, please let me know. I really need to get this done by the end of tomorrow. Thanks, Nic (m) 078 1217 607

Thanks, HR. Aaah, Hazyview is a stunning area. Sorry to hear about your bug. Sending links to you via PM.

It's a German-import (LHD) FEB '67 w' factory sunroof. I just got it properly back onto the road this weekend after nearly 3 years of work on it...it was a basketcase that lent itself to customizing, so I took the opportunity and went bezerk. Hacks off the neighbours, annoys the cr*p out of the cops, and I love it. I have a lot more work planned for it, but it's a long down the pipeline as I have a big overseas trip planned for 2011 which is sucking up my cash, not to mention keeping my other heaps going. Drop me a PM/email and I'll hook you up with some photo links.

It's been a really, reeeally bad day chaps - I'm a little more trigger-happy than usual.

? To keep gas guzzling car driving ijits off the hub so we can have some intelligent debate. conversation. ? Keeps the place more pure. Imagine all those W2nkers taking crud on the hub? ? Eish.? ? Leave them be. ? (BTW. we had this debate a while back and they are just baiting you Merlin.) They are not such a bad bunch. Not such a great bunch that we would like to invite them over here either' date=' but not a bad bunch. They are winding you up man. ? ?[/quote'] I'm well aware they're only out to razz us, but it's a BS subject to pick for a cheap joke. I used to ride the 11km in to work quite frequently, but stopped after I was forced off the road and crashed twice in less than two months, by F*ckwit drivers and taxis not making way for me on the dirt verge. I rode in last week, an hour earlier than usual, to see if it would make any difference, and whilst I didn't encounter any major differences, I felt rather unsafe on my route and won't be doing it again. I'm a big Petrolhead, but I've ridden my whole life, and I've had my fair share of run-ins with Morons on the roads - and off. I wonder if these fools laugh when their offspring/wife/etc. land up in hospital, or at the morgue. "Hey, they deserved it for <insert whatever here>."

...don't generalize, Nish4. I drive a WIDE variety of vehicles, chief amongst which is a heavily-modified 'classic' (in terms of performance). Some of us like engines and pedals.

Some clowns on a local motoring forum have posted some bait for those of us who pedal... Yes, I know it's a bunch of tossers looking for a quick laugh, but their attitude really hacks me off, and I thought I'd put a few words in. Perhaps you'd like to see who we share the roads with, and why so many of us get knocked down... Btw, my user name there is Mikroz. Link.

+1 Eldron. I can't believe some people are actually sticking up for these guys. Do you like paying BS prices and supporting criminals? A kid could tell you this is price-fixing. I recently started getting back into biking after some time off and the prices I noted in local stores made me pale. Just another example of the ZA consumer getting his behind tapped. Disgusting. Saying that these guys did a lot for the sport so it's OK is completely irrelevant. Right, my 2c posted, I'd also like to see these so-called Minutes...anyone? Thanks, N.

's up? Despite the obvious wrong against the manufacturer's specs, I'm after some real-world advice here... I have Mavic 517 (disc) rims on my Trek Remedy. They're fitted with some Specialized Pro tyres at the moment, which are 2.0 across, and quite frankly, are sh*t tyres imo. The rim states a max' of 2.3 when it comes to tyre width. I fitted a 2.4 Continental Speed King to it yesterday, but did not take it out for a ride. Am I looking to paddle up shi*t creek with the wrong paddle here, or do you reckon I'll be OK with this setup? Also, the LBS recommended two different tyres for my bike...a Conti' 2.3 (name forgotten) up front, and the Speed King 2.4 at the back. The box that the Speed King came in says UST Tubeless on it (my bike is NOT tubeless). I asked the LBS about this and they said it's not a problem. Obviously not as I test-fitted it yesterday. ...but do you concur with his statement? I ask because I haven't ridden it yet. Thanks, from someone who feels very lost after being off of a bike for many years. Cheers, Nic

Kewl. Thanks Johan.

Hi, I've got a Manitou Black Elite 120 fork fitted to my rig, and I'm heading off on holiday later this week. The right stanchion has had a problem almost since new in that the sponge ring that sits inside the mini-boot and oils the stanchion keeps riding up, out of the boot. Presumably because it's getting too dry. This fork has been distributor-serviced since new. I've never had a problem with the other stanchion's ring. I'm not going to get the time to go past the bike shop before I head out on holi' later this week, but I do have miscellaneous oils/grease at Home. What should I use to oil this ring and keep the damned thing in place? Thanks, Nic

Hi guys' date=' Thanks all for the help. Rob, Took the bike to Fritz Pienaar [Paulshof'] twice, before going through to Kyalami...FPZ SUCKS, and plenty of Kudos to Kyalami for their helpy way above and beyond. The cassette and chain are definately in good nic, and while the chainrings are starting to wear, I'm pretty sure thay are still far from causing issues. Not a chance the frame is bent. The hangar was bent, but was straightened with the right tool - name unknown - at Kyalami, who also fitted a new jockey. The old one was definately at the end of it's Life. Pretty certain the cables are all in good working order. Everything shifts perfectly. The general consensus then, which I tend to agree with now, is the freehub. I'll get a quote on decent chainrings and a freehub in the new year. Hope Santa brings me a bankload of cash to service all my debts! Cheers, Nic

Hi all, My chain is slipping. I'm riding an '06 Trek Remedy frame. A new '08 XT jockey was fitted two months ago. At the same time, the shop checked over the cassette and chain and told me they were in excellent condition. I ride mostly trials-type stuff and technical offroad sections. I do push the bike to the max. It doesn't get ridden much...2/3 times a week to work [15kms each way], and perhaps a few kms on the w'end. The last 3 weeks or so it's developed a slip in the chain. There are no stiff joints in the chain, the chainline is straight with my selections, it's oiled every two rides with some decent stuff - forget the name; lbs recommended (oil, not wax), and the chainrings appear straight to me. While not new, there teeth front and back are far from triangular. It's been a few days since I've ridden, so I can't remember distinctly if it's across the range or not, but it's *usually* only on the one set of gears I ride. I've been out of bikes for quite a few years, so my knowledge is lost in the mists of time...what else can I check? 27-speed. All Shimano. Anyone? Thanks, NicMerlin2007-12-20 05:11:15

...if you're on holiday and your fanbelt breaks... ;-) What about stretching, hardening, and friction? I'm not putting it down...these are legitimate queries I'm interested in. Cheers, N.

If you buy a f/s for R500 from Sipho you're just as guilty.

In 28 months you'll be able to donate them to a museum. Look out for VW parts for me. N.

Nigeria permanently or contract? 419-land... I'm...stressed. ;] Yellow? The DH rig was sold off, and the VRX as stated, is no more...fatal failure. The Remedy is a little tame for my riding, so I had to tone it down a bit, more so with age. Hehe. Yah, the bus is still around...along with a few other 'dubs. Hehe. That's my Life now. I moved on from that company many eons ago.

Yup Big H. Glad to be remembered. ;] N.

Biking used to be my Life...it's now been replaced, but I still like jol'ng around on a bike, and letting it go would be like losing a dream. I'm not prepared to shell out that kind of money right now - my other obsession takes it. ...and I've been riding high-end bikes for many years now, so riding a bargain-bin bike nowadays just doesn't do it for me, and wouldn't last with my riding style. I also enjoy the tech, so the higher-end bikes take up that part of the enjoyment. N.

The Remedy is not what I originally wanted, but a year of fighting with Trek and their BS attitude got my the frame, so I accepted. I will never buy a Trek again. I've had endless hassles with them over all sorts of things, both with this bike, the VRX, and their service/warranty department. N.

There's a reason they called my bike the 'Remedy'...it solved the problem of ugly Titus'.

Um...nope. Can you say 'Art'? http://www.mds.co.jp/rigidboard-data/mds/pickup/000/00047-x01.jpg

How did we go from linkages to chains? *scratches head* N.