marshace

Any comments/advice on the new generation press fit BB's Like working on my own bike/s. Had to replace frame but new standard seems to be press fit bb. That means new tools !!!. or does it ?? Do you just tap them out or what ?? Just got very comfortable with externa bb's en cheap rebuild (thread on this site) etc...

2012 frame now has press fit BB and tapered headset. And agent will not allow you to build yourself so you are forced to pay LBS. Mtb Frame was 18 months old. Suppose I will just have to pay !!

Recently cracked a frame of well know brand. Heard now that this is a common problem. Under warranty they agreed to replace the frame - that sounds great. Make sure you read the fine print in your warranty - IT EXCLUDES LABOUR !!! In my case, head set did no longer fit nor did BB. So after this incident I am out of pocket by a cool R 1000. Yes I am getting a new frame but had the old one not broken I would have still been riding it and had R 1000 in my pocket. Be aware !!!

Thanks for all the comments, mine a XL frame and seat post 400 mm and is now where near limit. Some reackon that seatpost beyond its limit will result in horizontal crack of seat tube just above weld. In my case it was vertical crack just next to weld on top tube. Not sure. Awaiting feedback from rep.

Heard that KHS is now bringing out a 27 1/2 inch - just to confuse us all. Supposedly the best of both ????

Pioneer much better value for money, food is better, you get cool Jacket, more community involvement and benefit. You can even share a bottle of red wine with Suzi, Kevin, David George and Max and others if you want to. They are much more relaxed. Got a much better vibe. More personal becuase of smaller numbers. The Epic is a training ride for the Pioneer. If the bike sticker/status is all you want, and you have cash , then Epic is the one. Otherwise PIONEER all the way.

Hi Hubbers Ride a 2010 Anthem X2, bought in Feb 2010, did Epic and Cape Pioneer in 2010. Used for these 2 multiday events only plus some tune up rides. Max 2000 km. In the Pioneer this year I cracked the frame where the top tube joins the seat tube. It's a vertical crack. Now many tell me this is a common problem with Giant Anthems !!! Any comments ??

Have a set of Shimano FHM495 which have given me many years of good trainig miles. Maintain a grease regularly but surprised at all the much that gets into bearings. Has anyone give thought of replacing those metal dome like cover things on both sides, that are suppose to "seal" between fixed part of cone and rotaing part, with some decent rubber compression seals. The outside diameter needs to be such that it fits securely into free body and inside diameter needs to fit and seal over cone body. Sure if I could reduce muck getting in I could reduce maintenace cycle. Any thoughts ? Eric

We are group of between 5 and 8 doing 3 times a week, 04:50 on Teusdays and Wednesdays departing from robot on Brackenfell Boulevard and Bottelary, down to weight bridge K'Joostenberg and back or similar say 40 km's, back by 06:20 at latest depending on group. On Wednesdays we depart 04:45 from robot on corner of Cecil Morgan and Bottelary, and the do Polka into Stellies, and these days turn round and come back as Kayamandi seems to be a hotspot. say 45 km's with some climbing back bay 06:20..... Welcome to join in. Mainly mtb's but roadies also welcome.

You don't have to get personal. Silly !!!

Patience by all, that's what needed. Give each other a break man, chill out. Cyclist need to adapt riding to conditions, nice yellow wide shoulder - what's wrong with riding 2 abreast, no shoulder, then surely single file. If group is say 25 plus, on road with no shoulder, then we often ride 3 abreast to shorten/bunch it up, the thinking it is then its easier to pass. Would you agree ? Most cyclist do think about motorists, most of them have cars as well, and certainly do not go out there with a mission to irritate motorists... I also commute by motorcycle, and its the same thing....

Depends what type of riding you are doing. I would go for 34, its good all round ratio and good enough for most climbs. For hectic climbs some are using 36 !!!! But you can normally walk faster than riding a 36...

If its just for odd job's on your and your mates bike's, I have made an additional bracket (piece of square tubing cut at angle with countersunk screw in the top and normal coach bolt in the bottom) and bolted it to my workbench and I place my old "holdfast" (one that bikes hang on top tuble) bike rack in there and it works fine for me. Probly not good enough if you are running a bike shop but. Cost me nothing. Just an idea.

Pro Nutro great !! but never know how much milk to add to start of with. Don't like it when its like cement and you battle to get it down. Often add bit of boiling water to start of with just to take chill out of it with cold milk out the fridge.(makes less noise than micro wave early morning when family stil sleeping) You also use less milk this way. Yes and you can add anything from raisins, banana and even crunched up wheetbix for variation..... Plain whole wheat works best if you want to be creative. Enjoy

When are those Momsen riser bars arriving ? Special for those that have Momsen seat posts and have been waiting patiently !!! How about Maxis Cross mark and Stans special.

Hi hubbers Found what I need and plenty more Shimano parts on UK website SJScycles. Dave was great and replied to a query about cone within minutes. Found other stuff like freebody etc..I also need. Yes getting it from UK is an issue but I will make a plan. Go chech it out.

Thanks Johan Your replies are always very informative and usefull. Regards Eric

Thanks for all the replies. Seems like I am not the only one to battle with this. I do like the cones and bearings as they are easy to service and you can replace balls for a very small cost. For now I just service regularly, ride with the cones slightly looser than normal. I will keep on looking for spares, any contacts in the UK ?

Hi Where can I get Shimano Xt hub parts ? Most bike shops say they will find out but never get back to you. Looking for FH-M775 rear hub " Lefy Hand Lock nut (M14) & Cone (M14) with dust cover" - part number Y-3D0 98060 Mine is pitted and you can feels it's rough as you rotate it. Not sure how this happened. Is it same as the other side ? Not indicated as spare part on attached spares list. Are they interchangeable ? Refer Item no 6 on attached parts listing. Seem crazy to have to rplace a hub just becuase of this !! Can anybody out there help ? PLEASE !!! thx Eric EV-FH-M775-2700A_v1_m56577569830646671.pdf

Thanks for being honest and trying to return item to owner. !!!

Had dealing with both stores and no complaints. Was a bit cheesed off once when I bought a few Maxxis crossmarks ust tyres only to find they reduced the price considerably the next week. You have to know your prices though and bargain with them. Bargain boxes often have nice goodies in them at PTA store.

CrossMark front and back has got me through 2 Epics and a Pioneer, They are good alround and UST are bullet proof !! Not the lightest tyre out but they give me confidence. See many argue Monoral on front is better but I have yet to be convinced. Go CrossMark !!!

Had good experince with stans and maxxis crossmarks. My experince is that temperature and moisture play a role in sealing ability. When its cold and wet, like currently in CPT, it battles to seal. Nice dry hot weather in the karoo no problem. Home mix is interestring, but how much do you honestly save ? Sludge has different types, the more grit it has the better it will seal bigger holes, and works well. How often do you check for sealant ? I have had some badluck once, got a flat, cursed the sealant, only to find there was nothing left inside. Bike stood still for 6 months, do not know where it went, but it was bone dry. I now check before a big event, or obviously after you have had a hole and lost some.

So you say I do not need that rubber tube like rim strip thing that cost a fortune ? So even if spoke nipple holes are open on inside, you just plak some tape and fit presta valve and go. On the Mavic 819' s I have there are no nipple/spoke holes, you simply insert valve and go tubeless. No tapes of any kind.... That's what I though was UST or Tubeless wheels. See on web 2 schools of though re conversions to tubeless, inluding rubber rim strip and one without. What works best ?

I run XT hubs on Mavic 819's UST, indestructable but heavy at around 2096g Make sure you add conversion kit weight to some of the lighter options that are non UST !! Eg Spinnergy XYclone, light at 1695 g per set but then add 200 g for conversion kit and you are at 1895g American classic at 1520 g plus 200 g for conv = 1750g etc.... Best deall weight and cost wise is XT, UST ready. Bullet proof at 1677 g = my choice