Stuff you learn(t) the hard way by being your own mechanic

[MrJacques]

In a few years it might all be wireless (at least for top end specs), so problem solved

[droo]

4 hours ago, MrJacques said:

Yes. Would probably be a little more difficult to do with an alu frame.

 

That's quite tidy. Canyon had a similar thing where all the cables clipped in to the cover over the down tube that was an absolute pigdog to work with.

[Robbie Stewart]

On 3/6/2024 at 2:44 PM, droo said:

Leave it out in the sun for an hour, that should do the job.

I'd be remiss not to report back. I left the deflated wheel in the sun for half an hour and it came off with some gentle persuasion. I managed to peel it off and flip the tube and reinflate in under 10 minutes. 

can I say I'm STOKED? 

Thanks

[droo]

16 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I'd be remiss not to report back. I left the deflated wheel in the sun for half an hour and it came off with some gentle persuasion. I managed to peel it off and flip the tube and reinflate in under 10 minutes. 

can I say I'm STOKED? 

Thanks

I think the biggest achievement in that whole story was finding half an hour of sun to leave it in.

Glad you got it sorted.

[Steady Spin]

On 3/7/2024 at 10:10 AM, David Marshall said:

You may have to tape closed some of the other holes to get good suction

That's what she said.

[Steady Spin]

On 3/6/2024 at 4:51 AM, RobertWhitehead said:

I've learnt that I feel like a poephol regardless of the tyre width every time I do that 😂. Sometimes the feeling is so bad that I pretend to not notice my mistake until the new owner points it out and offers to fix it 

Did exactly that last night on the 4th tyre I fitted.... I made the neighbours blush with my choice of language.

[thebob]

Never assume the handlebar width markings are correct or even the same on either side of a handlebar. Just checked my 3 Burgtec bars and all 3 had different centre to outside edge measurements in spite of all being cut to the indicated 780mm

Edited April 19 by thebob

[love2fly]

My son just bought a MTB and I noticed something rattling around in the read tyre.....turned out to be like a panel pin, yeah, go figure.

My point is, I started by popping the bead and removing the pin, and then the **** started. Flippen tyre was behaving like Velcro and after 2 trips to the petrol station for air, I decided to do it properly - removed and washed tyre and rim, let tyre dry in the sun and started dry but with soap and it was a breeze (not the soap).

Lesson - on an old tyre that's prone to velcroing rather just do it properly.

On a new tyre I can do it without spilling a drop of sealant or shedding any tears yet today I was at my wits end. Took a lunch break and had a rethink.

[The Ouzo]

CO2 bombs dont hold CO2 for ever.

 

I've been carrying a couple of bombs on the bike for a long time now, on Sunday I got my first puncture in a very long time (remember to top up your sealant people).

I tried both bombs, neither of them had any CO2 left in them. 

Lesson learnt

[Ant in the NL]

Picked up these almost new MTB 29er (ALEX) rims and (Schwalbe) tyres for gratis from a local resident here by me last weekend - my humble Avalanche 29er is using stock rims and rubber and I want to see if it's worth me tryna get this to fit. 

Several apparent issues, thru axle vs quick release (on my Avalanche - see pic), cassette compatability, etc...

Opinions welcome on if it's too much drama to get the new rims on my bike and if I should get rid of them (the rims) and simply retain the rubber?

[justinafrika]

2 hours ago, Ant in the NL said:

Picked up these almost new MTB 29er (ALEX) rims and (Schwalbe) tyres for gratis from a local resident here by me last weekend - my humble Avalanche 29er is using stock rims and rubber and I want to see if it's worth me tryna get this to fit. 

Several apparent issues, thru axle vs quick release (on my Avalanche - see pic), cassette compatability, etc...

Opinions welcome on if it's too much drama to get the new rims on my bike and if I should get rid of them (the rims) and simply retain the rubber?

Both sets have 32 holes so pretty easy if you put your old hubs (+ convenient for a hub service) onto the new wheels if spokes are still an appropriate length.  Eliminates cassette and disc compatibility concerns as well if those are still good.  If spokes tend to bust after that you prolly need to replace spokes, perhaps best to fit new spokes from the off.  

A lower-cost and pretty easy option for upgrading those stock hoops.  Even better if those newer hoops also have a wider ID, BONUS.

 

Edited September 4 by justinafrika

[Alouette3]

You can get a through axle to quick release conversion, but that still leaves the cassette compatibility.

Otherwise put them up for trade with some that has some quick release wheels, and keep the rubber.

Doubt it will be worth the money to build over the rims to 2 new wheels. At least R500 per wheel just in labour to build. 

Save the cash for a new bike down the line. Enjoy the Schwalbe tires

Edited September 4 by Alouette3

[justinafrika]

10 hours ago, Alouette3 said:

You can get a through axle to quick release conversion, but that still leaves the cassette compatibility.

Not an option, he's going from QR to through-axle as seen in his pics.  

[Alouette3]

6 minutes ago, justinafrika said:

Not an option, he's going from QR to through-axle as seen in his pics.  

His bike is the Avalanche which has QR as can be seen in the photo and the new wheels with tires are through axle

Edited September 5 by Alouette3

[justinafrika]

On 9/4/2024 at 8:41 PM, Alouette3 said:

You can get a through axle to quick release conversion, but that still leaves the cassette compatibility.

 

On 9/5/2024 at 7:50 AM, Alouette3 said:

His bike is the Avalanche which has QR as can be seen in the photo and the new wheels with tires are through axle

Nah, here's why.  The new wheelset may be non-boost 100mmX15mm front and 12mm rear, but more likely 110X15 (front) and 148X12 (rear).  That QR frame is 100mmX9mm front and 135mm wide at the rear.  A through-axle to QR adaptor can not fit into that QR frame as is. 

There is a way to widen the rear dropouts on alu frames.  It's risky though and I wouldn't chance it on a frame I want to keep.  Also dropouts won't be perfectly parallel after that.

I did that solution I offered earlier (putting the old rear hub onto the new upgrade wheelset) on a QR frame I really like, along with a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork that came off a new bike.  Lucky me got it at 75% off the retail price.

This solution works.  Very happy with it and mostdef worth it as well, especially on the trails.

PS. Am a bit intrigued by your pseudonym, what's the connection if I may ask?  FWIW I would have been on a medevac with an Alouette III that ditched into the sea off Cape St Francis after losing power (edit: suddenly losing all power).  I had taken a day's leave because the Supers and Seal Point waves were going to pump.  My mates and colleagues on that Alouette were badly injured with one being paralysed below the waist.

Almost as nuts, I was in the surf lineup at Seal's when I saw my colleagues overhead on their way to that disastrous medevac.

Edited September 6 by justinafrika

[RobertWhitehead]

Two things that were confirmed this morning:

1) I'm not a fan of droppers

2) The easiest and best way to remove Easy grips is with a stanley