The Velotard Thread.

[lemonjelly]

Was wondering if wd40 or similar was a viable solution. Will have a look at it this week.

 

[sycophantia]

Wd40 is good for getting it moving but probably something like acf50 is better as a long term moisture controller. In locks/keys it's best to use graphite grease or powder.

 

[lemonjelly]

Seems to be mainly me benefitting from advice on this thread. Apologies for repeat questions!
Back tyre went flat Friday as I reached work. Just taken the tube out to repair & it seems like a seal from a previous repair has developed a gap. I have 2 other spare tubes so fixing one of those but wanted to ask those who know better than i/have more experience- is it worth trying to repair a repair on the original tube? Or do I risk ending up with triggers broom?

 

[sycophantia]

Seems to be mainly me benefitting from advice on this thread. Apologies for repeat questions!
Back tyre went flat Friday as I reached work. Just taken the tube out to repair & it seems like a seal from a previous repair has developed a gap. I have 2 other spare tubes so fixing one of those but wanted to ask those who know better than i/have more experience- is it worth trying to repair a repair on the original tube? Or do I risk ending up with triggers broom?

Not much of a cyclist but are tubes expensive these days? Personally I'd put a new one in and keep a repaired one as back up in an emergency.

 

[Keef]

It’ll be fine to patch even near a patch, think my spare tube has 9 patches on it, tube that’s in the rear has 6 on it (I’m too mean to buy tubes when the ones I have are fine)

 

[machin05]

I'm the other. Always just replace a punctured tube. I'd never have full confidence in a repaired tube.

 

[Keef]

I’ve chucked one tube away in the last 8 years! That was because it had given up right at the valve base and I couldn’t repair it, it lives on as patches

 

[EpsomWolf]

I bought a big pack of patches and adhesives from Amazon and they’ve always worked great.

That said, most in the cycling groups are tubeless or have Slime tubes, which are self-sealing. I was having a disproportionate number of punctures so whilst the Slime’s are not 100% successful they are effective overall.

I’ve gone slime tubes now but only as I was feeling guilty stopping the group regularly to stick a new tube in, but with 2 (very messy) Slime punctures in the last couple of weeks am yet to be completely convinced.

Halfords standard tubes are £4, Slime’s are £8.

Riding alone I’d probably just stay on standard tubes, carry tyre levers, a patched up spare and a mini pump to get me home, then patch again, and so on. Wouldn’t bother persevering with a tube that’s giving you trouble but with straightforward punctures you shouldn’t have too many problems.

 

[machin05]

Slimes are HEAVY

 

[EpsomWolf]

I don’t think the extra weight on slimes is even noticeable. Pretty sure you could sneak slimes onto most rider’s bikes and they’d never tell the difference.

There’s loads of boasting in the clubs about spending £100’s (sometimes £1000’s) on elite equipment that shaves a few grams off something and it gets very irritating which is why I’m a bit prickly about that sort of thing. It’s quite satisfying on occasion outpacing the Willy-wavers and proving you can’t buy fitness.

 

[Tredman]

I don’t think the extra weight on slimes is even noticeable. Pretty sure you could sneak slimes onto most rider’s bikes and they’d never tell the difference.

There’s loads of boasting in the clubs about spending £100’s (sometimes £1000’s) on elite equipment that shaves a few grams off something and it gets very irritating which is why I’m a bit prickly about that sort of thing. It’s quite satisfying on occasion outpacing the Willy-wavers and proving you can’t buy fitness.

Very similar to running, plenty turn up in their £300 running shoes and then are spewing their ring up every an hour.

 

[Johnny75]

I don’t think the extra weight on slimes is even noticeable. Pretty sure you could sneak slimes onto most rider’s bikes and they’d never tell the difference.

There’s loads of boasting in the clubs about spending £100’s (sometimes £1000’s) on elite equipment that shaves a few grams off something and it gets very irritating which is why I’m a bit prickly about that sort of thing. It’s quite satisfying on occasion outpacing the Willy-wavers and proving you can’t buy fitness.

Surely a gym membership is literally buying fitness.

As it's buying a set of weights ( I know you have to use them).

 

[Keef]

Even though they’re in administration I’ve just bought a bike off wiggle, yea I know, feel free to point and laugh when it goes wrong, was too good a deal tbh, should be £549 on offer at £179, it’s just a basic disc braked commuter bike nothing flash.
Just have to see whether it turns up, in what condition and how ready to ride it is ( supposed to be turn and tighten bars, fit pedals and go) I’ll be spending 1/2 hour or so with it in a workstand going through it with a torque wrench checking every bolt and checking the gears and brakes work before I ride it

 

[Tredman]

Was talking to a guy who works at their warehouse the other day - it’s business as usual for time being.

 

[Keef]

That’s good to know, it might turn up and not in too bad a state, delivery date was five days before I paid for it, then went to twelve days straight after I paid for it

 

[Tredman]

Tbf business as usual for them has always been pretty ropey

 

[machin05]

I don’t think the extra weight on slimes is even noticeable. Pretty sure you could sneak slimes onto most rider’s bikes and they’d never tell the difference.

There’s loads of boasting in the clubs about spending £100’s (sometimes £1000’s) on elite equipment that shaves a few grams off something and it gets very irritating which is why I’m a bit prickly about that sort of thing. It’s quite satisfying on occasion outpacing the Willy-wavers and proving you can’t buy fitness.

Depends on what kind off bike you're putting them in, I guess.

 

[Keef]

Tbf business as usual for them has always been pretty ropey

I know, I worked in the bike build department for a short while, hated the way the staff were treated,
Bike build in a corner of the warehouse, cheap tools to build expensive bikes, no benches, tools had to go on the floor, no drinks, food, music, phones or talking allowed,
30 mins for lunch 6 min walk each way to the canteen,
Airport style security leaving the warehouse, had to empty pockets into a tray, walk through metal detectors, toilets were outside the warehouse so every time you nipped to the loo had to do that.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Surely a gym membership is literally buying fitness.

As it's buying a set of weights ( I know you have to use them).

I think it’s just buying you the access to fitness, with higher the spend meaning the more likely it is to achieve outcomes. It’s sort of health/wealth divide that the sanctimonious brigade with a David Lloyd personal trainer and a £5000 carbon bike take for granted when being critical of others who might be struggling. And there are a few of those around.

It’s a bit of a thing for me, I like the sofa-to-5k park runners that do very well to get round in 30 minutes while finding the beautiful people that glide round pushing strollers in 20 somewhat annoying.

 

[EpsomWolf]

The Merida is back in the shop for the 6th time in 10 months. Does have a fairly tough time but it’s only what loads of people are doing and what the thing is supposedly designed for.

Rear cassette came loose, into the shop quick tighten.
Rear cassette came loose again, into the shop for a couple of days to investigate appears ok, tighten.
Rear cassette came loose… again. Into the shop. Wheel gets sent off to Shimano, new wheel supplied under warranty (about 10 days).
Rear cassette came loose……….again. Into the shop, new cassette fitted onto new wheel. Bike in shop about 3 days.
Creaking headset, into the shop overnight, quickly sorted with courtesy service thrown in.
Things run fine for a few months but in the last few weeks - bottom bracket starts grinding and becoming loose. Into shop, confirm it’s knackered. Shimano insist today on seeing the BB before authorising replacement. About 10 days so far and counting.

Was kind of braced for some ongoing costs and was wary hearing of other repair and cost stories but that’s got to be a bit much. Bottom bracket shot in 10 months? Not looking forward to the warranty ending for sure.