The Velotard Thread.

[lemonjelly]

handy reminder to get my chain renewed, alongside the brake pads. hoping the cassette doesn't need updating at the same time...

 

[EpsomWolf]

handy reminder to get my chain renewed, alongside the brake pads. hoping the cassette doesn't need updating at the same time...

I’d get one of those cheap chain stretch measuring tools from somewhere like Amazon. We can get through chains pretty quickly with the grit and whatnot destroying them. but you can normally get several chain changes to a single cassette. Leave the chain too long and it wears the cassette and you’ll need to do both.

Don’t be afraid of doing that yourself by the way. very simple and loads of YT videos to assist. Would just say get a chain that comes with a ‘quick link’ and it’ll be a piece of cake.

In fact here’s set of simple tools quite adequate for the job, including a splitter to shorten any new chain to the desired number of links:



Don’t be afraid of changing a cassette yourself either. Again, some basic tools that are quite adequate, with loads of YT videos you can help you along too :



Ok so just cheap Chinese stuff but will do the job for occasional use. Doesn’t take long for those to pay for themselves.

 

[lemonjelly]

I am fortunate in having a cycle maintenance place on site at work. the benefit of this means I can cycle to work, leave it with them for half a day, and then cycle home with the job done.
The cost of them doing the repairs for me is usually about two to three quid more than the parts would cost me. Means I save the time, and I value having the business there for the bigger jobs too, tbh!

 

[EpsomWolf]

I am fortunate in having a cycle maintenance place on site at work. the benefit of this means I can cycle to work, leave it with them for half a day, and then cycle home with the job done.
The cost of them doing the repairs for me is usually about two to three quid more than the parts would cost me. Means I save the time, and I value having the business there for the bigger jobs too, tbh!

That’s a cracking facility to have. Seem to recall you’re at the University of Birmingham? My wife did her PhD there coincidentally the same time as my daughter was an undergraduate there too and we’ve visited that repair place quite a few times.

Often wondered if more large organisations and companies should look into having something like that.

 

[lemonjelly]

one reason i wanted to work here was because it was relatively cycle friendly, as well as relatively close to home.
we're very fortunate. owing to the size of the site, there is a sustainable travel officer, and he's a cyclist. the great thing about this means they organise events to make people comfortable cycling, as well as some workshops so people learn maintenance skills. They also advocate for positive levels of cycle storage and security on site too. For example I am really lucky to work next to a lockable cycle shelter.
Another bonus is they offer regular valeting, giving your bike a quick once over.
The on site maintenance bods are a social enterprise. I suspect they get some funding from the uni, but they're decent folk. plus in an emergency you can borrow a pump for a flat and so on. I value keeping them in business tbh!

 

[machin05]

A bit of a carry on today. Group decided to go a bit further afield and grind away off-road up to the tower at the top of Leith Hill. (Approx 18 miles away, 300 metres high. (Not especially high by many standards but still the highest point in SE England apparently),

Got to just past Dorking and starting the gnarly climb the derailleur rear hangar snaps. No choice but for an emergency on the spot conversion to a single speed and to head back and maybe take the train. Bit of conflab with the group and decided to crack on and give it a go to the top. Was bloody hard work but stuck at it and got there with just a couple of short bits of walking and pushing. Absolutely knackered when home but a good sense of achievement after that and the views were worth it.

Anyway, had been told to carry a spare hanger but never have so will own that, but won’t make that mistake again!

View attachment 16677

Enjoyable drink stop back down in the valley on a beautiful day:

View attachment 16678

Did you put it in a harder gear for the photo

 

[EpsomWolf]

Did you put it in a harder gear for the photo

Ha, nooo, we decided on that gear as the intention at that moment was to ride home. Made for a tough gig on the steep rocky climb but I quite enjoy pushing hard in a high gear uphill so wasn’t so bad but did drain the energy tank at times.

Going to have to make some decisions now though, that’s 3 x 9 and no one’s using a 3 front chainring anymore. Been thinking about converting to a 1 x 11 with a 32T front ring (@Keef can that be done?) but for a full drive chain conversion, bottom bracket, derallieur, gear changer etc it’s probably going to cost more than the bike is worth.

Do you put that into another bike instead. That one’s 10 years old and very basic, and I’ve had my money’s worth, but it does the job and is like your favourite slippers that are knackered but can’t let go.

 

[Keef]

I’m still using 3x8 on my touring bike! Got the bits to go 2x8 with a 40t cassette.

The 1 x11 is possible,like you say it’s a new cassette, shifter, chain, BB, derailleur, crankset if you’re changing the BB.
Can get shimano kits including everything for £160-250 depending on what rear derailleur and BB you want.
The lower price keeps the square taper BB which I assume is on your bike now being as it’s 10 years old.
If that bikes comfy, and you love it, I’d Chuck the money at it, you’d only be worried about damaging a new bike

 

[EpsomWolf]

I’m still using 3x8 on my touring bike! Got the bits to go 2x8 with a 40t cassette.

The 1 x11 is possible,like you say it’s a new cassette, shifter, chain, BB, derailleur, crankset if you’re changing the BB.
Can get shimano kits including everything for £160-250 depending on what rear derailleur and BB you want.
The lower price keeps the square taper BB which I assume is on your bike now being as it’s 10 years old.
If that bikes comfy, and you love it, I’d Chuck the money at it, you’d only be worried about damaging a new bike

Thanks Keef.

The urge is to convert to 1 x 11, and yes there are some decent full conversion Shimano sets out there but this bike isn’t a ‘boost’ frame and unless mistaken a 11 speed cassette wouldn’t fit on a standard hub/wheel and can only be done on an actual boost frame bike?

I took this one apart this afternoon just to see if the 11 cassette I have on my other bike would fit, but because the bodged chain today was so tight on the gear it’s effectively buggered the cassette/hub which is now rattling around loose, although the locking ring itself is jammed so tight it’s impossible to get the thing off the hub to even check it out. I did measure and compare an old 11 and 9 I had on the shelf and the 11 is definitely wider so I’m guessing that’s confirmation it can’t be done anyway? With the existing wheel/hub/cassette appearing to be knackered too, what with everything else it’s increasingly looking like game over tbh.

That bike is a winter hack hardtail and just need the same again, but would go for 1 x drivetrain next time. Don’t want to go silly expensive and you learn to not get precious about scratches and scrapes etc, so may well have a shufti online and at second hand too and see where we go from there.

 

[machin05]

1x is ace

 

[EpsomWolf]

A 1 x something. The single chainring is the most important thing, especially on midweek evening trails in the pitch black where you don’t have time to be fannying around working out which front ring you’re on.

I think 1 x 12 is probably overkill, and 1 x 10 leaves you a bit short, so I guess 11 makes sense. I’ve 1 x 10 on my favourite summer missile, but with the 30T front ring spins out far too easily. I’ve a 32T ring ready to just bolt on which should help, but if the new bike crankset is fixed and not interchangeable there’s a bit of a problem if you don’t get the combo right from the off.

 

[machin05]

I was running 1x11 on my commuter (before switching to a folding bike and train). Only road use and nothing steeper than around 7% but I used a 40t up front and 11-34 at the back. Was pretty much perfect but probably could have gotten away with an even bigger chainring tbh. Rarely used the easiest 2 or 3 gears.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Took a bit of time to figure this out but ordered the new bike yesterday. Wanted a 1 x something carbon hardtail but accepted what you want and what you need are two different things. What was actually needed was a like-for-like replacement for the other knackered one, an all weather workhorse that can be shoved in the shed after a mud and crud ride and washed down at the weekend without the need for a forensic strip down and expensive replacement parts.

Knew the geometry that fitted me best and the spec that was required so whittled it down and eventually ordered a Mondraker 1 x 12. Got a very good deal as the last of the 2025 stock is now being disposed of heavily discounted and there’s no significant change to the 2026’s.

Only thing I’ll change is the tyres, I’m a tubeless convert and like fast rolling but will need something with a bit of grip too as a year round bike.

Looking forward it arriving and giving it a whirl.

 

[Keef]

Don’t forget the photos

 

[EpsomWolf]

On the subject of tyres/tubeless etc, picked up a beauty of a thorn on the ride today. Snapped off the twig part leaving the thorn in place til home before pulling it out.

Fantastic when they work and seal instantly as this one did, although I’ve seen a few challenges trying to get the tyres off and get a tube in when they don’t. Took me a while to fully embrace the concept but am a fully fledged convert these days.

 

[lemonjelly]

Got my chain replaced. Cassette needed doing too. Upgraded the brakes to be hydraulic whilst at it.