The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread

[AC43]

gazza285 said:

AC43 said:

1992 Diamonback (steel) frame and forks plus period Mavics.

Nice. I still have my Ascent EX, although it is used for touring about on now, rather than hammering over the moors.

Lovely.

I broke the frame on my 93 Ascent EX back in January :-( Too much hard commuting/winter salt. Should have retired it earlier.

Still, I can now transfer over the bars, shifters, mechs, brakes and cranks. Happy days. This time I'll keep it for local trips on dry days.

[AC43]

yellowjack said:

AC43 said:

1992 Diamonback (steel) frame and forks plus period Mavics.

Is that actually sagging in the middle, under it's own weight?

Nope :-)

yellowjack said:

It looks like a very long bike too, wheelbase wise.

Think it's just an optical illusion - although it is a very short frame from the bb to the top of the down tube

yellowjack said:

No offence, but that one is very definitely in the 'not for me' pile. Good luck with the build, though. Much like classic cars, it's nice to see older stuff kept nice, whether it's to my taste or not.

I miss my old one - had one from new. Nice to pay homage to the alomost-forgotten art of steel frame building.

[yellowjack]

AC43 said:

I miss my old one - had one from new. Nice to pay homage to the almost-forgotten art of steel frame building.

I know what you mean. I had a MTB in the early 90s that I really loved. Triple triangle high clearance chainstays, 'of the time' blue with yellow 'splatter effect' paintwork, but I fractured two vertebrae crashing it, and damaged (bent) the cranks, bars, and stem in the process. Instead of getting it fixed up again, I bowed to pressure from the wife, and sold it for £30 to a dodgy geezer in a transit van who bought second hand bikes, whilst promising never to ride a MTB again. Sadly, I can't even remember the brand/model name to seek out a replacement now that I've forgotten about my promise to stick to road bikes. Sad about your previous frame failing, but good to see that you've found something similar to rebuild as a replacement.

[AC43]

yellowjack said:

I know what you mean.I had a MTB in the early 90s that I really loved but I fractured two vertebrae crashing it, and damaged (bent) the cranks, bars, and stem in the process.

Jeez.... That must have been some impact

[yellowjack]

AC43 said:

yellowjack said:

I know what you mean.I had a MTB in the early 90s that I really loved but I fractured two vertebrae crashing it, and damaged (bent) the cranks, bars, and stem in the process.

Jeez.... That must have been some impact

At the risk of derailling the thread further, yes it was. I completely misjudged the gap in an earth bank built to deter fly tipping, and hit the steepest part of the bank. It was dark, I was riding too fast. Entirely my own fault. I also cracked my sternum, and was in very real danger of dying. No exaggeration, I took over 45 minutes to get off the floor. I couldn't breath properly, but somehow managed to drape myself over the bike and shuffle home. If I hadn't have got myself up, I might well have succumbed to exposure/hypothermia as it was winter and it was too late in the evening to have much hope of being found by someone else. Hence why the wife forbade me from owning/riding a MTB for a long time afterwards. Full recovery was 18 months plus, and an extra three stone in weight away. Happily this was many years ago, and I can smile about it now.


Anyway. Back on topic...


Park Tools CT-5 chain breaker? £9.87 - SRAM PC 850 8-speed chain? £6.99 - Free Haribo? Priceless

I lost the pin from my Topeak chain tool (riding without checking the saddle pack was closed) and needed a 'take along' type to replace it. The chain is a like for like replacement for the one I checked (chain wear gauge) and found worn on Tuesday. I had forgotten about the Haribo with Wiggle orders, so was childishly delighted when I opened the jiffy bag. I was disappointed to see that the plastic box for the chain was cracked/broken, and it appears that it was dispatched like that, as the missing bits of the box weren't in the jiffy bag. Still, it's just a chain, and it appears to be complete, including the quick links needed to fit the thing.

I suppose this completes the circle started by this thread... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ...whereby I now have the chain I wanted in the first place, not an alternative brand, and a tool to fit it. And Haribo too! The LBS were never going to throw that in for free, were they? They wouldn't even split a chain for me without booking it into the workshop

[Watchman]

They look weird but they feel so right.

Edited by Watchman on Friday 7th November 13:57

[richardxjr]

Pink wellies? Yeah I know what you mean

[Watchman]

richardxjr said:

Pink wellies? Yeah I know what you mean

They replaced the ones with hearts on which were too small.

[GuinnessMK]

I've just bought a bell for my bike. About 50% of my commute is on a dedicated, separate cycle path, with a pedestrian path alongside.

It's amazing how many people decide to walk along the cycle path, completely ignoring the path next to it. So, rather than get wound up by it, I've bought a little bell to let them know I'm coming.

[Dammit]

I find a Hope or Chris King freehub does quite a good job in this situation.

[jamiebae]

Dammit said:

I find a Hope or Chris King freehub does quite a good job in this situation.

Whereas an Alfine hub is beyond useless, so I need a bell!

[Watchman]

jamiebae said:

Whereas an Alfine hub is beyond useless, so I need a bell!

You're requirement for one reminded me I've never had a bell but all the others on my group ride have one.

I didn't want one just any old bell though. I thought it would be cool if Zildjian made bike bells (as I'm a drummer - that's the brand of cymbals I use) but they don't seem to however there is a lovely bell made by an American kickstarter. It's ridiculously expensive for something that goes "ping".

Nice though:



http://www.spurcycle.com/collections/frontpage/pro...


So I've gone for this instead - a little out of the ordinary but not stupidly expensive (although it is a tenner - I haven't been "out" for a while so this is one of my credits):



http://triggerbell.com/

Some adverts I've seen show these in any colour you might want, although I could only find black (suits me).

[MadDad]

Yet another bloody chain! That's 3 x on the Colnago, 2 x on my winter bike, 2 x on my Ti bike and 1 x on my CX bike this year.....

[ALawson]

MadDad said:

Yet another bloody chain! That's 3 x on the Colnago, 2 x on my winter bike, 2 x on my Ti bike and 1 x on my CX bike this year.....

Do less milage!

[okgo]

I've been using same chain for nearly a gear on my main bike, it's still not stretched beyond reasonable limits according to my tool. So it does lead me to question what you're doing to go through so many...?

[Magic919]

Watchman said:

.

I've got one of those.

[MadDad]

okgo said:

I've been using same chain for nearly a gear on my main bike, it's still not stretched beyond reasonable limits according to my tool. So it does lead me to question what you're doing to go through so many...?

I have no idea! i have used Shimano, KMC, Wipperman, SRAM, Campy - so it's not as if I have been using a single weak brand of chain. I have used Purple Extreme, Chainl-no5, wax lube, and a few others so it's not the lube. I take the chains off and clean them in petrol then re-lube them frequently, so they are not being neglected.

Any ideas?

[okgo]

My idea is that maybe my took is fked ha!!

[Watchman]

Magic919 said:

I've got one of those.

Was my first choice but couldn't get my head around the cost.

Edited by Watchman on Sunday 9th November 16:34

[Rocksteadyeddie]

MadDad said:

I have no idea! i have used Shimano, KMC, Wipperman, SRAM, Campy - so it's not as if I have been using a single weak brand of chain. I have used Purple Extreme, Chainl-no5, wax lube, and a few others so it's not the lube. I take the chains off and clean them in petrol then re-lube them frequently, so they are not being neglected.

Any ideas?

What makes you think they're dead? Measuring tool? Feel? Snapped?