Fixing/Upgrading the Bike

[kiethton]

The time has come to upgrade my Binachi Via Nirone (2011) road bike, used for a mix of commuting but also the odd weekend ride (rare currently but will become more common as the commuting will stop shortly with a new job ). The bike is currently as it left the shop and hasn't been serviced, I just tighten things up as they work loose or fall off/break over the past 2.5 years/8k miles.

The bike looks like this but was originally from Evans - presume the spec is the same?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/via-ni...


2 main areas I need to look at given the age and poor performance:

Brakes - currently barely work, I presume its both the cables and the pads? Can anybody recommend any budget-ish replacements? I'm doing the L2B in July and need to make sure this is sorted by then.

Cranks/Chain/Bracket/Gears - This ain't half making a racket and chain looks a little loose? - I may look at upgrading also as I've got a double on the front but 3 clicks on the bars so may consider going for a triple? I find there are more than enough big gears for hills but I ride constantly on both small cogs and want a bit more for downhill sections (ok on the flat). I have no idea what size rings are on there ATM but they will be the same as from the factory, I presume the extra small gear and full service would help?

Other areas I need to look at are the bar tape (I can sort this fairly easily) but then the tyres/wheels.

Both are original and I can see my front when cycling looks to be a little buckled from potholes so presume the back is the same, can these be straightened? Also the tyres and inner-tubes are original, the prior are starting to look very worn and cracky so best be changed...

So in effect I need a new everything and a service, parts ideally as cheap as possible but good performance, can it be done for £200 or so for the lot??

[kiethton]

Thanks all, much appreciated, looks like its a lot cheaper than I thought for the brakes at least.

Was thinking that it'd have to be the LBS for the chain issue then/not sure if its the BB either

[kiethton]

kenno78 said:

kiethton said:

Brakes - currently barely work, I presume its both the cables and the pads? Can anybody recommend any budget-ish replacements? I'm doing the L2B in July and need to make sure this is sorted by then.

If you've been riding in all weather without changing the pads you might have won them down to the metal. If that's the case you need to check you haven't shagged the rims.

kiethton said:

Cranks/Chain/Bracket/Gears - This ain't half making a racket and chain looks a little loose? - I may look at upgrading also as I've got a double on the front but 3 clicks on the bars so may consider going for a triple? I find there are more than enough big gears for hills but I ride constantly on both small cogs and want a bit more for downhill sections (ok on the flat). I have no idea what size rings are on there ATM but they will be the same as from the factory, I presume the extra small gear and full service would help?

3 Clicks? The middle click is most probably the trim function which stops chain rub when you're in small cog to small cog or big cog to big. If you want a triple you'll need a new shifter and possibly front mech.

Also don't ride in small cog to small cog. It runs an awful chain line, will ruin your chain and you experience a fair bit of chain slap.

kiethton said:

Other areas I need to look at are the bar tape (I can sort this fairly easily) but then the tyres/wheels.

There's a bit of an art to bar tape. You need to do it well else it'll slip about and unravel as you're hoiking up ditchling.

kiethton said:

Both are original and I can see my front when cycling looks to be a little buckled from potholes so presume the back is the same, can these be straightened? Also the tyres and inner-tubes are original, the prior are starting to look very worn and cracky so best be changed...

Yes. A spoke key will tighten the spokes which will resolve the buckle.

kiethton said:

So in effect I need a new everything and a service, parts ideally as cheap as possible but good performance, can it be done for £200 or so for the lot??

Depending on the state of the rims, and provided you're not going for a triple chainset you 'should' be able to do it for under £200. But it depends how badly worn things are. i.e. you may need a new cassette and chain rings along with the new chain.

Brilliant, thankss

As you can probably tell, apart from riding the thing I'm a total novice!

[kiethton]

Mr Will said:

Have you considered £1.5k worth of carbon Wilier as an alternative?

Hahaha I wish, maybe in 6 months though!

[kiethton]

donfisher said:

kiethton said:

I've got a double on the front but 3 clicks on the bars so may consider going for a triple?

I'm not sure if that means you've got the sifter that will work with a triple. Doubles usually have a middle click so you can trim the front.

I've never had this done myself but most of this sounds like the sort of stuff you get in the Gold/Silver service that most national chain LBSs offer. The drivetrain obviously needs doing and their price for the parts is presumably where they make their cash though. Most of what you want to do should be very possible for a reasonably confident home mechanic with the right (but small) amount of tools. If you've got a ride coming up at a fixed date and aren't confident, throw some cash at the problem.

It looks like you've got them already but if not I'd suggest getting the pads that fit into set of shoes as once fitted in the correct postion changing the pads is the work of a couple of minutes. Saying that though, if the last set lasted you 8K miles then saving time in this area doesn't seem too important.

That may be the way forward, I've got CFA exams coming up very shortly, that, a new Job and my first flat (move etc.) will take the majority of my time

upsidedownmark said:

After that sort of (ab)use, it's conceivable that you might need new chain rings. Maybe worth posting a pic..

If you're handy, the 'specialist tools' (a chain whip, lockring tool and chain tool) will set you back a lot less than a service and be with you for a while. Chains are cheap too.. Parktool website has plenty of guides on how to do stuff, or youtube.

Thanks, If i had time I would take a look, half considering doing the above (plus the lack of tools). Some pictures after the cycle back (in the PH top no less) below....sorry it is dirty!

Thankfully I've had a very kind offer to give it the once over which I think I will take up!

Rear Brake (with electrical tape holding the frayed end):











Rear Wheel:



Front Wheel:



Both are rather grooved/shiney in the pad contact area.

Yes it really does need a wash, as its used in all weathers and has never had one, just a pure commuter, sorry!

[kiethton]

Yep think they are, did have a slight problem coming into work today...

Back brake started grinding rather badly, then the front started rumbling and wouldn't work (scary stuff!) that and something was rubbing on the wheel as it turned (maybe not true), as I was passing and I can't use the bike over the weekend I dropped it in and consigned myself to the train home

Been quoted £50 + pads to re-true the wheels, strip adjust and clean the cogs and drivetrain, fit and adjust new brakes etc. so a full service really.

As it'll be taken off commuter duties soon owing to a new job and antisocial start time its probably for the best

[kiethton]

Thanks guys, had it back and had a lot more bits put on in addition (and they didn't do it properly so its going back on Friday), however this was noticed when I got back last night:



Any recommendations for good tyres?

[kiethton]

bigdom said:

As a commuter tyre, the allegedly better ones to use are:

Schwalbe Durano Plus
Continental Grand Prix 4 Seasons
Michelin Endurance Pro 4

Perfect, thanks I'll take a gander

[kiethton]

donfisher said:

Were you getting any/loads of punctures on the old ones?

Didn't have a single puncture, that and the fact it'll be retired from commuting next month (owing to a new job and 6:30 start time after 1 hours cycling) makes me think I may get some more of the same - Zaffiro slicks

[kiethton]

shouldbworking said:

I fully get that there are some people who just don't want to do their own bike maintenance and would rather fork out for it, but does anyone else feel that this thread is a bit on the wilful neglect side?

Not quite, more laziness/more important things to worry about (time and financially) whilst using it in the meantime to save cash.

Now that I've got more time (and cash) I'm trying to sort things out, but never having had a decent bike before I just wanted some advice from people that know what they're doing.

[kiethton]

^^^^^

Very good point, it does really, really creak rather badly I would have maintained it better but as said above I was lazy/couldn't afford parts (house deposit saving - exchanged this afternoon).

It currently is used for commuting 30 miles a day 4 days a week, 5 in mid-summer, in all but the worst of winter or heavy rain but will soon be shifted to weekend rides and events when I start a new job in 3 weeks time (would carry on cycling but due to the earlier start would have to leave the house at 5am...).

With the London to Brighton coming up as well as the move towards more weekend rides I was trying to get everything sorted so not to be embarassed, that and my girlfriend is looking to start (Anybody got a cheap road bike for a 5'6" rider for sale?) so we can go for rides together.

It's going back into the service place tomorrow as they adjusted everything awfully (pops off top gear now) and they didn't fix the creaking/clunking as I asked so it'll hopefully now be good for its new purpose and so won't collect the road grime