Road bike maintenance and upgrades

[Cactussed]

Chaps, a few questions for you please.
Due to hip surgery making running no longer an option, have started getting into cycling to keep fit (mainly commuting and weekend leisure rides).

Bought a used Carrera Virago and been extremely happy with it. Now needs some maintenance so was looking for some pointers.

1. Chain - will any 10spd chain fit? does the chain come apart or do you have to remove the 2 little cogs out of the back to fit one?
2. Cogs (cassette I think?) - Mine is a Shimano 10spd. I presume I need a special tool to remove th eold one and fit a new one. Can I fit any Shimano 10spd cassette? Are there any major differences between them apart from how much they weigh?
3. The big cogs at the front (chainrings?) - can I change those for something else (I like th elook of the Ultegra 6700 ones). Is that a simple swap or do I need to buy a new carrier thing (presume that is a bottom bracket?) and if so, do these need special tools as well?

Sorry for all the probably basic questions. Hope they're fairly clear?

Ta

Andrew

[anonymous-user]

Cactussed said:

Chaps, a few questions for you please.
Due to hip surgery making running no longer an option, have started getting into cycling to keep fit (mainly commuting and weekend leisure rides).

Bought a used Carrera Virago and been extremely happy with it. Now needs some maintenance so was looking for some pointers.

1. Chain - will any 10spd chain fit? does the chain come apart or do you have to remove the 2 little cogs out of the back to fit one?
2. Cogs (cassette I think?) - Mine is a Shimano 10spd. I presume I need a special tool to remove th eold one and fit a new one. Can I fit any Shimano 10spd cassette? Are there any major differences between them apart from how much they weigh?
3. The big cogs at the front (chainrings?) - can I change those for something else (I like th elook of the Ultegra 6700 ones). Is that a simple swap or do I need to buy a new carrier thing (presume that is a bottom bracket?) and if so, do these need special tools as well?

Sorry for all the probably basic questions. Hope they're fairly clear?

Ta

Andrew

i might be confused here but unless it is fitted with a 10 speed casette, you will not fit a 10 speed cassetter on a 9 speed rear hub. if it is fitted with a 10 speed cassette then yes, you can replace it. when you say "mine is a 10 speed" is that the one on the bike or have you bought another one?

1/ yes, as above, if its a 10 speed, any shimano ten speed will fit. there should be a particular link that seperates the chain, if not a chain spitting tool on a good cycle multi-tool will do the job. http://www.ehow.com/how_7775839_split-bicycle-chai...

2/ cassettes vary in terms of gear ratio available, the smallest sprocket is usually 11 or 12, the largest is usually 25 or 28. a 12/28 for example is more suited to hilly terrain, an 11-25, flatter stuff. the expensive ones are lighter but its not worth changing really. you would need a cassette removal tool to do it but i am not sure if the benefits are worth the cost. you should have enough ratios to find something comfortable for regular riding. refer to: http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

3/ not all chain rings fit every crank. google "pitch circle diameter crank" and you should understand. IF the ultegra chainrings fit whatever cranks you have, you CAN change the chainrings but they are expensive (£40 each) and again its really not worth it just to make it look a bit posh.

the bike will either be a triple or a double, have two rings at the front or three. if its a double it will be a 50/34 (again better for hilly terrain and referred to as a compact) or a 53/39 (what real men ride whatever the terrain!). not sure whats common for a triple these days, 48/36/26? something like that? again there is no point changing them.

in general, there are other things that will make it better, faster etc for less outlay and you will be able to feel a marked difference normally starting with the wheels, for the price of three ultegra chainrings, you could get a set of mavic aksium or fulcrum racing 7 wheels which will transform the bike. they will be lighter and have far superior bearings so they will roll faster...

there are some good maintenance books out there which are quite useful, a good multitool is worth buying as it does most things.

websites like www.sheldonbrown.com are worth an hour reading and for all maintenance stuff, use www.parktool.com, their how to guides are brilliant.

can someone check all this!?!

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 6th January 13:17

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 6th January 13:18

[Cactussed]

Huge thanks for the comprehensive reply!
Its already a double at the front, but with 170mm crank arms.
I was hoping to get a new crank with slightly longer (172.5mm) arms and also nice looking.
So long as it will fir the bottom bracket, that's fine otherwise I'd order a new bracket as well.

I think its a 53/39 already? Would I need a different chain for the smaller pair of cogs up front?

Re the rear, its a 10 speed already, just checking that and 10 speed shimano cogs and chain will fit.

Guess now I need some (more) tools!

[Rouleur]

1. I'd recommend a KMC X10 chain. These are reliable and use split links to join them - these require a tool to adjust the length but once it's on the split links allow you to take it apart and rejoin without the tool. Sprockets don't need to be removed at all. There will be videos on YouTube showing you how to do this and probably most mech stuff.

2. As pablo says stick with what you've got for the moment, unless it's really worn in which case it's best to change the cassette at the same time as the chain. Worn sprockets will look hooked, like this


3. Stick with the current chainset, it's not worth splashing out on a new one as it won't make much difference to anything IMO and you'll need special tools to remove it.

As per pablo's post wheels are the place to upgrade, plus tyres as the ones on it ATM are likely to be pretty heavy and slow-rolling.

[anonymous-user]

ok, i understand now, a shimano ultegra chainset will fit but again its an expensive upgrade for very little real world performance increase. a new rear derailleur would be a good starting point and a 105 chainset. stick with 53/39 too but go for an 11/28 cassette.

moving up to 172.5cm is not going to make much difference unless you have really short legs but check for any toe overlap issues with the front wheel as 170cm is normally fitted to smaller bikes. this is a pretty good guide to bike component fitting. http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit

you dont need much to service a bike. i take it to the shop for things like cassette, bottom bracket etc removal.

[Cactussed]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I think the items on the bike are original and getting a bit worn now. It no longer engages the biggest sprocket at the back, no matter how I adjust the cable.

I think maybe the best best is bike shop for now but its been a good stted so far and has earned some love...

[shalmaneser]

Cactussed said:

Thanks for the advice guys.
I think the items on the bike are original and getting a bit worn now. It no longer engages the biggest sprocket at the back, no matter how I adjust the cable.

I think maybe the best best is bike shop for now but its been a good stted so far and has earned some love...

Sounds like the mech hanger is bent. Best off taking it to a good LBS and seeing what they think.

[Cactussed]

Cheers Swerni. Gather you're handy with a bike tool?