Category: Words

The lesson for riding (or lack of) this year has been be careful what you wish for at work…

1,912km with 25,539m climbing. The year is summed up with a longest ride of 16.7km. That’s a shocker.

A year of riding the Ti Cross Deluxe has taken it’s toll on the IF. A rear tyre that has punctured on the last three rides. New rear tyre to replace a well worn Conti Cyclocross King that had been been worn smooth and some new tubes. The gears that don’t shift so well and I suspect is down to an old chain.

Update: The new chain worked on about 2 of 10 gears so a new sprocket was then ordered. The old one refused to come off, requiring the rivets to be popped on the cassette and each sprocket worked off in turn.

Then there was the ominous creak from the cranks that seemed to come and go with time but was never a good sign. New bottom bracket required and whilst I was at it I drilled the bottom bracket shell for drainage and cleaned everything up.

I like the more compact replacement XT unit, but that minimal size means smaller bearings (and a new fitting tool – fortunately that comes in the box). It will be interesting to see what mileage I get out of this one.

The brakes have been less than optimal and on the most recent rider were giving cause for concern. It meant workshop time!

January saw snow. And ice. Cold temps and those that climbed up into the mid-teens on some days. Keeping riding meant some challenging conditions, but there was no wimping out and taking the easy option of the car. That’s despite the prospects of permanent four wheel drive, snow tyres, heated leather and tunes.

I’m thinking that I am committed. It’s possible that some colleagues think that I should be committed.

43,263m climbing, 2,869km riding. Phew.

Snow by the end of November and through out December. Going to be more I reckon. Seasonal photos from County Durham…

Newly rebuilt Scott Chubby. Broken. Welsh rock is tough stuff.

List of destruction:

• Rear wheel (rebuild due to mullered spokes)
• Rear mech
• Mech hanger
• Chain
• Rear disc pads (random spoke became wedged and damaged)

Fortunately it was the final descent into Llangollen after two epic days riding around North Wales. So I’ll consider myself lucky.

So after the Dark Peak adventure back in August the rear wheel on the Scott started playing up and the tyres needed sorting (slow flat in the front) plus a solution to pinch flats was needed. So strip down time. Investigation reveals that the free hub bearings were seized solid and the hub bearings were both on the way out. So old ones out:

New bearings for the Syncros hubs to go in (2x 6902 and 2x 6903) with hopefully better quality bearings and seals

All back together and ready to roll.

On the tyre and tube front after a bit of research I’ve plumbed for the Schwalbe Procore dual pressure system. Best way to describe it is a road bike tyre with no tread and a small tube running at 80-90psi inside the main chubby tyre which is inflated via a special valve and runs sealant.

It sounds more complicated than it is. The kit is comprehensive and it all goes together okay. The biggest challenge is getting the chubby tyres to seal on the rims. Mine both were leaking at the valve but with some faffage I reckon the sealant and a couple of rim side o-rings have done the job. At this stage it could be epic or an expensive mistake. Let’s see what two days hard trail riding delivers…

At the end of last year I started building up a new winter bike. Independent Fabrication legendary collector Jam Price let one of his fleet go, I bought a second hand cross bike that had been used twice for parts and by January I was hacking about on a decent steed and working out what was needed to make it right. I’d worked out that cross bike parts would go on a 26″ IF without any problems and after the Aquamarine Fade Planet Cross, I’d decided that the next one needed to be Ti and disc equipped. So behold the updated and reimagined vision that proves that 26″ wheeled mountain bikes have untapped potential.

Back on the road bike for the first time in 2017. Feels weird to be on something so svelte and with twitchy handling and narrow bars. I’d like to say it was fast as… but I had a terrible week of punctures, the highlight of which was a 5 mile walk to work in brand new SPD SL cleats. Those Mavic tyres have been terrible, time to go back to Michelins.

New bike and insane death creaking from the frame after 700km. Time to get to the root of the issue.

Ended up changing the bottom bracket and headset to some choice upgrades from UK masters Hope Technology. Then serviced the XT Trail pedals and fitted rubber grommets on the cables.

Still creaking.

Then stripped, cleaned, greased and reassembled the pivot bearings.

Still creaking.

Finally stripped off the shock to find the bushes had been dry fitted. Greased and reassembled and creak gone. Expensive fix, but silent running and some smooth bearings to replace some graunchy old ones. Bottom headset race was particularly bad.

All done and just enjoying the rumble of chubby rubber on dry trails…