Pedalopolis Forums

Broken Spoke

2010-08-15T15:44:28-05:00

Some how I got one of my spokes broken. Took the bike to my LBS. He fixed the spoke and did some other routine maintenance.
Tires were full of air when I left the LBS.
However next morning my tire was totally flat.
Tried to pump it up but could hear the air leaking out.
So took the tire off and pulled the tube out. Sure enough there was a puncture.
Also looked like my LBS put on new rim tape.
Why not check the tube? Should this have been done?
Does a broken spoke always damage the tube?
Anyones thoughts on this.

Strange Noise When Coasting

2010-07-04T15:45:33-05:00

I have a strange noise when coasting at slow speed. Kind of a grinding noise and it seems to be rotational. Only happens when I go really slow like getting ready to stop or dismount. Not the brakes, they make no difference.
Coasting or pedaling at speed nothing happens. Everything sounds normal.
So any ideas.

Getting Ready For That First Ride

2010-02-27T20:27:12-05:00

Sooooo what does everybody do to get their bike ready. Mine have been in the basement all winter.
For example how do you check your tires. When is old tire too old. Same for the tube.
The chain. Just oil it or take it off and really get into it. Or take your bike to the bike shop and get a tune up.
Big Al

Cleaning the chain

2008-06-28T13:46:43-05:00

Tip: Clean more than once every 2 or 3 years.

Wow, was the chain dirty. I use the hand held chain cleaner from Park Tools and I had to fill up the cleaning reservoir 3 times before it came clean.

I’ll probably repeat the process in a couple weeks and also do a better job cleaning the sprockets than I did today. They also could use a thorough cleaning.

But, in my short test ride, no clickity-clicks.

Oops! Looking at the Park Tools website I realized that I ran the chain through the chain cleaner the wrong direction! Guess this is another reason I should do another cleaning… Oh well….

~ Randy

Things to do this month

2009-03-04T22:38:14-05:00

Well it’s March, and if you have forgotten this Sunday the 8th we turn our
clocks foward a hour. That means riding later at night in the light. Also it’s
time to change the time on your bike computer.
Also if you haven’t rode your bike all winter,it’s time to check your spare
tubes, to make sure they hold air. I brought 3 new ones, on Wednesday, and
one had a bad presta. I would hate to be stuck out on the bikeway or street,
with a tire, I couldn’t pump up, so even new tubes, need to be checked.
Also check tires and see if you can see and thing, that could cause a flat, small
wire, glass stuck in the tire tread.
Weather is suppose to be nice this week-end, so it’s a good time, to get the bike
out for a shake down ride to see what needs fixed, before the bike shops, get
busy. Be safe out there.

Article: prep for Winter riding

2008-11-24T11:16:47-05:00

I came across this article which might be of interest to all cold weather riders.

Randy

Freewheel removal

2008-08-28T13:36:07-05:00

I haven’t been on in a while, because life’s been busy but thats not to say that I haven’t been riding and learning as I go on maintenance. Since I don’t have a high end bike, the components consisting of the hub and freewheel on the bikes I have around are hard to identify and I have been trying to learn about how to do maintenance on hubs (dissassembly/cleaning/regreasing), and have a lot of wheels lying around from various makes that I have been playing with for fun. The problem is, I want to buy the proper tool from Park Tool. They make several sockets for removing freewheels and some for cassettes. I know that I do not have a cassette at all, but older freewheels, so I am trying to determine which one I need. Some are obviously not the correct ones but since these are probably very cheap components I don’t know who manufactured them or where to even begin.

Any suggestions?

Replacing Tires

2008-08-12T16:36:07-05:00

My wife and I are new to biking having purchased two recumbents about eight weeks ago. We now have just over 600 miles on the bike and expect to exceed 1000 mile before the fall ends. My question is how often should we plan on replacing the tires. The current tires are Kenda Kwest 100psi tires on Sun Sport CX.

Thanks for any responses.

Do you patch or not?

2008-06-20T12:31:49-05:00

Hello All:

Happy first day of Summer.
I have a question, do you patch your tubes, either on the trail or
at home after a tube change?
I was at Xenia Station, yesterday, two dudes, from Indy, was here
riding our trails. They was both there, and both had a flat tire, from
glass. I ask if they wanted to use my patch kit, to patch there tubes.
They said they never patch, tube, but just throw them away, and use
new tubes. In the next minute, they was saying they hope they make it
back to there cars, becuase they don’t have any spare tubes. The tubes
had very small,glass cuts. They changed there tubes,and was on there
way. I fished the tubes out of the trash can, took them home patche
them, and they held air allnight. My point is wouldn’t it, make good sence
to learn to patch, tubes than throw, away, a prefectly good tube, than have
to worry, about being able to get back to your car? I know the tubes I buy
are about 3.00. Maybe some people have money to buy, new tubes all the
time, but not me on a fixed income.
Well, that’s my question of the day, time to get out and on the trails, I’ll
be on creekside, if you see a old dude on a black Schwinn, wave and say
Hi.

SRAM Derailleur Cable Problems

2008-07-01T07:30:22-05:00

My commuter bike is an Sun EZ Sport. So it is my work horse. I go through components after a few hundred miles in a feaster time frame than most non commuters.
This time I noticed that about a week ago my shifting of the back derailleur was getting harder and harder until it locked a this week. All looked okay but inside the housing the cable was trashed. It was a mess and would not come out with out pliers. The bad new was all the LBS did not have the 70-inches I needed. (make that most, one of the newer ones had it but no service after waiting for 15 min.)
My point is when you notice the resistance on your shifters then it is time to take it apart.