4th
February 2012
Bike Maintenance: Trek 1200 SL
So I bought a Trek 1200 SL a
few weeks ago that was badly
in need of maintenance and this weekend I fitted the FSA
Orbit Equipe headset I had purchased from Evans (yes, I know,
I was desperate ok!).
I had already removed the old headset
to discover a rusted, dry set of
loose bearings and a crown race
rusted onto the fork so the first task was to remove this. No
point in fitting the cups if I can’t replace the crown race.
This proved extremely stubborn even
after soaking with WD40. It didn’t help that there were no indentations
in the fork or race to get a purchase on the crown race. So in desperation
(there’s that word again) I picked up the angle
grinder and cut through the existing crown race. Be very
careful if you take this option as it’s very easy to go too deep
and cut into the steerer.
Once removed it was a simple task to grease up the new
crown race and fit it with my crown
race press (actually it’s a piece of plumbers pipe) and persuader
(hammer) (pic).
Next up it was time to fit the new headset
cups using the homemade
headset press (thanks again Huey).
One cup at a time and all you need to do is to get the logos
lined up and then tighten up
the bolt at the top . A nice even white line
of grease on each headset cup shows that they are in straight.
The new sealed bearings were packed in grease and then the fork offered
up through the head tube and the rest of the headset fitted to hold
it all in place. Pre-load the bearings through the top cap so that
there’s no play but the fork moves smoothly and then tighten
up the stem and jobs a good’un.
I currently have a replacement Shimano 105 bottom bracket on order
and once this arrives and is fitted the bike will be in full working
order.
A quick balance on the saddle suggested that the set up/frame may
be a little long for me although it’s difficult to judge with
no chain set or pedals in place. But just in case this does turn out
to be correct I have a shorter stem that I can use to replace the
current stem which wouldn’t look out of place in a jousting contest.
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photos and content copyright of Richard Sear 1999 to 2012
Riders: Richard, Davebus, Mark, Steve, Adam, Keith, Gazza and Rob
LOMAC to Box Hill and back
Weather: 0°C
Here at Diary of a Mountain Biker we love snow days and can't get enough of them so with a heavy snowfall overnight (well, heavy for England anyway) we were out first thing this morning ploughing our knobblies through the virgin snow.
A shortish route of circa 13 miles but plenty of fun was had with comedy slipping, sliding and snowball throwing along the way.
Even with the snow the seasons are dramatically changing at the moment. Pre-Christmas it seems like the bad weather and early nights are never going to end for example last Winter the snow started in November and hung around for ages.
But this year we have already had some great riding in January and the days are already getting longer. For example on 5th January we moved from seven-something hours of daylight to eight hours and then on 30th January we moved to nine hours of daylight.
We are currently advancing at the rate of circa 3 minutes extra daylight per day with the clocks 'Springing' forward next month so even though it's really cold at the moment we know that there's only 6 weeks to go until those longer milder days of March.
I'm even managing to keep the cycle commuting going although a couple of times last month I got a text at work from Cas just saying "You are nuts" and I knew that he had checked my mileage tracker and realised that I had been out commuting on another wet and windy day. But there ya go, 36 days into the new year and I've already clocked over 1,200 km.
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photos and content copyright of Richard Sear 1999 to 2012
11th
February 2012
Bike Maintenance: Trek 1200 SL
I do love a bit of bike maintenance;
I find it really relaxing. So for the third Saturday in a row I was
out in the garage in the freezing cold up to my elbows in grease and
I was loving it.
It’s the Trek 1200 SL that’s
getting my attention again. The new Shimano
105 5700 bottom bracket turned up yesterday from those good folk
at Ribble
Cycles. I only ordered it on Wednesday, postage was free, prices
are rock bottom and it turned up on Friday morning; what more could
a keen cyclist want?
Out with the old and in with
the new. It’s a simple
ten minute job. Replace the admittedly worn Shimano
105 chain set, refit the also worn
chain.
But before taking it for a spin to see
how everything has bedded in including the new FSA
Orbit Equipe headset that I fitted last
week I need to adjust the gears. This has a 50/39/30T
triple chainset but the front mech is firstly refusing to shift
and then after giving some TLC to the cable, cable outer and shifter
housing I discover that the mech is only shifting between the 34/30T
rings. Some more fettling on the front mech and it's soon all working
well.
Out on the road and everything is smooth as silk. Even the dodgy looking
chain/chainset interface seems
okay under load. I was worried about the riding position being a bit
stretched out but on a quick spin up and down the road it seems okay.
But I will take it for a longer run to confirm that it's comfortable
as soon as the weather gets a bit warmer.
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photos and content copyright of Richard Sear 1999 to 2012
19th
February 2012
Riders:
Richard, Davebus,
Adam, Keith,
Gazza and Rich
Lonegroover
LOMAC to Headley Heath, Reigate Hill and back
Weather:
5 °C
A bright Winter's day but a chilling stiff wind seems to be in our faces all the way around making even some of the descents difficult.
We follow the usual trails to Headley Heath and Reigate Hill but then having returned to Ashtead quicker than expected take a rare visit to the flatlands that are Ashtead Common to take in the Stew Ponds and add a few extra miles onto the ride.
Gazza is sporting the beaver's
tail look today; nice beaver Gary!
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photos and content copyright of Richard Sear 1999 to 2012
26th
February 2012
Riders:
Richard, Adam,
Ross, Wobbem, Nick
and Rich Lonegroover
Pitch Hill
Weather:
13°C
Another sunny weekend and it's the first weekend this year that I've ditched the endura fleece lined jacket and switched to short sleeves although I do have my arm warmers on for the chilly start.
I should be feeling clear-headed today as although we were out last night I have given up alcohol for lent (no, I'm not religious I just like a challenge) but instead I'm feeling curiously lethargic. It may be all that food I ate to compensate for not drinking.
A tour round the usual trails with a slight twist as we hit them in a new order and also chuck in a few new areas of riding.
Lots of people out this weekend and we hook up with Bill and T(Eddie) for an excellent adventure. We spot Andy out with a couple of old dogs although that's no way to talk about his wife and her mate. Finally Mark LH is also out for a solo ride as well as numerous other groups making their way around the nicely firm trails.
I think I am suffering from road-fatigue having ridden Monday through to Friday this week and I am riding and looking like an idiot for the first 90 minutes. However I finally warm up and start to chuck the bike around the trails a bit betterer than I had been.
A warm up ride to Adam's early this morning
plus the return journey make it a good 24 miles for me today and I'm
still on track for my annual target plus I have my eye on another
bike for the stable; it's the opposite
of a recumbent, whatever that is.
READ
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watch
my mtb videos
Tip of the week
Single
speeding
Swinley
Buy
some night lights
South Downs MBR killer loop
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an MTB DVD
Chainsuck
Buy
some night lights
Buy
an MTB DVD
kit reviews
all
photos and content copyright of Richard Sear 1999 to 2012
April
2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
all
photos and content copyright of Richard Sear 1999 to 2012