Numpty IM Bike Thread

Hooray, I think everything is fixed (subject to a proper test spin)

Thank you to all forum bike brains and my lovely LBS.

The fix is rather embarassing , I had put the springs on the QR the wrong way round.

So embarrassing for you, that you sent hubbie to pick your bike up .

You dont normally complain about going to bike shops.

Anyway, I am sure the nice bike mechanics were more interetsed in the chocolate cakes I sent you with.

So I'm looking at bike insurance bewildering.... Any recommedations? I've narrowed down to VeloSure, Cyclesure (as recommended by the london triathlon) and BTF TriBike Insurance - BTF is most expensive by quite a margin, although i'm sure there must be some sort of promotional code somewhere in my reems of stuff from BTF surely it can't be the same for Joe Public

Second - it turns out my two kryptonite locks I own, aren't good enough.... so who uses what? are they of the Sold Secure Bike Gold standard and how much does that cost?

Third - Does anyone keep bikes not in house (i'm under serious pressure to rehome) if so what have you done to alternate location to meet insurance requirements

Thanks for any info in advance guys, my head hurts!

there was a thread on bike insurance a while back.

But, all of mine are covered under my Direct Line house insurance wherever they are (in or out of home) as long as they are locked - excpet if I'm racing on them. I've double checked this. One is itemised on the insurance as its over £2k.

Job done (but then the two expensive ones are kept in the house or are never out of my sight....)

Snapped my rear mech hanger and dumped the deraileur in the back wheel going up a climb, so bike's at the LBS getting fixed. Blew-out my front tyre on the same ride, which meant that I was running on the carbon rims for about 20 metres as I slowed down. There appears to be a bit of a split in the rim now on one side, running around the edge of the rim for a few inches. Anybody know whether there are "fillers" for that kind of thing, please? Or repair services? Ignore the thing and carry on? Or am I in the market for a new front wheel?

Thanks as always!

I doubt it's fixable but you can try a specialist carbon repair service - there are a few around - definitely not something to carry on and hope for the best.     

You probably already realise your rear mech was poorly adjusted so I wont tell you that - but it's a cautionary note for others - if you hear your mech hitting the spokes in the big sprocket don't ignore it.  

Oh dear. Not great news.

The mech was in the right place, tbh, but the big "learn" for me is that I'd badly bent it a few months ago in a crash, straightened it as best as I could with a dirty, great wrench, and thought that I could ignore the thing. Clearly not the case!

Afternoon bike buffs.

If you were going to buy a fixed wheel/single speed, which would you buy and why?

I am currently thinking Langster because I want proper old school not fancy townie.

P has a Langster - I bought the frame from Ridgebackmax and I built it up.  she loves it.   mine is an old road frame that I built up as well.  they're pretty simple to build as you don't need to worry too much about groupsets and their set up, and you can get away with a single brake.

P has a flip-flop hub on her Langster so she can ride fixie or SS 

On-one Pompino is also highly liked

Thank you.

numpty bike question, what makes a bike Specialised?

I'm coming to the conclusion that specailised may be a brand name, ive been racking my brains all week what modifications a bike needed to become specialised.

It is a brand name Honk - and spelt with a 'Zeeeeeee'

thankzzzzzz 

H0NK wrote (see)

numpty bike question, what makes a bike Specialised?

Recently, low kit level and higher price.

You wont know what to look/feel for if you aren't an experienced rider - and even then it takes time to get used to a bike.  Have they said you can try it out before buying - it's not always the case - bike shops don't have a full range of bikes in all sizes ready built up for people to test.  The only thing that really matters is whether it fits - there are various websites which can help you find your ideal bike measurements and after that you'll be relying on the shop staff or any knowledgable friends you may have.   

I'd have thought Evans would be able to build the bike up OK - even Halfords can manage in most cases.   I think most local bike shops will be glad of the business whether you bought it off them or not - but of course if you had bought it off them they might do a few things foc such as an initial service or swop stems round to get a better fit.

Yes tyres are a standard size - for the road your best bet is 23mm width and you want 700c - you may need narrower inner tubes than are in your cross tyres too but I'm not 100% on that.