Category Archives: Drivetrain

BMC and Specialized

To finish off, we have a BMC Street Racer that, due to injury, had been laid up for a while. Perished tyres, a rusted chain and general neglect were soon forgotten after it received an Annual Service, new Continental Gatorskin tyres (as you can see, these are currently flying out the door!) and a KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain. Now in tip-top condition, the @Shimano 105 groupset can really do its things once more. A slight change of pace, and this Specialized Bicycles Crosstrail had mis-firing gears. Some adjustment to both the high and low stops, along with the cable tension, and crisp consistent gear changes were the result.

Colnago Cristallo

There are some bikes you just don’t want to give back, and this one’s a case in point. This lucky customer sourced a Colnago Cristallo frame and full Campagnolo Srl Record groupset and handed it over for correct fitting. Throw in some spangly Campagnolo red cables and a KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain and you’ve got one seriously quick bike.

A couple of Carreras

Next up, a couple of Carreras (could that be a collective noun?) The Crixus CX bike needed a fair bit of work enjoying an Annual Service, some new cables courtesy of Fibrax Limited and brake pads from Raleigh Bicycles. The Zelos had been suffering from repetitive puncture syndrome…it’s a thing. Honestly. Anyway, it’s now rolling around on brand new Continental Gatorskin tyres wrapped round SLIME inner tubes. Belt-and-braces-tastic. It’ll take one seriously determined thorn to upset this set up.

Bianchi and Specialized

Wee catch up time. I do like a bit of Italian style, and this Bianchi Nirone 7 delivers in spades. Full Campagnolo Srl groupset, including wheels weren’t the problem. A graunchy headset was. Full strip down, bearings cleaned, degreased and re-lubed and everything put back together again. The steering is now much improved, and less of a struggle too! The Specialized Bicycles Ariel needed some tweakery round its gears and brakes. The A relatively new purchase, but having missed its free 6 week service, it needed some adjustments to ensure it felt factory fresh once more.

The bikes that time forgot

Quick catch-up time. The mad summer holiday rush has abated, thank goodness (no pleasing some people), but it’s been business as usual this week. These two Raleigh Bicycles have sat largely forgotten since about 1995 (they were purchased in 1994 with the receipts to prove it). Their owners have decided that now’s the time to dust them down, get them roadworthy and put them to good use. Spangly new tyres courtesy of Raleigh Bicycles, brake pads from the same company, inner tubes courtesy of Schwalbe tires, replacement cables from the Welsh Wizards at Fibrax Limited and they’re almost ready to go. Just waiting on the arrival of some spiffy Moon lights then they’ll be out the door. Those of you with keen eyes will have clocked the Sachs Huret twist shifters…with a lock mechanism. Why this would be required, I have no clue, but something a bit different.

Something for everyone

Our last update includes something for everyone. The Raleigh Bicycles needed some new rubber courtesy of Schwalbe tires. Chunky 20×1.9″ Black Sharks replaced the badly perished items that were threatening the bike’s safety. Mum’s bike, which is used for the odd pootle to the shops via the canal towpath was treated to a snazzy basket. Finally, the Boardman Bikes needed a new cassette (thanks Shimano-Road), a new chain (ta ever so KMC Chain Europe B.V.), replacement gear cables (indebted as ever Fibrax Limited), some replacement brake pads front and rear and an Annual Service. Fingers crossed, tackling the Tour o’f the Borders event yesterday was more fun as a result!

A tale of two Pinnacles

Next up, a couple of Evans Cycles Pinnacles that needed some work. The first, having completed a gruelling 140 miles and a total of 12,000 feet of climbing the previous week, was in need of a gear service. The second, soon to be found cycling between London and Paris for charity had ended up with its gear hanger being bent. Removal of the rear derailleur, attachment of the Park Tool derailleur hanger alignment gauge meant the hanger could be encouraged back in to line. A subsequent gear service meant that all gears were back where they were supposed to be.

Revolution Pathfinder and Giant Mistral

Next up, a couple of bikes that had seen a lot of use, but perhaps not so much attention. Both the Revolution Pathfinder and Giant Bicycles Mistral needed major overhauls on their drivetrains. New chains courtesy of KMC Chain Europe B.V., a SunRace freewheel for the Pathfinder and a SRAM MTB cassette for the Mistral meant that chain retention and gear accuracy were massively improved. Some replacement brake pads from Raleigh Bicycles improved stopping power too.

Trek, Scott, Gary Fisher and Giant Cadex

Next up, a Trek Bicycle 2.1 which leads a hard life as a commuter and weekend warrior. Full Premium Service for this one, and a replacement freehub body to ensure it didn’t sound like a 737 taking off everytime it revolved. The Shimano-Road bottom bracket was also due a swap as its bearings had finally thrown in the towel. The Premium Service is a great way to have a full spring clean of your bike, with brand, spanking new Fibrax Limited cables thrown in to the bargain. Next up a Scott bikes 60 that needed an Interim Service, plus a wee tweak to its rear hub to eliminate the play that was present. The Gary Fisher, and you don’t see too many of these about, boasted a full complement of Shimano-MTB XTR goodness, but its wheels, tyres, inner tubes and cables weren’t fairing so well. A new pair of Raleigh Bicycles wheels, knobblies and tubes courtesy of the kings of rubber, Schwalbe tires and the all-important cabling taken care of by Fibrax Limited. Lovely, lovely bike, and now it’s headed off to Aviemore to continue its adventures. Finally, an original carbon-framed Giant Cadex also needed some TLC. Again, all new rubber from Schwalbe tires, all new cables from Fibrax Limited and some hub fettling means one seriously light bike (aided by its full Shimano-MTB XT setup) is ready to hit the trails again.

Mountain Bikes (and related)

A quick catch-up of what’s been going on at Andy’s Bike Clinic this week. A very spangly Saracen Mantra built up from a box for its new owner. It’s destined to be completing the West Highland Way at some point this year; it’s sure to be up to the job. Shimano-MTB groupset along with Shimano-MTB hydraulic disc brakes and a SR Suntour Inc. fork means the components are sound. Next up, a Giant Talon. Nice Shimano-MTB XT groupset fitted, but it did need a KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain, a full front hub service and some new pads all round. The Giant bikes Yukon needed some fairly major surgery; a replacement KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain, hub adjustments, wheels truing and a general service. The Cube Bikes Curve was in a bit of a state; the steering was completely seized. This was traced to a poorly adjusted headset that had allowed water ingress and consequent rusting to the steerer tube. All parts removed, a brand new FSA headset and cups fitted, and this is one bike that now turns right AND left. Imagine that! Finally, a Revolution Pathfinder that sees almost constant use on unmade roads irrespective of the weather and suffers because of it. Replacement Sturmey-Archer (SunRace) freewheel, KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain, Fibrax Limited cables, Raleigh Bicycles brake pads and a service means it can keep on clogging along.