Author Archives: Andy Todd

Cannondale and Claud Butler

Busy, busy, busy at Andy’s Bike Clinic over the summer, but now the kids are back at school, it’s time to take a breath and a quick look back at what’s been through the doors. These two are (hopefully) now being used by their owner to maintain a level of fitness that was proving difficult. A bad back is no laughing matter, but a bike is fairly low impact on the body, and if correctly setup, a great aid in recovery. Both the Cannondale and Claud Butler were worse for wear when they entered the workshop. Spangly new Schwalbe tires and tubes, cabling courtesy of the Welsh Wizards Fibrax Limited, brake pads from Raleigh Bicycles, skinny mudguard from Oxford and a bit of TLC saw the Claud Butler back on the road. The Cannondale, with its very cool Fatty HeadShok, needed pretty much the same treatment, along with a new Shimano-MTB bottom bracket. The difference in both bikes was night and day.

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 Assorted

Catch-up time after what seems like a long period of radio silence. First up a Trek Bicycle 4900 that was in desperate need of a rear brake bleed of its Hayes Disc Brakes. Alongside that was a replacement rear rotor which had suffered an impact, a service and both its hubs adjusting. The other bike in the family, a Specialized Bicycles Myka needed a brand new front brake assembly courtesy of Tektro, along with a general service and a trued front wheel. The Apollo Transition was in need of new cables, courtesy of our good friends at Fibrax Limited, plus a replacement front shifter from SRAM MTB.

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.

Road Bikes

Time for a wee catch-up with what’s been going on recently. First up is a Specialized Bicycles Sequoia which needed a new Shimano-Road cassette, KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain, a rear hub service, a front hub adjustment and a new rear gear cable courtesy of Fibrax Limited. All of this was topped off with a service as this bike’s about to get a lot of miles put through its wheels. Following on from that there’s a CUBE Bikes Agree Race which was also treated to a new Shimano-Road cassette, KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain, a full service on its Fulcrum Racing 5 rear wheel (including new sealed bearings) and a new Schwalbe tires front tyre. Finally, the Scott bikes CR1 was in need of a service, new Fibrax Limited ASH460 sticky road pads front and rear, a new bombproof Continental Tyres UK Gatorskin tyre and a rear hub adjustment. All three bikes now setup for the upcoming season.

Bosch eBikes

Andy’s Bike Clinic is pleased to announce it is now a certified Bosch eBike dealer. Software updates, component fitment/replacement and servicing can all be undertaken on your Bosch eBike.

Various 6

Finally, three bikes that needed some much needed bits and bobs. The Cannondale CAAD10 is soon to venture to hillier terrain, so needed a wider ratio cassette fitting. A little hamstrung by the short cage Shimano Road 105 rear derailleur, a Shimano Road Ultegra cassette was snugged on (30T low gear!) The Boardman Team on the other hand had no problem going, but stopping was an issue. Off went the old rear pads and on went some SRAM MTB pads to take care of stopping duties. Whilst it was in, it was treated to a new KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain and a headset adjustment to get rid of that sickening play. Finally, we love Frog Bikes – the lightweight kids’ bike, but this one had an issue with the front brake caliper. So, off with the old and on with the new Tektro brake and all was well again.

Workhorses

Now a couple of oldie but goodies. These bikes are what the term ‘workhorse’ was invented for. A Condor Bike that wasn’t flying as it should (see what I did there?) as the chain had snapped. KMC Chain Europe B.V. to the rescue, and whilst it was in, it was also treated to a full set of Fibrax Limited cables. Nice. The Carrera Bikes Karkinos needed a new Shimano Road Claris front mech, along with a Shimano Road bottom bracket, cassette and a KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain. Topping it off was a set of new Raleigh Bicycles brake pads fore and aft.

Assorted Gear Hangers

Time for a wee catch-up. First off, it’s all been about gear hangers these past few weeks. You know, those small pieces of alloy that form a bridge between your frame and the bike’s rear derailleur. Important things gear hangers. If your rear mech takes a whack, the gear hanger’s designed to bend (up to a point) thus protecting the frame and hopefully minimising damage to your derailleur. This lot all had that in common (unfortunately, the Specialized Bicycles Pitch needed a new hanger as well). I’ve included a couple of pictures of the Focus Bikes Izalco Pro’s rear derailleur which appeared to have overshot its’ low stop and ended up in a right pickle. Easing the low stop off saw the spring compress (nearly taking my hand off) and it once again resembled a rear mech (phew!)

Various 5

Quick catch-up with some bikes that have come through the workshop. First up, an Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative Cuillin that needed replacement Fibrax Limited brake cables, pads and a service. The SRAM road equipped Boardman Bikes Pro was in for an Annual Service, a replacement Shimano Road cassette and KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain. Boom! Finally, the rarely seen Nikishi needed new brake pads, a replacement Shimano Cycling cassette and KMC Chain Europe B.V. chain.