Seems like it’s been hanger week at Andy’s Bike Clinic. This Norco Bicycles Valence needed a replacement hanger, Shimano Cycling 105 rear derailleur and a KMC Chain USA chain. After fitment, a quick gear adjustment, and it was back putting miles under its tyres on the tarmac.
Next up, a GT Aggressor which leads a busy life. Unfortunately, its gear hanger came off worse with a sudden impact, so a new hanger and Shimano Cycling rear derailleur were fitted. Smooth shifting suitably restored, its owner can resume their commute via bike.
Time for a quick catch-up. This Specialized Sirrus Pro was picked up as a gift, though it needed a little work to get it truly roadworthy once more. New Schwalbe tires (official) Blizzard tyres, a replacement sealed cartridge headset, plus a KMC Chain USA 9spd chain and it was as good as new. Just look at the state of that old headset!
Next up a Trek that also handles commuting duties for its owner, this time from Linlithgow to Glasgow. New Shimano Road cassette, KMC Chain USA chain and a big SRAM road chain ring were required here. A quick gear adjustment and it was pounding the streets of Glasgow once more.
It’s been a busy old week at Andy’s Bike Clinic, so it’s time for a long overdue catch-up. First off we have Merida Juliet. Always a quality piece of kit, MERIDA BIKES produce excellent frames and full bikes, with good quality kit. This particular Juliet leads a busy life transporting its owner from Bathgate to Edinburgh and back again. A full Premium Service was requested, so everything was stripped off the bikes, cleaned, lubricated, and re-fitted. The hubs were fully serviced and the cabling replaced with nice, shiny new Fibrax Limited inners and outers. XLC parts took care of the new brake pads, whilst a SRAM MTB cassette and KMC Chain USA chain were also slotted on. Great bike, now fitted with great quality replacement components.
Finally, we have a Specialized Myka Expert whose front brake was about as spongy as a spongy thing. Put simply, the Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic brake didn’t stop the bike. Not even close. So, with the help of my trusty Epic Bleed Solutions kit, the front brake was bled and immediately showed signs of improved lever feel, and more importantly, stopping power. The pads and rotors were also decontaminated as they had been caked with a mixture of oil and dirt. The front hub also needed a service and the chain which was sat at a reading of 0.75 was duly replaced by a long lasting KMC Chain USA 9spd number. Ready to hit the trails with the dogs once more.
Something a wee bit special now. A brand spanking new Pinnacle Arkose 3. What could possibly need doing to it? Well, its proud new owner thought it’d be a good idea to upgrade the standard wheels to something a shinier (and therefore better). A pair of Kinesis Crosslights were the order of the day, and these were to be shod with Continental’s tried and tested Gatorskin tyres. Eleven speed cassette duly swapped over, along with the fitment of disc rotors and this is one Cross bike that is now equally at home on the tarmac. Its owner will only need to swap the cassette between the two rear wheels allowing him the freedom of road or trail. Lovely, lovely bike.
Next up, a sorry tale of a Saracen’s brake lever breaking in two and embedding itself in its rider’s leg. Ow! Fortunately, the rider was OK (apart from some bruising), whilst the bike needed a new Shimano MTB shifter, a Fibrax Limited front brake cable and a fair bit of gear adjustment. Here’s hoping the owner doesn’t come a cropper again.
Next up a Carrera Subway that had been languishing in the garage for the best part of a year. An Interim Service, replacement rear inner tube and rotors and pads decontaminated meant it went as well as it stopped. Fingers crossed the weather stays fine so its owner can start using it again.
Quick mid-week catch-up of what’s been passing through the doors. First, a Mum’s Ridgeback and son’s Revolution that both needed a bit of tinkering with their gears. The Ridgeback’s chain would skip off the top and bottom of the cassette, whilst only 4 of the six Revolution’s gears were available. Some jiggery-pokery with high and low stops and cable tension and both were shifting smoothly.
