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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
