Category Archives: Service

Specialized Secteur

Extensive work required to this Specialized Secteur. A replacement rear wheel (with Shimano Road Tiagra hub), a Shimano Road cassette, extensive Fibrax Limited replacement cabling and the mother of all service. Hitting the road after a year or so in a damp garage.

Various 4

Quick catch-up time. A Giant Avail in for a service and a bit of headset tweakery; an Edinburgh Bicycle Coast in need of a new Raleigh tyre, a service, some Fibrax Limited cabling goodness and Raleigh pads; an Edinburgh Chorus that needed a service and a front hub service (replacement bearings courtesy of the guys and gals at Weldtite); and finally a Canyon that had been forgotten in the shed for over a year and needed some TLC.

Various 3

Quick catch-up time; a Trek which came off second best in a major ‘off’ and needed a new front brake assembly. a b’Twin that had its rear mech implode on it and needed a replacement, a Ridgeback that needed a long overdue service along with new chain and pads, a Revolution Cadence that needed some Fibrax Limited cabling goodness (brake and gear) along with a new front mech and finally a Specialized Rockhopper that was in dire need of new front pads.

Various 2

Next up we have a brand new Giant ATX…fresh out the box. Literally. After adjusting all the components correctly (both gears and mechanical disc brakes were WAY out), it was ready to start its career as a coach’s bike for the West Lothian Clarion Cycling Club. First outing at Beecraigs Mountain Bike Trails proved it’s up to the task.

The Trek XTC arrived with THE WIDEST bars I’ve ever ridden. I’ve got arms like a chimp and I was struggling. The bars weren’t the issue though; the brakes were. Hydraulic brakes are great when they work but can take some diagnosis when things go awry. Subtle adjustments to the front, and the same for the rear (along with the extraction of a teensy bit of hydraulic fluid) meant lever feel was good, as was stopping power. I suspect moisture may have got in to the rear hose at some point, causing expansion which pushed the pistons out. All good now though.

A Raleigh Bicycles Monchique up next. This bike has sentimental value to its owner, and whilst it needed a fair bit of investment, the end product is a cracking wee bike. New rear wheel, Sturmey-Archer (SunRace) freewheel, KMC Chain USA chain, new Schwalbe tires (official) Range Cruiser tyres and Fibrax Limited cabling means its owner can now (safely) keep up with her kids.

A Cube LTD that needed new stoppers having worn out a pair of Clarks items. Shimano MTB XT hydraulics were measured, shortened, fitted and adjusted. The modulation on these is awesome, and they don’t cost the earth.

Various

Long time, no see. Well, it’s been another couple of busy weeks here at Andy’s Bike Clinic, so here’s a whistle stop tour of what’s been through the doors.

Voodoo Hoodoo in need of a new chain, cassette, Fibrax Limited gear cable, rear hub service and a general check-up.

A GT Paloma whose chain went SNAP! So on went a spanking new KMC Chain USA chain.

A Giant Terrago which needed some work in order to pop its mountain biking cherry at Beecraigs Mountain Bike Trails. Interim Service plus a full headset service and bearing renewal and it was ready for anything.

Another Giant…an XTC this time. An Interim Service, drivetrain clean, hydraulic brake adjustment and a replacement rear tube. Done.

A Scott Sub that had braking issues; virtually no pad material left on either set of brakes had it in need of some braking goodness. Replacement Shimano Cycling pads at the front, and a brand new Shimano MTB Deore lever and caliper meant this is one bike that now stops as well as it goes.

A lovely Cube which needed some Shimano Road pedals fitted and various components correctly torqued. With a carbon frame and components this nice, you don’t want to take any chances!

Finally there’s another Cube…this time it’s an Agree. New Shimano Road RS010 rear wheel, replacement cassette and chain. Boom!

b’Twin Triban

A b’Twin Triban now. A service, front hub service and replacement Raleigh Bicycles pads and its owner was blown away by the improvements in performance.

Ridgeback Terrain

On to a Ridgeback Terrain now. This again needed some Fibrax Limited loveliness along with tweaks to both hubs. Finished off with a service and it was back out on the canal towpath crunching the miles.

Revolution Triad and Carrera Vulcan

Moving on to a Revolution Triad and Carrera Vulcan. The Revolution needed both its hubs servicing, a new SRAM MTB cassette and a service. Meanwhile the Carrera was in need of a new KMC Chain USA chain, a SRAM MTB cassette, some new Fibrax Limited cables and a service. Normal service resumed.

Ridgeback Comet

Hear that sound? It’s the sound of my feet touching the ground for what seems like the first time in two weeks. So, what’s been keeping me so busy? Bikes, bikes are more bikes. First up there’s a Ridgeback Comet that was in dire need of a new chain (KMC Chain USA of course!), some new Fibrax Limited cables and a service. Last seen zooming round Linlithgow helping to deliver campaign leaflets for the Greens (who else?)

Canyon

Now we have a super-stealthy Canyon…which had come off second best to some sort of the impact to its rear derailleur. Hanger adjusted, rear derailleur replaced (lovely, lovely Ultegra kit…even the packaging looks like it contains jewellery), a new 11 speed KMC Chain USA Extra Light chain and a service and it was returned to its owner running smoothly once more.