Bicycle Thread

[mad082]

yeah, cranks cost them $70 and cassette $28 and $18 for the chain (and then fitting on top of that). second bike in a week that i have had to do that to

[Xmetal]

Keeps you off the street and out of trouble doesn't it Marc?

[mad082]

something like that

[Xmetal]

Couple of updates:

New rubber:

Duro Leopard

Front: 26x3.0

Rear: 24x3.0

New saddle:

all 2nd hand off Rotorburn.

Marc do you have any suggestions for seating the bead on a tire? The front is being stubborn.

[mad082]

i'm guessing that it is a tight fit? there is only really one way. pump it up until it pops into place. if you get to 100psi and it hasn't popped yet, let the tyre back down to about 15psi, try and pop it out a bit by hand (to do this you have the bit that isn't sitting in place facing towards you then grip the tyre and try to roll it off the other side of the rim) then pump it back up again.

i am only using 100psi as a guide as it depends on what the max reccommended pressure of the tyre is. if the max pressure is only 60psi then you wouldn't want to go much past about 80psi. however if the max pressure is 90psi then you can go to about 130psi (although it will usually pop out about 110psi).

you can also try wiping a few small amount of washing up liquid around the bead of the tyre before pumping it up this will make it a little bit more slippery and pop into place better when it is pumped up

[POLICE]

Just got my first road bike on the weekend for $100

The brand is Xtreme and it's pretty much new

popped both tires on the first day cause the outer said 100psi

and the inner probably couldn't take anything over 80

gonna be hitting the Centennial Park tracks every weekend

to see if I'm fit enough to do the Syd-Gong MS ride

[Mr Eps]

pretty sweet hog for the price... dunno if i'd do sydney to gong on it myself though!!!

marc - what's your take on "slimes" i got a pair the other day and i'm very unimpressed with them =( only fitted one, not happy at all so returning the other today and swapping for just a regular tube.

[POLICE]

I'm not a bike expert but why not dude?

Is it too entry level to endure the distance?

[mad082]

i'm glad you onlt paid $100 for it, cause i certainly wouldn't have paid anything more for it. that isn't entry level. an entry level road bike is worth about 5 times what that is. probably the cheapest, nastiest road bike on the market (since it is a supermarket bike), and that's why you would've popped the tubes. the tubes should take higher pressure than most tyres. they tyres are what determines the pressure. tyres with weak sidewalls won't take much over about 90 to 100 psi (when rated to 60psi) before they tear the sidewall apart. a tyre rated to 100psi will take up to about 140psi before it starts to tear. also cheaper tyres punture much more easily due to lower density casing. and they are heavier.

just have a look and see where the punctures occur. often on those cheap bikes it will be on the inside because they have used a thin rubber rim stip and the tube buldges into the spoke holes and creates a thin spot which then pops.

personally i think that any road bike that doesn't have intergrated shifters (shifters in the brake levers) is a waste of time. that bike would be much heavier than any other road bike, and more than likely be much more uncomfortable to ride as well as a rougher ride. you would've been better off paying another couple of hundred and and gotten something a bit older but much better quality. if you plan on doing long rides expect to be having to replace the wheels in a few months after the hubs shit themselves. also if it is a 6 speed (can't tell from the pic) and the freewheel isn't a shimano one, immediately take it to a bike shop and get them to fit a shimano one. it will save you being 20km from home and have the freewheel pack it in and leave you without any drive (you will pedal but the wheel won't turn).

sorry to rain on your parade, LOL

rowan, not a big fan of slime tubes. they often don't seal the hole up until they have let most of the air out of the tube, and after a while they just don't seal it up at all.

[Mr Eps]

yeah nah got rid of the slime tube - the shop let me swap it over for a hutchison one...

and yeah - that bike will be suitable for riding to the shops and such, but for actually riding long distances ie syd/gong... no... if you can do it then that will be awesome

infact

i'll fedex you a can of coke!

[JAS-25T]

Syd to gong ftw. Check the sig gents

[POLICE]

hey do you guys know where I can get some good quality tubes?

I can only find road bike tubes with those french valves

is there an adaptor for the car valve to french valve?

[mad082]

you will only get road tubes with presta valve (french valve). yes there is an adapter to make them a car valve. they should only cost a dollar or 2. they are a brass adapter that screws on.

as for good tubes, pretty much any tube will do. with those tyres, don't go for any lightweight tubes. go for somthing like CST, innova, maxxis, tioga, etc. basically any brand from a bike shop ecxept swallow. they are shit tubes, LOL. something like the michelin airstop butyl are a good tube. not too thin and made of better quality rubber.

[POLICE]

aight Rowan, be at the wollongong finish line around lunch time with my can of coke

[Mr Eps]

the challenge is on... c=)

[Mr Eps]

for anyone that wants these - cheap - avail this week only. worth stocking up

clicky

Edited October 5, 2009 by Mr Eps

[mad082]

they aren't a bad tyre. and at that price you can't go wrong. unless you do lots of kms on dodgy roads. then make sure to carry lots of patches or get a tyre liner. tyre liners are good things. we run them in cherie's bike. my tyres have them built in.

[Mr Eps]

i run vittoria zaffiro pro kevlar on my bike now - 145psi... hard ride but super fast

[mad082]

yeah they would be if you run them at 145psi

[Mr Eps]

i'll run YOU at 45psi in a minute.