What Preps are you doing this week

[jansman]

Your brakes need 'toeing in' Nick. What that means is the brake blocks need moving slightly inwards-ever so slightly- at the front end. Just think of it as pointing your toes together. That'll stop the squealing.
We are picking and storing apples like there is no tomorrow. I put 4 cordons in about 18 years ago. They cost us 15 quid apiece I recall, and we didn't have a lot of money, so it was a considered purchase. Good long term investment though. I have salted more runner beans today and picked and processed more tomatoes and chillies. We have three litters of rabbits at the moment, so I have to make space in the freezers for those I don't sell on as pets. My first van load of bikes for reconditioning has arrived. At first glance that is three days work, so it is all coming together.

[Yorkshire Andy]

As above nick... but doing it depends on what types of brake you have?...

old caliper brakes need a adjustable spanner to bend the brake pad bracket slightly

cantilever and v brakes it depends on the pad type if they are pin and post type the washer between the pin and the caliper is wavey rotate it either way and it will move the pads resting position

other type with the 5mm hex nut on 4 conical washers is easy under the leading edge a bit of beer mat under the block loosen the nut squeeze the brake leaver firmly then nip up

for disc brakes your probably best off finding a decent bike shop that has a disc brake facing tool to level and balance the mounts out

loads more info here

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... brake-type

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... ke-service

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... ke-service

[nickdutch]

Fascinating. They never blinking tell you that in CDT class in school do they the buggers!!!

[Yorkshire Andy]

If you find your new chain slipping in certain gears usually the smaller rear gears or the middle chain ring up front they will probably need replacing unless you change your chain regularly you can mitigate the wear related meshing issues my last broken chain failed rather spectacularly









needless to say i wouldn't recommend a KMC x link chain to anyone fortunately the crown jewels survived...


i do keep on thinking about buying a chain stretch gauge but then never do get round to putting my hand in my pocket

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park ... p-prod5784

[Hamradioop]

i do keep on thinking about buying a chain stretch gauge but then never do get round to putting my hand in my pocket

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park ... p-prod5784

Must be The Yorkshire Gene Andy

[featherstick]

Worth noting too that some brake blocks and wheel rims are simply incompatible. I had a dreadful squeal off my front wheel at one time and tried everything to cure it - cleaning the rim, toe-ing in the blocks, cleaning the blocks - several times, but it only went when I swapped the blocks out altogether.

[jansman]

Chain stretch guages are ok, but by the time it has stretched, the bushes and rollers are usually knackered. I do a fair mileage and I bin the chain every 3 months and change the rear cassette every year. Mind you, I much prefer fixed wheel these days. Virtually avoids the workshop that one.

[featherstick]

Chain stretch guages are ok, but by the time it has stretched, the bushes and rollers are usually knackered. I do a fair mileage and I bin the chain every 3 months and change the rear cassette every year. Mind you, I much prefer fixed wheel these days. Virtually avoids the workshop that one.

When I was commuting a lot, I'd keep 3 chains and rotate them every 3 months - that extended life and made maintenance very easy. Agree about the fixed wheel though, made me a much better cyclist too.

[banshie13]

got my birthday present early I asked for gutters to grow strawberries in on the fence line, although you can use them to grow other thing in. The other half thinks I am mad but hey ho who doesn't have eccentricities

banshie13

[nickdutch]

got my birthday present early I asked for gutters to grow strawberries in on the fence line, although you can use them to grow other thing in. The other half thinks I am mad but hey ho who doesn't have eccentricities

banshie13

To me that just sounds like a sane use of space