Any question answered...

Thinking to retrofit a rubber bridge like this, because my ugly 90’s sport raybans (RB3132) broke a year or so ago. Keen to wear them now the light levels are getting lower again.

Any alternative, better option?

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I left my bag with the hotel concierge service- who then wrote on it in biro. The hotel agreed to resolve this by paying for the fix. Question is, who do I take it to for said fix?

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You guess correctly.

Well that didn't work... Same symptoms. Actually, now I know where to put pressure to hear the "squeak sound" I realise it's the same with or without play in the headset... And reducing O/A steerer height didn't improve things.
I double checked and all the parts and seals in the manufacturer's diagram are there, in the right sequence.
Still have the original steel forks (quill stem though) so tempted to give up the plastic ones

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Thanks @Vince, do you think those particular ones on eBay are fake?

Are the top bearings not upside-down? Hard to see in this picture.

Are the top bearings not upside-down? Hard to see in this picture.

Wouldn't have thought so...?

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Wouldn't have thought so...?

You're right, seems good.

the tool to remove the crank for HT2 (star nut thingy) is plastic and mine has totaly softened and cant remove the crank
is there a metal version so it doesnt happen again??? or something similar that isnt a plastic thing that just fails when it gets too hard to undo?

edit : does a cassette removal tool work?

Is it leather? If so it should come off with surgical spirit. You might need to add a bit of leather conditioner to it after if the leather dries out.

And why the hell would the concierge do that to your bag?

mine has totaly softened and cant remove the crank

It's not supposed to remove the crank, just the preload screw. It shouldn't be more than finger tight, so once you undo the pinch bolts (you have done that, haven't you?) the preload screw should come out very easily. If the preload screw is OK but the tool isn't, you can just buy a new tool for a few quid.

It will leave a noticeable mark where the leather will react with the spirit. Less is less is more. Could be extra careful, and trace along the pen line, probably near-impossible without some art tools (sponge tipped pens etc).

It is leather, it’s dyed so it’s a uniform colour and I’m worried about taking the dye off with the ink. I have isopropyl alcohol at home which is the first thing I thought of.

However- the Hilton will pay for this, is there somewhere that could re-dye the section of the bag/that side of the bag?

yup totally agree - but i didnt put the crank on, i am worried the tool is too "soft" for the plastic to turn it!
hence wanting the metal version (if there is one)

Tell the Hilton to either fix the bag and return it to you or buy you a new bag. Leaving you to sort it is bullshit customer service.

There's a shop on the kings road that refurbishes Vuitton and similar leather bags. I went there one to ask about removing smell from an vintage leather bag, cost was prohibitive...

A decent old school proper dry cleaners would be my first port of call. They must've dealt with this sort of staining before.

Hackett* surely the very first port of call?

I know they'll outsource their leather, but it's still a quality brand so they should have someone.

Many expensive women's bags do stuff like that for free.

*if my reading upsidedown is correct.

Tell the Hilton to either fix the bag and return it to you or buy you a new bag. Leaving you to sort it is bullshit customer service.

I would have done so if I were not flying back today.

Good point, I’ll call them tomorrow.

Is Sugino Zen Messenger Criterium chainring something new or same quality as “old/usual” Messenger?

I would imagine the exact same as the old ones but just a rebrand to cash in on the new fixie crit scene

i am worried the tool is too "soft" for the plastic to turn it!

The plastic tool is fine when used correctly. The Park BBT10.2 doesn't bring anything to the party except about 400% price premium over the plastic Shimano TL-FC16 and a temptation for the incompetent to over-torque the preload screw.

If you want to go #tartmode, this works and uses a big Allen key which you already own, so it's almost as cheap as buying a new Shimano tool and a fifth of the price of the Park tool if you absolutely must go plastic-free.

Mine's black. No idea if it has worn off or not, nothing that I can tell (although obviously it's leather so has creases).

Gearbest.com should I avoid?

If it is too much of a good deal, it will be a fake.

You can’t tell apart the real and fake ones as they are identical, including packaging.

If you can’t live with a fake, don't buy this one.