Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

That's why some framebuilders reinforce the top section of the seat tube by seamlessly welding a thicker tube.

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The angles will probably be written on the side of the existing bearings.

True, though I had assumed Rodhusk had a frame with no bearings.

Yep, this is the case. We have a shop visit planned to try out every bearing they have in stock!

Measuring things will probably make that easier.

Pro tips.

I need to re-cable my 90s mtb as cheaply as possible.

The new shifters I'm looking at come with inners.

An old single track thread via Google says my best bet is Shimano sp41 housing + the best deal I can find on stainless inners.

Any other thoughts or tips?

Brakes will be Tektro 720 with the OG shimano levers.

Gears will be M310 shifters with the OG 100GS front and rear mech.

If you want some SP41 outer cableage, let me know. I've got 40m of the stuff I managed to buy for minus 1p a metre. Given that most of my bikes are Di2 these days (#boastpost) I suspect I'll be pushing up daisies before I use it all.

That would be great. I'll definitely* take you up on that.

*pending checking for any odd diameters

Mavic/Campagnolo square taper axle and BB cup and bearing compatibility/help sought please as my brain hurts.

-I've got a beautiful old Mavic Starfish square taper crank that needs a ISO bottom bracket with a 114 mm axle
-I want to fit it to a steel frame with 70mm BB shell that needs an Italian threaded BB

I did look into getting the matching Mavic BB for the Starfish, they are highly regarded as being bombproof and would obviously be a good fit. What put me off more was they seem to use a bearing size that is not longer available, so not sure I'll ever be able to get replacement bearings, but also that the Mavic BB required the BB area to be faced to accept the Mavic cups which are at 45 degrees or something. I obviously don't have this tool, and I'm not sure any London bike shops have this either? I saw a thread that mentioned Hewitt cycles had such a tool, but posting the frame off to Lancashire just to get the frame faced seems a bit ridiculous. Is there a generic tool bike shops have that allows angled BB facing?

And I'm guessing once faced at 45 degrees the BB is not going to be able to take 'regular' BB's again unless its refaced again, how many times can you reface a frame? I'm guessing you can't continually keep refacing BB areas without running out of frame. I obviously don't want to invest in a Mavic BB unless I know I can fit it, and am wary of doing so if its a total cul de sac with no or very limited replacement crank and BB options.

I can't seem to find any new ISO square taper BB's with 114mm axles and Italian threaded BB cups. If my googling is shit and they exist, please let me know. I can only see JIS ones.

In the absence of any new ones I started looking at old ones, and then realised I've got a Campagnolo square taper axle that's 114mm that I got in a box of parts, my middle aged spec-less eyes can't tell exactly, could be 113mm or 114mm. I don't have any cups or bearings to go with it, so have no idea what model its from, and I've never used it.

As the Mavic BB route sounds like drama, I was hoping to just get some Italian threaded cups and bearings to work with the axle I have, but don't know if all old Campagnolo square taper cups and bearings are interchangeable with all their axles, or if there's some model specific ones I need. Here is a pic of the axle I have, it has the Campagnolo logo and it has markings of 68 and SSG....I guess the 68 corresponds to the 68mm shell width, but SSG?? Anyone know what model this is from, and what cups and bearings it needs, and are these available or is this likely to be unobtainium/eye wateringly expensive.

My weak googling seemed to bring up both Gran Sport and Athena as possibilities, so I'm not even sure on the model?

Sorry for the essay, but what do you think is my best option to get these lovely cranks on my bike instead of gathering dust?

-Can I get cups and bearings to make a BB with my existing axle? If anyone has any for sale please let me know, I will gladly cycle to collect in an acceptable socially distanced fashion if in London, or pay for postage.
-Go the Mavic BB route and worry later, if its a bomb proof as described all my fears may be unfounded as it may outlast me if looked after. If this option who can do the frame refacing?
-There's a new off the shelf BB I can buy that will fit the crank, if so what and where? This sounds the easiest option in theory but I can't find any options.
-Other?

EDIT: I realise the axle I have marked 68 is not going to be the right size to fit a 70mm Italian thread BB, so guess using this axle for a BB for this bike is ruled out.

Ha! Have exactly the same dilemma, by coincidence.
I’m hoping I can use an Italian thread Mirage BB I have (my bb is also 70mm) as it’s ISO and won’t make the Mavic cranks crack...
I called a dozen independent bike shops and no one has the facing tool, so looks like I’ll be heading the Campag/Mavic route. I’ll take some pics and pm you if that’s helpful?

Hello fellow Mavic worrier :)

I feared as much with regard to the 'Mavic facing tool'.

No need for pics I don't think at this stage, but let me know how you get on with the fit of the Mirage BB. Is that 115mm axle? 115mm seems to be the closest off the shelf current Campag option, but I don't know if 1mm extra axle length will run OK with Mavic's recommended 114? Obviously want to avoid cracking the crank. Oops my mistake the Italian threaded BB shell I need is 70mm not 68mm as I originally said. I guess that means 68 axle I have is going to be the wrong size to build up into a BB for my Italian threaded bike, bugger.

If I find out any other options I'll let you know, these cranks are too nice to be sat on the shelf. I bought them with the classic 'how hard can it be...' running through my brain, that will teach me!

Anyone recommend a good 165mm singlespeed crankset?

My chain is skipping on a SRAM XG-1190 cassette. It's not that worn, so I think the issue is the elastomers between each cog preventing the chain engaging properly with the teeth. Can I remove these bands or does that cause a problem (other than noise)? It's such a beautiful thing seems a waste to just chuck it

How do I know if my Di2 charger is working, and the battery is charged?
Yesterday I rode home on 1 gear (small front ring and small rear sprocket). Now after 2 attempts at charging the battery, it is still not any better.
Where shall I start?
Planning to take it for a service but won't be until next week now as all shops are 200% busy atm.

There's an orange light on the charger that will come on for at least a few seconds when you connect, and switch off when charged. The USB cable is the first thing to check/swap.

(for internal battery. No idea about external)

Will try and do some fitting tests and let you know :)
Also suffering the ‘can’t be hard, is only bike parts’ delusions...

Opinions sought on tooth wear: will a new chain slip on this big ring?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164828810746?hash=item2660900dfa:g:RP8AAOSw1IJggst8

It's definitely worn, I don't think a chain will slip as big rings need to be pretty fucked to slip with that many teeth mostly engaged, but it might be a bit noisy and lead to the chain wearing prematurely.

The orange light comes on, and then goes away after a while. It could be that by now the internal battery is fully charged. No idea.
Front mech still not shifting, and I don't get this whizzing sound when shifting any more (Front or rear).
The rear mech does respond to inputs from the shifting buttons though.

If you hold down any shifter for two seconds it will show you the charge level on the Junction A. Solid green on the battery light is fully charged.

Is anyone aware of a bike shop were I can find small parts for TRP Hy-RD brakes? I am looking for an actuation arm and a cable anchor washer. Tried SJS but no luck.
Any sugestion how to fix a unthreaded issue with the actuation arm are welcomed.

Trp in america sent me spares for cantis and it was under a week.

Have you contacted Upgrade Bikes? They are the UK importer and usually have a decent stock of spares. They usually ask that you order via one of their dealers, but they do have a pretty broad dealer network.

I’ve got an alloy Thomson post in a steel frame that I’ve applied Park Tool ASC1 to and torqued to 5.5, but it’s still slipping. Am
thinking of trying some Park Tool SAC instead, but what is a safe torque to take it to? I know it’s not carbon, and steel is very forgiving etc etc but the stays are shot-in, and the welds are very slender

What's doing the clamping? Pic?