Search results for:

So this evening I went to the local car spares place and they had some freezing agent in a can like this stuff by Wurth. I started to explain that I needed to get an ali stem out of a steel tube and they said talk to this guy, pointing to a chap talking on the phone. He turned out to be a rep from Wurth and gave me a free can of Rost Off Ice.

He told me how to use it - spray all over the ali for about 10 seconds, then wait another 20 - 30 seconds and it will come away, no problem. He told me I may need to repeat the process 2 or three times.

I got the stuff home, did exactly as he suggested, and then after the can was empty I sawed the stem just above the tube so I could release it from the rest of the frame.

Next attempt is going to be to using heat.

The key here is to think laterally.

I superglued my saddle to my bibshorts so I don't even have to think about it.

I've been looking into this for a seized stem and it was suggested that Rostoff Ice, a product made by Wurth and available from car parts shops may well do the job.

I'm going to try it because I don't want to start mucking around with caustic soda if I can possibly help it.

I'll post results.

If you're in or near north London, you could try this chap who did a non bike related job for me pretty cheap.

Bunns Lane Welding

Thanks Coppi. Salt water? I doubt it, lol.

I'm planning to get it powder coated by Armourtex. Do you think they will be able to tell me if it's structurally unsound before completing the process. I understand they're not bike specialists?

Apologies - I did do a bit of a search but I couldn't find anything - guess I was using the wrong terms or it was just v. early in the morning and I hadn't properly woken up yet.

Thanks for the help, Balki.

Vaz Finishes?

Can anyone recommend a pro finisher in the London area. The only one I'm aware of is Vaz Finishes. Are they good/ Any other suggestions please.

I've just picked up a Dawes frame for a project after my old one got nicked. It's a bit rustier than I expected it to be. Can a frame be too rusty so it's no use? How would I be able to tell?

Here are a couple of pics if it helps.

Thanks

Follow up re: Dawes Double Blue.

Didn't see it at Brick Lane or ebay / Gumtree but the insurance look as if they are putting me right in a good way and I'm now drooling over something a bit nice in Tokyo Fixed Gear.

A big thumbs up to City of London Police - they were very sympathetic and definitely wanted to help although with such a wide window of time when the theft took place and lack of well placed cameras in the area they said it wouldn't be worth scouring the CCTV footage.

Gave me advice about what I should do if I spot the bike anywhere - don't confront, call the cops.

Time heals. I'm getting over it now but it's a shitty thing to happen. Two locks from now on. Just make it hard enough so they go somewhere else.

I think I might have seen this at Brick Lane this morning. Wasn't really looking for a bike like this, but saw a blackish Peugeot with 708 tubing, quite large frame and def being handled by one of the dodgy types.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Depressing place. Saw quite a few obviously nicked bikes including a rather nice chocolate brown fixie that disappeared quite quickly.

Suffice to say mine wasn't there.

Tuesday 14th, sometime between 9.00 and 5pm, from the bike racks at the King William Street entrance to bank tube, some sh*thead nicked my favourite bike. Here's a pic on the offchance that someone spots it... the only differences since the picture are a) now has Sugino Messenger 44t crankset, b) now has pale blue bar tape, c) now has a condoe seat d) mudguards off for the summer.

I love this bike.

Well, this was my fixie - until tuesday when it was nicked from the bike racks at Bank Station. Updates since the pic were new pale blue bar tape, a Condor seat and a Sugino Messenger 44t crankset.

Long shot I know, but if anyone sees it I'd me grateful for the heads-up. Forgive me for posting this on different threads around here. I'm really hoping to recover the bike.