New Meat

So after I dunno, 10,000 KM on this bike over the last year... It's time that I finally put my front tire (never got a flat on it) to be put to rest.  It's served me very well, better than any other tire I've owned.  

So now that parts bike that I got, is now being used again.  This time for parts that I can actually use.  I was a bit skeptical about the rubber fitting but it seems to be a bit taller than the previous one but I had lots of space.

New Tire

Old Tire

Rear breaks

I took apart the entire rear breaks, pads, etc.. and the pads on the cable breaks I installed, had a surface space of only a nickle.  Which means, it can't stop anything really.

So I gave up on cleaning the breaks and went with a brand new rear break set and disk.  Apparently the rear break that I picked up is one of the best cable break calibers that are available.  So now it's just about making the adjustments required but from my initial go.. the bike does stop better than before.

Now to go for a long ride and see how the breaks work out!  Here's hoping I can stop.

It's happened... FINALLY!

Well sort of, actually.  My bike is back in riding condition and it's better than ever.  

• Handlebars have been risen to a good height, CHECK!
• My seat is comfortable, CHECK!
• My tire is holding air, CHECK!
• Breaks are working, NOPE!

Handle Bars: I've risen them so high, I almost sit straight up.  It's an odd feeling but a side effect is, that I can put some extra power into the pedal movement.

Seat: I've tried 4 different seats and I'm good with a fat back end gel seat.  I'll try the Brooks again sometime later.

Breaks: I went to the store, purchased what I thought was the correct break pads but when I got home, I found out they were not, so that's not to useful.  At the same time I was at the store, I picked up some degreaser, where when I got home, I removed the pads from my bike and drowned the pads in the stuff, cleaned off the disks and sanded the pads down with a file, the pads look almost new and I can now, somewhat stop but I think the disks and pads need to be replaced all together.

Tire: After much pain, the tire is holding air.  After three times at the bike shop, trying different styles and the bike guy looking at me "I don't know what else to do or try, you could try a car garage." which my response was "I have faith in your ability, you just have a little faith in yourself too." and then the tire finally inflated.

What was going on?

1. The rim tape wasn't done very well.  Sure works at a 5-10psi but 20-30psi is leaked badly;
2. Bike shop tried some Norco stuff instead of Stans;
3. Bike shop ended up trying a "split tube" which I think freaked out the bike shop guy.  Because he still had not trimmed the rubber off and the tire was sitting on the rubber, when he pumped it up, the rubber slipped and made a huge "BANG!" in the store.  I laughed.
4. So after that I offered the idea of trimming the rubber to cover the rim tape and then put Stans and then attempt to inflate it. 

With that said, I've finally got to drive the bike in to work and there was a significant difference in performance.  I was kind of surprised.

Giant Bike Rim (one that was sold with the bike): I would get an average of 22km per hour, which is fast enough as I was still getting exercise out of it.

Canadian Tire Rim: I was down to 18km an hour and felt like I was driving in mud all the time.

Rolling Daryl Surley Rim with a quick release 170mm Salsa hub: I was holding 26km easily and I still had two more gears to drop down to.  Since this was my first run, I decided to leave gear changing and raitos out of my test.  But wow, felt like I was riding on glass.

Mineral Oil

So my hydraulic cables are leaking, after filling them back up, I lost pressure right away and found fluid on the ground.  So now it's time to swap to a cable based system.  

So after replacing my breaks from hydraulic to a cable based system, my first "test run" went great. I stopped and didn't feel as if the breaks were sliding on the disks.  But turning around, I found my breaking performance dramatically decreased.  Going for another run, my breaks almost didn't work at all!

I got back home and inspected the breaks, they look like they are stilled aligned, so it wasn't something came loose.  Then I touched the disk itself... and my hand was kind of black.  So the hydraulic fluid spilled onto the disks.  Taking the pads off the bike, they were ruined!  Brand new... disk pads.. GONE!

So now it's degreasing time and new pads as the new ones and the old ones were all wrecked.. That's 4 sets of pads lost within a single day.  I am AMAZING!!!

I'm near the finish line... getting ready to ride this beast that I've created.  I sure hope it will be worth it all.

Hiss..........

I think I'm going to cry.  I keep on at this and just something and something else..

So I got this really nice rim.  New hub.  But this rim can be converted to a tubeless tire native and not the ghetto version (Rubber tire).

And hiss........ hisss.......... hiss......... is all I heard once I got the tire pumped up to 20psi.  I normally ride around 25psi!

HISS!!!!!!

So after looking at the tire, seems they built it with no rim tape but just duck tape.  At 20psi, a tiny flick would break that seal.... and it did.

So, NOT being someone who gives up easily.  I found some gorilla tape and cut off a piece and tucked it in.  And pumped it back up and it held!
And then, I sat on the bike.. PSSS!!!!HISSS!!!

So I am now down a rear tire still......after all this!  Still not riding..... I am very upset with the whole situation. 

Disk break swap

Small disk breaks

So breaks have become an issue.  I think my hydraulic breaks lines have some minor cracks.. front stopped work all together.

So I swapped out the cable breaks from my other bike, only to find some of the lines to short!  After buying some replacements cables, crimping, cutting to fit, I am now riding on cable breaks...  and the disks need to be swapped out from the small to the larger size.

Large disk breaks

Almost ready to put the tire on the bike and go for a ride....

So much work... I'm getting a work out just from trying to get a work out!  

Reverting back... ARG!

So someone gave me this awesome rolling daryl rim at an amazing price.  So I took it. I might have been a bit to excited and got my rubber moved over and converted the rim to a true tubeless design. The rear wheel span is 170mm, which is the wheel span from my previous frame.  So?  This means I have to revert back to my old bike frame.  And so the conversion begins. Tire fits on the old frame but the new frame had a wheel span of 180mm.

Seems I just can't win... I know I am doing it to myself and it's all self inflicted pain, as I could of been happy with what I already had going but nope! I'm looking for that perfect ride for me... which will take time, patience and more time.  Feels like I am chasing after a intangible.  But I know, this is all going in the right direction.

Bolts.. a bane of my issues...

One of my disks are warped, causing a "gallop" effect when I am stopping.  It started to bug me enough that I decided to pull out another wheel and try to remove the disk and put it on my existing rim.  OMG!  The bolts use on this, the size doesn't exist.  T14 to small, T16 to big!  With all my tools, I had nothing that fit this!  So I pulled out my drill bit that is to remove screws.. Got one out and BANG!!! Bit is broken.

So the remainder came out with a pair of vice grips and lots of struggling.  That said, I toss all those bolts into the garbage and replaced them with a standard T14.


Lessons Learned (again):
You get what you pay for...