Truvativ Giggle XP

 

It turns out that the BB bearing and crankset on both my Marin Point Reyes commuter and the LeMond (=Trek) road bike are both Truvativ GXP, which I'm sure means they were having a laugh as they designed it.

Looking around the Internet, I'm not the only one to feel they leave something to be desired in the durability stakes. Plus, becasue one side bearing is smaller than the other, you can't easily swap them out for something else.

The Marin bearings were shot through wear, only about 8,000 miles. My LBS comment was "that's good" - I don't think so, not for a maintained bike. The LeMond (probably only 2,000 miles) are clicking and have been for the last 300 miles, an early symptom of failure IMO. The only bright spot is that in taking the crank off I noticed the bung protecting the frame had risen out, so was able to correct it.

The Sweet Smell of .....

 

I had wanted to say "success" but I'm not quite there yet.

As you may be aware, I have a running battle with bikes and London, London normally wins, wear is right on the far edge of what you have a right to expect. The one before last chain snapped in use, as I neglected it for too long and had to replace the cassette, too. So, the last chain I lavished care on, using expensive "ceramic" lube, cleaning it and generally cosseting it. And if anything, it has lasted less time. So, I have bought some Chain-L No. 5 (could there be a better name?), having heard good things about it. It arrived very quickly and well wrapped, whipping open the package I got that wonderful lubricant whiff that anyone who has worked on pre-war engines will know and love, I'm told it's sulphur.

I replaced the Shimano chain with a SRAM (for the "power link"), followed the instructions for the lube and it has all gone together well, and early indications are positive. Unfortunately, I must have left the old chain on too long (it went from 0.75% to 1% in about 100 miles) and the wear on the cassette means that it's jumping like crazy in 6-8, the gears I use most. So, another cassette.

While I was at it, I discovered that the BB is shot, too. That's a sealed unit - the SRAM Truvativ GXP, I'm not sure that I really like that, it's lasted only two years. However changing it involves changing the cranks, too by the look of it. Oh yes, and anyone is welcome to pass an opinion on the state of my carbon fork (especially Steve ;-) )

 

 

 

Cycle Facility of the Month

 

In homage to the great Cycle Facility of the Month I present my own capture.

Here, the London Borough of Newham has installed an amazing facility for those cyclists wishing to practice for Paris Roubaix without leaving these shores, and are to be applauded.

Numbnut Award

It's really not hard to find bad cycling in London, Paddedshorts has made a collection of them here, but after today I think I'd like to award my very own Numbnut award.

Going to work this morning I was passing through a busy and complicated city junction in rush hour when, in front of me as I was stopped by the light, sailed a guy, apparently texting on his phone. I say apparently because of what comes later. Anyway, he was looking at his phone and pushing buttons as he was riding. I caught up with him a short way down the road, he was still busy with his phone.

Much as though I rarely say anything, I couldn't help myself: "Don't ever complain about a car driver texting - what you were doing ranks as one of the stupidest things I have ever seen". It was then his girlfriend, riding with him, piped up in a very injured tone "He was looking where to go, we don't know where we are". Saints preserve us, let's hope dumb and dumber don't ever procreate.

float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee

 

Some people, I believe, have a problem with the amount of float on a clipless pedal. That is, the amount you can rotate your foot without it uncliping from the fixing. This example above is an alternative approach that provides a substantial amount of float, possibly unsurpassed, for an SPD pedal.

Note to self: Next time I buy some nice carbon soled shoes and spend a long while trying to get the placement and angle of the cleat just right, do remember to tighten the screws down. Otherwise, 15 miles into your commute you may find that the cleat fails to disengage when you expect it to with amusing results. Amusing, that is to anyone watching rather than participating. Just about as funny as a bee sting.

Heel Boy!

This started off a while back, when I discovered that the front dérailleur of my commuting steed had seized solid. Despite copious application of freeing agents no way that it would move at all. No surprise really as I almost never change to a smaller cog in commuting, but I like to be able to if, well, just "if". The only option was to strip it completely, grease and rebuild.

So far, so good. I even made a point of changing front cogs at least once per ride. I even remembered to do that for at least three weeks. Then a period went by when I left it, exacerbated by my commuting on the single speed folder. So when I rode on it last week I wasn't entirely surprised to find it had gone back to its old habits. Not quite as bad because if you kicked the mech, it would go to the middle ring. Not the granny ring, but who uses that anyway. Believing that repeated actions should free it, I kept changing down and kicking to get some movement.

So, last Thursday I was in the last mile of my 25 mile commute, within a mile of home. I then discover that if you misplace a kick, your heel can jam the wheel solid while forcing your foot into the mech. I really didn't want to do that, that was not my intention at all, interesting experiment though it was.

So a good few hours of my Sunday afternoon was spent trying to fix the dérailleur. I could adjust it so that the frame of the shifter was free of the chain on the big cog, and it will shift down to the second, but the frame fouled the chain and that was about it.

I don't like it when mechanical things aren't as they should be.

It's a wind up

London isn't what you would call a windy place, the prevailing wind is normally from the west. So we are reliably told. This should be good, because it means that I should get the wind in my face riding to work, and in my back going home.

Last night it was easterly all the way, hence the short break to admire the scenery, the longer time with speed dwindling towards the end of the 25 miles.

So this morning it was in my face again. Why is it a universal truth that it is always in your face?

However, you can judge your commute ride by adding up 1 for each of: Night, Wet, Wind, Cold. Last night it was only a "1", so what am I moaning about?