A few questions about my near-finished build

[ldrcycles]

I don't need to pump up my tyres very often, but from what I've heard from others your situation isn't all that unusual. Some tyres/tubes lose air faster than others.

For the pump, if you're after a small pump you can carry with you, Lezyne are easily the best, whilst also being reasonably priced. I also have a Topeak (I don't know the model, mini master blaster or something like that) that I got for $25 and it has been exceptionally good, plenty of use but no problems.

If you want a floor or track pump, my first one (which I have since given to my brother) was a Giyo Air Supply for $80ish which has been going strong for about 6 years, or you could get a Giant Control Tower for $30ish. That one was good but only lasted about 6-8 months. To be fair when it broke I was using it to recharge a fire extinguisher, but that sort of thing (or pumping up car tyres) never bothered the Giyo!

[Mulger bill]

Another Air Supply track pump in the shed, also going strong after many years.
Never had a problem with THIS either except having to hold the head onto the valve stem. Cheaper there than I paid too

But, since I got a Lezyne as a gift a few years back I retrofitted the whole fleet...

[Josh.]

Cheers guys, I ordered a Topeak floor pump for based off your recommendation - cost me $33.

Here is how the bike is looking now:





The forks will arrive soon:



Sunlite Econo Fork http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sunlite-Fork ... 1c38863754" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ldrcycles]

Looking good. What brand is that bar tape, my brother is after something like that for his bike?

[Josh.]

Thanks ldr. It is some no-name stuff I got off ebay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/380695757182 ... 1497.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It was $9 bucks!

[Mulger bill]

Nice one Josh, all you need except a front brake.

Are you planning on colour matching the fork?

Shaun

[Josh.]

Cheers Shaun

I am too impatient to start riding more.. I would have liked to match the forks, but ended up just choosing a painted (black) fork so I could put it straight on.

Hopefully the brake I bought will fit with these new forks!

[Josh.]

My new fork arrived and it feels terrible!

As I turn the handlebars, it feels like there is a really sharp curve in the steering... like the steering wants to reverse or jolt you off or do a right angle or something.



The old bent fork felt way better.

[jaffaman]

Look up Wikipedia "bicycle and motorcycle geometry". Your new fork is too straight for the frame, which has increased your trail and your wheel "flop". You need one with more offset.

[ldrcycles]

I don't know, it looks pretty much as it should, if josh is used to the handling with the bent forks then I would definitely expect the new ones to feel a lot twitchier. Have you ridden road bikes before josh?

[Josh.]

Wheel flop.. case closed! Perfectly described what is happening.

Thanks for the link jaffa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_an ... e_geometry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ldr I have ridden a few road bikes.. have owned a mtb, trails bike, and a few bmx. Even my 0 degree fork/stem/handlebars flatland bmx was less twitchy. This feels like once I get a little bit into the turn, the wheel just bites in and turns itself with quite a lot of force.

So I guess another goof purchase.. I have spent about $60 on parts that didn't fit this bike now, $35 on ill fitting fork and $25 on ill fitting brakes Live and learn I guess.

I think I'll put the old fork back on. Steel isn't just going to snap I reckon, so my face is probably safe.

[ldrcycles]

Wow I wouldn't have expected that. All well and good to make mistakes if they teach you something, or at least that's a good justification for all the mistakes I make .

Steel can and does let go without warning, and when it's the forks that are the risk the consequences aren't worth it. Have you tried lining up the new fork blades against the old to compare the rake?

[HLC]

I saw someone's steel roadie fail at the lug between the headtube and down tube.

The lug actually cracked in half with no warning.

Steel can, and will fail eventually.

Leave the new fork. It looks correct for the frame, you'll get used to it.

If you don't like the twitchiness, i wouldn't ever consider an NJS frame or any other tight geo frame.

[Josh.]

Yup ldr, the wheel position is not even the same ball park with the new fork. I'll get a pic soon

I've already swapped back to the original fork - sorry bro's, would prefer to be riding although I know your advice to lay off the bad fork is good.

On the hunt for a better fork now. Anyone know of any council clean ups? Or where I could source a fork with long rake at minimal spend?

The other option is to pick up a frameset but I don't wanna give up on this one!

[slidetaker]

Steering irregularity mostly relates to headset adjustment.

Are you sure the headset (top nut/spacers) and properly adjusted?
Are the bearings sitted properly with plenty of grease?

[Josh.]

Cheers Slide, yeah the headset/nuts were all set up well. I didn't use spacers - used a hacksaw and vice/pipe grips. It also felt fine immediately once the old fork was back!

Have been camping over NYE, I took the bike but couldn't ride it on the dirt with the 23c.. was stinging for some fatter tyres so I could do max dirt road skiddies

I'm keen for some bike camping/touring now.. will have to look into a tourer/old road bike/something with gears n brakes

[Josh.]

Lame!



It still holds air at first, but slooooowly deflates. So I guess I can fix the tube and possibly the tyre?

I guess I must have hit a chunk of something.. I run 46/17 so should have 17 skid patches.

I had spares so I just swapped out to a new tube/tyre. I'll swap the damaged one pictured above to the front so I have another spare I reckon!

[Josh.]

Baha, tried to repair the tyre with the tube repair stuff that came in my WTF38PIECES ebay bike tool kit and it was a gooey mess that didn't stay inflated

Probably my fault though.

[HLC]

Gatorskin?

I stopped riding them, because on hot days, when you skid, the tyre gets super hot and basically delaminates - that is, chunks of rubber tear off the wire casing.

Plus they are rubbish in general.

New tyre and tube for you.

[Josh.]

Sup HLC. Yeah, Gators. I won't be purchasing them again, I got three back in November but next I'm gonna try the Vittoria Randonneurs as per your suggestion and also some cheap fixie tyres.

Someone on gumtree is selling some used pake forks and they'll let go for $20 w/ a stem. A new Rum Runner frame is $232 delivered off the bay. Total of $252 for a new frameset is tempting.. could even get a $80 sand/coat as well at that price

Gonna mull it over tonight but I reckon I'll probably do it to solve fork issues. As much as I love the Raleigh. *cry*

[HLC]

Sup HLC. Yeah, Gators. I won't be purchasing them again, I got three back in November but next I'm gonna try the Vittoria Randonneurs as per your suggestion and also some cheap fixie tyres.

Someone on gumtree is selling some used pake forks and they'll let go for $20 w/ a stem. A new Rum Runner frame is $232 delivered off the bay. Total of $252 for a new frameset is tempting.. could even get a $80 sand/coat as well at that price

Gonna mull it over tonight but I reckon I'll probably do it to solve fork issues. As much as I love the Raleigh. *cry*

I dig those pake frames that are half fluro yellow/black that are all over ebay atm. Seriously tempted to get one as a commutter depending on tyre clearance, but not sure if I need a 4th track bike/fixed gear ha ha.

Also, any tyre that has 'fixie' in it's title is a waste of money.

I just had 5 Hutchison Nitro's arrive from Bike bug at $10 a tyre. they'll do for now.

[Josh.]

Yeah those neon pakes are so suave. I looked long and hard for one in my size but no dice.. there is only a 51cm or something left on eBay.

Clearance is for 28c

Bikebug are good, I've had great service.. also have a chrissie voucher there so was thinking I'd pick up the Deda Zero1 stem in 110mm to help in the switch from 1" to threadless if I get this Pake

This is the fork on gumtree BTW:

[Josh.]

K.. I ordered a Rum Runner

Gonna grab the second hand forks tomorrow

10 days ETA

[Josh.]

On closer inspection the dude's fork had too short a steerer tube so I ordered some new ones.

Also got an FSA Orbit headset, Deda stem, Deda post to make everything fit.

Now I'm broke

[Josh.]

Stem, bars, seatpost and some spare tyres arrived today! Had a voucher at Bike Bug

(!! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! quality pic)


The tyres seem pretty great for the price! Good find HLC

Still waiting on FSA headset, Pake frame, Pake forks