The Expert Opinion Thread

[Bob_TAS]

As low as my quill stem would go

I was thinking of a fixie conversion, don't really like having to change gears all the time. Can I just use a hacksaw?

[Pax]

Only that you can't fit a quill stem upside down...

Oh god, what a load of rubbish, of course you can if you have the right power tools. Pffttt call yourself an expert

[Dan]

Self expertise.

A: Hey my rim is cracked, is it still safe to ride?

B: No. Bin it.

A: I think I'll ride it anyway, looks okay to me.

[LugNut]

Self expertise.

A: Hey my rim is cracked, is it still safe to ride?

B: No. Bin it.

A: I think I'll ride it anyway, looks okay to me.

My expert opinion at work last week:
'Hey, why are we chucking this wheel out? It has three broken spokes but it's pretty true?
'Leave it. It's totally wrecked.'
'But it only has a few broken spokes...It's a nice wheel...'
'Leave it. It's wrecked.'
'I'll just grab some spokes and take it home...'

6 days later and the wheel has 2 more broken spokes, and I can hear it de tensioning every time I'm out of the saddle.
Expert opinion = 1, self non-expert opinion = 0

[twizzle]

I did a groupset upgrade for a mate and found his rear rim cracked in multiple places from the nipples . I had to do a LOT of arm twisting to talk him out of riding on it.


Sent from my iThingy...

[LugNut]

I think the ultimate 'Expert Opinion' question has to be wheel building related. Today, while building one of my first wheels, I had oil in one hand, grease in the other, and took to the internet to find out which was best to prep the spoke threads with. Here is a summary of the Expert Opinions I came across in 15 minutes:

Q: I'm looking to build my first wheel set, and wondering whether I should use chain oil or grease on the spoke threads?

Expert Opinion 1: I use locktite instead to keep the spokes in place.
EO 2: Do not use locktite, that will stop the wheel from being trued in the future. The only thing I would be using is this wheel building compound (links to $70 product)
EO 3: Don't put anything in there, the friction of the threads is compromised by lubricants and your wheel will lose it's tension
EO 4: Just use oil, it's nice and light and lasts longer than grease.
EO 5: Nah, oil is too light and will wash away, use grease.
EO 6: Get your local bike shop to build the wheels for you instead, they will know what they are doing and the wheels will last a lot longer.

WHOA, close page, shouldn't have gotten into that, I'll just use grease.

[munga]

don't use regular grease, use copper gasket grease.

[Dan]

Or some of that $22000/L watchmakers oil.

[RonK]

I think the ultimate 'Expert Opinion' question has to be wheel building related. Today, while building one of my first wheels, I had oil in one hand, grease in the other, and took to the internet to find out which was best to prep the spoke threads with. Here is a summary of the Expert Opinions I came across in 15 minutes:

Q: I'm looking to build my first wheel set, and wondering whether I should use chain oil or grease on the spoke threads?

Expert Opinion 1: I use locktite instead to keep the spokes in place.
EO 2: Do not use locktite, that will stop the wheel from being trued in the future. The only thing I would be using is this wheel building compound (links to $70 product)
EO 3: Don't put anything in there, the friction of the threads is compromised by lubricants and your wheel will lose it's tension
EO 4: Just use oil, it's nice and light and lasts longer than grease.
EO 5: Nah, oil is too light and will wash away, use grease.
EO 6: Get your local bike shop to build the wheels for you instead, they will know what they are doing and the wheels will last a lot longer.

WHOA, close page, shouldn't have gotten into that, I'll just use grease.

Why not compromise and use Spoke Prep?

[ldrcycles]

Bog.

[Dan]

Bog.

Valley-O.

[wqlava1]

Only that you can't fit a quill stem upside down...

Oh god, what a load of rubbish, of course you can if you have the right power tools. Pffttt call yourself an expert

No tools needed. If you had a 650C wheel in a 27" or 700C fork there would be space above the wheel - a bit of the 70s motorcycle cafe racer look.

Edit - you would need to forego the front brake mount too.

[idw]

WHOA, close page, shouldn't have gotten into that, I'll just use grease.

nar use steel nipples and spokes. then tack them all with a welderso they never come out of true

[silentbutdeadly]

Only that you can't fit a quill stem upside down...

Oh god, what a load of rubbish, of course you can if you have the right power tools. Pffttt call yourself an expert

No tools needed. If you had a 650C wheel in a 27" or 700C fork there would be space above the wheel - a bit of the 70s motorcycle cafe racer look.

Edit - you would need to forego the front brake mount too.

I'd almost be tempted to try that.

[Dan]

"Maaaate, 569g is close to 500g, Australia Post won't notice!"

[twizzle]

Q: What saddle should I buy?
A: Asshat.


Sent from my iThingy...

[Dan]

Q: What saddle should I buy?
A: Asshat.


Sent from my iThingy...

Hahahaha! Times 2356.

[Dan]

Q: someone did something insensitive. Should I let it go, or complain about it on the Internet?

[bychosis]

A: the Internet is specifically designed for postings about insensitiveness. Both making insensitive comments, and also complaining about them. Letting it go is not acceptable in the Internet age.

[Dan]

Troll!

[Dan]

[bychosis]

Trolls are not proper experts!! Find another thread

[Dan]

heads to the 'hiding under bridges' thread

[wqlava1]

don't use regular grease, use copper gasket grease.

I've always used that for hot spots (product name Copperkote?), like the 150 foot pound finned nuts that go over the exhaust pipe where it meets the each head on my old BMW air cooled motorcycle. Is your advice aimed at the tandem riders without a drag brake on long descents, so they can still re-true their wheels even after the tyres have melted off?

[wqlava1]

Only that you can't fit a quill stem upside down...

No tools needed. If you had a 650C wheel in a 27" or 700C fork there would be space above the wheel - a bit of the 70s motorcycle cafe racer look.

Edit - you would need to forego the front brake mount too.

I'd almost be tempted to try that.

Got to admit - not so expert this time. I looked in the bottom of a fork that I thought i could use to do it, and it has a strengthening tube inserted in the crown area, so the stem wouldn't fit. Most forks seem the same.