The biking thread

[Aldo]

Aldo, I think Omnis wanted to know the difference between the two...

I am assuming that the splined bit is harder to get the pedals off?

I told him the difference! Square vs circular with knotches in it.

If it's square and your crank bolt is loose then your crank eventually gets chewed up, and then falls off... Splined isn't harder to get off it's just less likely to do what the other one does. Moral of the story, splined is better.

 

[boiltheocean]

Square taper, notice the square shape.

Splined bottom bracket.

Basically it's different methods of connecting the crank arms to the bottom bracket, square taper has pretty much died now due to better options.

 

[Aldo]

Oooh look at Mr Fancypants with his pictures.

That top one is a hateful thing.

 

[Omnis]

What the heck is that? The part that goes through the frame? And then you attach the spikey disc on it with the pedal arms and then pedals?

What do you mean the crank gets chewed up?

Is the square taper the reason why there is kind of like a dead zone if you're pedaling and then you decide to pedal backwards? Because nothing happens until the pedal arms contact the other side of the edge of the square? Is this the piece that allows up to pedal backwards in the first place?


Also, I saw someone riding the exact same version of my bike on campus today. That thing is HYOOOOOOOOGE! Handlebars were like as tall as my chest and I'm 6'3.

 

[boiltheocean]

Yes, that is the bottom bracket that sits in the frame. Attached to that you have your crank arms then chainring and pedals.

This is also a helpful picture in explaining how square tapered cranks get chewed up, they round off far too easily during power transfer.

The dead zone you are referring to corresponds to the number of engagement points on the rear hub.

 

[daft biker]

Square taper, notice the square shape.

Splined bottom bracket.

Basically it's different methods of connecting the crank arms to the bottom bracket, square taper has pretty much died now due to better options.

Aye. I've never looked back since my first set of splined cranks....a set of XTR that looked like a dinner plate on my 1998 Cannondale Super Vee (remember them? ). The Coda cranks with a square taper that came on it lasted a few months but the splined ones I put on it out-lasted the frame.

These days my Subzero still has the Deore cranks it came with....no need to buy the top end stuff anymore. Have a look for ISIS compatible and there should be cranks and BBs at a wide range of price points. (Unless I'm completely out of date?)

 

[TB]

Damn Magpies!

Damn Sparrows, actually.

 

[Neal]

Nice Neal - kind of sad you didnt get the porno gold ones from the website though . Do you know how much your old one weigh?

I was very tempted to go for porno gold but it would have been an extra £46 and would be a slippery slope to a full on tackfest of hideous bike bling...I gold blinged my old motorbike so know I can't be trusted to know when to stop. Below is just a selection of the colours they do, they've even got a Famine friendly purple option!

I've no idea how much the old ones weight yet but will put them on the scales at the weekend when I swap them over. Thinking about it, once I take the brake discs, QR skewers and cassette off them they'll probably be quite similar to the new ones.

What the heck is that? The part that goes through the frame? And then you attach the spikey disc on it with the pedal arms and then pedals?

What do you mean the crank gets chewed up?

Is the square taper the reason why there is kind of like a dead zone if you're pedaling and then you decide to pedal backwards? Because nothing happens until the pedal arms contact the other side of the edge of the square? Is this the piece that allows up to pedal backwards in the first place?


Also, I saw someone riding the exact same version of my bike on campus today. That thing is HYOOOOOOOOGE! Handlebars were like as tall as my chest and I'm 6'3.

There are loads of different part types for every component on a bike which can get quite confusing but a good place to start when setting up and working on a bike is the Park Tools repair page. Also When you get your bike this is a good article to read on how to set it up to fit you.

I've just looked into a set of these. Late Xmas present me thinks.

I finally got the link to work! You can get all that for £67 ?!?!111!!11!! It would be £100 more over here! Alivio is perfectly good stuff so I wouldn't hesitate in getting it, just make sure you get the right bottom bracket size for you frame which should be either 63mm or 73mm (width of the bottom bracket shell on your frame).

 

[boiltheocean]

68/73 is the same bottom bracket, you just use less of the provided spacers.

 

[Neal]

Square taper BB's are usually a set width (and axle length) as the shell is fixed, I don't think any come with spacers but I may be wrong.

 

[Omnis]

Thanks guys. I've never put that much thought into bikes before. Just make sure it's big enough, seat is adjusted, tires have air, brakes work, an go.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Thanks guys. I've never put that much thought into bikes before. Just make sure it's big enough, seat is adjusted, tires have air, brakes work, an go.

I didn't either until I took an interest about 18 months ago. I'm really, really trying my hardest to keep my head out of it because cycling can get so, so expensive once you know what's-what.

 

[Neal]

I didn't either until I took an interest about 18 months ago. I'm really, really trying my hardest to keep my head out of it because cycling can get so, so expensive once you know what's-what.

I failed at that big time, since I got my bike nearly 3 years ago I've spent a bit over double what I paid for it on upgrade and replacement parts whereas my wife's bike which was virtually the same as mine hasn't had anything changed and is perfectly fine for the riding she does. Good job really or we'd be skint

 

[Aldo]

I failed at that big time, since I got my bike nearly 3 years ago I've spent a bit over double what I paid for it on upgrade and replacement parts whereas my wife's bike which was virtually the same as mine hasn't had anything changed and is perfectly fine for the riding she does. Good job really or we'd be skint

I'm probably somewhere in the region of that now...

 

[daft biker]

I failed at that big time, since I got my bike nearly 3 years ago I've spent a bit over double what I paid for it on upgrade and replacement parts whereas my wife's bike which was virtually the same as mine hasn't had anything changed and is perfectly fine for the riding she does. Good job really or we'd be skint

Don't worry, just make the next bike a custom job from the start and it's problem solved:idea:

Got my Subzero through a bike to work scheme so wasn't allowed to spend enough to make it right from the start but haven't had to replace too much.....the Deore shifters only lasted a few rides before they got shaken to pieces so replaced them with my favourite XTR rapidfire shifters and also replaced the rear mech. I've also replaced and have repaired the back wheel more times than I can remember but on a hardtail that's meant to take a beating that just means you're using it properly Think it's about 7 years old or something now but I'm not counting as it's still my favourite bike

 

[Aldo]

New rear mech arrived today...

Think I'm getting an X0 shifter when they come in stock. Blatantly just cause it has red shiny bits on it.

 

[Neal]

Nice Aldo 👍

Don't worry, just make the next bike a custom job from the start and it's problem solved:idea:

Got my Subzero through a bike to work scheme so wasn't allowed to spend enough to make it right from the start but haven't had to replace too much.....the Deore shifters only lasted a few rides before they got shaken to pieces so replaced them with my favourite XTR rapidfire shifters and also replaced the rear mech. I've also replaced and have repaired the back wheel more times than I can remember but on a hardtail that's meant to take a beating that just means you're using it properly Think it's about 7 years old or something now but I'm not counting as it's still my favourite bike

A custom build next time is starting to become an option but although I like my fork (Reba SL) it's got a very short steerer which is standard 1 1/8" so I'd likely need a new one for a new frame therefore buying a full bike might still be the better option.

My crappy X4 shifters still work the same now as the day they were new, I mustn't be riding hard enough although I knackered a back wheel so at least I'm trying

Nice Neal - kind of sad you didnt get the porno gold ones from the website though . Do you know how much your old one weigh?

After stripping the discs, cassette and skewers off my old wheels and getting them on the scales I can confirm my new wheels save a grand total of...92g! I probably lose that when I blow my nose That's not bad actually as the old rims are 17mm width and the new ones are 23mm so they're much stronger but will also give the tyres a less ballooned profile for better traction n stuff

 

[boiltheocean]

Square taper BB's are usually a set width (and axle length) as the shell is fixed, I don't think any come with spacers but I may be wrong.

Oops, I thought it was Hollowtech II.

 

[daft biker]

My crappy X4 shifters still work the same now as the day they were new, I mustn't be riding hard enough although I knackered a back wheel so at least I'm trying

Maybe you just need bigger and bumpier hills like we have up here One of my favourite hills has a bit that's straight-lining it down down a grassy slope that's bumpy enough your eyes bounce about and vision goes blurry. Then you have to brake from 40+mph to a standstill while still on a grassy slope before you hit the barbed wire fence....that's lots of fun in the wet

The bumpiest bit is about 2:30 in this....

...not that I was gunning it that day....just cruising

Have had 46mph out my patriot down there but my subzero pedals out at about 42....it'll still rattle a bike silly at 30 though!

 

[Aldo]

Dude... I am meeting you and you are showing me where this hill is. I don't care if you're a paedophile or nothing. I managed to get 34mph on the Motorway at GT which was pretty 🤬 quality!

 

[Neal]

There's a run like that about a tenth of that length down a hill I ride but it's still a 20 minute drive to get there

Aldo, no pedo would be interested after seeing photos of you in the pics of yourself thread so you'll be safe

 

[Omnis]

They see me ridin'...

They hatin'.

 

[Aldo]

There's a run like that about a tenth of that length down a hill I ride but it's still a 20 minute drive to get there

Aldo, no pedo would be interested after seeing photos of you in the pics of yourself thread so you'll be safe

But... But... The old guys love me when I'm lifeguarding. Ohh shi.....

 

[Mike Rotch]

They see me ridin'...

They hatin'.

You either have a big bed or a small wheels sir.

After stripping the discs, cassette and skewers off my old wheels and getting them on the scales I can confirm my new wheels save a grand total of...92g!

Formula 1 teams would kill for that kind of performance gain!

It's kind of like saying a Bic and a Montblanc both do the same job. They do, but they don't.

 

[Omnis]

26" wheels. Queen size bed. 21" frame. The riding posture is very upright... almost like an A-frame.

Anyway, it felt pretty neat to go out and ride around my parking lot. I haven't ridden a bike in years!

This whole twist-shifter thing is completely bogus though. I HATE it! Each side twists up and down in the opposite direction so it's totally confusing. And I can't seem to get the chain off of the smallest crank sprocket. It happened once by fluke, and then when I went to see if it would go back to the small crank the chain just totally fell off and draped itself on the bottom bracket. Is it possible to go from twist to lever shifters without replacing the entire derailleur system?

 

[Neal]

Formula 1 teams would kill for that kind of performance gain!

It's kind of like saying a Bic and a Montblanc both do the same job. They do, but they don't.

I'll remember that excuse to tell the missus the next time I'm making an expensive and mostly unnecessary purchase

This whole twist-shifter thing is completely bogus though. I HATE it! Each side twists up and down in the opposite direction so it's totally confusing. And I can't seem to get the chain off of the smallest crank sprocket. It happened once by fluke, and then when I went to see if it would go back to the small crank the chain just totally fell off and draped itself on the bottom bracket. Is it possible to go from twist to lever shifters without replacing the entire derailleur system?

You can change the shifters for trigger type very easily and without changing the derailleurs although you may struggle to find a 7 speed one as they're mostly 8,9 or 10 speed. Twist shifters can be pretty good and are light so give them a while to see if you get used to them.

You probably need to adjust the limit screws and indexing (cable tension) for the front derailleur, have a read of this > http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/front-derailleur-adjustments

 

[W3H5]

I hated the grip shifters on my ex-girlfriends bike when I rode it. I don't much like the levers I have now on my current bike. I'm looking at a whole new system (see previous post) which will include quick fire trigger shifters.

 

[daft biker]

Dude... I am meeting you and you are showing me where this hill is. I don't care if you're a paedophile or nothing. I managed to get 34mph on the Motorway at GT which was pretty 🤬 quality!

No worries, anytime...those hills are best ridden when it's frosty and all the ground is frozen solid....bags of grip and nothing gets churned up. There's usually less walkers out when it's cold too:tup:

If you can scrounge a lift over here I'll run you home afterwards....Ive only been driving a couple of months and don't know the roads round you way so kinda need a navigator to find anywhere

 

[daft biker]

They see me ridin'...

They hatin'.

Looks like you keep your bikes nice and warm and dry too

What size of frame is that? 23" or something? It's a big one!

Never thought about getting mine a bed though...

 

[daft biker]

You can change the shifters for trigger type very easily and without changing the derailleurs although you may struggle to find a 7 speed one as they're mostly 8,9 or 10 speed. Twist shifters can be pretty good and are light so give them a while to see if you get used to them.

Aye, I'm on the look out for a 7 speed rapidfire shifter for the bairn's bike....it came with those stupid 🤬 gripshift things that every bairns bike with gears that I saw had. My 6 year old girl struggles to balance and change gear at the same time never mind blance, change gear and pedal all at the same time. My 9 year old nephew could just about manage it when I took him down to GT and hired him a bike. Both of them would rather have rapidfire shifters like I have and having seen them try to wrestle with gripshift can easily see why.

I've never liked gripshift but I've been riding with Shimano gears since thumbshifters were standard issue....although it wasn't long before rapidfire then rapidfire plus came along.

What about those combined brake and gear leavers you can get now? Anybody like those? I can't stand them personally

PS. am I right in thinking the spacing between the gears in the same on 7 and 8 speed?...could use an 8 speed shifter on a 7 speed cassette?