Cycling UK Forum

The only areas where my 1987 Raleigh 531st Tourer is rusting is at each top tube cable guide, which is annoying as it is difficult to retouch. Your's really doesn't look too bad either, so I think you should just retouch where necessary like me. The bigger problem I find is that the canti pivot spac...

I am very content normally using SRAM PC850/PC870 8 speed chains, which I monitor with a Park Tool CC2 checker. But on one bike I have an almost new KMC X8 chain, which my CC2 surprisingly said had 0.5 wear. But so I measured 12 links of this chain several times as 305mm, which does indicate it is a...

The problem I find with Smart watches is that their battery is not sufficient for GPS tracking rides of much more than 8 hours, unless recharged from a battery pack during stops. Whereas a mobile phone using Strava seems to last much longer but also can be easily recharged during stops. A mobile pho...

I remember being told (CTC technical) that on a rim braked wheel there was no real need to service the cups and cones because the rim would wear out before the hub. But with a disc braked wheel presumably this is no longer true. So I wondered how often people regrease their Deore hubs and the practi...

Thanks Brucey!

I normally use SRAM chains which use a Powerlink. So I don't often use a chain tool although I do have several. But recently when I use any of my chain tools I find that the pin doesn't align sufficiently closely with the rivets of an 8 speed chain. Even my ParkTool chain tool doesn't fit perfectly....

FWIW - I have Diacompe friction shifters on 2 road bikes and have never felt the need to lubricate them

Each time I have rebuilt a new bike I have transferred the old handle bars which originally came on a secondhand JRJ bike I bought about 50 years ago. The bars are Cinelli and they have a Cinelli 1A stem. Do you think I should be concerned with their age or will they last forever?

DAK if a new Tiagra front and Deore XT rear (10 speed) mech will work with an 8 speed cassette if I use friction shifters (no indexing)?

Several months ago I was servicing the rear brake on my wife's road bike, when the cable nipple fell off - I don't think I'd have been popular if it happened when she was riding it! The cable was otherwise in good condition.
So is this another issue?

I have been very pleased with my "Tektro RL520 Drop Bar Brake Levers" since installing them about 4 years ago. But I have often wondered why the lever pivot pins tend to work their way to one side - and if they will ever actually fall out? So I recentralise the pins to avoid this! They don...

Thanks Brucey - Perfect!

My mountain bike has a 1 1/4 " threaded headset, which is ok with no play or centring. The quill stem is secure within the steerer tube. But the stem has a very slight play within the top locknut. This locknut has a rubber seal which may have shrunk over the last 20 years approx. So I think it ...

How about Aztec inserts/cartridges

by eye, about 10mm mudguard clearance all round.

So ample clearance for mudguards with 37mm tyres?