You Tube - answer to DAK!
Posted: 8 May 2010, 2:34pm
My SRAM front Mech wouldn't shift properly to the granny ring. I I just funked out and posted on here DAK asking how to fix it? I have deleted that post because I have now fixed it myself.
I have a number of SRAM leaflets which are full of crumby indecipherable graphics and no useful explanations, I have read books, consulted Sheldon Brown at length and still I could not fathom out what was what.
But.... I have got Viera Link on my new Blu Ray player which means I can get You Tube up at 37" wide on my new TV. So with a glass in my hand I settled down for an hour last night to view what You Tube could offer.
Its so simple really! Once you see what the stops are for, have a human telling you what clearances to leave, and understand cable tension with modern shifters, its pretty simple to get your gears just right, with snappy changes and no tinkling noises except at the extremes (ie Granny ring and top sprocket). Even on You Tube, there were people confusing you by naming things with incorrect terms (cog instead of sprocket or chainring, nut instead of socket head cap screw etc etc), and until you have watched it once or twice carefully and see what they really meant.
Even with a distilation of my You Tube knowledge, it wasn't possible to set the front mech to change to the Granny Ring properly in line with the now deciphered SRAM graphic instructions - I had to angle the shifting mecanism in at the tail by rotating the whole Mech slightly to give the chain that final nudge.
You would think that SRAM would hang their heads in shame that they haven't put videos on the web so that anyone can understand their bike and adjust their gears with ease.
On my journey on You Tube I found why SRAM's are so much better off road, its all down to the stronger spring that prevents the rear Mech leaping up and down and giving unwanted gear changes over rough ground, simple really. No wonder all the MTB'ers at our local DA swear by them. Its comforting to know that when I do go off road (its nominally a touring bike) I won't be getting the Shimano jump.
And lastly, after hours of tweaking brake rotors on my new Halfords bike, I gave up trying to stop the pads rubbing on the ever so slightly not flat new brake rotors. Pulling the pads out and giving them a good rub on a flat piece of sandpaper on the bench gave me enough clearance to stop the annoying noises albiet at a slight loss of brake life. It stopped the shriek from the front disc too.
I should have known really, tacking adjustments on your bike is all about knowledge, and knowledge and experience gives you confidence.
I am all set now. I hope that this encourages others to seek help from You Tube
Al
I have a number of SRAM leaflets which are full of crumby indecipherable graphics and no useful explanations, I have read books, consulted Sheldon Brown at length and still I could not fathom out what was what.
But.... I have got Viera Link on my new Blu Ray player which means I can get You Tube up at 37" wide on my new TV. So with a glass in my hand I settled down for an hour last night to view what You Tube could offer.
Its so simple really! Once you see what the stops are for, have a human telling you what clearances to leave, and understand cable tension with modern shifters, its pretty simple to get your gears just right, with snappy changes and no tinkling noises except at the extremes (ie Granny ring and top sprocket). Even on You Tube, there were people confusing you by naming things with incorrect terms (cog instead of sprocket or chainring, nut instead of socket head cap screw etc etc), and until you have watched it once or twice carefully and see what they really meant.
Even with a distilation of my You Tube knowledge, it wasn't possible to set the front mech to change to the Granny Ring properly in line with the now deciphered SRAM graphic instructions - I had to angle the shifting mecanism in at the tail by rotating the whole Mech slightly to give the chain that final nudge.
You would think that SRAM would hang their heads in shame that they haven't put videos on the web so that anyone can understand their bike and adjust their gears with ease.
On my journey on You Tube I found why SRAM's are so much better off road, its all down to the stronger spring that prevents the rear Mech leaping up and down and giving unwanted gear changes over rough ground, simple really. No wonder all the MTB'ers at our local DA swear by them. Its comforting to know that when I do go off road (its nominally a touring bike) I won't be getting the Shimano jump.
And lastly, after hours of tweaking brake rotors on my new Halfords bike, I gave up trying to stop the pads rubbing on the ever so slightly not flat new brake rotors. Pulling the pads out and giving them a good rub on a flat piece of sandpaper on the bench gave me enough clearance to stop the annoying noises albiet at a slight loss of brake life. It stopped the shriek from the front disc too.
I should have known really, tacking adjustments on your bike is all about knowledge, and knowledge and experience gives you confidence.
I am all set now. I hope that this encourages others to seek help from You Tube
Al