Welll this could be a bit of an epic - but;
I use a Carrera Vulcan MTB to commute on. I bought it new about 8 years ago and it has done around 200- 250 miles a year, until a year ago when I took up cycling seriously. Anyway recently it hasn't been changing gear properly and I took a day off today in solidarity with my children, so I decided to try and fix it.
As soon as I released the back wheel a ball bearing fell out - which mystified me a bit - my knowledge is fairly low though I want to learn. I took the quick release out, discovered it was bent, then realised the rear axle had snapped!
The bike has a megarange 7 speed freewheel and I checked my Halfords tool kit - no freewheel removal tool. I looked one up at Halfords £6.99 I was just away to leave the house when my wife said 'you see that picture on the computer, you're not going away to buy one are you?' Yes I am'Well there's one in a box in the utility room.' I didn't quite believe her, but sure enough there was - a Park Tools one even.
I got an axle from Halfords, 140mm instead of 145, but Sheldon Brown said it should work. It came with two bearing cages, and eventually I managed to put in some of the spacers from the old axle to fill it up. I was surprised at how basic the technology is - a straight through axle, supported by ball bearings in cups at each side and that's about it.
I then decided that the chain looked a bit worn. Edinburgh Bike had a Shimano 6/7/8 speed one for £6.99 so I got one of them. It came with a strange Shimano quick link - and could I join it? I eventually gave up and went back for a sram link. Whilst there I asked about workshop bookings and found they were right up to date, so I booked 3 wheels in to get trued - my 2 roadbike ones and my wifes MTB one.
By this time it was getting dark, and I eventually managed to get my bike back together - the gear cable was sticky, I vaselined it, the gears needed indexing, and the brakes were off - possibly because the spacing of the axle is different. So I got it all together decided to have a run to check it out - and the blooming chain is slipping - mainly in the highest gear, which is the one I have used most - so clearly the freewheel also needs replacing. I'll probably go for a 14-28, rather than the 14-34 I have at the moment.
So pretty much a whole day working at it, several trips to shops, over £20 spent plus however much it costs me for the wheels and it still isn't working! This cycling lark isn't entirely straightforward is it?
One consolation is how good the BB is. With the chain off it was very, very smooth so hopefully it will last for a while. The rear wheel also seems very smooth now, I must have done the cones reasonably well.
I use a Carrera Vulcan MTB to commute on. I bought it new about 8 years ago and it has done around 200- 250 miles a year, until a year ago when I took up cycling seriously. Anyway recently it hasn't been changing gear properly and I took a day off today in solidarity with my children, so I decided to try and fix it.
As soon as I released the back wheel a ball bearing fell out - which mystified me a bit - my knowledge is fairly low though I want to learn. I took the quick release out, discovered it was bent, then realised the rear axle had snapped!
The bike has a megarange 7 speed freewheel and I checked my Halfords tool kit - no freewheel removal tool. I looked one up at Halfords £6.99 I was just away to leave the house when my wife said 'you see that picture on the computer, you're not going away to buy one are you?' Yes I am'Well there's one in a box in the utility room.' I didn't quite believe her, but sure enough there was - a Park Tools one even.
I got an axle from Halfords, 140mm instead of 145, but Sheldon Brown said it should work. It came with two bearing cages, and eventually I managed to put in some of the spacers from the old axle to fill it up. I was surprised at how basic the technology is - a straight through axle, supported by ball bearings in cups at each side and that's about it.
I then decided that the chain looked a bit worn. Edinburgh Bike had a Shimano 6/7/8 speed one for £6.99 so I got one of them. It came with a strange Shimano quick link - and could I join it? I eventually gave up and went back for a sram link. Whilst there I asked about workshop bookings and found they were right up to date, so I booked 3 wheels in to get trued - my 2 roadbike ones and my wifes MTB one.
By this time it was getting dark, and I eventually managed to get my bike back together - the gear cable was sticky, I vaselined it, the gears needed indexing, and the brakes were off - possibly because the spacing of the axle is different. So I got it all together decided to have a run to check it out - and the blooming chain is slipping - mainly in the highest gear, which is the one I have used most - so clearly the freewheel also needs replacing. I'll probably go for a 14-28, rather than the 14-34 I have at the moment.
So pretty much a whole day working at it, several trips to shops, over £20 spent plus however much it costs me for the wheels and it still isn't working! This cycling lark isn't entirely straightforward is it?
One consolation is how good the BB is. With the chain off it was very, very smooth so hopefully it will last for a while. The rear wheel also seems very smooth now, I must have done the cones reasonably well.
