- The puncture -
So. I got the bike back. The photos he showed me shows a thorn on the inside sticking out and from the outside, it just looked like a bit of wood had gotten stuck between the treads. From the outside I would have never known there was a thorn. Especially not in the rain with all the muck and grit. So that's scary.
He said thorns are as hard as nails.
Many recommendations on here have been to rub your hand along the tire inside and out - but if there is something sharp, like a thorn or a shrapnel of glass, surely that would cut me?
- A new issue -
I now have a new issue since I got the bike back.
Took it for a decent ride, probably around 4 miles, and the 2nd gear makes a noise. 1st gear also but less so.
Why would it do this after just a bike clean and puncture repair?
I *think* it might be the chain rubbing against the front derailleur or might it be rubbing against the chainstay?
What is the fix?
I have photos I can include. Just charging my phone as the battery died when I went cycling. Once it's charged I will upload the pics.
Also my beautiful bike now has worn paint on the crank arm from my adidas trainers plastic logo rubbing against it :'(
What can I do to prevent this, as I am finding my feet just naturally want to stay closer to the crank arms?
Also there is slight damage to the paint on one of the chainstays - me cry. Probably from gravel getting kicked up.
Anything I can do to prevent more damage like this other than bike protection film?
- The rear brake -
My rear brake has made a squealing noise for a few weeks now. Loss of power too, which is no fun downhill.
I took it to The Canterbury Bike Project, where Steve removed the rear caliper is it called? Well the rear brake and removed the pads, sprayed them with disc brake cleaner, wiped, sanded them with sand paper, disc brake cleaner and final wipe.
Put them back in. He did all of this super fast. Maybe a bit too fast? Aka not done with enough inspection and care? IDK.
He did tell me that due to how wet the bike was, he couldn't tell anything about the brake. Such as if there was a leak of the hydraulic braking system or not within the caliper.
When I went it was pouring down with rain the whole day, so I couldn't tell if the brake was squealing or not as it doesn't squeal in the rain.
It still squeals after the bike wash today. Power loss is not as bad anymore, but I think there is a little power loss. Front brake seems a bit weird too. Like I can feel little ... IDK... bumps kinda when I use the front brake? No sounds from front of brake that are abnormal.
My LBS said £20, he would burn the pads and clean them that way.
Some research shows me that it wouldn't work. That if there is contamination of oil on the brake pads, they have to be replaced, as they are a porous material, and burning them burning them wouldn't remove all the oil... ever.
Steve from The Canterbury Bike Project (abbreviated to TCBP from now on) said pads should never be burnt as that breaks down the construction of them and they release carcinogenic fumes.
BTW, TCBP provide labor for free. They fit parts and accessories without charge. They are a charity organization that first and foremost provide kids with mechanical skills to fix bikes... I think that's what they do.
So the next step would be I believe to replace the rear brake pads, and he would just clean the rotor quickly with disc brake cleaner.
I would ask him to inspect to see if there is a slow oil leak happening in the caliper or not. IDK if he would do that, because I assume that would mean a lot of time of his would be used up? IDK.
So what is the correct solution? Also surely the rotors don't need replacing too do they?
Thank you kind people who spend time helping me. Your help is greatly appreciated