New bike and a schoolboy error

[007]

OK, so I got the new Raleigh road bike today. Happy days.

Its light - hugs the roads - going up hills seems at times effortless, getting used to the 105 gear system, never used anything quite like it before. it took me while to find out how to shift up, but Ok now LOL.

I took it out for a lunchtime blast for 10 miles, good to have the drops to choose from. Still a few rides required to get used it though, had to stop at times to arse about with the saddle height but its Ok now.

The outlay of cash really never stops with cycling .... ever.

I had to buy a minipump to use as my current contraption was not presta compatible, and of course I need some spare tubes. After some hassle from home I bought a helmet as well - the thread about the lad smashing the car windscreen with his head this week on this forum, perhaps made buying a helmet a bit easier though.

So lunchtime was my first ride in total lycra,helmet, oakleys - I fely extremely self conscious leaving the house, but once out and round the streets no-one batted an eyelid. I expected pointing and staring, but really no-one paid a second glance.

I have however, made a complete cock up with my floor pump. I am unused to presta valves. I have a Bontrager Charge floor pump - I fired some air into the front wheel - I dont know what I did but I have ended up ripping the head off (fnar fnar) the valve. Bizarrely, it is holding air, but the important parts of the valve are gone which means I cannot deflate or inflate.

How do I force a deflation of the tube? Saw the head off the valve or similar?

I was extremely careful with the back tyre, and have successfully inflated it to 110 psi. I need to be more careful in future.

All in all, the maiden voyage on the bike was impressive. I rode into a headwind on the way back which was unexpected, but having the drops makes it easier. Gear changes are not smooth all the time, teething problems no doubt. I came into a set of traffic lights which were just switching to green, this leads to a fairly long descent, the bike really came into its own at that point, it absolutely whipped along - all good. I smiled the smile of a maniac at that point!

The end of the trip was a success as well. A long flat straight with a tail wind, was able to get some speed - effortless speed on blissful smooth tarmac.

Looking forward to the next trip.

 

[Globalti]

Oh dear me, you're obviously an addict already. Hand your wallet over to your wife/GF/Mum for safe keeping NOW.

On the gear changes, take some time to appreciate how the gears work, maybe you can hang the bike up somewhere and stand alongside operating the gears while turning the cranks? With any gearing system, ease off the pressure on the pedals for a second while the chain is shifting. If the chain rattles or the gears start "hunting" from cog to cog it's time to adjust the cable, which you can do by unscrewing the adjuster at the cable end on the rear derailleur. Usually your cables will stretch and settle a little so a bit of slack will need taking out.

You need to carry at least a spare inner tube in your pocket when out and about, so buy two spares now. Unwrap one and pushing down the little screw thingy with your front teeth suck all the air out then roll it up tight, suck again, roll again until you have a solid coil of rubber. Tape this up really tight with two tyre levers and keep it with your riding kit.

Use the second tube to replace the one you broke. Push the broken off end of the screw thingy in with a sharp tool to release the air. Remove the old tube. Sprinkle talc all over the new one and the tyre bead. Fit the tyre while marvelling at the lubricating effect of talc on sticky new rubber. When inflating, unscrew the little thingy all the way then push the pump head over it and push the lever to 90 degrees to lock it in position. Pump a little, check the tyre is seated then pump up to 110 lbs while cringeing and hoping it doesn't go bang. Do this with the valve at the top of the wheel pointing downwards so that when you come to remove the pump head you can release the lever and pull the head off downwards with a sharp tug and a blast of air.

Don cycle kit and ride like hell.

 

[007]

Globalti - thanks for taking the time to write an extremely informative reply, I appreciate it *doffs cap*.

I will take a pair of pliers or similar to this botched valve. I have 2 spare inner tubes, now where is that talc? Raging with myself for being so cack handed with such a thing of beauty.

I will check out the gears as well - indeed, there is something to be gained by standing watching, admiring how the gearing works, and how to fix it.

Thinking about it, I had the valve pointing downwards on the dodgy inflation, when 110 was hit, I must have twisted the pump off. Ah well - live and learn..

 

[Davidc]

The valve part of a Presta valve is screwed in. If you grasp the metal just below the screw up bit with a pair of pliers - snub nose preferably - and unscrew that from the body you should be able to get the business part out.

If you keep the tube and the valve casing which is attached to it you should be able to transfer the valve from a future written-off tube into it. If you can keep the rubber seal between the valve and casing as well (tape it to the casing).

Next time you're at the lbs get a Schrader to Presta adapter to keep in your kit. Then you can use any pump including garage forecourt and 12v car electric pumps.

 

[007]

Thanks, and I will try that. A schrader to presta adapter you say. I will get one of those for sure, a great addition to my (growing) toolkit....

 

[Globalti]

I've learned something about Presta valves from Davidc there.

007, you are clearly a mechanical romantic, I recommend that you try to get a copy of Robert M Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It says on the cover "This book will change the way you feel about life" and it's not wrong; if you can wade through the philosophy bits to the motorcycle maintenance bits you will learn about the beauty of machinery, about quality, about doing quality work and not entrusting your machine to a slapdash so-called professional, about stuckness when one tiny stuck component frustrates the whole job, about respect for the designer who created your machine and respect for the precision parts that comprise that machine.