I came home from work today to an empty house so thought: "sod it, I'll get those tubes and tyres on".
Out to the garage to collect all the parts (thought I'd be brave and do it in the front room before Mrs Serge got home):
Do you think those tyre levers are going to be big enough?
As you can see, I also brought in the cassette on the off chance the initial fettling went to plan.
First job, fit the rim tape:
Almost as difficult as trying to fit into those cycling shorts I bought recently that were a size too small.
Next up, tubes and tyres (with countless thoughts at the back of my mind of how difficult Marathons are to get on):
Apart from pinging the tyre levers across the room on several occasions, it all went rather swimmingly.
As I'd been fairly successful (in other words: no blood had yet been spilled), I thought I may as well have a bash at fitting the cassette.
First job: take some photos in case it falls to bits when I cut the cable ties.
Quick swot up on YouTube then jump right in.
Blinking heck, I hope all the jobs are as easy as that. Literally just slide it on and tighten it up. At this rate I'll soon be experienced enough to get a job at Halford's.
Finally, the QR skewers.
The only slight fly in the ointment is one is black and the other is chromed. I'm not sure how much that is going to annoy me. Hay ho, as long as the buggers don't fall off, I guess I can live with it.
I'm pretty chuffed with my first fettle (now cue all the replies pointing out which bits I've put on backwards).
The frame should be ready for collection on Friday and, according to Amazon, the headset bearings are in transit. So the build should soon be progressing apace.
My tentative plan is to get it all up and running by Saturday the 8th of September so things can bed in and be adjusted as necessary before the big day (cables, gears, spokes, etc.).
So, roughly three weeks from the time I get the frame to when I get a sparkling new bike. No pressure!
Out to the garage to collect all the parts (thought I'd be brave and do it in the front room before Mrs Serge got home):
Do you think those tyre levers are going to be big enough?
As you can see, I also brought in the cassette on the off chance the initial fettling went to plan.
First job, fit the rim tape:
Almost as difficult as trying to fit into those cycling shorts I bought recently that were a size too small.
Next up, tubes and tyres (with countless thoughts at the back of my mind of how difficult Marathons are to get on):
Apart from pinging the tyre levers across the room on several occasions, it all went rather swimmingly.
As I'd been fairly successful (in other words: no blood had yet been spilled), I thought I may as well have a bash at fitting the cassette.
First job: take some photos in case it falls to bits when I cut the cable ties.
Quick swot up on YouTube then jump right in.
Blinking heck, I hope all the jobs are as easy as that. Literally just slide it on and tighten it up. At this rate I'll soon be experienced enough to get a job at Halford's.
Finally, the QR skewers.
The only slight fly in the ointment is one is black and the other is chromed. I'm not sure how much that is going to annoy me. Hay ho, as long as the buggers don't fall off, I guess I can live with it.
I'm pretty chuffed with my first fettle (now cue all the replies pointing out which bits I've put on backwards).
The frame should be ready for collection on Friday and, according to Amazon, the headset bearings are in transit. So the build should soon be progressing apace.
My tentative plan is to get it all up and running by Saturday the 8th of September so things can bed in and be adjusted as necessary before the big day (cables, gears, spokes, etc.).
So, roughly three weeks from the time I get the frame to when I get a sparkling new bike. No pressure!
- it really makes a difference!
