Overhaulin'...Advice and Experience Please.

[standard-issue]

Just bought my first road bike, second hand, the frame and fork are in perfect working order, just had new wheels along with parts of the drive system, however it is in need of a good fettle, de-grease, clean, re-grease and re-build.

as the frame (Marin by Dedacciai) has a "less desirable" paint job (colour wise) i'm planning to get it re-sprayed, while the frame is in the shop i see this as a great opourtunity to replace cables, chain etc that are 3 years old, and give everything a damn thourough clean.

Coming from BMX I know exactly what to look for there but as a new "Roadie" I don't have a clue as to whats the best, whats useable and what should be avoided.

So if anyone can advise me as to what chain, cables, bar tape and lubes/degreasers to use, from experience i'd be greatly appreciative.

(I've already been pointed towards 'Jagwire' cables, anybody experienced these?)

Thanks

 

[llllllll]

I like Sram chains, the Campag ones are expensive and Shimano ones need special pins to join them. Sram work perfectly well, price is reasonable and they come with the split link things so are very easy to assemble/take off next time.

I've never noticed much difference between cables and usually buy metre lengths from the LBS rather than brand name stuff. I've got Nokons on my good bike, but honestly they're not worth the bother of setting the damn things up.

Best bar tape is cork, the different brands all much of a muchness. Though it's worth checking if they've got a sticky strip down the back. Some of the big names (Profile to name one) don't. With is slightly easier to fit. Colours look pretty but they get dirty very quickly, so I stick with black.

 

[PpPete]

IThough it's worth checking if they've got a sticky strip down the back. Some of the big names (Profile to name one) don't. With is slightly easier to fit. .

I replaced bar tape for first time recently - used some nice Bontrager tape from LBS without any sticky (apart from the short bits for the hoods). No probs at all. LBS sold me sticky could easily get in a tangle - I'm inclined to agree. Also with no sticky it's easy to go back a few inches if your overlaps are not quite consistent.