Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Redid mirror on recumbent as the shim had managed to slip and I needed to redo zip tie.
What Have You Fettled Today?
- Thread starter threebikesmcginty
- Start date
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Fitted a hollow axle and serviced front hub for the third time this week 
Found a spare can of VW silver paint that's a perfect match for the frame and touched up a few chips and scratches.
Nicked some pedals off one of my other bikes, tweaked the brakes and preload on the headset again and finally got to ride the new addition (Gary Fisher hybrid)
It feels way more mountain bikey than the tourer I was hoping for, but pretty fast never the less.
Wouldn't be surprised if I finish this build and move all the parts onto a different frame
Found a spare can of VW silver paint that's a perfect match for the frame and touched up a few chips and scratches.
Nicked some pedals off one of my other bikes, tweaked the brakes and preload on the headset again and finally got to ride the new addition (Gary Fisher hybrid)
It feels way more mountain bikey than the tourer I was hoping for, but pretty fast never the less.
Wouldn't be surprised if I finish this build and move all the parts onto a different frame
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DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
Having just renovated the Scott roadie with bits from the decommissioned mixte, I'm about to rob them off again for the newly acquired Trek Navigator! If the Scott could talk, I'm sure it would say, "What, again?"Wouldn't be surprised if I finish this build and move all the parts onto a different frame
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What plans do you have for the Navigator?Having just renovated the Scott roadie with bits from the decommissioned mixte, I'm about to rob them off again for the newly acquired Trek Navigator! If the Scoitt could talk, I'm sure it would say, "What, again?"
DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
GeekDadZoid
Über Member
Been at our with the family today so no fettling but some good prep managed. One my mystery Dawes build the frame painting is coming along well ( No where near perfect ) and I am just waiting on some more stickers before the top coat goes on.
I I've been thinking about the rebuild and wanted to do it as cheap as possible but build a usable bike. Most of the parts I stripped of can be cleaned and reused, I have some bar end shifters and a nice saddle. But the original wheels are not in nice condition. I have the wheels from the carlton strip down, but I need to stick new tyres on them. However for £30 today I have managed to win a Dawes Lightning from the same area, but most importantly with very nice looking wheels and brand new tyres, additionally it's a few miles away.
Frame colour scheme.
I I've been thinking about the rebuild and wanted to do it as cheap as possible but build a usable bike. Most of the parts I stripped of can be cleaned and reused, I have some bar end shifters and a nice saddle. But the original wheels are not in nice condition. I have the wheels from the carlton strip down, but I need to stick new tyres on them. However for £30 today I have managed to win a Dawes Lightning from the same area, but most importantly with very nice looking wheels and brand new tyres, additionally it's a few miles away.
Frame colour scheme.
I work in a Fire Station with quite a lot of crew that travel a long way to work so they stay at the station between shifts.
To help with their mental health I wanted them to have something productive to do so I've donated a few bikes for them to ride.
This is the 4th and final member of the fleet, a classic Malvern Star ladies step through, late 70's/early 80's I think.
Before:
After:
The perished 27 x 1 1/4 tyres got replaced with a set of Michelin World Tour gumwalls (that I think look great) with new tubes.
The mudguards went, new brake cables and shifter cable went on, and the old steel seat post was replaced with an alloy one.
A new chain of the correct length also went on.
The best improvement was alloy brakes (Weinmann rear, Lee Chi front) replacing the awful steel originals.
I had the brakes, tyres and seat post spare so total cost was $90- the bike was $25 and parts $65.
There's a real sense of satisfaction in taking a bike that just needed a little love and giving it a purpose.
To help with their mental health I wanted them to have something productive to do so I've donated a few bikes for them to ride.
This is the 4th and final member of the fleet, a classic Malvern Star ladies step through, late 70's/early 80's I think.
Before:
After:
The perished 27 x 1 1/4 tyres got replaced with a set of Michelin World Tour gumwalls (that I think look great) with new tubes.
The mudguards went, new brake cables and shifter cable went on, and the old steel seat post was replaced with an alloy one.
A new chain of the correct length also went on.
The best improvement was alloy brakes (Weinmann rear, Lee Chi front) replacing the awful steel originals.
I had the brakes, tyres and seat post spare so total cost was $90- the bike was $25 and parts $65.
There's a real sense of satisfaction in taking a bike that just needed a little love and giving it a purpose.
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
Fitted new legs to our small kitchen cabinet today, the cabinet's about twelve year old and I'd noticed that the plastic legs were knackered when we had it out a few weeks ago, I got replacement legs from B & Q, I spent half of this morning emptying it and getting it out, if it wasn't for the fact that having a clear out would probably cause a family rift and a divorce I'd take half the contents down the local charity shop, I spent half the morning replacing the legs, not a difficult job, and then half the afternoon putting it back, getting it level and lined up with the rest of the other cabinets, that was a pain in the a**e, but its all back now, I've just got to put the stuff back.
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Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Moved rear brake lever and bell on recumbent and moved handlebars ever so slightly left to hopefully better centre them. Attached another bottle cage to wife’s bike and also moved her saddle up about 1/2 cm. Recumbent test ride of new setup tomorrow
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Realised the brakes on the touring/commuting bike were nearly hitting the drops when I braked, so I tightened them up quickly.
Then I loosened them again a few metres later because I felt like I was suddenly riding uphill. It turns out that allowing brakes to release is also a good idea.
Then I loosened them again a few metres later because I felt like I was suddenly riding uphill. It turns out that allowing brakes to release is also a good idea.
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I've never got on with bar ends but today I borrowed some and tried them out on the hybrid, mounted on the inside of the shifters. I'm pleased with the increased reach and my hybrid to tourer build is back on track.
Yesterday I polished up some 80's Suntour platform pedals. I've ridden exclusively on 26" wheels for just over two years now but I'm preparing to let the Dawes Countryman go, it's the comfiest ride for country lanes and great for bikepacking but I've been struggling to keep up with friends on the road sections. Tonight I'll drag the bike indoors, dote on it a little while longer and polish up the concave rims.
Yesterday I polished up some 80's Suntour platform pedals. I've ridden exclusively on 26" wheels for just over two years now but I'm preparing to let the Dawes Countryman go, it's the comfiest ride for country lanes and great for bikepacking but I've been struggling to keep up with friends on the road sections. Tonight I'll drag the bike indoors, dote on it a little while longer and polish up the concave rims.
GeekDadZoid
Über Member
Failed fettle, the Dawes Lightning turned out to be a 26 inch wheel version. To be fair to the seller they where quite clear they where not sure what they had, but had put in it was 27 inch wheels.
Hey ho, listed on a few Facebook groups to see if anyone wants it for a project for a teen / smaller adult. If noone wants it at the £25 I paid for it I might look at building a cycle speedway / "tracker?".
On the plus point finished swapping the tyres onto Mrs GDZ's bike and got the brakes setup.
Also took the kickstand off my GT as it was a bit dodgy, need to clean it up and refit.
Hey ho, listed on a few Facebook groups to see if anyone wants it for a project for a teen / smaller adult. If noone wants it at the £25 I paid for it I might look at building a cycle speedway / "tracker?".
On the plus point finished swapping the tyres onto Mrs GDZ's bike and got the brakes setup.
Also took the kickstand off my GT as it was a bit dodgy, need to clean it up and refit.
