Bicyclettes

[seenmy]

ok so i need to remove a chain link or 2 to acomodate my new chainring anyone know a good step by step tutorial online pictures preferable so i dont cause my chain any damage.

thanks

[vee_dub]

ok so i need to remove a chain link or 2 to acomodate my new chainring anyone know a good step by step tutorial online pictures preferable so i dont cause my chain any damage.

thanks

Does it have the master link??? Mine one all I need is a screw driver and push the clip out and take off the master link...and the chain wil come off. Then use a chainbreaker thingo to take off the two pin.....all u need is patient....It can get messy if u take off too many link and require to put it back on.

[seenmy]

ok i think ive done it im not sure bout the master link i ened up not popping it as i didnt know how to pop it with a screw driver and knew id end up just fucking it i just popped the rivents with chain braek took a few out and then pushed it back together with the chain tool?im guessing this is right yea?

i know this is probably basic shit so i apologise for asking i just really dont want to cause myself a accident by fucking something like this up

[mlproject]

sounds like you did it right. the main thing to remember when using a chain tool is to make sure the pin stays in the last plate when you're breaking a link. otherwise it is next to impossible to get it back through if you pop it all the way out.

can wait to see the film. been hearing tons of good stuff about it. i'm glad the soundtrack changed because that mall song sucks a pair of big hairy nuts.

[canice]

those photos of the mash premiere is quite a scene...

going out for century now. hopefully i don't die!

[seenmy]

yea i found that out lol but lukily had room to remove another,i just ended up getting really fuked off with it a link i didnt touch seems to have gone stiff now and i cant for the life of me get the hang of sorting my tension,im gonna drop in to the shop tomo with it get somone to give it a quick look if i have to pay so be it,i really want to get the hang of all this just wish i had another friend who rides fixed or even rides that could help me out i hate relying on the bike store but i dont trust myself yet.

[equip555]

Maybe im not searching hard enough, but does anyone know where I can get handlebar tape in purple or violet (plain color)..I prefer the gel. I found some but it was cork.

I'm finally getting around to customizing a bike....last summer i ran into so many problems, so im starting

[vee_dub]

Maybe im not searching hard enough, but does anyone know where I can get handlebar tape in purple or violet (plain color)..I prefer the gel. I found some but it was cork.

I'm finally getting around to customizing a bike....last summer i ran into so many problems, so im starting

Cinelli sells the gel one I think....good luck tho.

I hate gel and cork I really love Cloth or leather....its preference hehe I am completely opposite.

[vee_dub]

yea i found that out lol but lukily had room to remove another,i just ended up getting really fuked off with it a link i didnt touch seems to have gone stiff now and i cant for the life of me get the hang of sorting my tension,im gonna drop in to the shop tomo with it get somone to give it a quick look if i have to pay so be it,i really want to get the hang of all this just wish i had another friend who rides fixed or even rides that could help me out i hate relying on the bike store but i dont trust myself yet.

Trial and Error I guess....I test the chain tension I like. Chain tension aint a issue as long as the chain wont pop off and not too tight to blind. Shop will do it for free once u get something from them. Good luck.

[seenmy]

yea they are good at the store,i went to get my chainring tools today,topped up my tyre pressure and somhow tore valve so they replaced my tube for free,when i get back home im gonna do a matinence course so i can do all my own stuff,got lot customising to get done on the pista this summer.

high on the list is a respray,decals are annoying and also scream steal me.im hoping mash has a showing here durng the bike festival.be great to see it on big screen

[Loop]

the main thing to remember when using a chain tool is to make sure the pin stays in the last plate when you're breaking a link. otherwise it is next to impossible to get it back through if you pop it all the way out.

I wouldn't say that, I've done it enough times (and if I can do it, anyone can!).

wish i had another friend who rides fixed or even rides that could help me out i hate relying on the bike store but i dont trust myself yet.

I'd drop by and give you a hand but Brighton is a bit of a trek from South Wales!

when i get back home im gonna do a matinence course so i can do all my own stuff,got lot customising to get done on the pista this summer.

There's a good guide to respraying at Instructables.com (it's here).

You should pick up of a copy of the Haynes Bike Book (they're the same people who make all those mainteniance books for cars). Ebay have got a few, here's one. Whenever you buy a bike book there's always be a load of information that's not applicable to you and it'll almost certianly already be out of date. It's just one of those things and at least you get to have a laugh at what they're wearing.

There's quite a lot of useful, free infomation out there, try sites like bikemagic.com and don't be afraid to ask. The one golden rule I can think of is never hit the spanner with a hammer.

[seenmy]

thanks for the advice i just taken it out for a littlee spin new gearing feels great after riding 48 on the front,il get chain right at the shop tomo,re spray wise im gonna try get a car respray place to do it pay the money and get it done well,need to enquire bout getting a good clear coat and decide on a colour im gona be happy with for a good while.

im loving the freedom of riding again.

[vee_dub]

Powdercoat would be good for bikeee...would cost the same as car respray place.

have you been to the DIY resources on bikesforum.net? Extremely useful i just recently recondition and repack my BBs ..

Good Luck seenmy...

[seenmy]

cheers im gonna check out bike forums i need to get in to it a bit more, just such a noob at the min, so im just trying to build up basic understandings etc so i can take in what iread but not let it form my sole opinions,yeah guy at my bike store said to get powder coat also il have to find out bout where i can get it done near my parents.I think i must be the only person thats not down with the bianchi deacals on the pista lol

[vee_dub]

cheers im gonna check out bike forums i need to get in to it a bit more, just such a noob at the min, so im just trying to build up basic understandings etc so i can take in what iread but not let it form my sole opinions,yeah guy at my bike store said to get powder coat also il have to find out bout where i can get it done near my parents.I think i must be the only person thats not down with the bianchi deacals on the pista lol

you aint the only one rocking Bianchi pista decals...they aint bad u know.

[seenmy]

lol yea i think its just they make the bike generic and one things i love about fixies is the character of the bikes,plus with the fixed thing gettin bigger here thiefs will get to know this,having bianchi graphics on the bike makes it instantly recognisable to them as a 400+ bike where if its un branded its less of a temptation i guess.plus its just not in my nature to keep something stock

[vee_dub]

Took a photo down my local park just then...the raging bulll..

[equip555]

Thanks veedub, found em.

I should post pics up when im finished with the project.

gunmetal grey w/ purple highlights = sexy

[vee_dub]

Thanks veedub, found em.

I should post pics up when im finished with the project.

gunmetal grey w/ purple highlights = sexy

I am doing gunmetal w/ red highlight...heheeee..

my bike serously need some nicer paint job than the $2 spray can.

[mlproject]

you can use jasco to strip the clearcoat and decals off the bianchi. i'd keep the stays chrome and paint the rest. love that look!

[seenmy]

yea id still have to find out about gettin it recoated after stripping to take off decals as i live by the sea so salt air will destroy the chrome i think pretty quick if its not protected,but im quite keen on keeping it chrome for a while,

plans at min are to get a blue deep v for the back and ml im likely to bite your style on the selle from sachs il prob go red and red back tyre

[Loop]

You could try www.argoscycles.co.uk for a respray. They might a bit pricey but they've been around for a long time and have a very good reputation.

You can rub vaseline into the frame to help protect the chrome. I can't be 100% that it works but it seemed to and the person who told me got that tip from their grandfather who had a bike from the 1920's and the chrome was still in mint condition.

[seenmy]

thanks loop thats good advise,once i move in a few weeks im gonna get on to the respray/stripping research at the min ive got no space to go about it.ive got a mental pic of the bike in my mind now just got to achieve it now

[mlproject]

red saddle and tire would look pretty sick.

[equip555]

vee dum, check your local auto paint store. When I painted my bike last summer, I bought a can of glossy black for about $13 and it worked fairly well.

I First put a primer, then maybe 2-3 light coats. It looked like new.....and then while it was drying it FELL AND THE FRAME BENT- Lesson learned and back to the drawing board for me baby.

[vee_dub]

http://velospace.org/node/2984

seemy you might be interested of this....Bianchi Pista there are this picture when he use the paint stripper to take off the clearcoat and the sticker.

[seenmy]

thanks vee much appreciated again

[sonofran]

what would be a better deal:

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/bik/349081602.html

or

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/bik/349007278.html

or would it be cheaper if i were to build one on my own? if this would be the better way, how much should i be looking to spend on a vintage road bike?

$300 is pretty much all i want to go for my first project.

[mlproject]

if you only want to spend about $300, build it yourself so you can bargain search. if you bump your budget up to around $500, you'll be able to get better components the first time around rather than having to upgrade almost immediately.

both of the bikes you linked to tell you nothing about the components. know what you're buying - in bikes and life, you know. there are tons of "fixed gears" on the internet that are built improperly. the worst are people that just redish a rear road wheel and pop on a cog with no locring. when i first got into it, i got burned by this dude on ebay because i didn't do my research and ended up with a wheelset that was garbage.

fixed essentials - the rest comes down to personal preference and steez points:

1. wheelset: you must run at least a rear track hub. this will have two sets of stepped threads in opposing directions for your cog and locring. road hubs only have one set of threads for a freewheel. if you run the latter setup, you will spin off your cog and locring in trying to slow down/stop. recommendations: there are a lot of dudes on ebay selling a formula hub wheelset on either deep v's or open pros. these are all super solid wheelsets in the $150 neighborhood.

2. crankset: a lot of bikes i see will have older, shitty cottered cranksets. at least buy something with a modern spindle type crank in 130 or 144 bcd. aside from the crank being more reliable and much, much stiffer, rings for both of those are easy to find and replace as you try to find your ideal ratio. recommendations: old fluted campy strada road cranks, shimano 600 or rx100 road cranks, truvativ and other current cranks people take off their stock bianchi, sugino rd, and on the ultra cheap: bulletproof BMX cranks.

everything else you can pick to your liking, but it is essential that the drivetrain (which is ultimately your braking system as well) is built properly.

[jilla82]

Would anyone know why my back tire always goes on flat? Ive changed it 3 times in the past month (two times at a shop because I thought I was doing something wrong. But everytime I get it changed it always starts this slow leak after a few days of riding.

Im really starting to think someone is messing w/ me.