New bike?

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Tim Jones" wrote in message
. au...
The reason he's says they're stuffed is that the levers (Shimano RTX)
move
in their housing, and NOT the way they're meant to. There is about 8mm
travel to the side in the right level and about 4mm in the left - this
is
movement when you grab the top of the lever (the pivot point) and push
it to
the side. I've taken them appart and can't see what is causing it, it
looks
like it all just doesn't fit together like it used to.

Are the levers easy to disassemble? What about some custom spacers
(washers) on the pivot "axle"?


I had a cursory look, and while it's easy to pull the front off, I could not
see how to full disasemble it.

I did go looking at bikes this morning however ;-)

I really like the 2004 Giant Yukon, which also comes in large frame sizes
(23" and 25").

Comes with mechanical disk breaks, deore gear up back, adjustable shocks for
around $700 and a nice matt black. An attractive solid bike for a couple of
hundred more than getting the old one repaired.

My fingers were getting itchy!

I'll keep you posted ;-)

Tim

"Tim Jones" wrote in message
. au...
I did go looking at bikes this morning however ;-)

Uh oh, here's trouble

I really like the 2004 Giant Yukon, which also comes in large frame
sizes
(23" and 25").

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ideal/giant2004.html

Looks quite nice except for those cranks. But real-life would
probably see them looking better. Black is good
Those RST forks look much nicer than the ones i just replaced
on my Avanti and the parts list sounds great. MTB's just keep
getting better for less money!

My fingers were getting itchy!
I'll keep you posted ;-)

Understandable!
Please do.

hipsta

"Tim Jones" wrote in message
. au...
I did go looking at bikes this morning however ;-)

Uh oh, here's trouble

I really like the 2004 Giant Yukon, which also comes in large frame
sizes
(23" and 25").

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ideal/giant2004.html

Looks quite nice except for those cranks. But real-life would
probably see them looking better. Black is good
Those RST forks look much nicer than the ones i just replaced
on my Avanti and the parts list sounds great. MTB's just keep
getting better for less money!

My fingers were getting itchy!
I'll keep you posted ;-)

Understandable!
Please do.

hipsta

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Tim Jones" wrote in message
. au...
I did go looking at bikes this morning however ;-)

Uh oh, here's trouble


You were right...

I really like the 2004 Giant Yukon, which also comes in large frame
sizes
(23" and 25").

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ideal/giant2004.html

Looks quite nice except for those cranks. But real-life would
probably see them looking better. Black is good
Those RST forks look much nicer than the ones i just replaced
on my Avanti and the parts list sounds great. MTB's just keep
getting better for less money!

My fingers were getting itchy!
I'll keep you posted ;-)

Understandable!
Please do.


The bike's getting delivered tomorrow for pickup - getting it with
reversable cleats shimano shoes and aluminium bar ends, for about 20% more
than getting my last bike repaired, shoes and cleats. Easily save that in
maintenance costs for the first year (no - I don't really service my own
bikes!)

Excited to go for a ride tomorrow now and see what I can do on a MTB
compared to a road bike!

Now all I have to do is decide what the hell I do with my old bike?

hipsta


Tim

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Tim Jones" wrote in message
. au...
I did go looking at bikes this morning however ;-)

Uh oh, here's trouble


You were right...

I really like the 2004 Giant Yukon, which also comes in large frame
sizes
(23" and 25").

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ideal/giant2004.html

Looks quite nice except for those cranks. But real-life would
probably see them looking better. Black is good
Those RST forks look much nicer than the ones i just replaced
on my Avanti and the parts list sounds great. MTB's just keep
getting better for less money!

My fingers were getting itchy!
I'll keep you posted ;-)

Understandable!
Please do.


The bike's getting delivered tomorrow for pickup - getting it with
reversable cleats shimano shoes and aluminium bar ends, for about 20% more
than getting my last bike repaired, shoes and cleats. Easily save that in
maintenance costs for the first year (no - I don't really service my own
bikes!)

Excited to go for a ride tomorrow now and see what I can do on a MTB
compared to a road bike!

Now all I have to do is decide what the hell I do with my old bike?

hipsta


Tim

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Tim Jones" wrote in message
news:3f460a2a$0$23585
You were right...

Of course ;-P

The bike's getting delivered tomorrow for pickup - getting it with
reversable cleats shimano shoes and aluminium bar ends, for about 20%
more

What are reversable cleats?


You have a regular pedal on one side, so you can ride with regular shoes if
you want to (so I can quickly head down to the shops without having to put
on other shoes).

than getting my last bike repaired, shoes and cleats. Easily save that
in
maintenance costs for the first year (no - I don't really service my own
bikes!)

Sounds like my first mtb. I am still riding it in 'near' original
condition,
but due to poor maintenance the driveline is STUFFED!
Clean your chain as often as possible and don't lube a dirty chain..
that's
all I've got to say about that.


Thanks - I'll keep that in mind. So you need a chain breaker to clean a
chain? Or can you clean it on the bike?

Excited to go for a ride tomorrow now and see what I can do on a MTB
compared to a road bike!

Well, from my experience, plenty more, just slower. There's wider range
for hard-to-learn skills to be developed. For example, rather than race
tactics, you'll wanna learn things like bunnyhopping, jumping stuff,
handling more varied terrain compared to a road bike. Im always
amazed at how quickly I land on the ground when riding off road! :-D
Just getting to know the bike and how it handles should be your first
priority. That and getting it set up correctly.


Not getting it in today :-(

Next week some time.

Now all I have to do is decide what the hell I do with my old bike?

Leave it as a spare/commuter, sell it here or Trading Post, etc.
Donate it to charity, donate it to a relative, etc, etc. I'd hang on
to it personally.

Have fun!

hip


Tim

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Tim Jones" wrote in message
news:3f460a2a$0$23585
You were right...

Of course ;-P

The bike's getting delivered tomorrow for pickup - getting it with
reversable cleats shimano shoes and aluminium bar ends, for about 20%
more

What are reversable cleats?


You have a regular pedal on one side, so you can ride with regular shoes if
you want to (so I can quickly head down to the shops without having to put
on other shoes).

than getting my last bike repaired, shoes and cleats. Easily save that
in
maintenance costs for the first year (no - I don't really service my own
bikes!)

Sounds like my first mtb. I am still riding it in 'near' original
condition,
but due to poor maintenance the driveline is STUFFED!
Clean your chain as often as possible and don't lube a dirty chain..
that's
all I've got to say about that.


Thanks - I'll keep that in mind. So you need a chain breaker to clean a
chain? Or can you clean it on the bike?

Excited to go for a ride tomorrow now and see what I can do on a MTB
compared to a road bike!

Well, from my experience, plenty more, just slower. There's wider range
for hard-to-learn skills to be developed. For example, rather than race
tactics, you'll wanna learn things like bunnyhopping, jumping stuff,
handling more varied terrain compared to a road bike. Im always
amazed at how quickly I land on the ground when riding off road! :-D
Just getting to know the bike and how it handles should be your first
priority. That and getting it set up correctly.


Not getting it in today :-(

Next week some time.

Now all I have to do is decide what the hell I do with my old bike?

Leave it as a spare/commuter, sell it here or Trading Post, etc.
Donate it to charity, donate it to a relative, etc, etc. I'd hang on
to it personally.

Have fun!

hip


Tim

Swear at They are fiddly and messy, the Sachs type breakable chain is
the way to go.

Jack Russell

Alternatively, you can get on-bike chain-cleaning tools -
complicated-looking contraptions made of clear plastic that have
little cogs and brushes, compartments for cleaning fluid, etc. I've
never used one though - they look too gimmicky. Anyone tried them?
Swear by or at them?

&roo

Swear at They are fiddly and messy, the Sachs type breakable chain is
the way to go.

Jack Russell

Alternatively, you can get on-bike chain-cleaning tools -
complicated-looking contraptions made of clear plastic that have
little cogs and brushes, compartments for cleaning fluid, etc. I've
never used one though - they look too gimmicky. Anyone tried them?
Swear by or at them?

&roo

IMHO you need to take it off the bike to clean it properly. This can
involve using a chain breaker (e.g. on Shimano chains) or simply opening
a special link by hand (e.g. on Wippermann chains, as I've just learnt
myself). Once removed, they say the easiest way to clean it is to drop
it into a Coke bottle, pour in some solvent (I've heard of both kero and
citrus-based degreaser being used), screw on the cap and shake it up.

Alternatively, you can get on-bike chain-cleaning tools -
complicated-looking contraptions made of clear plastic that have little
cogs and brushes, compartments for cleaning fluid, etc. I've never used
one though - they look too gimmicky. Anyone tried them? Swear by or at
them?


OK, here is a chain cleaning technique I heard about from another ng (you
are gonna love this!!!).

Soak your chain in cheap olive oil, and leave it sitting out somewhere like
a shed overnight. Rats will come along and lick it perfectly clean!

Note that I have not tested this out yet, but just loved the idea of it!
---
DFM