http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Today's most unsatisfactory and wholly rubbish bicycle maintenance en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:38:16 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=10#post-382898 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:39:09 +0000 Baldcyclist 382898@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Actually that did work. Just loosened the drive side that holds on the rear mech, and the thru axle just slid out. Panic opver, phew!! Visions of sweat and blood, and much expense over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=10#post-382896 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:35:38 +0000 Baldcyclist 382896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So, I thought I'd put my gravel bike on my indoor trainer instead of my road bike - for more comfiness on 2 hour training rides..</p> <p>So, took through axle out, realised bike wasnt going on trainer cos of the SRAM xplr groupset and need a different adapter.</p> <p>So put through axle back on, set torque wrench to 10Nm as prescribed. Now this is where stupidy/lack of nerves in hand/arm set in. I never fealt the click so kept tightening, and just as I thought, this feels quite tight the end on the through axle snapped. :/</p> <p>So how to I get that out now that it is overtightened?</p> <p>I'm hoping if I just undo the rear mech end to take the mech off that the whole lot will just come out the mech side - is there a fair chance of that happening? If not any ideas how to get it out? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=10#post-381491 Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:55:02 +0000 bakky 381491@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mandy, as in (loudly) “Hiya pal, you going out the night?”, and “Are you ma pal”?</p> <p>Was a frequent fixture on the 38 when I were small(er). Lovely, if intense. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=10#post-381490 Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:29:27 +0000 gembo 381490@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Memories of the 32 never complete without talk of Hearts Mandy. A woman of indeterminate age covered in badges linked to her support of her beloved HMFC. It was imperative NEVER to meet the eye of Hearts Mandy on any bus coming out of Muirhouse. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381479 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:12:32 +0000 Frenchy 381479@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The 400 is now the 18 again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381478 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:30:11 +0000 gembo 381478@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@morningsider your correction is gratefully received. [on my holidays so dont have my usual Gazzeteers and almanacs to hand] </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381476 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 22:06:16 +0000 Morningsider 381476@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo - think it was a 32, rather than a 36. Ran a circular route right round the city. It think one of the directions was changed to a number 52 in the late 80s/90s, so folk stopped getting the bus heading the wrong direction.</p> <p>The circle was eventually split in two and the 32/52 became the 18 and some other number (north Edinburgh buses a bit of a mystery to me). That then became the 400.</p> <p>Used to get the 32 early doors to get to weekend jobs many years ago. Saw it all - bloke waving a machete about, a paralytic women huckled off by the police, fella taking a dump up the back of the top deck, several folk heaving their guts up, a guy with world's worst BO. Come to think of it, no wonder I cycle everywhere. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381475 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 21:05:20 +0000 gembo 381475@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bakky, no i dont advise going back in time and trying to get the 38 to work. It never linked with the 44 when i tried to go to muirhouse from Balerno, and I never even considered rhe 36/400 as it was also unreliable but also mental. 38 well heeled as went to Blackhall. Just sayin LBC as was, would stress there were options for your winching. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381474 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:28:14 +0000 bakky 381474@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo aye from Liberton I could have done a 38 across to join the 44 at Slateford but it wasn’t timely or often enough for a young fool to rely on!</p> <p>@chdot my sarcastic questions there of course to make light of me being daft rather than quality of assistance - as Andy Rutherford put it (who lent me a peg spanner for crankset disassembly) pedals a mistake you will make once and learn from! I was also glad to manage to track down my crank puller in the garage void, which I used once back in my student days and have never needed since. Good confidence building session today all in all. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381473 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:48:26 +0000 gembo 381473@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In 2002 the 400 bus was known as the 36 did a wee circuit from Muirhouse to Westerhailles to Craigmillar then leith and back to Muirhouse - basically a bus up to the route then the 44 from Gillespies so not ideal but not into town then back out, Ran every half hour. Quite lively bus. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381471 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:02:17 +0000 chdot 381471@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Did you know pedals come as a dedicated right/left pair?”</p> <p>Yes</p> <p>I assumed you did so didn’t ask ‘you know about L&amp;R?’</p> <p>“Did you know there are often notches on the left pedal’s spanner flats to indicate it’s left?”</p> <p>Yes</p> <p>BUT</p> <p><em>Uusually</em> both pedals are lettered OR NEITHER!</p> <p>Thank you for reminding me to not assume what people know. </p> <p>I used to do basic bike checks. </p> <p>Always make sure tyres are blown up and seat appropriate height. Also make sure gears and brakes work ‘properly’</p> <p>I remember doing a session in Victoria Park and doing the basics on one person’s bike (definitely blew up the tyres and made sure levers were comfortable for owner.)</p> <p> “Feels like a new bike.” </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381470 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:33:43 +0000 bakky 381470@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo in 2002 I was on a neon Apollo BSO and nowhere near roads for the most part - and the 400 didn’t exist (or if it did, boy did I miss out on a time saver). </p> <p>Maintenance wins; now running the new 52 outer with the old (actually) 38 inner ring; all went well. Maintenance plot twist; if you look closely in my ‘success kid’ photo below you will note the pedal manufacturers logo is readable from in front of the bike, which yes is a telltale sign that not only did I misdiagnose ‘bad cranks guv’ due to fitting the replacement pedals the wrong way round, I also did so on the new cranks as well. Did you know pedals come as a dedicated right/left pair? Did you know there are often notches on the left pedal’s spanner flats to indicate it’s left? Did you know the logo can be an indicator of which is which? Today, I learned many things, including all that. </p> <p><a href="https://freeimage.host/i/Kj9Qfta"><img src="https://iili.io/Kj9Qfta.md.jpg"></a></p> <p>Time will tell whether I end up in trouble for my sins against the threads on these and/or the old cranks; I have made adjustments to the hanger mech for the first time so I can smoothly change between chainrings again, and put the pedals on their correct sides, and all running nicely now. Cheers for the assist! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381468 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:38:50 +0000 gembo 381468@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes I only go down that way @wingpig, preferring the flat way to the Big Puddle as featured in my award winning Spokes entry [oh wait, judging still ongoing?] Ravelrig Road or Heart attack Hill being the steep one up from the Long Dalmahoy to Balerno. In way outside the bypass news if you ever find yourself in Andalusia do not return to Malaga from Almogia on the road signposted Malaga It is so steep ~20% that Fast Dave’s dad had to actually stand up. It also goes on a long time [take the road that isn’t signposted for Malaga as it goes back to Malaga too]. However, if you ever find yourself in Malaga do take the Barrancos de Sol Valley to Villanueva de la Concepcion. Nice ramps. Bit steep at the top near the town but then after that, heading down to Almogia the road surface is brand new. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381467 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:30:13 +0000 wingpig 381467@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I rarely leave my 42t middle chainring, even when going round Arthur's Seat or up to Balerno, unless I deliberately go up a daft steep road like Calton Hill/Ramsey Gardens/Kaimes, or outside-the-bypass Steep Dalmahoy Road or the one which leads up from the WoL to the big puddle. When Sora changed to 9 sprockets rather than 8 is reduced the occasional noticeable ratio gaps (such as going anticlockwise round the NEPN on the way to work at ~17mph, which never felt quite right with some cassettes), though I tend to just buy whichever roughly 11ish to 28ish cassettes are on sale whenever I stock up thereon. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381465 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:17:52 +0000 gembo 381465@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You should have cycled the contour or caught the 400 circular? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381464 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:04:37 +0000 MediumDave 381464@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Check the BB spindle as whaling on the pedals may have bent that too. As well as general wear and tear. I'm assuming it's cup and cone. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381463 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:50:36 +0000 bakky 381463@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I spent too many long hours taking a bus from Liberton into town, and out again to Balerno where my now missus stayed when courting — from when we were both 15 onwards — to be anything other than uncharitable about its proximity to what I consider Edinburgh :)</p> <p>We are mid-fun-times over here: </p> <p><a href="https://freeimage.host/i/KhmNXoJ"><img src="https://iili.io/KhmNXoJ.md.jpg"></a></p> <p>Current plan is old rings, new arms </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381462 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:32:51 +0000 gembo 381462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bits of Balerno are higher but not within the bypass. Though that is a somewhat arbitrary definition of City Limits. Willie Melvin need not apply. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381457 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:27:13 +0000 bakky 381457@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ejstubbs depending on the monumental stone - we're probably equidistant from each of the local ones! I'll PM.</p> <p>@chdot it's always fascinating when I venture into maintenance / tinkering how much variety and also change over time there is around this stuff. Every day's a school day! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381456 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:11:08 +0000 ejstubbs 381456@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bakky: <em>Fairmilehead - and the hilliest bit of Fairmilehead too!</em></p> <p>Sounds like you and I must be near neighbours. Reasonably adjacent to the monumental stone? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381454 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:41:35 +0000 chdot 381454@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>makes hills harder</p> <p>Though of course u may be fit/strong enough not to notice…</p> <p>It’s all relative </p> <p>There was a time when 52/49 was normal and largest cog on the back might be 24!</p> <p>That was partly/largely because of ‘racing’. </p> <p>Another normal for basic bikes was single speed or a Sturmey 3 speed. </p> <p>Then there were touring bikes with 10T difference on doubles on the front and maybe 28T on the back. Triple chainsets were rare/exotic/‘only’ for people with lots of luggage/camping gear. </p> <p>Then came Mountain Bikes, commonly with 48/38/28 on the front and 30, 32 or 34 on the back. </p> <p>Now a new normal is s single chainring and many sprockets on the back with a massive range. </p> <p>As long as I can cycle from the bottom of Dundas Street to the top of The Mound without standing on the pedals, then my bottom gear is low enough… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381453 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:40:32 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 381453@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah, thought you were maybe the inhabitant of Bavelaw Castle :)</p> <p>Exponential Hill on dodgy pedals would be a struggle... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381452 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:30:34 +0000 bakky 381452@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Within the bypass. Fairmilehead - and the hilliest bit of Fairmilehead too! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381451 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:24:43 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 381451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>5x/40 slightly harder on hills than 5x/39.</p> <p>'highest (joint) elevation in the city limits'</p> <p>What's your definition of city limits? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381450 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:08:49 +0000 bakky 381450@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, at the risk of outing myself as an eejit — at least, any more than my writing usually does! — I felt a pedal was askew and believe the bike may have had a tumble at the hands of a wean and bent a pedal out of alignment. At least, that was my guess. </p> <p>On inspection:<br /> <a href="https://freeimage.host/i/KhvJi42"><img src="https://iili.io/KhvJi42.md.jpg"></a></p> <p>The other pedal wasn’t feeling quite right either. I resolved to bending this back to perpendicular with a rubber mallet, thinking new pedals would be the backup plan; this pedal then sheared off during light testing about 3cm up the spindle. </p> <p>Upon fitting new pedals, they are all squirrely and clearly not aligned right, leading me to believe my percussive maintenance has bent cranks / receiving thread out of whack. Hence purchase of new cranks, though potentially I would get away with only changing arms rather than chainrings. </p> <p>When you mention 39 vs 42; a manual count of existing inner chainring gave me 40T, but I assumed I was off by one when I read 53/39 was a common spec. Would I notice this because it makes hills harder, or easier? Topographically we have chosen to live in the highest (joint) elevation in the city limits, clever us. I’m sure if I thought hard enough about this I could work that out but my brain is mush. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381449 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:13:10 +0000 chdot 381449@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well</p> <p>Unclear what’s actually broken.</p> <p>Very unlikely to notice difference between 53 and 52</p> <p>Quite likely to feel different between 42 and 39 (unless you are going somewhere fairly flat).</p> <p>All rings 130mm BCD (common ‘road’ size) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381448 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 23:11:17 +0000 bakky 381448@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(Additional context; we need the runaboot roadworthy for a holiday away soon; so whatever the path of least resistance is, likely to take it. Youtube tells me I can disassemble the crankset and potentially use the old chainrings and new cranks, saving any lengthening / shortening chain maths and other gear enwranglement…) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-381446 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:50:29 +0000 bakky 381446@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For diagnostically failure-ridden reasons, I am needing to replace the crankset on my acoustic runaboot bicycle. I have bought a second hand replacement matching part numbers only, and as it turns out I am facing down replacing a (damaged) Shimano 170mm FC-1056 53/39T with a newly arrived Shimano 170mm FC-1056 with 52/42T instead. </p> <p>My two questions are; is this differing number of teeth a) even compatible? and b) likely to feel significantly different / be a significant disadvantage vs. what I already had there. </p> <p>In case it’s not obvious, I’m fairly green, but also armed with a decent torque wrench. I’m like a dog with access the internet and a fake ID; with sufficient support and encouragement I can get a surprising amount done, but not sufficiently trained to go it alone in spite of having the necessary tools. Thanks in advance. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-380321 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:16:03 +0000 the canuck 380321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, I was quite shocked to see that. I never use the throttle purely because I manage without and can't be arsed, although I can see how it would be handy on a hill start.<br /> It's quite frustrating, as there was nothing in the materials (which I read extensively) to see that it would be classed as anything but an e-bike. It almost feels like false advertising. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19434&page=9#post-380319 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:27:36 +0000 Morningsider 380319@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Think it is fair to say that you cannot tell the difference between an EAPC and a moped just by looking at them.</p> <p>Obviously, any bike rolling uphill without any pedalling is suspicious (and possibly a motorbike, rather than a moped). Did I mention the three different motorbike categories... </p>