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Semi-Crumudgeon Post
Last Post 06/18/2013 09:15 PM by Nicholas Arenella. 10 Replies.
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Nick A

Posts:625

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06/16/2013 07:34 PM
It's more and more difficult, and less and less cost effective to keep even only a little older stuff going. My not that old 2007 ride has been through a bunch of chains, a couple cassettes, a set of brake pads. Then more recently I had to search high and low for a small chain ring. Now, my left Octalink crank arm got loose and "spun", I'm assuming having done damage to the arm. The stupid chain ring already cost about a third the cost of the whole set did originally. Also, the arm wasn't off anytime recently, and there really was no reason for it to have loosened. Nick
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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06/16/2013 09:01 PM
My semi-curmudgeon response: That's one reason I have been in no hurry to buy a new complete bike. Custom frames allow me to buy things like Sugino cranksets. (I haven't looked at their current road set-ups, but if I were getting a new road bike that would be a real consideration. The 75 Sugino on my new fixie is square taper, strong, accurate and beautifully made. Do I need more?

Nitto and Sugino have been getting larger percentages of my dollars recently. I suspecting I'll be thanking myself 10 years from now.

Ben
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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06/16/2013 09:34 PM
"Honey, my chain is worn out. I need to get a new bike. OK?"
"Oh sure dear. Happy Father's day"

(from an alternate universe)
Yo Mike

Posts:338

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06/17/2013 09:21 AM
Sorry for your misfortunes, Nick, but I cannot say I agree with your thesis. I see Dura Ace 10SP 39 tooth rings for $45-$60 (shipped) on eBay.

You CAN take comfort in the fact that the newest-bestest stuff can be easily had, albeit at absurd prices. This is why 2/3 of my 'fleet' are 9 speed.

' Also, the arm wasn't off anytime recently, and there really was no reason for it to have loosened."

Actually, there was a reason it loosened.
bobswire

Posts:304

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06/17/2013 10:37 AM
Posted By Michael Merva on 06/17/2013 09:21 AM
Sorry for your misfortunes, Nick, but I cannot say I agree with your thesis. I see Dura Ace 10SP 39 tooth rings for $45-$60 (shipped) on eBay.

You CAN take comfort in the fact that the newest-bestest stuff can be easily had, albeit at absurd prices. This is why 2/3 of my 'fleet' are 9 speed.

' Also, the arm wasn't off anytime recently, and there really was no reason for it to have loosened."

Actually, there was a reason it loosened.

I'm riding all retro friction nowadays 'cause they are relatively cheap and can mix and match 8,9 or 10 speed,campy.shimano or sram,last forever but mainly because I'm a retro grouch.
Nick your problem sounds more like your wrench not the component, Octalink is my go to set up and don't just come loose unless it was not lined up and seated to begin with.






79pmooney

Posts:3178

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06/17/2013 01:46 PM
Bobswire, slight thread drift here, but a serious question. What brand bar-end shifters do you use and where do you get them? My housemate has a '90s Bianchi cross bike with SunTour and index bar-ends. I haven't succeeded in getting the rear to friction shift and it doesn't shift very well using a SunRace FW. (And jumping through hoops to keep his bike adjusted properly isn't my thing and much farther from his thing! Mechanicals not being his bag at all.)

Thanks,

Ben
bobswire

Posts:304

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06/17/2013 02:19 PM
Posted By 79 pmooney on 06/17/2013 01:46 PM
Bobswire, slight thread drift here, but a serious question. What brand bar-end shifters do you use and where do you get them? My housemate has a '90s Bianchi cross bike with SunTour and index bar-ends. I haven't succeeded in getting the rear to friction shift and it doesn't shift very well using a SunRace FW. (And jumping through hoops to keep his bike adjusted properly isn't my thing and much farther from his thing! Mechanicals not being his bag at all.)

Thanks,

Ben

Ben on my Richman I use the old Suntour ratchet (friction) bar ends. At the time they were made for freewheels 5-6-7 speed but they work fine for 9 &10 speed cassettes, shift great.
Link HERE
On the Merckx I use the Simplex Retro Friction down tube,they also work great for 9-10 speed.
They come up every now and then on Ebay Here.
The Serotta I use the Silver shifters (Dia Compe) they can be found at Rivendell HERE
These all work under the same ratcheting system, are fool proof and last forever IMHO
I stay away from indexed,they don't shift well when switching from indexed to friction. Once you get used to friction there is no going back.

Cheers,

Nick A

Posts:625

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06/17/2013 07:45 PM
Had an Ultegra crankset, so the chainring price was relatively high by comparison. The cranks (put on by moi) had been ridden for many miles before this one loosened up. I've been doing my own bike stuff since Nuovo Record turned to Super Record, and although I've had to get home to tighten a "creaky" crank once or twice way back when, I NEVER had one just completely spin until yesterday. Oh well. It is what it is. Just have to gauge when it's time to start over rather than throwing good money after bad...

N
zootracer

Posts:833

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06/18/2013 01:43 AM
My 11 year old Master X-Light is nearly original accept for replacing the chain rings a few times, numerous chains, cassettes, brake pads, gear cable and housing, zillions of bar tape, rebuilt Ergos once, a couple sets of pedals, wheel rims, and so on. Stuff wears out or sometimes breaks, but a new Master goes for around 5K, which is why I keep my old steed up and running...wow, looking at all the stuff I've replaced, only thing original is the frame, cranks, bottom bracket, headset and front wheel (Mavic OP with Chorus hub)...so it ain't "nearly original"..My "A" bike is 6 years old and has had it's share of replacement parts..no new bike in the near future for me...
bobswire

Posts:304

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06/18/2013 11:18 AM
Posted By Nicholas Arenella on 06/17/2013 07:45 PM
Had an Ultegra crankset, so the chainring price was relatively high by comparison. The cranks (put on by moi) had been ridden for many miles before this one loosened up. I've been doing my own bike stuff since Nuovo Record turned to Super Record, and although I've had to get home to tighten a "creaky" crank once or twice way back when, I NEVER had one just completely spin until yesterday. Oh well. It is what it is. Just have to gauge when it's time to start over rather than throwing good money after bad...

N

Nick I'd love to see a pix of the crank arm female splines or bb male splines to see what failed.
Or was it the crank arm bolt that unscrewed itself?
Nick A

Posts:625

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06/18/2013 09:15 PM
So, to tell on myself, and get more into it. The bolt loosened. I cleverly thought that if I incredibly soft pedaled I could get a half a mile from the bike path to road for my wife to come get me...and then it spun. So... I was just surprised that it loosened in the first place, and then so quickly. I guess those octalinks have no tolerance. With a square taper, if you were gentle, you could milk it a little, and tighten it back up later. Right, now, since Sunday there are two cranks pointing south, and I'm too depressed to see what the damage was. I had to pedal with one leg for the last little bit. Ugh.

N
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