Pimp my commuter!
2wheelzgood
Posts: 373
Hi there, I am posting to try to get some advice as to what few bits I should spend my cash on...hope it's the right section. I had posted on anther esction but I think it was wrong...sorry.
Basically I own a 4 year old Dawes 301 hybrid which I have used year round to commute the 5 miles each way. At the moment I'm running specialised crossroads tyres as I like the grip in winter, bumping up curbs and sometimes use an off road shortcut.
I love the 700c wheels, the range of gears compared to other road bikes and the comfort.. I'm not much of a dropped bar road bike fan.. hehe. I like the style and ability (?) of those "urban mountain bikes" flat bars, big wheels, gears and fast as road bikes.. almost.
Anyway as I've used it in winter a fair bit, I want to spruce it up and make it excellent fun to cane all the traffic with again.
I hate the creaky adjustable stem.. but a brief look at what's availlable shows me DH style mega short stems, flat out ones, or 6 or 10 degree risers of about 1cm length. I have the adjustable one set at quite a high rise.. what's out there?
I'm unsure about a new handlebar- could be tempted by a light cheap one..
I'm thinkin I may have to get a riser (but not swept) bar anyway if i don't want an adjustable stem..
I will want a new seat but I think that'll be no problem to get - loads of choice.. I have a Commencal mtb with a cool SDG bel air seat on so may get another one if poss with more comfort.
I'll be getting new chain, chain rings and cassette to replace the originals. I saw somewhere that they were urging people to stock up on 8 speed spares as they are hard to come by these days? I find that hard to believe.
My front and rear mechs aren't great and in fact the indexing is never quite right, recently the front has stopped bring the chain onto the smallest ring everytime.. clogged mech or worn chain anc rungs I reckon.
Leeds is hillyish and I like to go through a valley in summer offroad on the way home.. But maybe 24 gears is too much.. Is it more economical to get fewer gears and can my current shifters work with a different mech set-up?
I don't want to spend much, but have seen a few options for cassettes and chain from Shimano.. is it worth spending cash on say a £15 chain rather than the cheapest.
I'll need new cassette, but can i get away without a new chain ring set?
hopefully the rest of the bike is fine.. I don't want to be spending loads- it's not worth much and pointless spending money on nice bits if I could easily get a decent bike to replace it for not much more.
ant tips on what's a good buy or who to ask would be ace- then i can get ready to enjoy riding to work again!
kev
Basically I own a 4 year old Dawes 301 hybrid which I have used year round to commute the 5 miles each way. At the moment I'm running specialised crossroads tyres as I like the grip in winter, bumping up curbs and sometimes use an off road shortcut.
I love the 700c wheels, the range of gears compared to other road bikes and the comfort.. I'm not much of a dropped bar road bike fan.. hehe. I like the style and ability (?) of those "urban mountain bikes" flat bars, big wheels, gears and fast as road bikes.. almost.
Anyway as I've used it in winter a fair bit, I want to spruce it up and make it excellent fun to cane all the traffic with again.
I hate the creaky adjustable stem.. but a brief look at what's availlable shows me DH style mega short stems, flat out ones, or 6 or 10 degree risers of about 1cm length. I have the adjustable one set at quite a high rise.. what's out there?
I'm unsure about a new handlebar- could be tempted by a light cheap one..
I'm thinkin I may have to get a riser (but not swept) bar anyway if i don't want an adjustable stem..
I will want a new seat but I think that'll be no problem to get - loads of choice.. I have a Commencal mtb with a cool SDG bel air seat on so may get another one if poss with more comfort.
I'll be getting new chain, chain rings and cassette to replace the originals. I saw somewhere that they were urging people to stock up on 8 speed spares as they are hard to come by these days? I find that hard to believe.
My front and rear mechs aren't great and in fact the indexing is never quite right, recently the front has stopped bring the chain onto the smallest ring everytime.. clogged mech or worn chain anc rungs I reckon.
Leeds is hillyish and I like to go through a valley in summer offroad on the way home.. But maybe 24 gears is too much.. Is it more economical to get fewer gears and can my current shifters work with a different mech set-up?
I don't want to spend much, but have seen a few options for cassettes and chain from Shimano.. is it worth spending cash on say a £15 chain rather than the cheapest.
I'll need new cassette, but can i get away without a new chain ring set?
hopefully the rest of the bike is fine.. I don't want to be spending loads- it's not worth much and pointless spending money on nice bits if I could easily get a decent bike to replace it for not much more.
ant tips on what's a good buy or who to ask would be ace- then i can get ready to enjoy riding to work again!
kev
FCN4: Langster Pro
FCN8 Dawes Audax
FCN13: Pompetamine dad and daughter bike
FCN5 Modded Dawes Hybrid R.I.P.
FCN6 Fixed beater bike (on loan to brother in law)
FCN8 Dawes Audax
FCN13: Pompetamine dad and daughter bike
FCN5 Modded Dawes Hybrid R.I.P.
FCN6 Fixed beater bike (on loan to brother in law)
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Comments
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Ebay is your friend....
As an example I'm upgrading the pedal on my commuter (I have an old set spds at the moment, but I prefer the shimano M520, I find they are easier to clip in and out of) wiggle price £30, "buy it now" price on Ebay £14 inc P&P
other things include
sram 8spd cassette £13
a pair of Schalbe City Jet tyres £21
Deore LX Rear Derailleur £21
All inc P&P
Handlbar wise...I prefer flat bars rather than risers...I got my cheap Alloy Tioga ones from Bike hut (branded bike hut) £20, cut a couple of inches of the ends, and now I'm squeezing through gaps I couldn't before
Do you know the trick about getting the right length stem? put your elbow at the nose of your saddle and keep your hand flat, where you longest finger stops should be the mid point of the stem
How are your chain rings? and what's your commute like? Mine is pretty much flat, so I got bigger chainrings...but my bike was an old mountain bike, if yours is a hybrid they should be big enough already...you say it's hilly, but if your riding near the top end all the time a few more teeth make the world of difference. but if you want to save your money and don't need them then you can prolly get away with using them for a bit longer.
The problems with your gears...have you tried adjusting and cleaning it them and/or cleaning and lubing the cable route...depends on how confident you are at servicing it...if your not a £30 service at your LBS could be money well spent
Saddle wise...everyone's bum is different, have you tried the saddles with the hole in? I bought a Selle Italia Flite Max Gel Flow Saddle and never looked back...it was so good I got one for my commuter, still breaking that one in tho :shock:
Mine was £70, but I've just seen they have them on wiggle for £50...I like them, but you might not
If you want to save yourself a bit of money, go for Sram rather than shimano, haven't had any problems with the chain or cassette...and the Sram chain you don't need to carry spare pins...Not that you need to anyway, but Shimano recommend you do
If there is anything you want to read up on http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ is a goldmine
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paint it pink, fit polished rims and spokes (alternate spokes painted black and white) and you're pimped.My signature was stolen by a moose
that will be all
trying to get GT James banned since tuesday0
