Lots of questions...please help!

Sweatlikeapig

I've been riding for just over a year and I love it. Bought a second hand Kona Dawg to get me started but i then figured that I needed a Hardtail as I found going uphill on the Kona really difficult and I'm relatively fit ( I think!). I sold the Kona and bought a Scott Scale 760 from Cycle Surgery which is right by my house.
My first rides were brilliant. A whole new experience. No longer tired going up hills. Enjoyed it loads more...
Took it for its 6 week free service and it's been cursed since then. I've taken it back a couple times but nothing seems to change. Remote lock out is really bouncy (wasn't before), chain rub, gears slipping (didn't before).....is this down to me riding it too vigorously? Is it made for that? Something seem to go wrong after most rides. The more I go the better, and bit more daring I get. Two punctures and a buckled front wheel tonight after a very small drop off.

Or is it down to early teething problems with the bike and it needs to go back in regularly to iron them out? I can't afford to take it in every time

I would love to pick someone's brains about tyres and stuff as well if anyone has the time to recommend. I have Maxxis Ikon on the Scott and I don't think the grip is great at all. Do I need to upgrade both tyres or just the rear as I've read in some mags?

If anyone gets back, thanks in advance.

cooldad

Read Parktools, and watch random Youtube videos and learn to do it yourself.

Bikes don't need scheduled servicing, they need regular maintenance.

Sweatlikeapig

Parktools. Not sure what it is but sounds perfect for what I want to...alongside YouTube. Eventually, I want to look after my own bike properly and actually know what I'm doing.

Thanks for your help. With regard to the tyres, I buy the mountain bike magazines and make a note of all the best buysolution and product winners. I don't really understand the compounds and rubber etc. Will have to read into it. My rides vary, Holden Forest is 10 mins from my house which is rocky, rooty and muddy trails. Then another local is Woodbury which is grassy/loose stones, with some forest single track in places.

Thanks for your help!

cooldad

Parktools link is in my sig. Basically pick a bit of bike and it tells you how to do pretty much everything.

Plenty of useful stuff in the Tech FAQs as well

viewforum.php?f=40073

Sweatlikeapig

Been reading Park tools lots. Now to get me some cheap but half decent tools!

Crazyjenkins01

I use Maxxis High Roller II/Ardent. Absolutely fine for Haldon (bit slidey when ta really wet though. Manages to make the most of a lot of the off piste stuff too

Sweatlikeapig

Thanks for your help. Been looking good ato Parktools on eBay but they are expensive, also I wouldn't be sure what tools to buy for my zero experience. Any suggestions on a reasonable 'starter pack' of tools? I have some normal DIY tools in the garage but can't imagine they are suited.
I've just been cleaning the chain by hosing it down and then using the Muc-off chain cleaner, leaving it a bit and hosing it down again. Then lubing it. Is this wrong? Should I be scrubbing it with a brush?

With regard to tyres, the guy at Cycle Surgery said that my bike (Scott Scale 760) wouldn't need that much tyre so pointed out some Specialized ones in the shop at about £30 each. I'll check the tyres you mentioned out. I'm not really fussed about price, if it costs £50 to avoid the panic when starting to slide I'm all for it!

cooldad

You can do most things with a chain tool and a basic multitool. Get specific tools as you need them.
Parktools are good but pricey. On One (Jobsworth) and other shops sell decent own brand tools which are more than adequate.

Sweatlikeapig

Thanks, I'll take a look. Didn't realise that buying tyres would be so difficult. I fancy the the Maxxis High Roller 2 on the frontrain and Specialised Slaughter on the back. 27.5 inch.....Thought that would be it! Didn't realise all the different compounds!

The Rookie

The generic small bike toolkits are great, the On-one Jobsworth is just one such brand, Aldi and Lidl both sell the same thing with their own branding as do others, I've had a Lidl purchased one since 2009 and built several bikes and stripped down about 25 and the only issue I've had is that the cassette lockring tool is now rather worn for hubs with only a small insertion.

For circa £20-25 it's great value as buying separately would cost close to twice as much. Additionally I already had a decent socket set for working on cars which gave me ratchets and Allen/Torx sockets.

The older version without an HT2 BB tool but with tools for older cup and cone BB's
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Cycling- ... Sw65FXtTOy
Worth a look
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJW30PCTK ... c-tool-kit

Sweatlikeapig

Just looked at the planet x website. Bought the tool set in the link and some bib shorts. There was me thinking that once you have bought the bike that would be it. Everytime I go online or open a magazine I seem to want something else!!

cooldad

Welcome to the club. I have two sheds, a conservatory, two filing cabinets, a cupboard and a few bookshelves full of stuff.

larkim

Planet X / OnOne have some great cheap tyres which are worth looking at if the thought of dropping £60-70 on a new pair of tyres seems excessive. Smorgasbord (in trail extreme) and Chunky Monkeys both well reviewed / received, and you're not breaking the bank giving them a try.

Sweatlikeapig

larkim wrote:

Planet X / OnOne have some great cheap tyres which are worth looking at if the thought of dropping £60-70 on a new pair of tyres seems excessive. Smorgasbord (in trail extreme) and Chunky Monkeys both well reviewed / received, and you're not breaking the bank giving them a try.

Thanks for the advice..I read too late though. Actually bought a High Roller 2 and Razor Rock for £35 each. The tyres in Cycle Surgery were about that price if not more so thought I was getting a deal. I'll look around more and seek advice next time if there are savings to be made then it's definitely worth it!