Tales from the Emporium

[Ocean1]

The new one in May 2014 and has those 2 little words that instill glee in a cyclists heart. "Carbon Reinforced".

And the award for the most accurate description of a broken CF mast goes to... Anon, for "A sack of razor blades".

Not keen, eh? Might instil glee in a cyclists heart but it might well be at the risk of instilling a bunch of less desirable additives elsewhere.

[NordieBoy]

I used to do the decathlon, lived in dread of a pole vault pole breaking...

[NordieBoy]

I don’t like the original switch/lever that came with my dropper post, so I found a left hand shifter and gutted it, leaving just the thumb shifter and no ratcheting.

It works really well, and has a much more natural action.

Tested it on my little test loop and it’s much nicer to use.

[NordieBoy]

Busy chopping/grinding off the bits that aren't needed for a single speed on my old MTB frame. Mainly cable guides and rim brake mounts.
It's got a rigid fork at the moment and I'd like to put my rockshox SID fork on it, but the steerer tube on the fork is maybe 40mm too short dammit

I'm enjoying riding this frame much more than I did when it was my normal MTB. Dunno why.

[NordieBoy]

Finally got the cyclocross bike home to The Emporium today.

It's like soft drink has been dumped over the bike and then it's been ridden on a dusty gravel road behind a loaded cattle truck.

Took 2hrs to clean the wheels, fork and front brake with brake clean.

Only the rest of the bike to go!

[Padmei]

What's wrong with the water blaster?

[NordieBoy]

The guy that nicked the bike, took the weedeater and waterblaster...

The waterblaster wouldn't stand a chance though.

[NordieBoy]

Ripped off the plastic pedals and refurbished a pair of Candies (used a roller bearing kit instead of the bushing kit) and stuck them on. It feels like my baby again!

[Padmei]

I went for a ride on the Avanti 'cuda yesterday. Funny, it's got V brakes, no rear suspension, no rebound damping on the forks & yet I didn't die

I'm gonna take it down to the jump track at Branford park & learn to jump. It's OK cos I've been watching Youtube. looks pretty easy actually - they say there's no difference between doing a big gap jump & a small tabletop so I'm gonna just go straight to the big gap jump. pretty sure i'm gonna be awesome at it

[NordieBoy]

I'll bring the camera.

We can film firball now I've got the beastie back.
Or try it on the single speed...

[NordieBoy]

Been busy reducing the beastie from 1x9 gearing down to a much less confusing 1x1.
I just hope the rear freehub with it's 2 tiny pawls can handle it.

[NordieBoy]

Soon I'll be able to do firball on a single speed cyclocross

Know any good knee surgeons?

[NordieBoy]

Valve clearance time...




It works!


Doing the fork seals is too difficult.
Just swap your spare forks over...

One down...


Done!


Oh crap! I'd forgotten how soft and mushy stock forks and springs are!
How the hell do people ride like this?

[Ally67]

Forget about the bike.......I can't believe how much floor I can see
It's not your shed surely

[NordieBoy]

Half the "stuff" from the old shed in twice the space and a good smooth floor...