TNL Bicycles Volume I: Wild And Wacky Action Bike

[Finch]

I WANT TO KNOW NOW! I will post another picture of my bike once it has new grips. We'll bike fight.

[kedawa]

A coworker gave me an old mountain bike, but I ran over a staple within a week.
The tube's got a smaller than normal air valve, so I don't know if I should replace it with the same thing, or enlarge the hole in the rim and use a regular inner tube.

[Advocate]

need advice.

Everytime I ride up a hill or apply pressure when I pedal I hear a clanking sound.

And when should I change my brakes and oil the chain/gears?

I work almost 6 days a week and travel 8 miles per day on my bike.

[Finch]

A coworker gave me an old mountain bike, but I ran over a staple within a week.
The tube's got a smaller than normal air valve, so I don't know if I should replace it with the same thing, or enlarge the hole in the rim and use a regular inner tube.

If you don't mind the presta valve, just replace it with one and stick an adapter on it for any pump without one already. The tubes can be a pain in the ass to replace if you don't have a bike shop nearby, but if you do, it's not a problem.

Everytime I ride up a hill or apply pressure when I pedal I hear a clanking sound.

It could be a lot of things: http://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

Look into it, though, and take it to a reputable bike shop if you can.

And when should I change my brakes and oil the chain/gears?

I usually lube the chain every other week, and change the brake shoes once every 6 months, same for the chain (~ 3,000 miles).

[Finch]

You will have to wait and see!

YOU SAID LATER IN THE WEEK. THIS IS THE ONLY REASON I AM LOOKING IN SOUND OFF AND I'LL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE IF I ACCIDENTALLY LOOK AT A POLITICAL THREAD AGAIN.

[Kidnemo]

Eeeeek.... caps. ((((

Will post up pics tomorrow, it is almost done!

[Advocate]

LIES!

[Kidnemo]

Nonono!

Gotta pick up the new pedals first.

[Finch]

Compagnolo or gtfo.

[Kidnemo]

SO!

I picked up a Windsor The Hour from Bikesdirect!

After years of scoffing and scowling and fixed gear riders, I decided to give in and give it a try, especially since I'm organizing a bunch of rides through www.44fitness.com and didn't want to be stuck on my mountain bike.

ANYWAY I finished putting it together tonight and just took it out for its maiden voyage, pretty fun! It's been probably 15 years or more since I was on a road bike and I forgot how much they haul booty. I'm definitely not sold on the fixed gear "thing" though. I'm gonna drop a freewheel cog on next week which I think I will appreciate greatly.

The super clean no shifty parts makes the bike easy on the eye, I don't think front and rear breaks will detract from the look a ton.

Gotta get some new pedals and straps (picked up some today, wasn't a huge fan, gonna return 'em), and swap out the drop bar for some bullhorn style. Not sure if its the bars that came on the bike, but they felt really short to me, I'll mess with the geometry more and see how it goes.

Pics when tomorrow when it's light out!