What i saw/happened today!!
- Thread starter jimbowho
- Start date
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
Ok ok. Thank you very much.
DangerDirtyD
iMTB Hooligan
Some really good info here, thank you Bill. Can I ask how much your Monarch shock was? Replacing the brain shock with a regular one is no big deal right? I would have plenty to choose from right?[/QUOTE]
@Bill indeed gives excellent insight. You’re boarding a leaking, rickety boat with that frame. Those bearings are potentially 20 years old, which would be another item on the to-do list of immediate maintenance. If you decide to continue on that path, take 30 minutes under good lighting, and inspect every tube on that frame for hairline cracks, notable dents or dings, etc.
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
@Bill indeed gives excellent insight. You’re boarding a leaking, rickety boat with that frame. Those bearings are potentially 20 years old, which would be another item on the to-do list of immediate maintenance. If you decide to continue on that path, take 30 minutes under good lighting, and inspect every tube on that frame for hairline cracks, notable dents or dings, etc.[/QUOTE]
Alright alright alright
No leaking rickety boats lol. I guess I'll just concentrate on what I have. Maybe a fork and some wheels for my hardtail.
DangerDirtyD
iMTB Hooligan
@-ROCKY- , I'll selfishly sell you my 2013 26" Trek Slash 9 for $1,000. I'm embarrassed to be asking that much, but it rips, and I would argue there isn't a new bike out there costing twice as much that rides or feels as good. Also, riding a 26er makes you feel like you're going faster, when instead you're just a little more outta control.
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
A generous offer, thank you. I always get carried away. This is how I ended up with the bike I'm trying to trade away. It's just taking up space. I have noo business looking at buying another bike. I want to learn a little bit about putting a bike a together, take my time, and hopefully end up with a somewhat capable full suspension bike. I appreciate you guys giving me a heads up on the dead ends I could probably heading for.
Lost Kiwi
Well-Known Member
Maybe I missed something along the way but my 2p (pence) for what its worth. Please don't take this in a negative fashion either, trust me I've been down this path and it just ain't worth it.
Your bike is not currently broken, If I have followed along correctly it appears you just repaired it. Anything you spend on it - other than to keep it running - is pretty much a waste of money. Get out there and ride the thing, enjoy it. Do not worry about "upgrading" it, any money you sink into upgrading it will be lost. As a platform to build on it just ain't worth it.
Ride it into the ground and enjoy it for what it is. That will make you a better rider.
There is no point in going back to 26" wheels unless you want the nostalgia of the old days. I do, hence why I have a raft of old sh!tbox 26" wheel bikes that I keep cobbling together.
Save whatever money you want to spend on your current bike and when it gets to a reasonable sum start looking round for deals.
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
It's cool. I understand you aren't trying to be negative. I just like working on my bike when I can. Last night for instance. I was soo high on trying to race OTH, feeling great on all the support you guys gave me, I drug one of my BMXs out of the garage and worked on it in my living room until 12:30 in the morning. All I was doing was changing a wheel and tire but I felt great doing it. I went on a quick jaunt around the block and even got up "early" for a morning ride because I wanted to see if I made it better. I'm a drag racer. It's all about changing or tuning for the better. There's not much tuning on a bike. I didn't fix my spoke but I wish I did. The bike had been sitting for so long the seal on both tires broke. I had to take the tires off, clean them, which took hours, retape them, mount them, all of it. I loved the satisfying feeling I get working on my stuff. It makes me feel proud, and that little bit of pride pushes me out more.
DangerDirtyD
iMTB Hooligan
Wait until you bust out the clinometer to make sure your brake lever angle is optimized for each trail you ride and with whom you ride it.
Hey! We were riding at the same time this morning!
Have you measured tire width lately?
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
LMAO hopefully I'll get there
. I'm still working on the basics. Maybe I do need to measure my tire width lol. I am trying to run a skinnier tire than what came stock and for some reason I just can't keep the rear inner tube from sprouting a hole!
I tried tapping it up like a tubeless last night.. didn't work. I'm wondering if I'm pinching the tube with the tire lever? IDK 
DangerDirtyD
iMTB Hooligan
Most likely there is a thorn in your tire that punctures every tube you install.LMAO hopefully I'll get there
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
New tires new tubes. This last time I patched it. I think I'll get an idea of what is going on when I see where the second hole is.
herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
So your BMX bike is set up tubeless? And your MtB has inner tubes. Is this correct?
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
No MTB is tubeless. I taped the BMX wheel because I was wondering if the sharp edges of the spoke holes were rubbing a hole on tube. Also the BMX wheel originally used a tube with a Presta valve. I wanted to run a regular tube with a shrader valve. I enlarged the valve stem hole with a drill to do so, which also left a sharp edge. So I taped the wheel like a tubeless. .
Mountain bike wheels were done right before the race obviously. BMX wheel I did the night I came home from OTH. The first hole on the inner tube was near the tread area so I'm not sure the sharp edges of spoke holes are the problem.
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Y-not
iMTB Rockstah
When I can't find parts for my 26'rs they will just go on the wall in the man cave. That way when I get old and ask myself, what the heck are those doing up there? It will give me something to think about.
I'm currently looking at a trade for a 1997 Trek Y-22 all original with the owners books to hang on my wall. Trade/barter is what we do in the mountains.
I'm currently looking at a trade for a 1997 Trek Y-22 all original with the owners books to hang on my wall. Trade/barter is what we do in the mountains.
Lost Kiwi
Well-Known Member
The more you ride it the more you will have to maintain it. You will learn everything you need to know just from that. Bikes at the cheaper end of the scale are going to break down more often its a fact of life. But thats ok, more chances to learn stuff! Also maintenance does not equal upgrading! If you break something though then thats a great opportunity to replace it with something better - where it makes sense.
Got to disagree with you on that one, there's plenty to tune on a bike! Obvious stuff that has a big effect, tyre pressure and suspension settings. Less obvious stuff that you can fiddle with, seat height, fore/aft position and angle. Handlebar height and backsweep. Stem length, raising or lowering the height of the stem.
A lot of that stuff costs you nothing but time to play with. Some will have a profound effect on how the bike handles. Some other stuff you may not notice at all. If you want to learn about some of that then do some research into bike fitting. Theres some great videos on youtube about it as well.
-ROCKY-
Well-Known Member
You're right, I was just on a rant
lol. I really value everyone's input it's why I ask. I know the tremendous experience here. But I ask to at least try and make an educated decision on my own. I know what I want out of this and know what motivates me. I know I gotta learn things the hard way on most things. I still might do the Specialized if I can make a deal with the Fox guy!! 
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