Posted by Neil on 24/01/2010 under mechanics | 
After the coldest winter for 30 years the UK’s roads are in a bit of a state. Frost has broken up the surface leading to some big potholes. This can be the result, my first ever broken spoke. I heard a slight metalic ‘clunk’ as my back wheel went through the hole but didn’t realise that this was the consequence so went on to ride another 9 miles or so. The rhythmic rubbing of the wheel rim against the brake block eventually gave the game away. I have been to the bike shop for some spares and now I am going to make my first wheel repair.
Posted by Neil on 06/08/2009 under mechanics |
I have just fitted a pair of Thorn Mt.-Tura rigid forks to my Specialized Rockhopper MTB. They replace the Judy Rock Shox that came with the bike as standard. I did this for a number of reasons.
- I am using the bike as a commuter/tourer and rarely go off road.
- I believe that suspension forks steal some of my energy by absorbing pedal downstrokes (I have little enough to spare as it is).
- Suspension forks are relatively heavy, especially if you don’t need them.
- I had nowhere to attach my mudguards and don’t like drinking the water splashed up from the road.
- In the future I want to fit front carriers (part of the justification to my wife is that I will be able to carry a weeks shopping from the supermarket).
- I wanted to experiment with having a higher handlebar position.
- I didn’t want to have to keep servicing my shocks or, worse still, pay someone else to do it for me.
- I would really like a Thorn trekking/tourer but cannot afford one at the moment
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