MTBs head set finally repaired; had to be buy a more expensive headset rather than wait for cheaper bearings

Wheels of Happiness

A 52 and 42 mm bearing set for the head set would cost me less than a 100 php if ordered through shopee or Lazada.  However, we ordered since July   And August was about to end.   The headset of my MTB failed due to long years of use (about 6 years) and my constant servicing(?)

Rather than wait for the bearings, I finally decided to buy a tapered headset from the LBS.  It set me back for P500.00 for the parts and P100.00 for the installation.  It took me a total of only 20 minutes to get the repair done.   I could have done this myself.  But since I was not sure of the bearing size from the head set bought, I let the store mechanics install this.   True enough, the mechanic just replaced the bearing.   55 and 44 mm outside diameter;  he used the new compression ring.   

Sa wakas narepair

The bike, an MTB is as good as new.  Another 5 years of satisfying use/riding/  

Why do you need so many tools and inventory of parts to have a DIY home repair?

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I have noticed that to get a repair done you need so much tools, fluids, and parts to get a repair done.   I noticed that too with mechanics.    You need hex wrench, a screw driver, pliers, cutter, oil, detergent, glue to get a repair done.   

You must also keep old parts for spare screws, washer, wires so that you can complete a repair

After a repair is completed the number of tools and stuff you employed for the repair does not show.

(Answer:   there are a number of steps you need to complete-- from removal of old parts, cleaning, deburring, sand papering, and reinstallation to get the job done.   You need a different tool for each of the step that is why)

What are the tools that you must acquire for basic bike home repair?

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I had the following tools and they are near my bike

1.   A bike stand where you can raise the bike and do your repairs

2.   Hex wrench:   2 to  10 mm.  Most usable are 4, 5, 6.

3.   Torx wrench:  set.   You often use T 25, 30 and 40

4.  Chain cutter tool

5.   Hand pump

6.   Patch kit (P40.00 with about 5 patches, glue, and sandpaper

7.  Rubber mallet

8.  Spoke wrench

9.  Long nose plier

10  Sharp cable cutter

11.  BB removal tool

12.  Bearing removal tool

13.  Press fit for bearing

14.  Rubber mallet

Some of the tools can be in folding multit tool  Many of the bike mechanics use a lot of this for convenience

The YT video suggests other tools.

What I did to my bikes while it was raining hard?

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We were not able to bike because since Monday evening, there were rainfall warnings (and they were accurate -  it rained really hard) there was no choice except to stay at home and do some bike repairs and or maintenance:

1.  S works:

     1.  Reinflated tires, They were down to 40 psi

     2.  Cleaned the chains with degreaser and then applied light oil on the roller

     3.  Tuned the RD.   turned the Hi limit screw inward by  3 turns to remove noise.

     4   Oiled the pivot points of RD and FD

     5.  Wiped the frame and ws with moist rag

     6.  Polished the frame and the bar

2.   Pinarello

     1. Reinflated the tires;  the pressure also went down by 20 psi

     2.  Degreased the chains

     3.  Tuned the fd, turned the Hi limit screw by 3 turns to remove noise of chain on the cogs

     4.  Oiled the pivot points of fd and rd

     5.  Oiled the rollers of the chain

     6   Wiped the frame with moist rag

3.   MTB ti

    1.  It has been on storage for a month so I tested the drive train.  It would not shift to the lowest fd

         The FD was stuck and I had to practice this manually

   2.   The fd and rd alignment was OK

   3.  Oiled the cables for fd and rd

   4.  Wiped the frame and the WS with wet rag.

   5.  Degreased the chain, relubed the roller

   6.  Reinflated tires.  The front was down to 10 psi.  It had to be 50 psi

All done

X ray of legs after dooring accident - no fractures and/or dislocation

Wheels of Happiness

I had to see a doctor as heavily suggested by children to preclude any complications after the dooring accident.  I had to see a doctor, last Thursday, and was schedulred for x ray the followign day   But the diagnostic center was closed.

I was x rayed Friday.  I got the results at 3 pm.  Fortunately the results said no fracture, no disclocation.  Boy was I glad.  Strong bones and legs.    Resulting from frequent ride and heavy gears.

Ingat pa rin.  

Doored at Pililla KM 55; happy that it was not serious - no fractures, no dislocation

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I rode last Thursday planning to go up to Bugarin (80 km , 40 x 2).  However,  this post met an accident -  was doored.  A ranger that had just parked left door suddenly opened, and I travelling at about 20 kph

slammed at the suddenly opened door.   My right bar hit the door, which caused me to swivel.  Fortunately I still stood upright, did not crash.   The right hood was sheared off, the rear wheel was misaligned.  Which was fixed by loosening and tightening the QR.  However the rubber hood was a total loss.  I was able to get it back but probably fell by the way side.

All the driver was able to do was to beg for forgiveness and scratch his head.  No offer to have my wounds treated (there slight bleeding at the left shin) or compensation.

I was still able to bike up to Bugarin in heavy gears.  (Big chainrin)  There was  slight pain, and I requested that I be fetched in Morong.  However there was no reply as the vehicle was on scheduled service.

I was finally fetched at Cardona after a long wait.  The people in the house did not want me to strain my legs for fear of hairline fracture (which has happened to wifey)

I was able to get x ray of my two legs early today  (there was none yesterday being a holiday) and got the results at 3 pm today.

No fracture or dislocatin.  Thanks the Lord.

May we request motorists not to suddenly open their door when they park along highways.  Look at their rear view mirror first.  

For cyclist, maintain a 1 to 1.5 meter from parked about to park vehicles.     Or else you too may get doored.  

Fighting sarcopenia in later years

Wheels of Happiness

With 3 years + 7 decades behind me, I am aware that I am all ready undergoing sarcopenia  -  ie - loss of muscle mass and bone density.  That why I can not risk going off road, or going faster on descent.  

Thus: this post has to supplement biking with some free body weight exercises like lunges, and knee bends with weights.  And has to follow the recommendation that riding be done on big chain rings for added torque and resistance training to counter sarcopenia.   

Thus I try to do DOMSA ride, diversion, Bombongan, Teresa Antenna ride on big chain rings.  These rides leave me exhausuted and drained that is why this post spends a lot of time sleeeping, taking a nap in the afternoon.  

This post expects that he could live better, if not longer with these exercise routines.

Non bike post - women in Carlos Yulo's success

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His mom, his gf Chloe and OT coach Hazel Calawod.  Who do you think affected him most?  Made him a winner?

Mobile PNP Bike Patrols

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PNP on wheels

This post did not know this was all ready operational.  All that I remembered was the Provincial Commander of PNP several years backed loved biking so much  that he conducted his municipal rounds of PNP stations biking with his command.  He even sponsored a 3 lap Cardona Binangonan bike fest.  I finished this.   But he retired all ready.

I saw this bike patrol at SM Center 2 days ago and consisted of a squad of 7. They were on MTB.  A member of the squad mentioned that this was done to have more police visibility in the absence of more squad vehicles, to save gasoline expenses and promote good health amongst the PNP members.

Good.

Do more expensive bikes make you faster and superior?

Wheels of Happiness

No they dont.  Although psychologically they can motivate you to bike harder and faster, in reality maybe they dont.   Its mind over matter.  And if owning a championship bike does that, then it is motivation. 

For me a senior, this is a great plus.   But its the inner drive and enthusiasm that count.  Ti, Steel, Alum bikes are the same.  Its the engine that count.   The core muscles and physical conditioning

It pays to have your bikes clean, properly maintained, greased and adjusted

If you are not racing, bike weight does not really matter much

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Observations have shown that lighter does not mean very much improvement in speed.   But there is also a limit where heavier is not better.  A 30 lb+ bike is not better than 20+ lb bike.   

Lighter drive train does mean a big difference:   chain, crank, shoes, and WS.    

Adjusting brakes of S works (built in) Venge Vias

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Due to wear and tear and passage of time, the brakes of S works Venge Vias have become weak.  No amount of barrel adjustment would make it work.  

I thought over what could be wrong.  ?   The cables may have stretched and the limit of the brake line  barrel adjuster was reached.   So I removed the wheels, adjusted the cable of the brakes (about 2 mm tighter) and barreled down the barrel adjuster to the max.  So that when I turn it counter clockwise, there is a lot of travel for the adjuster to tighten the cable.

Solved.  Saved P200.00 pf for the bike mechanics

Holy Trinity for US basketball team: Curry, Durant and LBJ! Best performance in an Olympic finals (non bike post)

Wheels of Happiness

The trio were hailed as the best the hero of the game.  It was not being a champion but a statement that they are the best.

The only missing championship legacy for Curry -  an Olympic gold

USA takes home basketball gold, wins over France - so much talent (non bike post)

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USA takes home gold in mens basketball with victory over France.  Probably evens up medal haul with China who was ahead as of Saturdday. 

USA simply had too much talent. Curry drilled in 24 points for the victory.   Tatum did not matter much in scoring.   Kerr was right in not using Tatum vs Serbia

Congratulations USA team and to the oldies who made this happen

Biked to Cardona, Bombongan, Teresa Antipolo and DOMSA this morning - riding for strength

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Big chain ring ride -  FTP

To comply with FTP guidelines, and exercise beyond 70, this post tried to bike at challenging destination at big chainrings 50 (on SRAM red group set at S works).  Its all big chainring at Bombongan, except on one hill, and entire Teresa Antipolo and DOMSA climbs (ahon)

Kapadyak riders

At Bombongan, there were 5 riders from Pasig and Taguig who rode with me.  They were initially ahead of me but caught up with me near Alfamart.  Then they stopped at the bridge and sped away until San Guillermo crossing.   Was surprised to see that I was ahead of them before the Mun Building at Teresa.  They went via bukid in Teresa, and then again I was ahead of them past  Real Cove switch back.  Then sped away for good.

Saw some riders from Taytay.  Rhom Antonio said that I was ahead of him in Zigzag (at big chain rings)

There was also Lito Briones who I initially saw at Pag asa stop light.  Then I caught up with him and overtook him.  He overtook me at Pantok and he disappeared.  Aftewards, i saw him again at Teresa Morong boundary and he sped away.    (Doing that to a 73 yo hahaha)

Bukohan at Avida Antipolo after last Climb at Zigzag now sub for T..ng kabayan?

This is the nth time I saw many riders stopping here for a cold drink after negotiating the Teresa Antipolo zigzag.  About 12 riders stopped there -  most of those who 

Made me stronger, strength training beyond 70.

It was not a chill ride.  The ride took my breath away, made my thighs and calf burn,   My feeling is that this ride made me feel stronger.   I could maybe TT for 25 kph for about 5 km.   Certainly much more improvement than when I was younger.   

Imagine riding up all the hills of Teresa on 50 chain rings. At 50 x 32.    

Building muscle at 70 and beyond (non bike post, but concern seniors)

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High intensity cardio training at 70

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Steady state or high intensity?

How to ride 30 kph (or even faster)

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1.  Ride with the wind

2.  Select flat route or downhill

3.  Ride with a group (suck a wheel)

4.  Make your bike aero 

5.  Make yourself smaller

6.  Improve fitness  hiit, attack a climb

7.  Fuel/nutrition

8.  Pacing

9.  Less braking

Non bike post - Phl 26th in medal standing - 2 gold, 0 silver, two bronze

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Sometime we were even ahead of some European countries  We were 19th.  Now we are 26th.  We have come of age.  There are about 200 countries in the Olympics.  Some have not won a medal for decades.  We are lucky we have  2 golds.  It is somehow awesome how some athlete can have 2 medals like some swimmer, the other gymnast Biles, Yulo, K. Faulkner. 

May be its luck also why some nations have huge medal haul.   Or that they chose their battles well.  

When you disassemble your crank, be sure to watch your FD adjustment

Wheels of Happiness

This post always neglect this and after a crank disassembly, the FD could not shift the fd to the large chain ring  More specifically the crank has not been tightened well or got loose when this post used the bike.  All this post had to do were:   1.  tightened the crank bolt,   2,  loosened the high adjustment screw of the FD adjustment screw.  

It seems that with Campy super torque crank has this common problem.  It does not fit most of the BB and there seems to be about 1 mm of play - hence the need for wave washer.  But still there seems to be some side to side movement that is why sometimes the chain falls off.   The video maker recommends using loctite to fix the crank.

Its all very detailed and all complicated that is why many just let their mechanic do the job;   pay them well and let the mechanic do the worrying.    That is why I had to bring the 10 mm hex  crank bolt tightening too.  

Non bike post - how old players: KD, Curry and Le Bron James saved Team USA from defeat vs Serbia

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One of the greatest game ever?   Down most of the game, Curry sizzled scored 36 points (up from measly performance in previous games)   KD clutch points, and Le Bron working hard through out the game, eked out a victory over the brilliant, high scoring Serbians.  Only the veteran grizzles  could have eked such a victory.

Non bike post - Vapor fly Nike shoes - is this mechanical doping? Does it give unfair advantage to the runner.?

Wheels of Happiness Many of the world records broken by marathoners wore vapor fly shoes. Even the entry level runners

Non biking post -doping among Kenyan runners; Kenya is known to be home of world class marathoners

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There are many champion marathoners from Kenya and who set world records.  Kipchoge ran a sub 2 hours marathon.  

Recently some of Athletes have been discovered to be involved in doping. 

Athletes are pressured to dope because its source of livelihood..  Epo is readily available.   (Also trimetazidine)

Our respect for Kenyan athletes has gone down. 

Game changing pedals used at TDF; will they make you ride faster

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New pedal tech at TDF  Will they  make you ride faster?

Non bike post: Gender issues in boxing involving lady Chinese and Algerian boxers

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IBA declared them to be male.  IOC does not think so.  The Italian boxer quit their bout just in 46 seconds saying that she felt like she was being boxed by a man.

We are all embroiled in this gender issues which we do not want to be involved in.

Do you agree with IBA or IOC regarding the issues.   Will IOC disqualify Shelif of Algeria?  She is about to win a gold medal

Is this issue overshadowing the grandeur of Paris 2024 Olympics?

The pride of Homer, Alaska, and Alaska - two gold medals

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Kristen Faulkner.   a Harvard grad, NY venture capitalist turned professional lady biker 

How K Faulkner won the lady's road race

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We did not pay attention to her.  Mostly the attention has been on well known European riders.  The American ladies were not much of a factor before in women's competition.   

Faulkner though has won some stages prior to this Olympic competition.   And a TT competition where she did 49 kph.!

The Europeans thought may be that she would fade away in the final 500 meters but she did not.   

With grit determination, ones dreams to be an Olympic star can be a reality. 

Am star struck by the talent, physical prowess and beauty of this lady biker.  Wow

     

Kristen Faulkner wins another gold in team pursuit

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What a marvelous day for team USA, winning the team pursuit with Faulkner in the team.  Congratulations Team USA.  Amazing.  Its firsts?   Also Faulkner winning in two events

Kristen Faulkner, Harvard Grad wins 2024 Paris Olympic Road race

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31 year old Kristen Faulkner, a Harvard grad, and former venture capitalist at New York, won gold in the  the Paris 2024 Olympics.  Its an interesting story because she  quit venture capitalist job to focus on cycling.  And that she achieved this because she was in injured in a car accident that broke her shin bone.  But she won the race.

It was interesting to note that in the race, the race favorites did not react to her attack with just 3 km to go.  They just looked at each other when she pulled away.

There was a story that when she started biking in Europe, she even lost her contact lenses.  However, when she was assigned to go with break away, she stuck with the job, and even forgot to eat because she was so focused on  her assignment.   She even went on to win the lap/stage

She just started biking in 2017 in New York so that she will be occupied, and to replace her PE with rowing (while at Harvard)

Her former sports was rowing.   She was born and grew up in Homer Alaska contributing to her grit and determination

She said that she was able to use her venture capitalist background to calculate the risk benefits as she biked.  One of the things we must be wary of is if we encounter riders like her who look very well deeply analyzing the data of every rider she may may meet on the road.  They would definitely have an advantage.   

I think riders now are better because they have better coaches, better science being employed to be better cyclists.  Data driven

Congratulations Kristen.

Beating Europe's best. Beat by Team USA

Duplantis wins pole vault gold, Obiena only 4th (non bike post)

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Duplantis wins gold, sets world record in pole vault

Duplantis, the world No 1 wins gold and sets world record.  EJ Obiena despite hard work landed in 4th -  no medal.   Obiena was a medal hopeful.

How hard should older persons train?

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I have been frequently warned about my biking.  Advice has been to ease off, just ride around the subdivision.  And its getting into my nerves.  I avoid long rides, because I could encounter emergencies.   

Training to be DIY mechanic trains your mind to be meticulous and detailed

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This post has maintained that sports and business are similar in approach   you have to train,  you  have observe a process, you have to have a goal, you have to prepare your inputs, study your processes to improve your ride and strength.   You have to watch what you eat and many more.

Same with business.  Above you all, you have to be passionate.

Same with being DIY mechanic.  As I disassembled the Campy crank, I have to observe very well the sequence of removal (to aid me in reassembly)  observe what is abnormal with normal.  I observed the bearing and the axle to be grimy and filled with grit.  There were gaskets that are probably interfering with the rotation of the crank

I had to be meticulous and observant.  Same as in business.  If it is failing, I have to know what are the factors that cause it to fail.  

I know I have continue doing this, ie being vigilant of what can go wrong, Otherwise, I I  will wreck the bike

Pres Luis is reported to be selling his bikes for his wife"s chemo, let us assist him

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I read the post of Pres Luis that he is selling all his 3 bikes, Argon, Felt and an MTB for his wife's chemo.  This is worrisome and a dire situation.  Let us help him

Cleaning and regreasing of Campy crank

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I met Mario Toledo, my best mechanic,  yesterday at a mountain trail road and hastily I consulted the campy crank, (the bearing of which was just replaced)  which has not be been rotating smoothly.  He advised that I should disassemble, clean, and regrease.

Which I did today.  Removal of the 10mm crank bolt (and reinstalling is a challenge).

True enough the crank axle is dirty and the non drive bearing is a little bit sticky.  So I cleaned the crank axle the bearing, and the crank shell. Generously regreased the bearing and the axle with synthetic lighter grease.   How could they all be so grimy after just three months?   Its good that the bearings were still in good shape.

Now the crank now turn faster and smoother.  I must have lost 10-15 watts with the dirty 

Yulo wins second gold for vault at Paris 2024 Olympics (Non bike post)

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First time for a Filipino to get double medal.   Our Philippine contingent has improved medal haul compared to Tokyo Olympics.  

Mabuhay ka Carlos Yulo.   Thank you for making Filipinos shine in the world     

EJ Obiena at pole vault - another gold hopeful? Let us pray for his victory. (non biking post)

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Non bike post - Carlos wins gold for the Philippines in gymnastics

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One cant be proud for seeing the Philippine flag being raised and Philippine anthem being played.  We are no longer a kulelat country.  We can give other countries great competition and effort to best them out.

Congratulations.  Carlos

We can win some more medals?

Climbed Cardona diversion on large chain ring

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In one of the videos on FTP, I learned that aside from sprinting one of the ways to induce your body to ride faster and stronger, is to ride hills consistently, and increasingly on harder gears

On the way back, I rode up to Cardona diversion.    Instead of riding up on 36, I rode up to the first turn to the left to be at 52t chain ring.  I felt that I could do the remainder of the climb at 52.  But I did not want to hurt myself so I downshifted to 36t

I tried to pass at Mambog but I was on rb and the roads were muddied.  So I just went through the diversion.  

Earlier, I rode with Pastor Exequiel and Sec Noe.   Between Morong and Cardona, I accelerated at 52t and tried to lead them 

What not to copy from TDF

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1.   Large chain rings (54)

2.   Not durace or top end GS -  Ultegra 105 can do good

3.   Not racing tires  GP 5000TT dont last long

4.  Sports eyewear

5.  TT helmet

6.  Ceramic bearings

Increasing your average speed.

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1.  Use strava to set goals

2.  Make your front smaller

3    Up your skill  -  in magic hour

Non bike post - Frmr Senator Pacquiao "comeback" exhibition bout with Japanese Anpo

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Age matters.

Many think that he should stay retired.  He got hit many times, because he was bigger and slower.

His days are over.     

It was fortunate he did not got hit hard and was able to finish the 3 rounds.   

Non bike post - transgender boxer cases Italian biker to quit?

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Is the Algerian boxer really transgender?  Pictures showed her to be normally growing as a girl

But the Italian biker said its hard to be hit by a man.  

What is your take on transgender issue in sports?  Should it be allowed?

Shaving watts from your bike ride

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Free moves:

1.  Tighter clothing

2.  Position on the bike

3.   Removing some stuff on your bike

4.  Stay narrow (handle bar, your posture)     

How to be more efficient rider? Secret - drafting

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Bike upgrades, making the bike lighter.

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