Adding 4 links to my MTB chain

Wheels of Happiness

This post installed a 42t cog to the MTB.  (from 36th)   So thats 6 additional teeth and the RD looks a little bit stretched and ready to break.  So I decided to add 4 links from extra chain length I hid when I changed my chains.    I thought of having the bike shop install this, not quite trusting my chain installation skills.  But later during the day, I decided I could do this.   I hope the chain would not break come hill climb time.

Long range electronic bikes

Wheels of Happiness

For senior like me, (weakening muscles, loss of strength) this will be the next frontier.   We can go on long rides and not fear hills anymore.

I believe that many seniors will migrate towards ebikes.  They are motor assist anyway and exercise will not be lost.  Affordable Chinese bikes will be available soon

Replaced the disc brake pads for the MTB; thought them to be all ready ultra thin, got the pads cheap

Wheels of Happiness

This post went back to Villamayor bike parts this noon, right after I arrived due to fallen crank arms due to loss of crank bolt.  I was quoted earlier P1,000 for finned pads (the one that is on the bike) each pair, and P350,00 for unfinned.   Fortunately I got a pair for P220.00.  Haggled some more but the seller said sagad na. Sor for two sets:  P440.00.  They are Shimano SLX pads

I immediately installed:   removed the old one which was think for the rear wheel but still good for the front.  

The difficulty lay in inserting the pads because they were thicker.  Thus we have to push back the piston of the caliper.  It had to be carefully done with plastic tire levers.   Or preferebly with the olde pads on.   There were some slight challenges in reinstallation.  But after few persuasion, I got the job done

Bike repair and improvements are great teacher - and exercise for the brain and hands

Wheels of Happiness

Since this post was not able to bike today, I made the following improvements on my Ti MTB

1. Crank bolt pre load.  Adjusted the preload as advised by GCN.   I loosened the pinch bolt, hand tighteend the crank bolt, and then tightened the pinch bolt.   The crank spun more freely.

2. Cmpression ring. The headset kept on getting loose.  It must be the compression nring that was left out.   So I reinstalled the compression ring.  Hopefully the problem is solved.

3.  Second life to headset bearing.  This post spent P500.00 for headset replacement.  But all that were replaced were two berarings:  the 55 and 44 mm od bearing.   And so I reviewed the parts that were salvaged and they were shells of two bearing.  There was the plastic band that encased the braring for the bottom and two other shells for the top.    The top bearing shell lacked three bearings.  And the top bearing lacked about 20 - 24.  It was good that there were spare 1/8" bearing (left over for the hub repair I bought from Sising.   Sure enough, I was able to reassemble the two top and bottom berarings.   That should save me about P500.00 next time

Bike repair really teach you a lot -  how to repair, improvise and think

Worked the whole afternoon getting my TI MTB in tip top condition.

Wheels of Happiness

On my bike ride to Wawa, I noticed the shifting to be hard.   The headset problem has been solved.  Now its the time to look after the drive train.  These were the things I did:

1.  First, this post disassembled and soaked the rd and fd in degreaser and cleaned them well.  Then the oiled the pivot points.  However I could not get the main spring have the proper tension.   I could only get

the cage to 90 degrees vertical not at horizontal.  Therefore the chain was slack  II tried a dozen times to get the tension of spring back.

2.  I researched at YT and found out that I have to rotate the cage clockwise by at least 180 degrees.  This I could not do since I observed the part that attaches to the cable gets into the way.  (You will be surprised that I was not thnking outside the box.  )  It looked immovable.  The only way out is to move the spring by other means.   I gave up on my DIY and went to the bike mechanic,   He proposed creating a tool to rotate the spring.  Later on he found like solving a puzzle that the parrallelogram can be moved and the cage can be rotated 180 degrees.  Voila.  I gave him P50.00 for the effort.

3.  Then I found out that the cable inside was rusted.   So I had to replace the outer too.   And so I looked for  full length shifter cable and I found one.  My waterloo there is inserting the cable at the changer.   I entangled a cable before.   I had smooth sailing this time.   I replaced the outer at the last 20 cm portion of the cable near the RD.

4.  It took me 4 tries to get the cable to the right tension.  And I had to adjust the limit screws.  The bike would not shift to the biggest and smallest gear.   

5.  Then the rd would not shift back to the lowest gear.  I found out that the upper pulley was hitting the chain stay.  So thats where the B screw adjustment came in.  I scewed in the B screw to clear off the chain stay.   

Perfect.  Now the Ti MTB is a Ok.   But was tired.   Finished at 7:00

Still unable to ride because of incessant rains

Wheels of Happiness

Rode only to buy lugaw and buko  from Wawa eco park.   Used the Mtb to ride.

Noted the lake water level to be high only about 7 inches from the edge of the lake embankment.  Soon there will be flooding from the lake.   

It was good to note that the river banks did not overflow thanks to the year round river dredging project by the LGU

Ladies XC MTB finals - Paris 2024 Olympics

Wheels of Happiness

Changed biking handling and characteristics due to added weights on the bike

Wheels of Happiness

We spend tens of thousands more for lighter bikes.   Yet we add weights unneccesarily by putting:

     1.  Stickers

     2.  More water bottles

     3.  Bike carriers

     4.  Luggage for bike packing

Yesterday, I bought watermelon at Morong at the Manila East Road. It is rather large maybe selling P200 in our town.  It could have weighed 4 to 5 kgs.   It would not fit into a backpack and so had to be in large plastic bag (illegal now)  slung from the handle bar.   Therefore the handling of the bike was quite different and oscillated when ascending hills.   

So this post read posts on bikepacking and the advice was to load only 5 kg max front and back. It has to be light.  The test was could you comfortably lift the bike if forced to carry your bike.   If you were to walk a hill a ravine or walk up to Roro.  

So travel light.   Light is might.   

Essentials of bike packing

Issues with the MTB while riding to KM 90

Wheels of Happiness

Riding was hard  going to Jariels and I found out the the QR got loose and there was bike rub.   I corrected this at KM 88.   And later the bike ride became effortless.   All that I did was center the brake caliper  (loosen the bolts on the brakes and center the brake, then tighten)

I noticed that I have the same issue with SAVA whenever on long ride;    the hub getting stuck and brake rub.  I should have the QR tightened and  hub more 

The spoke at the back broke when I was all ready in Cardona at Callahan   Today I was able to replace the spoke.  That is the weakness of MTB or wheel set with only 24 spokes.   It is best to have 32 or 36 WS.  Heavier but lesser tendency for spokes to give way

All that I did were:    remove the broken spoke.  It took sometime to loosen the spoke from the nipple.  Then insert the nte spoke at the hub.   (All I did was to look for thehole in the hub without a spoke)  Insert the threaded portion of the spoke to the nipple.  Then tighten.  Good heavens  the wheel was still true.  

What do you do with your kalat? The parts left after the upgrade, sell them, give them away or assemble a new bike?

Wheels of Happiness

It is a big problem for me.  I could assemble a new RB with Ultegra 6600 group set, (but without the hood), No WS though, but with  bar, no fork, saddle, crank.    And restrospec crank GS, Zoom brake good enough to have an MTB, two wheels for 29 er.

If you sell them you can only do so at barat almost give away prices.  

The same thing happens if you assemble a bike  But at least, a bike is functional and useful at once unlike parts in  bin or box.

But I all ready have 5 bikes, two more bikes would jam the bedroom.  So better leave things as they are?

LIghtening the Twitter Carbon Fiber MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

7.06.2021

In order to excite yourself, you find ways to make your bike ride better and experience rise to higher level.  My pursuit is to make my twitter  carbon fiber MTB even lighter

           Reported original weight                                                                         12.7 kg

              Item                          Price                    Weight reduced

              Saddle                      P900.00                        100.

              XT group set         16.500.00                   `1,000 grams

                                            Crank set  500

                                            Cogs         200

                                            Brakeset   300

          Wheelset and tires    5,000.00   

                                           Hubs        200 grams

                                           Rimset     200 grams

                                           Tires            ---                 400

         I found out that even with those fancy sounding tires, rims and hubs, the savings is very minimal

         The tires and interior make them heavy.  I guess MTB are designed that way to be stable and 

         reliable.  and the penalty is being heavy

           Total savings                                                1,500 grams         

            Total cost  -    P22,400/1,500  =   `P150.00 gram     

                                                                             Net weight                    11.2 kg.      

    Is this a good weight for a cf MTB.   Other MTB weigh 20 kg.   Off shelf MTB weigh around

    15 - 17 kg even those that are alloy  

      The only way you can radically reduce weight is:

               Shift to  Rigid fork even  carbon      P4,500       `1,600 grams 

                                         P2.81 gram

              Carbon fiber wheelset =    P45,000.00   -    1 kg =   P45.00 gram

     

                                                                

Getting used to the two by set up with a 29er

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.25.2021

This post is testing his 29er two by set up:(34 and 24 front chain rings  11 -42 rear cogs combination)     first with a long ride to MM,, and second, hard climb to Antenna hill.   Anxious about chain falling off, and shifting malfunction.     Fortunately there was none;   the set up was DIY and has not been inspected tested by a bike mechanic.  How would the bike hold out vs conventional set up.

1.  On the flat. - I was even ahead of the group at 34 x 10.  If you compute:   34//10  =  3.4 x 29 inches =  98.6 gear inches nearly near to a 53/12 x 27 = 119.  Of course there is still a 19 gear inches difference.  However, this is tough on the calf muscles.  

Now this is the reason why MTBs overtake even RBs on the ride..   

I computed with an Engineer these gear ratios.

If you have a 38 chain ring in front and you have 10 smallest gear at the back  (SRAM has 9), you have 38/10 =   3.8 x 29  =   110.   Then you are at par with a RB with 53t front chain ring   

2.  Going up  -  I tried the set up at Antenna hills where the climbs are stiff and steep.  I stayed at 34 (the primary gear of the two by) and used mostly 34 x 34, and 34 x 36.  I did not have to shift at 42   I did not shift to the 24 (No 1) gear.

I am happy with the bike performance.  Going two by was just keeping up with the trend, and experiencing what other MTB riders are experiencing,  

Upgrades of two MTBs complete - mostly Do It Yourself

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.15.2021

Finally adopting the one by set up

This post has completed all the planned upgrades of his MTB - mostly done cheap and at hisi own effort.  This reflects the higher level of technical skill, and the longings of a bike rider to be better everyday - indeed fulfilling one of our mandates as a creature and as a creature.

The upgrades where:

1.  Bigger cogs from 11-36 to 11 - 42.;   for added lower gears in ascent/climbs

2.  Bigger front disc rotor from 160 to 180 mm for greater braking power

3.  Two by set up from 3 by using Deckas chain ring.

The upgrades were a result of seeing a barrage of ads at a social media and e commerce platform; tantalizing you with their cheap price and availability and how these stuff will make you look better.

1.  Cogs -  I bought the S brand from an on line seller a biker too;  He told me his experience that the installation is straightforward - remove the old cog using the cog removal tool, install and presto.  No need for goat link or additional chain link (for as long as you have long cage RD).  No need to adjust the rd settings.   It cost me P1,000 each.   I bought two.   True enough the installation was simple and straightforward.  No need to go to mechanic if you have crank removal tool.

The move gives you added 6 teeth (from 36) and other power when in difficutl climbs (say Mahabang Parang or quarry road)  and gets your bike ready for one by.

2.  Brakes - for extra braking power.  I was first tempted to buy quad piston brakes which cost P3k for a W brand and no less than P12K for an S brand.  But other riders said that gains can be minimal because only 30% of brake pad area is increased;  the brake pad is costly;  uses a lot of oil, is difficult to bleed.  The cost differential is about 500%

And so this post opted for the increase of braking area from 160 to 180 mm.   The cost is very minimal.  One floating disc 180 mm 3Pro is only P400.00 plus the adapter priced at P143 each.  

The process is again simple and straightforward.  Remove the old disk using a Torx tool (number T25)  This is where my tool box of 46 pieces came in handy.  The torx screws could not be removed with handheld tool.   They were tough screws to remove.    Then replace the disk rotor after carefully cleaning the disc hole of oil and grime.   The fiddly thing is the adjustment of spacers   And centering the brakes.   

3.   Two by set up.    This post ordered Deckas chain ring with wide narrow teeth; 34 t  I will do the two by because it has wider range (since you retain the 24 granny gear) and literature at the net says it is the best set up and is longer lasting 

  As for the gears, at 34 t front chain ring and 10 cogs at the rear, you achieve a high end gear inches of 34/10 =  3.4 x 29 =  98.6  nearly same ratio of a road bike with 50 x 12. = 41.66 x 27  =   112.   I would have achieved this with 36 front chain ring   3.6 x 29 = 104.4 (No wonder  29ers even with one by are fast).  

For the low end using a granny (24t)  I would achieve  24/42 = .57 x 29 (a super low2 gear).  Even at 34, the low end ratio would be .809  (less than one)

There is dearth of literature on 2by set up;   even mechanics and other rabid MTB could not say much on the 2bys system (we are just following the RB set up)  But I am confident of the fact that when

I have to have a much lower gear (lower than one offered by one by) I could always count on a granny

chain ring.  I have seen many elderly who went on an outwardly looking one by but had a reserve 24 chain rin,  

The process is more complicated.  

      1.  Remove the crank set from the BB.  Remove the pedal for ease of work

      2.  Remove the chain ring.  It is more difficult for the xt because the old model crank requires

           that you counter the counter sink nut with a stopper (they say you can use a screwdriver but

           it keeps on slipping) And you need a T30 torx (glad I had the toolbox with torx set).  Initially

           this post thought this required at  T25 or T27.  But the T30 is perfect.

     3.  Next step is to determine the the placement of the Deckas 34 T.   Initially I thought this would 

           be outside of the spider.  But this would be far away from the 3rd gear (the 24t) and this would

           position the chain ring at the former location of 42t.  Initiallly this post thought that the  XT 

           will not accept the Deckas.  

           But installing this behind the spider would be perfect fit:    It would be in the 2nd position of 

           the FD shifting;  and near the 24t (the #1)

     4.  And so this post thought so  But he protrusion of the crank bolt caused the chain to jump 4x

          every revolution  Rather than filing or sanding the protrusion, the post reversed the installation

          of the crank bolt  - with the flatter head on the inside and the protrusion on the outside.  Not 

          good looking but its the cheapest solution.   

    5.  And then adjusting the FD.

        1.  Screw in the high limit screw (at the outside) all the way in so that you cant shift to #3, and

              have the chain fall off.

       2.  Loosen the low screw so that the chain will fall off to Number 1. (the grannie).  You have to

            to make the adjustment, because the chain ring Deckas being wide narrow will not cause chain

            fall off on the lower gear.   The adjustment will bring the chain guide to the farthest end and the

            therefore the shift to take place.  

All in all the upgrade cost me (for the two MTB)

  

     1.  Cogs S brand   11 - 42   @ P1,000  x 2                                            2,000.00

     2   Deckas    round, 34t  @ 290 x 2                                                          580.00

     3.  3 Pro 180 mm rotor    @ 440 x 2                                                         880.00

     4.  Adapter     143 x 2                                                                                286.00

     5.  Tool box 46 pcs                                                                                    280.00

                                                                  Total                                           4,026.00

     

One kapdyak  I know spent P4,000 on the Sunrace cogset alone   My cost covered 3 upgrades:

    1.  Cogset

    2.  Braking system

    3.  Two by set up

My cost is a mere 1/4 of a quad piston, or 1/5   SRAM or Shimanao upgrade kit.  (about P20K)

The results on my riding?

     I could not tell much now. 

    1.  For the 11 - 42 - effortless riding;

    2.  For the braking system - I am still bedding them in.

    3.  For the two by set u -  lighter by a few hundred grams.  Great cosmetic.

         Unless I hit the trail, I would not be able to appreciate the benefits of a two or one by system

         Again, my upgrading is a result of:

   1. Desire to being better, or desire for having a better set up;

   2.  Being competitive with other fellow bikers.

   3.  Being a sucker for ads (being  marketing man)

Which is better for long ride - road bike or MTB?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

3.28.2021.  

Which is better for long ride:   MTB or road bike based on 3 factors:

                                             Road bike                            Mt bike

1.   Weight                                   /                                       x

2.   Tires                                      x                                        /

                                            MTB tires safer at night and for rutted roads

3.    Riding position                    x                                       /

                                            MTB at upright comfortable position especially for endurance rides

Lightweight MTB pedals

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

3.28.2021

Many are enamored with clipless pedals made of aluminium and or carbon from a along time Japanese manufacturer.

But for MTB pedals, not governed by strict rules of UCI for manufacturing, there are a number of lightweight pedals (if you are weighty weenie)  there are plenty of lightweight pedals   

A 200 grams clipless pedals would set you back back by P4k to P5k.  I got my carbon fiber pedal at 88 gms for P7k+

But these pedals weigh less than 400 gms a pair at 25% price of the original.  P1,200 and made of chromium molybdenum material

  

                                                      I am buying this one - the blue one

                                                     With QR only 300+ grams for a pair

                                                        308 grams only P1,121

                                                    Half lock pedals:  flat and with lock

Improvements in Chinese bike and bike parts technology

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

3.28.2021

We often associated Chinese bike parts for shoddy quality, one day life span and for low end plastic products -   horns, lamps, plastic accessories. and others like seat posts, saddles, handlebars.  

But it is no longer true today if you follow the e commerce platforms.   They are into the mainstream of bike technology and may have overtaken the rest of the world

The progress is observed in the following

1.  Low end mountain bike:     ASB, Foxter, Trinx

2.  Middle end mountain bike:   Mountainpeak,   Sunpeed, Phantom, Batallion, Forever Toseek.  

     You find two brike brands with 13 speed (only Campagnolo has that in the west)    Twitter Storm is

     13 speed and Forever.       Forever Coolf MTB   Can you beat that?   only P28,500!!!

     13 speed GS about 700 grams and $780 by S Ride.  (Aside from Campagnolo, the other Western             producer is Rotor)

3   China producers of MTB among world's top 10  Pardus

4  Cogs:   Sunrace, Z race  Sagmit, Ztto.   Even lighter than the original manufacturers  You can find much lighter cogs at 300 grams + only but with hefty prices

5   GS -  LTWOO, Senshah. Restrospec.  LTWOO was established by former head of R & D of SRAM

Even for rear lamps of Rockbros (they are now into Q5) you find advanced features as:  stop light, automatic shut off at daytime, on at dusk, etc.   I only have the q3 

Now is the time to take advantage of low priced products while Chinese producers are trying ot build brands and market share (it means while prices are still low)

We are not pro Chinese.  This post is pro savings pro more money in the pocket/bank

Continuous improvement (Kaizen) of the Mosso MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

3.27.2021.

Jorgeusbiker Mosso MTB

There is not much to be done while under quarantine

I made improvements on the MTB:

1.  Changed the tires to 1.95 from 2.2 to make it ligther and have less friction (I placed talc inside the tires to lessen friction between tire and interior)

2.  Lessened tightness of hub to make the wheel turn faster.

3.  Changed the RD cable which snapped (a P20.00 repair)

Tried the MTB today.  Well it ran smoother and faster.  

Maski 67 years old na at MTB dala, nakakahabol pa

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 24, 2018

Ngayong umaga, ipinasiya ko na MTB dadalhin ko sa akala kong uulan ulit. Baka madulas ang daan at kalawangin piyesa ng S works. Hindi naman pala.

Sa Binangonan, nakasabay ko ang isang kapadyak  (sa may Mambog na) at siya ay ang inspirasyon ko kung bakit ako nag Road Bike.   Siya ay naka Super Ligiht carbon frame at high end GS ng Shimano  Nauna ako ng bahagya sa kanya sa pagsalunga ng Mambog hanggang Cardona.  Subalit naunahan niya ako sa Calllahan hanggang sa palusong at siya ay nalampasan ko hanggang sa patag papuntang Morong.  Nauna ako ng ilang minuto sa kanya sa lugawan.  Sabi niya  malakas daw ako... (mas bata siya sa akin)

Papauwi naman sa may LLDA ay umuna sa aking 2 Rbiker mula sa Taytay:  isang may idad na naka Pinarello at isang bata   Mga 20 metro agwat nila hanggang sa sila ay makaabot sa Montevideo. Subalit naabutan ko sila sa may Batingan at nilampasan hanggang sa Pantok.

Ako ay naka MTB ang gear ko ay 42 (big chain day ako ngayon) Sa flat 42 x 11 ako. Salunga 42 x 22. He6.

SRAM xx1 Eagle 12 speed, wireless

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 11, 2018

A MTB rider from Antipolo was interviewed on his gem GS at his MTB (total cost he claims is P300K).  The GS a SRAM eagle xx, wireless, 12 speed x 1, 10 -50 teeth. Number of teeth in front is 34.

Its claimed features:

1.  Wireless, uses Blue tooth technology

2.  Programmable, adjustable using the smartphone  (less visit to the mechanic) even after a fall;

3.  Double A batteries are substitute batteries.  You can be back to normal ride by replacing the batteries from Mercury, 711 or other convenient store.

4.  When the battery goes dead, the system homes in the home gear say 17 or 19t.

But it comes with a  hefty price.  P75K... Can you afford (Jun Balbin daw invested in this GS)

With the advances in technology coming at the speed of light, are our traders and mechanics keeping up?
Some mechanics hardly know the advances.  Say even various BB tech advances

Practice ride to Jalajala despite the heavy rains

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 28, 2018

I slept up to 7 pm today since 4 pm (after eating, washing the bike, minding the dirty jersey and shoes)  I must have worked hard in my ride today to Jalajala Rizal.  I got soaked up in the rain.  I defied the pundits who said it is not good to go because of the dark clouds at the East. I persisted because I had to build up the mileage for the Vigan ride.

There was no rain even at Halayhayin Pililla.  Only light shower in Quisao up to Malaya.  But it rained hard very hard in Jalajala.  I had to go on lest I get cold and have rayuma.

Some interesting stories:

1.  I overtook two young riders (formerly Argonauts pala) going up to Callahan. They overtook me  again but passed them again at the flats from Cardona Morong boundary. At Morong town proper, they counterf lowed and left me

2.  A pack of fast riders including a Nebres rider (who came from abroad and rode a MTB) overtook me, but I stuck with them for 5 km from Baras to km 57.   Haha kaya ko palang bumontot sa halimaw.

3.  In Cardona, going up to the Looc hill (past Iglesia) a pair of MTB on 1 x 11 gearset overtook me on  fast clip and I gave chase.  Overtook them (they are not supposed to be overtaken because they are on very low gears) They caught up with me again at the diversion intersection.  There I stood on the pedals and left them behind

4.  I did the trip going home on a 50 chain ring x 13 on the flats and even went up the hills on 50.  50 x 17 or 19.   Dati hindi ko kaya ang ganong hard rings.

5.  My Fuji bike was with two other Fuji bikes this morning at Simple:  Fuji Roubaix and another  one na mas mahal.   Fuji bikes are truly light.   I lifted a PInarello and it must have weighed 8 kg ++

I was not a bad aSS.  I had dirty ass from the tilamsik of the  tires.  Very wet warmer, jersey, socks and Scott shoes that failed.  The carbon sole and the upper separated and I could not uncleats, I nearly fell.