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/  

Great learning experiences from MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

6.04.2021

There were a lot of things I learned from my incursion into MTB world

1.  While others are debating about use of rim brakes vs disc brakes I was busy understanding this:

     1.  Hydraulic brakes vs cable brakes,   For hydraulic brakes, use of mineral oil vs. DOT 5 (for                       SRAM avid models

     2.   Bleeding hydraulic brakes   (bottom bleeding, the hacks for bleeding   Substitute - syringes

     3.  Centering brakes  (in three directions)

     4.   Conversion from 160 to 180 mm;  the adapter kits 

     5.   4 piston vs 2 piston

           Which is better the 4 piston or bigger disc (180 mm nd 203 mm)

     6.   The icetech technology by Shimano; floating disc by Sagmit or 3 Pro

     7.   The one by two by and three by conversion.   Why two by is better

           How can you have two by without buying Deckas.?   All you need are 4 spacers

     8.   The disassembly of the free hub body to access the pawls

     9.  I missed this -  tightening the hub  with lock ring vs the cone.   (That is why I had difficulty 

          with xt hub of an MTB

    10.  Hacks for missing umbrella bolts of hydraulic brakes

    11.  Disassembly of  front hydraulic shocks.    The tools you need and the cleaning needed.  How

           can you prevent expensive repairs.    Why rubber hoses that can be cut can be used as rubber

           seals of the piston assembly.  (It is difficult to buy these small rings/kits)

2.  Canvassing or reading the  e commerce ads:

    1.   Access and/or buy from reliable platform.   Lazada is better;

    2.   Buy from Philippines store and avoid foreign stores.   Do not buy from sites without reviews

          comments, or none sold

   3     Do not access the viber number of the seller.  The e commerce platform will not return your

          payment if the transaction goes awry

   4.    VERIFY READ VERY WELL WHAT YOU ARE BUYING.  THERE ARE MANY MISLEADING ADS.  Sometime they are selling a bolt or a nut or sticker.  But the picture

advertises the whole bike or equipment

   5.  The prices are misleading.  Sometimes they post the price for the left part or right part but not

         the entire set you intend to buy.   You have to press the family color to know the exact price  

   6.  You have to canvass very well;  sometimes stores that are near one another can have massive

         price differences.

   7.  Do you really need the upgrades being pitched.  Sometimes you dont.  But their pitches are so

       good and being bombarded constantly that is why you succumb.  

3.  Know excactly the adventure that you want?   Road ride, trail ride or bikepacking

     Trail ride can be very dangerous and is not for every one.   Practice have conficence before going

     on trail ride

4.  Use your gears to the max when climbing.  That is why MTBS are preferred over RB because of wide range of gears at your disposal.   

5.  The one by or two by does not make your bike go faster.  You will have additional expenses but

      you get slower for dumping the high chain ring.    or the low low granny gear if you go purely

      one by.  You do not save a lot of weight by removing the derrailleur or the changer.   The cogs 

      which are larger have added weight.   

Tips for MTB bikers

    

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

Improvement in Freccia Celeste set up - a much lighter bike, better shift and braking performance

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April 12, 2018

                                                         Left over parts from Jagwire

This post completed the installation of the Toseek drop bar (compact type)   80 mm reach and 120 mm drop.  At 200 + grams and Toseek 60 mm stem at 120 grams.  That is only 320 grams vs the total of 500 grams for alum, or a savings of nearly 200 grams.  It now very aero, and less buzz due  to flexing of the bar on rough road.   Wow

Then shifts and braking improved because of better bend of cables.  To aid the shift and brake performance, I used the left over accessories from Jagwire (used in Bianchi project).  There are nipples that connect the brake cable to the STI resulting in less effort to brake.  And crisper more positive shift.

I would not part with this Bianchi for anything less than P45K is someone is buying. Why:

      1.  Ultegra GS albeit 6600
                 FSA chainset  +BB              900 grams
                 RD   -  180
                 FD       100 grams
                 Brakes  350 grams
                STI        480 grams
               Chains     300 grams
               Cables     100 grams

               Total      1,510 grams

               Total                             2,410
       

     2.  Bianchi Light frame of only 1,200 grams
           Carbon fork                         400 grams

     3.  Novatec Jetfly wheelset at 1,435 grams

    4.  Carbon:

              1.  Seat post  -  Toseek brand     200+ grams
              2.  Handle bar   Toseek brank     200+ grams
              3.  Stem            Toseek  brand    100+ grams

                                        Total                 500 grams

   5.  Tubes and tires Continental  GP        500 grams

                                Tubes                       200 grams

TOTAL BIKE WEIGHT EST.              6,645.grams

Pedals                                                     350 grams      

Seat                                                        300 grams

                Total                                  7,295 grams.   x 2.2 lbs/kg  =  16,049 lbs.  Wow  

                                            7 days  delivery from Lazada. Ordered only March 31, Arrived
                                             April 6, less 10% if you use  Citibank, on a week end.  This
                                                   combo cost me P2,700;  the Fizik saddle which
                                                   is about to arrive costs only P1,000 plus

                                         Stem and aero carbon  drop bar weigh mere 300 + grams

                                                      Carbon Stem and aero drop bar

                                    100+ grams carbon seat post

                                             1,435 Novatec Jetfly seat post

                                                Carbon FSA chainset 53 - 39

                                 About  100 to 150 grams heavier than its sister:  Bianchi Oltre xr4

                                         Dramatic improvement in appearance and performance

         

                                                   Almost a superbike from Bianchi, top of the
                                                         line Bianchi Alum Bike -  Freccia  Celeste

Resulted in faster, more confident, more agressive riding... At mas mayabang.  Hehe

Nice and very light handle bar from Lazada by Ed de los Reyes

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 24, 2018

I passed by the  house of Ed de los Reyes in Cardona and saw his newly acquired carbon fiber drop bar. it is so nice with holes for cables and very light. The ads say it is only 240 grams.  Imagine that. Some alum drop bar would be in 400 to 500 grams weight.   Who cares whether it is from China or  Lazada.  Magaan at Maganda naman

3K Glossy Carbon Fiber bike no logo from Lazada

If we can get carbon bikes cheap, we must be in Heaven

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 8, 2018

Somebody sent me a message and asked how does it look to be heaven?

I said where bikes are cheap.

And the guy who sent me the message sent me where that could be.  It is in the south and bikes, thanks to China could be much cheaper than the generic we buy here.   Or those that are sold at FB (well this is also posted at FB)

Photos from FB link

There are too in Lazada. But their big difference is the sticker and the paint job.

Cheap Carbon Fiber bike frames at Lazada

                                                    Beautiful, just  like the  real thing;   OEM kasi

The high priced sellers manufacturers must  be running after these sellers, fuming mad, but we are singing merrily for making these beautiful bikes affordable.  Thanks to China and other OEM manufacturers


Bianchi Oltre x4

                                                      Reference  for painting my Bianchi bike

                                                 Ito ang manufacturers photo; ano pagkakaiba?

                                                    Affordable Zipp aero rimsets

Pinarello

                                                   F10 Pinarello Dogma -   ang gara

Wheelset