Bike Repairs

My bike is a bitch.  Her name is Clementine, and she's a sensitive little thing.

But she also teaches me lessons every time i have to deal with her..either on a ride or keeping her maintained.

This is a maintenance issue.  Read on girls and boys!

Clem is a 2007 Felt FW3.  She's not made anymore.  She's compact and stylized for a girl.
That sounds wonderful until she needs a little upkeep.

Like all of us maturing females, she has unique quirks. Now before you go correcting my bike language, i am disclaiming my words as laymans, or laywomans, and constructive thoughts are welcome, but be nice.

Clem goes out of tune, like every bike. After the Memorial day wreck, she's not been quite right.

Here's a plug for Mark Manson at RBM, who stepped up to help me figure this out.  He directed me to Eric. Eric is a master mechanic at the RBM at Casa Linda near White Rock Lake.

Not only did he take the time to really look at my bike, but he also allowed me to sit in on some of the maintenance, and step thru the troubleshooting, as if i were fixing a computer.

In a nutshell, Clem has a 2007 grupo, i.e. a 2007 Shimano Ultegra derailleur.  Eric first pulled it off, and discovered the hanger was twisted. One new hanger fixed that. He also rebuilt my hub. It was already fast, but now..wheeee! super fast!

But after another shop had replaced the chain, i got rattling in certain gears when in the little front gear. (stop laughing now boys). 

The gears up front are also very close together and the chain, when on the right side of the cassette, was banging on the bigger gear.

If i have this right, Clem requires a synchronous chain, not the newer Asynchronous chains the newer derailleur's use.

Earlier this year, i had replaced the wheels with some Mavic Krysiums, and a new cassette, with a slightly different gear ratio than the original.  These things are made to be changed, but you gotta pay attention to the needs of the grupo!

Eric pulled away a spacer, and this combination gave the chain space through the front gears.

Geez.  I've been told that shifting is controlled by a few factors..the chain, the derailleur's, the cassette and the shifters.  But inside of those elements are subtexts of engineering that a seasoned, and patient mechanic can sleuth out.

So, thank you Mark Manson, and Mechanic Eric, at RBM dallas.   You guys are rockstars!!

First ride, so good. Now lets see how she handles....

Clear Skies!