Tool Time

[nickwm21]

+1 for the streamlight. I’ve had one in my work vest for years, use it every day.


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[sfotex]

Needed to change out some front wheel bearing today. Tried the drift method but everything was pretty tight so no go. Stumbled across a video where a guy had good luck using an expansion bolt, which I have boxes of in the garage. Grabbed a 1/2" Rawl/Powers 5 piece bolt and had the bearings out in a few minutes.... Dang that was easy...

[Roxtar]

Needed to change out some front wheel bearing today. Tried the drift method but everything was pretty tight so no go. Stumbled across a video where a guy had good luck using an expansion bolt, which I have boxes of in the garage. Grabbed a 1/2" Rawl 5 piece bolt and had the bearings out in a few minutes.... Dang that was easy...

Nice.
Good PSA.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Saw a Berm Peak express video. You can 3D print seal/bear press thingies. Although I guess those don't pop the bearing out.

[Roxtar]

Saw a Berm Peak express video. You can 3D print seal/bear press thingies. Although I guess those don't pop the bearing out.

Link please?

[stuckathuntermtn]

Berm Peak Express on YouTube. The video description has links to different 3D printable plans. It was just for SunTour fork seals, but I would assume the design would be adaptable to different sizes if it hasn't been done already.

[jm2e]

Finally got the Park CSH-1straight pull spoke Clamp holder pliers thing. Now instead of a completely detensioned wheel, I have three broken spokes. FML


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[rideit]

What are you guys using for shop scissors/shears?

[bamboocoreONLY]

I've used the park tool SZR-1 quite a bit and they're actually pretty dang nice.

[XXX-er]

On the spoke prep file this guy did some experimenting and made observations i thot worth noting

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/some-ex...-prep.1017413/

[XXX-er]

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/t...JWPbSpXwMdFiYQ

Another great one basicly asking if chain waxing is so great why don't the pro's do it ?

hint: pretty much time & money

[Dee Hubbs]

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/t...JWPbSpXwMdFiYQ

Another great one basicly asking if chain waxing is so great why don't the pro's do it ?
hint: pretty much time & money

Hint: 11 teams at the Tour de France are using waxed chains, 8 of them are using a non-sponsored wax/lube company.

[joetron]

Yep, recently listened to an interview with Josh from Silca and he mentioned how he had been meeting with teams pre-tour who have sponsorships with other lube companies but had performance exemptions in their contracts, so they could use Silca if it was faster


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[rideit]

Have any of you had to cut/trim cable housing while out on a ride? Buddy had a mechanical today that would have been easy-peasy with a housing cutter. We used a leatherman, but the cut was really shitty. I would love to hear of a lightweight, discrete solution.
Did a bunch of searches, I have not found a product like this.
(doesn’t have to be from bike tools)

[Dee Hubbs]

Yep, recently listened to an interview with Josh from Silca and he mentioned how he had been meeting with teams pre-tour who have sponsorships with other lube companies but had performance exemptions in their contracts, so they could use Silca if it was faster

Silca has just official announced that they are official provider to Jumbo Lease a bike:
Through this partnership, Silca will become the official chain wax and bike care (cleaning) partner of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Our riders will benefit from Silca's scientifically formulated lubricants and cleaners, ensuring their bikes perform at peak efficiency throughout the season and through 2025.
“Chain waxing gives us the best chain performance in all conditions, and Silca is a leading company in this area. Their expertise and innovative mindset perfectly align with our commitment to continuously improve our equipment.”

[Name Redacted]

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/t...JWPbSpXwMdFiYQ

Another great one basicly asking if chain waxing is so great why don't the pro's do it ?

hint: pretty much time & money

All I got from that is that the mechanics on the TDF are too lazy to deal with waxing chains every day and it probably cuts into their drinking time.

[XXX-er]

besides drinking there is prepping the next days ride/ wash and prep all the other bikes of which there are lots/ wash the bus/ wash the car or cars/ get them loaded/ maybe drive to the next stage/ eat/ rest is the time part

who sponsors the team gives you money for using their chain lube is the money part

and its all got to make winning sense while a dentist in his garage with a crockpot does not

[Name Redacted]

besides drinking there is prepping the next days ride/ wash and prep all the other bikes of which there are lots/ wash the bus/ wash the car or cars/ get them loaded/ maybe drive to the next stage/ eat/ rest is the time part

who sponsors the team gives you money for using their chain lube is the money part

and its all got to make winning sense while a dentist in his garage with a crockpot does not

What mechanic can't wax a damn chain while scrubbing a few bikes? They must not be paid by the hour. Nobody wants to work anymore....

[Dee Hubbs]

besides drinking there is prepping the next days ride/ wash and prep all the other bikes of which there are lots/ wash the bus/ wash the car or cars/ get them loaded/ maybe drive to the next stage/ eat/ rest is the time part

who sponsors the team gives you money for using their chain lube is the money part

and its all got to make winning sense while a dentist in his garage with a crockpot does not

They are doing 100 chain batch waxes at Service course, and packaging them for the season. No different than how you buy a pre waxed chain from Silca or Ceramic Speed.
Chains are tracked on mileage, and are swapped out for a fresh waxed chain once mileage or severe weather has indicated a needed change.
Team mechanics are learning to change with the times. They are finally catching up with tubeless tires and sealant. Almost all the tubeless wheels photographed in the pro pits have a date sticker or paint pen date written beside the valve indicating the sealant refresh date.
Some tech savvy riders on teams that don’t officially support waxing are preparing their own chains (or having them prepped) at the start of the season and then asking team mechanics install them on just their bikes. Famously during the Tdf on bike check segment reporters noticed a sticker on the chain stay “Mechanics, DO NOT wash chain, it’s waxed”

I had a waxing party this weekend. At home I prepped 3 new chains. 2 XTR and one Transmission XX SL for athletes competing at Leadville in two weeks.

Steps:
-New chain cut to specific length
-30 mins in ultrasonic cleaner in mineral spirits to breakdown and loosen factory grease.
-wiped down with new clean towel
-30 mins in ultrasonic cleaner in diluted (6:1) citrus degreaser
-wiped down with a new clean towel
- 10 minutes in ultrasonic cleaner in denatured alcohol
-air dry
- Silca secret chain wax in pre-heated crock pot for 10 mins on full heat (250 ish), turn off heat and remove chains once below 200*F
-hang to cool
-once wax is hard I run the chains repetitively though a pulley to break the links free of the loose wax
-compressed air to remove loose wax
-scrape clean the quick link surfaces and joining female link openings
-Package and label chains for the athletes.

These athletes will install and ride for 25-50 miles prior to the event.

[Gunder]

besides drinking there is prepping the next days ride/ wash and prep all the other bikes of which there are lots/ wash the bus/ wash the car or cars/ get them loaded/ maybe drive to the next stage/ eat/ rest is the time part

who sponsors the team gives you money for using their chain lube is the money part

and its all got to make winning sense while a dentist in his garage with a crockpot does not

This. I've spent enough time with these kinds of marketing contracts to know exactly how the game is plaid. These kinds of contracts are what I call Fluff contracts, they add a lot to the teams bottom line, and there is no real tangible deliveries that require them actually using the product or not. Brand X sends a bunch of product and more importantly writes a big ass check. Team then may or may not use said product. It's just how the marketing game is played. Now remember the goal of said team isn't to win. The goal of the team is to make the most money possible.

Now to get this back on track I just picked up a new toy today.


I had ordered the Laba7 with the electronics package but its on a 3 month backorder, and the told me they had some design problems with it. So when I got a call from a local shop that decided they no longer wanted to do suspension work, I jumped on the opportunity to pick up a bunch of tooling really cheap. When I get some free time I'l lprobally figure out how to add my own linear load cell to it.
Just gotta figure out if it makes sense to buy their inventory of their parts too.

[Roxtar]

All I got from that is that the mechanics on the TDF are too lazy to deal with waxing chains every day and it probably cuts into their drinking time.

Do you really think teams don't have enough $ in their TDF budget to have 21 newly waxed chains available/bike?
Edit: Or more realistically, get 21 chains for free?

[Name Redacted]

Do you really think teams don't have enough $ in their TDF budget to have 21 newly waxed chains available?
Edit: Or more realistically, get 21 chains for free?

Did you happen to notice the at the end of that statement? Did you really think I was serious? JFC man, did you even read the article?

[Roxtar]

Did you happen to notice the at the end of that statement? Did you really think I was serious? JFC man, did you even read the article?

Sorry man. Old guy eyes; didn't see the wink.
Did read the article. To be honest, the benefits of waxing that matter to me; chain life and cleanliness, matter very little at this level of racing.
TDF riders rarely deal with things like mud or dirt and, I would imagine, chains are routinely tossed pretty early in their normal wear lifespan.
The whole lower friction coefficient thing is of very little concern to me but, I imagine, huge to these guys.

[jm2e]

Steps:
-New chain cut to specific length
-30 mins in ultrasonic cleaner in mineral spirits to breakdown and loosen factory grease.
-wiped down with new clean towel
-30 mins in ultrasonic cleaner in diluted (6:1) citrus degreaser
-wiped down with a new clean towel
- 10 minutes in ultrasonic cleaner in denatured alcohol
-air dry
- Silca secret chain wax in pre-heated crock pot for 10 mins on full heat (250 ish), turn off heat and remove chains once below 200*F
-hang to cool
-once wax is hard I run the chains repetitively though a pulley to break the links free of the loose wax
-compressed air to remove loose wax
-scrape clean the quick link surfaces and joining female link openings
-Package and label chains for the athletes.

Holy Fuck.
I hope you’re liberally up-charging those chains.
Great reminder why won’t be doing this.


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[Dee Hubbs]

Holy Fuck.
I hope you’re liberally up-charging those chains.
Great reminder why won’t be doing this.


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This was a home job, for a few pro riders I look after. I’m not a shop charging time.
It’s really not much hands on time. I was bleeding some brakes, swapping some tires, adding Stan’s to other bikes while this was all going on.
The timer would go off and I’d spend a minute to move the chains to the next stage and go back to the other job.
Hands on work is only a few minutes, but the chains will be fast and quiet.