Bike Project Part XII - Final

Finally! Finished!!
I fitted the new stem adaptor and stem, refixed the handlebars and fitted the new bar tape. I also polished the Saddle with black shoe polish.
I decided to remove the black pedal platforms and just go with the double sided SPDs.
I'm really happy with the way it's turned out.

I'll put it (and my legs) to the test tomorrow on the ride to work.

Bike Project Part XI

The wheel hubs have now been regreased and rebuilt. And they're spinning smoothly!

I fitted new pedals too. They've got double sided SPDs but a clip in black platform on one side. I'm not sure whether to keep these on this bike or swap my commuter bike pedals - which have silver coloured platforms on one side. Or maybe just unclip the black platform and have double sided cleats on my Single Speed.

Here's a picture so far:

Choices, choices.

I took it out for a spin! It feels OK. I think I need to slacken off the chain tension! I'm a bit conscious of putting too much force through the chain to wrestle the gear up some of the short steep hills. Am I likely to snap anything? It's not like I have track sprinter's legs!

I have made one decision! I've ordered a quill stem adaptor and new stem from eBay, so that I can get rid of that ugly white, scratched and rusty quill stem.

Then I can fit the bar tape and that'll be it!

So the next post should be a final picture with all that fitted!

Bike Project Part X

Finally, some action!


The Surly 42T Chainring, the Single Speed Chain and some new tyres and tubes arrived on Friday. So now I've got two combinations:

• 46T Chainring with Single Speed Chain and 16T Cog or,
• 42T Chainring with 8 Speed Chain and 16T Cog.

I'm setting up the 42T combo first.


I had a quick look on Saturday to check if I had enough adjustment on my dropouts to get the correct chain tension. It seemed like I'd need a half link connector - so more time to wait for more parts!


But as it turned out, I fixed it all up today and the tension is fine. Here's the setup:

It looks very tidy! Very happy with that!!

I also fitted the new tyres and tubes. The tyres are 700 x 28 (replacing 700 x 20) - and they were a bit of struggle to fit. But I got there eventually. So here's the bike as it looks now:

Finally for today, I've dismantled both wheel hubs and bearings - ready for a degrease, clean, regrease and reassembly.

I'm still contemplating whether to buy an alloy handlebar stem. The existing stem is painted white and a bit scratched and rusty. I need to decide that before fixing the bar tape.

Maybe I'll take it for a spin with the existing stem and no bar tape.

Later...