SquashCycle Bikes

[ericm]

The right way to deal with freehub noise is to disassemble the freehub, clean and grease it with light weight grease, check the bearings and replace any that are going bad. Sometimes the pawls are rounded off or the springs broken but that's unusual.

If the spoke guard was the kind that fits on the freehub then you may need a spacer between the hub and cassette. Some freehub/cassette combinations like 10sp cassette on 9sp freehub need a spacer.

 

[Xti04]

Spoke guard was just clipped to the wheel, no issue there. Put bike in the work stand today and it was much quieter than it was the other night. I think workin that oil into it helped quite a bit. Normally I would have done a complete disassembly and cleaning, but I lacked a tool to span the top of the freebub to remove the inner cover. We even ground down a thin metal spanner to try and remove it with no luck. Its on the tool list for now as I dont plan to really get into the inner workings of another one anytime soon.

 

[Xti04]

The commencal showed up yesterday! Got it put together and hit the pump track today. Rode so .much better than the trek, havent got to hit the trails with it yet little bit too wet. But first impressions are good. Need a dropper post bad!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Rad bike! The dropper is a game changer for sure.

 

[Squashfest81]

Looks mean! She’s going to be a blast.

 

[Xti04]

Hows that Fuji comin along Squashfest?

 

[Squashfest81]

The Fuji is on hold til supplies arrive next week. Ordered a chain and I needed cable ends to wrap up the cabling. It’s looking good, but my goodness is she heavy. I’m surprised my 13 year old self could move that thing around. I’ll get it on the scale once it’s together along with pics.
I’ve decided to stick with all the stock components. New grips and a different seat on a different seat post.
Next in the queue is the Gary Fisher Sugar combination.

 

[Xti04]

Its funny how heavy the older stuff was compared to the new tech. I have a Jamis dakota circa 200 that I built into a hybrid with a 1 in road threadless fork and 105 components I am refurbing for a buddy to ride. This thing was a mtb back in the day with a rockshox fork. Its amazing how much things have changed in 20 years. Geometry, materials, and components have made huge leaps in that time, but I still find my self stuck on what i grew up with. Once the Jamis is done I have a redline bmx bike that desperately needs some love.

 

[Xti04]

Any pro tips for a good seal when going tubeless ? Taped the rims up, installed a tube and tire and put like 40psi in there to really seat the tape to the rim. Removed tube, added valve stem and seated beads. Added sealant and then inflated. Losing air in my rear tire. Have spun and spun rim to get sealant distributed, sprayed with soapy water looking for leaks but no bubbles to be seen. Any ideas? If I put it to 20psi it will lose 50% over a few hours.

 

[Squashfest81]

Xti, that tubeless is way too modern and hip for me. It does sound like you are doing what the videos tell me. I’m surprised that you aren’t seeing the leak in bubbles though. Hmmm?
My little cheap Amazon order came in. Cable ends and a chain that came with all those chain tools for silly cheap. Not the greatest parts, as these are going on a bike that I realize will get little use, but serviceable.
Even made myself a dedicated sharpened pokey tool for opening up the cable cuts.

 

[Slednut]

25 years ago I really got into building recumbent's. I still ride one of the trikes around in the summer.

It's like riding a go cart that you pedal.

 

[Squashfest81]

Slednut, nice! Those are some cool machines! I’m not a recumbent guy, but I do like a trike. My father got into trikes to tow his beach chairs and kayaks to the beach. He’s done up 3. I’ll get some pics of some of his stuff. We picked up a Surrey, you know, one of those 4 wheeled beach pedal cars, over in Falmouth that is a complete basket case. He’s going slow on it, but it will be fun. I’m holding onto my pink Columbia to make a tandem trike, double the human power and I haven’t seen one.
Back to you Slednut, why keep the forks on the front trikes? Just for brake mounts.
Oh, and that two tone Suburban in your 80’s pic is killer. Please say it was yours and you still gave it.

 

[SlappyWhite]

Great thread and some nice work. Here is a pic of my bike workshop (half the laundry room). The Bianchi is a bike I restored, painted and modded into a fixie. The blue bike is a vintage Japanese utility bike I fully restored for a friend (and a challenge). I have many, many more examples....

Currently building a vintage Jeunet (French), full paint etc. but restomoding to modern indexed shifting while still using the steel cottered cranks, etc.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Any pro tips for a good seal when going tubeless ? Taped the rims up, installed a tube and tire and put like 40psi in there to really seat the tape to the rim. Removed tube, added valve stem and seated beads. Added sealant and then inflated. Losing air in my rear tire. Have spun and spun rim to get sealant distributed, sprayed with soapy water looking for leaks but no bubbles to be seen. Any ideas? If I put it to 20psi it will lose 50% over a few hours.

How old is the wheel? How old is the tire? I ask because for a while there were a couple of different tubeless standards that didn't jive well together.

I worked on one the other night that I couldn't get to seal. The owner installed the rim tape and did a good job. The valve stem wouldn't seal to the rim no matter how much it was tightened. The beads also didn't want to stay seated. We finally gave up and put a tube back in to make it rideable again.

With newer stuff I've never had an issue.

My process:
-Pull valve core
-Seat tire with air compressor
-Put in 4oz of Stan's through the valve with a syringe tool
-Put in valve and rotate tire/wheel so valve is at 9:00 position
-Pump tire up with a floor pump

 

[Xti04]

How old is the wheel? How old is the tire? I ask because for a while there were a couple of different tubeless standards that didn't jive well together.

I worked on one the other night that I couldn't get to seal. The owner installed the rim tape and did a good job. The valve stem wouldn't seal to the rim no matter how much it was tightened. The beads also didn't want to stay seated. We finally gave up and put a tube back in to make it rideable again.

With newer stuff I've never had an issue.

My process:
-Pull valve core
-Seat tire with air compressor
-Put in 4oz of Stan's through the valve with a syringe tool
-Put in valve and rotate tire/wheel so valve is at 9:00 position
-Pump tire up with a floor pump

Basically did exactly what you did there. Its brand new rims and tires on the commencal. I used stans sealant and valve cores. The stans valve cores are what I also used on my carbon rims but they dont include an outer o ring seal like a lot of other tubless valve stems do. Tubeless without issues is the only thing I have ever ran into on a bike that I cant seem to get right. Its frustrating and messy to redo it im just gonna ride it some when it warms out of this crazy freeze and see what comes of it. Hopefully the sealant will work its way into all the nooks and crannies and stop it leaking.

 

[1967ChevyRagtop]

25 years ago I really got into building recumbent's. I still ride one of the trikes around in the summer.

It's like riding a go cart that you pedal.

Trikes are more fun than .....your imagination

Recumbents allowed me to ride after plates in my neck prevented me from looking up.
A fellow rider told me "That puts you at doberman level", as I passed him on my Ti Bacchetta
bg

 

[SlappyWhite]

Trikes are more fun than .....your imagination

Recumbents allowed me to ride after plates in my neck prevented me from looking up.
A fellow rider told me "That puts you at doberman level", as I passed him on my Ti Bacchetta
bg

They are way faster than a "regular" bicycle, of course they are banned by the UCI....

 

[Xti04]

I have ridden one recumbent bike ever, im sure the steering is something that you get used to but i felt like i was on the verge of tipping over the entire time I rode it. Would probably be a lot of fun for touring.

 

[Slednut]

Back to you Slednut, why keep the forks on the front trikes? Just for brake mounts.
Oh, and that two tone Suburban in your 80’s pic is killer. Please say it was yours and you still gave it.

Back then I was paying for college and wasn't debt free so I would buy bikes at auctions, yard sales, anywhere I could find a chromoly bike that had good stuff on it. I would then cut them up and gas weld them into frames.

Most of the money I spent was on tires, tubes and long cables.

The secret to building a good trike is getting the caster, camber, kingpin axis and Ackerman steering right.

The forks were for strength and yes something to mount the brakes on.

The Suburban was my neighbors, had nothing but problems with it, and left him stranded many times.

Here's a video of the child's trike I built. The girl is a little too big for it.

BTW, every bicycle speed record has been set by a recumbent.

 

[Squashfest81]

Good info Slednut. When you find the moment, please post a pic of the whole fork front axle deal on the trikes. It’s intriguing.
Finally got the Fuji back together. Clean with all new cables, chain, and grips. Cool beat white seat.
Couple issues. 1. The rear derailleur won’t clear the Shimano mega-gear I wanted to run, so I switched it back to the stock 7 speed.
2. The front derailleur won’t get over to the large cog. It should, so I’m wondering if the bottom bracket axle had more space on one side and I didn’t notice. Going to have to investigate.
3. Brakes are not right. The cantilever arms have no spring action. Don’t know if they did before. Think I tried every possible position. I’m thinking the springs have lost their sprung.

 

[Squashfest81]

Hurried out into the snow before I lost the light.
I’m liking the classic white wall Kendas with the white seat.

 

[Xti04]

Lookin good! All that snow! Brrrrrrrr!

 

[abailcb]

That's a good looking Fuji. I love the vintage bikes. I used to have a problem, I suppose, with bikes and have a huge pile of 90's bikes and parts. Was a poor kid and could never afford the nice stuff, so when I got a good job, I started collecting and building bikes that would have been cool when I was in college. I have no interest in having a modern bike. I'm not racing anywhere and don't ride crazy terrain at my age, so vintage fits me fine.

Agree on the white saddle also. I've a white turbo on my dirt research and, while it may not be practical, it is a good look.

I'll post some pics when the weather clears up some.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

That's a good looking Fuji. I love the vintage bikes. I used to have a problem, I suppose, with bikes and have a huge pile of 90's bikes and parts. Was a poor kid and could never afford the nice stuff, so when I got a good job, I started collecting and building bikes that would have been cool when I was in college. I have no interest in having a modern bike. I'm not racing anywhere and don't ride crazy terrain at my age, so vintage fits me fine.

Agree on the white saddle also. I've a white turbo on my dirt research and, while it may not be practical, it is a good look.

I'll post some pics when the weather clears up some.

GMBN Tech (YouTube) had a great 2 part series this week on crazy mountain bike innovations. It's worth a watch if you like the 90's stuff. I spent hours flipping through magazine drooling about bikes in those days. I only ride current stuff, but watching shows like this reminds me of just how cool that era was. I'll admit, if I came across one of the Rocky Mountains or LiteSpeeds I dreamed about, I'd probably buy it! Full XTR build of course....I think I can afford 90's XTR these days?

 

[abailcb]

GMBN Tech (YouTube) had a great 2 part series this week on crazy mountain bike innovations. It's worth a watch if you like the 90's stuff. I spent hours flipping through magazine drooling about bikes in those days. I only ride current stuff, but watching shows like this reminds me of just how cool that era was. I'll admit, if I came across one of the Rocky Mountains or LiteSpeeds I dreamed about, I'd probably buy it! Full XTR build of course....I think I can afford 90's XTR these days?

Exactly ... the innovation was crazy. Builders were doing off the wall stuff, and most of it didn't really work, but it was cool. I feel like the industry has agreed to a basic design that no one really has strayed from in YEARS.

 

[Slednut]

Good info Slednut. When you find the moment, please post a pic of the whole fork front axle deal on the trikes. It’s intriguing.

Over 25 years ago I had a web site and had a lot of questions on the front steering knuckles with the forks. This is what I would send them.

Here's the plans I based my trikes on.

http://www.ihpva.org/projects/practicalinnovations/index.html

 

[Squashfest81]

Abail, where is that pile of sweet 90’s goodness now? I think I feel similar. I like my bikes to look like what bikes are supposed to look like.
BigBlue, I’ll definitely be checking out that series.
Slednut, Ooooh, schematics!
Sold something the other day to justify a few unnecessary purchases for the Gary Fisher Bitter Sugar 4 project. Look at those Fookers to match my fork.

 

[Xti04]

Dropper post arrived yesterday had a helper to get it in. He ran the cable for me as well as installing the cable ends. Finished by helping me thread cable thru lever.

 

[SlappyWhite]

GMBN Tech (YouTube) had a great 2 part series this week on crazy mountain bike innovations. It's worth a watch if you like the 90's stuff. I spent hours flipping through magazine drooling about bikes in those days. I only ride current stuff, but watching shows like this reminds me of just how cool that era was. I'll admit, if I came across one of the Rocky Mountains or LiteSpeeds I dreamed about, I'd probably buy it! Full XTR build of course....I think I can afford 90's XTR these days?

Over the last couple of years I picked up a bunch of older Ultegra, Dura Ace, XT and XTR parts (and some lower models), mostly nine speed for dirt cheap. Even older high end bikes were selling for very good prices.

Locally COVID has driven up prices (now a seller's market) for used parts and bikes (FBMP, Kijiji, CL), I would say at this point double to triple. I am sure this is happening in other places too.

Here is some lower end road-rashed rear road mech I got in a dirt cheap parts bin last year, they cleaned up nicely, rebuilt and work perfect now... great to add to the spares.

 

[abailcb]

Abail, where is that pile of sweet 90’s goodness now?

Most of it is stored away on the garage loft. I did grab the most convenient bike and take a quick (terrible) picture. This is not typical of my bikes, as it was built with and for my then 14 year old daughter. Stripped a GT Pantera frame and set of rockshox and gave them 5 coats of color change paint (daughter's choice) and 4 clearcoats. Drivetrain is all STX-RC save for the XT brakes. More than sufficient for the kid's runaround bike.

 

[Squashfest81]

Abail, that’s a great looking bike. Those GT frames are so classically cool! And the paint, nice!
It’s definitely the springs. They lost their sprung. Here’s two sets I have loose. The black are the Fuji canti’s, a pair of Altus, and some funky aluminum pair. Thinking the Altus will go on the Fuji and those funky blue, I assume aftermarket, will go on the Diamondback 29er project.
I’ve got my eyes on a crappy parts bike with cantilevers that I plan to peak and see if the springs can be harvested. Hope to check that tomorrow.

 

[abailcb]

It’s definitely the springs. They lost their sprung.

Squash..... I'm curious to see how a spring swap turns out. Don't think I've ever seen that before. Wondering if you have the issue both front and back? If you install them on the posts without the springs, or without the spring-ends in the "pinholes" they should move completely free no matter how tight you install the bolt. Not familiar with the altus brake, but most of the time I've seen issues like this it's something (missing part, crud or improper install) preventing the arms from moving freely.

PS. New here and don't know your experience level enough to properly dial in my suggestions, so please don't take offense if I'm speaking below your level of expertise.

 

[abailcb]

Just to give an idea of the mess I've collected over the years ..... a picture from the loft. There are 14 frames in this pic, waiting for me to pull for a project. I would guess there are roughly that many more scattered about. I have boxes of components, sorted by group, some NOS, most in good used condition, piles of rims, tire, grips, bars, stems, etc, etc. It is ridiculous. Never mind 11 bikes fully built and occasionally ridden.

I've recovered from my collecting issue, but must admit, I've not been able to part with much.

 

[Squashfest81]

Abail, no offense and you aren’t speaking below my level. It’s tough to get that low.
I’ve always messed around with tools, trucks, and bikes, but I’ve never messed with bikes as much as I have these past few years. There’s a learning curve with bikes and the interchangeability is interesting.
Take the brakes. Cantilever and V’s all mount on the same style posts with those three adjustment holes for the springs. The black Fuji’s have no springy left and no adjustment to gain spring. The Altus springs are not readily removable, but have a screw to “tighten” up the spring. Those aluminum arms have an enclosed spring. I’ve got Deore stuff on the 950 and decent stuff on a 90’s Mongoose that I haven’t pulled apart, but I will.
On the Fuji’s, I think they are really low grade and have lost their springy over the past almost 30 years. That’s why I’m hopeful for the canti parts off that cheapy 90’s parts bike, as I’m thinking it may have a similar non-adjustable system with simple drop in springs. We will see.
I’ll address your other post once I dive into that photo.
Really, all bike talk is welcome as the wife just doesn’t enjoy the intricacies of vintage cantilever brake talk.

 

[budget76]

Any pro tips for a good seal when going tubeless ? Taped the rims up, installed a tube and tire and put like 40psi in there to really seat the tape to the rim. Removed tube, added valve stem and seated beads. Added sealant and then inflated. Losing air in my rear tire. Have spun and spun rim to get sealant distributed, sprayed with soapy water looking for leaks but no bubbles to be seen. Any ideas? If I put it to 20psi it will lose 50% over a few hours.

how olds the tire? the rear on my current setup had ~350 miles by me on it, unknown how many by the PO. I couldn't get the thing to hold long-term, and it wound up randomly losing its seal a the bead during trail rides. swapped it out for a new one and all set.

stans fluid, stans stems, gorilla taped wheels

 

[Xti04]

how olds the tire? the rear on my current setup had ~350 miles by me on it, unknown how many by the PO. I couldn't get the thing to hold long-term, and it wound up randomly losing its seal a the bead during trail rides. swapped it out for a new one and all set.

stans fluid, stans stems, gorilla taped wheels

Tire and rim are brand new. Whole bike is new. Amazingly it seems to have slowed way down on losing air, i did a 12 mile ride today on some gravel roads, and checked air pressure right before riding out. Both were around 20 psi which they held from the day before. Hoping that the sealant is doing its job. If not I am gonna tear back down and do gorilla tape next time.

 

[Squashfest81]

Pulled the springs out of a 90’s Sterling, not a high class bike and I’ve never seen one. Anyway, the springs looked like what I wanted. Dropped one in the Fuji cantilevers and boom, full springy! You can tell by the pic, the bends for the spring are opposite. The Fuji’s have just lost their spring.
The springs have been dropped in the evaporust and will make it onto the Fuji later.

 

[jdbilodeau]

Just to give an idea of the mess I've collected over the years ..... a picture from the loft. There are 14 frames in this pic, waiting for me to pull for a project. I would guess there are roughly that many more scattered about. I have boxes of components, sorted by group, some NOS, most in good used condition, piles of rims, tire, grips, bars, stems, etc, etc. It is ridiculous. Never mind 11 bikes fully built and occasionally ridden.

I've recovered from my collecting issue, but must admit, I've not been able to part with much.

Abailcb-
I spy a Bontrager back there-- Trek version or Santa Cruz?

 

[Xti04]

Spent the afternoon at the pump track, learning to clear some jumps! Its amazing how nothing from my mx background has really transferred over, having to learn it all from scratch. Thank goodness for Youtube!

 

[slowtwitch73]

Just to give an idea of the mess I've collected over the years ..... a picture from the loft. There are 14 frames in this pic, waiting for me to pull for a project. I would guess there are roughly that many more scattered about. I have boxes of components, sorted by group, some NOS, most in good used condition, piles of rims, tire, grips, bars, stems, etc, etc. It is ridiculous. Never mind 11 bikes fully built and occasionally ridden.

I've recovered from my collecting issue, but must admit, I've not been able to part with much.

Where elevated stay bikes go to die!

Over in the fab section someone posted that Paul Brodie now has a Youtube channel.. lots of framebuilding info as well as making u brakes, levers etc from scratch. Brodie frames were the dogs rod in the 90's.

I've been riding mtn bikes since the 80's. Owned a bike shop, have built some frames etc. I have sold off most of my parts and frames.. the money from European buyers was just too good. I do have a pile of MBA mags from the 90's, and every issue except one of the Fat Tire Flyer. It was a fun time.. I have no illusions though.. the bikes of today are better in every way as far as function. But the small time builder/innovator scene was very cool and fun.