NEW Bike Build!

[Chicken Little]

Beautiful! But I agree- how about that saddle angle- is that comfortable for you?

[madscot13]

if you are talking about in the before pictures, yes. I had it adjusted perfectly. I was pounding down 40 and 50 mile rides no problem. But now with the new reach and whatnot, it is not. I have been trying to adjust it all night but I can't figure it out.

[Trek420]

But now with the new reach and whatnot, it is not. I have been trying to adjust it all night but I can't figure it out.

madscot, Chris of Robinson Wheelworks (my fave shop) reads TE from time to time. I rarely if ever quote someone much less their e-mail on TE but I'm quoting him here:

"the problem she is having with her handlebar slipping is based on the following compatibility issue. The old school Cinelli stem she is using has a 26.4 mm diameter and the Salsa Poco bars diameter is 26.0mm. Now 0.4 mm may sound like no big deal, yet the stems diameter is too large for the bar and the stem will eventually crack/break. Problem Solver makes a stem shim kit to correct 25.4 to 26.0, this is a 0.6 mm shim, and although close to the necessary shim providing a 0.6 mm difference. The proper and safe action is a new stem "

He suggests
"Salsa Poco handlebars with Silvia cork tape
Cinelli XA 80mm stem ...." and goes on to say

"I would probably give the bike shop a B score".

[Zen]

where have you been doing 40 - 50 mile rides?

(and I still give them a D, the backward wheel is a big deciding factor there )

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My husband recently rebuilt his 10 year old Trek 730 as well. It's like a whole new bike, and looks and rides great. Those old steel Treks are wonderful bikes and worth upgrading. Your Trek should last you many more years.

I have mountain gears on my road bikes as well. One thing that pops out at me on your setup is that it seems to be a really big jump from your 39 tooth ring to your 53 tooth big ring. Were you not able to get a middle ring somewhere more in the midrange between your granny gear and big ring? Are you having trouble shifting between your middle and big ring at all?

Your rear cassette is the same as mine (12-34), but my gear rings are 24/36/48. I opted to give up one or two of the very highest gears to get the lower range for steep climbs. My highest gear seems to be plenty high for long speedy descents, for me anyway. At 40mph I stop pedaling anyway!

[madscot13]

"the problem she is having with her handlebar slipping is based on the following compatibility issue. The old school Cinelli stem she is using has a 26.4 mm diameter and the Salsa Poco bars diameter is 26.0mm. Now 0.4 mm may sound like no big deal, yet the stems diameter is too large for the bar and the stem will eventually crack/break. Problem Solver makes a stem shim kit to correct 25.4 to 26.0, this is a 0.6 mm shim, and although close to the necessary shim providing a 0.6 mm difference. The proper and safe action is a new stem "

He suggests
"Salsa Poco handlebars with Silvia cork tape
Cinelli XA 80mm stem ...." and goes on to say

"I would probably give the bike shop a B score".

no, it is most definitely a 26.0 stem. I was very careful not to buy an, in my opinion, obsolete stem. there are very few bars you can use 26.4 with. it could be tightened, it just wasn't.

[madscot13]

no, it is most definitely a 26.0 stem. I was very careful not to buy an, in my opinion, obsolete stem. there are very few bars you can use 26.4 with. it could be tightened, it just wasn't.

I understand what you are saying now. It is the seat height/ angle I have to adjust now, not the stem.

[madscot13]

I do wish the bike would have tightened some of the bolts. you know as a common courtesy. I swear the next time I want a bike build I am going to do it myself.