musing about my equipment.

[smilingcat]

Since I quit about 8 years ago, I've gained too much weight. I've started riding again to be back in shape. 8 years ago, I used speedplay X2s. I use X2s today. I have a set on my trainer (beater bike), my Specialized Transition Pro TT bike, and I have a set on my K2 bike. (I'll get to the frame). I also have a spare set of X2s just in case.

On my SIDI shoes and on my Shimano shoes I have cleats for X2s as it should since I have X2 pedals.

Now 8 years ago, I never really had any problem with speedplays. Easy to step in and lock. easy to snap out except when the screws came loose on my shoes. Only other problem I've had was when the spring in the cleat finally wore out.

I used to step in and lock without any problem.

Today, I'm a COW!! With all my added weight, I should not have any problem stepping in and locking my cleats. Yet more times than not I'm having problem. Cleats are not on so tight that it binds the spring. ???
Maybe over the years, the springs have gotten stiffer? I don't know. And its a very costly proposition to be swapping out so many set of pedals and cleats to go to the light action speed play..


K2 bike frame. I can't remember a time when I came down to this level of frame. And I'll eat my word and admit "I think frame can and do make a difference". I'm having a bear of a time with adjusting the SRAM FORCE. I can't get it adjusted so that it shifts smooth, and quick and not make a grinding noise. We've found that the part of the frame that holds the deraillure hanger flexes really EASILY. I'm not happy. Then again the frame was gotten for really cheap. I'm also not happy with the SRAM index shifting of the front deraillure. Its so stupid to have indexing for the front.

The other thing that is bugging me is that on my TT bike, I have Rolf Prima wheels. quiet, fast.. I LIKE. On the K2, I have Xero Lite wheels. (a lesser known brand of wheels. much much cheaper). When I try to charge up a modest hill of 4% grade 39/18-20 gearing, I hear these PINGING like someone is plucking strings. THIS IS NOT GOOD. Maybe its my weight??

I'm so tempted to get back to the level of bike I'm used to riding. But that's major $$. And I still prefer Ti frame. Maybe I need to put my wish for Santa: Colnago frame, with Record groupo...

Or Ridley, Orbea, Storck (I loved the demo), ...

But the bike was really cheap to put together.

Well it's good to be dreaming. What's life if you can't dream RIGHT??

Smilingcat

[boy in a kilt]

Since I quit about 8 years ago, I've gained too much weight. I've started riding again to be back in shape. 8 years ago, I used speedplay X2s. I use X2s today. I have a set on my trainer (beater bike), my Specialized Transition Pro TT bike, and I have a set on my K2 bike. (I'll get to the frame). I also have a spare set of X2s just in case.

On my SIDI shoes and on my Shimano shoes I have cleats for X2s as it should since I have X2 pedals.

Now 8 years ago, I never really had any problem with speedplays. Easy to step in and lock. easy to snap out except when the screws came loose on my shoes. Only other problem I've had was when the spring in the cleat finally wore out.

I used to step in and lock without any problem.

Today, I'm a COW!! With all my added weight, I should not have any problem stepping in and locking my cleats. Yet more times than not I'm having problem. Cleats are not on so tight that it binds the spring. ???
Maybe over the years, the springs have gotten stiffer? I don't know. And its a very costly proposition to be swapping out so many set of pedals and cleats to go to the light action speed play..

I don't know the X2's very well, but it may be the spring has weakened over time. A touch of oil might help a bit too. Mechanism may be sticky.

The other thing that is bugging me is that on my TT bike, I have Rolf Prima wheels. quiet, fast.. I LIKE. On the K2, I have Xero Lite wheels. (a lesser known brand of wheels. much much cheaper). When I try to charge up a modest hill of 4% grade 39/18-20 gearing, I hear these PINGING like someone is plucking strings. THIS IS NOT GOOD. Maybe its my weight??

Does it only happen when you are climbing or does it also happen when you are sprinting out of the saddle? I normally associate that sound with releasing tension from the spokes after I true or build a wheel.

[smilingcat]

Well, I had a pow wow with mechanics, my friends and another knowledgeable person.

Two of the people suggested to tighten down the rear skewer really tight so that the rear drop out is "stiffened" and keep the rear deraillure hanger from being wobbly.

Mechanic also adjusted the deraillure. He is so much better than me. (well I would expect that since he does this every day and moi? maybe once or twice a year).

I first tried the fixed bike on a rollers at the shop. Except that the mag unit was broken and its resistance was pretty weak. I ended up spinning out to my max without much load even on the highest gear

Rode on the road for only 15 miles and 860 feet of climb in the evening. The overtightend skewerer and the fine adjustment made by the mechanic did the trick. I forgot to ask if he had oiled the nipples on the spoke or not. But I didn't hear the pinging sound of spokes on uphill climb, I did push pretty hard honest but no pinging or the plucking sound of the spoke.

STill I think I could use a new frame. The gal who owns the shop is trying to sell me a Look carbon frame. Very nice... my other favorite LBS wants to sell me either a Griffen, Guru, or the Storck.

So flimsy deraillure hanger attachement point is the cause of all my troubles.

Oh today, I manged to ride most of my ride in the big chain ring. Something I haven't done since the last crash. yipee... I only dropped into the 39 chain ring on greater than 6% grade. I also got passed by a cat 3?? guy near the top of a long hill. He was in 53/18ish gearing. What a monster...Helps to be in your late 20's I guess.


The bike also feels sluggish compared to my specialized transition pro.

Thank you to my other LBS: Two Wheels One Planet (one with LOOK frames)

smilingcat

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just a note on my own experiences- last year when I got new tires on one of my bikes, I pumped enthusiastically them up to max pressure. (I usually don't do that). I got a lot of pinging spoke noises, it was creepy. I reduced the tire air pressure by about ten pounds and the pinging immediately was gone, never to return. Can't hurt to keep that in mind if it comes up again.

[boy in a kilt]

Glad you got this resolved, or at least found a hack that'll work until you can get the new frame.