wisaunders

There's a thread like this on another forum that I keep up with and thought it would be nice to have one here too. Keep it going, tell us what work you did or are planning to do soon.

I ordered new tires and bar ends. I went with the WTB Nano 29er Comp tires for less resistance than the nubbies that came with the bike. I thought about getting dedicated street tires, but this way I won't have to change tires for weekend bikepacking\bikerafting or off road rides home on the Trinity River levees. These are the tires that most of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Race winners have used (well the cheaper version at least). Can't wait to get them on the bike.

I'm going to trade out my old school specialized bar ends for the Ergo Control II Bar Ends too.

What did you do?

tsl

I messed with lights.

I upgraded the dynamo lights on my primary, four-seasons, all-conditions, commuter (2006 Trek Portland) from a Schmidt Edelux headlight and B&M D'toplight XS Plus in the back, to a B&M Luxos U headlight and B&M Toplight Line Plus Brake light.

Peter White Cycles is the usual suspect for these lights in North America, but he's out-of-stock and doesn't know when his next order of Luxos U headlights is coming in. Meanwhile, with my hours, my headlight season starts in mid-August. Sorry Peter, couldn't wait. I ordered mine from Bike24.de in Germany, €125.97 after VAT was subtracted. They waited the customary three-days cooling-off period before charging my card and shipping. Shipping took about a week via DHL/Deutsche Post and US Mail.

So what do you do with dynamo lights you've replaced? Buy a wheel with a dynamo hub and put 'em on another bike! Okay, so I bought two wheels since I wanted to upgrade them anyway.

The Schimdt Edelux and B&M D'toplight XS Plus are now on my backup, three-seasons commuter (2013 Ribble Winter/Audax). I had a new wheelset made at the LBS across the street. Velocity A23 rims (O/C in the back), Shimano Alfine DH-S501 dynamo hub in front (32-hole), Velocity Road hub in back (also 32-hole), DT Revolution spokes in front and on the NDS, DT Competition spokes on the DS, and brass nipples all the way around.

Waiting now for it to get dark so I can test them out and adjust the aim.

Bjforrestal

Finally decided to put a kickstand on it. Need recommendations though. Can't stand crappy kickstands which is probably why I don't have one on right now. Brands, and just want a single, don't want to spend 100 bucks on one.

ThermionicScott 

I weighed my "commuter", still laden with a week's worth of dirty clothes, when I got home. 41.6 lbs.

Squeeze

I am attempting to make a rear rack out of 1/2" PVC pipe this morning. (I wish they made 1/4" or 3/8")

Of course I'll post pictures if this actually works.

Here is my inspiration:

https://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/10/16/pvc-rear-rack/

mijome07

Damn, that is ugly.

Mumonkan

i took out the old caged ball bb and found that the cage had disintegrated into a greasy clump of metal filings

tried to install a new sealed shimano bb and the damn thing wont go in straight, so i have to get the threads chased next week and try again

put in a new headset and i need new spacers which my lbs doesnt seem to have, i guess 1" steerers are "rare" these days

so basically i took my bike apart and now i cant use it. track bikes to work yay!

fietsbob

Squeeze, why not go for Carbon Fiber tube? https://www.dragonplate.com/ecart/categories.asp?cID=52

Bjforrestal

Did the same thing. Do you have a pin coming up holding the cable guide in place inside of the shell? I had to file it down then the cartridge bb went in perfectly

BaggerRyder

I swapped out the 140mm rotors for 160mm rotors.

RGNY

washed and lubed the Nature Boy.

wphamilton

Swapped out the bottom brackets between the rain bike and road bike to fix up the chainline on both, and changed out the seatpost clamp. Last week I rigged up a new frame bag to match the frame color better.

Mumonkan

i did and i think i may have messed up the threads the first time or the shell dont like the new threads cuz its still monged

Bjforrestal

Not trying to say you don't know, but just checking...putting it in from the drive side correct? Also it's reverse threaded over there. One last question; what kind of bike is it? Wanted to make sure right threading. Also I thought I was done filing on that stud but needed lots more for the bb to go in straight. I keep thinking you'll be able to do it without re tapping the threads. Also first attempt lbs gave me the wrong bb, shell was too long and bottomed out.

Bjforrestal

Found a kickstand at the lbs I liked...the standard greenfield that you have to cut....comes in black! Stoked! Took home, cut and installed.

Mumonkan

yeah its the right size & threading, going in the correct side and all that jazz. the threads never seemed to have been chased to begin with since its still painted inside

frame is just a fuji flair from 87, a budget road frame from the time

not really a big deal to get it chased just a letdown and frustrating after fiddling with it for like an hour and a half

mustridebikes

New brake cable housing (rear brake was sticking) and found a great LBS in Wilmington right off my commute route. Time for a ride once the rain clears up!

Bjforrestal

[QUOTE=Mumonkan;15971320]Dang hoped it was something easy and you could get back on the road. Good luck and let us know how everything turns out!

Mumonkan

me too, lol. but thanks, tis the beauty of having more than one bike, theres always the "good one"

Squeeze

I'm the guy who posted the PVC rack link in Post #5 of this thread.

Here is what I did on Saturday morning.

I am well aware they sell racks in bike stores but thought this might be a fun and inexpensive project. Here it is while test-fitting it on my new-to-me craigslist commuter bike. I need to make some minor adjustments and then glue and paint this rack. I think it will work. If not, I'll just buy a ready-made one. Feel free to point and laugh; I can take it.

This was quite easy and fast to make. I used a hacksaw, a miter box (especially helpful for the 45-degree angles for the mounting screws), and sandpaper. The corners and "T"s are all the same size, so really all there is to it is having an idea in mind and being able to cut straight pieces to equal sizes (the miter box helped with that) so the thing ends up roughly even and not all twisted or higher on one side than the other.



Originally, this rack was going to be much longer, which is why at the bottom it goes BACK before going UP. My first version had the rack extending 6" past the rear tire. Oops! Fortunately, it's easy to make things smaller.



I also added a water bottle cage, pump, and the seat bag containing an inner tube, three plastic tire irons, a thin, light-duty cable lock.



Note flat bars in the pics above. I swapped the handlebars and grips but left the bar ends on until I decide if I like them or not. I took this shot at 7:00 am this morning on my way out the door to work.



Close-up rack pics...

bikemig 

I rode the bridgestone XO-2 to work. That qualifies today as a good day.

DiabloScott

I took a flat file to my front brake pads - was getting a real curdling squeal. I had a piece of glass in the tire and a punctured tube, plus my brake calipers and spring needed some lube so I managed to solve several problems at once.

Then I drove in because I have some errands after work.

ill.clyde

I rode mine today

And shopped for pedals and shoes ... Definitely contemplating doing the Sept 7. CX opener up here and need new pedals and shoes for my commuter/CX bike

nelson249

Had to go to Toronto today. So I had to drive.

tjspiel

Man this is a dangerous thread. I might have to face the fact that I have an addition to bike altering modifications.

So rather than own up to that right away I will ask a question. What do you folks do with worn out parts? For example I have a couple of old forks that are bent or broken. One has a cheap head shock on it. I hate just to throw that stuff away but I'm not sure what else to do with it. Chains and old cartridge BBs are other things I need to get rid of.