Comments on: 1200 Mile Update: Azor Secret Service, Service, Service

By: bicycle internal gears | Digg hot tags

bicycle internal gears | Digg hot tags — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:11:02 +0000

[...] Vote 1200 Mile Update: Azor Secret Service, Service, Service [...]

By: todd

todd — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:04:59 +0000

13 step process? I guess it depends how you define “step.” If you already know how to patch a flat by taking the wheel off first, it’s really only simpler: don’t take the wheel off! Pry off the bead, fish the tube out, pump, find hole and remedy cause, patch, stuff back in, re-seat bead, pump up, ride. None of these steps are unique to bikes like this.

Admittedly, if the tube is damaged beyond repair, then it is a fairly onerous task to replace tube, especially with the vinyl type chaincases.

By: marcus

marcus — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:05:06 +0000

Brett, that’s why I actually had linked to the Clever Cycles trip story in that section, where it showed them patching a flat in place. Looks like a good idea. I would love to learn how to do that, sure, but where could I learn it in Austin? Probably not too many places.

I’ve been a to a few of the “free maintenance classes” offered by bicycle shops and, frankly, they don’t teach you much at all, and even less if you have a bike that isn’t their store brand, like this one.

I can, and do, make simple adjustments on my bicycle. However, I’m not going to go attempt some repair I don’t know how to do in the middle of the street. See Henry’s comment on adjusting the chain tension: I have been shown where the adjustment can be done, but will I do it correctly the first time? Doubtful. Do I want to break something on my fairly expensive bicycle because of that? Nope. I would much rather pay $5 to a local shop.

By: brett

brett — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:54:48 +0000

Fixing a flat on a Dutch bike with a hub isn’t so easy, because it’s really difficult to remove a rear wheel with a hub. Clever cycles here in Portland just offered a free workshop on how to fix a flat by leaving the wheel on the bike — a 13 step process. Hope I never have to do it, but at least I know how now.
Congrats on your Azor. I have an Oma. Having ridden the Amsterdam and Batavus, I think you made the right choice out of the options you narrowed it down to, although I never did get to test ride a Breezer or Velorbis. Good luck!

By: elliott

elliott — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:03:43 +0000

First of all, learn to change a f@#!ing flat already, Marcus! You wouldn’t drive a car without knowing how to do this, and I’m puzzled why you still haven’t learned this basic skill. This is giving me a new drive to write the changing a flat article for our Getting Started section when I get back to town.

Second, I agree with Henry on the internal hub issue. My limited experience working on them leads me to believe there is an adjustment issue with those symptoms. I’m a little dubious of the idea of breaking the beefy chain on that thing, but what do I know?

By: Henry

Henry — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:33:09 +0000

Marcus, Jason,
Yes, do be careful about tensioning the chain. There is always some eccentricity in the chainring and rear cog so you have to adjust the tension for the tightest spot. Otherwise, as many a newbie trackie (or fixie rider these days) has learned… you can easily tear a chain apart. At the same time that super tight chain is generating some enormous forces and definitely doing some nasty things to your bottom bracket and rear hub bearings.

Just to note, I rather doubt the problem with third gear was actually related to the chain tension. My guess is that the cable had loosened (the various cable junctions tend to bed in) putting the cable out of adjustment. While adjusting the chain the mechanic probably just fixed the cable tension as a matter of course. its a couple second task.

By: JasonATXBS

JasonATXBS — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:58:44 +0000

Since you have horizontal dropouts you just have to move your rear wheel backwards to re-tension your chain. You also have some nifty set screws/tensioners to control how far back you can move the wheel, which simplifies the job considerably. Remember to loosen the bolt which holds the arm for your brake in place, otherwise you’ll be frustrated as to why that side won’t adjust. Voila, now you won’t have to resort to a bike shop if you need your chain worked on.

I kinda carry self-repair to the extreme though. I try to be self-sufficient when riding to the point that I’ll carry spare links of chain and a chain breaker in case something went catastrophically wrong while riding and I BROKE a chain. Guess it’s the old boy scout in me or something, always be prepared…