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Still having problems, but thanks to discussions in other threads I think I know where I'm going...

I'm going to measure the how wide the threaded area in the bottom bracket shell is later, but was wondering if there are any ISO BBs out there that have a particularly narrow threaded section?

If you have a look at my pics above - esepcially the one of the Stronglight BB next to the Shimano, you'll see that the Shimano threads are shorter, and so fit the BB shell. The Stronglight is too long, and so hits the 'step' in the BB shell. I don't mind buying a loose cup BB, as I might be able to hacksaw off the extra length. I notice the Miche Primato doesn't have flanges, so would assume I don't have to screw it in all the way, but will that affect how I tighten the cranks?

Let's be completely honest here - the police are only there to issue you with a crime number so that you can claim on your insurance. We'd be kidding ourselves if we thought they'd do anything more.

I had a letter through from my local nick three days after my MTB was taken saying that due to the lack of evidence they would be closing the case - in spite of them leaving a (possibly stolen) portable stereo at the scene, as well as there being the possibility of fingerprints on my Mercian, which they abandoned just down the road.

At the end of the day it's "just a bike" (their words, not mine) - they don't prize them as highly as us, even though the buying and selling of said bikes probably [RANT:daily mail/]fuels the trade in hard drugs and prostitution[RANT:daily mail/] and catching said thieves would have a knock on effect on overall crime levels. They don't even come out for car break ins now - so it's not just bikes.

measure things up before you actually start tinkering. knowing what you should be doing before taking out your tools always saves you time and money.
things to check:

1. hub chainline
   
2. your current chainline on chainring
   
3. what cranks? - that'll determine what BB taper you need. campag - ISO.
   
4. your BB? - campag/miche are ISO. shimano and everything else = JIS. sugino = weird
   
   

with all that plus a little bit of sheldon you should be able to determine BB + crank combination to match your hub. using ISO cranks on JIS taper will shift the chainring out 4.5mm.

i've built many conversions and they aren't much difference to putting together a track bike.

Edmundane, you'll be getting a pint when I finally make my way to one of the meets. Two in fact.

I'd often heard of JIS and ISO, but didn't attach any significance to them until now - I just assumed one was splined/hollowtech/new-fangled while the other was square taper - I didn't realise that there were different types of square taper and so ignored their reference until now.

The cranks are Campag Chorus, the BB is Shimano UN52 - which explains a few things. I'll be looking out for a Campag BB now then...

Measure your chainline and find the actual cause before shelling out on expensive bits.

Hence my starting this thread - I just wanted to find out if I was at a significant disadvantage using road cranks rather than track ones.

I'm going to have a go at adjusting the axle - just by a couple of mm - enough that I don't have to re-dish. It's just odd that even though there's a 7mm difference between the BBs, the problem's the same. Damned conversions...

Fed up with my noisy chainline, I'm coming to the conclusion that track cranks MUST be the answer.

I'm currently running road double Campag Chorus on a road conversion, with the ring on the inside, with a 107mm bottom bracket. Now before I go and spunk upwards of £80 on a set of track cranks, I need to know what difference there is. Are they the same, just with a single chainring mount for the track cranks, or is there more, like the track spider being angled inwards for a better chainline?

Many thanks - and apologies if this has already been covered.

heck. may as well get the best lock you can afford. and it will be a little while before you get the stinky from halfords?

ur into dh/play bikes then i take it? last time i picked up a stinky, it weighed close to 40lbs!

According to Halfords, they might even be able to get it in a few days. That depends on how quickly they send my claim voucher through and how they respond to my trying to knock £200 off their price. If not, I'll start getting difficult, but that takes time...

I was into DH and jump a few years ago, but only got back into it recently. I was pretty lucky in the sense that the bike had been sat unused under a tarpaulin for a few years and I only took it out recently to fit new forks and disc brake on. Up until the other week, it only had a '97 Rockshox XC with the long travel (80mm!) DH kit on it - which makes me think it being nicked wasn't a coincidence. Halfords weighed up the cost of buying in the custom parts, the cost of buying the equivalent Zaskar (now firmly in XC mode I see) or handing me a voucher for something different off the shelf.

Of course if the Stinky is 40lbs, then that'll be a little more for gravity to grab hold of. Might take some effort to get it off the ground though - and I'm not sure the momentum will help when I'm charging towards a tree at 40mph...

they sell Kona, GT and Voodoo these days.... not that im trying to defend halfords!

Still not relevant, being an MTB and all, but Halfords actually offered me £1,500, which puts me in the market for a Kona Stinky. They're selling them for almost £200 above the Kona RRP though, so I think I'll need to have words.

Obviously I'm now pretty damned anxious about the tea leaves coming back - you hear all these stories about people getting knocked off, getting brand spanking new kit on the insurance, only for the teeves to come back and take them too. Even moreso now that the Mercian is rideable.

I've ordered a Krypto 'Fahgeddaboutit' mini-d to complement my Krypto Series 3 and wall anchor with heavy duty wall bolts, but unfortunately the 'Fahgeddaboutit' is out of stock. Should I hold out for that or cancel it and go for a normal mini-d?

Funny that this thread came up - some may remember that a few months ago I 'reclaimed' an old small Raleigh from the back of my office, well, another bike appeared a few weeks ago, and shows no sign of being claimed. Like the last one, it's not even locked up - it has cable locks around the seatpost but it's not locked to the bike rack.

It's a Peugeot, looks like a mountain bike/hybrid. Not Reynolds tubing from the looks of things, but I am tempted to do a balaclava job on it if it's still there next week.

Anyone interested?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280239273906&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:GB:1123

From the bottom:

Q what is the make of the bike?
A steel

what a reply...

Even better is the "Can you do better pics of the frame?" question. Given the 'craze' at the moment, they probably could have got a much better price had they not said "can't be bothered taking more pic's sorry as it's not worth spending time on"

Lovely...

While I don't want to fall into the trap of criticising a seller because of one personal bad experience, but does anyone have any experience of Singletrack Bikes? Ordered a BB from them and heard nothing. E-mailed and heard nothing. E-mailed another address and gave them an ultimatum (send or refund - or at least contact me) and heard nothing. Now going through a dispute with them, and they haven't bothered responding yet.

Their feedback on the whole is very good - lots of satisfied customers, but it seems when you have a bad experience, you really have a bad experience.

Raleigh is now in the shed (for sale!) - finally got the BB so I could properly put the cranks on this. Still having a few chainline problems but we'll get that sorted in time.

Lovely, lovely ride - it's like a dream come true. Have spent half the morning when I was supposed to be working practising no-handed trackstands.

Might have to trade in the Chorus doubles for a proper track crank - does anyone reckon that'll solve my chainline issues? At the moment I'm running the chainring on the small ring, but it's not entirely aesthetically pleasing...

Think bianchi used to put a big fat B in their lugs, leaf sounds more colnago

anything like this ?

Even Mercian use a cloverleaf (of sorts) on their frames - just to cast a little more doubt...

I have a conference call number should anyone want to call it.

0800-GAYEXCHANGE

I used to work in an office on an Exchange Street. One day I walked past the sign and noticed someone had put an 'S' at the front.

I chuckled at the fact that I'd never thought of that...

I dropped my Holdsworth (geared) off at Mercian on Saturday. Getting downtube shifter braze-ons removed, cable guides for Ergos brazed on, new eyelet for mudguard/panier, re-tracking the rear stays and a total respray with contrasting headtube, and it doesn't look to be costing me much more than £150.

At the end of the day it's up to you if you want to go the whole hog. Even though I use my fixed Mercian more, I'm more relcutant to get that restored because it's in more danger of being nicked or crushed under a bus. If it's just going to be a beater, then why bother - just make sure there's no bare metal on show to rust up. If it's going to mean a little more than that, give it the TLC it deserves.

Just want to say though, I went through five pairs of pants and let out a pint of sex-wee at the Mercian shop. When you see one in the flesh, suddenly a Vigorelli doesn't seem that expensive...

I think I've got something that ticks all three boxes in the shed she could have for free - well, for the cost of postage anyway. I'll have a look when I get home to make sure I haven't chucked it out, but I think it's a big, ugly, white Raleigh seat.

I'll take the Samsung off your hands - missus needs a new phone. I'll PM you...

Is this real? I've stuck a bid on, but not sure why it's so cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120276356746&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT&ih=002

Give it a while - 4 days left and most of the bids come in the last day/half hour. I normally start my items with a low starting price because it avoids higher listing fees. You risk selling a high value item for 10p, but if you know it's going to sell, start low.

1. Name of film?

2. Setting of comedy?

Epic Porridge...

damn! drilled the hole no problems but shit u your were right RPM the Tiagra wont fit the drop is long!!
wat to do???! guess ill just have to ebay them unless anyone here want em?

I use this:

http://www.petracycles.co.uk/r450-dual-pivot-brake-calliper-drop-front-p-17303.html?osCsid=4qn3vsscnvbb88d1sjl4pmsfr3

Had to drill the back of my Mercian's forks though (which took a lot of consideration), but the brake works perfectly out of the box - insane braking power - and my forks haven't suffered for it either. For the drilling, I'm always extra careful - rather than taking the full size drill-bit to it, start with something smaller and work your way up.

Who cares to take bets on whether it is a cinelli frame?

I thought I'd seen that frame somewhere before - look at the winning bidder...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&&item=220231884621&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:GB:1120

£79 - that's some markup...

A bargain when you consider this one is £645
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170231906787&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=170231911548&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

Take a look at the Cinelli he's selling too: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CUSTOM-BUILT-CINELLI-FIXED-WHEEL-BIKE-VINTAGE-FITTINGS_W0QQitemZ170231901173QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170231901173&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|65%3A12&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

Now I may be wrong, but the "polished vintage Cinelli Campione Del Mondo handlebars" look suspiciously like Raleigh bars to me.

A centimetre is definitely noticeable, but is more of a 'wibble' than a 'wobble'. The biggest problem would be the brake track - though if you're not running a brake then it's not going to bother you too much.

Trueing (sp?) a wheel isn't a dark art though - just make sure you have a beer to hand. Very important that.

was it insured seperatly? otherwise, the max ull probably be able to claim is £500 off the house insurance.

and yeh.. they will make you get a pre-built. my lovely Cove Stiffee was nicked last year, and they insisted i get a £2000 replacement.. however, of course, none of the big companies make a £2000 hardcore xc hardtail frame... had to get full-sus spesh.... bastards!

just check the local estates, found a bmx of mine at my local once.

Didn't have separate insurance because at the time it was gathering dust as a bike to use when it was pissing down, or for when the fixed was out of action. Then I went out on a friend's full on DH rig and it took me back to the days I used to race downhill and dual, and ended up buying new forks and some discs. 160mm is a bit big for the Zaskar, but it didn't half look good - shame I never got to ride it though...

It looks like I can get around £1,000 from the home contents (with a £150 excess), and if Halfords don't give me what I want I'll push for a cash settlement, as I can get a half decent FS '07 bike for £100 either side of a grand. Maybe a Kona Stinky or a Specialized Big Hit

I'm 100% sure it was planned though - the bikes are behind a 7ft wall and you just don't know they're there. You don't randomly decide to climb someone's wall on the off chance there's a classic Mercian and a fully loaded downhill bike behind it...

^ i'm assuming you've posted this on STW, Bikeradar etc.

Sorry for your loss :(

I've put it on southerndownhill.com, and I've also provided a description to my LBS, who in all honesty didn't seem fantastically interested, but they probably get this all the time.

Just trying to go through the works with the insurer to try and get it replaced, or at least to get an equivalent. They've referred me to Halfords as their preferred supplier - hard to explain to someone who doesn't know bikes that it's a unique build and you won't be able to get a bike the same as this anywhere. I have a strange feeling they're going to try and fob me off with a £199 Saracen or something.

I'm most relieved at the fact my Mercian is still here. My heart stopped when I saw both the fixed and the MTB had gone - although my GF's hybrid was still there. I don't know how I saw it, but looked out of the window and saw the Mercian lying on its side just up the road, abandoned on the street corner. As I said earlier, the cranks are off because Singletrack Bikes have so far taken almost two weeks to send me a BB. Since they couldn't ride it away they dumped it. That would have been hard to explain to Direct Line if it had been taken - 'It's a 1955 Mercian with 48 Nervex lugs, a Brooks seat, 1980s vintage Dura Ace stem and a Campag aero seatpost'.

The bastards scuffed my Brooks when they abandoned it though - any idea how to sort that out?

I know I'm never going to see the MTB again - it's too unique for someone to just sell on. Every part of that bike was lovingly selected by me and it's probably all been sold off for a wrap.

It's not a fixed and it's not in London, but I don't know where else to go with this so...

Came downstairs this morning to find my GT Zaskar gone. Built it from the ground up and had just got some new forks and a disc brake for it.

They actually tried to take my Mercian too, but because it doesn't have a BB or cranks in at the moment (thanks Singletrack bikes!) they abandoned it on the corner at the bottom of my road.

GT Zaskar 16” Ball Burnished alu frame
Marzocchi 1 SL 160mm travel forks - grey
Avid Juicy 5 disc brakes with 185mm rotor
Atomlabs GI front wheel with disc mount - grey
Mavic D521 rim laced to Shimano XT rear hub
Truvativ cranks - black
DMR Chain Guide
X-Lite DH riser bars – black

I live in Aylesbury (Bucks) so it's just outside of London, but if anyone sees the bike in town or being sold somewhere, I'd be really grateful if they could let me know.

It's really disinctive - both because of the long travel forks on a hardtail frame, and because none of it is stock. I was going to head up to Aston Hill (local DH spot) to try out the new forks and disc this evening. Suffice to say, I'm absolutely gutted.

Sometimes you have to admit defeat and let a stem and fork go. I tried everything on my Holdsworth - even shoved a metal bar down the steerer and hammered the life out of it. In the end I had to take a hacksaw to it - destroying the stem, fork and headset. When I got the fork out, the alu stem had totally fused with the steerer - you really couldn't see the join. You know then that would never have come out. The worst thing is that I've got another frame with exactly the same problem.

Prevention's the cure - but appreciate that's not always possible. I always use anti-seize on the stem, and it seems to work.