The AK-5 tool kit is fantastic value!! I was already into cars, so I do own an extensive collection of tools. What this kit includes are pretty much all the bike specific tools for general repair and a few basics like the adjustable wrench and allen keys... With all of the stuff in it, the toolbox is still only half full, so you have room to add some specific stuff for your needs. That means I can just grab that toolbox and scoot outside when its nice, crack open a beer and work on my bike knowing I can do 95% of the job without needing to head back in the shed to fetch another tool. Also, the quality of the tools themselves is way up there! Just get this and you're good to go!!
I always leave the fork a little long and put some spaces on top. I ride a real small frame and if i cut the fork the exact length then it is of no use to someone with a larger frame someday. This was taught to me by a bike mechanic back in the 1990's. If i had a large frame it wouldnt matter
Leaving the steerer tube long enough to protrude above the stem also gives both clamp bolts full purchase on the tube. Makes sense to leave it long, for multiple reasons.
Love the video. Very practical advice. That why i dont cut steering tube on the exact height of the stem, I add a 1 extra spacer above. So that i can adjust it after initial installation or if i transfer the fork to another bike.
I do enjoy watching your process. It has improved the way I go about working on bikes. My process is now both simplified and made more effective. You're pretty darn entertaining too
Paragon ! My first 29'er and it made me a believer. Was thinking of going FS but the Paragon dissuaded me of that choice. Went on to buy the GF Rig. An absolute joy. Thanks !
Wow, complimenting the bike, the previous mechanic, and park tools. You must have gotten some taco money recently! Great video. Always great to see areas where home mechanics may miss the mark. Helps to show how to avoid/correct the errors.
I just put a new Rockshox fork on my 20 YO Trek 6700 yesterday. Happy to say I hit the holes. I did not cut the steerer tube. Part of the reason for the swap was to raise the bars a bit. My only issue was an expected one. My front brake cable is too short, and I don't have one on hand.
Loving the basic tips and tricks here with the cleaners and lube. I started working on bikes about 2 years ago and do full teardowns and rebuilds. Nice to know these shortcuts because sometimes it's just too much work to do all that on the nicer bikes I find.
Looking forward to riding it again, you could leave all the spacers off if it helps. Not really a fit issue, I just like it a little higher. probably rushed the job when I got to the front brakes. Curious about the age of the bike, though, I'll have to check the serial number because I bought it in 2008 from the bike shop (as new). Not sure of the pedigree, but Trek registered it as a new bike at that time.
I feel like all the bikes from like 1997-2010 are the same. Like, before Deore became 10 speed. That’s when the shit started flowing downhill. Spacer just is there for safe keeping.
Regarding the age, it's definitely pre-2008. I happen to have a bunch of factory catalogs from 2008 and the Paragon from that year had 29" wheels and disc brakes. Gary Fisher was an early adopter of 29" wheels. In 2008, almost all Gary Fisher XC models had switched over to 29, while all Cannondales and Konas were still 26". And Trek was half-in, with their line up of "69ers" for those who remember them
@@mattregan9134 wouldn’t be the first time I bought new old stock. I’ve never needed the newest trendiest stuff. I have two other mountain bikes, this one was converted early, so it has mostly road/trail miles.
You just showed me the answer to my fork/stem/spacer confusion on an old KHS Urban Soul that I love to death. The steering was all a bit sketchy, too loose or kinda rough. Thanks so much for solving a probem! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Yikes. The geometry on that bike is why I got rid of my 80's mountain bike. Made for a neck ache as a commuter bike. I could handle it when I was younger but not today. Now I have a simple 9 speed with seat just a bit higher than the bars. The dude that owns that bike must be a racer at heart.
I live in Madison and look forward to visiting your shop someday. I just bought a Gary Fisher Paragon on Craigslist a few weeks ago, just in time for winter. It’s in great shape, but the wheels need attention.
26x2 ish slicks on 26 is one of the most under rated combinations in cycling. I have a couple of the park grease guns and like them for keeping contamination out of grease I am going to use in bearings, and for cutting down on waste. I also really like white lightning crystal grease lately as a general purpose grease and have been testing it in some hubs including my winter commuter.
Just discovering your videos and came upon this one. I have the identical bike. Got it from my neighbor with a cracked frame. Tried having it repaired but no dice. Then found a frame on FB marketplace and swapped everything over and absolutely love this bike!! Thanks for your tips: Pledge and Dawn degreaser are awesome!
Most times if the bike has been assembled and left in dry stoarge for months, there's no lube in the cables as the Teflon liner is supposed to keep the cable friction low. Frankly keep the cable lubing sparse, a couple drops every other month in storage, the oil will capillary action it's way through the housing without needing to pull the housing out of the housing stops.
Back in the days of the first commercial MTB's there was Specialized's skinwall gum, full knobby tires made by Mitsuboshi and then some Japanese manufacturer decided to make a nice sort of a fine pattern of tiny dogbone shaped knobbies with a "low friction strip in a 26" X 2.125 tire. Tell you what those tires actually smooshed, flexed and handled like crap despite having a decent high thread count skinwall casing, and the Specialized knobs had less friction. The first years of the 1.5" tires were the late 1980's and they were mostly lesser quality thick gumwalls installed on just about all of the low and mid entry level MTB. The rims were narrower and these bikes were considered commuter bikes.
i would have removed that spacer and gave it to the customer, but i wouldn't reinstall it over the stem. if something goes wrong he might sue you. anyway "Guten Rutsch"😅
I know its a mortal sin on this channel so i dare not suggest removal. But sweet bazoo that spoke guard needs a swap to one that hasn't yellowed with UV. Super sweet bike, really well taken care of by the customer. Great to see a tune up take it back to better than new ready for thousands of new miles of fun
I did the headset thing on a 2003 GT I-drive! When installed it was stiff. I think I just took the seal off and called it good. When you do just a few of them, it pays to watch these videos. Otherwise, take lots of pictures or videos during disassembly!
Best headset cap ever. I have 3 Gary Fishers. 1 2008 HiFi Plus 29er with upgrades. 2 2010 Rumblefish II 29ers. 1 with mild upgrades and 1 with lots of upgrades including Shimano 4 piston brakes.
Does the wax on the rim braking surface cause any braking or squealing issues? Haven't used the polish but seems it would reduce the friction between rim and pads??? Good vid. Thx
Man you did so good on that bad comments video, it seemed like you loved it. If everybody had your attitude the world would be a better place. Happy New Year's man
The worst thing i did was trying to put a bottom bracket in the opposite way. I got it in a couple turns too. They got it out at a bike shop and installed I was making a whole $4.25 an hour back then and had saved up all my o.t. for the $75 bike frame After that i bought a book so i would screw up again
I agree, and had you known, you could have gone down another spacer. Not really a fit issue, I just like it a little higher, and the fork guy cut the steer tube to match the old one. Nice job, though, and thanks for being kind.
New drinking game- every time Andy says the word "lube" in a video we have to drink a shot of whiskey. Good lord.. and that would be/ HAPPY NEW YEAR BIKE FARMERS!!!
With the bike on the ground check the upper headset bearing for adjustment play. When in the stand use the lower bearing for checking the play. Nice video, you’re going to put me out of business. 😆👍
“Bikes are always best after their second tune-up” As a wannabe home mechanic I want to learn how to do my own tune-ups. Here’s a video idea: service intervals for bikes. How often should I do a service like this for my bikes? Is there something I should be doing in between tune-ups?
I used brake cleaner from the auto parts store on shifters like those. Don't! The cleaner melted the plastic and fogged it all up. Looked horrible after and the shifters still did not work. I had to replace the shifters afterwards.
i found something interesting yesterday old sram twist shift for front derailer it has 6 clicks half shifts then full never seen one before and i agree with fist part vid the 2.0 better than 1.5 i found that buy experience and after watching your vids the cable lubbing been easy and yea i had another job other day for gear setting omg the rear derailer housing that old and nasty cable was just jammed in place new cable new bit outer casing all good thank you for your vids i really appreciate them practical bike mechanic in real bike store as im aspiring to be
You really need to be sponsored by Dawn Power Wash! Also have a word and get the Fairy (equivalent brand in the UK) to release Power Wash. We don't seem to have it.
tighten the Derailleur into the dropout and tighten the crankbolts and ring bolts.....did this for years. you got a cake bike to dial .... I never use a 3way. Fixed for life...............
I am a total fanboy; you make learning fun even when you are a little crabby, 😁One thing you said that isn't clicking with me: When you were putting the back wheel back in you said that the QR adds pre-load to the bearings. So if the races are threaded onto the axle it seems like they can be considered as one piece. I don't understand how you can create a high enough clamping force with the QR to distort the axle enough to make the races move inboard. What am I not understanding? Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insights through these videos! 👍👍👍👍👍
Always good or certainly non annoying music on this channel.. I’m really concerned about the music situation on RU-vid when considering my potential proper attempts at real content this coming year. Most of what I hear is awful and I will sometimes move on because of it. Bikefarmer had an alternative tentacles sticker on his tool box so we are safe.
im still in proses of replacing my tools with park tools but here in uk they expensive iv just got set cable cutters park tool ones omg the difference is amazing i keep finding excuses to use them lol
I'd take out two spacers on the fork on that one I've got a sketchy angled cut on a Surly in my Trek but it's within a big spacer. they have 45 degree 80 or 100mm stems to get what they want.. I had to do that with my Rocky Mountain. kept the crowbars added soft pads on the OG climbing bars from the 95 group donor. I have 5 bikes in my bedroom rental.. XD my real secret is 9 speed parts. the SRAM chain on my 930 feels like it weighs less than half the z8.3 on the others.... partly because it's big-big fitted and the XT long cage has to suffer if I do that dumb thing.. new bikes come with too long of chains. they skip the little 2-3 gears on the tourney then they eat spokes.. until you get a proper cassette with the first half steel the threaded one carbide or whatever.. and something with a longer bolt on the hanger section... even a golden arrow a105 short cage will outperform a flat tab Tourney TX800
The music is funky af and I Dig it Man. I really like how it is almost like you are having a conversation with the audience instead of talking at us. I think your explanations are great but I have been working on bicycles all my life. Besides who watches other people tune bicycles while they themselves are tuning bicycles. It is a fun dynamic. I am curious as to your method of camera work. How many cameras are you using and how much time are you spending in each aspect of the channel? For example how much of your overall effort is spent editing? Just curious and I am sure other people that are considering doing something like this in their local community would love a behind the scenes look at what you do. I genuinely believe that the more people on bicycles the better the world becomes. Great episode Sir. Happy New Years Dude. Cheers - M
Nice video, a nice bike, and I learned a lot! For touring, however, I personally prefer disc brakes, and I wonder about how much weight you can put on that rear rack.
If it's the species of bike rack, that I think it is, it's rated for 40lbs. I have a Trek aluminum rack that is rated for 50lbs., but I know I've had better than 150lbs. on it.
@@FLUSHER822 On my bike, I'll need to strap it down to the drops, or it's going to waggle, and throw my bike and me, all over the road. One thing I don't like about the rack, in the video, it doesn't have the "legs" , that would allow me to attach to the dropouts. Which means, all that weight is wrenching on the seatpost, and it's still set way too high. I would like that beam to be almost touching the tire. Which, also, means some custom work to something.
@@davidhakes5141 He had the seat raised way up to do the work on the bike, It sits just above the downtube when it is in use. I've ridden this bike a lot loaded, although not as much as a couple of my other bikes which have racks attached to the drops with a less positive attachment on top.
You should make some stickers or something to sell. I notice a lot of other bike mechanics do it to help bring in some extra cash. Hear me out an ordinary bikes for ordinary people would be a cool one.
I haven't had a "dork disk" on a bike since maybe 1990. This was a used Raleigh 10 speed. Dork disks (might) be cool or ok if they were made from 7075 aluminum or 6/4 Titanium HaHa
I find the extra comfort & durability of 2" worth the slight loss of rolling resistance. 2" better for city cycling where you're jumping kerbs, hitting potholes, need to emergency brake more imo. Depends what tyre you use, & what type of cycling you doing of course, but that's my experience.
I'm into 29 × 2.00 semi slick for my cromo hardtail, currently have continental race queen preservatives something, or is it shield? 😂 Anyway quite hard to find dude at my fav bike shop was like: wtf 2.00 tires?! He was probably sure I was going to die and worlds would collide ...
You need to wipe clean the cables first before you relube them. Otherwise it's a poor job as the old gummy grease will re-harden and become sticky again!