Recent content by GarethPJ

You're telling me you've never broken a rear axle with an eight speed screw on? I'm hardly the cannibal, but I've broken two on an eight, one on a six and even one on a five and that's just on road bikes. Never broken one yet on a cassette. Gareth

It's pedantry I know, but I get a bit vexed when I see people distinguish between fixed wheel and single speed. I used to have a three speed fixed wheel, until the ASC grenaded in a big way but most fixed wheel bikes are single speed. So single speed could refer to fixed wheel or freewheel...

All fine, but the fact remains that an eight speed screw on puts the drive side bearing miles away from the dropout and, as such, puts the axle under enormous strain. In terms of design and practicality it's frankly awful. I'm even beginning to wonder if many screw on hubs could be offset far...

Here's a hint. If you want to make yourself really unpopular in Ireland make out that the republic is part of the UK. Oh well, nowhere within a night time ride or indeed public transport journey. Have to wait for the DVD.

Most of the eight speed screw ons I've seen have been of the MTB/touring ratio persuasion. So, yes 8 speed screw ons are relatively common, but rare if you want a reasonably small granny sprocket. Something with, say, 21 teeth on the big sprocket would be fairly hard to come by. Just out of...

A few more thoughts: If it's the OE wheel don't worry about the thread, it will be the standard English thread. Indeed if the bike has never left Britain I would say that a replacement wheel is very unlikely to have any other threads. If you are mixing an matching threads then you will find...

OK, you're right about that. I was assuming that the wheel on a thirty year old Triumph wouldn't be worth rebuilding, but then I suppose it might not be the original wheel.

Yup. That's where the Reynolds sticker was on a couple of may Raleighs and they weren't tiny frames.

Is there any indication on the freewheel of a manufacturer or a model name? It would really help identify the necessary tool. Have you tried here? http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools-casset ... t827_pg1/# I've got a variety of freewheel tools, but I'm not sure what they all fit. Having been...

No, but it is in the States where such things are much more rare. Having said that the buyer has still paid waaaaaay over the odds.

It's a sad fact, but almost everybody buying at those sort of inflated prices is a speculator. Either we're looking at people who are hoping to make a quick buck, unlikely at that price, or people who want to put it aside as an investment. Either way we're not generally dealing with people...

The difference in brake drop between 27" and 700c is only 4mm. I've done the conversion several times and never yet have I had problems achieving the necessary drop.

My LBS sells white cable outer and also sells on ebay. It's funny that a lot of retro types are always asking where to buy it, but it's hardly in short supply.

Sorry to take issue, but 5 speed chain is not 1/8" it is 3/32". To answer the original question, it may appear that the single speed freewheel requires a chain with longer links becuase it won't drop onto the teeth. The vast majority of bicycle chains have 1/2" long links, known as 1/2"...

Always risky to use the original paint as a base. Unless you know for sure what the original paint is you could be setting yourself up for a nasty reaction. In your case you were lucky. I've come across wrinkled, crazed and none curing finishes as a result of reactions between incompatible...