Recent content by Uncle Grumpy

Some headsets have a rubber seal to prevent the ingress of water. It can be on the top of the top assembly, or the bottom of the bottom assembly on the crown race. If the seal has unseated itself and has caught on something, it might be binding on the bearing cage.

I'd go the Fuquay. https://singletrackworld.com/2024/06/obituary-greg-fuquay-by-chipps/ Do it nice and do the man justice. Spec is your call, period correct would be nice because there was plenty of cool stuff being made around that time.

Also, check that any "play" is actually in the headset by placing a finger around the top race on the headset and rocking the bike back and forward while holding the front brake. Sometimes play in the brake can make you feel a slight knocking or bumping. If it's loose then binding and there's...

You ever take it off any sweet jumps?

Agreed with those above - 1 1/8 external. I'd go with suspension forks.... then send me the original rigid fork. :D

That's what I did on my ti Kona when I rest-modded it to work with V brakes. I think it was an Avid one that came in a cable kit some years back, and I recall enlarging the exit hole in the dog collar a little to make it fit. Otherwise, for something like a Lava Dome, I'd silver braze a cable...

I'm sure there's many more of us! And the rugby league team I follow hasn't had a win all season thus far. Sigh...

This. Do you have a newsletter I might subscribe to? Seriously, those are wise words. There is often only so much we can do for ourselves, but we should still give those things a red hot go.

For a minute I thought someone had hacked my account... :D Married, 3 kids (2 in school, one who won't get off his arse because he "needs a year off after finishing school"), wife who thinks the house (which is brick and tile, solid, clean and not that old) is a never ending project of making...

Mmm, there you go! That's cool info. I suppose losing the "I" would stop confusion with "1" but man, what was their objection to the letter "F"?!

C corresponds to the number 3. March is the third month. Using letters saved them from the serial number having an extra digit for October (J for 10), November (K for 11) and December (L for 12). The other numbers indicate that it was made on a Tuesday just before morning tea, but I could be...

For day to day riding I have a Bell 4Forty MIPS. For retro riding I also use the Bell 4Forty MIPS. Comfortable and light. Thankfully haven't had to test it's ability to save my skull. But for true dedicated retro riding there is only one option... Hehehe, when that product was released...

The elastomers have started to degrade. They will get hot and might soften up but as soon as they cool again, they're back to firm. I'd be worried that I'd heat them up to much and end up with shorter, fatter elastomers and less travel with each stroke. If they're munted, you've got nothing...

There's stuff I have that when building a bike, I know will work and will fit and I use it - forgetting "oh that's 30 years old (or thereabouts)". Race Face I beam cranks. SRAM X0 9 speed shifters and derailleurs. Anything XT from the 90s - it's the era of bikes I like and the best groupset I...

Jaw status = dropped. I have never been a fan of Specialized, never desired to own one. Just my own view, I always gravitated to other brands and as a result I don't care for them, frankly. But... That is beyond awesome. Absolutely beautiful time capsule. Anyone, even me, would be proud...