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Bicycle Tech/Gear Discussion Thread

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mperlberg
Apr 26, 2013 at 06:15 PM
 @ Jules - you're right.  I was talking about pedals (which I hear tons of maintenance questions about for speedplay as well so I can only assume there is maintenance involved somewhat frequently).

I get about 1.5-2 years out of my Shimano cleats. I've actually always replaced them with life still left, so I have no idea how far down I can wear them. 


Jeffrey White
Apr 26, 2013 at 06:17 PM
The Speedplay cleats are the pedals, essentially.
mugwump
Apr 26, 2013 at 06:59 PM
Brendan Rigby said:
is this normal for speedplay zero cleats?  spring completely snapped after ~2250 miles
No.  It's not normal.  I think they recommend replacing the cleats after 3,000 miles or thereabouts, but I've gotten longer.  When Speedplay cleats wear out, it's rarely about spring breakage, it's usually about slop from the base plate and spring.  

I've also found that the stainless steel shim, originally sold for protecting shoe soles that don't need the three-bolt adapter plate, dramatically increases the life of Speedplay cleats.

What I don't understand is how Shimano and Look owners put up with the higher weight, higher stack height, and worse cornering clearance. 
Jeff Owens
Apr 26, 2013 at 07:45 PM
I love my Speedplay Zeros, but yeah, the cleats will only go so far.  I've gotten a year out of them, but I don't ride as much as JP.

My main issue is I think they've been manufacturing them more cheaply.  Within a couple of months, my last few sets have had plastic and other things break off.  And the metal cover plates/screws are way softer, as evidenced by easier stripping.  $40-80 a year is lot for cleats, but damn I like them.
dstokes
Apr 26, 2013 at 08:13 PM
Well, I was talking about pedals. Sorry, didn't read carefully.
But my keywin cleats (and pedals) have lasted at least 2 years. I believe the might be lighter than speedplay and have greater clearance.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/11/02/review-keywins-unique-floating-crm-carbon-road-pedals/

Rick Perner
Apr 26, 2013 at 10:37 PM
I have these and really like them

Speedplay keep on cleat covers
http://www.keeponkovers.com/Product.html
Jeff Owens
Apr 27, 2013 at 12:13 AM
I find having the clear covers in my jersey pockets infringe on my alpine times
Jules
Apr 27, 2013 at 01:44 AM
Thinking of going to pink bartape... You know, for its aerodynic properties...
Brendan Rigby
Apr 27, 2013 at 02:07 AM
regarding my speedplay spring snap, this may have been because i violated the manufacturer's instructions and overtightened the screws two weeks ago in an effort to dull a squeak that lubricant didn't dispel.  http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/11/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-speedplay-cleat-wear_101251

i knew it was not kosher when i did it.  just goes to show you, the engineers' instructions aren't just because they like to write manuals!
mperlberg
Apr 27, 2013 at 04:52 PM

tire pressure:

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf

this suggests I should be running ~100 psi in the rear and 65 in the front. eeek! 
McKay Duncan
Apr 29, 2013 at 01:21 PM
belated comment on wipperman... i have one 10s wipperman chain, and i find that the wipperman link is ever so slightly too tight for the wipperman chain it is supposed to work with.  hence, it tends to sort of jump.  it might wear in , but i am too impatient for that, and am currently happy with the KMC.  i think it is reasonable to point out that the quick links in both wipperman and KMC chains are of lighter gauge than the links on the chains, and will likely stretch and wear faster than the rest of the chain. 
Dan Reiners
Apr 29, 2013 at 03:02 PM

Jeff Owens said:
Which KMC chain? PBK has dozens. Some which are like $70-90. I've heard some compared to Ultegra and would like to save cashola. The one Ros suggested was pretty pricey.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/kmc-x1093-10-speed-chain

cheap and works great.

Also I want to hear more of the Shimano/Speedplay pedal smackdown!

Throwing my $0.02 on the durability of Speedplay pedals, in January I took apart my pedals that the bearing has siezed after 20 years of use, threw in new bearings and am now riding them on my 2nd bike, this was only the second time I've given them any maintenance since buying them in college to replace some Look pedals that hated my knees. So take that, Shimano durability and maintenance snobs! 
Brendan Rigby
Apr 29, 2013 at 04:15 PM
in the interest of full disclosure (i'm not declaring an allegiance to speedplay/hostility towards shimano), the other speedplay cleat has broken too after about 2200 miles.  a small plastic nub that retains the spring has broken off.  see if you can spot it!  by way of pruning the low-hanging fruit from the tenth-grade-jokes tree, the white stuff on the spring is PTFE lubricant.  i disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled it with the lubricant in between each component.  screws received fresh loctite.

this broken nub is likely a result of me being clumsy, putting too much float in my cleats, or over-tightening the cleat screws against the manufacturer's instructions.
2013-04-29 12.07.50.jpg
Jules
May 01, 2013 at 12:59 PM
New jockey pulleys anyone?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/bikes-and-tech/testing-friction-change-in-full-ceramic-bearing-jockey-pulleys_284386
Mark Clifford
May 02, 2013 at 02:00 PM
quick question re: giro factors running speedplay zeros.  a few weeks back i noticed an odd noise emanating from my shoes;  it's audible each revolution, and it's a sound that i can only describe as a sugar packet slapping an otter's face. 

if i shake the shoes whilst off my feet, the sound is there too. on both shoes.  i've tightened and adjusted screws and such, but it's still there.  it's driving me crazy.  this weekend i was going to take the cleats apart, but before that, wanted to see if anyone has experienced anything similar?
Brendan Rigby
May 02, 2013 at 02:12 PM
tightening the screws otter make it better, but if you do that your cleats will soon go belly up.  water you going to do?  avoid clam-ping down on the spring by tightening the screws.  doing that puts tension on the springs and creates more problems than it solves.  i discovered this last week when i destroyed my cleats.

my shoes made a noise off my feet; i think it was the spring moving.

how many miles are on your cleats?
  • i would disassemble, clean, and lubricate.  my guess would be that as the spring rubs for thousands of miles against the plastic and metal retainer plates, it wears them and itself.  this wear creates space in which you can hear the spring moving around when you kick your feet.  a thick coat of PTFE lubricant might fill this space and stop noise.  here's a PTFE lubricant that ride stocks: http://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-Bicycle-4-Ounce-Squeeze/dp/B002IDZXRM
  • the screws become loose over time.  disassembling and reassembling will give you the opportunity to tighten them.  the four outer screws should have loctite on them.  pick some up at home depot: loctite 245.http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/10/15/t_lkr_blue/overview/Loctite-Threadlocker-Blue-242.htm.  the 3 inner screws that fix the whole apparatus to the sole of the shoe also become lose over time; mine had shifted significantly in the 6 months they'd been on my shoes.
  • nuclear option: buy new cleats for $40
mugwump
May 02, 2013 at 03:02 PM
Mark,
Brendan gives some excellent advice.  

However, you should know that the Factors have a fourth bolt in the sole.  This bolt is for setting the middle button on the newest Look cleats.  That can move.  You can epoxy it in place.

i'd also caution against over-tightening the four screws for the cleat.  These, at least for the past several years, have "shoulders" on the inner face of the bolt heads.  Once these are engaged, they should stay put.  They're there to prevent you from overtightening.

Mark Clifford
May 02, 2013 at 03:18 PM
thanks brendan & jp!
Brendan Rigby
May 02, 2013 at 03:38 PM
np.  i forgot to mention that the speedplay instructions specifically tell you not to "over-tighten" the outer 4 screws.  they say to tighten them only a quarter turn once they become tight.  this might be a little too loose: i did this when i installed my new cleats days ago and discovered that the cleat has migrated outboard after 2 rides. 

you'll find that the screw has detentes as you screw it in.  you'll feel a click every quarter turn. do not turn past 2 or 3 of these.  i really torqued down on them to cut back on the noise, but then discovered the springs and plastic bits had broken.  likely because the spring couldn't move, and something had to give to get my foot off that pedal.
neilx
May 02, 2013 at 05:27 PM
Gorgeous imagery Mark....
Mark Clifford said:
it's a sound that i can only describe as a sugar packet slapping an otter's face. 


vlad
May 06, 2013 at 06:35 PM
Cracked my frame!

image
vlad
May 06, 2013 at 06:37 PM

image
PatrickGrehan
May 06, 2013 at 06:40 PM
Ouch!

Where did you buy it? I had a problem with a BMC I bought at competitive a few years back. They were excellent in taking care of it.
Jeffrey White
May 06, 2013 at 06:43 PM
A very similar failure happened on Jules's Cervelo R3.
vlad
May 06, 2013 at 07:03 PM
@PatrickG - I bought it at competitive. How did you find their warranty experience and how long did it take? I just filled out their warranty form and emailed it to them. I can let you guys know how it goes if you're interested. I'm hoping to race on the rebuilt bike at Dairylands.

I noticed the crack when roof-racking the bike after Turkey Hill. I'm wondering if switching into the small ring and back to get over Gamblers Wall did it. Seems like a shitty way to fail if that's the case. It was creaking like crazy this morning during intervals at Prospect.

I took it to Ride and R&A to get them to check it out. 4 mechanics said it was cracked. Let's see what Competitive Cyclist and BMC have to say. BMC gives you 3-5 years of warranty replacement (as well as a one-time opportunity to have your BMC frame replaced with a 40 % discount on the respective valid, official list price - hope it doesn't come to that).
dstokes
May 06, 2013 at 07:45 PM
Well, it is obviously your own fault for using your small chain ring.
I say, BIG RING ALL DAY EVERY DAY!

twoyacks
May 06, 2013 at 07:48 PM
My condolences...out of respect for the deceased I will refrain from voicing my opinions about carbon...

PatrickGrehan
May 06, 2013 at 07:56 PM
@vlad Give them a call. They were replaced my frame at no cost. Good luck
vlad
May 06, 2013 at 08:03 PM
This is the email that I got from them just a skoash over 3 hours after I sent them the form:

Hi,

 

BMC will warranty this frame. They are sending me a 2013 frameset for you.

 

Thanks,

John

 

John Kaye

Product Solutions Manager-Bike

2605 South 3200 West

Suite B

West Valley City, Utah. 84119

888-276-7130

801-736-6396 ext.5617

 

Backcountry.com
Competitive Cyclist
Dogfunk.com
SteepandCheap.com
Chainlove.com
WhiskeyMilitia.com
Brendan Rigby
May 06, 2013 at 09:16 PM
sorry to see that happened to your steed.  happy to hear they're warrantying it.

they'd be stupid not to.  it's called a braze-on, not a crack-off.  can't have your products failing under normal use.  what is the frame?  model year and name?  try to get yourself a sweet upgrade (2013 sounds like an upgrade...) by mentioning that you're a member of a hundred-person (is that our size?) cycling club in brooklyn and you'd hate to have to spread the word that BMC isn't reliable ;)