Scrambler update 2

So I got my bike back from the LBS.  Replaced the BB but it was still making the clicking noise so the mechanic turned the wheel so it was fixed and it made a different weird noise.  Tried changing the freewheel and that solved it.  When the mechanic handed me the old freewell, the ball bearings inside were very audibly rattling around.  So if you get one of these bike (which I still recommend), I would suggest replacing the freewheel.  Its cheap and will save you some pain later on, especially if you are out on a ride when it goes bust.  And if you are riding this bike around town like I do and you want a bigger gear, I would go down some teeth on the freewheel as it looks like there isn't much clearance on the chainstay to run a bigger ring than the 46T it comes with.

Scrambler update

So I have the Scrambler in the shop.  Getting a Shimano bottom bracket put in because the stock one is a POS, but that is to be expected on a bike that cost $330 shipped.  I'm not upset about it and it doesn't make me want to give a bad review of the bike in and of itself.  The stock BB kept making a really loud clicking noise randomly in the pedal stroke, though more often when under hard pedaling.  It was a little worrying because I could both hear it (the steel frame acted as an amplifier) and feel it.  My first thought was that the spindle wasn't staying level, i.e. it was wobbling.  Took it in to my LBS and the mechanic took it out for a spin.  He was back in about 2 minutes and confirmed my suspicions.    Hell, for $25 I'll have a BB that will last a few years.  Normally, a BB swap is something I would do in my garage in about 10 minutes, but the LBS had every size JIS BB that Shimano makes except the 68x103mm size the Scrambler uses so they ordered one for me and a couple for the shop.  I just told the mechanic to do the BB swap since I am packing all my things for a move and didn't want to deal with it right now.  I'll post up a real review of the bike when I get it back and have put some miles on it!

New bike day!

Everyone loves new bike day, and for me, that happened yesterday!  I purchased an Eighth Inch Scrambler V3 and it got delivered yesterday while I was at work.  Needless to say, I raced home and built it up! I haven't been on a shakedown ride yet, just a couple times up and down the street to adjust everything to how I want it.  As soon as I got done with that, it began to storm with hail and lots of rain, so I was indoors the rest of the night.  Pictures and first impressions ride report to come soon!

I suck at this.

So it seems I can't keep a blog updated to save my life.  However, I am updating this now.  I haven't had anything new going on in my biking world recently, just maintenance on bikes and riding for work still.  However, my girlfriend has shown an interest in riding bikes with me!  So I helped her build up a rig.  She wanted simple, so SS was the obvious choice.  Having picked out an old 10spd Ross frame as her starting point, we stripped the bike down, cleaned it, sanded it and gave it a nice semi-gloss coat from a rattle can.  Then we began assembling the bike with various pieces I had lying around or that she bought.  I did spend some cash on a set of wheels for her as well as Cane Creek SC05 Compact levers since she has small hands.  I really dig on the levers.  Long story short, I finished the build while she is in Florida for a field school (with my Tomasso, no less) and so I have been riding around town on it.  I like it and think it will be a good beginner bike for her.  It was 46x17 gearing with the cog spaced on an old 5spd freewheel body.  Chainline is spot on.

Also, while on gearinches.com, I came across this DIY for a sweet wall hanger for a bike:

http://kylethewilson.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/diy-wall-bike-hanger/