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Sunday, May 3rd Full Flower Moon

11 December 2012

I don't care what's new

A guy comes into the shop and says, "My bottom bracket is creaking. I'd like it fixed." Mechanic replies, "We can do that. I'll just pull it, clean it, grease it, and reinstall it." Customer says, "That won't fix it. This is the 3rd or 4th time it's had this problem."  "Well, carbon fiber is like a resonance chamber. Any small noises will be amplified." Punchline: there is no fix. That creeping creak will return and return and return.

Folks get excited by Kawasaki Green color schemes, or lightness of weight, or going to 11, etc. That's their 1st mistake. There will be others. Perhaps among them will be mistaking the equipment for the experience. That's their worst mistake.

I don't care what you ride, I care that you ride.

8 comments:

Gunnar Berg said...

People ride bikes, or don't ride them, for so many different reasons. I have so many thoughts on this I should have my own blog.

Little_Jewford said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Little_Jewford said...
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Little_Jewford said...

but it goes up to 11?

http://youtu.be/EbVKWCpNFhY

Silk Hope said...

Sounds like a weight issue..... His own. Can't wait to see what Berg writes.

reverend dick said...

The guy wasn't tubby. Maybe 5'9"? Not racer weight, but a normal American.

It could be the threaded insert is creaking away from it's epoxied join (I didn't so this round of inspect/repair,) but- carbon. I had a terrible(!) creak that sounded like it was the BB in my free wonder bike that I eventually tracked down as being the skewer. Carbon...it's got issues.

africansingle said...

Carbon frame + press-fit BB = squeaks. Sooner rather than later. Epoxy stops the creaking.One Time. The noise the moaner makes when he finds out how you fixed it? Yes, Loud.

dirtybiker said...

word.