Thanks, your cable routing problem made me understand my cable routing ( XT derrailleur) was wrong. It was very helpful. Great GT restoration by the way
Just rebuilt my first mountain bike with CUES. It had been sitting around unused for nearly 2 years and I wanted to bring it back to life. Bike runs great and now I have a 2nd bike a friend can ride.
There's currently an Epic Paris-Nice bicycle race happening(Stage 5 today!)... And Bicycle Farmer is still THE BEST BICYCLE CONTENT ON UA-cam!! Converting a Triple Triangle📐GT to a 1×9 with new Shimano Tech... IT Doesn't get any Better than That!!🙂 Especially with Bk Frmr supplying the Laughs!!😂 Love the takes on everything bike and beyond. This "Struggle Bus" episode made me feel good about my own "mechanic" fumblings(re-packed front wheel bearings on my Specialized HardRock last month!!). Watching all the way through and liking... Will consider subscribe/donation when business picks up this month... THANK you for a great😃 channel!!🙏
i never realized it until now but it must be an awesome feeling knowing that almost every bike you see in your town was either built or serviced by you lol
"Yesterday I didn't know how to spell inchinier today I is one!" I find it cool that you don't edit out the struggles. I think they create the best teaching moments in your videos. And they are entertaining. CUES was new to me and I definitely keep them in mind. I volunteer at our coop and that helps me honing my skills.
I really appreciate this feedback. I found myself watching @rosastringworks videos and watching Jerry, a very skilled craftsman, struggle with some seemingly routine tasks, and always appreciated he just let the camera run while he expressed frustration and laughed at himself because, it just isn't that hard!
I appreciate you showing the parts that didn't go smooth. So many bike repair vids have everything go miraculously perfect every time. You don't know how many times I have struggled with the chain master link not popping on easily or how many times I have dropped and lost parts. I was right there with you. Enjoying the channel!
Bike Co-ops, where you meet "mechanics" that know so much that just isn't so. Stopped by one to grab an old derailleur and drop off a car load of used parts from our shop. A kid renting a work stand was trying to put a standard BSA 24tpi BB into a vintage Raleigh (26tpi). I instructed him that he needed a 26tpi bb. The "experience mechanic volunteer" told me I was wrong and told me not to give instructions until I take their training course. Guess my over a decade of professional experience at the time and multiple industry certifications didn't account for anything. He then turned back to that guy and helped him make a mess. I wish that was the only example. The same Co-op volunteers used to stop by my buddy's shop not far away and undercut repair quotes to customers IN HIS SHOP. I know the overall outreach and goal of Co-ops is good, but I'd rather hire a mechanic with no shop experience with the willingness to learn than someone who learned everything the know from a Co-op. Last one we hired cost us so much in terrible repairs that damaged our reputation and nearly caused legal trouble.
As big guy(300lbs) in south Texas tubeless was a game changer. I would make sure I always had two spares tubes on me for any ride over my usual 5mile commute. Goat heads and mesquite thorns were the bane of my tires. After going tubeless and doing my first fluid top up I ran my hands along the inside of the tire. 8! I counted 8thorns, on a single tire, just happily sticking 1/16-1/8in through the tire. I left them be and filled’er up, I’ll never look back.
Durability and price for sure. Weight can be saved for free by riding more to get in better shape. Well, if you have a few extra pounds to lose like I do.
CUES frustrates me immensely, because of the way that it ignores the 35 year history of shared pull ratios in the majority of Shimano drivetrains through 9 speed mountain and 10 speed road, and even more so the standard cog spacing and chain interchangeability for those speeds. Now when you need a new chain or cassette, there's a needless additional question required: What 9 speed do you have? What 10 speed do you have? The old stuff will never go away, and in all likelihood will outlast CUES as a system. While I agree with reducing the compatibility issues, I definitely do not I see the benefit (aside from padding Shimano's pockets) of making new 9, 10, and 11 speed groupsets that all share the same spacing and chain. Why even bother with 9 and 10 when you have to have the same spacing (i.e. cassette cogs) and chain as 11 speed? It's not like the extra 1-2 sprockets on the cassette cost very much, and the extra ratchet points on the shifter literally cost nothing extra because they're just molded into a piece of plastic. It gives Shimano a way to differentiate drivetrain price levels at minimal cost to them; I get it. But at what cost to the consumer? This policy just encourages waste of old components that are otherwise good, but not up to the latest standard. (Yes, I know BikeFarmer and others will save old components to use them, but many do not.) CUES 9 speed has the same increased sensitivity to derailleur hanger misalignment as 11 speed. Same for 10 speed. OTOH, CUES cable pull - Shimano 11/12 speed is 1.1:1 at the derailleur - is less susceptible to adjustment issues than old 1.7:1 9 speed. The one benefit of 9 speed CUES is less crosschain angle versus the 11 speed CUES or SIS 9 speed. That's a good thing I guess, but it seems like a paltry one compared to taking 35 years of history and throwing it out the window. So if we look at the CUES components themselves again, why are there different speeds shifters? Since the cog spacing is the same for the whole range, an 11 speed shifter would cost the same to manufacture and work for 9, 10, and 11 speeds. But that wouldn't allow Shimano to charge more for more speeds. Why are there different derailleurs for CUES 9 and 10/11? The pull ratio is the same. You want different cage lengths, and you want the parallelogram angle to match the cog tooth diameter profile, but neither of those are directly dependent on the number of speeds. And why are there different 9 and 10/11 speed CUES front derailleurs!? If the 10/11 speed ones can't work satisfactorily with the 9 speed, they're doing something wrong. All I see is a cash grab with CUES. Why are riveted chainrings still a thing? And even worse, proprietary BCD patterns that you can't even drill out to mount a new ring on? Do we still need to be throwing crank arms in the garbage when the chainrings wear out in 2024? Yes, I know they're steel and will last a long time. Most will probably never be replaced. I have been a Shimano customer for a long time, but any new sub-11 speed drivetrain I build is going to get Microshift now if it isn't legacy Shimano, friction shift, or IGH. At least I can actually use a 9 speed chain on those 9 speed drivetrains.
I had a bike like this in the ‘90s when I was in college. Loved that bike. I hope the person that stole it has taken care of it and maybe fixed it up like this on.
So I saw the "YOUR BIKE SUX" video and initially I was like, HMPH... Then I realized you give really solid advice and I actually love the kind of work you're doing. Keep on keeping on!
While watching the first half of the video I thought: “man, I want to start collecting old frames and wheels so I can refurb them with these new Cues groupsets.” After watching you fuck with the brakes for all that time I was shocked back into reality.
Great video! It is important for people to understand that this conversion would not have been possible without that new "clutch-style"" derailleur. That, and the "narrow-wide" chaining are crucial to the 1 x set-up. Otherwise, the chain would fall off every time you hit a big bump. I road a GT "Karokorum" similar to this bike around Europe in the 1990s. The super stiff "triple-triangle" frame makes it a joy to ride. It is wonderful to see this old bike brought back to life! It is infinitely higher quality than a "Walmart-bike" at a similar price range.
The 9 speed Cues rear derailleur (u4000) actually doesn't use a clutch, the narrow wide ring and a unique spring setup is enough. The higher spec u6000 has a clutch and should interchange with the u4000 on a 1x9 setup.
Top tip from a fellow wrench. Cloth tape sucks, it’s too thick. I ditched it a couple seasons ago after noticing how much harder it makes mounting tighter (cheap and stiff) tires. I started using Stan’s or Muc-Off tubeless tape instead. It sticks better and is much thinner. Buy the big shop, bulk rolls in a few widths. I only use it on double wall rims, like you said, rubber rim strips are the way to go on single wall. I also wanted to say that I know that stroking out that feeling all too well. You gotta take time to take care of yourself. Eat snacks and stay hydrated. The bonk is real! Good luck this season, keep up the good work!
I have one particular double wallled rim a 26er Rhynolite that has this exact problem where Cloth Tape is too thick to the point its on the fringes with multible tire combos. I have had so many people insist that the thickness of tape doesn't matter, and they haven't fought with this particular rim.
My comfort bike is a 27.5” We the People bmx bike. I never could master finding the right gears to use so ended up quitting riding after I grew out of 20” BMX bikes. The trend of larger simple BMX bikes got me riding again.
One part at a time, I’m working on making my old mtb more commute friendly. My new handlebars with a nice sweep just arrived today. This video was just the thing to give me the confidence I need to dive in. Thank you for what you do, Bike Farmer!
In Europe you can get those handlebars by German company called "Ergotec" (formerly known as Humpert). They manufacture localy and have different "safety" levels for use and rider weights. Zeitbike from Ventura/CA is the US distributor.
I am so glad the algorithm has brought me to your channel. I have been buying a few 26" mtbs for cheap on Facebook marketplace and I think I am going convert one using Ques. I have also started working at a non profit bike shop as a volunteer just to get back into the bike maintenance world. I have never worked in a bike shop but since 1985 I have always taken care of my own bikes and I rarely if at all take my bikes to a shop. So when I volunteer I am not totally clueless and with your no-nonsense channel bringing me up to speed all the better. Now to go through your videos and give you some more Likes.
I returned my 2003 GT Idrive to be a comfort bike today. Before retiring it as a mountain bike, I packed the Idrive mechanism with JB WELD along with all the other worn out pivots! A pipe replaced the shock spring! Actually, I put it away in fairly good shape. Today it got 1 1/2" 26 inch slicks, put the old saddle back on. The crankset is set up with 20-32-34 as a 1x and 12- 42 8 speed cassette. No front derailleur, brake lever, or front brake. It actually looks and runs well in this configuration. It's my only bike that works with my Bob style Yakima trailer. In a pinch, you could pick up the chain and run 20x42 or 20x36 gearing, but not much smaller cassette cog. Could also do easier gravel on this.
I agree with you about tubeless. As a home bike mechanic that maintains my own little Fleet of bikes between mine my wife's and my five kids, I think just having tubes is easier. What is your opinion on the heavy duty slime tubes? They are extra thick and they come filled with slime. I'm currently using them on my bike and I've run over a couple of thorns and road debris that would have left me stranded with a flat before, but the Slime has done a fantastic job of sealing things right back up.
I used to use Slime and after a year or so it just clumps up into balls and is ineffective on punctures. Maybe I got unlucky though. I switched to Flatout sealant (they make one for bikes). I think its a better product and seals up punctures from thorns/nails and maintains its viscosity.
I started out at a bike co-op too. The things you learn, and learn not to do. Most people who haven't worked at a bike co-op don't know the past few decades of compatibility/incompatibility. When most of what you look at is enthusiast-level stuff made in the past 10 years, it's a trial by fire. But the lack of Shimano/SRAM compatibility in 6-8 speed should be an easy one.
After a good cleaning a spray of “Rust Converter” black primer is great for parts that will be painted. I have also used it by itself and just used “cleaner wax” to seal the primer.
I really Like the Idea of Cues. Cross compatibility everywhere. Yes! We need that. But the implementation is far from perfect, as we already had that. Shimano already had a perfect 9 Speed System, which (btw.) was perfectly intercompatible. I can already mix every Shimano 9 Speed Shifter with any derailleur. Doesn't matter, whether it is road or mtb, ... So why couldn't they just use that (or at least the same cable pull ratio) for Cues (or just integrate the Cues System to their 9 Peed system. Not only do I now have to double-check, whether something is "old" or "new" 9 speed cable pull, but the support (from shimano and other brands) for shimano compatible "old" 9 speed stuff will slowly end. And nobody seems to care... Why. This is pure marketing :( Btw. great video. I defenitely have tocheck more of your videos this evening. I have do finish this text, now, as I am typing on a phone with broken display and faulty touch screen. LoL Bye
Yes, 9sp shimano is a sweet spot in history. But with the advancement in 1x drivetrains, CUES seems like a good path forward. But it is like 5000 new SKUs so 🤦🏻♂️
@@bkefrmr Yep. Cues means lots of new parts and quite probable expiring of the support for all the "old" stuff (which almost all my bikes use, as it was (imo) the best overall cross compatible system) As far as 1by goes: I often build up 1x9 Setups with Shimano 9 Speed systems. Either with old or new shimano parts, or with new shimano kompatible parts from other manufactures. They are almost perfect. The only thing shimano hat to do is build and sell a 9 speed derailleur with a clutch and a range from 11 to 46. But they prefer to sell a whole new system. (Totally understabdable from a business perspective. Especially as most customers don't even know it is probably not the most customer friendly way. But as a customer I don't like that) Btw such a derailleur already exists in the old shimano 9s system with the SunRace RDM900. But its not the best quality wise (its ok, but I would prefer to pay a little extra for a better one).
About tubeless. I was in the same boat as you. Why deal with the mess and complexity of tubeless when tubes do just fine. Cue new bike purchase that came tubeless. I really don't know if it was the frame or the tires that made it way more comfortable than my old bike. What I do know after replacing my first set of tires on that bike, the number of holes tubeless filled without me knowing was astonishing. I never had a single flat I had to fix on the road. There was one time it managed to seal a gash on the margin of the tread/sidewall. Riding in the alps bombing down some great twisties. I noticed when I got back that the rear tire was a bit low. It wouldn't hold the pressure. Blew the sealant out the gash. Ended up patching the tire from the inside using just the tools I carry on the bike. Replaced the tire when I got back from vacation. I'd hate to think what would have happened if the sealant didn't seal that gash while bombing down a hill at 70+.
One comment on bike coops. Ive been involved in a number of them and they all seem to work quite differently amd have different strengths and weaknesses. The one I am currently on the board of does not typically let volunteers build a bike that will end up for sale. I think i was volunteering for two years before they let me touch a bike that would be sold. That said, its funded by its own operations and can afford a full time staff of mechanics. Ultimately it seems that the more successful strategy is to take the mentality that the coop is providing a seevice to the volunteers and not the other way around. This means that there is no begging for volunteers or putting out work done by inexperienced hands out of necessity. It also means that accepting volunteers can be conducted just like accepting work orders. With a clear eye on how much time and resources are available. We also created programs like a bike valet that are accessible to folks without mechanical skills. Anyhow, heres hoping for the best for the coop in you area. Its always sad to see shoddy work go out.
That’s not what happened. You’re making a ton of presumptions here. I understand how bike non-profits “should” work. I think if they’re funded on their own operations, should be a for-profit business and eliminate the need for boards, and all of the problematic personalities they attract. This was a giveaway bike that needed tons of extra help because an under-qualified volunteer presented as an expert. I gave them money to fund their programming and solved one of their bike problems. It’s a win-win. Anyway, it sounds like you’re describing Working Bikes in Chicago. They’re great at what they do!
@@bkefrmrfair enough, tho I wasn't intending presume, just share some of my own observations and experiences. What are UA-cam comments for except unsolicited opinions? Anyhow, I always enjoy your build videos. Definitely keeps me inspired.
I am grateful for the opportunity I had to learn how to wrench at a community bike shop. I volunteered nine years, and many of those first years I did not have a clear idea about what I was doing-even when I was assisting others. I also often supervised volunteers who know knew less than me. One time, I thought I was preventing trouble by asking a volunteer to disassemble an old 80s Italian race bike. Instead of just taking the old Campy parts off the frame, he took the Campy parts apart themselves--uninspiring the campy derailleur and damaging many valuable parts that would have gone into the parts bin. Big lesson for me about the diligence and judgment needed to supervise others! Eventually, with the help of Covid, the project went from a volunteer based organization to a paid-staff driven non-profit. I spent countless hundreds of hours dealing with strong personalities on the board--including my own. I learned a lot over-and-above bike mechanics, and do not regret my time there; but, as I've gotten older, I can no longer tolerate non-profit boards and consensus management.
When I mount new wheels, I will always check the tension on the cup-cone assembly. All too often they are tensioned to hard in the factory which leads to premature wear on the cone.
I don’t know why you complain about setting up discs either. When I finally upgraded I was blown away by how ridiculously easy they were to get good enough. Maybe 10minutes Lea ring how they worked and another 5 to get the other one going. Did it on QR as well, still no problems with rub after taking wheels in/out either. But maybe I’m just lucky there.
My technique for setting limit screws is this. Wind the high (small gear) stop in a bit, then get the bike to select the smallest cog without the cable attached. Then add the cable and adjust so the gears index correctly. Then go to the biggest cog and set the other screw so it doesn’t quite engage, and back it off until it’s spot on.
I could not agree with you more on tubeless tires. I have tried it and found it to be way too much trouble -- for exactly the reasons you mention. I would rather just find the foreign body in the tire, install a new tube, and move on. I am, however, very interested as to how you feel about CUES. By the way... on the rim tape issue. If the rim is wide enough (and that one looks like it is), I use Gorilla Tape. It works very well, is easy to work with, and is super cheap. It also works for tubeless; but I covered that topic.
Lot of discussion about flats How do you feel about the flat prevention liners. You know the harder plastic strip that is between the tube and tire? 🤷🏻♂️ Love your videos I learned so much!
I mean, if you're in goathead country, yeah, I guess it's a thing to worry about. Not around here though. I can change a tube in like 5 minutes while eating a sandwich. It's just part of the ride, every once in a long while.
I don't really get flats... so I put on a tire, pump it up and about the only maintenance I do is put air in it until the tire is worn out. I've looked into tubeless, and it seems like a lot of work. I may try it to see if there are real benefits like running lower air pressure, but they're gonna sit for months in the winter and I don't look forward to cleaning up that mess. The other craze I see right now is waxing chains, and it just looks like a lot of work and I guess my chains cost like $25 so if I have to replace it after 1000 miles instead of 2000 or whatever, that's easier than taking a chain off completely every week to rewax it.
I’m just waiting for the drop bar CUES to hit the market. If they’re reasonably priced and same compatibility that 11 speed 11-50 will probably end up replacing the 3x8 on my gravel bike.
Kalloy makes great alloy budget handlebars with various higher sweep/rise options in the $20-$30 range. These are also sold/relabeled under the Dimension brand in the US. Kalloy also makes some great value stems ('Uno') in polished silver and black. Great for these types of rebuilds. A lot of the big bike brands source their stems/bars from Kalloy, then sell them with their logo on it for more $$$.
Great build, you'll be able to smash that bike round cities & light trails with minimum fuss & maximum comfort. Really well thought out. Only improvement I'd suggest is a double sided chain guard on the front cog to help prevent oily trousers or the chain jumping off. The CUES system looks very interesting, Shimano claim it optimised for ebikes too which is really needed if true, as I can state from experience lol.
This video was a joy to watch! It reminded me how I am working on my bicycles. Except that I am swearing in three languages all the time. Man, screw those V-brakes! I am so glad I no longer have any bikes with them. Even cantilevers are easier to set up.
I love the CUES stuff. Converted a pretty light ebike that came with 8-speed Shimano Altus stock to 10-speed CUES. Wanted lower gearing so I could pedal without any assist a lot of the time- while preserving top speed. Also converted a Deore equipped 10-speed 1x to a 2x wide using CUES.
Just put a shimano cues 11 speed on my mountain bike recently from a 2x8 to 1x11. It was a great decision for me economically and functionally no issues so far and I am not the cleaning type I know I should just not sure how in an apartment.
I have just converted an old Marin Rift Zone in to a retro mod. I used Deore 1x11. Like you, it was my first time with a 1x11 rear mech set up. The new super range mechs are quite different to the older style. Took me a few attempts to get it right myself. I'm deffo a 1x11 convert though. Don't know why they didn't do it 30 years ago. You've really nailed thr Bob Ross thing. Love the style you've got here. Being in the UK I just discovered Bob Ross a few years ago but found it quite therapeutic. You can add yourself the list of therapeutic film makers
I love that you use inexpensive common products to do your cleaning. I have been using a cleaning towel called Tub o’ Towels from Home Depot. Great on the wheels and frame grime and no rags to wash!
LOL. My first bike farmer video 😂 I found it to be realistic to what I’ve experienced building bikes (dropping parts, wrenches, brain fog, difficult parts, etc). I appreciate your honesty and integrity. Subscribed 👍
Only as a last resort. Mostly flats are avoided but fixing a flat is just so quick and mess free, wheel in. Tubeless has meant I've not had to arrive some place with the inevitable filthy black staining all over my hands from a tube change.
Understanding a gear ratio of for example 34 teeth front to 46 rear, but the triple crankset has 22/32/42 or 44 teeth. Also a good mountain gear and the much better gear for flat ground and downhill. So this GT Aggressor was rideable before, now putting lots of work, time and money into it. This needs definitely a customer who can appreciate and also pay it.
I really enjoy tour videos, especially when things dont go exactly according to plan. I'm tinkering with a 90s MTB and planning on converting it to a gravel bike. Wheel uograded is needed and I'm curious as to what wheelset you used and if an 11 speed cassette would fit. Thanks and enjoy the ride.
never thought I would find such a down to earth and informative bicycle oriented youtube channel. You not only inpsire me to keep riding but to also learn how to work on my own bikes. this channel is something special! Now one tech question for ye bike farmer, have you had any luck ever trying to use a kelvar lining like the panaracer flat away? I am setting up an old 1987 Univega Alipina Uno for touring and I want to throw on thoes reneherse rat trap passes (endurance lining) and was thinking about adding a kelvar lining to help improve durability for the purposes of touring,
I’ve ridden multiple week-long tours on Rat Trap Pass extralights on multiple surfaces including single track, fully loaded, and never got a flat. Why would you ruin the experience of the supple goodness of premium tires with all sorts of additional BS?
@@bkefrmr youre right, I will try it without and see how it goes :) just worried about my 240 pounds self giving those tires a problem. I will keep them on hand just in case.
Also, I encountered the exact same issues with v-brakes this past weekend lol… old calipers with worn out springs and loose pivots. Works fine when you finally get it sitting right but God have mercy on you if you need to take the wheels off!
Why not use the original crank with an inexpensive narrow-wide chainring? That would save a bit of money and retain the capability to replace chainrings.
Cues (aka LinkGlide) is a keeper for me. Simple to rebuild a starting from bare stripped frame and fork that was in solid condition, dead simple to adjust. The quality of the components is awesome and yields a rebuild that rides better than a $4,000 new one off the showroom floor I only spent $400 for all new components & wheels. I am a fan.
I took a 90s Trek 940, really nice frame and fork, and put a Microshift Acolyte wide range 8 speed for my adult daughter. Very gear adverse but she loves it. Just fast enough and climbs like a tractor on the hills around her town. Dad’s other gift bike to her is a 99 restored GT Aggressor 3x8 that she rides only occasionally on two track.
I'm a mountain biker and I run inner tubes with a few ounces of tire slime. Works well for sealing holes caused by thorns but not so good on pinch flats. Also, am I the only person who has trouble breaking the beads on clincher tires/ rims? All my bikes have entry level rims so I don't have to fight and cuss when want to remove a tire.
Actually rim brakes work well and always have providing that the caliper is in good shape, and pads are decent quality. We all rode them for years and had no issues. Are disc brakes better, I guess that depends again on quality. on some of the entry level bikes, they would be better with rim brakes as some of the models certainly have very inexpensive brakes. Great looking bike, hope that we get back to having some color on the frames.
40:12 This is my first ever BikeFarmer video and I am having a blast! It's hard to believe you've been doing this for years, but I am so grateful for sharing this video with us! I love your positive energy, I have to watch other videos, too! I've never seen anyone sand paint off a rim, that's a great tip! Keep the good work up man, you just gained a subscriber.
48:43 I work at a bike coop. We are volunteers and learning. We love your videos and thanks. We have had rabbit holes as you discussed- ours was incompatible parts. Thanks for your calm demeaned
I'm about to rebuild one of these GT frames myself. A different aesthetic than yours but it's going to be a lotoffun. I just finished an old Kona with Magura hydraulic rim brakes. That was a learning curve.
Hey, I love your content and learned a lot of it. Actually i have an old bike which im going to put a rockshox xc30, change brake and shiftinf cables and housings, chain, a derailleur, rims, tires probably. All the work. However, there is an easier way to put tires, you put the injer tube on the tire and you get the schrader for air part and you put the cap for the tire to not escape then you pump a little bit for the tire to stretch h all over the rim. Im going to love the respond from you.
42t front and 11-46 rear is such a useful range, although it looks almost hilariously huge on 26" wheels. I have this setup on my gravel / commuter bike (1x11 on 700c wheels in my case) and it's got high enough gearing that I can't spin out unless I'm going down a steep hill (rare here in pancake flat Shanghai!) and low enough to climb grades of >12% (which I did in the Canadian Rockies last summer). Most people wouldn't need anything more than that kind of range, ever. And the mechanical simplicity of 1x is great. Oh, and that asymmetric stem on this bike was making me cross-eyed trying to figure out what the orientation of the screws was. Never seen anything quite like that! 😂 Your view on tubeless basically matches my own. I see no need to deal with the trouble, especially when TPU tubes exist and are just about as light, and with proper tire selection you can go for a long time without a puncture.
I found this old mtb bike at my job and using Alixexpress parts, turned it from triple crank 6 speed to a 1X 10 speed. Entire expenditure was less than 100 dollars. This is going to be the new thing. What's old is new. Especially with the ridiculous prices of bikes today. I still ride my 15+ yr aluminum frame 10 speed road bike and my 9 speed mtb to gravel conversion.
Im asking a question not making a statement or saying you are doing something wrong as I am not a professional. I was always told not to lube my bottom bracket tapers as some future over tightening could give enough lube to stretch things. Have you ever had a quality crank you found ruined from over tightening with our without lube being used?
NICE wheelies! They were all the more impressive being done with a MTB. The one boy held his for a good stretch. I remember how, when I was that age, to be part of the crew, you had to be able to pop a wheelie; you couldn't hold your head up with the boys if you couldn't...
Looking forward to this one. Here in Milwaukee (and I believe elsewhere) it's kind of a trend to build up these old GTs. I bet you could flip this for a bit higher of a price. @19:00 Today's low-end stuff was yesterday's high-end. :)
This is hilarious because my first bike was a GT Aggressor and I upgraded to a full suspension Norco and would really like to turn my GT into something a little more commutable (not to say it's not now, but a little better drivetrain and some better handling tires for the road as it's no longer seeing trail) so this is great!
![The Very Best of Our Epic Gravel Rides [2+ Hour Compilation]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vhO1WYiaUkY/mqdefault.jpg)
That frame is sweet looking. The color combination is awesome
Thanks, your cable routing problem made me understand my cable routing ( XT derrailleur) was wrong.
It was very helpful.
Great GT restoration by the way
Just rebuilt my first mountain bike with CUES. It had been sitting around unused for nearly 2 years and I wanted to bring it back to life. Bike runs great and now I have a 2nd bike a friend can ride.
This is the Bob Ross of the bicycle world and exactly the YT channel I’ve been looking for.
hell yeah
No better description!
There's currently an Epic Paris-Nice bicycle race happening(Stage 5 today!)... And Bicycle Farmer is still THE BEST BICYCLE CONTENT ON UA-cam!! Converting a Triple Triangle📐GT to a 1×9 with new Shimano Tech... IT Doesn't get any Better than That!!🙂 Especially with Bk Frmr supplying the Laughs!!😂 Love the takes on everything bike and beyond. This "Struggle Bus" episode made me feel good about my own "mechanic" fumblings(re-packed front wheel bearings on my Specialized HardRock last month!!). Watching all the way through and liking... Will consider subscribe/donation when business picks up this month... THANK you for a great😃 channel!!🙏
Oh Yeah😅... Happy Birthday 🎉 Bike Farmer!!!
I couldn't have said it better, it definitely had that vibe.
i never realized it until now but it must be an awesome feeling knowing that almost every bike you see in your town was either built or serviced by you lol
...or they are out of a Trek employee's garage
"Yesterday I didn't know how to spell inchinier today I is one!"
I find it cool that you don't edit out the struggles. I think they create the best teaching moments in your videos. And they are entertaining.
CUES was new to me and I definitely keep them in mind.
I volunteer at our coop and that helps me honing my skills.
I really appreciate this feedback. I found myself watching @rosastringworks videos and watching Jerry, a very skilled craftsman, struggle with some seemingly routine tasks, and always appreciated he just let the camera run while he expressed frustration and laughed at himself because, it just isn't that hard!
And I just learned that Mountain Dew with real sugar is a thing!
I appreciate you showing the parts that didn't go smooth. So many bike repair vids have everything go miraculously perfect every time. You don't know how many times I have struggled with the chain master link not popping on easily or how many times I have dropped and lost parts. I was right there with you. Enjoying the channel!
Bike Co-ops, where you meet "mechanics" that know so much that just isn't so. Stopped by one to grab an old derailleur and drop off a car load of used parts from our shop. A kid renting a work stand was trying to put a standard BSA 24tpi BB into a vintage Raleigh (26tpi). I instructed him that he needed a 26tpi bb. The "experience mechanic volunteer" told me I was wrong and told me not to give instructions until I take their training course. Guess my over a decade of professional experience at the time and multiple industry certifications didn't account for anything. He then turned back to that guy and helped him make a mess. I wish that was the only example. The same Co-op volunteers used to stop by my buddy's shop not far away and undercut repair quotes to customers IN HIS SHOP.
I know the overall outreach and goal of Co-ops is good, but I'd rather hire a mechanic with no shop experience with the willingness to learn than someone who learned everything the know from a Co-op. Last one we hired cost us so much in terrible repairs that damaged our reputation and nearly caused legal trouble.
37:30 the wrench getting bounced around by the wheel is hilarious
totally. I love seeing that shit during the edits. So dumb.
As big guy(300lbs) in south Texas tubeless was a game changer. I would make sure I always had two spares tubes on me for any ride over my usual 5mile commute. Goat heads and mesquite thorns were the bane of my tires. After going tubeless and doing my first fluid top up I ran my hands along the inside of the tire. 8! I counted 8thorns, on a single tire, just happily sticking 1/16-1/8in through the tire. I left them be and filled’er up, I’ll never look back.
I love CUES. Durability and price is way more important than weight to me.
Durability and price for sure. Weight can be saved for free by riding more to get in better shape. Well, if you have a few extra pounds to lose like I do.
@@MoosteryI like the way you think and I totally agree! Following your logic, I've made my bike almost 40 lbs lighter over the last year.
@@thatcarguy1UZ my bike seems to gain and lose weight regularly. I think it eats too much home made food around holiday times personally.
@@Moostery True. I am more concerned about the extra 100lbs of rider weight my bike has than a couple pounds of extra steel.
CUES frustrates me immensely, because of the way that it ignores the 35 year history of shared pull ratios in the majority of Shimano drivetrains through 9 speed mountain and 10 speed road, and even more so the standard cog spacing and chain interchangeability for those speeds.
Now when you need a new chain or cassette, there's a needless additional question required: What 9 speed do you have? What 10 speed do you have? The old stuff will never go away, and in all likelihood will outlast CUES as a system.
While I agree with reducing the compatibility issues, I definitely do not I see the benefit (aside from padding Shimano's pockets) of making new 9, 10, and 11 speed groupsets that all share the same spacing and chain.
Why even bother with 9 and 10 when you have to have the same spacing (i.e. cassette cogs) and chain as 11 speed? It's not like the extra 1-2 sprockets on the cassette cost very much, and the extra ratchet points on the shifter literally cost nothing extra because they're just molded into a piece of plastic.
It gives Shimano a way to differentiate drivetrain price levels at minimal cost to them; I get it. But at what cost to the consumer? This policy just encourages waste of old components that are otherwise good, but not up to the latest standard. (Yes, I know BikeFarmer and others will save old components to use them, but many do not.)
CUES 9 speed has the same increased sensitivity to derailleur hanger misalignment as 11 speed. Same for 10 speed.
OTOH, CUES cable pull - Shimano 11/12 speed is 1.1:1 at the derailleur - is less susceptible to adjustment issues than old 1.7:1 9 speed.
The one benefit of 9 speed CUES is less crosschain angle versus the 11 speed CUES or SIS 9 speed. That's a good thing I guess, but it seems like a paltry one compared to taking 35 years of history and throwing it out the window.
So if we look at the CUES components themselves again, why are there different speeds shifters? Since the cog spacing is the same for the whole range, an 11 speed shifter would cost the same to manufacture and work for 9, 10, and 11 speeds. But that wouldn't allow Shimano to charge more for more speeds.
Why are there different derailleurs for CUES 9 and 10/11? The pull ratio is the same. You want different cage lengths, and you want the parallelogram angle to match the cog tooth diameter profile, but neither of those are directly dependent on the number of speeds. And why are there different 9 and 10/11 speed CUES front derailleurs!? If the 10/11 speed ones can't work satisfactorily with the 9 speed, they're doing something wrong.
All I see is a cash grab with CUES.
Why are riveted chainrings still a thing? And even worse, proprietary BCD patterns that you can't even drill out to mount a new ring on? Do we still need to be throwing crank arms in the garbage when the chainrings wear out in 2024? Yes, I know they're steel and will last a long time. Most will probably never be replaced.
I have been a Shimano customer for a long time, but any new sub-11 speed drivetrain I build is going to get Microshift now if it isn't legacy Shimano, friction shift, or IGH. At least I can actually use a 9 speed chain on those 9 speed drivetrains.
I had a bike like this in the ‘90s when I was in college. Loved that bike. I hope the person that stole it has taken care of it and maybe fixed it up like this on.
I don't like thieves and would never wish them well, nor success in bike upgrades. But that's just me.
So I saw the "YOUR BIKE SUX" video and initially I was like, HMPH... Then I realized you give really solid advice and I actually love the kind of work you're doing. Keep on keeping on!
While watching the first half of the video I thought: “man, I want to start collecting old frames and wheels so I can refurb them with these new Cues groupsets.” After watching you fuck with the brakes for all that time I was shocked back into reality.
Great video! It is important for people to understand that this conversion would not have been possible without that new "clutch-style"" derailleur. That, and the "narrow-wide" chaining are crucial to the 1 x set-up. Otherwise, the chain would fall off every time you hit a big bump. I road a GT "Karokorum" similar to this bike around Europe in the 1990s. The super stiff "triple-triangle" frame makes it a joy to ride. It is wonderful to see this old bike brought back to life! It is infinitely higher quality than a "Walmart-bike" at a similar price range.
The 9 speed Cues rear derailleur (u4000) actually doesn't use a clutch, the narrow wide ring and a unique spring setup is enough. The higher spec u6000 has a clutch and should interchange with the u4000 on a 1x9 setup.
Ironically this was genuinely my first Bike Farmer video! Keep up the good work Brother.
Happy Birthday Bike Farmer!
Top tip from a fellow wrench. Cloth tape sucks, it’s too thick. I ditched it a couple seasons ago after noticing how much harder it makes mounting tighter (cheap and stiff) tires. I started using Stan’s or Muc-Off tubeless tape instead. It sticks better and is much thinner. Buy the big shop, bulk rolls in a few widths. I only use it on double wall rims, like you said, rubber rim strips are the way to go on single wall.
I also wanted to say that I know that stroking out that feeling all too well. You gotta take time to take care of yourself. Eat snacks and stay hydrated. The bonk is real! Good luck this season, keep up the good work!
I have one particular double wallled rim a 26er Rhynolite that has this exact problem where Cloth Tape is too thick to the point its on the fringes with multible tire combos. I have had so many people insist that the thickness of tape doesn't matter, and they haven't fought with this particular rim.
Gotta love Shimano... old / new, Cheap / $$$, it just works.
You had me at 'I was at my local bike co-op yesterday'. ❤
My comfort bike is a 27.5” We the People bmx bike. I never could master finding the right gears to use so ended up quitting riding after I grew out of 20” BMX bikes. The trend of larger simple BMX bikes got me riding again.
One part at a time, I’m working on making my old mtb more commute friendly. My new handlebars with a nice sweep just arrived today. This video was just the thing to give me the confidence I need to dive in. Thank you for what you do, Bike Farmer!
I'm not a professional but i found this very entertaining . Nice build and great job improvising
I love fixing up old bikes and giving them new life again. Your channel is pretty good to watch, keep it up and thanks.
In Europe you can get those handlebars by German company called "Ergotec" (formerly known as Humpert). They manufacture localy and have different "safety" levels for use and rider weights. Zeitbike from Ventura/CA is the US distributor.
Ergotec is amazing quality price for city handlebars
Happy Birthday! (Probably belated, but hey hopefully you'll get to see this the next time your birthday rolls around!)!
I love that you show not getting everything right. That what life is all about. ❤
I am so glad the algorithm has brought me to your channel. I have been buying a few 26" mtbs for cheap on Facebook marketplace and I think I am going convert one using Ques. I have also started working at a non profit bike shop as a volunteer just to get back into the bike maintenance world. I have never worked in a bike shop but since 1985 I have always taken care of my own bikes and I rarely if at all take my bikes to a shop. So when I volunteer I am not totally clueless and with your no-nonsense channel bringing me up to speed all the better. Now to go through your videos and give you some more Likes.
I returned my 2003 GT Idrive to be a comfort bike today. Before retiring it as a mountain bike, I packed the Idrive mechanism with JB WELD along with all the other worn out pivots! A pipe replaced the shock spring! Actually, I put it away in fairly good shape. Today it got 1 1/2" 26 inch slicks, put the old saddle back on. The crankset is set up with 20-32-34 as a 1x and 12- 42 8 speed cassette. No front derailleur, brake lever, or front brake. It actually looks and runs well in this configuration. It's my only bike that works with my Bob style Yakima trailer. In a pinch, you could pick up the chain and run 20x42 or 20x36 gearing, but not much smaller cassette cog. Could also do easier gravel on this.
26 x 1.5 is my least favorite tire size!
I agree with you about tubeless. As a home bike mechanic that maintains my own little Fleet of bikes between mine my wife's and my five kids, I think just having tubes is easier. What is your opinion on the heavy duty slime tubes? They are extra thick and they come filled with slime. I'm currently using them on my bike and I've run over a couple of thorns and road debris that would have left me stranded with a flat before, but the Slime has done a fantastic job of sealing things right back up.
I used to use Slime and after a year or so it just clumps up into balls and is ineffective on punctures. Maybe I got unlucky though.
I switched to Flatout sealant (they make one for bikes). I think its a better product and seals up punctures from thorns/nails and maintains its viscosity.
I started out at a bike co-op too. The things you learn, and learn not to do. Most people who haven't worked at a bike co-op don't know the past few decades of compatibility/incompatibility. When most of what you look at is enthusiast-level stuff made in the past 10 years, it's a trial by fire. But the lack of Shimano/SRAM compatibility in 6-8 speed should be an easy one.
After a good cleaning a spray of “Rust Converter” black primer is great for parts that will be painted. I have also used it by itself and just used “cleaner wax” to seal the primer.
I’ve been using a Microshift 1x setup on my rebuilds and I haven’t had any issues. Their price to performance is pretty awesome
I really Like the Idea of Cues. Cross compatibility everywhere. Yes! We need that. But the implementation is far from perfect, as we already had that. Shimano already had a perfect 9 Speed System, which (btw.) was perfectly intercompatible.
I can already mix every Shimano 9 Speed Shifter with any derailleur. Doesn't matter, whether it is road or mtb, ...
So why couldn't they just use that (or at least the same cable pull ratio) for Cues (or just integrate the Cues System to their 9 Peed system.
Not only do I now have to double-check, whether something is "old" or "new" 9 speed cable pull,
but the support (from shimano and other brands) for shimano compatible "old" 9 speed stuff will slowly end.
And nobody seems to care... Why. This is pure marketing :(
Btw. great video. I defenitely have tocheck more of your videos this evening.
I have do finish this text, now, as I am typing on a phone with broken display and faulty touch screen. LoL
Bye
Yes, 9sp shimano is a sweet spot in history. But with the advancement in 1x drivetrains, CUES seems like a good path forward. But it is like 5000 new SKUs so 🤦🏻♂️
@@bkefrmr
Yep. Cues means lots of new parts and quite probable expiring of the support for all the "old" stuff (which almost all my bikes use, as it was (imo) the best overall cross compatible system)
As far as 1by goes:
I often build up 1x9 Setups with Shimano 9 Speed systems. Either with old or new shimano parts, or with new shimano kompatible parts from other manufactures. They are almost perfect.
The only thing shimano hat to do is build and sell a 9 speed derailleur with a clutch and a range from 11 to 46. But they prefer to sell a whole new system. (Totally understabdable from a business perspective. Especially as most customers don't even know it is probably not the most customer friendly way. But as a customer I don't like that)
Btw such a derailleur already exists in the old shimano 9s system with the SunRace RDM900. But its not the best quality wise (its ok, but I would prefer to pay a little extra for a better one).
Yer enthusiasm is contagious on this one!
I really enjoy watching you disassemble, assemble, adjust, and ride your bikes! Oh ya......Happy Birthday!
About tubeless. I was in the same boat as you. Why deal with the mess and complexity of tubeless when tubes do just fine. Cue new bike purchase that came tubeless. I really don't know if it was the frame or the tires that made it way more comfortable than my old bike. What I do know after replacing my first set of tires on that bike, the number of holes tubeless filled without me knowing was astonishing. I never had a single flat I had to fix on the road. There was one time it managed to seal a gash on the margin of the tread/sidewall. Riding in the alps bombing down some great twisties. I noticed when I got back that the rear tire was a bit low. It wouldn't hold the pressure. Blew the sealant out the gash. Ended up patching the tire from the inside using just the tools I carry on the bike. Replaced the tire when I got back from vacation. I'd hate to think what would have happened if the sealant didn't seal that gash while bombing down a hill at 70+.
Working in a bike shop fixing bikes while watching another long haired bearded mechanic fixing bikes........My world is weird.
I come home from a hard day working in a bike shop fixing bikes and watch another guy fix bikes to unwind. We’re cut from a weird cloth 😂
@@Sooperhans3636 That makes three of us.
Me too. It’s my day off though 😂
Does it count if I have short hair and only work on mine and close friends bikes because I haven't made it in a shop yet...I have a beard though
Watch out - even you may learn something!
Happy birthday. Lovely build. Seeing you work it out is inspiring for us dumbos who have virtually no idea.
One comment on bike coops. Ive been involved in a number of them and they all seem to work quite differently amd have different strengths and weaknesses. The one I am currently on the board of does not typically let volunteers build a bike that will end up for sale. I think i was volunteering for two years before they let me touch a bike that would be sold. That said, its funded by its own operations and can afford a full time staff of mechanics. Ultimately it seems that the more successful strategy is to take the mentality that the coop is providing a seevice to the volunteers and not the other way around. This means that there is no begging for volunteers or putting out work done by inexperienced hands out of necessity. It also means that accepting volunteers can be conducted just like accepting work orders. With a clear eye on how much time and resources are available. We also created programs like a bike valet that are accessible to folks without mechanical skills. Anyhow, heres hoping for the best for the coop in you area. Its always sad to see shoddy work go out.
That’s not what happened. You’re making a ton of presumptions here. I understand how bike non-profits “should” work. I think if they’re funded on their own operations, should be a for-profit business and eliminate the need for boards, and all of the problematic personalities they attract. This was a giveaway bike that needed tons of extra help because an under-qualified volunteer presented as an expert. I gave them money to fund their programming and solved one of their bike problems. It’s a win-win. Anyway, it sounds like you’re describing Working Bikes in Chicago. They’re great at what they do!
@@bkefrmrfair enough, tho I wasn't intending presume, just share some of my own observations and experiences. What are UA-cam comments for except unsolicited opinions? Anyhow, I always enjoy your build videos. Definitely keeps me inspired.
I am grateful for the opportunity I had to learn how to wrench at a community bike shop. I volunteered nine years, and many of those first years I did not have a clear idea about what I was doing-even when I was assisting others. I also often supervised volunteers who know knew less than me. One time, I thought I was preventing trouble by asking a volunteer to disassemble an old 80s Italian race bike. Instead of just taking the old Campy parts off the frame, he took the Campy parts apart themselves--uninspiring the campy derailleur and damaging many valuable parts that would have gone into the parts bin. Big lesson for me about the diligence and judgment needed to supervise others! Eventually, with the help of Covid, the project went from a volunteer based organization to a paid-staff driven non-profit. I spent countless hundreds of hours dealing with strong personalities on the board--including my own. I learned a lot over-and-above bike mechanics, and do not regret my time there; but, as I've gotten older, I can no longer tolerate non-profit boards and consensus management.
When I mount new wheels, I will always check the tension on the cup-cone assembly. All too often they are tensioned to hard in the factory which leads to premature wear on the cone.
I have a 10 speed cues and I remember adjusting the darned thing. It was hard but once you get everything working, buttery smooth.
I don’t know why you complain about setting up discs either. When I finally upgraded I was blown away by how ridiculously easy they were to get good enough. Maybe 10minutes Lea ring how they worked and another 5 to get the other one going. Did it on QR as well, still no problems with rub after taking wheels in/out either. But maybe I’m just lucky there.
My technique for setting limit screws is this. Wind the high (small gear) stop in a bit, then get the bike to select the smallest cog without the cable attached. Then add the cable and adjust so the gears index correctly. Then go to the biggest cog and set the other screw so it doesn’t quite engage, and back it off until it’s spot on.
I could not agree with you more on tubeless tires. I have tried it and found it to be way too much trouble -- for exactly the reasons you mention. I would rather just find the foreign body in the tire, install a new tube, and move on. I am, however, very interested as to how you feel about CUES.
By the way... on the rim tape issue. If the rim is wide enough (and that one looks like it is), I use Gorilla Tape. It works very well, is easy to work with, and is super cheap. It also works for tubeless; but I covered that topic.
Lot of discussion about flats How do you feel about the flat prevention liners. You know the harder plastic strip that is between the tube and tire? 🤷🏻♂️
Love your videos I learned so much!
I mean, if you're in goathead country, yeah, I guess it's a thing to worry about. Not around here though. I can change a tube in like 5 minutes while eating a sandwich. It's just part of the ride, every once in a long while.
I don't really get flats... so I put on a tire, pump it up and about the only maintenance I do is put air in it until the tire is worn out. I've looked into tubeless, and it seems like a lot of work. I may try it to see if there are real benefits like running lower air pressure, but they're gonna sit for months in the winter and I don't look forward to cleaning up that mess. The other craze I see right now is waxing chains, and it just looks like a lot of work and I guess my chains cost like $25 so if I have to replace it after 1000 miles instead of 2000 or whatever, that's easier than taking a chain off completely every week to rewax it.
fuckin' a Steve you know what's up
Chain waxing is like a cult, cannot understand why anybody who is not a pro racer does it. And even the pros get their mechanics to do it for them 😂
I’m just waiting for the drop bar CUES to hit the market. If they’re reasonably priced and same compatibility that 11 speed 11-50 will probably end up replacing the 3x8 on my gravel bike.
This is one of my favorite videos of yours. Absolutely love the comfort bike conversions.
Kalloy makes great alloy budget handlebars with various higher sweep/rise options in the $20-$30 range. These are also sold/relabeled under the Dimension brand in the US. Kalloy also makes some great value stems ('Uno') in polished silver and black. Great for these types of rebuilds. A lot of the big bike brands source their stems/bars from Kalloy, then sell them with their logo on it for more $$$.
Great build, you'll be able to smash that bike round cities & light trails with minimum fuss & maximum comfort. Really well thought out. Only improvement I'd suggest is a double sided chain guard on the front cog to help prevent oily trousers or the chain jumping off. The CUES system looks very interesting, Shimano claim it optimised for ebikes too which is really needed if true, as I can state from experience lol.
Or leave the old front derailleur and lock it in position using stop screws. That's what I did.
This video was a joy to watch! It reminded me how I am working on my bicycles. Except that I am swearing in three languages all the time.
Man, screw those V-brakes! I am so glad I no longer have any bikes with them. Even cantilevers are easier to set up.
I love the CUES stuff. Converted a pretty light ebike that came with 8-speed Shimano Altus stock to 10-speed CUES. Wanted lower gearing so I could pedal without any assist a lot of the time- while preserving top speed. Also converted a Deore equipped 10-speed 1x to a 2x wide using CUES.
Thank you for saying "converted" instead of "upgraded". I don't believe in upgrades (in most instances).
@@bkefrmr You and I see eye to eye on a great many things. I’m a practical bicycle mechanic first, and a 30-year experienced engineer second.
Just put a shimano cues 11 speed on my mountain bike recently from a 2x8 to 1x11. It was a great decision for me economically and functionally no issues so far and I am not the cleaning type I know I should just not sure how in an apartment.
I have just converted an old Marin Rift Zone in to a retro mod. I used Deore 1x11. Like you, it was my first time with a 1x11 rear mech set up. The new super range mechs are quite different to the older style. Took me a few attempts to get it right myself. I'm deffo a 1x11 convert though. Don't know why they didn't do it 30 years ago. You've really nailed thr Bob Ross thing. Love the style you've got here. Being in the UK I just discovered Bob Ross a few years ago but found it quite therapeutic. You can add yourself the list of therapeutic film makers
I love that you use inexpensive common products to do your cleaning. I have been using a cleaning towel called Tub o’ Towels from Home Depot. Great on the wheels and frame grime and no rags to wash!
On the other hand, knowing how to work through problems is valuable knowledge, thanks!
I have a similar setup to that bike. 26x1.95 and swept bars. SUPER comfortable.
LOL. My first bike farmer video 😂 I found it to be realistic to what I’ve experienced building bikes (dropping parts, wrenches, brain fog, difficult parts, etc). I appreciate your honesty and integrity. Subscribed 👍
The funny thing is, lots of tubeless guys will just use a tube to fix their flats! 😂
Been there, done that.
Took forever to pull all the thorns and other sharp bits out of the tyre to make sure the tube didn't instant flat.
I still carry a tube for longer rides but yrs later I've yet to get a flat that I couldn't fix with a plug on my tubeless setups 🎉
@@LaurentiusTriariusyea, plugs seem like a good solution too. Bikes are taking lots of notes from cars these days 😉
Only as a last resort. Mostly flats are avoided but fixing a flat is just so quick and mess free, wheel in. Tubeless has meant I've not had to arrive some place with the inevitable filthy black staining all over my hands from a tube change.
Understanding a gear ratio of for example 34 teeth front to 46 rear, but the triple crankset has 22/32/42 or 44 teeth. Also a good mountain gear and the much better gear for flat ground and downhill. So this GT Aggressor was rideable before, now putting lots of work, time and money into it. This needs definitely a customer who can appreciate and also pay it.
I really enjoy tour videos, especially when things dont go exactly according to plan.
I'm tinkering with a 90s MTB and planning on converting it to a gravel bike. Wheel uograded is needed and I'm curious as to what wheelset you used and if an 11 speed cassette would fit. Thanks and enjoy the ride.
never thought I would find such a down to earth and informative bicycle oriented youtube channel. You not only inpsire me to keep riding but to also learn how to work on my own bikes.
this channel is something special!
Now one tech question for ye bike farmer, have you had any luck ever trying to use a kelvar lining like the panaracer flat away? I am setting up an old 1987 Univega Alipina Uno for touring and I want to throw on thoes reneherse rat trap passes (endurance lining) and was thinking about adding a kelvar lining to help improve durability for the purposes of touring,
I’ve ridden multiple week-long tours on Rat Trap Pass extralights on multiple surfaces including single track, fully loaded, and never got a flat. Why would you ruin the experience of the supple goodness of premium tires with all sorts of additional BS?
@@bkefrmr youre right, I will try it without and see how it goes :) just worried about my 240 pounds self giving those tires a problem. I will keep them on hand just in case.
@@liamstraub3394 you can really dial
in the pressure. Make sure you’re good at roadside flats just in case!
Also, I encountered the exact same issues with v-brakes this past weekend lol… old calipers with worn out springs and loose pivots. Works fine when you finally get it sitting right but God have mercy on you if you need to take the wheels off!
Great job! In honor of your birthday, I took a shot every time you dropped something.
Nice! I like how you pretended to struggle with basic wrenching in this video to make it more approachable! HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Dork disc to the rescue, hahaha, you crack me up 🙂
Why not use the original crank with an inexpensive narrow-wide chainring? That would save a bit of money and retain the capability to replace chainrings.
That frame is in really nice condition and the cues 1x9 worked out really well. 👍👍
Love the GT action in trek country. Great informative and humorous video. That new group looks solid for the price point
Cues (aka LinkGlide) is a keeper for me. Simple to rebuild a starting from bare stripped frame and fork that was in solid condition, dead simple to adjust. The quality of the components is awesome and yields a rebuild that rides better than a $4,000 new one off the showroom floor I only spent $400 for all new components & wheels. I am a fan.
Have to ask. How is the spacing for a 7 speed capable to allow the installation of a 9 speed freewheel?
I took a 90s Trek 940, really nice frame and fork, and put a Microshift Acolyte wide range 8 speed for my adult daughter. Very gear adverse but she loves it. Just fast enough and climbs like a tractor on the hills around her town. Dad’s other gift bike to her is a 99 restored GT Aggressor 3x8 that she rides only occasionally on two track.
This transmission might be a bit slow on a 26” wheel?
I am using a much bigger front crank, and definitely need at least two rings in the front.
I'm a mountain biker and I run inner tubes with a few ounces of tire slime. Works well for sealing holes caused by thorns but not so good on pinch flats. Also, am I the only person who has trouble breaking the beads on clincher tires/ rims? All my bikes have entry level rims so I don't have to fight and cuss when want to remove a tire.
Actually rim brakes work well and always have providing that the caliper is in good shape, and pads are decent quality. We all rode them for years and had no issues. Are disc brakes better, I guess that depends again on quality. on some of the entry level bikes, they would be better with rim brakes as some of the models certainly have very inexpensive brakes. Great looking bike, hope that we get back to having some color on the frames.
Nice, love a good bikefarmer vid ! Ride Safe everybody
40:12 This is my first ever BikeFarmer video and I am having a blast! It's hard to believe you've been doing this for years, but I am so grateful for sharing this video with us! I love your positive energy, I have to watch other videos, too! I've never seen anyone sand paint off a rim, that's a great tip! Keep the good work up man, you just gained a subscriber.
8:38 Hey, I'm an engineer, and I know very well that "oil is a half mechanic by itself"!
Hi, i wanna do this conversion but i wanna know if you have changed the Bottom Braket ? Thanks
48:43 I work at a bike coop. We are volunteers and learning. We love your videos and thanks. We have had rabbit holes as you discussed- ours was incompatible parts. Thanks for your calm demeaned
This type of content is really calming and interesting to watch.
Happy birthday to you. Beautiful video. I love seeing all the pieces flying around like mine.
I'm about to rebuild one of these GT frames myself. A different aesthetic than yours but it's going to be a lotoffun. I just finished an old Kona with Magura hydraulic rim brakes. That was a learning curve.
Hey, I love your content and learned a lot of it. Actually i have an old bike which im going to put a rockshox xc30, change brake and shiftinf cables and housings, chain, a derailleur, rims, tires probably. All the work. However, there is an easier way to put tires, you put the injer tube on the tire and you get the schrader for air part and you put the cap for the tire to not escape then you pump a little bit for the tire to stretch h all over the rim. Im going to love the respond from you.
I love this comedy channel. The tool flying all over the place and the cable routing on the rear D. This man is THE MAN. 🎉🎉🎉
42t front and 11-46 rear is such a useful range, although it looks almost hilariously huge on 26" wheels. I have this setup on my gravel / commuter bike (1x11 on 700c wheels in my case) and it's got high enough gearing that I can't spin out unless I'm going down a steep hill (rare here in pancake flat Shanghai!) and low enough to climb grades of >12% (which I did in the Canadian Rockies last summer). Most people wouldn't need anything more than that kind of range, ever. And the mechanical simplicity of 1x is great.
Oh, and that asymmetric stem on this bike was making me cross-eyed trying to figure out what the orientation of the screws was. Never seen anything quite like that! 😂
Your view on tubeless basically matches my own. I see no need to deal with the trouble, especially when TPU tubes exist and are just about as light, and with proper tire selection you can go for a long time without a puncture.
Happy belated birthday. The new generation is super cool glad you caught it as well
Great vid as usual. I believe the cable housing compresses more than the cable stretches. Fight me😉
Seems too plausible to refute
Happy Birthday! Perfect commuter/everyday bike build!
Good stuff as always! Your best videos are the ones where you temporarily dip into madness. Can you set your H/L stops prior to putting the chain on?
Yes, you definitely can, and definitely should! I’m not as sharp in the afternoons. That’s usually where I find the madness.
I found this old mtb bike at my job and using Alixexpress parts, turned it from triple crank 6 speed to a 1X 10 speed. Entire expenditure was less than 100 dollars. This is going to be the new thing. What's old is new. Especially with the ridiculous prices of bikes today. I still ride my 15+ yr aluminum frame 10 speed road bike and my 9 speed mtb to gravel conversion.
Im asking a question not making a statement or saying you are doing something wrong as I am not a professional. I was always told not to lube my bottom bracket tapers as some future over tightening could give enough lube to stretch things. Have you ever had a quality crank you found ruined from over tightening with our without lube being used?
That is the frame I want so bad. Needs short stem wide bars and a sick ass aftermarket Manitou fork. External dropper just to finish it supernice…
"Prolly and engineer that did it...................This is definitely the work of an engineer"........Bahahahaha. You crack me up bro!
NICE wheelies! They were all the more impressive being done with a MTB. The one boy held his for a good stretch. I remember how, when I was that age, to be part of the crew, you had to be able to pop a wheelie; you couldn't hold your head up with the boys if you couldn't...
What CUES LINE are you using? U400? What groupset parts? Would be helpful to have a list.
They're not volunteers, they're unpaid interns.
Looking forward to this one.
Here in Milwaukee (and I believe elsewhere) it's kind of a trend to build up these old GTs. I bet you could flip this for a bit higher of a price.
@19:00 Today's low-end stuff was yesterday's high-end. :)
You can drive out to Lake Mills with $500 and drive back to MKE and sell it for $650 and go get super drunk at a bowling alley for free! #sconnielife
@@bkefrmr I have a bowling alley 3 blocks from the house. I'd rather spend that $150 on some sweet summer tires.
This is hilarious because my first bike was a GT Aggressor and I upgraded to a full suspension Norco and would really like to turn my GT into something a little more commutable (not to say it's not now, but a little better drivetrain and some better handling tires for the road as it's no longer seeing trail) so this is great!