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Questions & Answers

For general questions, I recommend asking on bikeforums.net – the best cycling-related forum in the world. There I actively participate under the “Bike Gremlin” username. Also, many other experts offer help and advice there, so You benefit from getting 2nd opinions. You are also most likely to get a timely response (within a day or two), at least from other knowledgeable members, even if I don’t manage.

If you have any questions regarding a particular article, you can use the comment section below the article. With a suggestion to first try a website search – your question may have already been answered:

BikeGremlin website search - powered by Google! :)
BikeGremlin website search – powered by Google! 🙂


If you wish to hear an answer/advice from me, directly, you can ask a question in the BikeGremlin.net forum (even anonymously – by entering any name you wish).

Rules for posting questions and comments.

What is a forum, and how and why did I build the BikeGremlin forum?

In separate articles I explained:

I generally reply to questions within a few weeks or so, in order: first asked, first answered.

Tutorial: how can I add an image to a comment?

How to best phrase/ask the bicycle/mechanics/cycling related questions:

Questions, help and advice - Q&A 6
My video explaining how to ask questions and get help and advice


Time spent answering questions on the BikeGremlin websites and YouTube channel (i.e. BikeGremlin forum, since October 2023), according to Clockify:

Monthhours : minutes
2021
June7:14
July7:06
August4:56
September8:21
October4:08
November6:55
December4:56
2022
January7:59
February4:50
March7:39
April4:34
May7:43
June6:31
July4:25
August4:58
September7:20
October4:07
November5:38
December7:48
2023
January6:50
February6:39
March5:48
April7:08
May7:30
June7:21
July4:33
August7:43
September3:43
October5:23
November
(BikeGremlin forum started working)
7:19
December3:50
With the December 2023, I’ve decided to
stop tracking statistics on this.


I’ve gathered enough data to get a rough estimate of the net-time needed to answer all the readers’ questions. From now, instead of using the Clockify timer, I’ll be able to get a rough estimate by looking at my BikeGremlin forum post count.

That is, near the end of October 2023, I created the BikeGremlin forum: www.bikegremlin.net.

What is a forum and why did I make one?

Fewer than 1% of people who ask questions on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook etc. bother to create a forum account and post their questions there. On the other hand, the forum allows me to write better replies (I can add photos and sketches, headings and similar). So, the result seems to be higher quality, with lower quantity – which I personally prefer. 🙂

The existing comments (questions and answers) posted here, have been moved to this BikeGremlin forum thread:
https://www.bikegremlin.net/threads/questions-answers-page-comments.106/

49 thoughts on “Questions & Answers”

  1. Hi Relja
    Can I use Campagnolo Centaur 10 speed, chain and derailleur, on an Elite Zumo smart trainer with a Shimano 10 speed cassette?
    Many Thanks in advance.
    Kenny

    • Campagnolo 10 speed cassettes have different pitch, while their 10 speed chains have different width, compared to Shimano 10 speed ones.
      So I would not expect it to work very well, but haven’t tried it. Sometimes, close enough works satisfactory, sometimes not. In this case – I would expect shifting to be rather poor.

  2. I am looking for a Suspension seat post for a Raleigh witch is 36.1 But none of the post match that size

    • While I like to think I’m a wizard – making 20+ year old bicycles and computers up and running – suspension stuff is out of my area of expertise. 🙂

      Hopefully, an expert on the topic will come across these comments and provide a shopping link.

      An alternative could be using a shim to fit a smaller diameter seatpost – if such can be sourced (both the seatpost, and a matching shim).
      Shim can also be machined. With a DIY option of cutting a can of beer, or some poisonous sugar filled “soft drink” (yack! 🙂 ), making shims out of that, to match the difference in diameters. Minding it doesn’t slip inside the seat tube (hard to take out later) – leave some “lips” protruding out and aside, to keep it in place. And minding not to cut oneself when making and fitting it.

  3. Hello. I have a few Sram max shift 3.0, 7 x 3 grip shifters that are new im trying to use up in my shop. I have in-fact through the years used these with some types of shimano rear derailleurs, but do not remember which shimano, i think tourney, mabye alivio. My question is for an atb which Derailleur from shimano, least expensive can i use for the rear with my last few new pairs of sram grip shift shifters? Sorry for any confusion. I have always been a shiman person, i just want to know how i can use sram with shimano without breaking the bank on a sram derailleur. Thanks much

    • I’m not sure which standard that shifter is. As I’ve noted in the rear shifter compatibility article, 7 speed SRAM shifters were made in a Shimano compatible cable pull configuration, as well as using SRAM’s “1:1” cable pull.

      If the shifter is 1:1, it will only work with SRAM 1:1 rear derailleurs (and, based on my calculation, but I haven’t tested this – with Shimano 11 speed road bicycle rear derailleurs, and Tiagra 4700 10 speed road RD).
      If the shifter is a “Shimano compatible”, then it should work with Shimano rear derailleurs for 6 to 9 speed, as well as with non-Tiagra 4700 10 speed road RD-s (but not with 10+ speed MTB RD-s).

Comments are closed.


Please use the BikeGremlin.net forum for any comments or questions.

If you've found any errors or lacking information in the article(s) - please let me know by commenting on the BikeGremlin forum.
You can comment anonymously (by registering with any name/nickname), but I think it is good to publicly document all the article additions (and especially corrections) - even if their author chooses to remain anonymous.

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