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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. Can you help? Thanks.

    I have a new Tiagra triple front rapid fire shifter and an existing Shimao ALTUS front changer mech e-fitting (ie via bottom bracket). I have wired everything up and I cannot change over three chain rings. To change over two rings works but not three. I have adjusted the limit screws and the tightness of the cable. I cannot get it to work. What am I doing wrong? I have seen that rapid fire shifters are normally compatible with most front changers. Thanks very much, Andrew

    • Tiagra 4700 (newest, 10-speed) shifters pull a lot more cable than the other, pre Tiagra, and most MTB front shifters.
      So Tiagra shifter could be pulling a lot more cable per shift, than the front derailleur (Altus) needs. That could be causing the problem.
      While first click can be configured to properly move the FD to the mid. chainring, the 2nd click probably wants to pull the FD too far out – so FD stop prevents the movement, and shifter can’t reach it’s click point, to stay in gear.

      If it is adjusted so that the 2nd click (pulling cable) puts the FD right over the largest chainring, then I would expect the first shift-down to move the FD too much, so it doesn’t stop at the middle chainring.

      I would get a Tiagra FD to solve the problem. Or choose some other front shifter.

      See the article on front shifter compatibility (including the last chapter “Trim option”).

  2. i usually use either velox or zefal rim cloth adhesive rim tapes as these have never failed on me,the secret to using these rim tapes is get ones that go past the rim holes well,if you use the skinny 13mm ones they will slip past the rim holes,17mm ones are good for most road bikes.at the moment there seems to be a worldwide shortage of these rim tapes and just wondering if any readers have a home made solution.

  3. Please could you help? I have a road bike with shimano 7 speed cassette and twin chainset, indexed gears.
    I am struggling to find bits to renew the drive chain . . . . I have located a chain , and a cassette. I am struggling to find 130 bcd chainrings withbthe correct number of teeth. Well I have found some, but they say they are for 10/11 speed. Are rhese going to be ok with my set up. If not what issues would i experience?
    Thank you

    • Hi Chris,

      Are you replacing only the chainrings – while keeping the cranks?

      In that case, I’d just make sure that the new chainrings can be bolted securely and give it a test ride. Expecting it to work OK.

      Relja

  4. you can buy new 8 speed chainrings that are 130 bcd ,7 speed and 8 speed chainrings are the same,130 bcd and 135 bcd are very common sizes.most teeth sizes are available,10 or 11 speed should still work but those chainrings will be thinner.

  5. you could even replace the whole crankset complete with chainrings,sometimes that actually works out cheaper

    • there are alot of retro style remakes being made in double chainrings complete with cranks,the 7 speed alloy cranksets can usually be found on ebay,some bike shops have them too.type in retro parts when chasing up spares for older retro style bikes,google will find all parts on the market,if it does not show up in google then most likely the part is no longer on the market.

Comments are closed.


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