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:
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:
Time spent answering questions on the BikeGremlin websites and YouTube channel (i.e. BikeGremlin forum, since October 2023), according to Clockify:
| Month | hours : minutes |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| June | 7:14 |
| July | 7:06 |
| August | 4:56 |
| September | 8:21 |
| October | 4:08 |
| November | 6:55 |
| December | 4:56 |
| 2022 | |
| January | 7:59 |
| February | 4:50 |
| March | 7:39 |
| April | 4:34 |
| May | 7:43 |
| June | 6:31 |
| July | 4:25 |
| August | 4:58 |
| September | 7:20 |
| October | 4:07 |
| November | 5:38 |
| December | 7:48 |
| 2023 | |
| January | 6:50 |
| February | 6:39 |
| March | 5:48 |
| April | 7:08 |
| May | 7:30 |
| June | 7:21 |
| July | 4:33 |
| August | 7:43 |
| September | 3:43 |
| October | 5:23 |
| November (BikeGremlin forum started working) | 7:19 |
| December | 3:50 |
| 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/
Hello Relja!
I need help !!
I recently bought a hybrid bike bianchi comaleonte, and I am trying to swap it into some sort of gravel bike. 🙂
It was equipped with shimano deore RD and alivio FD M430.
I have bought sora R3000 sti 3×9 shifters. Brakes and rear derailleur works great, but I can’t match FD and left shifter. The cable pull from sora R3030 left sihter is about 13,5mm an the cable pull from alivio shifter is about 20,5mm. Is there anything I can do??
What about purchasing a FD R3030 triple?? Will it works on treking FSA crankset 48/36/26??
Thank you in advance!!
Hi Mikula,
I would expect a triple road FD that’s compatible with the shifter (like the FD R3030) to work better.
Yes, it’s designed for a 50T largest chainring, and has a stated total capacity of only 20T (48-26 is 22), but unless lightning-fast shifting is only acceptable, I’d expect it to work OK.
very many thanks 🙂 regards from Slovenija!
This website (and all the other BikeGremlin websites) has been removed from the Bing search engine!
DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Amazon’s Alexa all use the same, Bing’s, search engine – so it’s gone from there too.
I did some Googling and it seems like my website isn’t the only one affected. So, for good search results, it seems like we’re stuck with Google. Google (and Yandex for that matter) work normally.
Full report of the problem:
Websites erased from Bing overnight
For technical reasons, existing notification subscriptions were all re-set (i.e. deleted, cleared).
As far as I know, the subscription system should work fine from now on.
For more information, see the BikeGremlin News & RSS feed page.
Hi Relja,
I am in the process of installing hydraulic brakes on my “2016 Giant ATX 27.5 2” bike.
My plan is to swap out the “Tektro TKB-172, Mechanical disc, 160mm” brakes which it currently has, with new pre-bled brakes from Amazon (I would hope I can leave the original disc/rotor on?? ).
Other than the length of the cables of course, is there anything I should take into account before starting ? And could you potentially recommend a affordable pre- bled set of hydraulic brakes ?
I would be jumping with joy is you replied.
Sincerly,
Rodrick
Hi Rodrick,
With hydraulic brakes, the housing is often too long (intended to be cut to size).
It’s not a complicated procedure, but I’m yet to make a video on how to do it.
I think there is no need to replace the existing discs. Not unless you wish to start using sintered pads, and your current disc is designated for organic pads only.
Regarding the brakes, Shimano Altus (BT200 model, the newest one) are surprisingly good for the price, at least in my experience. While Deore (like BT501) are what I’d call very good, without costing an arm and a leg.
When you buy a new set of shimano caliper+lever, they usually come pre-bled. But, as I said, the hose will most likely be too long.
A good mechanical brake alternative are Avid BB7 brakes. I love those.
Hope that helped. 🙂