For any comments, questions or corrections, please use the BikeGremlin.net forum: www.bikegremlin.net/
@AlexAnteMachina4 ай бұрын
I instantly fell in love with you because of this sentence: „Because the geniuses from the cycling industry decided to just copy&paste what motorcycles do..“
@mahditavazoei76114 ай бұрын
Thank you for the great information you are sharing with us. I am a cyclist (Mechanical Engineer, living in Los Angeles, doing long distance bike packing) who understands deeply what you say, and I'm really happy to see you declaring these truths online for everyone who might be deceived by the ads very simply. 👍
@robert-cyclingfan4 ай бұрын
My friend has got a super fast aero bike with many fancy integrated components. It's doing 0 MPH now waiting for a replacement part to arrive.
@paulmcknight41373 ай бұрын
Totally agree! I've ridden a lugged steel frame set up exactly like yours, friction shifter, 6 speed free wheels, rim brakes, quick release skewers, fenders, rear rack, and 42 mm chain stays. Bulletproof 36 spoke wheels with 28C tires. Campy cup and cone bearings all-round, square tapered bottom bracket. And if that ain't enough, rat trap pedals with toe clips and straps. It weighs 24#, about the same as most gravel bikes. It is simple, durable, and a joy to maintain. I've ridden it everywhere, at least 75,000 miles. It's still going strong, 40 years after I set it up.
@AlenAbdula4 ай бұрын
Marketing ruins everything. I appreciate your videos. Pozdrav, Alen
@namdarbolour98904 ай бұрын
What an honest and intelligent tutorial on the pros and cons of different bicycle components. Your videos are full of real content and absent of any hype. You have a deep knowledge of bicycle mechanics, as well as design, and as a result you can provide very useful opinions as well. Thank you for all your videos, and thanks for not selling out to sponsors.
@albeca75914 ай бұрын
As an experienced biker, I agree 100% with all you said. Great video!
@807jester4 ай бұрын
You've just described a traditional touring bike... I absolutely love them and own two: 1990 Claud Butler Dalesman 2x6 and a 2015 Dawes Galaxy 3x9. I've owned both bikes from new, they're both Reynolds 531 frame and forks. Very reliable, easy to maintain and comfortable to ride.
@porkyparry14 ай бұрын
An antidote to the poisonous lies, pushed by an industry infultrated by marketing men ruining what was a cheap and easy to maintain form of transport
@squareyesj71703 ай бұрын
Yes, I have banging that drum for years. The cycling industry has ruined cycling with the over complicated, over-hyped and grossly over-priced bikes and components. Also, parts are rarely compatible. There definately is alot of nonsense within the industry and that includes many KZbin channels and 'influencers'.
@noisepuppet3 ай бұрын
Every company in every industry seems to feel it necessary to hype up a bunch of unneeded bloatware features to keep the revenues growing, or often just to stay afloat. There's pressure to sell instantly obsolescent things that can't be repaired so that they go straight into a landfill while you buy the next new model. The vibe is strangely desperate, and I certainly haven't noticed that all this industry progress has increased enjoyment or adoption of bicycling all that much over the decades. I suspect that this kind of irrational bloat is built into our economic system. I tell you what, I'd trade the last three decades of bike innovations for some bikeable city planning.
@gam14713 ай бұрын
@@noisepuppet "Unneeded bloatware" - brilliant!
@joeymacme4 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tips. So much bike marketing is focused on lightweight, aero, plastic bikes the TDF pros use, but which don't work well in the real world for most bike users.
@Wanderin-Wheels4 ай бұрын
Hello Everybody =) This channel was forwarded to me automatically during my daily reads or watch. I appreciate its honestly and simple approach towards bicycle related issues. I’m from the 50’s generation, during those period my bike customization was achieved by few basic tools and some homemade ones too. All parts are interchangeable…. just before Covid pandemic I was shocked while trying to rebuild my old bike and discovered the newer generations felt they’re smarter on what was 90% perfected for decades ago. Anyway, I like to share my thoughts and experiences on single speed bicycle. The joy of hopping up a single speed bicycle and just ride, regardless the terrains. If I can’t cycle, I walk… that’s my motto. Very convenient and easy maintenance like having a bullet proof bike. However, when bicycle gears come around, we all started to mess around the gearing system and forget about the simple fun of cycling. Chances we are constantly shifting the gears and lost some nice moments of the views. From outdoors cycling fun to camping adventures with loads, I decided to put some gears on the back wheels. The present improvements for using single crank (1x) system still gives me the good feeling of less hassle with multi-gears system. I can still remember cycling with 3 front cranks bikes and I basically relied only 1 crank almost 95% of the time. This is why presently I’m running on 1x gear system…. fatter tires for comfort and a wider handlebar for stability on rough terrains…. while the rest of the bicycle still as old school as it was during the decades it was perfected.
@kevinkimani64093 ай бұрын
Best Bike channel on KZbin wow! I have a mid 90's trek 6000 hard tail.Shimano xtr A 3 by 7, Aluminum,recently added a rear cog to 3 by 8 All what is taught here is REAL! Modern day bikes are overated with defunct gizmos, money minting schemes! I out run carbon 1 by 9/10 cost 5 times any given day! Old school guys (thanks to steel frames) have some crazy mitochondria in their calves! Lots of love from Africa! Kenya 🇰🇪 We get used bikes from US/UK and it's these videos that keep us abreast,riding further and safer! Thank you Sir,God bless
@jacksonpoltergeist72093 ай бұрын
Just started cycling again after two years off. Re-tired--not retired--my 2002 Trek MTB and am enjoying every minute--tubes, through-axles, rim brakes, three ring front sprocket, etc. . . . The only "advance" on the bike is an aluminum frame. Love your content and your down-to-earth presentation. American fan here.
@Tag-Traeumer4 ай бұрын
Very true. 👍 I would go further and say: 13. Long mudguards and a mud flap on the front wheel as deep as possible, keeps my chainring, my chain, my bottom bracket, my whole bike and my shoes clean. ✨ At 40:17 the pros and cons for mudguards are discussed, I saw afterwards.
@paulmcknight41373 ай бұрын
I've seem guys get caught in the rain and lift their bikes upside down and drain the water out of the BB.
@Tag-Traeumer3 ай бұрын
@@paulmcknight4137 🙃💧😄In order not to have to do that, all frames have holes in all the tubes, especially at the bottom of the bottom bracket shell, at least mine, which is over thirty years old. Holes are perhaps no longer fashionable these days, like many useful things.
@noisepuppet3 ай бұрын
I wish everyone had access to a bike mechanic like you.
@SuperOlds883 ай бұрын
One of the best videos I have seen on KZbin. People are always trying to re-invent the wheel yet never succeeding. I have road and mt. bikes from the late 80s to 2000. I started stockpiling parts, from derailleurs, brakes to cogs and chainrings. Back when you could take a cluster/cassette apart and change individual cogs, the good old days. Bags of 1/4" and 3/16" ball bearings. I personally think when a part fails its not usually because its truly worn out from normal use, its either not been properly serviced or was not adjusted correctly, no parts withstands that kind of thing. Great video and you say it like it is which is refreshing. Plus if you listen close enough you have a lot of humor mixed in. Thanks so much for your dedication to keeping things simple.
@BikeGremlinUS3 ай бұрын
I try to keep the humour low key (hopefully so that people who get it can laugh, but without making people who don't get it feel like they've missed anything - like a speeding ticket on a bicycle).
@fishcyclr4 ай бұрын
Your videos are the highlight of my day. Thanks for posting them!
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
You are welcome. :) Glad to hear that. Relja
@hhy2k4 ай бұрын
Gen X has the knowledge... I so appreciate this no nonsense approach.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
I'm Gen X? Wow. That sounds so cool. LOL. THE X-MAN! :)
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Almost ready for the new century (pun intended)! :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/foXXnWBneLFsj68
@irgendwer36103 ай бұрын
this bicycle you are handling has everything I need from a bike, nice seeing unorthodox bikes like these
@philipcaldwell31874 ай бұрын
A mandatory must see for the prospective cyclist wanting to transition from an entry level user to a more confident self supporting cyclist. This level of foundation knowledge is required for those who well understands the needs and simply requires to be schooled in the basics. A clear understanding of the fundamentals to more confidently select the type of frame and components that are best suited ”fit for purpose” as their unique needs mandate. This overview is best in class, simply excellent!!
@JMJMJM9784 ай бұрын
Very good. Thanks! I feel you're the number one reliable information bank I've seen when it comes to bicycles - unbiased and not prone to hyping the newest marketing gimmicks. When researching my latest bike I was struck dumb by claims that hydraylic disc brakes are the way to go, unconditionally, even on road bikes, due to their superior stopping power. Perhaps these people have never skidded with locked brakes, or otherwise understood that right therein lies the limit ofany brake, hydraylic, disc, or otherwise. I can easily lock my brakes on any brake on most surfaces, so what's the point of hydraylic? Especially given their massively increased complexity? Felt quite lonely with my thoughts and opinions up until I saw your writing and videos. Kudos!
@carywatmore4 ай бұрын
Excellent video - really appreciate it 👍 people often forget durability over weight. Simplicity over complexity. I will never buy carbon fibre anything again.
@visualpun6504 ай бұрын
New Albion Privateer frame! Steel is real!👍 Other rim brake frame is the Soma Pescadero. It uses long reach calipers or Paul Racer brakes. It also has the old DT shifter bosses and QR dropouts. But with lighter steel, but still under 1000$ USD
@rollyRRR4 ай бұрын
Nothing to add! This is brilliant and a must watch video for all the people who wants to understand biking! Just follow the simple rules. If it comes to commuting and driving for pleasure and not for MTB race or road race more suspension is not necessary. Wider tires got the job done. there are a lot of trendy things people put on their bikes but the only ones I see reason to have are suspension stem and/or suspension seatpost. We don't put in the equation any carbon parts also. I understand people using 1x system only because of clearance. I love 3x drivetrains. I ride 3x on my road bike, MTB and on my commuter bike. I think the bike in the video is a do it all bicycle if someone don't want to has 3+ machines just replicate this one.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Yup - I wish I could source another such frame for my commuter (with full-sized mudguards). I plan a video explaining all the parts I chose (discussing models and prices). Relja
@rollyRRR4 ай бұрын
@@BikeGremlinUS It will be great!
@rosomak82444 ай бұрын
I was a long time admirer of 3x front cranks even on road bikes. However after literally decades I finally bothered to calculate the gearing. I ended up with a 2x and a slightly wider cassette on the rear. There is a reason the smallest cog in a 3x is called a "granny gear".
@tconnolly98204 ай бұрын
Excellent very detailed video. I'm just a utilitarian commuter and shopper using a Merida Crossway 10 covered in racks and bags for carrying anything I need and use some large trailers for everything too big or heavy for the bike. In summary I think you are saying what I believe. Simple, cheap and reliable works for the vast majority of people unless you are someone who wants to spend additional thousands of €$¢£ for that additional competitive performance. I'm totally in the first category and no interest in the second. I have watched some of your videos before and previously subscribed and liked but this video deserves a comment in appreciation. Good work! Salutations from Ireland 👍
@gonzalez29FX20E4 ай бұрын
My favorite bike was a Aluminium, non brand touring bike, external cables, v-brakes, tube tires (some Schwalbe city don’t remember) dynamo front wheel, racks everywhere, I’d go everywhere and fix it everywhere, with the available tools I had. It got stolen many years ago. You made me miss her so much. Now I have a disc brakes (hydraulic) internally routed one, and I’m dreading the day I have to bleed them. It’s tubeless but I love it in the trail, wouldn’t change it for tubes, it has pros and cons, the new one, I love it since now I go more often than before to the outdoors and get dirty. You make a lot of good points and I can only disagree with you with regards of what am I trading off, convenience for riding, or ease to maintain, I have lots of experience with many kinds of bikes so I know what I’m losing. I really like your channel, I love the no- nonsense Eastern European no bullshit attitude. We need more of that in the current world. I love my gravel bike but you made me long for a good ol steel one to kick the streets without fear of my bike getting stolen. Massive props for your videos. I’m hooked!!!
@PedroLima-lr5tp2 ай бұрын
I have a mtb with hydraulics and internal route. When i bought it it came with oil leaking , then they sent me a new brake , it came with another leaking... ( Chinese cheap brake on both cases) I decided to take out a tektro i had on my old bike wich was external. In order to go trough the internal i had to remove the hoses and cut the olive because it would not go through the hole , then the hose was too short 😂. Had to buy new hose wich in my country is the price of a new brake wich i would have to cut again not to mention the hose diameter wich was hard to find , they only had shimano specs hoses. Went to ali bought the hose waited 20 days , bought a bleed kit hose cutter olives finally instaled the crap and now i'm at the point to see if it will not leak , probably won't but i'm traumatized 😂😂. Hydro brakes ptsd. While i was waiting for the hole crap to arrive i decided to put a mechanical brake i had so i could ride. Went to a very small bike shop bought a cable very cheap arrived at home and 5 minutes later the brake was on. ( Special place in hell for whoever did this , yes). I used to ride the mtb in the city and the amount of money spent to keep it was more than a simple bike. Today i ride in the city with a very simple external aluminum v brake 3x8 bicycle , super cheap to maintain and find parts , never stops for more than 1 day if something break. I let it on streets as it is what i ise to go around and nobody touchs it because no kne wants this stuff anymore so no reasin for the thieves to steal since no one is going to buy it.
@seraphan63 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@BikeGremlinUS3 ай бұрын
You’re welcome. Appreciated.
@klarkolofsson4 ай бұрын
Cup and cone bearings are great for avid cyclists. What I mean by that is the average joe only come in for a service when there’s already an issue. We can basically never fix old hubs because they have been ridden for 10+ years most of the time, without any repacking. I use nice cup and cone BB’s which will probably last me a lifetime since I service them. I also somewhat disagree with friction shifting on a personal level. I use Microshift bar-end shiffers with the RD being indexed and friction if needed, to me that’s the perfect solution, having friction as a fail-safe. I only use 9 speed but when I ride gravel I don’t like friction and most of all I don’t see downtube shifters working safely. Apart from these points you’re spot on mate. I enjoy your straightforward approach!
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Great points - especially regarding cartridge bearing hub advantage in terms of irregular service. Spot on! It is fair to note that they do have rear axle bearing put too far inwards. The same problem as freewheel hubs (that cup-and-cone freehubs had solved), but they are less prone to axle breakage than freewheel hubs and can be a good choice.
@chriscahill3667Ай бұрын
Very good common sense video, explaining the cons as well as the pros, too many people fall for the marketing then complain about the cost of repairs.
@miroslavblagojevic24024 ай бұрын
Majke mi, čim sam te video znao sam da si naš. Živ bio legendo.
@thankmelater12543 ай бұрын
I bought a large backpack for camping which has great adjustabilty by use of tapes which can be pulled to adjust how the pack sits on your back. I found that adjusting so that there is good space between my upper back and the pack, is very refreshing in hot weather, because the height of the pack directs air flow down the space created and that does a great job to cool my neck and back while evaporating sweat. It's air conditioning. It's so good that I am imagining creating a light plastic or plasticore sheet modeled to direct the air down my neck and back in summer.
@mtbboy19934 ай бұрын
15:26 I agree, well said about the suspension for the most part. So for a city bike/shopping bike I wouldn't put suspension on it, rigid fork, for simplicity, less issues, no sending fork in for service or going to a shop. But then there is mid tier forks, not quite low end, nor high end, but still not super cheap, but they are simpler. I see Rockshox has a fork marketed for commuter, city bikes caller Rock Shox Paragon, less travel than the xc forks, I think it's 80mm or less, price isn't that bad, seems like an reasonable option. I've not tried it, but if it's not more complicated than the budget MTB forks then service shouldn't be too complicated., But still not everyone has the time, or want to do it. There's a rim brake option, but I don't think there's a option with both. But there's straight and tapered option. But just want to add some stuff. If you want decent enough suspension and more simple fork it exists, but still costs more rigid of course. But the adjustments are limited, but simpler to work on, Like Rock Shox's offerings. But still comes with the cost of service every year for 4 years so that once each year is the cost of the fork. But agree the high end forks will give best performance, the Rock Shox forks are quite supportive anyways. But I think you sohuld avoid those with remote, at least 2015 mod probably newer as they have reversed mechanism so without the remote it's locked out. absurd. But these 32mm XC forks also have horrible tyre clearance, so 2.3 with mudguard is not possible. 2020 forks also had as bad clearance, but no remote was needed for the fork to function. Fox doesn't offer as cheap forks, than Rockshox offerings. Rockshox's cheapest forks don't have support for Tokens (volume spacers secured to the top). Marzocchi's offerings had great tyre clearance, plenty of room for mud, wide tyres and a mudguard, across all of their forks, including their xc fork Corsa, I had a 2012 model, but I think it was faulty with sloppy bushing on one side. But had annoying top out clunk from new. So do the research, don't get a noisy fork if it bothers you.
@-Eraldo-3 ай бұрын
Honest and wise advices. I am not an expert, but I have often suspected that some choises are simply nonsense, like clipped pedals, tubeless or carbon. I am happy to hear an experienced professional confirming what for me was just an intuition.
@aintnobodygottime4dat4 ай бұрын
Wow!.....really appreciate the work you put into your instructional videos👍🏻
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Thanks. :) EDIT: We must also not forget Gox who is often happy to take his time and hold the camera (and does it quite well)! :)
@tedjohnson643 ай бұрын
Fascinating discussion of the pros/cons! Cheers!
@saturn450924 ай бұрын
Wow, I see friction shifters at work for the first time, and hear about hookless rims too. And your bike is mostly what I imagine as commuter or even tourist vehicle. I also would like to add some info from myself about Giant D-fused seatpost's propriate standard, which greatly limits choise of available bike parts and their prices (which was great surprise for me).
@PathLessPedaledTV4 ай бұрын
Great vid. Your compatibility articles are awesome.
@irgendwer36103 ай бұрын
Thanks for the content
@jsca4703 ай бұрын
I believe the parent company and owner of the new Albion brand is Merry Sales - a 100+ year old company in San Francisco. Another of their brands is Soma. Both brands made in Taiwan. Main difference between the two seems to be the grade of Tange steel used. Some of the soma model also use newer standards as well. Happy to be corrected if I have the relationship between brands wrong. Soma frames also tend to keep to the older standards (depending on the model). I have a soma double cross that I am very happy with.
@manniebrahman90464 ай бұрын
Have been riding 2K-3K miles annually for over 20 years. Have 3 bikes but I ride most of time my 1980’s steel 3X9 similar to the one you had on display. You are right in all the details particularly routing the cables inside. What a waste! Thank you!
@danalbert57854 ай бұрын
Good Job! As 75 year old cyclist who has been riding since 1965, I agree on every point you made but as I have 3 road bikes and 3 gravel bikes [steel and aluminum no carbon fiber ever], I insist on toe clips and straps on road bikes and mini toe clips [no straps] on gravel bikes! For me, the security of toe clips is essential! Clipless pedals caused me knee discomfort. Oh, and the rack belongs in the front as a rear rack may cause frame flex depending on weight carried.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
For me it is more practical to have no luggage up front, unless I'm heavily loaded and need to redistribute the weight.
@karl0d0ca4 ай бұрын
Brilliant !!! I wish he did a section on the advantages of rim brakes, as in when in muddy and wet conditions, I can clean off the mud with a twig or scour the pads on a rock and be on my way. Its more involved with disc brakes, with mud getting into the calipers and piston.
@rosomak82444 ай бұрын
Disc brakes in general are not field serviceable. The hydraulic ones are basically one time products. When you start to bleed them, it's usually because the gaskets are for one reason or another in reality already gone. And they are prone to that due to being positioned very low and thus being sprayed with dirt all the time.
@christopherharmon93364 ай бұрын
This was an excellent objective and balanced view on bicycles. For RECREATIONAL riding, even for those that ride long distances, there is no need for the newest technology. I'm a little disappointed the industry is so focused on racing, and I'm also not fond of the proprietary parts such as D-shaped seatposts or integrated rider-isolation devices.
@Yokssama4 ай бұрын
Thanks you for this video. A breath of fresh air among those "GCN" type video" on youtube. Love your website too very informative 👍
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Why thank you. :) I'm quite proud of the website - it took a decade of hard work to build. :) Cheers, Relja
@jgm99273 ай бұрын
I love practical bikes and practical biking. Thank you!
@maximiliangutmann4 ай бұрын
Great bicycle and very good video! I would add something: If you want mudguards (I need them on some bikes because I ride them in every season) I would suggest buying mudguards from Velo Orange because they are long enough!! Honjo mudguards are probably long enough, too but I have no experience with them. I will try them next time. Dont get turned off by the price because theses mudguards make sense. And just look at them, they are beautiful! These SKS mudguards are way too short and they are actually a waste of money. In addition add a rubber flap to your front mudguard and your bottom bracket will never get wet again, trust me, this is based on my own experience.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
My commuter has a (slightly cut down) rear mudguard on the front. :) Didn't know about the Velo Orange mudguards- must google that. SKS are durable and not too short, but yeah, full size with a flap is for the win!
@imrevadasz10863 ай бұрын
@maximiliangutmann This 💯. I'm very happy with my two sets of VeloOrange mudguards. I have also installed a set of Berthoud stainless-steel mudguards for my long-distance touring/traveling bike. I bought them undrilled, and bought separate mounting hardware. The only "downside" with the Berthoud mudguards is that their (optional) mounting hardware has a special fender stay design, so you would have to buy the expensive stays from them. The undrilled fenders alone were just 30€ + shipping, and the necessary mounting hardware I bought for ca. 30€ from other online stores, and I bent the fender stays myself from basic 5mm aluminum from the hardware store. The stainless steel fenders are definitely more rigid than aluminum, but there have been mixed opinions on their durability. Supposedly stainless steel tends to crack when there is any tension in the installed fender. But the polished stainless steel definitely is a great look.
@BikeGremlinUS3 ай бұрын
@@imrevadasz1086 Yes, I've had great results with bent (folded) aluminium mudguards, and steel mounts.
@lethargic_cow3 ай бұрын
Very practical and useful tips. Relaxed, direct and with some sense of humor, love it! Subscribed!
@03blackoperandi4 ай бұрын
After watching some of your videos, I'm completely changing my mind about updating rim brake system on my old (90's) mtb into discbrake system. For some obvious reasons: 1. They're heavy, means less performance/speed ; 2. Didn't offer much better braking perfomance than proper rim brake (except on mud/wet areas just like you said); 3. Complexity. Never knew before, that through axle system is a must have for a proper discbrake system. Another fact that discbrake rotor burdening wheel spokes also doesn't looks good for me. Less gaps and faulty rate also adds complexity layers. Can't help that lots of issues just appear one and another when I'm digging this matter; 4. They're expensive. Pretty much expensive that buying new spare rims is still way cheaper than adopting a newer discbrake system. Thanks for your previous advice about wheel lacing patterns, my bike is superb now. 4x lacing on my rear 26 rim just awesomely absorps unwanted vibrations. Better traction too. No puncture at all after 1 year or so. So longer chainstay length is good for climbing. Then how about center-front length? Is there any benefit for changing it?
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
I would recommend posting those questions on the bikegremlin.net forum. They are good, reasonable questions and I'm sure many people would benefit from hearing the answers. KZbin drowns the comments (questions and answers) in a sea of endless scroll and doesn't let you search for comments (only for videos). Relja
@yusuf53164 ай бұрын
A very cool, informative, and to some extent funny (I'm not good at painting and singing part 😅) content. Thanks, bought a gravel bike a couple of months back and your video has made many things clear. Thank you.
@DannerPlace3 ай бұрын
Tons of great information. Thanks for posting.
@rosomak82444 ай бұрын
Oh and BTW of course: compliments on a quite elegant looking bike. The not matching front and rear rim are of course the toppling of style.
@mtbboy19934 ай бұрын
11:14 This is why I prefer frames where the threads aren't in the frame but in a drop out. 11:54 This has never been an issue, with properly tightened quick release this shouldn't be an issue. Maybe there's more to it. But material of the fork probably plays a role, if it's cheeseium then I won't be surprised if it happens. I've had a fork when I was a kid it was some sort of cheeseium, it got so bad the disc rubbed, so the shop put a shim there to fix that. But was a cheap RST Gila fork from ages ago, I was sure back then it was tightened securely, but it was polished down. Probably just a horrible fork, as I've never seen this amount of damage even with people riding with loose wheels. It should be tightened so hard it won't move. With the Shimano classic style quick release it should start clamping firmly sticking out straight/ at 3 o'clock. But other designs are trickier to do by feel and angle, so trail and error is needed until it doesn't rotate.
@KevinGoddard163 ай бұрын
So much knowledge delivered from real world experience. Thank you. New sub.
@robert-cyclingfan4 ай бұрын
Nice! This seems like a very honest and informative overview. I agree with all your arguments. I service my bikes myself and know how important serviceability is on a bike. I like how you explained very well this aspect when choosing components. After all, the most important feature of a component is for it to work properly and be reliable.
@Se2n67g9r4 ай бұрын
At min 18:31. For those who think you shouldn't go off road without disk brakes. What do you think happened for the last 100 years since the bike was invented?
@ChellSneed3 ай бұрын
Bless you. You are so sweet and honest.
@vkubica4 ай бұрын
Love your vids, Relja, you're doing the Lord's work! Cheers from Slavonija.You've got a beer (or two, or three, you now how it goes lol) when I get to your neck of the woods.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
That's a two-hour bicycle ride. :) Cheers. :) Relja
@mariomario87332 ай бұрын
Super!!..svaka cast…sve ste odlicno rekli.tek sam naisao na vas kanal i svida mi se. Pozdrav iz zagreba…
@BikeGremlinUS2 ай бұрын
Pozdrav. Hvala. :) Inače, snimam videe i na našem jeziku: www.youtube.com/@BikeGremlinRS Pozdrav iz Novog Sada, Relja
@andrewbozhozr4 ай бұрын
"I'm very bad at singing - God forbid" 😂 I've laughed so hard!
@mtbboy19934 ай бұрын
34:10 That will be harder for mountain bikers especially enduro riders, and taller riders, as they want longer chain stays to have a reasonable balance point to match the size of frame and rider. It's silly to have super long chain stay on a small bike and super short chain stay on bike for a guy over 2 meters tall, I've even seen kids bikes with crazy long chain stays, but wheels are tiny, frame looks weird. Size specific chain stays is another thing that can be used for marketing now. But nice to see more reasonable frames, and sizing, wheels that match the wheel size and chain stays matching the size of the frame, size specific chain stay length, and even adjustable chain stays. I find mine to be perfect, so I haven't tried longer or shorter, nor mixed wheel size, despite that being possible on mine, with just a few parts changed and a smaller rear wheel. But this type of bike is not as common. So I home more brands catch on. I own a Geometron G1. I see geometry on enduro bikes from the most common brands has been geomtronified, so slacker head angle, longer reach, longer chain stays, but yet still most don't use size specific chain stays I think, but I know Giant does, but I've not kept up with all of the geometry numbers.
@Yokssama4 ай бұрын
Thank you for this video. A breath of fresh air among those " GCN type video " Love your website too very informative 👍
@alexandervasilenko14813 ай бұрын
Hi! Thanks for your video. Low end Jamis Coda is exactly one you describe at the end.
@SianaGearz3 ай бұрын
Love your commitment to open information! Polyurethane inner tubes seem quite exciting. Very cheap, very thin and light, lower friction, stretchier, more pinch and puncture resistant. Hopefully less oxidation aging as well. So small and light that you'd rather carry an extra than a patch kit.
@BikeGremlinUS3 ай бұрын
They are promising. Not sure about how easily and reliably they can be patched though. I can carry a dozen patches and a tube of glue for the butyl tubes (they take very little space) and only one spare. Getting more than one puncture is rare, but I've had it happen on rides.
@SianaGearz3 ай бұрын
@@BikeGremlinUS i haven't tried and honestly i don't want to - my sparse amd faulty understanding of chemistry is that you will have trouble finding a glue that sticks quickly and reliably to them, due to low surface energy and low solubility, and when you do manage to stick a patch on, the drastically different modulus will tear the tube in 4 more places after about 12 minutes.
@CreativeFishDesignsCharlotte4 ай бұрын
i feel your very correct , the reason for any of these upgrade was made for cost not safety , why do we have 13 , soon 14 or 15 gears , electronic shifting ebike , not being used for the old or handycaped 1k us for a whats called a ENTRY Bike is SO CRAZY , This is for transport or fun , in my case both , But a fool and his money will soon part so , thank you my friend for your work always
@Minecraftzt1762 ай бұрын
I looked for a commuting bike here in Vienna but didn’t really find anything reasonable, everything was either very expensive, as a poor student I’m not able to buy a bike costing 1k upwards, or cheaper bikes were very low quality and badly assembled. In the end I snatched my dad’s 25 yrs old trekking bike from the garage and restored it. I work in engineering and have some basic experience doing mechanical stuff but no experience in repairing bikes. With just a few yt videos (especially from you), some tutorials and articles I was able to restore it to a very good condition without fancy tools and no parts costing me a fortune. I’m using this bike almost every day for commuting and it works like a charm. Now I want to start my own bike building project for a trekking bike which I would use when I’m at my parents on the countryside and also for bikepacking. Thanks a lot for all those great tips and honest opinions, saves me money and brings gives me the opportunity to understand and repair the stuff I’m using. Radiš super posao, hvala ti Relja!
@BikeGremlinUS2 ай бұрын
You're welcome - really enjoyed reading your experience. P.S. Knowledge is the only commodity that increases when you share it. :)
@Saints664 ай бұрын
Really enjoy your video’s always well thought out with a fully frank and honest presentation 🎉
@daviddrzewicki12544 ай бұрын
beautiful bike build!
@martinprice17384 ай бұрын
Thanks
@christoomey98904 ай бұрын
Very informative. I learned a lot. Thanks!
@treimar3 ай бұрын
I like to never puncture so I run heavy duty tires. Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour right now, but they are heavy.
@TheGotoGeek3 ай бұрын
I use 9-speed RDs with friction shifting with 10-speed cassettes. What’s wonderful about this setup is that it’s always in a gear of some sort!
@31.8mm4 ай бұрын
agreed, 👍🏻 if we ride in fairly good condition (fair road, good weather, etc.) and not very dynamic (like mtbiking, more speed n turns, etc.) a very simple form of tech is enough, i would even recommend someone to ride fixed gear with no brake/single speed if their conditions are within a safe zone. we just need to be mindful, knowing if the things we buy will be worth it, will benefit us not on the contrary. P.S u need more fans (people who support ur content and one that cools u down haha)
@julianj9114 ай бұрын
I very much enjoyed you video. Especially the special place for those who invented internal cable routings 🤣🤣😂
@mushtikla13 ай бұрын
I absolutely agree with everything for more casual riding and lighter trails. You don't really need any of all that fancy stuff to have fun. And it's waaaay more expensive to fix/replace stuff if you break something. But for me, I mainly ride MTB trails so a enjoy more of the benefits of all the stuff you discussed. It is a lot more expensive, but I love it so I try to keep my bike clean and maintained so I don't have to spend too much with no good reason. So i really like the 1x12 I have. it's Shimano XT components so the shifting is very good and crisp, once it's set up properly. It can be a bit finicky to set up (and you are screwed if you bend the derailleur), but the main benefit is the narrow/wide front ring and chain retention/clutch thing in the back. Never dropped the chain once, which used to be a big problem with the older bike with 3x7. I like hardtails as they are more fun, and cheaper and less of a pain to maintain, but still have a nice front fork. Its much safer for riding over rougher terrain as it soaks up a loooot of the roots, rocks, landings and stuff. Big disc rotors for stopping power, as I like to ride in rain and mud so I think it's a safer choice. Tried tubeless tires/setup, but it's such a pain in the ass. lol And it's quite expensive to convert, if your rims and/or tires are not tubeless ready. I'm not a pro rider or anything, so it's just way easier for me to patch or change the inner tube and be done with it lol no leaks, no mess... And it's almost impossible to seat the tubeless tyre with the small hand pump, or even a nice floor pump. So you have to take CO2 cartridges and it's just a giant pain in the butt for me. And if you ruin the tyre with enough punctures, you will have to buy a new one, and they are way more expensive than inner tubes, which I always take 2 of them on all rides, in case I can't patch the puncture. In any case, love your videos, keep it up! :D
@mushtikla13 ай бұрын
And forgot to mention what I hate the most about the whole bike industry lol They are pushing all these things so hard to everyone's throats! And most of those things are way too much and mostly based and tuned to professional riders! You don't need a $2000 fork, carbon frame or a $1400 freaking wireless shifters to climb and go down most trails safely... You can probably do so slightly faster/safer, but it's mostly the rider skill... A pro rider will go faster down any trail on a rigid bike than me on his $10 000 machine lol... And all other kinds of dumb stuff, it's just overkill for over 90% of people... And it's soooo god damn expensive and snobby! The good news is that all those "pro" level nice toys and things trickle down to us regular people, eventually. I rode some really fancy MTBs that my friends have and they are a lot more comfortable on rough stuff... But I ride the same trails as they do on a 10x cheaper bike and it's fine, I didn't go down that much faster on their bikes... So yeah, rant over lol It's all just for fun! And you don't need to spend thousands of $$$ on any bike. It's a whole other story if you can afford it and want it...
@BikeGremlinUS3 ай бұрын
Agree with most points, but I'd add that I also see the "trickle down" from the angle of "forcing upgrades." What I mean by that is you can no longer find Deore class stuff for 7 or even 8 speeds, so you are pushed towards more "speeds" if you wish higher quality components (Shimano Deore class components for example are among the most robust compared to the lower and higher tiers). It's profit chasing to a great degree. Could be wrong, but that's how I see it.
@mushtikla13 ай бұрын
@@BikeGremlinUS Yes! That's exactly why I had to "upgrade" the whole drivetrain on my last MTB to a 1x11... I had 3x7 or 3x8 Deore, and when it was time to change to new parts (It was around 10 years old and the chainrings, chain, and cassette were all dead), I could not find any of the same new Deore parts anywhere! I could have done 2x10 or 1x10 Deore, but it was actually more expensive than 1x11, so I just went with that... And if I remember correctly, some parts of the lower tier Shimano's were not compatible (the cranks, I believe) and they were similar price as Deore 1x11 -.-... And I didn't want to lose the "granny" gear, so the 1x11 was my choice... My current bike came with 1x12 from the factory so that's it... lol
@harryg38893 ай бұрын
I love all the racket and yelling in the background.
@vaughanbbrean713 ай бұрын
I foolishly bought a 1x11 hydro disc equiped expensive bike and very quickly realised it has no advantages over my previous 1990 3x8 steel framed Raleigh with V brakes (upgraded from cantilever with Tektro RL520 levers and RL720 top mounts), parts on my old bike are cross compatible with any bike of that era, cheap and reliable, I have sold the more modern bike and am back on the Raleigh and I will never be fooled again, currently looking for a Dawes clubman for training and for that matter always fancied a Dawes Super galaxy too, By around 1990ish mechanical components were so good, so interchangeable, so standardised that manufacturers had shot themselves in the foot and needed to convince us to buy into a whole new load of gear
@TESTA-CC4 ай бұрын
Vintage Road Bike, DownTube Shifters, Rim Brakes For The Win 🤙🤙
@grahambonner5084 ай бұрын
Common sense at last! Great video.
@murphykenji3 ай бұрын
I like the older Tektro brake levers, the ones which mimicked Campagnolo.
@ebikescrapper39254 ай бұрын
One thing to consider is fitting Gaadi inner tubes. You can remove the inner tube without the wheel off, handy if it raining or cold.
@sharkmentality97174 ай бұрын
My perfect bike at 65 is a ti minivelo. High tech, easy to lift and maneuver. Rohloff, Schlumpf mtn. drive. Front hub electric motor.
@milkyway83533 ай бұрын
Check Crane Creek eesilk+ suspension seatpost and Redshift Shockstop suspension stem. I use them on my gravel/commute bike, for paved even and uneven roads, and gravel rides and it makes wonder for lowerback/spine and shoulders and hands.
@BikeGremlinUS3 ай бұрын
I have had my eyes on the eeskik for some time now actually! :) Will probably get one sooner or later - if I ever catch a discount. It should make ~100 gravel rides more comfy. Though, I recently built a long chainstay steel frame gravel bike and it is noticeably more comfortable. Following months will tell if that’s enough.
@kris81654 ай бұрын
Single speed, either for the road or for the off-road! 29er for the off-road,and fixed gear/single speed/tracklocross frame for the road and fire roads! Simple, light, effective,and most of the time, trouble free! If I can't ride the hill,I will just walk it off😅 Or... something like that New Albion beauty you got there! Fantastic choice 😮🙂 Greetings from Kris 😎
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Your hard-core level is OVER 9000! :)
@kris81654 ай бұрын
@@BikeGremlinUS I discovered 4 years ago, that having gears,is having a nuisance 😅 Single speed for life 😁 I LOVE the shirt 👕😎 Btw... I'm on the bikes 365 days per year,I don't own a 🚗🚗 🚗 Keep pedaling and safe rides 😎
@kottelkannim49194 ай бұрын
@@kris8165When you get older, your knees will thank you for each additional sprocket.
@kris81654 ай бұрын
@@kottelkannim4919 Maybe I have a bunch of chainrings, that i switch depending on the terrain! I haven't excluded the gears completely,but I love the simplicity of the single speed! My daily commutes,and the terrain where I live,is pretty much flat, with occasional small hill!🥲 I entered the 40ies,but I don't look and don't feel my age😅 Greetings from Croatia
@kottelkannim49194 ай бұрын
@@kris8165 Simplicity in terms of maintenance? Greeting from Israel!
@michaelpegasiou45314 ай бұрын
I don’t see the point of through axle,I use quick release but have the Allen key locking types as they are rock solid and not easily stolen and don’t move around on my disc brake bikes.
@mtbboy19934 ай бұрын
4:32 Unless the hub is absurdly bad. then it's new axle after 3 rides to the grocery store. that is the case with Shimano FH-M475, rebuild didn't help, and in the winter service after each ride as almost all grease c comes out due to no seals. And also the hub freezes in sub zero temps, need get it moving to unlock the freehub mechanism. I did not want to throw the wheels away, so I gave them away, just put up an ad and let someone pic it up. I suspect the axle might bend due too the load old school hubs get trough it, the bearing placement, not having bearings in the middle. probably why it bends on the drive side. But maybe decent cup and cone hubs exist, but these ones were impossible to use as an 72kg adult, it was possible when I was a kid. I had 3 of them happen to them all.
@rosomak82444 ай бұрын
BTW. The elastic element on hydraulic disc bakes is the rubber gasket of the piston. During real winter times the rubber will get hard and the breaks are very prone to getting air in. Disc brakes are really not more reliable in difficult conditions. This is only a common claim because actually only very few people ride bikes in such circumstances. IN muddy conditions for example the brake pads will be gone in no time. Like 30km worth of riding.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Yup. It is fair to note though that DOT fluid brakes are a lot less problematic in the deep freezing temperatures compared to mineral hydraulic oil based brakes (and rubbers).
@kentownson72563 ай бұрын
Non aero brake levers allow you to change easily the brake cable, inner & outer, without undoing the bar tape & probably a better cable flow.
@Piroschkaburschi4 ай бұрын
Very useful video. Thank you (tyres tend to be supple, not subtle, but English ain´t easy, though yours is very good!).
@mtbboy19934 ай бұрын
36:35 Within reason it's a valid wish, my Garbaruk 11-50T is that, reasonable jumps between the gears, but enough range. So is 11-51T Deore cassette I have. But 1 tooth, that's not something I've needed. on a 29er 18 ish kg enduro bike this works well with 32T. 38:10 I don't disagree, going wider than already is is silly. But I had to clarify, 11 speed 10 speed with one extra cog 1st gear floating in the air not attached to the freehub, as 10 speed cassette fits on a 8 speed free hub, this means 11 speed will, as mounting area is 8/10 speed. But it won't on 7 speed. 7 speed freehub is narrower, so yes technically you can make the hub wider, on trails bikes there's only room for one sprocket as the cassette body is narrower to make the wheel stronger. Maybe some 7 speed hubs can fit 8 speed freehub I don't know, but if they maxed out the width have freehub close to the frame already that won't be possible. Maybe you know more about this. The 13 speed rotor you mentioned is a part of a hydraulic drivetrain, I remember they had a cassette where you needed their freehub body design to fit the widest range model, but I think they were gonna do regular ones too, but this never became common, but don't quote me on these things, it's been years since I saw those vids, yes there is a RD you need to bleed now. Hope Pro 4 hubs could technically do 13 speed cassette on HG freehub, maybe 14 if floating, but that never came, as the freehub was wider, it needed a spacer to use 8/11 speed cassette. I thought this was weird.
@takeadeepbreath60533 ай бұрын
Love your videos! Please keep it up❤
@tomalleeson45734 ай бұрын
Cheers!
@凸Bebo凸3 ай бұрын
A screw a bolt and a couple of bearing drifts is more than safe for steel frames or wheel hubs. If you are doing carbon I'd get the real tools, but for steel its fine.
@eltonus22 ай бұрын
I really enjoy your videos! I am allways shocked of how far away from the intended use bikes of many people are! They get a carbon gravelbike with no mountingpoints for anythig just to strap a bunch of framebags on it and go "Bikepacking" or a Fullsuspension 29er Mountainbike to comute to work. I am happy to be able to own several bikes at once and i for example enjoy riding my Ekar 13 by one gravelbike after work. But i commute with a steel frame Rohloff with rack,paaniers, drop bar and 50mm 27.5" tyres. When people ask me for advice, i allways tell them that it makes no sence to drive with a very unreliable , expensive maintainance, formula 1 car for grocery shopping or fit a roofbox to a lamborgini because the trunk is to small for vacation. But in the cycling world this somehow is exactly what they thing should be done!!! And now at least in my country the SUV-E-Bike nonsense is on the rise... Those are Fullsusppension BIkes with up to 70mm wide tyres, they are very heavy but the rack holds a maximun load of 15 KG (because it is a flimsy thing intigrated to the mudguard ). and they are intended to be ridden ON the road. And what is the benefit ? they are an electric motor assisted bycicle wich is efffectivly as hard to pedal and as fast as a normal standart city bike with 37 mm tyres without any motor on it. for a couple of grand less and without the risk of an empty battery ... voila!
@BikeGremlinUS2 ай бұрын
Yup. I do see some benefits to motor-assisted e-bikes for people with physical problems, or who want to arrive uphill to work without getting sweaty. But that also makes sense to do with a reasonably built bike for the purpose, in my opinion at least. Though, it can be seen as a hobby. I once probably stared too hard at a man in a bike shop - he was riding a full-suspension high-end bicycle as a commuter. He saw me staring and just shrug his shoulders, smiled and said: "I like riding a bike like this" (implying he understood it's not an optimal choice, technically). Still, even in that case, he made an informed choice, knowing what the optimal choice would be - I suppose. The problem with many people is that marketing and upsales don't let them know that they don't need a full-sus electric bike to commute (and similar). Does this make sense? :)
@eltonus22 ай бұрын
@@BikeGremlinUS jup, it is a lot of fun to be able to do thinks Wich are not the most reasonable things. Just like my 13 by one Bike. And I don't have anything against EBikes they should assist the rider though!I didn't mention that the max continues legal power Output Is limited to 250W here ... When the bike is so big and heavy that it needs 200 W more to be a moved up a hill there are 50 W of assistance left ... But I am not so sure whether this is all down to the marketing talk of manufacturers. Or weather in part they are just fullfilling a demand. I find it increasingly hard to get components I like as well. I would add one thing to your list. A kickstand. For a commuting /shopping/torung /city bike i would require the frame to have a proper mount for a kickstand.
@BikeGremlinUS2 ай бұрын
Yup. Agreed. Regarding the kick-stand: did you see my latest video ("Robust and cheap to run bicycle")? :)
@SurpriseMeJT3 ай бұрын
I agree with everything you mentioned but I'll add a few more stupid cycling trends. - 31.8 handlebar diameters. We never had issues with handlebars being too flexy or breaking before the 31.8 standard. This standard added weight and stiffness for no reason. - Carbon forks (well designed steel forks provide a better ride quality and reliability). Depending on which forks you compare, a well designed steel fork is literally a suspension fork compared to most carbon forks. - 1.5" oversized steerer tubes on non-suspension bikes - steel bikes don't even need 1 1/8" (1" steel head tubes are optimal most of the time). Why on earth do we need stiffer front ends to transfer all the road vibration to our palms/hands ? Thru-axles are also frame specific along with not having a standard thread pitch. Meaning the thru-axles are also a specific length to the frameset, which means it is a very weak spot in terms of reliability. I am a fervent rim-brake proponent and own a mid-reach caliper bike and a cantilever brake "gravel bike". However, disc brakes are superior in terms of lower physical effort from the rider in dense and often hilly urban environments where lots of repeated braking efforts are required in all weather conditions. I prefer the feel of rim brake frame/forks however thanks to allowing thinner tubes and more frame flex.
@joema20443 ай бұрын
My preference : single speed, 29er , tubes, quick release (fr/rr), rigid. great ride with 3.0 front tire. Capitalist turning in their graves. suspension fr/rr - $500 tune up.
@daniellarson30684 ай бұрын
Keep It Simple - I get it. So occasionally I wonder if I should replace my 30+ year old steel bike. I see this video and again say - no. I guess my bike matches most of the positives in the video with the exception of not having friction shifters. Are there gear click shifters with a friction feature built in to make your shift more exact? Mine work, but once in a while I need to adjust cable tension.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Yes. The right (rear) shifter in the video has a switch for the indexed/friction mode. I think it’s a 7-speed indexed (6 clicks), but I’ve never used it in indexed mode.
@daniellarson30684 ай бұрын
@@BikeGremlinUS Thanks - I'll keep my eyes open for the dual shifters.
@samtatge82993 ай бұрын
Agree. I watched a KZbin video of a seasoned bike mechanic getting his ass kicked by a tubeless tire. In his shop, on a work stand. In the end he labored for 20 minutes, goo all over everything and it still didn’t hold air. No thanks.
@MikhaelHausgeist4 ай бұрын
Problem with friction shifters... You must put away hand from handlebar and worst of all to lean it down... Anyway! I've seen friction shifters which installed in barends so... It is doable.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Yup - that is a downside (not something that bothers me, but a downside nonetheless). Bar-end shifters are less convenient when riding technical trails - I've had knees hit the shifters when I least want the derailleurs to try shifting. Gevenalle makes a good locking fix for that, but I haven't tried that personally: bike.bikegremlin.com/12108/the-best-road-bicycle-buying/#2.8.6 Relja
@pascalbruyere71083 ай бұрын
Good and rational analysis.
@oreocarlton33434 ай бұрын
STI makes a lot of sense for sport road bikes, you can shift when outside saddle climbing which is very enjoyable and you get far more safety when shifting on the descent. I had downtubes as well and they shift flawlessly but ergonomics is an issue. Ill never understand barend shifters, worst of all worlds and seem to easily impale peopple.
@BikeGremlinUS4 ай бұрын
Agreed, especially on bar-end shifters. I love that they can be found in a friction shifting mode (and at a reasonable price), but when riding technical trails, I would sometimes bump my knee on a shifter, and make it try to shift at the worst possible moment. It's a lot more relaxing with down tube shifters (but yes, you can't shift while sprinting). Relja