Di2 Downgrades, Old Shifters & Clean Bike Helmets | GCN Tech Clinic

[@gcntech]

Welcome to the clinic waiting room. Please drop your tech questions in the comments using #askgcntech and the bike doctors will see you soon 🩺

[@aveedub7403]

#askgcntech What I'd like to see is a product review of the most accurate pressure gauges, I have a few manual and topeak battery versions. I bought a cheap Lidl digital gauge as I thought it wouldnt be accurate and it appeared to be miles out compared to the aforementioned! I feel this would be a valid review as true pressures seem to be becoming critical these days! Keep up the video content guys

[@MrEsheppy]

#askgcntech ... I have an entry-level road / gravel bike with a Sora 9-speed group set with mechanical disk brakes. I think it is great for commuting and/or winter riding, allowing me to save my nicer bike for better weather and rides where I won't be leaving it locked up outside. I don't mind the entry-level 9-speed shifting for the rides I do on this bike, but I'm not really a fan of the mechanical disk brakes. Is it possible to upgrade the brakes from mechanical to hydraulic? What would be the most cost-effective path to get this done? (do you have a video on doing this?)

[@chuckmccracken4136]

#AskGCNTech Ollie, on your epic age group 3rd place finish in El Tour de Tucson in November 2023, How much water/fluids did you consume? I assume you did not stop for refills owing to your finishing position. Love all of the PlaySports content! Keep up the good work!

[@oOoACFREEMANoOo]

#askgcntech Hi, I have a cheap track pump, but I also have a cheap digital tire pressure psi reader. Would a better pump be generally better, easier on vavles, precisser? What pump would you advise. @Oli Please nerd out in a track pump review video. Thx

[@johovishta]

#askgcntech was flying along at 50 kmph when a truck pulled out in front of me crossing road. Terrifying. Slammed on disc brakes (32 mm Spec tyres). Locked up skidding toward truck ... just managed to avoid calamity going around it but it was way too close.. How in terms of either riding technique/equipment can one get more (in control) braking power? Thanks

[@giordanomcleod4046]

Thanks for the tips boys! Funny enough, I actually ended up keeping my Dura-Ace groupset and bought a trip to the Dolomites this summer 😂

[@GCNuser123]

love it

[@madpeddler8263]

I'm still using Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed shifters from the early 2000's, replaced the springs, index wheel and hoods 3 times. They look and shift like new. That was the beauty of Campy from that generation.

[@gcntech]

That's awesome! It's a mark of a good product if you can fix it 🙌

[@erkanbalkan1449]

The way Ollie approaches to “unnecessary” upgrades is great! Go to Alps!

[@gcntech]

The best upgrade is you 💪

[@ellipticalsoul]

@@gcntech you need to film Ollie reading that straight to camera in TV advert style

[@mommamooney]

It’s this message that brought me the bike I have right now.

[@oOoACFREEMANoOo]

I lived 10km away from the Alps, @Oli, can I upgrade now?

[@GerhardVA]

Dura Ace mechanical every day of the week. If it’s not worn then ride the heck out of it. It’s the top of the range for a reason 🤜🏼

[@TheCountrySteve]

I'm a very sweaty man, but I've never known a (bicycle) helmet to smell. I don't have any radical cleaning method - I just wash everything regularly using shampoo. Take the pads out & put them in the sink with some warm water and a few drops, and take the helmet into the shower, rinse it and wash the straps. Rinse everything thoroughly & let it dry properly. This seems the ideal cleaning product for the job - designed to remove grease & sweat and unlikely to lead to irritiation.

[@gcntech]

Great tip!

[@BrianRPaterson]

Spot on! Me too. No smell to speak of, and I live in hot and humid Asia, and do less cleaning than you. Cheers

[@number6photo]

I have Ultegra shifters from the 2010 era. My rear derailleur shifter was also not responding to attempted gear changes, but only required spraying in lubricant (like WD-40) into the shifter mechanism to get it working again. It has been fine for a few years now. It’s a common issue - the original grease from the factory dries up. You’ll need to use spray lubricant more often as it’s not as durable as the original grease, but chances are your shifter internal mechanisms are fine - no need to swap them out. There are KZbin videos that explain how to use the spray lubricant to rejuvenate your shifter.

[@DetroitJohnny]

#askgcntech That would be a great video for GCN Tech! With an explanation of the best lubricant to use.

[@number6photo]

@@DetroitJohnny agree! However, since the component manufacturers likely don’t recommend it (and @gcntech would need an old bike to demonstrate how well it works 😏), I think the masses are forced to research a bunch of KZbin videos and decide which recommendations seem trustworthy.

[@punkers90]

Bingo. The inner lever moves freely but doesn't click. It's happened 3 times with my Shimano shifters. For those who think WD-40 is sacrilege, spray some degreaser into the mechanism while working the lever until it starts clicking then follow with some Triflow.

[@hectorkidds9840]

This, I've got a bike with 10sp ultegra and the shifting was rubbish, good flush with WD40 sorted it, then a bit of oil for lubrication.

[@richardggeorge]

Yes, wd40 isn't a lube but can help freeing up the shifter then spraying some light weight lube is the way to go (from my ultegra 6700 10 SPD experience)

[@anonymouspubliccitizen5000]

Keep that Dura Ace - if you have a long power outage you will see the value. Properly lubricated modern mechanical like 9100 I would keep.

[@gcntech]

Well looked after mechanical can be great! 👌 If it ain't broke 🤷

[@biketrybe7071]

Dura-Ace mechanical all day long - twice on Sundays.

[@gcntech]

Twice! Double sided drive or two separate bikes?

[@biketrybe7071]

@@gcntech Just two long old-school rides on the pinnacle of mechanical technology.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

Thanks so much for taking the time to address my question. Really appreciate it.

[@gcntech]

Thanks for getting involved! We hope we helped?

[@wasinphutthon]

I’m just wondering if you live in Estes Park?

[@dexmcluskey4832]

@@wasinphutthon Hi. I'm in Evergreen, but love the Estes Park area -- Old Fall River Road is a bit special.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

@@gcntech You did thanks, as I wasn't sure if it made sense to match the power meters. But I'm surprised the measured output from my power meters is so different -- I use the Kickr, 4iiii and also a Quarq SRAM AXS spindle power meter on a gravel bike, and the difference between them is dramatic. Maybe make a good story for you?

[@Servicevelo]

The shifter issue your viewer is having may be resolved easily. As a bike mechanic I see this. The old grease in the shifter has become too “gunky” to let the ratchet engage. It needs breaking down. Use WD40 by applying with the straw into the inside of the mechanism, plenty of it. It’ll break down the old grease in an instant and nine times out of ten cleans and refreshes the shifting.

[@micktheshaggy3977]

Regarding the question about bike helmet hygiene - I wash my bike helmet pads every two rides, if not - they are very smelly (and can become a breeding ground for bacteria, most likely will cause skin problems such as pimples). They will loose some grip from the velcro, indeed, but they still are held in place, so it's not an issue imo. The bigger problem is that most of the pads are made by heat (or ultrasonic?) welding of the two sides around the foam padding, and this connection will give up eventually. That's why I invested some time into stitching them together. I don't have a sewing machine, so it took me a while to hand stitch them, but it was worth it.

[@obiseankenobi2056]

my 11 speed mechanical shifting ultegra with hydro disc breaks is the best performing longest lasting most reliable and maintenance free groupset I have ever owned

[@MrAsthenia]

9:47 rinsing your helmet after every use might seem like a massive hassle, but it's a very effective technique. Great show, Oli and Alejandro!

[@sammurrie8374]

Note on the smelly helmet; I learned from the rock stars at an early age that they do not wash some items they put them in a freezer. What you are doing is killing the bacteria that makes the odor. I would put it in a bag and put it in the freezer for 24hours and you should be set.. Thank you GCN Tech for everything, I hope this helps.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Alex and Dr O......

[@donball370]

Bike helmet hygiene, southern hemisphere style: after each ride, I put my bike helmet out on the front balcony to dry in the sun (yes, it's not the UK, we regularly see the sun). The helmet is placed upside down to let the sun get to the inside. Have never had to deal with any smells; the sun has proven to be a good disinfectant. Given the UV, generally changing helmet every 3 or 4 years (depending on the date of manufacturer on the safety label).

[@rob-c.]

I’d say that a inner tube with sealant is sort of double protection, because sealant in a normal tubeless system has to start working as soon as the tyre is penetrated. With the inner tube option, the tyre and the tube have to be punctured before the sealant has to do its thing.

[@ruiloureiro3167]

Regarding the Wahoo Kickr and the 4iiii powermeter, I also find a difference of about (loosely) 10 to 15W higher on the crank 4iiii powermeter (compared to a Tacx Neo 2T). Same (higher) on Garmin Rally pedals. But I guess it can translate power lost in the drivetrain. The 4iiii (and the pedals) measure power applied “before” the drivetrain and the Wahoo / Tacx measure power “after” the drivetrain, combining the losses in chain, cogs, etc. The majority of brands state an accuracy of +/- 1 to 2% but honestly I find it a little bit hard to believe. That being said, I think the most important is to stick to one method and evaluate progression in the numbers.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

Appreciate the insights -- and good to know it isn't just user error and others are experiencing similar deltas in output watts between power meters. I just want consistency, really, as I could feel like Pantani climbing outside using the 4iiii (ok, slight exaggeration!), only to find out I'm weak as a kitten when i get on the Kickr. The actual watt figures aren't as critical to me as the % difference between the power meters, so will take Ollie's advice and match them, so I know I'm not kidding myself when riding outside. Now I have to address the Quarq SRAM AXS spindle power meter on my other bike to match it up, too!

[@brianrichardson5310]

If you are seeing an unexpected power from a single sided power meter, you should check your left right power balance. Your trainer may be able to give you a side to side balance figure, though maybe not know L or R. As an example, I just installed a grx left side PM and scored a higher ftp than expected on a 1 hour ride. I checked the 100 Mile ride I'd just done on a dual sided PM and I had a 45%-55% imbalance - interestingly the 45% on the same side as the single side meter. Anyway, that would imply that a single sided meter would have mis-estimated my total power by plus or minus 10%, even though it was very accurately measuring the power that it saw. I believe my LR balance is much more even on TT type rides where I'm concentrating on putting out power. But on 100 milers, well I'm day dreaming and anything can happen. You might have an imbalance because you are subconsciously protecting an injury, or perhaps from a physical imbalance of your body. Conclusion: single sided power meters aren't likely to be as accurate as they lead you to believe.

[@Ser_Kenny]

Muscle imbalance might also play a big role, since the 4iii is one-sided, the estimate (the double of what is measured in left crank) is overestimated if you're left leg is dominant and otherwise. I found my 4iii to be very accurate when I went for a lactate and VO2max test at a cycling performance center where they compared my 4iii with their high-end trainer.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

@@brianrichardson5310 Thanks. I'll look into that. I'm left footed naturally, so perhaps I'm stronger on that side.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

@@Ser_Kenny Thanks. I think this may be a factor. I just installed a Quarq SRAM AXS spindle power meter on another bike, so I'll see how that compares with the 4iiii and also the kickr and hopefully get them all to play nice together for consistent readings across the board.

[@aveedub7403]

What I'd like to see is a product review of the most accurate pressure gauges, I have a few manual and topeak battery versions. I bought a cheap Lidl digital gauge as I thought it wouldnt be accurate and it appeared to be miles out compared to the aforementioned! I feel this would be a valid review as true pressures seem to be becoming critical these days! Keep up the video content guys

[@gamby16a]

For the malfunctioning shifter question, spray a cleaner-lube into the guts of the shift lever and run through the gears a bunch of times. Eventually, everything loosens up and it indexes correctly. I did this a bunch of times when I volunteered at a co-op. We called it "de-gunking the shifters" 🤓

[@Casinosquare]

On the shifter question - 99/100 times its actually a cable issue not a shifter issue. Check and recheck cable routing and any fraying or dirt around the BB or on the entry point to the shifter. The Shimano era specific cables are pretty long wearing. Stretching is probably messing with the indexing too.

[@ketle369]

New cables and new housing often make the bike feel like brand new again. It’s also a very cheap way to troubleshoot instead of buying new parts.

[@agentleebs]

Helmet wash: I get a big bucket, enough warm water (2 gallons) so I can immerse the helmet. Add an a tablespoon of laundry detergent, mix into water. Dunk helmet, rub all the straps and cushions while under water, raise above water and let the detergent do its thing for 10 minutes. (I don’t soak the helmet under water.) Repeat. Rinse off under the outdoor spigot. Hang to dry. Florida rider here, I do this once a month in the summer, no problems yet.

[@Gixer750pilot]

Helmet cleaning , I always used baby shampoo and rinsed it in the shower , that’s with an expensive motorcycle helmet . It works fine .

[@jameslee-pevenhull5087]

I have a bike with DuraAce mechanical, and another with Ultegra mechanical. Both sweet as a nut. Introducing electronics and batteries is introducing things that can fail, so no thanks. I don't mind going out on my Ultegra Specialized SWorks. It's 7.2kg, so sod the nay-sayers.

[@markriley5289]

For cleaning the bike helmet or anything else that you can't put in the washing machine (works well for camelbak bladders and rucksacks/bumbags), try Milton sterilising fluid. It's designed as a disinfectant for baby bottles and the like, so is very mild but will kill bacteria and other nasties without causing you any damage. Get a plastic bowl and immerse the helmet in a mix of the sterilising fluid and water, give the pads a few squeezes so they soak it up and then leave for half an hour. Rinse everything and repeat the process with plain water and then leave out to dry.

[@FunBucketHd]

Always doublecheck the crank length settings on your power meters when you connect them to you cycling computer.

[@kevanmorinphoto]

Re: That old Ultegra shifter...that sort of thing can sometimes be solved simply by lubing/regreasing some of the internal mechanisms.

[@JonH-zp5ep]

Reference helmet cleaning, I periodically soak mine in a bucket with Milton - the stuff you use for cleaning baby feed items. Also works on clothing….

[@YippeeSkippie426]

Cable actuated for me, thanks.

[@AutiSam1974]

Alex and Ollie are wrong about the chain lube queation. They're correct to say that it should penetrate into the space between the pins and the rollers, because they are moving parts, but it should also coat the outside surface of the rollers, because the rollers need to be as free as possible to move against the tooth beds of the chainrings, sprockets and jockey wheels, which act as a friction and load bearing surface to transmit power. No need to oil your cassette but make sure there is a thin film of lube covering the outside of the rollers. So yeah, wipe clean but don't wipe totally clean and don't degrease the outside of the rollers. Chains in vehicle engines run in an oil bath for the same reason.

[@TreibAir]

Just a thought on metrics: I agree that just using average power is rather useless BUT: in basically every comparison video you use aim for the same average power for each setup. By strategically using less power where it matters most and e.g. mindlessly put in the watts downhill in an upright position it might be possible to penalize a bike quite a lot. Would be interesting as a video on its own.

[@SteveMartinson-ro9ur]

While responding to daveeaslick8686's question about repairing bad shifting, I noticed you didn't mention shift cables. As a tandem rider myself, I can say that tandems have very long shift cables. Often bad shifting is attributed to the shifter or derraileur, when lubing cables or a fresh set of cables and housings can solve the problem. As others have mentioned, lubing the mechanism can help as well.

[@gcntech]

Maybe we need to do some tandem tech content 🤔 Those bikes can be a lot of work 👀

[@biketrip2011]

For the Gent and his average watt for a ride. I like looking at my normalized power which is usually higher than average and takes into account variation in output. It's a better metric than average power.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

Yes, I prefer NP too -- but that's not a metric I can find on the kickr/zwift ride metrics, so can't assess if there's a discrepancy between the kickr and 4iiii NP readings, unfortunately.

[@lexdgordon]

I tend to ride in drier conditions but I take my chain off for a general cleaning that’s more than a quick frame wipe down. I use hub tiger to track my miles and just re-wax (full immersion) after 500 miles.

[@RocketRuss]

@alex - you may have overlooked a couple of possible factors to the question answered to @daveeaslick8686's question about old ULTEGRA shifter on his Cannondale tandem. Oftentimes, the packing grease from original assembly can coagulate and harden...making the internals sticky and non-responsive. I suggest if the gears are not clicking down the range (lower gears to higher gears), flushing the internals with fresh spray lubricant might do the job. Secondly, if @daveeaslick8686 and his stoker ride with sticky electrolyte drinks, the drink mix could be accumulating at the bottom of the frame where the shift cables run across the cable guide(s). Wash the area with soap and water. Then, apply fresh chain wax (Silca!) to that cable guide for better results. Cheers to your show! I love it! RocketMFRuss - Eastern North Carolina, USA

[@nigelmcclean4166]

Few months ago fixed an R8020 shifter that my mechanic told me was unrepairable. Bought a used shifter and switched parts

[@gcntech]

Nice one! Sometimes it's just not economical for shops to do these jobs - labour might cost more than a new part. Congrats on getting it back up and running though!

[@overcookit1433]

Concerning the sweatty helmet, everytime I sweat in my Specialized S-Works TT helmet, directly after the ride I always put in a layer of newpapers, then put in one side of the helmet strap, put in another layer of newspaper, then put in the other side of the helmet strap, and then the final layer of newspaper, and thenfinally an old long-arm jersey or pullover crumpled up. The paper does not only help getting the pads dry again (just like in wet shoes), but also takes out the smell. From time to time I wash the straps, but the pads I leave in; putting them out and in does wear them out.

[@SteevyTable]

0:50 A wind direction change can make that much of a difference on a 30 mile ride from my experience.

[@a1white]

All these spare Ultegra and Dura-Ace mechanical groupsets that all these viewers don’t want anymore, please send them my way

[@yonglingng5640]

I'd definitely love a free Dura-Ace R9120.

[@olastokken7670]

The Ultegra mechanical on my 2019 Specialized Tarmac Disc is just great, I see no benefit replacing it with a DI, at least not for me.

[@mrflaxtv81]

I'm hugging Ollie and Alex from the outside. Love you guys bye! 👋❤

[@Shellewell]

Re. the sealant in inner tubes. This doesn't necessarily mean much but when I stuck the muc off inner tube sealant into my bike's tyres I didn't puncture for ages. When one did go with a pretty rough puncture, however, it was very difficult to patch the tube because of the liquid interfering with the adhesive. As I recall, I switched it out and patched at home. I feel certain that it saved me from many smaller punctures and patches though!

[@atlantaswelder]

I recently replaced my 2012 edition of the Shimano 105 10x with a newest Tiagra and WOW! What an improvement! Thought i was gunna be downgrading but man these are nice and very affordable about $100 dollars US off of Amazon. The iPhone was invented 2006 the ST-5700 shifter was invented in 2010 🤯

[@yonglingng5640]

It's not, Tiagra 4700 is built based on trickle-down features from 105 5800. I switched from 105 5600. Just because the name alone sounds like a downgrade, doesn't mean it's an actual downgrade. You need to know what's actually in the groupset, the name alone isn't the entire story. None of the customers who knew about my groupset swap know I'm not even downgrading my groupset, they all assumed I downgraded just from hearing the names alone because they don't know what both groupsets are like, physically and mechanically. I switched for a cleaner cockpit (shift lines are now underneath the bar tape), better ergonomics (I can now comfortably wrap three fingers around the shifter body on the hoods, it used to be two) and less shifting effort (the front derailleur now has a longer arm).

[@Shawnkelley112]

Regarding a sweaty helmet, why make it harder than it has to be? I just take the helmet into the shower, lather up my hair with shampoo, strap the helmet on, and roll it around on my head for a minute or so. I make sure the straps get some of the shampoo, and work it in. Then I just rinse off my helmeted head. Job done.

[@edwardp5748]

as a newly minted bike mechanic, i now know that spraying out the inside of your shifters with lube repairs MANY of their ills. and replace the cable may help.

[@Thrash155]

The best way I've found to take care of my helmet is just wash it after a very sweety ride with hair shampoo or body soap. Just Lather up a wash rag or sponge and give it a good scrub and then rinse and repeat.. Same goes for your heart rate monitor if you wear one, just leave them in the shower to drip dry. I typically never take the pads out of my helmet since the Velcro strips are so small on the headgear part. I don't want to risk tearing them off.

[@adamweb]

Hugs and pinches GCN! 😍

[@ghowell13]

I understand not lubing the cassettes' teeth, but hear me out... The rollers engaging them are metal on metal, with no lubrication. The lack of lubricant will cause wear. Therefore, they need lubricationas well. When I lube mt chain, and advance the chain to complete the job, and then wipe my chain down, I DO NOT go back and wipe down my cassette and chainrings. Do I have to clean my cassette and rings a little more often to keep them nice and clean? Yes. Am I certain that the amount of lube on them fights premature wear vs. the amount of grit i am likely picking up between cleanings? NO😂

[@jameslee-pevenhull5087]

Chains. 9, 10, 11 and 12 speed chains are factory fitted with the manufacturers advised lubricant. New chains only need a quick spray with Mr Sheen metal polish. Other silicone based polishes are available. By spending time, effort and money washing and re-lubing the chain, may get you 1% more transmission efficiency. If you race is NOT for a CASH PRIZE, don't bother.

[@ChrisP978]

For the 4iiii guy, my 4iiii power meter reads almost exactly the same as my Kickr Core. Would be interesting to borrow a set of power meter pedals to compare.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

Interesting. Wonder why mine is so different. Will see if I can borrow some power pedals. I'm also going to swap the bike currently on my trainer for another that uses a QUARQ SRAM AXS spindle power meter to see how that compares.

[@1Barista1]

@ 5:40 Obviously you guys don't deal with old poorly maintained bikes like mechanics in the real world do. Flush that 17 year old shifter with penetrating oil, let it sit for a few minutes and blow it out with compressed air. You might have to repeat this a couple of times. The original factory grease turns to clay when it gets that old and prevents the palls from moving freely and meshing with the tiny gears. We see this all the time. Simple fix.

[@JanneRasanen2]

Regarding smelly helmet pads, I wonder if lemon juice or some other fragrant stuff applied after washing would help? Lemon is acidic so the application is best done when the pads are detached.

[@yonglingng5640]

Dura-Ace R9100 > Ultegra Di2 R8050 Before anybody gets to say anything, I have already ridden with Ultegra Di2 R8070 a few times (not just a short spin) and came to the realisation that I can actually live without an electronic groupset, especially given the fact that I can work with a mechanical groupset and my fingers & hands are still not weak yet. None of the rides I do are long enough to actually need electronic groupsets. The lower running costs of mechanical groupsets also allow me to spend the extra savings on other things. If you think owning a bike that's less of a headache is a sin, then I'll gladly become a sinner.

[@stephen_pfrimmer]

I love you guys

[@edb8120]

I have cleaned my helmet pads with a hydrogen peroxide solution (3%) with some citric acid added. Yes it causes the pads to degrade over time but replacements are easy to get for most helmet pads. It will actually disinfect them very well. I only do it a few times a season with just a regular was every few rides.

[@jonathanshaw6784]

With that old shifter: try flushing it out with a good spray of wd-40 then another spray of lubricant when it's dried out.

[@adadinthelifeofacyclist]

Sealant in an inner tube is a bad idea. The outside of the puncture isn't exposed to the air so it doesn't dry quickly and spreads around between the tyre and tube; every time it does dry the seal gets broken again by the movement of the tyre. When you decide to patch the tyre (after cleaning all the sealant off the outside and inside the tyre) you will find that the sealant dissolves the glue so patches no longer work. Then you buy a new inner tube.

[@gcntech]

Have you tried this trick yourself?

[@adadinthelifeofacyclist]

@@gcntech a friend did, then asked me to repair it. The repair turned into an adventure over a few days. I received the face splattered with sealant. The inner tube was basically scrap from the moment it was punctured. I suspect this is the reason sealant was never used in bike tyres before the advent of tubeless. By the way Tufo tubs don't have an inner tube, so although you can't unstitch them and patch them you can run sealant in them.

[@marick791]

I run slimes in my mtb, basically sealant in the inner tube and have no issues with sealant sealing any punctures, on mtb normally get thorns and small twigs in tyres. When they were flogging tubeless it was hard to get slimes but now back again because people got fed up with the mess, i know i did as swap tyres from winter mud hoppers to speedy race tyres in summer. With slimes get puncture protection with no mess.

[@DavidFritzIII]

To the comment on the (bicycle) helmet question... there are a lot of probiotic textile cleaners out there, they differ from country to country so hard to say which might be good for you but give these a try and also dont expect results on the first try, they take some time to work as the probiotics need to germinate and grow colonies that then eat the stuff that makes bad smell... that being said, try cleaning for 2-3 days in a row with a probiotic cleaner and they (the little cleaning buddies) should then do the job for you

[@ridewithmenashville]

Another alternative to helmet pads, remove all the pads, then use a headband like Halo, You can wash those pretty frequently.

[@Palms89]

#askgcntech Thanks to GCN, I have embraced the immersive waxed chain movement and loving the extra watt savings, reduced wear rates and general cleanliness on my road bike. This had me thinking, I also have a bike dedicated to the indoor trainer and my wife has an ebike she uses to commute, is there a benefit to waxing the chains on those bikes too? What do you suggest for a chain that doesn't go outside or has the extra stress from an electric motor and harsher weather conditions? Thanks!

[@sepg5084]

Mechanical, always.

[@deanonabike]

#askgcntech Hi, last year I bought a Wahoo Kickr for my 2017 Specialized Roubaix, but after several months of use, last week 15cm of the rear seat stay near the wheel axle snapped off. I'm looking to buy a new frameset, so I wanted to know if steel frames are more suitable than carbon frames for turbo trainers?

[@lovemesomedetail]

i’d say they are definitely good enough… i like having a “standard” and cost efficient bike on the trainer as long as the dimensions suit you and save the money for a nice outdoor bike

[@yonglingng5640]

Yes they are.

[@cuebj]

Yes. Second-hand steel or aluminium frame for turbo trainer (or an old bike of yours). I don't clip in but use indoor exercise shoes in clips & straps for quick exit... I now do ten or 15 minute intervals on the bike, jump off, do a set of pressups, plank, swinging kettle weights, an HIIT exercise routine for 15 minutes, etc. With warm up and warm down, that's 3-hours, lots of music, plenty of calories burned, fat burned, and variety. Sometimes take the bike sections easy and the other stuff hard, other times, do the bike sections flat out and the other sections easy

[@deanonabike]

Sounds like a great workout. I've been doing about 6 hours a week of zone 2 which is perfect.

[@iancollins6104]

GTN has some ideas about suncream, the idea is to use children's factor 50, or apply sunscreen the night before. Crazy ah! @10:49

[@pedropinto9954]

#askgcntech Hi Alex and Ollie. Always great to see your show. So I have a lapierre aircode sl600 fdj with ultegra6800, rim brakes . I am starting to have trouble finding spares for it. What would be best solution to get rid of the 6800? Go 8000?

[@TyProvosty]

HACK for cleaning a helmet. Set your automatic dish washer to NO HEAT DRY setting. Then place your helmet on the top rack with nothing else in the dish washer and run a cycle with one pod of dish washer detergent. It really works.

[@livibam]

DA Di2 .. all day every day

[@1992oasis]

#askgcntech hey, how much aero gainz am I missing out on if I’m running a 28mm tire on a ribble CGR AL which can accommodate far wider tires? Is the gap between the forks and the tire an issue or overthinking it? Going to go to 32mm when I need new tires.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I use a cycling cap under the helmet all the time - much easier to clean than helmet pads.

[@ketle369]

The helmet pads on my POC is very easy to take off.

[@stevenpike7530]

Can buy all parts for Campagnolo shifters & they are repairable.

[@Gabizzle3]

#AskGCNTech Are heavier riders more susceptible to perineum numbness on the turbo trainer? I had a proper bike fit and out in the real world there are many bumps or changes in gradients where I force myself in different cycling positions. When I’m on the turbo in one position, I find myself feeling numbness after about 15 mins and have to switch positions. I am a heavier rider and would theoretically have more pressure regardless on my sit bones-should all turbo trainer users be changing positions up, anyway?

[@beeldpuntXVI]

Just running Shimano st 5600 shifters and system. It just works, a clean here and there. Just needs new endcaps. Impossible to find, I hate to throw them because of an endplate Wear a buff headwear under the helmet, its wachable

[@yonglingng5640]

Endcaps, as in, the nameplates (where the 105 and FlightDeck branding are printed on)?

[@beeldpuntXVI]

@@yonglingng5640 yes

[@shawnington]

the ultegra shifter problem is because the shimano grease gets hard with age, it just needs a degrease and re-lube, there are several videos on youtube on how to do it at home in 5 minutes.

[@gcntech]

Cough cough like this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKitmZxte5tqZ7c cough cough...

[@shawnington]

@@gcntech Yep! Thats a great one!

[@SlickCycler]

#askGCNtech A good chemistry question for Dr Ollie. It's understood that a tire filled by a CO2 cartridge bleeds the CO2 quickly after being filled, in the next few days. Why aren't these cartridges filled with plain air? It wouldn't be flammable would it? And the air would stay in the tire longer.

[@yonglingng5640]

Air's composition contains 21% oxygen. CO2 turns into a liquid at relatively low pressure compare to other gases - liquids are much denser than gases so a useful amount of CO2 can fit in a small container.

[@andrewking1122]

For the question about the smelly helmet, I use either laundry soap or shampoo as they are made for removing body odors without being too harsh.

[@stuartdryer1352]

I'd take Ultegra Di2 over DuraAce mechanical.

[@chuckmccracken4136]

In answer to @dexmcluskey4832 (3:57), you have again ignored drive train efficiency. I agree that all power meter accuracies are not equal, and they may vary in opposite directions. However, the power meter on the pedal will measure power applied there that will higher than the power measured by the trainer at the wheel hub.

[@dexmcluskey4832]

I haven't ignored it. Nothing I have read about drive train efficiency would account for a 22%+ difference in readings between the two power meters.

[@McLovin38FFs]

#askgcntech Hi Rupert, Sir Ollie and the team at the GCN Mega base. I have some questions about carbon wheels. Are all through axles the same. Will an axle off a Giant fit a Merida, Canyon, Willier etc? I’m searching for a set of wheels for my Scultura (12 speed 105, gsotp, electronic disc brake), I want 40 mm rim depth as I’m not a fast rider but still run into hills. Should I avoid ceramic bearings (unsure of there longevity). After looking at all the wheels advertised on gumtree, eBay, bike exchange, etc I’m more confused than Si in a drill store!

[@yonglingng5640]

Different brands and models have different thru-axle specs: Length, thread pitch, threaded portion length, head type (flat or tapered), so no. Regardless of the wheels you're using, you use the same thru-axles as they're part of the frameset, not the wheelset (I've had customers ask me if disc brake wheelsets come with thru-axles and I always tell them this). They're different from quick-release wheelsets for open-dropout frames since two wheelsets with their own quick-release skewers are always faster to swap than two wheelsets sharing one pair of quick-release skewers. Ceramic bearings, which are actually hybrid ceramic bearings due to the bearings using ceramic balls encased in a cage between steel inner and outer bearing races, are more high maintenance than steel bearings. As ceramic is harder than steel on the Mohs hardness scale, the ceramic balls will create pittings in the bearing races overtime (ex. wheels hitting bumps) more easily than steel bearings.

[@elias6883]

#askgcntech I have now used the Silca drip on wax the second time on a bike. According to Silca applying it two times should give you nearly the result of an immersive wax. I have done that and ridden it between. Still it is remarkably louder than my previous lube. I have cleaned the chain really well and I don‘t think that should be a problem. Any tips on how to fix the noise or where it comes from?

[@slipperman61]

You should do the hot dip in paraffin wax initially, then use the drip wax as a top off between dips.

[@2.old4this]

Come on Tech gurus: shame the phantom desk scratcher and sort it! Ollie’s fence painting maintenance video needed in GCN Megabase?

[@feedbackzaloop]

Just flush that old shifter thoroughly with WD40 or brake cleaner and followup with lithium spray when cleaner evaporates. If it struggles to shift, but still shifts, means no springs or ratchets are broken, it's only hard for them to operate in 15 yo oil turned lacquer.

[@generic_cyclist]

#askgcntech if I’m moving a tyre I had set up tubeless on a hooked rim to a hookless rim (I already know the tyre type is compatible with hookless rim) are there any issues I need to worry about? Do I need to clean all the dried sealant off the bead to get a good interface with the hookless rims?

[@yonglingng5640]

Yes.

[@clairepalmer7148]

#askgcntech if you get a small puncture when riding tubeless, what should you do encourage it to quickly seal? Should you put the puncture to the bottom, put your finger over it to stop the loss of air and sealant while it seals?

[@yonglingng5640]

It'll usually just seal without you knowing you even got a puncture until you notice that dot of sealant. Sometimes the debris is small enough to stay lodged in the tire that the sealant can't seal on its own, so you'll need to extract it.

[@robgruppetta]

#askgcntech Hi Ollie and Alex or whatever your names are. I'm off to the Pyrenees this summer with my mates and we've rented bikes with "French brakes" (ie, the levers are reversed). I've never ridden a bike with this brake setup. How much of an issue is it? Does it take long to adjust? Is there anything I can do to prepare short of changing my UK brake setup to French brakes? Thanks for your help!

[@DG-tf9rp]

#askgcntech I am looking to build a bike. Some frames are UCI approved and some aren't. Would I be better off getting the UCI approved frame? What is the Difference? Is one better than the other?

[@yonglingng5640]

Unless you're racing in UCI-sanctioned events, whether the frameset is UCI-legal or not is not a concern. UCI-legal bikes are designed under strict regulations so that no model has a largely unfair advantage over the other.

[@gabrielhg88]

#askgcntech hello amazing team. I have recently upgraded my tires to Pirelli S4 30mm and set them up following silca pressure calculator. Going downhill I felt some vibration in the front wheel which was unsettling. Is this normal or did I go too low? Thanks a lot

[@SlickCycler]

#askGCNtech My bottle of chain drip wax froze for a few days while in my garage over the winter (I live in Canada). There is a warning on the bottle to not let it freeze. Is it still OK to use? And this got me to thinking, what about the wax on my chain when my bike is stored in my garage or shed over the winter? If the wax in the bottle shouldn't be frozen, what about the wax on our chains? Should we be dewaxing our chains when storing them for winter?

[@derwykynger]

#askgcntech Hi you two, is there an effective way to clean rust off of drive components (cassette, chain etc.) without taking them off your bike? I have an older bike that could really use some tlc but I don't trust my machanic skills enough to actually take it apart.

[@jarosawniekrasz5123]

105 di2 + carbon wheelset > dura ace groupset

[@Sutlore007]

If you have not had one and looking for buy one.

[@ProWeAreSo]

What’s the benefit of a carbon wheelset… I bought a set and can’t notice a difference. A good set of alloy wheels should be enough

[@lovemesomedetail]

from what wheels and especially what tubes and tires did you change to what wheels, what tires and what tubes? also what’s your average riding speed and mostly flat or climb heavy? there’s tons of factors to consider… i prefer to look at wheels as a system rather than single components

[@JayLato]

@@ProWeAreSoput more effort in and you’ll feel it.

[@ProWeAreSo]

@@JayLatolol I’m a sprinter.. but there’s no difference… I’m almost certain it’s an ego thing, and it makes the bike look nicer. Day to day usage and riding, it had no impact

[@florianbrandl6759]

#askgcntech I have Pirelli P Zero 30 mm tires fitted to my Canyon Aeroad CF SL (2022 model) with the stock rims and TPU inner tubes at around 4.5 bar. However, they only measure 26-27 mm. The Continental GP 5000 (25/28 mm front/back) on the stock version of the bike with butyl inner tubes measured true to size at the same pressure. What's going on?

[@Soulo_ridah]

#askgcntech How long “should” premium road tires last and how to tell they need replacement? I have GP 5000 STR with ~12000km on them. Recently was in a forum discussion and same tires ppl are switching after 3-4K km. What gives? I have zero punctures and setup tubeless.

[@larrylem3582]

Pump gauges off by 10 psi ??? Gee, that'll blow a tubeless tire right off a hookless rim!

[@davidpelletier4117]

#askgcntech Hi Alex and Ollie. I have ridden my Specialized Allez almost daily since 2005, but a problem has plagued me since around 2010. It always skips over the 17-tooth sprocket when shifting up or down. It goes straight from 15 to 19 or 19 to 15. If I manage to feather it into the 17, it jumps up or down within 2 peddle strokes. I brought it into both LBS several times and also replaced everything on the bike but frame and fork and all drivetrain components at least twice, including wheelsets. I even did a full groupset upgrade from 9-speed to 10-speed. All 'fixes' have only been temporary, lasting a ride or 2. Can something in the frame be causing this? What's going on here?

[@yonglingng5640]

Try removing the chain and see if the guide pulley lines up with every single cog of the 10-speed cassette whenever you shift into their respective gears. If it doesn't, check your shift line's (housing + cable) status. While you're at it, check the rear derailleur hanger's alignment too, this is an overlooked part of indexing. I always check this component before I start indexing.

[@Mauriceweller]

#askgcntech I am changing my handlebars going from 46cm down to 40cm. Both my old and new bars are internally routed, do I have to shorten the brake/gear cable? Thanks

[@yonglingng5640]

It's best to do so as longer shift and brake lines will result in sharper bends that can in turn increase cable friction. Going from 460 down to 400 mm is quite a lot.

[@matthewho1053]

The rule of 105% stated that the rim must be at least 105% wider than the tyre to gain aerodynamic advantage. Some wheelsets like Roval Rapide CLX II and Reserve 40/44 has a wider external rim width at the front and narrower at the rear. Which tyre cobination is faster, using a wider tyre at the front and a narrower tyre at the back, or using equally wide tyres at both wheels which the rear tyre is 'too wide' for the rim? #askgcntech

[@johntheconnor8721]

#askgcntech Hi Prof Oli and guest, i have a nice set of 10spd carbon Reynolds tubular rim break wheels i inherited for my dad. The question is 2 fold 1- can i put sealant in a tubular tyre as i loath the idea of carrying a spare while out riding? 2- the wheels are 10spd shimarno how do i make it 11 spd campag to suit my bike? Thanks in advance keep up the good work.

[@revelationdetailers894]

People who now have access to power meters and other advancement in cycling I think they are reading way too much into their metrics after rides and over analyzing things! I take my metrics with a grain of salt. Just a slight head or tailwind alone can make the biggest difference, and your satellites you pick up during a ride for more accurate measurements. If you are a enthusiast or advanced enthusiasts like myself, don't fret over metrics and just ride and look at your progress over a longer length of time rather than every ride of same route!

[@dexmcluskey4832]

good advice!

[@dries365]

#askgcntech I want to change my Shimano 2x crankset to a 1x crankset. Unlike Sram however, Shimano does not have a dedicated 1x crankset for their road race groupsets (105, Ultegra, Dura Ace). I was thinking of just removing the inner chainring and front derailleur on my Shimano crankset, but that means that the chainline remains very extreme when I shift to the lower gears on my cassette. Are there any dedicated 1X chainrings that I can fit on my Shimano crankset that give a better chainline or do I have to change the whole crankset for a Rotor crankset for example if I want a proper 1X setup with an optimized chainline? Many thanks in advance.

[@Bike4Coffee-Cake]

Shimano GRX has a 1x option. I believe (but check) you would only need to change the crankset and front derailleur- the rest should be compatible (if your rear derailleur is long enough). NB/ On 11-speed you have Mech and DI2, on 12-speed only Mechanical right now.

[@kinza999]

#ASKGCN I there a weight limit for tubeless tyres. It seems to work well with lighter riders as they run lower tyre pressures. With higher pressure it just seems to squirt the sealant out and not seal the tyre. Is this also why tubeless works so well on mtbs. Ta

[@danielraffel]

On a recent ride, my Shimano Di2 battery, which is less than two years old, ran out of charge. I stopped at a local bike shop, where they found that 1 of its 3 charging ports was dead and quite salty. They swapped my cable to a working port and topped up the battery so I could keep going. They suspected that sweat had seeped into the seat stem and corroded a battery port. A triathlete friend mentioned that "heavy sweaters" tend to prefer SRAM because they have a patented handlebar battery. Is this a thing?! I’ve never noticed sweat on the seat stem while riding outside and don’t use a trainer. #askgcntech