They’re our LBS. We’ve been going there years. They’re the best. 🙌🏻

Thanks, @timba

So is it simply the air pressure pushing the tyre wall onto the rim that keeps a hookless tyre in place, given no ‘cement’/glue is used?

Also, curious… when I’ve read of a 27″ tyre being used, is the thinking that it’s a tighter fit and thus more secure on the rim?

Any other thoughts/experiences from anyone? Any recommendations for a hookless tyre in 700c?

Thanks.

Jnr258 runs that cassette on an HG freehub, with a SRAM GX chain. Absolutely spot-on – drives and shifts really smoothly. No problems at all 👍🏻

I’ve used Weldtite bearings, in numerous sizes, many times. Funnily enough, I’ve used them on 4 wheels this week! They work very well. To be fair, as does the TF2 grease they come with. Yes, you can get ‘better’ – both bearings and grease – but as @reggiegasket says, it’s as much about service intervals, cup/cone tightening etc. as much as anything else.

Re: grease – I now use Mobil XHP 222 marine grease. Seems to work very well at repelling the inevitable water/grime/salt combo…

In the end, I bought this:

As it was more cost effective over several wheels.

FYI, the Park Tools vid. on cup/cone tightening tips is v. good and well worth a watch…

All the best with it.

Have DM’d you… Cheers.

@bearGrease – no, my Whyte dropper doesn’t have an air valve under the saddle. It’s a sealed cartridge system.

@kimbers – how do you identify which cartridge to order/use for your Trans-X/Brand-X, there appears to be a number of options even for the same amount of travel…

Thanks, kimbers. Where do you get your service kits/cartridges from? Are they as simple to service as the guide suggests? Any tips? Cheers.

Thanks for your thoughts, folks.

It certainly looks very similar, if not identical, to the Brand-X in the CRC link.

However, I have since found a Whyte cartridge replacement guide that advises using ‘JD’s’ YSP lube… JD being product numbers from the Tranz X range, as mentioned above.

Anyone else serviced a Whyte dropper? Where did you get parts for service from?

Cheers.

So, turns out the mid-cassette double-shift shifting issues are indeed as a result of a slightly bent hanger. Straight by eye. Slightly bent according to a tool / gauge. Lesson learned.

The tricky thing now… it’s an integrated hanger on a steel frame 🙈🤔

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks – appreciate it.

Will get an alignment tool on it…

Re: cable on ‘correct side’ of pinch clamp, it’s where it has always been – (looking at mech.) diagonally, ‘top left to bottom right’ (so to speak), towards the underside / through the ‘groove’. Never thought about this tbh… what would be considered to be the incorrect way/location? Cheers.

Re: new mech. suggestion…

Assuming the hanger isn’t bent, would this skipping/jumping be a typical symptom of a worn derailleur as opposed to a worn shifter? 🤔

TIA 👍🏻

Eye v Tool…

By eye. Bizarrely, however, it was riding/shifting fine. I installed the new cassette/chain/cable. It now jumps in the middle sprockets, without me having ridden it (to damage the hanger)?!

So I’m fairly confident it’s not bent / I wouldn’t know how it got bent.

Nonetheless, a good shout to use the actual tool/gauge & go from there 👍🏻

Wow – that’s amazing. Loads to check out, there 👉🏻 Huge thank you 🙌🏻 Appreciate it.

Any other must see’s / do’s? 🙏🏻👍🏻

Next for us is fork/dropper servicing and hydraulic brake servicing. Procrastinating. Probably a confidence thing – that little voice… ‘what if I make a mistake?’ 🤔🙏🏻

Oh, and sea kayaking/SUPing… 🙌🏻 That sense of expanse.

What else we got?

Thanks @Northwind & @kayak23 – some good leads there, appreciate it 👍🏻

Hoping to see the Peregrine’s @ Symonds – find watching Birds of Prey mesmerising 😲 Majestic.

Anything else, folks?

Thanks, @p7eaven – they look good. Right up our street.

I’d be open-minded to having separate, specialist tools. I do. Combo tools work, but not as well. They can make a tricky repair situation unnecessarily trickier. Weight/size difference is negligible but usefulness is measurably different.

I now carry KMC link pliers (x2 – 1 open, 1 close) – they’re light & fold small-ish, with a band. Functionally, very good.

Tyre Levers – Park. Nothing comparable for the money.

All the best with your research… 👍🏻

Yeah, same here @welshfarmer 👍🏻 – in fact, it’s an XT 11-36 that I’ve removed! Sadly, XT are a little rare @ the mo. 😔

Anyone know what the SRAM / Sunrace equivalents are, that have individual removable sprockets?

TIA

Yeah, got a ‘new’ Hope 40t expander going spare that I want to make use of along with other 10sp kit…

Thanks, @rootes1 – I’d not considered that aspect… in your experience, was the additional/noticeable chain slack an issue?

Thanks, @hooli

Ah, ok – I’ve not come across a GOAT link… is the idea that it effectively ‘lengthens’ the mech hanger which ultimately makes a medium cage function more like a long cage?

Macclesfield Forest? Epic. 💪🏻👊🏻

Wow 😲 Incredible. Views. 🙌🏻

Thinking of ‘upgrading’ with this: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/0-shimano-rdm773-tension-guide-pulley-set-y5xf98130/

Anyone know if this is compatible with an SLX RD M675 rear mech.?

Any advice appreciated…

TIA

BIG thanks for all the comments and suggestions, appreciate it. Whilst matchy-matchy bling is nice, I want fit/fix/ride/forget. So, I’m hearing stick with OEM but maybe ‘upgrade’?

With this in mind… I’m running an SLX RD M675 rear mech. Are SLX & XT Jockey Wheels interchangeable? Are they the same dimensions/size, fit, tooth count/pattern etc. – just better quality bearings/bushings? So I’m good to go with XT?

TIA

Relatively easy – just give yourself time & peace/quiet… & don’t rush. Be prepared to do some, leave it (i.e. walk away! – it can/did/does get infuriating!), and go again. Decent tunes and beverages help. As does the customary shop apron. It is actually therapeutic, almost mesmerising.

We (myself and our two lads, 11 & 13) learned just this last week. We nailed it, from scratch, within 2/3 hours. I kid you not, better than when I’ve paid for it to be done. They were way better than me and got both sides down to 0.2mm with equal/balanced spoke tension*.

* DS spokes will typically have a higher tension than NDS, due to the angle they leave the hub.

Check out some vids first – we found Park Tool, GCN/GMBN & RJ The Bike Guy to be the most helpful.

We oiled each nipple first, to ensure it moved free. We held some spokes (e.g. with mole grips) to limit ‘twisting’. Do 2-3 at a time, to start with. Work in 1/8 or 1/4 turns, at most. Small tweaks, spin, check, repeat. Easy does it.

A decent spoke key helps for sure – get the correct size by measuring the nipples with a caliper. Park are good but they’re Park prices. Pedros/Cyclo are also decent… Tyre off is preferable as it’s easier to ‘see’ (even decent, new tyres can appear to ‘wobble’, affecting what you’re actually seeing) but we did it with it on, no problem. A truing jig is preferable and certainly much easier to get a low tolerance but they’re not cheap – we were able to borrow one. As has been said the bike frame, upside down, can be used with hex keys/zip ties/pens/lollipop sticks as markers.

Remember that ‘lateral’ truing is only one aspect – there’s also ‘radial’ truing, dishing, spoke tension/balance & so on… and as others have said, truing doesn’t necessarily repair a damaged rim.

Hope our recent learning experience helps a bit. Go for it! Make mistakes, it’s often the best way to learn. You’ll soon put them right and nail it!

@jimw – yeah, we’ve not long had it as our runaround. Runs well. Just had a full service and the system was pretty mucky – maybe a little maintenance neglect, over the years? Anyways, suggested an additive will further help clean etc. & prolong life of parts…

@Rich_s – yeah, I avoid cheap fuel but good shout re: the dearer, posh stuff. Does that effectively act as a ‘cleaner’ (additive), so to speak?

We had a similar dilemma – our solution was a Sterk Systems Aluminium Hop Up Platform Step (600x300mm). Think it was about £40?

Light & compact enough to put in the boot yet strong & stable in use. Easy to put up/take down. Good safety catches. Doubles as a little table/seat for picnicking etc. too.

Also useful around the house/garden – winner! Would recommend.

Hope this helps 👍🏻

Many thanks for the thoughts & suggestions, folks 👍🏻

Indeed it’s the random occurrence of this issue that’s baffled me?!

Jockey wheel bearings seem fine 👍🏻

@endomick – what adjustment did you make to get the chainline to 48mm? From…? 52mm?

@5plusn8 – what adjustment did you make to the B tension to alleviate the problem? … and, just one link out of the chain, or more?

Cheers all 👍🏻 Anyone else with similar issues? 🤔

Absolutely, @thols2 – agreed 👊🏻

However there are some occasions where I choose to backpedal slightly – maybe just 1/2 a rotation – in order to get my pedals/cranks into a better position…

The reason I’m baffled is that it’s not done it before now, even in extreme gears (sprockets 1 & 2). Why all of a sudden… after cleaning?!

Likewise, it’s never happened to me on a 1 x 10 nor a 1 x 12! 🤔 I’ve always been able to take 1/2 a backwards rotation, even in sprockets 1/2/3, to set my foot position…

#confused

Thanks @frogstomp 👍🏻

I had wear in mind, although there’s nothing obvious…

Could worn jockey wheels be a culprit in this instance? 🤔

Will check out the Park vid. – ta for the heads-up 👍🏻

Following with interest. Ours has just started leaking – a very slow & slight seap from what appears to be a degraded gasket?

I’m no expert – it’s more than likely to be the gasket, right?

Would the advice be to replace just the gasket?

Or does it make more sense to just replace with an entire plug/gasket/trap/overflow/cable kit? They don’t appear too expensive. Are shower/bath drains a standard size/fitting?

As I say I’m no expert, but I’ll generally have a go at stuff. Is it an easy fix/replace? Looks like a large, flat-head fixing from above. Does this unscrew & effectively release the top & bottom parts from the tray, allowing it to be removed?

Any suggestions & advice very much welcome.

TIA

Re: midges/mosquitos etc. – we’ve never had a problem. We were there end of Aug/start of Sept last year and we didn’t notice them at all – and we ordinarily would as for whatever reason, I’m the only one in the family they seem to enjoy biting and eating away at!

From our experience, with many visits over the years from Easter sort of time to Oct. sort of time, nothing to worry about. No problem at all.

Lovely part of the world, many happy memories over the years. As a family, we love the whole area – we visit regularly (well, until last March!) and the kids ask to go back which says something!

The mountains, the trails, the walks, the beaches – stunningly beautiful.

Yes there are some parts of Barmouth itself you may choose to avoid… but isn’t that the case anywhere? Likewise there are some lovely places – Knickerbockers Ice Cream / Fudgeridoo Sweet Shop (same company?). Epic Fish & Chips by the harbour/bridge. A lesser-known gem is the steep walk up out of the town centre, through the ‘old town’, to Dinas Oleu (Citadel of Light). The first land gifted to the NT in the late 1800’s. Stunning, panoramic views. SUPing on the estuary. The huge beach is lovely but as has already been said, other than v. early a.m. or much later p.m. it gets VERY busy. Uncomfortably so. No thanks, not for us. Tricky when the weather turns – we found it difficult to find things to do when the kids were younger/toddlers. Mawddach Trail is incredible. Across Barmouth bridge and along the estuary to Dolgellau and back is an amazing ride. It’s just under 20 miles (?) but flat so easily do-able. Dolgellau is very quaint with some lovely re-fuelling places. Cadir Idris is a must but it is a tough walk – be prepared, as the weather can turn very quickly – like Snowdon. Choose your day/weather window. Take plenty of water & food.

Beyond Barmouth… coast road up to Harlech and Porthmadog is a great road ride, but a fast road (60) in places so probably not ideal with the kids. Trawsdir campsite (3 miles N of Barmouth) is honestly one of the best we’ve ever stayed at. So clean and well equipped. Fab. There are some slate caverns between Barmouth and Harlech which are well worth a visit. Harlech beach is amazing… and massive! Like, proper massive. Usually plenty of space but the CP and narrow path to it through the dunes can get busy… Harlech castle is great. Likewise the ‘World’s Steepest Road’ (contested with NZ!) is a good challenge… to crawl up, and maybe ride!

A little further afield… endless tracks, trails, walks, paths etc. through the mountains ‘behind’ Barmouth (they effectively go all the way through to the main road North, from Dolgellau to Coed Y Brenin. The Steam Railway at Porthmadog was always a big hit with our kids. Criccieth Castle followed by Fish & Chips from the place next to it and then an ice cream from the place opposite. Yes please. However watch the queues…

Llyn Peninsula is breathtaking but quite a way up the coast – about an hour or so. So it’s defo. a ‘day out’. Kayaking out from Abersoch/Llanbedrog area towards the islands, one of which belongs to Bear Grylls. ‘Hell’s Mouth’ for surfing/boarding – however, be very careful of the currents, tides, surf etc. as it can be pretty rough – think Cornwall. Abersoch/Pwllheli are very different towns but neither are for us… er, where’s the road out of here?! Each to their own.

Hope that helps a little? There’s loads to do but as is clear, it’s predominantly ‘outdoorsy’ stuff which is of course no problem/what we all want… however, when (not if!) the weather turns grim – sometimes for days on end – it can be tricky finding enough stuff to do. As you’ll know coast + mountains = VERY changeable weather, sometimes within an hour let alone a day. The best times for us are when we’ve kept a very close eye on the weather and planned accordingly… whilst being ready to adapt at any point!

It’s beautiful and you won’t be disappointed. Whenever you’re able to go, enjoy.

BIG thanks to all for your advice and suggestions – I now know what I’m looking for! Appreciate it.

Re: installing/removing circlips/e clips on RC cars – anyone got any suggestions for pliers with really small tips? RC clips are typically in the 2mm – 5mm range whereas most pliers have a recommended range of 10mm upwards…

What you got?
What would you recommend?

TIA

Thanks, DezB – appreciated your find on eBay, I did indeed snap it up! Result.

Thanks trail_rat – my thinking exactly, £50+ is a lot to spend on a component that’s used infrequently… and particularly when it’s all good aside from a missing fastener!

Tell me/does anyone know – as I’m no expert in this area – are spring clips / circlips / e clips pretty much the same thing, functioning in the same way? Or do they each have their relative benefits/drawbacks, depending on the application? Which do I choose to use in this situation?

Not sure where you are in the NW but we’re in Cheshire and last year used S & D car sales on Autotrader. They’re based outside Wrexham.

They have a good range of options/makes/styles at your price point.

Unquestionably the best car buying experience I’ve ever had. We got an amazing car for a very good price. Professional, courteous, helpful, clear and not at all pushy. Over and above. Brilliant.

Give them a look…

Hi, Nick

My wife is also 5’2″ and has an XS Whyte 802 ‘Compact’ (size-proportionate geometry/components – defo. helps).

Brilliant bike: light, nimble, fits perfectly. Never put a foot (or, wheel?!) wrong. Unfortunately, not selling it but I’d buy one again.

Have also PM’d you.

Phil