Gears and brakes

[Steve Holdoway]

Hi there,

I've replaced the cassette on my Giant OCR-3 with a lightly
used Shimano Hypergride ( allegedly Dura Ace, but I don't
see any titanium bits ) 12-21 8 speed one. The indexing,
which was immaculate with the old cassette is now really
poor... changing 2 or 3 gears at a time after ignoring me
for ages, that sort of thing. Is there anything I can do
about this... I've got an old Dura Ace rear mech lying
around somewhere if you think that will help.

Also, I'm not at all impressed with the brakes. I think the
problem is two-fold. Firstly, my grip is weakening, and
second, I'm getting more timid with old age! Is there a
simple upgrade I can do with the brakes, or is it a
wheel/caliper upgrade that I need? I've tried putting proper
Shimano blocks in... it helps, but not much!

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Steve

[Whingin' Pom]

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 08:23:06 +1200, Steve Holdoway
<steve@itemfront.ltd.uk> () wrote:

>
>Also, I'm not at all impressed with the brakes. I think the
>problem is two-fold. Firstly, my grip is weakening, and
>second, I'm getting more timid with old age! Is there a
>simple upgrade I can do with the brakes, or is it a
>wheel/caliper upgrade that I need? I've tried putting
>proper Shimano blocks in... it helps, but not much!

I have an OCR 3 and use Kool-Stop salmon pads on the
standard brakes. (Sora dual pivots, IIRC) They stop me with
minimal effort on some really fearsome hills. I'm assuming
the blindingly obvious that the brakes are adjusted
correctly, the levers set comfortably, pads adjusted right
,cables not kinked, that sort of thing?

--
Matt K Dunedin, NZ

[Just Zis Guy]

Steve Holdoway wrote:

> I've replaced the cassette on my Giant OCR-3 with a
> lightly used Shimano Hypergride ( allegedly Dura Ace, but
> I don't see any titanium bits ) 12-21 8 speed one. The
> indexing, which was immaculate with the old cassette is
> now really poor... changing 2 or 3 gears at a time after
> ignoring me for ages, that sort of thing. Is there
> anything I can do about this...

Get the mech off, give it a really thorough clean, change
the cables (cheap and not too hard).

> Also, I'm not at all impressed with the brakes. I think
> the problem is two-fold. Firstly, my grip is weakening,
> and second, I'm getting more timid with old age! Is there
> a simple upgrade I can do with the brakes, or is it a
> wheel/caliper upgrade that I need?

Kool-Stop pads are the dog's dangly bits for braking. Have
you got dual-pivot calipers?

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk (http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/)

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

[Steve]

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
> Steve Holdoway wrote:
>
>
>>I've replaced the cassette on my Giant OCR-3 with a
>>lightly used Shimano Hypergride ( allegedly Dura Ace, but
>>I don't see any titanium bits ) 12-21 8 speed one. The
>>indexing, which was immaculate with the old cassette is
>>now really poor... changing 2 or 3 gears at a time after
>>ignoring me for ages, that sort of thing. Is there
>>anything I can do about this...
>
>
> Get the mech off, give it a really thorough clean, change
> the cables (cheap and not too hard).
Bike has only done 1000km from new, and it was changing the
block that started this. I have cleaned everything up and
oiled it. I did let the chain get slightly rusty - could
that have caused any problems?
>
>
>>Also, I'm not at all impressed with the brakes. I think
>>the problem is two-fold. Firstly, my grip is weakening,
>>and second, I'm getting more timid with old age! Is there
>>a simple upgrade I can do with the brakes, or is it a
>>wheel/caliper upgrade that I need?
>
>
> Kool-Stop pads are the dog's dangly bits for braking. Have
> you got dual-pivot calipers?
They're dual pivot, no name on them, although Matt reckons
they're Sora.. Rims are Alexrims DR13, which I've never
heard of. The local importer of Kool Stop is very close by,
so I'll try them and let you know how it goes.

Cheers

Steve

[Whingin' Pom]

On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 11:04:34 +1200, Steve <ThisOne@Aint.valid> ()
wrote:

>> Kool-Stop pads are the dog's dangly bits for braking.
>> Have you got dual-pivot calipers?
>They're dual pivot, no name on them, although Matt reckons
>they're Sora..

Sora on mine according to LBS. Possibly Tekro dual pivots on
yours? Googling and looking at piccies of both they both
seem to be pretty much entry-level brakes and fairly similar
in appearance. In fact, looking further, the LBS may have
even been telling me porkie-pies about them. I shall quiz
them further on this. Have you oiled the pivots and made
sure they move OK?

>Rims are Alexrims DR13, which I've never heard of.

More info can be had on http://www.alexrims.com/ Again, entry-
level stuff, bit on the heavy side, but they seem strong
enough. Unlike the Emmenthal bottom-bracket which has just
crumbled on
me. :-(

Are the rims nice and clean? No nasty black powdery
crap on them?

--
Matt K Dunedin, NZ

[Just Zis Guy]

On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 11:04:34 +1200, Steve <ThisOne@Aint.valid> wrote
in message <c4nfu3$jej$1@lust.ihug.co.nz>:

>Bike has only done 1000km from new, and it was changing the
>block that started this. I have cleaned everything up and
>oiled it. I did let the chain get slightly rusty - could
>that have caused any problems?

Yes. You need a new chain as well. Chains and cassettes wear
tgether, unless you keep the chain in really good order you
have ot replace them together.

>They're dual pivot, no name on them, although Matt reckons
>they're Sora.. Rims are Alexrims DR13, which I've never
>heard of. The local importer of Kool Stop is very close by,
>so I'll try them and let you know how it goes.

I think you can still get Kool-Stop pads for them (try
Wiggle if the local place is inaccessible). Dual pivots
should stop well so it is probably either a pad issue or the
cables and pivots need lubricating.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk (http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/)

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University