Quality Bike Repair

[Rod B.]

I'm presently looking for a mountain bike frame to build a traditional pedal mountain bike for my 10 year old nephew. He's 10, he needs to suffer on the climbs. Life's hard...it's even harder when you have to pedal an Amish bike.

I was online looking for the bike frame and came across the beauty depicted below which is currently for sale. I thought forum users might enjoy the bike.

The Seller states the head tube had a small crack. The Seller reassures that the head tube was successfully repaired with epoxy and added steel reinforcement. This is a no joke post.

I'm a sucker for quality repairs....

 

[irie]

Love the worm gear hose clamp (aka Jubilee clip in UK).

 

[steve_sordy]

That bike looks like one to miss.

I have twice done a bike rebuild with my grandson and on each occasion it was an absolute joy! I hope that he lives close enough to you for that to be a possibility. Even if it isn't, make it happen! You won't regret it.

It's a big chance to spend some quality time with your grandson and to teach him some skills, patience, problem solving, and how a bike goes together. These skills will last for life and you never know when they will come in handy.

Small example. My grandson was 16 and doing some free work experience with qualified electricians (his chosen career). He was asked to wire up some lighting switches in a warehouse after being shown how to do it, once. He cable-tied the various wires together, ensuring that all the tails pointed in the same direction, as he had been shown by me a few years before. Upon his return, the electrician commented on this saying "Well done, I don't even get second-year apprentices doing that!"

It was supposed to be free work experience, but because the electrician didn't have to redo anything he paid my grandson £30! You can imagine how happy my grandson was!

 

[RustyIron]

Buy a TIG welder. Teach the kid to weld. He'll end up with a usable bike and a skill that pays more than any cube monkey could ever earn.

 

[Rod B.]

That bike looks like one to miss.

I have twice done a bike rebuild with my grandson and on each occasion it was an absolute joy! I hope that he lives close enough to you for that to be a possibility. Even if it isn't, make it happen! You won't regret it.

It's a big chance to spend some quality time with your grandson and to teach him some skills, patience, problem solving, and how a bike goes together. These skills will last for life and you never know when they will come in handy.

Small example. My grandson was 16 and doing some free work experience with qualified electricians (his chosen career). He was asked to wire up some lighting switches in a warehouse after being shown how to do it, once. He cable-tied the various wires together, ensuring that all the tails pointed in the same direction, as he had been shown by me a few years before. Upon his return, the electrician commented on this saying "Well done, I don't even get second-year apprentices doing that!"

It was supposed to be free work experience, but because the electrician didn't have to redo anything he paid my grandson £30! You can imagine how happy my grandson was!

That bike looks like one to miss.

I have twice done a bike rebuild with my grandson and on each occasion it was an absolute joy! I hope that he lives close enough to you for that to be a possibility. Even if it isn't, make it happen! You won't regret it.

It's a big chance to spend some quality time with your grandson and to teach him some skills, patience, problem solving, and how a bike goes together. These skills will last for life and you never know when they will come in handy.

Small example. My grandson was 16 and doing some free work experience with qualified electricians (his chosen career). He was asked to wire up some lighting switches in a warehouse after being shown how to do it, once. He cable-tied the various wires together, ensuring that all the tails pointed in the same direction, as he had been shown by me a few years before. Upon his return, the electrician commented on this saying "Well done, I don't even get second-year apprentices doing that!"

It was supposed to be free work experience, but because the electrician didn't have to redo anything he paid my grandson £30! You can imagine how happy my grandson was!

Steve,

I remember the pictures you sent me of the beautiful bike you built your grandson. Your grandson will never lack for employment as an electrician. Awesome job Sir!

 

[Rod B.]

Buy a TIG welder. Teach the kid to weld. He'll end up with a usable bike and a skill that pays more than any cube monkey could ever earn.

This is true and I do have a Mig welder. The boy's ten, I'll need to wait a bit before I can save him from the cube monkeys. I saw you rode Blackstar to Silverado Motorway. How was Motorway?

 

[Paulquattro]

@bmwpowere36m3​

I can only assume from the crap post mark on the OPs first post that it was you who did the repair

 

[steve_sordy]

Steve,

I remember the pictures you sent me of the beautiful bike you built your grandson. Your grandson will never lack for employment as an electrician. Awesome job Sir!

It was a lot of fun! Although after the hours we spent getting the dropper cable threaded through the frame on his first Orange Five we decided to let the LBS do the last one! He has the proper kit to do it and it took him minutes.

Ref the electrician comment. That is what his Dad thinks, what I think and, much more importantly, what his great-uncle electrician thinks and what his two electrician cousins think! Any competent electrician is basically fully innoculated against any AI-induced job cuts. AND he is earning now! In 3-4 year, when his contemporaries are graduating with degrees in law, accountancy and (God forbid) all those humanities degrees, they will have huge debts and intense competition for their first job. He will probably have his first house by then.

 

[RustyIron]

This is true and I do have a Mig welder. The boy's ten, I'll need to wait a bit before I can save him from the cube monkeys. I saw you rode Blackstar to Silverado Motorway. How was Motorway?

Ok, then buy ME a TIG welder and send the kid over. I always wanted a TIG welder.

The Main Divide is in better shape than it's been in years. The crews have been up there doing a LOT of work. Motorway is loose, just like it always is, but there's not a lot of brush yet. I'll go upload something to Pic Of The Day. I might ride Maple Springs to Motorway tomorrow--do a little recon. Maybe a Black Star to Maple Springs ride could be in our future.

 

[Rod B.]

Ok, then buy ME a TIG welder and send the kid over. I always wanted a TIG welder.

The Main Divide is in better shape than it's been in years. The crews have been up there doing a LOT of work. Motorway is loose, just like it always is, but there's not a lot of brush yet. I'll go upload something to Pic Of The Day. I might ride Maple Springs to Motorway tomorrow--do a little recon. Maybe a Black Star to Maple Springs ride could be in our future.

It was a lot of fun! Although after the hours we spent getting the dropper cable threaded through the frame on his first Orange Five we decided to let the LBS do the last one! He has the proper kit to do it and it took him minutes.

Ref the electrician comment. That is what his Dad thinks, what I think and, much more importantly, what his great-uncle electrician thinks and what his two electrician cousins think! Any competent electrician is basically fully innoculated against any AI-induced job cuts. AND he is earning now! In 3-4 year, when his contemporaries are graduating with degrees in law, accountancy and (God forbid) all those humanities degrees, they will have huge debts and intense competition for their first job. He will probably have his first house by then.

What you say is so very true. I will stay neutral about college on this forum, but I'm confident you can read my thoughts on the matter. Unfortunately, both the education system and society have both turned away from the 'Blue Collar Arts.' This is a shame and a disservice to our youth. The world needs more trades people and less degrees in social studies and under water basket weaving.

When I attended public school, I took classes in drafting, wood working, metal shop, fiberglass boat repair, and autoshop. I still use the skills I learned almost every day of my life. Sadly, most if not all public schools, no longer offer these types of classes due to cost saving budget concerns.

When I graduated high school, I went on to serve a three year apprenticeship as a heavy equipment mechanic. I attended a trade school as part of the apprenticeship. I was taught welding, electrical troubleshooting, diesel engine repair, hydraulic systems repair, automatic and manual transmission repair, etc. I went on to work for Caterpillar and other large construction companies. I made excellent money and I never lacked for work. Your grandson will do fine and prosper.

Circa 1990

 

[Rod B.]

Ok, then buy ME a TIG welder and send the kid over. I always wanted a TIG welder.

The Main Divide is in better shape than it's been in years. The crews have been up there doing a LOT of work. Motorway is loose, just like it always is, but there's not a lot of brush yet. I'll go upload something to Pic Of The Day. I might ride Maple Springs to Motorway tomorrow--do a little recon. Maybe a Black Star to Maple Springs ride could be in our future.

Rusty,

I'll trade your lathe for my Mig welder....Now that's a fair deal.

 

[steve_sordy]

@Rod B. "Underwater basket weaving" I hope you don't mind if I use that in the future, really funny.
We are sure to have similar subjects taught at some of our lesser Universities.

PS: In the UK "public" schools are the opposite of what the term means in the USA. In the UK, public schools (like Eton) are for those who can pay. The UK free schools are known as "state" schools (a term that may mean something different in the USA). Was it Winston Churchill who said that the USA and the UK were two countries divided by a common language?

 

[billwarwick]

Underwater basket weaving sounds nearly sensible compared to some of the ridiculous degrees available in the UK, leaving students heavily in debt and with no job . The brighter teenagers are realising that a good apprenticeship is far more advantageous ,and these are now sought after and the competition for them is high.

 

[Rod B.]

@Rod B. "Underwater basket weaving" I hope you don't mind if I use that in the future, really funny.
We are sure to have similar subjects taught at some of our lesser Universities.

PS: In the UK "public" schools are the opposite of what the term means in the USA. In the UK, public schools (like Eton) are for those who can pay. The UK free schools are known as "state" schools (a term that may mean something different in the USA). Was it Winston Churchill who said that the USA and the UK were two countries divided by a common language?

Winston Churchill was the right man at the right time for England. You guys were doing okay until you started driving on the wrong side of the road....jus sayin...

In the USA, there are four levels of education, Preschool (Ages 3-4), Kindergarten (Age 5), Elementary School (Grades 1 thru 6), Junior High School (Grades 7 thru 9), and High School (Grades 10 thru 12). Each grade is one full year of free instruction. There are private schools however these are typically Christian or Catholic faith based schools, or for the wealthy that can afford privately funded education.

 

[RustyMTB]

some of the ridiculous degrees available in the UK, leaving students heavily in debt and with no job

PPE at Oxford & Media studies at Edge Hill will both leave you in about the same amount of debt & by defintion, jobless,. Inverse snobbery is still snobbery, Nige. I should do less of it if I were you.

 

[billwarwick]

Well, you’re not me are you. Didn’t realise I needed your permission to state an opinion. Inverse snobbery is also assuming that I vote for a political party which you don’t agree with (which I don’t)

 

[irie]

Winston Churchill was the right man at the right time for England. You guys were doing okay until you started driving on the wrong side of the road....jus sayin...

You lot also used to drive on the left, Google is your friend.

 

[Rod B.]

You lot also used to drive on the left, Google is your friend.

 

[RustyIron]

You lot also used to drive on the left, Google is your friend.

We also used to smoke everywhere we went, spray DDT all over the place, and give morphine cough syrup to children. But we're a lot smarter now.

 

[RustyIron]

The brighter teenagers are realising that a good apprenticeship is far more advantageous ,and these are now sought after and the competition for them is high.

This morning's WSJ has an article about a work clothing company that was started a few years ago and is still run by the 31 year old founder. It seems all his young friends were in the trades and needed good boots, pants, shirts, etc. The company is very profitable and is quickly growing its market share. Once a week they have a free lunch for tradesmen. Working men like free food, and the company gets feedback on what they're doing right and what they're doing wrong.

The company doesn't make slacks, polo shirts, or slip on shoes. They only make clothes for men and women who have skills and work for a living.

 

[Rod B.]

You lot also used to drive on the left, Google is your friend.

Irie,
I love history, so thank you for pointing this out. I did not know this. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and we now "Correctly" drive on the right side of the road.

Even though I enjoy the use humor, and the world needs more of it, I have a great respect for Britain. We may not always see eye to eye, i.e. that little BBQ held at the white house in 1814, but like family members, we take care of each other. Keep in mind, we gave you Ted Lasso...so there's always that.

I had two uncles and a cousin stationed in Britain during WWII. The cousin was a waist gunner and lost over Germany. My two uncles were both mechanics on B17 bombers and stationed at what I believe is Horham Airfield in Suffolk.

If you or anybody else in the forum is interested, here are some historical photographs that my Uncle Don took while at RAF Duxford. There was a special British testing unit, Unit 1426, located at Duxford which tested captured German military aircraft which had been forced down on British soil. The planes were repaired and tested to learn their capabilities and weaknesses.

Heinkel HE-111

Heinkel HE-111

Messerschmitt bf 110

Junkers JU-88

Messerschmitt bf 109

 

[RustyIron]

If you or anybody else in the forum is interested, here are some historical photographs that my Uncle Don took

Daaaaaaaang! The HE-111 is kind of homely, but the others are spectacular. Schwing!
As much as I'd like to have any of them, the fuel bill would put me in the poor house.