Hey, Thank you for asking me to look after your bikes. I have been going around Perth (mostly South of river) this week. It's been busy and don't have enough time and I do feel sorry for customers who waiting for. But on the other hand I feel so happy that these customers endure waiting. I am not sure how long it goes, but I am trying to return your bike within a couple of days.

I have an another bike to service tonight so I will go now.

Have a good ride!

Rear derailleur pivot

Whach out people!! Even Dura ace rusts! But you will be fine as long as you look after correctly. One of my customer brought a bike for service with degreasing drivetrain. That was enjoyable dealing with lots of built up dust and oil which became like a mud. Striped off chain, cassette and derailleurs and dumped in parts washer...

Hey, here is some inside stories. I've been looking at and working at number of retail shops and compared services and procedures. Some of shops include true wheels in service but another shop doesn't. Some of shops remove parts to degrease and another bike shop brushs with degreaser on the bike. This shop costs $90 with dodgy service and there is $50 with excellent service 1 block away.

As you choose your doctor when you go to dentist and you will expect good work same as last time. Find out whos looking after your bike at shop ask for same mechanic if you had a good service. You wont loose any cent!!

Anyway, this frame mount pivot is one of most important part for shifting smoothly. Luckly rust wasnt that bad so wiped down them, reassembled with water resistant grease.

I am editing my service procedure to update my website. And hopely it will complete in a couple of weeks I believe customers are easy to follow what I am doing to your bike or understand how important to keep your bike last long.

Old Ergo Power part2

Continuing from the other day...

There are 2 bearing siting in the housing. To dismount them, use a "bearing puller". It was impossible to mount puller on housing, clamp with vice bench nad made sure vice and housing are same angle on tilt using a goniometer to avoid having any stress when its pulling bearing. But luckily they were not compressed tight in the housing, it should be able to remove easily

It can be taken shifter to pieces this far. According to diagram of Campagnolo, the springs on each shifter can be pulled but end of pins are pressed and it is impossible to dismount unless cut the end of pins off. To get ready to re-assemble, Degrease over decade dusts rubbishes and old oil, then use right greases and lubrications to prepare. Please be carefull there are number of wahers and directionos.

Here is the hardest to assemble shift lever and spring which attatched around housing mount bolt. I needed to work separately. Fit a shift lever and tooth(there is a direction. make angled surfaces look up.)then fit a blt in the middle.

This is the before and after. there is no more nasty sandy noise comming out. and much smoother. But still there are Campagnolo's mechanical noise when you are shifting

Old Ergo Power

I had an inquiry from bloke about which bike I recommend, Trek or Bianchi... I am not authorized dealer of these brands. On the contrary, I don't sell any bike at all right moment. I would like to but it is hard to sell with out retail shop. However, I used to deal with either brands so gave him some ideas and recommended to go to local dealer. Still nice to talk with customer.

I recieved another bike with campagnolo about 10 year old still in good condition but Ergo power shifters needed to do overhaul. It is much easier than Shimano but It still takes nearly 3 hour for a pair to complete overhaul so started right away. Luckly the bearings in the housing and every pivots or hinges are in good condition so just need to degrease plus wash then regrease. As you can see that yellow ish colour grease has got hard and all the grease was around the pivots tuned to darker than black. It costs $200.oo for a pair and cables and bartapes are additional cost. Yes, it is not inexpensive work however, if you have Centaur, Chorus or Record, it is worth to do it instead replace shifters especially old models. Improve your shifting and more loving your bike(s).

I built a wheel for commuter. He has been using 2years ish and spokes were stretched. It does happen once in a way...

New bearings in Shimano BB

We've got sealed bearing replacement for Shimano two piece crank's bottom bracket. It sometimes makes me realise that Those seals are not good enough to protect from water... I've done several times already this year. As you can see on picture the bearing sits on the top is rusted and hardly move. This thing happens an age or by art, using high-pressure washer and using degreaser directly. About degreaser (as well known as "parts Cleaner"), When you are cleaning drivetain with some devices, all the chain and chainrings get covered in degreaser, then excess degreaser drops on bottom bracket and gets into bearinig. What they do, they rinse off the grease inside of bearing gradually, then get rumbly and rust... This is not only a reason but it is worth considering. Simply knock old bearing's out, spread extra grease and press the new bearing's in stead knocking. You are looking at $20 to $40 for labour depends on a frame or not The sealed bearing costs $35.95 each. Campagnolo Ultra Torque is also same costs. please leave some comments for any inquiry.

I had a servicing bike with degrease drivetrain aswell today. I love this time of Campag component (early 1990). Chucked parts in the parts washer and brushing... I also had to clean other 3 crank sets so stucked there over an hour. I don't mind doing this but got bored in the end(laugh). Reassemble the parts and lubrication...

I am back!!

I've been away a couple of weeks to Japan. It was nice to be back to my home town Matsuyama, see my families, mates, Ueno cycle, etc... And of course, Good food!! ate lots of fishes and junk foods. During the stays, I was at Ueno cycle everyday helping at shop (nothing else to do in small city). It was good just staying at shop people who I know (mostly regular customars and neighbours) popped around on thier spare time to spend time, not much reason to visit but still they come... It is nice shop. This is my wish to have like this bike shop (Well, it doesn't have tobe bike shop but I know nothing beside bikes!!). It was also good to talk with my brother Ryo who took over my position after I left shop 2years ago, sharing current bicycle news, skills, experiences and local gossips!





I had a chance to join Sunday ride (mountain bike) which I started over decade ago, still going arround, excellent. I borrowed Ryo's Bridgestone, Anchor hardtail. Yes, Bridgestone manufactures good bikes(See website. Japanese only...). They have racers with high quality carbon too. Anyway, it was best season for cherry blossoms. Did you know it is Japanese national flower? and hay fevers season as well. I have really bad reaction to pine pollens. It was almost end of the season but got me from second day...
I am back now in Perth and dealing with real life. As you see I renewed weblog. It just make my life easier...