My new Hi fi question

[music_maj_34]

I just got my new Hi fi today and my tube started leaking air about an hour after I was done riding.

A few questions...

How much pressure do you guys run?

Is the rim strip supposed to bubble out of the rim holes at all?

Do you smooth out the holes in your rims? I'm thinking that maybe the tube rubbed up against the hole in the rim because the rim strip does not cover the holes all the way and the holes in the rims seem kinda sharp.

What can I use to keep the rim strip in one spot? I had a heck of a time trying to get a new tube on without the rim strip bunching up on me.

Thanks for your help.

(Pics of new hi fi below)

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/87A175CD-864F-45AB-8735-627F32CF4D54/screen-small (http://eshare.hpphoto.com/en/home/view.asp?PhotoID=http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/B79CCF23-3437-4E2E-B79C-4C91817886AF/thumbnail&file=1c3439aa3b391f7684fb7827fafb3a92&JobID=88c0793d-043e-485a-8abc-474f6aa24849&IDKey=#)

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/E158C145-2AAC-44F8-83DF-0D62A323A4FA/screen-small (http://eshare.hpphoto.com/en/home/view.asp?PhotoID=http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/B79CCF23-3437-4E2E-B79C-4C91817886AF/thumbnail&file=1c3439aa3b391f7684fb7827fafb3a92&JobID=88c0793d-043e-485a-8abc-474f6aa24849&IDKey=#)

[Elan]

17 psi in my michy..you have try-all tires, so you should probably run about 20..depends on your weight.

yes

no

tape.

[music_maj_34]

Ok, thanks.

I weight 200 lbs.

Here is a pic of the rim strip bubbling out.
http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/8CE96581-AE9A-4649-899C-71841EE09C1E/screen-small (http://eshare.hpphoto.com/en/home/view.asp?PhotoID=http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/8CE96581-AE9A-4649-899C-71841EE09C1E/thumbnail&file=7b050f3056a8b3dbed94df9845565b2e&JobID=85eb79f9-8d2b-462a-97a3-b5da68f645ec&IDKey=#)

[Neopork]

make sure that your rim strip is shielding the tube from the rim all the way around the rim. Make sure that your rim strip is tight enough so it doesnt move when you put the tire beads on.

I just got my hifi too, except i did a custom build.
http://students.luther.edu/~caldba01/Bike%20pictures.html
that is what mine looks like so far, it will be titties when it is done!

nice looking bike, but please, for the love, tilt your handlebars forward so they angle upward and not backward, you will like it when you get used to it.

[music_maj_34]

make sure that your rim strip is shielding the tube from the rim all the way around the rim. Make sure that your rim strip is tight enough so it doesnt move when you put the tire beads on.

I just got my hifi too, except i did a custom build.
http://students.luther.edu/~caldba01/Bike%20pictures.html
that is what mine looks like so far, it will be titties when it is done!

nice looking bike, but please, for the love, tilt your handlebars forward so they angle upward and not backward, you will like it when you get used to it.

LOL, ok yeah... I just adjusted the handle bars. I did angle them up, but I didnt realized that I needed to have them straight up. I thought most guys have them angled back a little.

Also, I see that they sent you the purple rim strip as well. I really wanted black, but it's ok I guess. What could I use if I wanted to have a black rim strips? Black electrical tape would be too skinnny right?

What did you do to keep that purple strip in place? I got a flat the first time I rode the bike cause the strip was not covering the tube. When I tried puting the tire back on, the strip would not stay in place and got bunched up. I just looked at it again to make sure everything was covering the tube and I see that the tube is showing a little in a few spots.

If the rim strip is covering most of the rim, how do you use tape to hold the rim strip in place?

Thanks for your help.

[Trialsaddict]

LOL, ok yeah... I just adjusted the handle bars. I did angle them up, but I didnt realized that I needed to have them straight up. I thought most guys have them angled back a little.

Also, I see that they sent you the purple rim strip as well. I really wanted black, but it's ok I guess. What could I use if I wanted to have a black rim strips? Black electrical tape would be too skinnny right?

What did you do to keep that purple strip in place? I got a flat the first time I rode the bike cause the strip was not covering the tube. When I tried puting the tire back on, the strip would not stay in place and got bunched up. I just looked at it again to make sure everything was covering the tube and I see that the tube is showing a little in a few spots.

If the rim strip is covering most of the rim, how do you use tape to hold the rim strip in place?

Thanks for your help.

He had some trouble getting it on there, funny to watch... :momaru: j/k B

Anyways, since that new Echo rim strip stuff seems kinda thin (pain in the ass as well) call Web C for the Tryall ones. The tryall ones should work a lot better, and come in black too.

[music_maj_34]

Heh heh

Yeah, dude I thought I was gonna break something. The rims strip kept moving every time I tried to get the tire on. Not fun.

Well, I just ordered the Try All rims strips in black. Hopefully they will be better. Do you know if they are made out of the same material or not? The only thing it said on the WebCyclery site was that the Try all strips were made for the new wider rim.

[Neopork]

He had some trouble getting it on there, funny to watch... :momaru: j/k B

Anyways, since that new Echo rim strip stuff seems kinda thin (pain in the ass as well) call Web C for the Tryall ones. The tryall ones should work a lot better, and come in black too.


I was about ready to explode and my fingers were about ready to fall of from muscleing those maxxis beads on with just my fingers 2 or 3 times in a row.
It helps if you tape down the rimstrip with a couple pieces of tape near the tape seam and then pull it super tight. I hope mine dont move when i ride... they are centered now and look fine, but it took some work.

Also, about the bars, i didnt mean you had to put them straight up if they are uncomfortable, mostly angle them upwards and backwards so that when you are on your back wheel they bars are "facing" your chest, so that may result in a very subtle backwards sweep, but primarily upward. You want them to be in line with your arms when you are on the back wheel.
cheers. Take some more pics, its looking good !

[music_maj_34]

Also, about the bars, i didnt mean you had to put them straight up if they are uncomfortable, mostly angle them upwards and backwards so that when you are on your back wheel they bars are "facing" your chest, so that may result in a very subtle backwards sweep, but primarily upward. You want them to be in line with your arms when you are on the back wheel.
cheers. Take some more pics, its looking good !

Does this look about right? Also are the Try All rims strips sticky? Or do I have to tape them down as well?

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/58D3084F-0929-4B23-B0F5-74A0791BEC04/screen-small (http://eshare.hpphoto.com/en/home/view.asp?PhotoID=http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/58D3084F-0929-4B23-B0F5-74A0791BEC04/thumbnail&file=a039e4fac9b7e6abf5d650e7cb4478f2&JobID=eeee9c88-6398-4341-9029-f38800a09cb7&IDKey=#)

[muddyfox]

Tighten your chain !!!!!!!!!!!
I run a down hill tube in my rear at about 15psi and I never get flats.

[Neopork]

Does this look about right? Also are the Try All rims strips sticky? Or do I have to tape them down as well?

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/58D3084F-0929-4B23-B0F5-74A0791BEC04/screen-small (http://eshare.hpphoto.com/en/home/view.asp?PhotoID=http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/58D3084F-0929-4B23-B0F5-74A0791BEC04/thumbnail&file=a039e4fac9b7e6abf5d650e7cb4478f2&JobID=eeee9c88-6398-4341-9029-f38800a09cb7&IDKey=#)

MUCH better! i think you will like that much better. Let me know how it rides!


also, i disagree with the 15psi... since they are tryalls, which from what i understand are bouncier tires, i would run them slightly higher so you take advantage of the bounce. The koxx riders that use them have almost no tire deformation when on the back wheel unless they are about to take off, then they compress the tire and it seems that they use the bounce effect that the tire has.. just a theory though. It is very much personal preference too, so if it feels good to you, ride it! but dont run it so low that you dent those beautiful new echo rims.

[trialsrider50]

a rim strip shouldn't move during a ride. mostly because the valve will hold it in place. somebody had something posted about kite tape or something. that aparently works nicely. I use electrical tape. but I have to do it two strips wide. I lay both on, one partially overlapping with the sticky side up. Then I lay two more over the top and make sure to cover all of the sticky and have a little hanging over to grip the rim. I've never had a problem so I've never changed. I probably should though.

[music_maj_34]

I'm totally retarded to all of this stuff.

I'm not sure how to tighten the chain on this. On a BMX you could just slide the rear wheel back. I can't on this. Do I need to remove links?

Also... Should the derailleur be pulled forward from the chain being tight? Any sites that you can recoment so I can see what it is supposed to look like? Thanks!

[trialsrider50]

I'm totally retarded to all of this stuff.

Do I need to remove links?

Also... Should the derailleur be pulled forward from the chain being tight?

YES

YES

YES

lolz, it's ok to be retarded. yeah removing links is the best way but be sure you know what you are doing. if you're running a shimano chain you have to buy new pins, kmc or sram you can re-use them.
be sure not to bend the flanges on the chain (meaning, don't have the chain crooked in the chain tool or you'll fuck it up)
put the bike in the largest sprocket = lowest gear. remove as many links as you can so the derailer is all the way forward but still has just enough slack to stretch a little. becuase when you shift in and out of the lowest gear the chain wraps larger than the gear. basically pull the fucker hella tight and add one link.

[Neopork]

While you are at it man, you should probably move your lever/levers in toward the middle a little more so you can do 1 finger braking. the hs33 looks fine, but the magura disc looks a little close to the grip. If you put your hand on the grip and stick out your index finger straight, thats where the little bend at the end of the lever should be. (maybe you knew this, just thought i woudl recommend)

Is that the echo hifi 145mm/25 deg. stem?

[music_maj_34]

Ok, I got my chain adjusted. The only problem now is... the gears do not shift properly. When I switch from 1st to 2nd it won't move but when I switch to 3rd gear, it will then switch to 2nd. Also, it wont switch to 6th gear at all.

I did not have a chain breaking tool so I had the guy at the bike shop do it for me. I told him what everyone said to do about the tightness. He took out two links.

Before going back to get another link added, it there anything I might be over looking or that I can do?

I have two pics to show you what the chain looks like. The first pic is when the bike is on the largest chain ring on the rear wheel.

What do ya think?

The second pic is when it is on the smallest chain ring.

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/68F40DE7-6AC9-4E82-940B-51752C231BF3/screen-small
On largest chain ring (above)

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/64A9D057-CCB3-4F5A-AE7B-A8CC05D7A3D9/screen-small (http://eshare.hpphoto.com/en/home/view.asp?PhotoID=http://eshare.hpphoto.com/rs/68F40DE7-6AC9-4E82-940B-51752C231BF3/thumbnail&file=5be438d892acc45a992d3e7824f53545&JobID=046c0d49-9c39-4723-a0b5-16caaef3ed3b&IDKey=#)
On smallest chain ring (Above)

[music_maj_34]

While you are at it man, you should probably move your lever/levers in toward the middle a little more so you can do 1 finger braking. the hs33 looks fine, but the magura disc looks a little close to the grip. If you put your hand on the grip and stick out your index finger straight, thats where the little bend at the end of the lever should be. (maybe you knew this, just thought i woudl recommend)

Is that the echo hifi 145mm/25 deg. stem?

Thanks, yeah I was thinking that myself and now I adjusted it. Much better. As far as the stem goes? I really don't know. That what they sent me when I ordered the Hi fi. I'm totally new to all of this stuff. heh heh

[felix]

The derailleur is there to tense your chain, not to shift. You only need one gear.
Remember, this is a trials bike! ;)

[trialsrider50]

when you stretch a derairer that much, you probabry need to adjust it again. set the high and low limits arr over again, and re-center it

[music_maj_34]

I value your opinion, but to me that doesnt seem to make any sense. Why would people even bother getting a stock bike set up then? Wouldnt everyone just go with a single speed bike?

Ok, well, if what you say is true, then what gear should I make sure that the bike is all the time? Could I see some pics of how tense your chains are?

So no one shifts on their trials bike?

I had the guy put one link back on and now the chain will go to the largest gear, but now it wont shift from 1st to second.

Uhhhggg!!

Thanks for your help.

[Trialsaddict]

I'll try not to confuse you, but the reason for derailleurs is from old school competition rules. Hence the term "stock" bike.

You will only use one gear, however, if you have the cassette/derailleur setup and you are determined to have it shift, you can make it work. Its just not really important anymore. SS will eventually take over I'm sure, but for now, its still a competition requirement etc.

Tension looks good though. Just set it in the right gear, make sure the der is centered correctly, and go ride!

[music_maj_34]

Tension looks good though. Just set it in the right gear, make sure the der is centered correctly, and go ride!

If the tension in the pic looks good, then I need to go take off the one link that I put back on. LOL

Ok, now the question is... what's the right gear? Someone said to set it on the largest chain ring and pull it really tight and then add one chain link to that. Is that right?

I watched the "Art of trials" video with Ryan Leech and he runs a 22 in the front and a 19 in the back.

I believe I have a 19 in the front and the largest chain ring in the back is a 19 as well. Should I put it on that setting and keep it there?

[ko]

If your front chainring is indeed a 19 tooth then I would run either a 17 tooth cog in the back or a 16 tooth cog. Try both out and see what one you like better.

[music_maj_34]

If your front chainring is indeed a 19 tooth then I would run either a 17 tooth cog in the back or a 16 tooth cog. Try both out and see what one you like better.

I just looked at it and it is actually a 18 in the front and the largest in the back is a 19. Should I still go with a 17 or 16 in the back?

Also, should I adjust the chains tightnest to the gear I'm using or should I still use the largest gear as a guide line for the tightness?

Thanks for your help.

[Trialsaddict]

I just looked at it and it is actually a 18 in the front and the largest in the back is a 19. Should I still go with a 17 or 16 in the back?

Also, should I adjust the chains tightnest to the gear I'm using or should I still use the largest gear as a guide line for the tightness?

Thanks for your help.

If you want the bike to shift, adjust the chain while using the largest cog. For your gearing, go with 18/16. Some use 18/15. Try 'em both and you'll see what works for you.

[floatch]

I value your opinion, but to me that doesnt seem to make any sense. Why would people even bother getting a stock bike set up then? Wouldnt everyone just go with a single speed bike?

Ok, well, if what you say is true, then what gear should I make sure that the bike is all the time? Could I see some pics of how tense your chains are?

So no one shifts on their trials bike?

I had the guy put one link back on and now the chain will go to the largest gear, but now it wont shift from 1st to second.

Uhhhggg!!

Thanks for your help.

Hey Music,
I thought the same thing... I'm coming from a mountainbike background, always kinda been interested in "dab-free" riding. I recently built a Planet X frame with some MTB parts I had laying around the basement, and my bike shifts kinda poorly also. I agree with the above posters, in that I only shift when I need to get from place to place while riding around town.

You might wonder why I chose a stock bike, it's because I feel so much more at home with the bigger wheels. A 20" bike would be a lot harder to learn on for me.

Coming from a MTB/cyclocross background, all this trials stuff is a little weird. The bike setups are very different! Felt really weird on my first few rides, but as I get more comfortable on my trials bike, I understand the reasoning.

[music_maj_34]

If you want the bike to shift, adjust the chain while using the largest cog. For your gearing, go with 18/16. Some use 18/15. Try 'em both and you'll see what works for you.

Ok, cool. So if I don't care about shifting then just tighten the chain a lot to let's say 18/16? I really don't care about shifting, I just want to make sure I'm setting my bike up properly so I don't kill myself.

I'm starting to get the hang of hopping on my rear now and I'm able to hop up on some benches and stuff. I was hoping to be able to sign myself up in the beginners class at Moto Rama in Feb but this stuff is gonna take a while to learn! Plus if we get snow I'm not gonna be able to have much time to practice.

Man you guys make his stuff look easy! My hats off to you!

[Trialsaddict]

Ok, cool. So if I don't care about shifting then just tighten the chain a lot to let's say 18/16? I really don't care about shifting, I just want to make sure I'm setting my bike up properly so I don't kill myself.

I'm starting to get the hang of hopping on my rear now and I'm able to hop up on some benches and stuff. I was hoping to be able to sign myself up in the beginners class at Moto Rama in Feb but this stuff is gonna take a while to learn! Plus if we get snow I'm not gonna be able to have much time to practice.

Man you guys make his stuff look easy! My hats off to you!

Yup, that should work just fine. It will come quick as you ride more and more. You will be good to go for beginner level if you can hop on the rear already. Maybe you'll be ready for sport by Feb. Just ride and enjoy. Oh, and watch a lot of videos. Good learning tool.

[music_maj_34]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'd be totally lost if it was not for the help that I get on this forum. I think I finally have my bike set up the way it should be.

As far as the beginner level vs. sport... what determines what level someone should ride? How much more difficult is the sport level compared to the beginner level?

[Trialsaddict]

Try this link: http://www.biketrials.com/intro/rules.shtml

[music_maj_34]

Ok, thanks. They have a video on there of a beginner section... man that is way to easy! You're right! If Moto Rama is anything like that I think I'm gonna go right on the sport section.

[Trialsaddict]

Ok, thanks. They have a video on there of a beginner section... man that is way to easy! You're right! If Moto Rama is anything like that I think I'm gonna go right on the sport section.

:bigthumb: Fo sho. Even if you don't clean sections, the challange will push you to get better. Good luck.

[music_maj_34]

So what do you normally get if you win? Trophies? $$$ Parts?

Trophy girls! LOL

What's the best prize that anyone has won so far?

[Trialsaddict]

So what do you normally get if you win? Trophies? $$$ Parts?

Trophy girls! LOL

What's the best prize that anyone has won so far?

Some will have money, or prizes, or trophies, or all of them. Much of it depends on sponsors, number of riders etc. Trophy girls would be very nice though...

I would say getting some cash and my Web Cyclery hoody was my fav. The event organizer "Edge" had cool engraved plaques made too.