Bent Bits

See the 2011 Commutes entry below - particularly the note about rear deraillieur troubles - the link being the bit about falling off on the black ice.

The cboardman has an SRAM X9 rear mech and its been giving some trouble of late.  Mainly being unreliable between the 3rd and 4th cogs - choosing which one to use using some kind of unknown algorithm related to speed, road surface,  pressure on the chain and if its a really bad time to disengage drive or pitch the rider out of a standing in the pedals rhythm.

So I did a quick inspection and noticed that the deraillieur hanger (which is alloy and is bolted to the frame wasn't parallel with the gear cogs - it was pushed in towards the lower edge.  Comparing this with the Bianchi MTB showed that it should really be parallel. What suprised me was how easy it was to place a screwdriver between the flat face of the smallest gear cog (not the actual teeth of the cog) and the hanger and just bend the hanger back out to make it parallel.
This, combined with a quick tweak on the knurled adjuster at the shifter end and all is well once more.

Bit suprised how soft the hanger alloy is, but I guess that's the benefit - it bends before the frame does.

cboardman Urban Pro

Spec details:

• Frame Material: Cboardman Hydroformed, super butted Aluminium. 
• Fork Material: Cboardman Carbon
• Suspension: None
• Rear Pannier Mounts: Yes
• Traditional Mudguard Mounts: Yes
• Approximate Weight (KG): 9.6
• Chainset: Truvativ Elita compact 50/36
• Frame Size: 49 cm
• Frame Colour: White
• Front Brake: Avid Elixir R hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm rotors
• Gear Shifters: SRAM X7 9 speed
• Handle Bars: Ritchey Comp Flat Alloy OS 31.8mmwith stubby bar ends
• Headset: Semi integrated cartridge bearing
• Hubs: Sealed bearings
• Number of Gears: 18
• Pedals: Shimano dual sided (SPD and cage) M534s- not as standard
• Quick Release Wheels: yes
• Rear Brake: Avid Elixir R hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm rotors
• Rear Mech: SRAM X9
• Rims: Ritchey Pro disc alloy rims
• Saddle: Cboardman, Cro-Mo rails
• Seatpost: Ritchey Comp Alloy 27.2mm
• Stem: Ritchey Comp Alloy OS 31.8mm
• Tyre size: 25c
• Tyres: Continental Gatorskins
• Wheel size: 700c

Added Accessories:

• Mudguards: Halfords full black plastic
  
• Computer: Cboardman wireless with altimeter 
• Saddle pack: Topeak including tool kit
• Bottle cage: Specialized white plastic
• Front lights: Cateye
• Rear lights: Cateye and Halfords

 Piccies:

Plus points:

• Lightweight (especially after the Holdsworth, but not light in the same way as the Via Narone)
• Responsive - when you push hard it picks up quickly, responding to the extra effort
• Quality of the major components - the SRAM gears are well above the shift quality and ease of use that I was expecting
• Ride is much more forgiving that I expected from the rear triangle which is all alloy
• The brakes are very very powerful, easy to modulate and not phased by wet weather
• The whole thing feels all of a piece and well put together - no knocking or creaking, no slop in the bearings
• I really enjoy riding it!
• Saves fuel, gets me fitter
• Value for money is very good.  When bought on the government's bike to work scheme the value for money is astonishing
• Paint finish is excellent and it really looks good (when clean - see not so good points)

Not so good points:

• Tyres are a bit delicate - got a puncture in the first 15 miles (but none since)
• Vibration from rear brake (you see this comment on bike radar reviews too)
• Do you really need 28c tyres?  Going to try some 25c soon
• Looks dirty very quickly and hard to keep clean

Service history:

• 18/04/2010 - changed tyres from Maxxis Detonator 700 x 28 to Continental Gatorskin 700 x 25 with corresponding inner tubes
• 18/04/2010 - swapped out as many M5 and M6 nuts and bolts for stainless steel equivaents.  The more specialised bolts removed, threads treated with copper grease and replaced
• 18/04/2010 - Tacx alloy bottle cage swapped for Specialized white plastic cage
• None to date, just cleaning and lube