Bike rehab, 2011 Giant Seek 2
July 11, 2022 5:18 PM Subscribe
I want to rehab a 2011 Giant Seek 2. It needs tubes, tires, brakes. What are some good solutions to those that are...easy? I want to replace the stock Tektro Novela Cable Actuated Disc brakes which have always screeched super loud and are worn down. I'd also like to fit typical hybrid tires, but ideally with some protection against punctures. Part & convenience-tool suggestions appreciated.
Extended info:
- The stock tires were Maxxis Columbiere, 700x32. They were OK, but I got lots of slow flats riding out on rural roads.
- I don't have a bike stand, does this make a difference? Can I build one easily?
- The LBS has a backlog of some months and I want to be able to get out before then without buying a new bike.
- Last time I put in a tube, I had a weird bulge in one part of the tire afterward and gave up out of frustration. Tips appreciated on avoiding this.
Extended info:
- The stock tires were Maxxis Columbiere, 700x32. They were OK, but I got lots of slow flats riding out on rural roads.
- I don't have a bike stand, does this make a difference? Can I build one easily?
- The LBS has a backlog of some months and I want to be able to get out before then without buying a new bike.
- Last time I put in a tube, I had a weird bulge in one part of the tire afterward and gave up out of frustration. Tips appreciated on avoiding this.
Best answer: Clean your rotors with isopropyl before swapping in new pads.
Tire levers are helpful for changing tires. A floor pump is nice to have too. You don’t need much more (assuming you have a bike multitool and a flat kit of some sort).
posted by soy bean at 6:23 PM on July 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Tire levers are helpful for changing tires. A floor pump is nice to have too. You don’t need much more (assuming you have a bike multitool and a flat kit of some sort).
posted by soy bean at 6:23 PM on July 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: When inserting a new tube into the tire, slightly inflate it so it seats evenly. Start at the valve and make sure it’s perpendicular to the rim and work it into the tire. As you start to seat the tire bead, let the air out of the tube. (Or what advice pig says above)
If you are changing brake pads, make sure to push the brake calipers out—you can use a plastic tire lever or any long flat tool.
If the brakes are squealing then you probably need rotors and pads.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:52 PM on July 11, 2022
If you are changing brake pads, make sure to push the brake calipers out—you can use a plastic tire lever or any long flat tool.
If the brakes are squealing then you probably need rotors and pads.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:52 PM on July 11, 2022
Best answer: A bike stand is just a convenience, albeit one you will appreciate if you do much bike work. Sheldon Brown's favorite technique for amateur mechanics was to throw a rope over a branch and suspend the bike from it - I guess probably seat and handlebars would do. It'll sway around but you can get it at chest height where its easier to work on a bike.
For general riding around not giving a shit about what you run over, Gatorskins are nice. Get ones with kevlar beads if you can, the steel bead ones are somewhat hard to put on, although tires of this size might not be too bad (skinny road tires are much harder to get on).
Changing a tube can take a little practice but it's not hard to master. Keep at it. Tips above are good, but it's not rocket science. Avoid pinching it getting the tire back on and you should be OK.
Take a spare tube and a patch kit on rides. I take CO2 cartridges and an inflator that uses them, and also usually a small hand pump. But I ride often and far and I know eventually I'll get stuck even though 19/20 rides I won't need a patch or the pump. That 20th ride sucks if you can't get a ride.
posted by RustyBrooks at 8:22 PM on July 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
For general riding around not giving a shit about what you run over, Gatorskins are nice. Get ones with kevlar beads if you can, the steel bead ones are somewhat hard to put on, although tires of this size might not be too bad (skinny road tires are much harder to get on).
Changing a tube can take a little practice but it's not hard to master. Keep at it. Tips above are good, but it's not rocket science. Avoid pinching it getting the tire back on and you should be OK.
Take a spare tube and a patch kit on rides. I take CO2 cartridges and an inflator that uses them, and also usually a small hand pump. But I ride often and far and I know eventually I'll get stuck even though 19/20 rides I won't need a patch or the pump. That 20th ride sucks if you can't get a ride.
posted by RustyBrooks at 8:22 PM on July 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I agree that Gatorskins are a good choice for tires. I currently run them on my daily-use bike. I've also had good experiences with Schwalbe Marathons. They have a bit more tread than the Gatorskins. Continental Touring Plus are a decent somewhat cheaper option. I live in a place that is very unfriendly to bike tires, and these are the three tires that have held up pretty well for me.
A bike stand makes things easier, but you can get a lot done by just turning the bike upside down when you need to work on the wheels, derailleurs, chain, or brakes. An adjustable crescent wrench (or two), a set of hex keys, and a screwdriver or two will take you a long way, but there are some specific tools you might need, depending on how deep you're going with this overhaul. A few notable ones include a crank puller (there's an inexpensive Park Tool one that doesn't have its own handle -- instead you use it with a standard wrench -- I have one and like it), bottom bracket wrench if you're messing with that (exact tool will vary depending on what the bike's BB is like -- I have one that fits on a standard socket wrench, also convenient and inexpensive), cone wrenches if you need to open up a hub or headset, spoke wrenches for truing wheels. There might be a co-op/community shop in your area that rents shop space and tools by the hour so you don't have to buy all of these. I've rehabbed, tuned, and put finishing touches on several bikes at mine.
Most new chains will have a quick link that doesn't require a tool to separate. This is an enormous convenience, so make sure you get one of these if you're replacing the chain.
posted by egregious theorem at 9:56 PM on July 11, 2022
A bike stand makes things easier, but you can get a lot done by just turning the bike upside down when you need to work on the wheels, derailleurs, chain, or brakes. An adjustable crescent wrench (or two), a set of hex keys, and a screwdriver or two will take you a long way, but there are some specific tools you might need, depending on how deep you're going with this overhaul. A few notable ones include a crank puller (there's an inexpensive Park Tool one that doesn't have its own handle -- instead you use it with a standard wrench -- I have one and like it), bottom bracket wrench if you're messing with that (exact tool will vary depending on what the bike's BB is like -- I have one that fits on a standard socket wrench, also convenient and inexpensive), cone wrenches if you need to open up a hub or headset, spoke wrenches for truing wheels. There might be a co-op/community shop in your area that rents shop space and tools by the hour so you don't have to buy all of these. I've rehabbed, tuned, and put finishing touches on several bikes at mine.
Most new chains will have a quick link that doesn't require a tool to separate. This is an enormous convenience, so make sure you get one of these if you're replacing the chain.
posted by egregious theorem at 9:56 PM on July 11, 2022
Best answer: I have found our local bike collective to be a great source of information and affordable repairs. It also feels good to bask in the idealism of young people.
posted by craniac at 11:06 AM on July 12, 2022
posted by craniac at 11:06 AM on July 12, 2022
Best answer: My newest bike has tubeless tires and they are amazing. No flats in 2+ years and 10,000+ km on pavement and trails. I think there are conversion kits to make your wheels work with a tubeless setup so you wouldn't need to buy new wheels unless you wanted to upgrade those.
I don't have a bike stand either. I'll just put the bike upside down for wheel and drivetrain maintenance and work on it that way.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:56 PM on July 12, 2022
I don't have a bike stand either. I'll just put the bike upside down for wheel and drivetrain maintenance and work on it that way.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:56 PM on July 12, 2022
Response by poster: Wow this has been really helpful. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences & advice.
posted by circular at 2:27 PM on July 12, 2022
posted by circular at 2:27 PM on July 12, 2022
Tires - I strongly prefer the Schwalbe Marathon Plus series. Just did a ~2000 mile trip on e-trikes that had a mix of the plain Marathons and the Pluses, and the Pluses lasted noticeably longer and didn't get nearly as many flats.
Definitely look for a Bike Collective / Community Bike Shop in your area! There is a list of them here: https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/Community_Bicycle_Organizations (Not a 100% comprehensive list; it's maintained by a small number of volunteers. But it's a wiki! Add/update the page for your local bike collective! If it loads slow check back later, we are currently trying to resolve some uptime issues.)
posted by sibilatorix at 8:10 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Definitely look for a Bike Collective / Community Bike Shop in your area! There is a list of them here: https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/Community_Bicycle_Organizations (Not a 100% comprehensive list; it's maintained by a small number of volunteers. But it's a wiki! Add/update the page for your local bike collective! If it loads slow check back later, we are currently trying to resolve some uptime issues.)
posted by sibilatorix at 8:10 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
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My favorite tire for riding around is the Panaracer Pasela. It’s light and supple tire for comfort, but has very good flat protection.
Bike stands are great for working on your drive train, but not that useful if you are changing tires.
I’d try new brake pads and leaving the brakes themselves. I like any pad from Kool Stop
posted by advicepig at 5:51 PM on July 11, 2022