Thanks, your cable routing problem made me understand my cable routing ( XT derrailleur) was wrong. It was very helpful. Great GT restoration by the way
There's currently an Epic Paris-Nice bicycle race happening(Stage 5 today!)... And Bicycle Farmer is still THE BEST BICYCLE CONTENT ON RUclips!! Converting a Triple Triangle📐GT to a 1×9 with new Shimano Tech... IT Doesn't get any Better than That!!🙂 Especially with Bk Frmr supplying the Laughs!!😂 Love the takes on everything bike and beyond. This "Struggle Bus" episode made me feel good about my own "mechanic" fumblings(re-packed front wheel bearings on my Specialized HardRock last month!!). Watching all the way through and liking... Will consider subscribe/donation when business picks up this month... THANK you for a great😃 channel!!🙏
I appreciate you showing the parts that didn't go smooth. So many bike repair vids have everything go miraculously perfect every time. You don't know how many times I have struggled with the chain master link not popping on easily or how many times I have dropped and lost parts. I was right there with you. Enjoying the channel!
Just rebuilt my first mountain bike with CUES. It had been sitting around unused for nearly 2 years and I wanted to bring it back to life. Bike runs great and now I have a 2nd bike a friend can ride.
Bike Co-ops, where you meet "mechanics" that know so much that just isn't so. Stopped by one to grab an old derailleur and drop off a car load of used parts from our shop. A kid renting a work stand was trying to put a standard BSA 24tpi BB into a vintage Raleigh (26tpi). I instructed him that he needed a 26tpi bb. The "experience mechanic volunteer" told me I was wrong and told me not to give instructions until I take their training course. Guess my over a decade of professional experience at the time and multiple industry certifications didn't account for anything. He then turned back to that guy and helped him make a mess. I wish that was the only example. The same Co-op volunteers used to stop by my buddy's shop not far away and undercut repair quotes to customers IN HIS SHOP. I know the overall outreach and goal of Co-ops is good, but I'd rather hire a mechanic with no shop experience with the willingness to learn than someone who learned everything the know from a Co-op. Last one we hired cost us so much in terrible repairs that damaged our reputation and nearly caused legal trouble.
"Yesterday I didn't know how to spell inchinier today I is one!" I find it cool that you don't edit out the struggles. I think they create the best teaching moments in your videos. And they are entertaining. CUES was new to me and I definitely keep them in mind. I volunteer at our coop and that helps me honing my skills.
I really appreciate this feedback. I found myself watching @rosastringworks videos and watching Jerry, a very skilled craftsman, struggle with some seemingly routine tasks, and always appreciated he just let the camera run while he expressed frustration and laughed at himself because, it just isn't that hard!
i never realized it until now but it must be an awesome feeling knowing that almost every bike you see in your town was either built or serviced by you lol
Durability and price for sure. Weight can be saved for free by riding more to get in better shape. Well, if you have a few extra pounds to lose like I do.
CUES frustrates me immensely, because of the way that it ignores the 35 year history of shared pull ratios in the majority of Shimano drivetrains through 9 speed mountain and 10 speed road, and even more so the standard cog spacing and chain interchangeability for those speeds. Now when you need a new chain or cassette, there's a needless additional question required: What 9 speed do you have? What 10 speed do you have? The old stuff will never go away, and in all likelihood will outlast CUES as a system. While I agree with reducing the compatibility issues, I definitely do not I see the benefit (aside from padding Shimano's pockets) of making new 9, 10, and 11 speed groupsets that all share the same spacing and chain. Why even bother with 9 and 10 when you have to have the same spacing (i.e. cassette cogs) and chain as 11 speed? It's not like the extra 1-2 sprockets on the cassette cost very much, and the extra ratchet points on the shifter literally cost nothing extra because they're just molded into a piece of plastic. It gives Shimano a way to differentiate drivetrain price levels at minimal cost to them; I get it. But at what cost to the consumer? This policy just encourages waste of old components that are otherwise good, but not up to the latest standard. (Yes, I know BikeFarmer and others will save old components to use them, but many do not.) CUES 9 speed has the same increased sensitivity to derailleur hanger misalignment as 11 speed. Same for 10 speed. OTOH, CUES cable pull - Shimano 11/12 speed is 1.1:1 at the derailleur - is less susceptible to adjustment issues than old 1.7:1 9 speed. The one benefit of 9 speed CUES is less crosschain angle versus the 11 speed CUES or SIS 9 speed. That's a good thing I guess, but it seems like a paltry one compared to taking 35 years of history and throwing it out the window. So if we look at the CUES components themselves again, why are there different speeds shifters? Since the cog spacing is the same for the whole range, an 11 speed shifter would cost the same to manufacture and work for 9, 10, and 11 speeds. But that wouldn't allow Shimano to charge more for more speeds. Why are there different derailleurs for CUES 9 and 10/11? The pull ratio is the same. You want different cage lengths, and you want the parallelogram angle to match the cog tooth diameter profile, but neither of those are directly dependent on the number of speeds. And why are there different 9 and 10/11 speed CUES front derailleurs!? If the 10/11 speed ones can't work satisfactorily with the 9 speed, they're doing something wrong. All I see is a cash grab with CUES. Why are riveted chainrings still a thing? And even worse, proprietary BCD patterns that you can't even drill out to mount a new ring on? Do we still need to be throwing crank arms in the garbage when the chainrings wear out in 2024? Yes, I know they're steel and will last a long time. Most will probably never be replaced. I have been a Shimano customer for a long time, but any new sub-11 speed drivetrain I build is going to get Microshift now if it isn't legacy Shimano, friction shift, or IGH. At least I can actually use a 9 speed chain on those 9 speed drivetrains.
As big guy(300lbs) in south Texas tubeless was a game changer. I would make sure I always had two spares tubes on me for any ride over my usual 5mile commute. Goat heads and mesquite thorns were the bane of my tires. After going tubeless and doing my first fluid top up I ran my hands along the inside of the tire. 8! I counted 8thorns, on a single tire, just happily sticking 1/16-1/8in through the tire. I left them be and filled’er up, I’ll never look back.
I had a bike like this in the ‘90s when I was in college. Loved that bike. I hope the person that stole it has taken care of it and maybe fixed it up like this on.
I am so glad the algorithm has brought me to your channel. I have been buying a few 26" mtbs for cheap on Facebook marketplace and I think I am going convert one using Ques. I have also started working at a non profit bike shop as a volunteer just to get back into the bike maintenance world. I have never worked in a bike shop but since 1985 I have always taken care of my own bikes and I rarely if at all take my bikes to a shop. So when I volunteer I am not totally clueless and with your no-nonsense channel bringing me up to speed all the better. Now to go through your videos and give you some more Likes.
Great video! It is important for people to understand that this conversion would not have been possible without that new "clutch-style"" derailleur. That, and the "narrow-wide" chaining are crucial to the 1 x set-up. Otherwise, the chain would fall off every time you hit a big bump. I road a GT "Karokorum" similar to this bike around Europe in the 1990s. The super stiff "triple-triangle" frame makes it a joy to ride. It is wonderful to see this old bike brought back to life! It is infinitely higher quality than a "Walmart-bike" at a similar price range.
The 9 speed Cues rear derailleur (u4000) actually doesn't use a clutch, the narrow wide ring and a unique spring setup is enough. The higher spec u6000 has a clutch and should interchange with the u4000 on a 1x9 setup.
So I saw the "YOUR BIKE SUX" video and initially I was like, HMPH... Then I realized you give really solid advice and I actually love the kind of work you're doing. Keep on keeping on!
While watching the first half of the video I thought: “man, I want to start collecting old frames and wheels so I can refurb them with these new Cues groupsets.” After watching you fuck with the brakes for all that time I was shocked back into reality.
In Europe you can get those handlebars by German company called "Ergotec" (formerly known as Humpert). They manufacture localy and have different "safety" levels for use and rider weights. Zeitbike from Ventura/CA is the US distributor.
Top tip from a fellow wrench. Cloth tape sucks, it’s too thick. I ditched it a couple seasons ago after noticing how much harder it makes mounting tighter (cheap and stiff) tires. I started using Stan’s or Muc-Off tubeless tape instead. It sticks better and is much thinner. Buy the big shop, bulk rolls in a few widths. I only use it on double wall rims, like you said, rubber rim strips are the way to go on single wall. I also wanted to say that I know that stroking out that feeling all too well. You gotta take time to take care of yourself. Eat snacks and stay hydrated. The bonk is real! Good luck this season, keep up the good work!
I have one particular double wallled rim a 26er Rhynolite that has this exact problem where Cloth Tape is too thick to the point its on the fringes with multible tire combos. I have had so many people insist that the thickness of tape doesn't matter, and they haven't fought with this particular rim.
My comfort bike is a 27.5” We the People bmx bike. I never could master finding the right gears to use so ended up quitting riding after I grew out of 20” BMX bikes. The trend of larger simple BMX bikes got me riding again.
40:12 This is my first ever BikeFarmer video and I am having a blast! It's hard to believe you've been doing this for years, but I am so grateful for sharing this video with us! I love your positive energy, I have to watch other videos, too! I've never seen anyone sand paint off a rim, that's a great tip! Keep the good work up man, you just gained a subscriber.
This video was a joy to watch! It reminded me how I am working on my bicycles. Except that I am swearing in three languages all the time. Man, screw those V-brakes! I am so glad I no longer have any bikes with them. Even cantilevers are easier to set up.
I love that you use inexpensive common products to do your cleaning. I have been using a cleaning towel called Tub o’ Towels from Home Depot. Great on the wheels and frame grime and no rags to wash!
I have just converted an old Marin Rift Zone in to a retro mod. I used Deore 1x11. Like you, it was my first time with a 1x11 rear mech set up. The new super range mechs are quite different to the older style. Took me a few attempts to get it right myself. I'm deffo a 1x11 convert though. Don't know why they didn't do it 30 years ago. You've really nailed thr Bob Ross thing. Love the style you've got here. Being in the UK I just discovered Bob Ross a few years ago but found it quite therapeutic. You can add yourself the list of therapeutic film makers
This video made feel really good. You are a pro and you drop stuff and the linear pull brakes drove you crazy. So, I am not a total lover. I have been modifying a couple my bikes. Probably making mistakes, but I love the outcome so far.
I returned my 2003 GT Idrive to be a comfort bike today. Before retiring it as a mountain bike, I packed the Idrive mechanism with JB WELD along with all the other worn out pivots! A pipe replaced the shock spring! Actually, I put it away in fairly good shape. Today it got 1 1/2" 26 inch slicks, put the old saddle back on. The crankset is set up with 20-32-34 as a 1x and 12- 42 8 speed cassette. No front derailleur, brake lever, or front brake. It actually looks and runs well in this configuration. It's my only bike that works with my Bob style Yakima trailer. In a pinch, you could pick up the chain and run 20x42 or 20x36 gearing, but not much smaller cassette cog. Could also do easier gravel on this.
In another video (maybe a later one?) you mentioned watching all of bob ross and that show being an inspiration for this, and it really shows. I love love love that you talk your way through the problems you face. I know sometimes you glaze over things that may be too complicated to explain without giving an entire damn lecture on the thing, but I feel like I’ve learned so much just in the last few hours of binging your videos. I’m an avid DIYer, and I love my bikes. I will say though, I wish disc brakes came standard on bikes much sooner than they did- I hate rim brakes. I grew up on BMX, so I either had coaster brakes or no brakes for the longest lol I just think disc brakes are more powerful, easier to work on (for me), and I find bleeding brakes very satisfying and rewarding. Great job! Please keep these going for forever
48:43 I work at a bike coop. We are volunteers and learning. We love your videos and thanks. We have had rabbit holes as you discussed- ours was incompatible parts. Thanks for your calm demeaned
Happy Birthday!! In Australia we say Al-You-Mini-Mm. Interesting to see this new Shimano CUES gear. I hope to give it a try myself one day! Love the vids
After a good cleaning a spray of “Rust Converter” black primer is great for parts that will be painted. I have also used it by itself and just used “cleaner wax” to seal the primer.
I’m just waiting for the drop bar CUES to hit the market. If they’re reasonably priced and same compatibility that 11 speed 11-50 will probably end up replacing the 3x8 on my gravel bike.
Great build, you'll be able to smash that bike round cities & light trails with minimum fuss & maximum comfort. Really well thought out. Only improvement I'd suggest is a double sided chain guard on the front cog to help prevent oily trousers or the chain jumping off. The CUES system looks very interesting, Shimano claim it optimised for ebikes too which is really needed if true, as I can state from experience lol.
I started out at a bike co-op too. The things you learn, and learn not to do. Most people who haven't worked at a bike co-op don't know the past few decades of compatibility/incompatibility. When most of what you look at is enthusiast-level stuff made in the past 10 years, it's a trial by fire. But the lack of Shimano/SRAM compatibility in 6-8 speed should be an easy one.
1st time viewer here, great informative and entertaining video, thank you! Pulled out my old raleigh m50 mb from 2003 and rode it today, which brought me here. Am 61 now and was wondering if I could do anything to it for more comfort. I think I have a new project and will be watching your other videos, subscribed! Thank you.
Definitely. It’s usually about $250 to do what I do at my shop. Sometimes it’s best to just trade in for another bike I’ve already got finished. It’s usually a decision I make WITH the customer after a couple test rides. Those are my favorite deals for sure.
never thought I would find such a down to earth and informative bicycle oriented youtube channel. You not only inpsire me to keep riding but to also learn how to work on my own bikes. this channel is something special! Now one tech question for ye bike farmer, have you had any luck ever trying to use a kelvar lining like the panaracer flat away? I am setting up an old 1987 Univega Alipina Uno for touring and I want to throw on thoes reneherse rat trap passes (endurance lining) and was thinking about adding a kelvar lining to help improve durability for the purposes of touring,
I’ve ridden multiple week-long tours on Rat Trap Pass extralights on multiple surfaces including single track, fully loaded, and never got a flat. Why would you ruin the experience of the supple goodness of premium tires with all sorts of additional BS?
@@bkefrmr youre right, I will try it without and see how it goes :) just worried about my 240 pounds self giving those tires a problem. I will keep them on hand just in case.
LOL. My first bike farmer video 😂 I found it to be realistic to what I’ve experienced building bikes (dropping parts, wrenches, brain fog, difficult parts, etc). I appreciate your honesty and integrity. Subscribed 👍
Kalloy makes great alloy budget handlebars with various higher sweep/rise options in the $20-$30 range. These are also sold/relabeled under the Dimension brand in the US. Kalloy also makes some great value stems ('Uno') in polished silver and black. Great for these types of rebuilds. A lot of the big bike brands source their stems/bars from Kalloy, then sell them with their logo on it for more $$$.
I loved every second of this video. It was just like a day at the bike shop for me....except you curse less😅...and you only got the wrench in the spokes instead of your hand. Great video!!
Also, I encountered the exact same issues with v-brakes this past weekend lol… old calipers with worn out springs and loose pivots. Works fine when you finally get it sitting right but God have mercy on you if you need to take the wheels off!
I agree with you about tubeless. As a home bike mechanic that maintains my own little Fleet of bikes between mine my wife's and my five kids, I think just having tubes is easier. What is your opinion on the heavy duty slime tubes? They are extra thick and they come filled with slime. I'm currently using them on my bike and I've run over a couple of thorns and road debris that would have left me stranded with a flat before, but the Slime has done a fantastic job of sealing things right back up.
I used to use Slime and after a year or so it just clumps up into balls and is ineffective on punctures. Maybe I got unlucky though. I switched to Flatout sealant (they make one for bikes). I think its a better product and seals up punctures from thorns/nails and maintains its viscosity.
Lot of discussion about flats How do you feel about the flat prevention liners. You know the harder plastic strip that is between the tube and tire? 🤷🏻♂️ Love your videos I learned so much!
I mean, if you're in goathead country, yeah, I guess it's a thing to worry about. Not around here though. I can change a tube in like 5 minutes while eating a sandwich. It's just part of the ride, every once in a long while.
One part at a time, I’m working on making my old mtb more commute friendly. My new handlebars with a nice sweep just arrived today. This video was just the thing to give me the confidence I need to dive in. Thank you for what you do, Bike Farmer!
I love the smooth jazz in the background and you even kinda look like me, albeit a slimmer version with glasses. 😅 I've built up 3 GT's in the past, 90's Karakoram with updated XT parts and a new fork, also 90's GT Pulse track frame with full Dura Ace + Phil Wood bb and a GT LTS-2 full squish. So I have a soft spot for these. ❤ Currently planning a 1x9 conversion on a '00 Trek 6000 I picked up for $40 to build as a commuter. That brought me to your channel. Love the rambling and building a normal person bike, not a $7k 2027 model with all new parts. Subscribed. 🙏
Looking forward to this one. Here in Milwaukee (and I believe elsewhere) it's kind of a trend to build up these old GTs. I bet you could flip this for a bit higher of a price. @19:00 Today's low-end stuff was yesterday's high-end. :)
When I mount new wheels, I will always check the tension on the cup-cone assembly. All too often they are tensioned to hard in the factory which leads to premature wear on the cone.
About tubeless. I was in the same boat as you. Why deal with the mess and complexity of tubeless when tubes do just fine. Cue new bike purchase that came tubeless. I really don't know if it was the frame or the tires that made it way more comfortable than my old bike. What I do know after replacing my first set of tires on that bike, the number of holes tubeless filled without me knowing was astonishing. I never had a single flat I had to fix on the road. There was one time it managed to seal a gash on the margin of the tread/sidewall. Riding in the alps bombing down some great twisties. I noticed when I got back that the rear tire was a bit low. It wouldn't hold the pressure. Blew the sealant out the gash. Ended up patching the tire from the inside using just the tools I carry on the bike. Replaced the tire when I got back from vacation. I'd hate to think what would have happened if the sealant didn't seal that gash while bombing down a hill at 70+.
I love the CUES stuff. Converted a pretty light ebike that came with 8-speed Shimano Altus stock to 10-speed CUES. Wanted lower gearing so I could pedal without any assist a lot of the time- while preserving top speed. Also converted a Deore equipped 10-speed 1x to a 2x wide using CUES.
I really enjoy tour videos, especially when things dont go exactly according to plan. I'm tinkering with a 90s MTB and planning on converting it to a gravel bike. Wheel uograded is needed and I'm curious as to what wheelset you used and if an 11 speed cassette would fit. Thanks and enjoy the ride.
This video is getting me geeked about restoring the GT Karakoram I have. I like the idea of a 1x9 though. Definitely going to try that new Shimano stuff on another build that’s a 29” suspension bike; making that into a 1x 9, maybe even 1x11.
I thoroughly enjoy your video's, especially the fact that you don't hide problems. I do get a kick out of your struggle with pain in the ass rim breaks, but I do understand how they fit your business model. Most of your affordable donor bikes will have them. You produce bikes that are perfect for your clientele. Great channel...Love how you have mellowed over time.
Beauty of a bike bud, nice build! I do love that Shimano has some love for the everyday cyclist with cues, affordable, comparable, durable (I hope?) that is going to be a heck of a bike for someone
That frame is sweet looking. The color combination is awesome
Thanks, your cable routing problem made me understand my cable routing ( XT derrailleur) was wrong.
It was very helpful.
Great GT restoration by the way
This is the Bob Ross of the bicycle world and exactly the YT channel I’ve been looking for.
hell yeah
No better description!
There's currently an Epic Paris-Nice bicycle race happening(Stage 5 today!)... And Bicycle Farmer is still THE BEST BICYCLE CONTENT ON RUclips!! Converting a Triple Triangle📐GT to a 1×9 with new Shimano Tech... IT Doesn't get any Better than That!!🙂 Especially with Bk Frmr supplying the Laughs!!😂 Love the takes on everything bike and beyond. This "Struggle Bus" episode made me feel good about my own "mechanic" fumblings(re-packed front wheel bearings on my Specialized HardRock last month!!). Watching all the way through and liking... Will consider subscribe/donation when business picks up this month... THANK you for a great😃 channel!!🙏
Oh Yeah😅... Happy Birthday 🎉 Bike Farmer!!!
I couldn't have said it better, it definitely had that vibe.
I appreciate you showing the parts that didn't go smooth. So many bike repair vids have everything go miraculously perfect every time. You don't know how many times I have struggled with the chain master link not popping on easily or how many times I have dropped and lost parts. I was right there with you. Enjoying the channel!
Just rebuilt my first mountain bike with CUES. It had been sitting around unused for nearly 2 years and I wanted to bring it back to life. Bike runs great and now I have a 2nd bike a friend can ride.
Bike Co-ops, where you meet "mechanics" that know so much that just isn't so. Stopped by one to grab an old derailleur and drop off a car load of used parts from our shop. A kid renting a work stand was trying to put a standard BSA 24tpi BB into a vintage Raleigh (26tpi). I instructed him that he needed a 26tpi bb. The "experience mechanic volunteer" told me I was wrong and told me not to give instructions until I take their training course. Guess my over a decade of professional experience at the time and multiple industry certifications didn't account for anything. He then turned back to that guy and helped him make a mess. I wish that was the only example. The same Co-op volunteers used to stop by my buddy's shop not far away and undercut repair quotes to customers IN HIS SHOP.
I know the overall outreach and goal of Co-ops is good, but I'd rather hire a mechanic with no shop experience with the willingness to learn than someone who learned everything the know from a Co-op. Last one we hired cost us so much in terrible repairs that damaged our reputation and nearly caused legal trouble.
"Yesterday I didn't know how to spell inchinier today I is one!"
I find it cool that you don't edit out the struggles. I think they create the best teaching moments in your videos. And they are entertaining.
CUES was new to me and I definitely keep them in mind.
I volunteer at our coop and that helps me honing my skills.
I really appreciate this feedback. I found myself watching @rosastringworks videos and watching Jerry, a very skilled craftsman, struggle with some seemingly routine tasks, and always appreciated he just let the camera run while he expressed frustration and laughed at himself because, it just isn't that hard!
And I just learned that Mountain Dew with real sugar is a thing!
Happy Birthday Bike Farmer!
I love fixing up old bikes and giving them new life again. Your channel is pretty good to watch, keep it up and thanks.
i never realized it until now but it must be an awesome feeling knowing that almost every bike you see in your town was either built or serviced by you lol
...or they are out of a Trek employee's garage
I love CUES. Durability and price is way more important than weight to me.
Durability and price for sure. Weight can be saved for free by riding more to get in better shape. Well, if you have a few extra pounds to lose like I do.
@@MoosteryI like the way you think and I totally agree! Following your logic, I've made my bike almost 40 lbs lighter over the last year.
@@thatcarguy1UZ my bike seems to gain and lose weight regularly. I think it eats too much home made food around holiday times personally.
@@Moostery True. I am more concerned about the extra 100lbs of rider weight my bike has than a couple pounds of extra steel.
CUES frustrates me immensely, because of the way that it ignores the 35 year history of shared pull ratios in the majority of Shimano drivetrains through 9 speed mountain and 10 speed road, and even more so the standard cog spacing and chain interchangeability for those speeds.
Now when you need a new chain or cassette, there's a needless additional question required: What 9 speed do you have? What 10 speed do you have? The old stuff will never go away, and in all likelihood will outlast CUES as a system.
While I agree with reducing the compatibility issues, I definitely do not I see the benefit (aside from padding Shimano's pockets) of making new 9, 10, and 11 speed groupsets that all share the same spacing and chain.
Why even bother with 9 and 10 when you have to have the same spacing (i.e. cassette cogs) and chain as 11 speed? It's not like the extra 1-2 sprockets on the cassette cost very much, and the extra ratchet points on the shifter literally cost nothing extra because they're just molded into a piece of plastic.
It gives Shimano a way to differentiate drivetrain price levels at minimal cost to them; I get it. But at what cost to the consumer? This policy just encourages waste of old components that are otherwise good, but not up to the latest standard. (Yes, I know BikeFarmer and others will save old components to use them, but many do not.)
CUES 9 speed has the same increased sensitivity to derailleur hanger misalignment as 11 speed. Same for 10 speed.
OTOH, CUES cable pull - Shimano 11/12 speed is 1.1:1 at the derailleur - is less susceptible to adjustment issues than old 1.7:1 9 speed.
The one benefit of 9 speed CUES is less crosschain angle versus the 11 speed CUES or SIS 9 speed. That's a good thing I guess, but it seems like a paltry one compared to taking 35 years of history and throwing it out the window.
So if we look at the CUES components themselves again, why are there different speeds shifters? Since the cog spacing is the same for the whole range, an 11 speed shifter would cost the same to manufacture and work for 9, 10, and 11 speeds. But that wouldn't allow Shimano to charge more for more speeds.
Why are there different derailleurs for CUES 9 and 10/11? The pull ratio is the same. You want different cage lengths, and you want the parallelogram angle to match the cog tooth diameter profile, but neither of those are directly dependent on the number of speeds. And why are there different 9 and 10/11 speed CUES front derailleurs!? If the 10/11 speed ones can't work satisfactorily with the 9 speed, they're doing something wrong.
All I see is a cash grab with CUES.
Why are riveted chainrings still a thing? And even worse, proprietary BCD patterns that you can't even drill out to mount a new ring on? Do we still need to be throwing crank arms in the garbage when the chainrings wear out in 2024? Yes, I know they're steel and will last a long time. Most will probably never be replaced.
I have been a Shimano customer for a long time, but any new sub-11 speed drivetrain I build is going to get Microshift now if it isn't legacy Shimano, friction shift, or IGH. At least I can actually use a 9 speed chain on those 9 speed drivetrains.
Ironically this was genuinely my first Bike Farmer video! Keep up the good work Brother.
37:30 the wrench getting bounced around by the wheel is hilarious
totally. I love seeing that shit during the edits. So dumb.
As big guy(300lbs) in south Texas tubeless was a game changer. I would make sure I always had two spares tubes on me for any ride over my usual 5mile commute. Goat heads and mesquite thorns were the bane of my tires. After going tubeless and doing my first fluid top up I ran my hands along the inside of the tire. 8! I counted 8thorns, on a single tire, just happily sticking 1/16-1/8in through the tire. I left them be and filled’er up, I’ll never look back.
I had a bike like this in the ‘90s when I was in college. Loved that bike. I hope the person that stole it has taken care of it and maybe fixed it up like this on.
I don't like thieves and would never wish them well, nor success in bike upgrades. But that's just me.
I am so glad the algorithm has brought me to your channel. I have been buying a few 26" mtbs for cheap on Facebook marketplace and I think I am going convert one using Ques. I have also started working at a non profit bike shop as a volunteer just to get back into the bike maintenance world. I have never worked in a bike shop but since 1985 I have always taken care of my own bikes and I rarely if at all take my bikes to a shop. So when I volunteer I am not totally clueless and with your no-nonsense channel bringing me up to speed all the better. Now to go through your videos and give you some more Likes.
Great video! It is important for people to understand that this conversion would not have been possible without that new "clutch-style"" derailleur. That, and the "narrow-wide" chaining are crucial to the 1 x set-up. Otherwise, the chain would fall off every time you hit a big bump. I road a GT "Karokorum" similar to this bike around Europe in the 1990s. The super stiff "triple-triangle" frame makes it a joy to ride. It is wonderful to see this old bike brought back to life! It is infinitely higher quality than a "Walmart-bike" at a similar price range.
The 9 speed Cues rear derailleur (u4000) actually doesn't use a clutch, the narrow wide ring and a unique spring setup is enough. The higher spec u6000 has a clutch and should interchange with the u4000 on a 1x9 setup.
So I saw the "YOUR BIKE SUX" video and initially I was like, HMPH... Then I realized you give really solid advice and I actually love the kind of work you're doing. Keep on keeping on!
While watching the first half of the video I thought: “man, I want to start collecting old frames and wheels so I can refurb them with these new Cues groupsets.” After watching you fuck with the brakes for all that time I was shocked back into reality.
You had me at 'I was at my local bike co-op yesterday'. ❤
I really enjoy watching you disassemble, assemble, adjust, and ride your bikes! Oh ya......Happy Birthday!
Thanks
In Europe you can get those handlebars by German company called "Ergotec" (formerly known as Humpert). They manufacture localy and have different "safety" levels for use and rider weights. Zeitbike from Ventura/CA is the US distributor.
Ergotec is amazing quality price for city handlebars
I love that you show not getting everything right. That what life is all about. ❤
Hope it was a great Birthday! Love the Channel
Hell yeah, Tony!
Happy birthday. Lovely build. Seeing you work it out is inspiring for us dumbos who have virtually no idea.
Gotta love Shimano... old / new, Cheap / $$$, it just works.
I'm not a professional but i found this very entertaining . Nice build and great job improvising
Top tip from a fellow wrench. Cloth tape sucks, it’s too thick. I ditched it a couple seasons ago after noticing how much harder it makes mounting tighter (cheap and stiff) tires. I started using Stan’s or Muc-Off tubeless tape instead. It sticks better and is much thinner. Buy the big shop, bulk rolls in a few widths. I only use it on double wall rims, like you said, rubber rim strips are the way to go on single wall.
I also wanted to say that I know that stroking out that feeling all too well. You gotta take time to take care of yourself. Eat snacks and stay hydrated. The bonk is real! Good luck this season, keep up the good work!
I have one particular double wallled rim a 26er Rhynolite that has this exact problem where Cloth Tape is too thick to the point its on the fringes with multible tire combos. I have had so many people insist that the thickness of tape doesn't matter, and they haven't fought with this particular rim.
Yer enthusiasm is contagious on this one!
My comfort bike is a 27.5” We the People bmx bike. I never could master finding the right gears to use so ended up quitting riding after I grew out of 20” BMX bikes. The trend of larger simple BMX bikes got me riding again.
Happy Birthday! (Probably belated, but hey hopefully you'll get to see this the next time your birthday rolls around!)!
This is one of my favorite videos of yours. Absolutely love the comfort bike conversions.
Thanks!
Thank you!
40:12 This is my first ever BikeFarmer video and I am having a blast! It's hard to believe you've been doing this for years, but I am so grateful for sharing this video with us! I love your positive energy, I have to watch other videos, too! I've never seen anyone sand paint off a rim, that's a great tip! Keep the good work up man, you just gained a subscriber.
Happy birthday to you. Beautiful video. I love seeing all the pieces flying around like mine.
Love the GT action in trek country. Great informative and humorous video. That new group looks solid for the price point
Great job! In honor of your birthday, I took a shot every time you dropped something.
Happy Birthday! Perfect commuter/everyday bike build!
Nice! I like how you pretended to struggle with basic wrenching in this video to make it more approachable! HAPPY BIRTHDAY
This video was a joy to watch! It reminded me how I am working on my bicycles. Except that I am swearing in three languages all the time.
Man, screw those V-brakes! I am so glad I no longer have any bikes with them. Even cantilevers are easier to set up.
Happy belated birthday. The new generation is super cool glad you caught it as well
Nice, love a good bikefarmer vid ! Ride Safe everybody
This type of content is really calming and interesting to watch.
I love that you use inexpensive common products to do your cleaning. I have been using a cleaning towel called Tub o’ Towels from Home Depot. Great on the wheels and frame grime and no rags to wash!
I have just converted an old Marin Rift Zone in to a retro mod. I used Deore 1x11. Like you, it was my first time with a 1x11 rear mech set up. The new super range mechs are quite different to the older style. Took me a few attempts to get it right myself. I'm deffo a 1x11 convert though. Don't know why they didn't do it 30 years ago. You've really nailed thr Bob Ross thing. Love the style you've got here. Being in the UK I just discovered Bob Ross a few years ago but found it quite therapeutic. You can add yourself the list of therapeutic film makers
This video made feel really good. You are a pro and you drop stuff and the linear pull brakes drove you crazy. So, I am not a total lover. I have been modifying a couple my bikes. Probably making mistakes, but I love the outcome so far.
I returned my 2003 GT Idrive to be a comfort bike today. Before retiring it as a mountain bike, I packed the Idrive mechanism with JB WELD along with all the other worn out pivots! A pipe replaced the shock spring! Actually, I put it away in fairly good shape. Today it got 1 1/2" 26 inch slicks, put the old saddle back on. The crankset is set up with 20-32-34 as a 1x and 12- 42 8 speed cassette. No front derailleur, brake lever, or front brake. It actually looks and runs well in this configuration. It's my only bike that works with my Bob style Yakima trailer. In a pinch, you could pick up the chain and run 20x42 or 20x36 gearing, but not much smaller cassette cog. Could also do easier gravel on this.
26 x 1.5 is my least favorite tire size!
In another video (maybe a later one?) you mentioned watching all of bob ross and that show being an inspiration for this, and it really shows. I love love love that you talk your way through the problems you face. I know sometimes you glaze over things that may be too complicated to explain without giving an entire damn lecture on the thing, but I feel like I’ve learned so much just in the last few hours of binging your videos. I’m an avid DIYer, and I love my bikes. I will say though, I wish disc brakes came standard on bikes much sooner than they did- I hate rim brakes. I grew up on BMX, so I either had coaster brakes or no brakes for the longest lol I just think disc brakes are more powerful, easier to work on (for me), and I find bleeding brakes very satisfying and rewarding. Great job! Please keep these going for forever
48:43 I work at a bike coop. We are volunteers and learning. We love your videos and thanks. We have had rabbit holes as you discussed- ours was incompatible parts. Thanks for your calm demeaned
Happy Birthday!! In Australia we say Al-You-Mini-Mm. Interesting to see this new Shimano CUES gear. I hope to give it a try myself one day! Love the vids
After a good cleaning a spray of “Rust Converter” black primer is great for parts that will be painted. I have also used it by itself and just used “cleaner wax” to seal the primer.
I have a 10 speed cues and I remember adjusting the darned thing. It was hard but once you get everything working, buttery smooth.
On the other hand, knowing how to work through problems is valuable knowledge, thanks!
Happy belated birthday =)
Just found your channel today and I like it a lot. Keep up the good work.
Have a burrito for lunch!
I love this comedy channel. The tool flying all over the place and the cable routing on the rear D. This man is THE MAN. 🎉🎉🎉
I’m just waiting for the drop bar CUES to hit the market. If they’re reasonably priced and same compatibility that 11 speed 11-50 will probably end up replacing the 3x8 on my gravel bike.
Great build, you'll be able to smash that bike round cities & light trails with minimum fuss & maximum comfort. Really well thought out. Only improvement I'd suggest is a double sided chain guard on the front cog to help prevent oily trousers or the chain jumping off. The CUES system looks very interesting, Shimano claim it optimised for ebikes too which is really needed if true, as I can state from experience lol.
Or leave the old front derailleur and lock it in position using stop screws. That's what I did.
Happy belated Birthday Bike Farmer!
Hope you had a great day.
I started out at a bike co-op too. The things you learn, and learn not to do. Most people who haven't worked at a bike co-op don't know the past few decades of compatibility/incompatibility. When most of what you look at is enthusiast-level stuff made in the past 10 years, it's a trial by fire. But the lack of Shimano/SRAM compatibility in 6-8 speed should be an easy one.
1st time viewer here, great informative and entertaining video, thank you!
Pulled out my old raleigh m50 mb from 2003 and rode it today, which brought me here. Am 61 now and was wondering if I could do anything to it for more comfort. I think I have a new project and will be watching your other videos, subscribed! Thank you.
Definitely. It’s usually about $250 to do what I do at my shop. Sometimes it’s best to just trade in for another bike I’ve already got finished. It’s usually a decision I make WITH the customer after a couple test rides. Those are my favorite deals for sure.
never thought I would find such a down to earth and informative bicycle oriented youtube channel. You not only inpsire me to keep riding but to also learn how to work on my own bikes.
this channel is something special!
Now one tech question for ye bike farmer, have you had any luck ever trying to use a kelvar lining like the panaracer flat away? I am setting up an old 1987 Univega Alipina Uno for touring and I want to throw on thoes reneherse rat trap passes (endurance lining) and was thinking about adding a kelvar lining to help improve durability for the purposes of touring,
I’ve ridden multiple week-long tours on Rat Trap Pass extralights on multiple surfaces including single track, fully loaded, and never got a flat. Why would you ruin the experience of the supple goodness of premium tires with all sorts of additional BS?
@@bkefrmr youre right, I will try it without and see how it goes :) just worried about my 240 pounds self giving those tires a problem. I will keep them on hand just in case.
@@liamstraub3394 you can really dial
in the pressure. Make sure you’re good at roadside flats just in case!
LOL. My first bike farmer video 😂 I found it to be realistic to what I’ve experienced building bikes (dropping parts, wrenches, brain fog, difficult parts, etc). I appreciate your honesty and integrity. Subscribed 👍
Great build!! Love your videos, specially the "GREEN MACHINE" one since I got the same bike! Thank you for the great content.
Kalloy makes great alloy budget handlebars with various higher sweep/rise options in the $20-$30 range. These are also sold/relabeled under the Dimension brand in the US. Kalloy also makes some great value stems ('Uno') in polished silver and black. Great for these types of rebuilds. A lot of the big bike brands source their stems/bars from Kalloy, then sell them with their logo on it for more $$$.
I’ve been using a Microshift 1x setup on my rebuilds and I haven’t had any issues. Their price to performance is pretty awesome
I loved every second of this video. It was just like a day at the bike shop for me....except you curse less😅...and you only got the wrench in the spokes instead of your hand. Great video!!
I’m enjoying your excellent videos….
And that music takes me back to my college years. It sounds like a NYC lounge scene in a late 1960’s movie😎
Also, I encountered the exact same issues with v-brakes this past weekend lol… old calipers with worn out springs and loose pivots. Works fine when you finally get it sitting right but God have mercy on you if you need to take the wheels off!
Happy Birthday man!
I agree with you about tubeless. As a home bike mechanic that maintains my own little Fleet of bikes between mine my wife's and my five kids, I think just having tubes is easier. What is your opinion on the heavy duty slime tubes? They are extra thick and they come filled with slime. I'm currently using them on my bike and I've run over a couple of thorns and road debris that would have left me stranded with a flat before, but the Slime has done a fantastic job of sealing things right back up.
I used to use Slime and after a year or so it just clumps up into balls and is ineffective on punctures. Maybe I got unlucky though.
I switched to Flatout sealant (they make one for bikes). I think its a better product and seals up punctures from thorns/nails and maintains its viscosity.
That’s a sweet bike, great urban assault or gravel bike & Happy Birthday!
Lot of discussion about flats How do you feel about the flat prevention liners. You know the harder plastic strip that is between the tube and tire? 🤷🏻♂️
Love your videos I learned so much!
I mean, if you're in goathead country, yeah, I guess it's a thing to worry about. Not around here though. I can change a tube in like 5 minutes while eating a sandwich. It's just part of the ride, every once in a long while.
Have to ask. How is the spacing for a 7 speed capable to allow the installation of a 9 speed freewheel?
Just gotta love the boys at the end! 😃
Love your sense of humor! Happy birthday.
One part at a time, I’m working on making my old mtb more commute friendly. My new handlebars with a nice sweep just arrived today. This video was just the thing to give me the confidence I need to dive in. Thank you for what you do, Bike Farmer!
I love the smooth jazz in the background and you even kinda look like me, albeit a slimmer version with glasses. 😅
I've built up 3 GT's in the past, 90's Karakoram with updated XT parts and a new fork, also 90's GT Pulse track frame with full Dura Ace + Phil Wood bb and a GT LTS-2 full squish. So I have a soft spot for these. ❤
Currently planning a 1x9 conversion on a '00 Trek 6000 I picked up for $40 to build as a commuter. That brought me to your channel. Love the rambling and building a normal person bike, not a $7k 2027 model with all new parts.
Subscribed. 🙏
Great vid as usual. I believe the cable housing compresses more than the cable stretches. Fight me😉
Seems too plausible to refute
Working in a bike shop fixing bikes while watching another long haired bearded mechanic fixing bikes........My world is weird.
I come home from a hard day working in a bike shop fixing bikes and watch another guy fix bikes to unwind. We’re cut from a weird cloth 😂
@@Sooperhans3636 That makes three of us.
Me too. It’s my day off though 😂
Does it count if I have short hair and only work on mine and close friends bikes because I haven't made it in a shop yet...I have a beard though
Watch out - even you may learn something!
I have a similar setup to that bike. 26x1.95 and swept bars. SUPER comfortable.
Happy Birthday brother man. Great video as always
Looking forward to this one.
Here in Milwaukee (and I believe elsewhere) it's kind of a trend to build up these old GTs. I bet you could flip this for a bit higher of a price.
@19:00 Today's low-end stuff was yesterday's high-end. :)
You can drive out to Lake Mills with $500 and drive back to MKE and sell it for $650 and go get super drunk at a bowling alley for free! #sconnielife
@@bkefrmr I have a bowling alley 3 blocks from the house. I'd rather spend that $150 on some sweet summer tires.
Merci!
Thank you!
When I mount new wheels, I will always check the tension on the cup-cone assembly. All too often they are tensioned to hard in the factory which leads to premature wear on the cone.
Happy Birthday!
About tubeless. I was in the same boat as you. Why deal with the mess and complexity of tubeless when tubes do just fine. Cue new bike purchase that came tubeless. I really don't know if it was the frame or the tires that made it way more comfortable than my old bike. What I do know after replacing my first set of tires on that bike, the number of holes tubeless filled without me knowing was astonishing. I never had a single flat I had to fix on the road. There was one time it managed to seal a gash on the margin of the tread/sidewall. Riding in the alps bombing down some great twisties. I noticed when I got back that the rear tire was a bit low. It wouldn't hold the pressure. Blew the sealant out the gash. Ended up patching the tire from the inside using just the tools I carry on the bike. Replaced the tire when I got back from vacation. I'd hate to think what would have happened if the sealant didn't seal that gash while bombing down a hill at 70+.
That frame is in really nice condition and the cues 1x9 worked out really well. 👍👍
I love the CUES stuff. Converted a pretty light ebike that came with 8-speed Shimano Altus stock to 10-speed CUES. Wanted lower gearing so I could pedal without any assist a lot of the time- while preserving top speed. Also converted a Deore equipped 10-speed 1x to a 2x wide using CUES.
Thank you for saying "converted" instead of "upgraded". I don't believe in upgrades (in most instances).
@@bkefrmr You and I see eye to eye on a great many things. I’m a practical bicycle mechanic first, and a 30-year experienced engineer second.
Good stuff as always! Your best videos are the ones where you temporarily dip into madness. Can you set your H/L stops prior to putting the chain on?
Yes, you definitely can, and definitely should! I’m not as sharp in the afternoons. That’s usually where I find the madness.
Bike Farmer Wheelies, I gotta try that although at almost 72 years old I should wear a helmet perhaps. Happy Birthday.
I’m 47 and too old for wheelies
I really enjoy tour videos, especially when things dont go exactly according to plan.
I'm tinkering with a 90s MTB and planning on converting it to a gravel bike. Wheel uograded is needed and I'm curious as to what wheelset you used and if an 11 speed cassette would fit. Thanks and enjoy the ride.
This video is getting me geeked about restoring the GT Karakoram I have. I like the idea of a 1x9 though. Definitely going to try that new Shimano stuff on another build that’s a 29” suspension bike; making that into a 1x 9, maybe even 1x11.
I thoroughly enjoy your video's, especially the fact that you don't hide problems. I do get a kick out of your struggle with pain in the ass rim breaks, but I do understand how they fit your business model. Most of your affordable donor bikes will have them. You produce bikes that are perfect for your clientele. Great channel...Love how you have mellowed over time.
Beauty of a bike bud, nice build! I do love that Shimano has some love for the everyday cyclist with cues, affordable, comparable, durable (I hope?) that is going to be a heck of a bike for someone
39:43 thanks a lot man you literally saved my sanity right there. I did the same routing and couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong.
Great video again and...Happy Birthday!!! 😊
"Prolly and engineer that did it...................This is definitely the work of an engineer"........Bahahahaha. You crack me up bro!
I picked up a gt palomar and i think this is the direction i wanna take it. Thanks for the info!