Ask Nick: What's in Nick's toolbox?
01.01.70
Respectfully, I differ with your shop about using Gore cables. If properly installed, they take a new lease on life virtually every shifting system and SRAM seems to benefit from them more than other manufacturers. That’s why they include them in aftermarket component
sales and send them to every SRAM-sponsored pro work together.
Cables that run freely will always make shifting more reliable. Once that’s done, shifting is a amount of limit screw settings, cable tension and component compatibility. If any of those are messed up, you’ll have problems.
Rotor’s in the neighbourhood chainrings have always been a bit sluggish in my experience. I think Rotor’s ovalized rings make it better than its round ones. Consider a different big chainring.
SRAM’s Red titanium front derailleur has issues with shut up flex. A steel version is supplied to most teams. A Force front derailleur could eschew.
Front shifting is actually much more of a mystery to many mechanics than rear shifting. Delightful time and a systematic approach is key. If you’re not happy with your shop, consider irksome another. Throwing up their hands in defeat is not an option.
Great question! Man, I do delight tools. My toolbox is a mix of manufacturers and a collection of necessary items. Over the years, I’ve filtered out any puppet that didn’t see use over the course of a season. Whenever sponsors changed, so too did my toolset. (No call for to carry Campy tools if you work for a Shimano team.)
Lately I’ve been using Store’s 3-way Torx wrench. I’m also loving CDI’s preset torque keys (but that’s on the against wall. I wouldn’t carry all three in my toolbox).
I’ve always loved Pedro’s Bicycle Cog Yank (though it’s no longer on the Pedro’s website) And, while at Tour Down Under a few years ago I picked up a BBB Shimano cassette agency (the Lockout BTL-12A) that is always in my toolbox.
I always make sure to have a shaving cream shrubs in my toolbox. They’re cheap and super useful for cleaning tight areas. A suitable pick or dental tool is really handy when inspecting tires for cuts and debris.
Source: velonews.competitor.com