ForrestDump

Thats because you don't give your bike any maintenance... you just wait until I'm home from uni to fix stuff haha

I can't say that using wire strippers even crossed my mind at the time haha

Glad to hear the arm is better but its a shame they never said what happened... must have been something on their part I'm either looking into a whole new cast design or a wrap/bandage than could be used for both covering casts or as a bandage for keeping a dressing compressed on a wound. Expense is a big factor here, that needs some looking into still. In the end materials get developed and older 'versions' or alternatives become cheaper... this could be a design for the future haha.

Dont think so, when I say I'm just going out for a little bounce around I mean it, it really is just a ride round the block. Sure am, I'm not that silly enough to tighten the chain without them. I guessed they were there for a reason. The thing with this is that if I don't tighten on the loose spots then when the wheel goes around it gets slack anyway and the gap between the frame and chain is tiny. It is a fairly new freewheel so maybe it still needs wearing in. I've always tightened on the loose spots before and had no problem.

This is brilliant, thanks for taking the time to share that. Seems like water proofing is a common theme with nearly all of the comments. Matt, your arm looked worse in the second lot of x-rays compared to your first one, don't suppose they told you what happened? So much for the people at work feeling sorry, then again... someone has to make the drinks If your still in the cast... hope it heals up soon!!

Evening everyone, So... I've recently bought an Echo Lite 2011 frame (Thats the 20" one for those who don't know) to replace my old Zoo! Lynx frame. I was surprised to see the new integrated tensioners in place of using the snail cams that I've grown so fond of using. I've been setting up the rear disk and just taking the bike out for the odd hop around recently to make sure all is in working order and have come to notice that the chain seems to slack off more than it used to when using cams. Maybe its just because I haven't used these tensioners before and haven't got them set up properly. Has anyone else had this problem, and what was the solution? I do tighten the chain on the 'loose spot' so it is nice a tight if thats my first problem... Anyone know why snail cams have been scrapped? Thanks, James

Very true! First time I built a wheel was just because I had a spare one lying around so i just took it apart and wanted to see how far I could get with putting it together again without a guide... this was before I owned a spoke tool as well!! Lengthy work with a flat headed screwdriver!!! Since then I've built/trued wheels as a favour for friends.

Theres plenty of 'smart' materials that I could incorporate. Two that have caught my eye so far for this is, Gortex... this is completely water proof (well, stops water passing through) but still allows some factor of breathability due to its structure. The other was an impact polymer, found in POC cycling armour, its soft and flexible until hit or struck, it then hardens to protect the wearer. I'm still in the researching stage though really to see if any changes would be viable.

This is one hell of a custom job! The bike looks stunning!! Love the added badge on the front, sometimes its the little things that make the difference.

Thanks for that Tom. I've used those before when I've just had a dressing on my leg. I was thinking of trying to incorporate some form of waterproofing into a dressing/cast when it is first applied, therefore a product like the Limbo covers wouldn't be needed. Thanks again for all the replies.

Thanks for the links, they look like they'll be helpful for research, I take it that you can only have an aircast over a full depending on the injury? So a stiff and more secure version of this would prove just as effective as a full, fibreglass cast? (potentially) I've also read that the surface fibreglass ones is quite rough, did you have any problems with that? I would have thought that if i could design a more breathable structure then this would combat the smell and possibly reduce the cause of dead skin. Thanks for all the comments so far guy, its been a great help. Never realised how good the forum could be for user feedback and research!!

Have you tried opening the clap slightly more? You could use the same technique that is used to put riser bars into a two bolt stem, that would allow you to gradually open the clamp.

Thanks for the quick replies guys. Did the air cast just allow for it to be adjusted to keep it fitting properly to combat the change in swelling? Thanks Ali, I might put that video into my final presentation to show how you can still carry on what you love doing! I dont suppose you know what the cast was built up from? I think from a little research that theres a padding of sorts on the skin then a hard plaster or fibreglass bandage over that... is that correct? Waterproofing the cast was my first insight, another was to try and make it more breathable? What was it like when you had it removed?

I'd imagine it's much like the front wheel And in regards to the pictures... brilliant, love the lighting, was it just a street light or did you put a flood light out?

Hello everyone, I'm studying product design at Plymouth Uni and our current brief is regarding healthcare... pretty broad I know. I've narrowed down to looking at the casts applied when bones are fractured or broken. I am pretty lucky to not have broken any bones though my riding (touch wood) however the insight from someone who has would be really helpful! I looking mainly for information on what sort of problems you found while having/wearing a cast or things that it effected in your life. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks, James

Found another little keeper, this was from quite a while back and this topic was a good reminder of my forceful face in this picture....

I'm with you on that one Dan...

Brill pictures! But I must say, possibly the icing on the cake.... 5th picture down... Brilliant capture of a concentrating pre load face!!

Exactly, the mentioned employee is always going on about how much better being a 'trained' bike mechanic is.. blah blah blah. If this was my wheel, i would have definitely kept the money for building it, I would have needed it for a new sprocket after they had destroyed it!! I know removing a sprocket can be a pain the the arse but to resort to what looks like a grinder to remove it.... Madness!

Thats a fair point, I don't remember calling them unprofessional. As for never seeing one, a friend of mine works there who used to ride one, apparently this wasn't his handy work though. And removing a screw on sprocket shares similar methods on how to remove other parts like cassette lock rings and freewheels. It's not like theres much on a trials bike to know about but i can see where your coming from. Exactly! I found Adams tutorial on how to do this which is a doddle and I use the same technique every time I need to.

Too slow Culshaw haha < For the record it was this fellas (Culshaw95) sprocket and hub in question.

I've always used the method that Adam posted on the Tartys site, sometimes it can be a struggle but I've always managed to get it off after a bit of hard work and effort. No idea if he specified wether he wanted to use the sprocket again... guess the shop decided that themselves. And just for you Brad... Westham Cycles in Weymouth.

It wasn't Halfords, just a standard local bike shop, good for most things, just not trials I suppose after this. Considering this was on a 26" wheel and I can manage to remove sprockets from a 19" wheel build they shouldn't of had too much problem given the extra leverage!! Oh and I forgot to mention... They charged him £50 for the wheel build!!

Exactly, this isn't the first time he's had problems with a local bike shop removing the sprocket either. Every time it comes back from the shop damaged in one way or another. These aren't the same shops either that have a problem...

As far as I know Luke he hasn't done yet, I've told him to. These are the people that consider themselves trained bike mechanics!