I really like my Surly Wednesday Fatbike, it`s ride and simple 1x gearing.
I was also able to build the bike to a budget. Before i re laced the wheels to the tubeless rims the bike was built for under £500 (Not including the frame set and Halo wheels).
I did splash a bit of cash on the Shimano 1 x 11 drive chain rather than opt for the cheaper Shimano 10 speed Zee mech and shifter, Sunrace do a 10 speed 11-40 cassette which is also an ideal cheaper cassette option for keeping the spending down, Note the Zee short cage can only mech can only go to a 40 tooth rear while the XT 11 speed then went to a 42tooth,
Anyhow the XT 11 speed drive chain for the extra cost has never really impressed, and i have never managed to get the gears to shift real smooth -though the gears are a nice spread for my type of riding on the coast. Chain angle is scary to look at and the narrowness of it prob explaining the short chain life.
Buy a chain checker tool and use it often!.
3 chains to the first cassette in the last year before the cassette have shown ware in not a lot of miles,
I decided to renew the cassette now and chainring again seeing as the mech and jockey wheels and shifter are still ok. after these 3 chains are used i may change to the afore mentioned 10 speed Zee set up, that Genesis reminded me of how much smoother that drive chain is!,
Sram X5 £75 cranks;
Budget £75 Sram X5 cranks have been ideal on the bike once i threw away the short lived Bottom Bracket that`s bearings are rubbish. replaced with a rebuild able Hope BB- pricey at £75 plus £8 for the GPX-Hope/Shimano converter cups, i now have the option of a cheaper complete £15 Shimano BB or source bearings for the Hope BB.
The cranks strip easy enough loosening the lock ring with a 10mm allen key until it is flush with no thread exposed, then loosen the 8mm bolt inside that locks against the lock ring and it pulls the crank off...
Bearings are a bit rough but will run em as they are rather than open them up now and risk contaminating them...
Off with the 26t `stealth` inner chain ring and a new Race Face 30t narrow wide chain ring fitted...
And fitted a small 22tooth `stealth` bail out inner ring even though i only used the previous 26 tooth once last year on the Capital Trail on 2 climbs, but it`s always there just in case!...
Crank axle was cleaned up and re greased and back on with the cranks and tighten up
Job done...
Halo 170mm through axle rear hub;
I like how the Halo free hub comes away simply by splitting the through axe with two 17mm spanners and the pawls are set in the hub, no seal to fit or pawls and springs falling off the free hub if as often is the case your free hub is slightly stuck on...
As this one was despite copper grease on the cassette before fitting, a small lever helps remove it...
Slight wear damage but nothing to worry about...
Re greased and don't forget the washer! then slip back on the hub body and refit the hub spacer to secure it...
New cassette on...
And back on the bike...
The chain was de greased having soaked in paraffin then cut to same length as the old chain before fitting. I then washed the chain on the bike with the chain cleaner to remove any remaining paraffin using TFR power washer soap (Traffic Film Remover).
Once dry the next morning i put the first of 3 coats of Squirt Dry lube on, it needs built up on a new clean chain...
Bail out stealth granny ring chain clearance is only 5mm in 1st but will be ok, It will go up the side of a house now in 22-42t ratio!...
Ready to go ride and have fun again!...
More soon...
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