Matthew makes an excellent point. If you have another built bicycle around, take it apart and put it together. Twice. It's very easy when you're learning to bash the frame with slipped tools and such. If you don't have another bike, $100 on Craigslist will get you something you can work on. You can always resell it. Joe Bernard
On Tuesday, September 4, 2012 2:32:59 PM UTC-7, Matthew J wrote: > If your skills are anything on the level mine were the first couple of > builds, be ready to accept a few dings or take it to your LBS! More than > once I got completely engrossed in the immediate task before me only to > have one thing lead to another resulting in a paint gash before I even had > a chance to ride. Not the end of the world, but mighty depressing. > > On Tuesday, September 4, 2012 12:29:40 AM UTC-5, Michael Richters wrote: > >> I'm about to embark on the adventure of putting together a bicycle for >> the first time, and I find myself anticipating all manner of >> difficulties arising from my lack of experience. I've got my >> brand-new A Homer Hilsen and a large assortment of parts, doo-dads, >> and associated accoutrements, and even most -- if not all -- of the >> tools that I ought to need to put it all together, but before I begin, >> I'd like to solicit some advice from the learned audience of this >> mailing list. >> >> My first dilemma is where to begin. Clearly, I have a few choices, >> but it's not clear what unforseen surprises await me if I do things in >> an order that it less than optimal. The only thing attached to the >> frame so far is the headset (and front fork, of course). Perhaps the >> best thing to start with would be the bottom bracket, then the cranks? >> Or maybe there's a good reason to set up the stem and handlebar >> first? Speaking of which, it seems nigh-impossible to get the brake >> levers I've got onto the bar. If watched this video >> (http://youtu.be/oEUm3VzF_Z0), but it seems the bar that I've chosen >> (Grand Bois Randonneur) might have a larger diameter in the bend, >> because even with the clamp loosened all the way (or, indeed, >> separated completely from the brake levers), it's a very tight fit, >> and it seems impossible to slide onto the bar without causing lots of >> zig-zag scratches in the aluminum bar. >> >> This brings me to another, more general question -- where and how much >> grease to use. It doesn't seem like a great idea to grease the >> aforementioned brake lever clamps, but maybe that's the only way to >> get them in place. My inclination is to grease just about everything, >> especially threads, but maybe there are a few places where lubrication >> is a particularly bad idea, and everyone is just assumed to know about >> it... >> >> Here's hoping I don't destroy anything in this process; I'd rather >> learn from the mistakes of others than by making my own, at least in >> this case. >> >> --MR >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/7P6saz3rQAwJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
