Grime TIME
Your questions answered
Bluffer’s guide to transporting your bike, plus how to true a buckled wheel and your technical queries answered, including fixing disc brake issues and action cam advice
aiming to shoot
I want to film myself riding. Do I need to spend all that money on a GoPro or are the cheaper alternatives good enough? If I do go for a GoPro, which is the cheapest you’d recommend? Max Fowler, Dartmouth
It depends on your budget and what you intend to film. There are plenty of cheaper options that are great for filming quick clips, but GoPros do have some great features. To get smooth chest cam footage, in-built stabilisation is a must. Some budget cameras have it, but how well it works can vary between models; a check on YouTube or Instagram will help you decide. There are other reasons why cheaper action cams aren’t always as good value as they first appear. Some will claim specs such as 4K video or 250fps (frames per second) filming, which sound great but aren’t what they seem. For example, the camera sensor doesn’t always record in 4K – some budget ones will upscale to 4K instead, reducing quality dramatically. It’s also worth checking the available resolution when selecting higher frame rates, because sometimes you’ll be limited to a lower quality with a higher frame rate. If you want slow-motion, 100fps will allow you to slow down your video by 25 per cent while keeping it smooth. GoPro no longer sell a budget model, but now that the HERO9 (£329.98) has been released, the prices of the HERO8 and HERO7 have been reduced (£279.98 and £249.99, respectively). If you look around online you may be able to find an older model such as the HERO5 considerably cheaper, especially if you don’t mind buying used/refurbished. Although almost five years old now, this is a capable camera with great stabilisation, resolution and frame rates. The alternative is buying a sturdy case for your smartphone and using that to record your cornering or jumping
technique. Many newer phones are very powerful and have highresolution cameras combined with higher frame rates for those slow-motion bangers.
will you Please stop?
My bike has Shimano M446 brakes. I’d been experiencing poor braking so I fitted new pads front and rear, thoroughly cleaned the rotors using disc brake cleaner, and bedded the brakes in. The rear works perfectly but there’s no power from the front and a squealing noise when I brake hard. Any ideas?
James Ferris, via email
Well, it sounds like you’ve done everything correctly. It’s possible the pads haven’t bedded-in well enough, which could explain the noise as well as the lack of power. If you’re sure that’s not the problem, make sure that the calliper is aligned over the rotor properly. Usually, this is done by loosening the calliper mounting bolts and grabbing the brake lever a few times, then tightening the bolts while squeezing the lever. It’s also worth seeing if the pistons are retracting equally. If not, one may be seized. In this case, remove the pads and, while restraining one piston with a flat-bladed screwdriver, pump the brake lever so that the other one starts to emerge. Give it a clean with a cotton bud and some brake cleaner, then a gentle wipe with another cotton bud coated in mineral fluid to lubricate. Repeat on the other side. Still no joy? Give the brakes a good bleed to ensure there’s no air in the system. If this doesn’t work, there could be an issue with the calliper or lever seals, which may require a replacement calliper or lever – we’d suggest seeking the help of your local bike shop.