Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Is a tiagra triple the right choice? Are there other options?

« on: May 14, 2022, 08:12:02 pm »

The brakes are now TRP including the brake levers.  When I bought mine they spec'd the bike with 180mm front rotor and 160mm rear, they now for some reason reduced the size of the front to 160, I think the 180 is better since most of the stopping force is on the front. 

I don't know what brake mounting format was used on previous model Masis but the current spec is "flat mount" and these are limited to 160mm rotors. 

I have the same TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes on a Surly Midnight Special and they work very well.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Need STRONG 135mm hub for Surly long haul trucker.

« on: January 31, 2022, 07:45:38 pm »

I also need it to work in the extreme cold and I know the free hub on Shimano hubs stops working around 20F.

That is only if you lube the mechanism with grease.  Use a light oil like Tri-Flow and they will work at much lower temperatures.   That won't sacrifice durability either.  I have a Dura Ace FH-7700 hub with 80,000+ miles that is in perfect condition and has only seen Tri-Flow for the freehub mechanism.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Broken Bottom Bracket

« on: January 24, 2022, 09:13:39 pm »

Changing to 1X while still keeping a low low gear and a reasonably high top gear is going to require more than just a new crank and bottom bracket.  Plan on a new very wide range cassette (like 11x42 or bigger), a rear derailleur with a sufficient range to work with a large big cog and a lot of "wrap capacity" and possibly new shifters and chain if you don't already have a 10-speed or greater cassette.

4

General Discussion / Re: What "riding buddies" do you take on tour?

« on: January 24, 2022, 09:08:08 pm »

As my momma said, sometimes if you can't say something nice, it is better to say nothing at all.  We all of our own little idiosyncrasies. 

Reminds me of the story about the older woman at a party who said "if you can't say something nice about someone.... come sit by me."

5

General Discussion / Re: The more expensive tires are the least expensive.

« on: December 17, 2021, 07:29:56 pm »

Like a lot of products, bike tires have a "sweet spot" for cost as it applies to the majority of riders.   Much less and the durability, ride quality and uniformity suffer.  Much more and you are into specialty race oriented tires where durability is sacrificed for low weight and low rolling resistance.   

6

General Discussion / Re: Panniers from Bike Nashbar? Look twice.

« on: October 31, 2021, 08:08:23 pm »

(Wait. What? You bought a black raincoat for the bike? ...though I know I've made worse investments.)

I've never had a black jacket but I have a coal black long sleeve riding jersey bought from Performance's bargain rack back when they had retail stores.  I only wear it under a yellow wind jacket or garishly bright wind vest.

I do occasionally see riders in black jerseys and tights and wonder what they are thinking.

7

General Discussion / Re: What cyclists see, and nobody else.

« on: August 08, 2021, 01:57:13 pm »

Lots of hand tools, usually wrenches.  I suspect that they fall out of recently fixed cars, where the mechanic failed to put all their tools away.

One thing that started to appear in quantity last year were masks.

+1. I've also found dozens of hand tools over the years, mostly wrenches (SAE and metric) as you note but three hammers, three Vise-Grips, half a dozen screwdrivers, two tape measures, side cutters, lineman pliers, needle nose pliers, two folding knives and a Leatherman-style multi tool.  Most are cheap tools but a couple were really good like a Snap On 18mm combination wrench.

I also expect they fell off of workman's trucks or out of cars.

8

General Discussion / Re: Looking for college kids/helpers to sag cars for summer Michigan trip

« on: May 18, 2021, 09:43:21 am »

The Bridge was closed to bicycles last year but I could find nothing just now to indicate the Michigan DOT is not ferrying bikes across now.
Michigan has a very active club and  might be where to look: https://www.lmb.org/ for help.

DALMAC, the annual organized bike ride from E. Lansing, MI (the Michigan State Campus) to Mackinac City, used to offer one route that did cross the Mackinac Bridge but that was dropped a couple of years ago when MDOT closed the bridge to all bike riders.   There was one day around Labor Day weekend when the bridge was closed to all motorized traffic and open to pedestrian and bike use only but that has also been dropped.

9

Gear Talk / Re: Finding a Touring Bike 2021

« on: May 12, 2021, 09:59:04 am »

A Google search for "Surly Disc Trucker" showed it's available as a frame set in both 700c and 26" sizes from numerous sources in both the older (non-thru-axle) and current (thru-axle) format.  The current frame is only available in that rather garish "Pea Lime Soup" color so if you can get beyond the color, they are out there if you can build it up from the frame set.

10

General Discussion / Re: Best way to split bills while traveling with a fellow cyclist?

« on: April 05, 2021, 09:49:31 am »

I have "credit card" toured with a small group of friends.  For hotel/motel bills one guy paid for all of them, kept the receipts and billed the others for their share at the end.  We each wrote him a check and settled that way.  For meals we asked for separate checks and that avoided any cost disparities.   Fortunately no one in this group agonized over the exact penny.

11

General Discussion / Re: Tires for a 29" Fargo

« on: March 25, 2021, 09:08:22 am »

True. And I know that 29" is a bit of a marketing gimmick. That being said, when I hear about a bike with 29" wheels, I think about tires at least 1.75" wide or wider and a bike built around handling that particular width. While someone could slap some 28mm wide Marathons on a 29" wheel, I'm guessing that possibility is slim.

Yes, "29" wheels are typically built using wider rims than 700c road wheel but bike rims are pretty tolerant of tire width.  Years ago I "roadified" an old Trek 7000 mountain bike with drop bars and STI shifters but kept the factory 26" (ISO 559) wheels.  The OEM tires were 2.0" (559-50) semi-knobbies and I replaced them with 1.125" (559-32) road tires which fit and handled fine.

12

General Discussion / Re: Tires for a 29" Fargo

« on: March 23, 2021, 07:39:44 pm »

You guys do know that 29" is the same as 700c right?  So any 700c touring tire will work fine.

13

General Discussion / Re: Just bought my first bike

« on: March 21, 2021, 09:38:53 am »

You are starting out with a bike pretty near the top of the cycling sophistication spectrum.  As noted this is a "race/performance" bike, not a tourer or casual rail-trail bike.  BTW, if the frame is badly mis-sized, there is pretty much nothing you can do to fix it and a different bike will be needed.  I hope you picked the right one since apparently you didn't try it before the purchase.
Also, depending on how hilly your location is and how fit you currently are, the gearing may not be low enough for you.   

I make a few recommendations:

1. If you have a knowledgeable friend or a local bike club member or a good local bike shop have them go over the bike with you be sure the size is close to right and to adjust the saddle height, bar position etc to fit.  As noted above a professional fitting would be ideal but costly.  Also, your best position will change as you ride more and adapt to the riding position. 

2. Learn elementary mechanical skills.  At least learn how to fix a roadside flat tire, do minor shifting and brake adjustments, chain lubrication, etc.  A book covering modern bike care and feeding would be a worthwhile purchase and YouTube has a bunch of good (and not so good) tutorials on the subject.

3.  Get a good floor pump and plan to use it before every ride or every two days if you ride a lot.  Narrow, high pressure bike tires lose air a lot faster than auto tires or wide low pressure bike tire and have to be topped up frequently. 

4. Enjoy the bike and ride it a lot!
 

14

General Discussion / Re: carrying a firearm on a tour

« on: February 27, 2021, 10:04:33 am »

I've heard from one of the crime noir authors I know, that a sure way to draw critiicism to your work is to make a mistake about guns or gun fights.

If you've been writing for a while, you probably have some expert consultants you can use. If not,  you might hit up a trainer in your region and perhaps a well-trained cyclist who carries a weapon.  Most of these folks will usually consult for the cost of a dinner and proof your fight scenes for you.

+100.  So many authors that try to include firearms use or descriptions make egregious technical errors and get pounced on by knowledgeable readers.  Those errors do a lot of damage to the credibility of everything else you have written so be sure to get really expert help if you go this way. 

15

General Discussion / Re: Low profile rugged touring tires

« on: February 16, 2021, 10:13:01 am »

Road bikes, particularly those a few years older, often have tight tire clearances and won't clear anything bigger than 700-23 or, at best 700-25.  What size are your current Marathons?  You apparently need a smaller tire or a different bike.