Messages

121

General Discussion / Re: Possible cause of crashes?

« on: April 14, 2011, 04:35:18 pm »

I don't know how many people it takes to be a "large number," but it's not large enough that it has ever happened to me or anybody I know, nor have I ever heard of it.

Ditto here, and I've never heard of it happening at mountain-top professional race finishes either, or after time trials, etc..  The only thing I've experienced that was related was when intentionally doing very hard intervals on hill climbs where I'd end with a sprint and run myself nearly to the point of fainting, and stop before I do, with my heart rate 20bpm higher than the bogus 220-minus-age limit.  As soon as I'd stop though, things got better, not worse.

122

Gear Talk / Re: Disc Brakes conversions

« on: April 12, 2011, 11:33:09 pm »

Are these rim brakes?  Whatever rim brakes a bike comes with, even when brand new, just consider it standard practice to replace the pads with Kool Stop pads.  They stop better, don't fade (as far as I've been able to tell), don't get the metal bits embedded in them, and they make the rim last longer.  As long as the brake lever doesn't bottom out on the bar before you get enough braking, you're fine.  I keep a big gap on mine which requires pulling the lever a long way but I can still easily stand the bike on its nose.

123

Gear Talk / Re: Disc Brakes conversions

« on: April 12, 2011, 03:14:31 am »

I've heard 70% of your braking power comes from the front brake (hopefully someone can confirm or give the exact figure).

It depends on how hard you're braking and how much weight you have low in the back.  On my single bike with no load, hard braking can get the rear wheel off the ground; so the rear brake in that situation does nothing.  On the tandem, even with no load on the back, I can lock up even the front tire and make it skid, dry or wet (yes, with rim brakes, and one finger on the lever, 350 pounds gross weight), while still keeping some braking power on the back.

124

Gear Talk / Re: Disc Brakes conversions

« on: April 11, 2011, 07:12:21 pm »

Are the frame and fork made for disc brakes?  If not, don't try it.  Disc brakes put different stresses on them, requiring beefier, heavier tubing.

125

General Discussion / Re: First long distance ride...need advice....FAST

« on: April 10, 2011, 03:23:26 pm »

I don't think your bike has eyelets for racks in the back.  You could use a seat post mounted pack, but they don't recommend using that with a carbon seat post.

easily remedied by replacing it with an aluminum one

Another choice is the Jandd Mountain Wedge III which is a very large seat bag with bungees that can mount to seat stays with an adapter.

I have that one.  I has almost two gallons' worth of space.  There are even bigger ones from Caradice, the Nelson Longflap and the Camper Longflap Saddlebag, that give three to four times that much space, kind of like having a small duffel bag back there but with internal supports so they don't sag or sway.

126

Gear Talk / Re: 9 Speed barcon indexing issues with XT/XTR rear derailleurs?

« on: April 09, 2011, 03:23:04 pm »

-Front derailleurs are type-specific.  A road fd won't index properly with a MTB front shifter and vise-versa.

Bar-end shifters are not indexed for the front anyway, so it's not an issue.  They are indexed for the rear.

127

Gear Talk / Re: 9 Speed barcon indexing issues with XT/XTR rear derailleurs?

« on: April 07, 2011, 06:50:18 pm »

The pull ratio is the same, so there should not be any problem.  One of our bikes has 9-speed D/A bar-end shifters and a DeOre LX rear derailleur, and it works perfectly in indexed mode.

128

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Santa Monica to Imperial Beach safe city riding?

« on: April 06, 2011, 04:23:22 pm »

Yeah, that's the ugly part I was talking about.  If you go in the afternoon though, you'll have a good tailwind which helps with the speed, and nobody wants to mess with you when they can see you're movin' along pretty good.  In the countless times I've ridden through there, I've never had any hint of trouble-- actually in either direction.  You do have to be on your toes to be safe in traffic though.

129

Gear Talk / Re: Wireless Comps....

« on: April 05, 2011, 06:02:50 pm »

Yes, the Cateye Mity 8 and Enduro are excellent

I'll admit to having one that does not pick up consistently now.

Use some contact cleaner spray on the little metal buttons on the bottom of the computer, then push them in & out a few times with your fingernail.  (They are spring-loaded.)  I had the same problem on mine after five years.  I think I'm still on the original battery too, going on six years.

130

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Santa Monica to Imperial Beach safe city riding?

« on: April 05, 2011, 05:59:09 pm »

I've ridden almost all of that route many, many times.  The only part I have not ridden is the first few miles starting south from Santa Monica (or actually Venice) to Palos Verdes.  Most of it is beautiful, and a fun ride.  We take a bunch of junior highers on bikes through much of the route every year also, which we couldn't do if it were dangerous.  There are a couple of places, maybe in Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach (I'm not sure since I rode it so many times before I knew what city I was in at any given point) where I'm always a bit nervous for the junior highers because of the busy narrow streets, but in 25 years of doing this with them, there has never been an incident.  (I've done it many times alone or with one or more family members too.)  Some portions are out of town though so it would be very dark unless there's a full moon.  I don't think I would want to do it at night, but the reason would be visibility and sleepy drivers.

Are you one I've been talking to on facebook?  (I'll keep your name secret here.)

The ugly portion of the ride is through the Wilmington and Long Beach area, only about 10 miles' worth if you first go slightly south of PCH and take Palos Verdes Drive North.  ("North" is part of the name, not the direction.)  If you do this, you will add a short distance (maybe a couple of miles-- I don't remember) but trade some miles of the ugly part of PCH after it turns east for relatively beautiful miles in Palos Verdes.  At the end of that section, you go down the hill and onto Vermont Ave to get back up to PCH and head east.  PCH was repaved through there recently so the surface is good, but you'll go through refineries and other ugly parts for 8-10 miles before you reach the traffic circle in Long Beach and it gets progressively better as you get into Orange County.  It's mostly vey clear and easy but there are a few places you could waste some time and miles if you haven't been there; so if you don't have clear directions, I can email them to you.  PM me.

131

Gear Talk / Re: Wireless Comps....

« on: April 05, 2011, 01:08:34 pm »

Sensors for traffic signals are another thing that can mess up your mileage.  While you're on the sensor waiting for your green light, the wireless computer may have you doing 75mph while actually motionless.  My heart rate monitor messed up a Shimano Flightdeck wireless computer too.  Just get a wired unit.

132

General Discussion / Re: Posting Images to Forum

« on: April 01, 2011, 02:41:42 pm »

No, but I do need to get into it.

133

Gear Talk / Re: Why internal hubs?

« on: April 01, 2011, 02:38:00 pm »

Use an off-center rim, ie, rim with the holes off center, to eliminate the dish on a wheel with a freehub and cassette, like the Velocity Aerohead O/C:

 

Going with a deep-V rim also increases the strength of the wheel a lot.  One of our sons has a Velocity Deep-V aluminum rim on the back of his commuting bike on which he has loaded up to 60 pounds (all on the rear rack) of tools and supplies, all with no give at all, so when he hits bumps on our poor roads, it is truly brutal on the wheel.  Yet after several years of this now, it has been perfect, maintenance-free, trouble-free.  Deep-V also increases the surface area to get rid of braking heat which would be more of a consideration when your gross weight is very high, regardless of the kind of hub.

134

General Discussion / Re: Posting Images to Forum

« on: April 01, 2011, 01:40:08 am »

Here it is so you can see the actual text that got it (I used a different trick to keep it from doing its job, and took out Fred's sizing spec.s since the image was that size already):

  Maiden daytrip
[img]http://www.wolfenotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/LHT7.JPG[/img]

135

General Discussion / Re: Evening rides...

« on: March 29, 2011, 10:53:12 pm »

Wind may be an issue and may be much stronger in the afternoon.  If it's going the direction you want to go, there's no point in hurrying to get out on the road early unless you know you really need the whole day to reach your intended destination.  If it's contrary, then get out there as early as you can and try to get your miles in before that enemy mounts its attack.  I personally am anything but a morning person though.