Messages

16

Gear Talk / Re: Trek 520 wobble

« on: May 31, 2012, 09:27:57 am »

To add on to the preceding diagnoses: If it occurs at low speeds, a binding headset can be at issue. The headset should turn freely without any fretting ("indexed" headset), stiction, or clunking (too loose). The fretting and clunking should not cause you any speed wobble issues, but the stiction will, especially at low speeds.

Another thing to check is your upper body while pedaling. Is your upper body "quiet" while pedaling? You may be introducing a slight wobble that is compounded by the "resonance" of the loaded bicycle. Wider handlebars can help quiet all that down; the wider bars require a greater input to disrupt the handling of the bicycle.

17

Gear Talk / Re: I need a new disc wheel

« on: May 23, 2012, 09:26:27 pm »

My favorite combo is a White Industries MI5 hub with a Velocity Aerohead Touring Disc rim, 32H, double butted spokes, brass nipples. I am 185 pounds, have carried over 100 pounds of gear without any issue. I abuse these wheels quite badly (jump off curbs, ride down stairs) and have zero problems. I do have the tension about maxed out for the rims.

18

General Discussion / Re: Best Fortune Cookie Ever

« on: May 15, 2012, 05:12:59 pm »

I love apropos fortune cookies.

My favorite that I received: "If you're reading this, the poison hasn't worked yet." That same dinner, one of my dining companions got: "Some people have it, some don't. You don't."

19

Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: April 24, 2012, 09:49:14 am »

I bought a 58cm LHT last Nov, and loved it all except for the toe overlap.

You must have some serious clodhoppers. I get toe overlap on every bike that I ride because of my pontoon-like feet, so I know the pain.

The disc brakes have taken some getting used to. My initial impression was that they stopped about as fast as my old cantis but made a horrible squeal while doing so. The web is full of conflicting advice about curing disc brake squeal,

It's not the advice conflicts, but that there are so many potential causes. Misaligned calipers, scorched pads, contaminated pads, pads that were worn too far before adjusting them inward again, brake dust, et al. All disc brakes squeal at some point. But nailing down that cause can be a little annoying. I consider it a small price of admission for the increased modulation and fault tolerance, and lower maintenance.

20

Gear Talk / Re: chain compatibility

« on: April 16, 2012, 07:27:06 pm »

My general experience is that a chain is a chain is a chain. 

Up to a point. Low end chains such as the KMC Z chains shift horribly. I have order one of these and another low end chain by accident on two occasions. They don't even function well on my fixie. But every mid-level chain on up that I have used is perfectly workable.

21

Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: April 13, 2012, 09:14:10 am »

This is an interesting analysis.  It sounds like spokes should never ever break, and yet we all have broken them.  One of my buddy's does not break spokes, but he does regularly break spoke nipples.

Got any more thoughts on spoke failure modes?

According to Schraner, Art of the Bicycle Wheel, the rim or hubshell should fail before the a spoke ever breaks on a properly built wheel. In talking with my favorite wheelbuilders, the anecdata seem to underscore this. Some of their loaded touring wheels go 50,000, 60,000 miles before the rim needs to be replaced because of a worn brake track.

Spokes fail when the tension is insufficient. And they almost always fail at the J-bend or the thread. In my experience, they fail upon unloading after a final stressing, e.g. immediately at pedal BDC after accelerating or climbing a hill. If your friend is breaking spoke nipples, I would suggest brass nipples. I have pulled brass nipples through a rim but never broken one.

22

General Discussion / Re: 10 Years of Continuous Bike Touring, Thoughts, Reflections and Thinking About Ho

« on: April 03, 2012, 01:54:01 pm »

Hey Tim,

Thanks for sharing and thanks for posting here. I own all your books and watched/read as adventures and dramas unfolded. It's all been inspiring, to say the least. Hopefully we will see you in Portland OR when you are doing your stateside tour.

23

Gear Talk / Re: Buying a Bicycle from Europe

« on: April 03, 2012, 07:59:00 am »

Another few red flags about "Koala:" they are registered in the Bronx (yep, USA, not UK), with a United States phone number, and a crappy "live.com" email address. If they are going to try to pull of a scam, they could at least go to the extra effort of setting up their domain email.

From a whois:
Administrative Contact:
   KOALA BIKE STORE
   Angel Centeno (koalabikes@live.com)
   +1.6464185413
   Fax: +1.6464185411
   2877 Dill Place
   Bronx, NY 10465
   US

Technical Contact:
   KOALA BIKE STORE
   Angel Centeno (koalabikes@live.com)
   +1.6464185413
   Fax: +1.6464185411
   2877 Dill Place
   Bronx, NY 10465
   US

24

Gear Talk / Re: Derailleur compatibility lower gears

« on: March 18, 2012, 10:05:47 am »

Most cassette lockrings I have seen indicate a spec of 40nm, which is a good reefing with a normal wrench, but not really a lot of torque, and certainly nothing that calls for a breaker bar.

25

General Discussion / Re: Bibs VS casual commuting to work??

« on: March 17, 2012, 02:10:47 pm »

The shower, or rather lack thereof, is highly overrated. Shower in a bottle.

26

Gear Talk / Re: Review: charging batteries with a SON hub

« on: March 16, 2012, 11:09:43 am »

Well done. Thanks for the thoughtful write-up.

27

General Discussion / Re: Bibs VS casual commuting to work??

« on: March 16, 2012, 11:01:25 am »

I might not be the best example, because my commute is 17 miles each way. It used to be 38 miles each way. I always wear my cycling clothes (bib, jersey, et al) to commute. If I was to go casual, I would be in danger of serious chafing.

As far as dealing with work clothes, I stage clothes at work. I'll bring a pair of slacks or jeans and a few shirts on one day. Everyday, I'll bring fresh socks or underwear, or stage a bunch on a different day. I leave shoes and a toiletries kit at work, too.

28

Gear Talk / Re: Wheel Skewer verses Bolt

« on: March 15, 2012, 10:49:24 am »

Has anyone heard of nuts, e.g. the oddball anti-theft types, coming undone? I'd guess the left one would tend to loosen if this happens at all.

I had a set of OnGuard "locking" skewers. The front "nut" would work loose quite regularly, despite reefing down on the key with a length of pipe. Other security skewers have not given me any issue.

29

General Discussion / Re: Recumbent trike travel

« on: March 12, 2012, 11:18:33 am »

It is my impression and experience that just about the only people that buy Catrikes are people who do loaded touring. Blatantly small sampling set, of course. Some models are better suited to loaded touring than others.

30

Gear Talk / Re: REI tubes

« on: March 07, 2012, 08:42:10 am »

W Edwards Demming would not accept the excuse of 'a bad run'. With proper QA a bad batch would have been detected and tossed, they should never have got to market.

You can have perfect quality control. How much are you willing to pay? Cost, features, quality: pick two, reality determines the third.