Archive for April 2009
Hot Buy – Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey
This jersey is a lot more stylish and a little above my $10 limit but it does look pretty nice. Yes, you can get it in Red. Here’s their sales pitch:
|
|
|
Hot Buy – Recumbent Long Sleeve Jersey
I can’t find my favorite jerseys any more but these are as close as you can get and at a great price. BTW: this is the same company that produces Duofold. Here’s their write up:
Champion Double Dry® Odor-Resistant Long-Sleeve Men’s T Shirt – $9.99 |
| CLEARANCE! Was $25 |
|
Moisture control is just the beginning. This Champion men’s T shirt also resists garment odors, for ultimate all-day comfort.
|
|
|
Checking the Chain
Park CC-2 Chain Checker
Recumbents have big expensive chains. The Slipstream has one of the biggest chains on any bike. Chains tend to stretch (wear) over time and need to be checked.
If you don’t replace a chain before it wears too much you will be replacing not just the chain but the chainrings and rear cogs. That can be expensive.
Luckily chains don’t have to be checked very often if you ride on the road and they are easy to check if you have an inexpensive tool.
How to check your chain video.
As the video shows, measuring chain wear is easy. When the stretch measured start to approach 1.0″ it is time to replace your change. Measurement from 0.25″ to 0.5″ are typical of chains in good shape, new chains often have that much stretch. Those numbers are on the side of the Park CC-2 so you don’t have to worry about remembering them.
Take away: Check your chain every month if you are riding a lot, less if you aren’t putting many miles on. Do replace the chain before it gets to 1.0″ of stretch.
Front End Wobble Fixed
Loose Bolt
My first guess was wrong, the front end wobble was not caused by the headset. It was the result of a loose connection in the steering linkage not the headset. Tightening the steering bar mounting bolt made the wobble go away.
The steering bar still moves freely but the bar doesn’t move up and down anymore. Nice simple fix and something to put on my list of thing to keep an eye on.
I know, I have said check every fastener every month and that covers this problem. It is just I need to look at this one a little differently than I have in the past. This bolt felt tight because the nut has a nylon insert. I need to check for steering bar movement not a loose nut.
bikejournal.com First Impressions
Example of BikeJournal Log
Mike suggested bikejournal.com as an online Log Book. I have tried it briefly and won’t claim any expertise so please feel free to correct any errors.
My impressions:
Straight forward on line bike journal that would replace your Excel spreadsheet in functionality. They offer it for free with the option to upgrade to premium service for $20/year.
Threaded Headset Maintenance – Front End Wobble
Headset Wrenches
Riding home on Sunday my Slipstream suddenly developed a sever front end wobble at speeds above 20 MPH. I haven’t really checked it yet but I suspect the headset is loose. Last year it started to bind and I adjusted it. I am hoping that another adjustment will do the trick.
I am also hoping that my sloppy maintenance last year didn’t create a problem. Last year ( Adjusting the Slipstream Headset), I just assumed it was sticking because it was tight and loosened the adjustment. I should have disassembled the headset and checked for dirt or foreign material in the headset. If that was the case I will probably be replacing the head set this year.
This year I am going to do the job a lot better - Bicycle Tutor – How to Overhaul a Threaded Headset. This is a terrific video, it makes everything simple and reminds you of all the things we non-mechanics forget.
But it is cold, dark and raining hard now – so checking the headset will have to wait another day. Instead I have been reviewing headset adjustment videos on YouTube so I’ll be ready when the rain stops. I have the wrenches and lube I need already. I got them last year.
BTW: Park recommends checking headset every 2 or 3 rides and greasing 2x per year
Here are a couple of YouTube Videos you might find useful:
I’ll update you after I check out the headset. This time I’ll remember to disassemble the headset and lube the bearing before I do any adjustments.
Resources:
Park Threaded Headset Maintenance
Bicycling – How to Maintain your Headset
Bicycle Tutor – How to Overhaul a Threaded Headset – This is a terrific video – the best by far on this subject
Updated: 4/22/09
Ride Logs and MapMyRide
MapMyRide
I was just looking over my old ride logs from the 80s and remembering when I thought 10 miles was a long ride. My routes were different and I felt very differently about cycling. I hadn’t yet learned how to relax on a bicycle and enjoy the ride. Bicycle commuting was changing my ideas about cycling.
25th Montreal Bike Festival 2009
- Montreal Bike Festival 2009
Tour la Nuit – June 5
Tour de L’ile de Montreal – June 7
It is time to start planning for the 2009 Montreal Bike Festival. The is a first class event and one of the biggest rides in the world. If you haven’t been to one go; if you have you know how much fun they are.
2009 Route
Go and be amazed at how well this event is organized. The tight organization keeps it fun. It is an incredible experience to be riding the streets of Montreal, traffic free, with over 30, 000 other riders. The amazing thing is that it doesn’t feel that crowded and you don’t feel oppressed by the crowd. It is just fun.
The Montreal Bike Festival is a week long event high lighted by the last day’s mass ride, Tour de L’ile de Montreal, La Féria du vélo de Montréal – Le Tour de l’Île de Montréal. Use this link to get information on tickets and places to stay.
I have stayed in the city and across the river; staying in the city is much more convenient and more fun. If you need an inexpensive place to stay try one of the hostels or get a room at one of the universities (nearby Hotels on Expedia).
The Ride begins and ends at Jeanne-Mance Park. The Circue de Soleil will be performing in the park, that should make the 25th Anniversary Ride a very special event.
Montreal may be the most bicycle friendly city in North America so you won’t need a car once you get there. Just watch out for the bicycle only traffic lights in the bike lanes, you probably haven’t seen those before.
Go and Ride, you’ll never forget the experience!!
Hot Buy – Recumbent Shorts
Check out the 8 panel shorts with no pad for $29 at J & G Cylcewear. This vendor was recommended by Longfellow a reader and great contributor in Raingear for Self Contained Recumbent Touring.
NB: Looks like only XS, S, and 4X are left
