The Bicycle Thread - September 2023

October 1, 2023 | The Bicycle Thread

[Berlin_Freeper]

Welcome to The Bicycle Thread. A monthly PING List for bicycle enthusiasts to share experiences, information and ideas. 🚴‍♂️👍

[Berlin_Freeper]

The Bicycle Thread PING! 🚴‍♂️👍

Please donate to FRee Republic - Thank You!

[Berlin_Freeper]

For our tinkers:

Bearings on a bicycle: everything you need to know

[RoosterRedux]

I ride for exercise about 4-6 times a week at the local state park--usually for about an hour each ride. I alternate between my road bike and MTB (there are great trails and the roads are free from cars).

When I ride my road bike, I listen to music on my phone (not earbuds, of course). For those interested, I recommend jazz like Art Pepper. It keeps your mind off the hard hills but doesn't distract enough to keep you from noticing potholes and rocks. My favorite Art Pepper album for riding is "Modern Art." On easy days I listen to Chet Baker.

I subscribe to Spotify, but free Spotify works too.

[Berlin_Freeper]

The Bicycle Thread - September October 2023

Chasing The Sun: new teaser

[spokeshave]

With the high cost of gasoline, and a need to stay fit...

There is a growing need for those experienced in bike assembly.

Called a "Bike Technician" or "Bike Assembler"

So how to get started.

Check out Bike Assembly videos on U-tube

Note that the bikes come in a big box with the derailleur gear installed,

The gear mechanism looks like this

So its just a matter of installing brakes, mud guards, seat and handle bar,

All in metric 8 and 10 mm spanners and a couple of screw drivers...plus a big crescent wrench for the handle bar lock nut.

This is a good job for any FReeper capable of turning a wrench,

Spokeshave who checked around local bike stores and they almost all hiring.

Also....tell the bike store you can be paid per bike....work off the back of the truck...part time is good.

A half days work at 5 different bike shops is excellent.

One last tip...get a receipt book made out for money paid so shop owner can file as a business expense

But the important thing is the phrase

Bike received in good order and passed safety inspection.

So if some idiot gets on one of your assembled bikes and is promptly overrun be a big truck...its not your liability.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Thanks for sharing your good experience and recommendation. I too like music, of all kinds so I am definitely going for some Jazz soon. Lately I been riding through Berlin at night. I like Heavy Metal for that and Two Steps From Hell which is cinematic.

[Berlin_Freeper]

New Chasing the Sun documentary celebrates the inherent brilliance of the bicycle

[Berlin_Freeper]

Lately I been riding through Berlin at night.

I rode my bicycle a few times at night in the first many years of riding but then last Spring I switched to night riding and that is really fun. If people want a fresh experience I recommend it, Of course follow the rules of the road. One thing I learned is that in the middle of the night, many traffic lights are off and you actually have to look out. But at that time there is hardly anyone.

[ABStrauss]

I am an 87 year old who had to quit cycling at age 70 due to knees and hips wearing out. The reason, no doubt, was exacerbated by my running 6-10 miles daily until age 70.

My last bicycle sits in an honored position in my garage so I can look lovingly and longingly at it daily. I bring to mind all the fun and exhilaration that bicycle gave me.

[1of10]

Ah yes bicycle season ...
a wonderful time of the year.

The air is cool, the breezes soft, the sun just warm and bright.

The time when bicycles emerge from there dens in the city to roam the country side.
Spandex clad riders wearing their camouflage, blending in , unseen against the backdrop of the kaleidoscope of changing color.
Riding in to the blinding setting sun, slowly up hills in the middle of the road. Speeding wildly down winding scenic lanes into the darkness of the trees that overhang the vale.

Yes bicycle season.
Limits 3 this year .... get your tags early.

[oldplayer]

Berlin Freeper,
Thanks for the thread. I think there are lots of avid bikers lurking around in FR (As there are also motorcyclists and private pilots).

I’ve ridden many, many years and will do about 2000 miles on “Emma” my trusty 1990ish Merckx MX Leader in Team Telekom livery. Gravel riding is popular here in rural Oklahoma, and we do a lot of that, too.

Thanks for the link to the bearings article, I laughed because most of my bikes have loose ball bearing bottom brackets!

[Languager]

Surly rider here. Glad to see the thread!

[luckystarmom]

Hubby and I just got e-bikes. We live in Bentonville, Ar which is very big into mountain biking. My husband is doing some mountain biking, but I’m sticking to paved or gravel roads.

It’s more fun than our regular bikes because we can go so much further.

We are trying to figure out how to take them on RV trips, but having difficulty figuring that part out. We may need folding blankets kes to take on trips.

[Ragnar54]

Have you considered an ebike? Riding an ebike is like having a friend push you, and it takes a load off of your legs. I got a Trek Domane+ and am enjoying riding now more than ever.

[threefinger]

"...There is a growing need for those experienced in bike assembly...."

MTBF. Mean Time Between Failures. Because if you use it enough, everything eventually breaks.

If you cycle long enough, you'll eventually have a break-down on the road. I'm a little past a quarter of a million kms (road-only) so I've had a few.

Not such a big deal now because everyone carries a mobile phone and can telephone for help. Before the mobile became practical to carry when cycling, I decided I need to know how to fix everything on it. And the most direct way to do that was to build my own bike, from a bare frame. So I did.

One of the better aspects of that plan is it frees you from the tyranny of the manufacturer's specifications. Want nothing but NTN bearings? You can do that. Want your derailleurs from SRAM but your brakes from Shimano? You can do that, too. Want 180mm crank arms on a 52 cm frame? Sure, why not? Custom in every sense of the word.

Cherry-pick your parts, waiting till you can find what you need on discount, and you also can save a bit of money vs. store-bought. Which you'll need because you'll also be needing some tools you probably don't have in your handyman's collection. Crank extractor, bearing press (for headset and BB), headset removal tool, cable cutters, chain whips, cogset locking tool & accompanying socket. Some of them you can make do without but having the proper tool always makes the job ... tidier. And if it was you who built it (from scratch), there'll be nothing on it can break that you can't fix.

[ABStrauss]

Thanks. I’ll look into that.

[Berlin_Freeper]

2:30am many traffic lights are off or flashing yellow.
The DJ Top 30 – September 30 2023

[Berlin_Freeper]

Yesterday my wife and I had appointments at the eye doctor and he took us together which at first I thought was nice. But then when I was first to sit with him and he saw on the paper that I was 58 years old he did not believe it.

He said “that’s not possible you look much younger”.

My wife quickly said : “he rides his bicycle a lot.”
Doc said: ah that explains it.”

Afterwards my wife was perturbed that he didn’t tell her the same.
I said you don’t ride a bike!

[Berlin_Freeper]