Utility Wheelset on Ebay

Finally parting with my 3 speed utility wheelset. I put it on ebay two days ago:



It's a beautiful set. 3 speed sachs torpedo hub in the rear, sram i-light dynamo hub in the front, wheelsmith double butted spokes, rhyno lite rims, blue anodized alloy nipples... and it comes with a shifter, cable & toggle chain for the rear hub and spanninga dynamo lights for the front. Check it out if you're interested.

Sean's Homemade Panniers

My good friend, Sean, has his homemade panniers featured on BikeHacks.com. He waterproofed them with Plasti Dip. They're super nice, go take a look:

The First Rideable Night of my F-1 Rockfish

I've wrenched on bikes quite a bit. The majority of the wrenching I've done has been for friends and strangers at the Charlottesville Community Bicycle Shop. It always felt great to get neglected bikes and parts working again with some ingenuity and elbow grease. And although it feels great to wrench for other people, there's just nothing like piecing together my own bikes. I've been conceptualizing and building my own bikes since my freshman year of college and one thing does not change: the first ride on a project bike is a blast. There comes that day in every project when I make a realization that I have everything in my possession to take it for a spin, even if it's not complete. That realization means the evening is ruined and all other plans are cancelled. I wrench until the wee hours of the night if I must, just to hop on for that first limited ride. I have to know how she handles.

I remember my first mountain bike ride on Observatory Hill on my first build in 2006, Penelope:

I remember blasting down the streets of Charlottesville at 4am with blinking yellow stoplights just as I finished the final welds on my tallbike:

And I remember taking a spin around the block as soon as my 3 speed road bike had a brake on it:

Those bikes were all juvenile builds of sorts, as my recent builds have matured and become somewhat coherent. More frequently I start from the frame up; sometimes building just the right wheelset or building the bike for a specific purpose. This week, I finally got my Formula-1 BMX Rockfish rideable:

Mechanically, the front brake and 3 speed hub are working, so it's all good to ride! I'm still working on the back brake (braze-on cantis?), searching for the right seven speed shifter for the cockpit, and looking to get the bike painted and decaled. As for the ride... this is the quickest accelerating, tightest turning, smoothest, and most fun bike I've built. I put some B.O.B. Nutz on it to haul my trailer and the build will make a nice beater/commuter/utility bike when done! It's super quick on those skinny 406 tires. It's definitely road worthy.

I wish you the very best on your maiden voyages. Mine have all been super.

Single-speeding your Double Chainring Bolts

If you've ever converted a double chainring-ed bike to a to a single chainring, you've likely run into a problem with the length of the chainring bolts. Double cranks usually come with bolts and nuts that are a little longer to compensate for the width of that second ring. Sure, you can buy some single speed chainring bolts or washers... or you can just take care of it yourself and save a few bucks.

What you'll need:
-chainring bolts and nuts
-5mm hex wrench
-a clamp, vise, or the ability to use two hands
-a file or dremel

1) Thread your chainring bolt into the back of the nut a few turns, like so.

2) Slide the chainring bolt onto your 5mm hex wrench.

3) Either secure the hex wrench to your table, a vise, or even hold it with your hand.

4) Run a fine file across the nut approximately 20 times.Congrats, now your chainring nut is likely short enough for a single chainring on a double crank. If not, file some more. 

The finished product with a magnet to collect filings.

Good things come to those that drink good beer...

Rachel won a New Belgium 2011 Fat Tire cruiser from an online drawing! We picked it up from Jerry, a New Belgium "Beer Ranger" today. This is our 7th bike in our one bedroom apartment!

New Belgium Cruiser made by Felt.

Rachel poured us some help.

We did the assembly quickly. Very painless.

It really is a very comfortable bike. It rolls smooth, albeit quite heavy. It looks like aluminum... but that's all steel! Great for a flat place like Dallas.

Slowly but Surely

I took the time to completely clean and regrease the internals of the Sachs 3x7 hub today...

Sachs 3x7 hub internals.

If your Sachs hub is gummed up and you want it cleaned up like new, talk to me and maybe I can clean it out for you for a few bucks.  The whole bike is taking shape and I should have another $200 of parts coming my way in the next week or so to start to flesh it out. Exage cranks, 53 tooth chainring, Soma High Rider stem, Kalloy seatpost and collar, Panaracer slick tires, headset spacers...

Rockfish F-1 BMX taking shape.

I picked up a brand new Forte 10 speed carbon derailleur for $35. It looks fly and that's a great deal for what seems to be a well built derailleur. It should index correctly with a 7 speed shifter... and if not, there's always friction shifting.

Forte 10 Speed Carbon Rear Derailleur

Just in time for Halloween

Oh. Em. Gee.










http://www.ebay.com/itm/HANDSADDLE-HAND-COMFORT-SADDLE-SEAT-ANATOMIC-PERFECTION-SELLE-SAN-MARCO-ITALIA-/220884953365?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item336dc4e915#ht_1000wt_1193

Out. Of. Shape.

Just got in from a 35 mile ride - only my 3rd road ride in three months since moving to Dallas. Too much wrenching and not enough riding these days. However, things at the shop are looking up, and they have some bike-specific tools I can use to get my Rockfish Formula One BMX into shape. So far I've gotten the chance to use the Park FFG-2 dropout alignment tool. I had been contemplating building one out of scraps I have lying around, but sometimes it's easier to use what's already available than rebuild the wheel. However, there are many home-brewed methods to make this tool instead of buying that rarely-used $80 tool. All you need is a 10mm axle, two axle nuts, and a stiff piece of metal with a hole in it for a leverage arm:

A photo & design from Mark @ BikeSmithDesign.com

Pretty ingenious. Then there are those tools that are necessities if you want to do a job correctly. I'm specifically referring to cutting tools. I've already added threads on the fork for the Rockfish, but now I'm planning on using two additional cutting tools while I have access to them at the shop.

CRC-1 headset crown race seat milling tool
&
HTR-1 headtube facer

The CRC-1 is a $400 tool that will allow me to take my 1" fork that is intended for a 27.03 ID crown race and mill it down to accept a 26.43 crown race... that will make it compatible with my new CHRIS KING headset! w00t. If I didn't have access to this tool, then I would take a file to the crown race seat... a laborious and imprecise method. However, the file method will work, and I suggest using a retaining fluid with this method to keep the crown race seated.

The HTR-1 is another $400 tool that will allow me to face the top and bottom surfaces of the head tube in order to make each surface planar and in parallel. Supposedly Chris King headsets require that this is done, and I will be cautious and follow their suggestion as I have already repaired the dented head tube. I cannot think of a way to make a tool that can do this accurately.

Alright, enough of this pro-tool business. These tools are not necessities for the home mechanic, and are rarely used even in the shop.  If you are doing a fresh build or have a damaged frame and need cutting services done, I highly suggest getting them done professionally for personal economic reasons.

Upcoming Goodness

But I don't think I'll be able to make it...

Rear Rack Bike Hack

Made it on another post at Bike Hacks again. This time an anti-theft hack for travelling with bikes on the back of a vehicle.

I go where I'm thread.

Somehow, I think I knew this day would come. I do not believe it was by chance that I purchased a die handle and a 1" 24tpi die off of ebay a few months ago. I used them today to extend threads on my new fork for the Rockfish F-1 BMX.  The fork had 1.5" of threads already cut, but I had to extend them another 1.75" to make it compatible with my head tube. Park Tool's article on thread cutting was really helpful.

Fork prior to cutting more threads. I threaded down into the black painted area.

My awesome die handle.

1" steerer x 24tpi

Thread shavings. Clear these by spinning 1/8 turn backward every 1/2 turn.

First pass, super oiled up. Copious amounts of lube required.

First pass.

Second pass.

Third pass, all clean and all done!

All in all, it probably took me an hour of work and a lot of arm strength. I had to make several passes with the die set at slightly different diameters. During the first pass, the die is set quite open. The die is closed a little with each following pass to cut the threads a little at a time. I used almost all of my chain lube in the process.

The title of this post is a play on a lyric in a Silver Jews song - Pet Politics.

Applications for Best Friend Being Accepted...

Sole Qualification:
Don't tell my wife which piece of furniture I used to spread the Rockfish dropouts to fit the Sachs 3x7 wheel.

Yipeeeee!

Having a hobby that allows me to get cool toys in the mail is great! It's exciting like Christmas was when I was a little kid.  I want to give a special thanks to Brian over at http://kmxtornado.blogspot.com/ - he sold me his old Sachs 3x7 hub laced to a 20" wheel! It used to be on his tadpole trike recumbent... but no longer! It is mine:

Three gears internally and 7 on the cassette. Laced to a 406mm 20" wheel.

The OLD (Outside Locknut Dimension) on this bad boy is 135mm. My Rockfish F-1 BMX frame has dropouts spaced at 126mm, so I'll need to coldset the frame a bit. I gave it a quick shot today, but didn't get too far without the right tools. Additionally, it didn't help that the seat stay and chain stay bridges are so close to the dropouts on this 20" wheel frame. Between that and the solid construction of the frame, I only managed to squeeze out a few millimeters in spacing on attempt one.

Spreading the frame slowly, with a garden tool.

Not super successful, as you may be able to tell from the caliper reading.

I'll try spreading the frame again later this week with a less flexible lever- most likely a 2x4. I'm hoping that it will not be too apparent on the seat stays after all is said and done. Only 7mm to go!

I've been looking high and low for one of these things. I've seen them on eBay, but usually incomplete, at scary prices, and on wheel sizes I can't use. I'm glad I finally found a complete one on an appropriate wheel size. It was worth the money. The next big task is finding a suitable fork for that Rockfish...

These mechanical pursuits are a great break from the job hunting, here in Dallas, TX.

Recently Awarded...

So back in June there was a great cycling party in Charlottesville, to support Double the Wheels. The point of the party was to bring non-cyclists and show them how cool the cycling community in C-ville is. Turns out, it was pretty hard to find someone I knew that was a non-cyclist. All of those I asked to attend were busy or out of town. Too bad! They missed a great party with DJ WesternFront, the unveiling of Squid Logistics, and beer brewed in Richmond, VA at Legend Brewery.

But most importantly, there were some cycling superlatives for the local cycling community... and I won... most die-hard bicycle commuter! Check out my sick bling and super moves:

Photo stolen from Chris's facebook.

Now THAT'S a title I know you're jealous of!

Free Cassette Spacer featured on Bike Hacks!

Recently submitted a post to Bike Hacks... they published it today!

Flywheels on Bikes?!

Flywheel technology being tested on bikes for more efficient automotive transit:

Max says it himself, the goal isn't to redesign the bike, but to use it as a testing ground for flywheels on automotive vehicles.

Remember, the folks that brought you powered flight were bicycle mechanics.

"Shotgun Wedding"

...that was the name I gave to the New Belgium Saison clone at my wedding last week. It went quickly and was hands down the favorite of the crowd, due to all that orange peel, cardamom and coriander! Definitely wish I had brewed more of it, though I'm sure I'll brew it again once relocated to Dallas with an all-grain setup. I named the Fat Tire Amber clone "26 x 2.95" for all those bike nerds that attended. That clone definitely had some off-flavors, but was still enjoyable. Matt said we had an airlock malfunction with that one, apparently because the Better Bottles aren't rigid enough to prevent airlock water from getting sucked into the fermenter when they're moved. It's definitely the small things that can make or break a beer.

Bride, Brewer & Beers

The beer was very successful, so a big thanks to Matt Lockaby for the brewing equipment, brewing help, and showing up to set up the dispensing! I need to also thank a good & crazy friend of mine, Charles Locke. He piloted our post-ceremony bicycle rickshaw ride!

Look at the creepster in the car taking pictures of us!

That rickshaw ride was great. Charles and I used to work for Happy Rickshaw together and wrench side by side over at Charlottesville Community Bikes. Well, the Rickshaw fleet in Charlottesville was slowing down and was eventually sold to a group in Delaware, so Charles ended up buying a bike shop (Syklo) from Ken Margolius. Charles closed doors about a year later, and instead joined Will Canup in a local bike rickshawing venture. Oh, hey, Will, are you going to be back in town soon so we can do another beer tasting with my sick new glassware?! (Check out Will's blog from Italy: romestrong)

So needless to say, I've been busy. I'm hoping to actually start working on the Rockfish F-1 BMX in a meaningful way before the end of the year. I've been giving it some serious thought, and I've determined I need a Sachs 3x7 hub on the back. Yep, that's three gears internally and seven externally. Unfortunately, they're going for top dollar on eBay these days...

Currently drinking a Saranac Summer Ale out of a new Lenox Brandy glass!

Confessions of a Pedalphile

Great short film that just won Best Film and Audience Choice at the Bikesploitation Bike and Film Fest:

Ah, Guinness.

There are some people in my life that try to tell me Guinness is a great stout. In my opnion, it's probably the lightest stout I've ever had. And, if it's really so awesome, how come the Queen of England won't drink it, even when given the perfect pour by the Brewmaster?



But in all honesty, English royalty are just stuffy & antiquated snobs, well-deserving to be robbed of their riches and titles.

The Wettest Commute

With all of the Bike Blogs abuzz with Bike Week events, I thought I'd share some personal wet weather tips and things to think about for Bike to Work Day, this Friday May 20th. It surely looks like it'll be a soggy one here in central Virginia, and these tips might help you prepare if you're going to give it a shot. I followed most of these tips today, which was certainly my wettest work commute in recent history.

The Bike & Wet Weather

• Fenders and mudflaps prevent water & mud from being flicked up at you while riding in rain... or if there's still water on your path from a recent downpour. Check out Bike Hacks to make some DIY fenders.
• Lube it up! Apply a bicycle-specific lubricant to the chain and cables prior and after wet weather. I have to admit, I don't do this enough, but it certainly helps to prevent rust and premature wear. Be sure to wipe away all excess lube after application though, as otherwise it will collect a lot of gunky dirt.
• Do you have to lock your bike outside in the rain?  Cover your saddle with a plastic bag (or two). It'll save you from a really soggy ride home.
• Be prepared for bad braking, especially on bikes with rim brakes. This means riding a bit slower to compensate for increase stopping distance. Today I was shocked at how poorly my rim brakes responded. I'm looking into purchasing some wet-weather brake pads.
• Any lines painted on the road will be super slick. Avoid hard acceleration, braking, or turning on these painted sections. 
• A waterproof bag or pannier set goes a long way to transport your dry clothes, lunch & electronics. Additionally, I highly suggest using a small sealing sandwich bag for your wallet and electronics if there's a chance you'll get soaked.
• Turn your bike lights on! Visibility for all road users is pretty poor in wet weather, so have all of your lights on. Today I had four lights on: two solid front white lights, one rear red blinking, and one rear red solid. Sometimes in really poor visibility conditions (heavy rain/snow/fog) I'll turn one front light to blink mode.

 You & Wet Weather

• Still on the subject of visibility... wear your brightest jersey or rain jacket! As a vehicular cyclist, you should be maximizing your visibility to other road users also suffering from increased stopping distances and less than normal tire traction.
• I'm a big proponent of eye protection on the bike, especially in wet weather. If it's raining, snowing or hailing, I usually wear a pair of clear shop safety glasses to allow me to keep my head up to scan the road while preventing stinging eyes. Take it from me, it really helps at 20mph. However, you will likely have to deal with them fogging up from your breath, especially as you come to a stop. My suggestion is to slip them further down the nose to get cooler air across them. Chris has recommended an old scuba diving trick: spitting on them. I'll try that before I leave work today.
• You're gunna get wet. There's no way around it, but there are some good ways to limit it and it works to have a plan to deal with it. Depending on your job, you may have to come up with your own methods. Here's what I do:
• Waterproof cycling pants on top of shorts.
• Waterproof rain jacket... or if it's too warm for a jacket, I wear a bright jersey and bring a dry towel in the panniers. Be sure to bring a shirt to change into.
• Waterproof trail shoes - I wear Merrel's Moab, which are lined with Gore-Tex. I also have a pair of dry shoes I keep at work to change into when I arrive.
• Bring an extra pair of socks.
• Most cycling gloves will get soaked, but that's okay for me. I prefer to have wet gloves that keep my hands warm and my grip solid than ride without them. We have an industrial dryer at work that I run them through when I arrive, so I'm okay on that front.
• Have a plan for your wet gear at work. If possible, shake/wring them out, hang them up, and point a fan at them. If you do that, they'll be dry in no time. If your workplace happens to have a clothes dryer though, you're golden.
• Be prepared to shock your coworkers. Yeah, your balls are that big.

That's a lot to think about, but all of those things in conjunction really help me out. These preparations make my rainy commutes some of my favorite.

Brewing Daze

Finished up brewing the beer for the wedding with Matt yesterday. We did a 10 gallon New Belgium Fat Tire clone. Ended up a wee bit on the light side as far as original gravity is concerned. We were aiming for 1.051 and I think the final was around 1.046. It's still beer. I snapped some photos:

Rode my bike over - heating up the strike water.

Hauled a propane tank in the trailer. A bit wobbly on them hills! Note the DC sticker.

21 lbs. of grains and some Target, Williamette and Kent Golding hops.

Mashing the grains in the strike water.

Sparging into the brew kettle. It was raining at this point... Hard Slick got us covered.

The sun came back out eventually. Starting the boil.

Wort is just about boiling with c-clamped hop bag.

Cooling the wort via plate chiller, right into the fermenter.

Matt racking the Saison from two weeks ago. The yeast cake smelled so spicy!

The Saison in secondary.