General Bike Thread (Desiderata, Questions, Pics)

[BoomDiggs]

Originally Posted by zippyh

It's such a minor effort to put grease on the threads, why wouldn't you?

For no other reason than to avoid running to the hardware store to buy the grease, and then having a tube of grease laying around that I will likely never use again.

 

[otc]

Originally Posted by BoomDiggs

For no other reason than to avoid running to the hardware store to buy the grease, and then having a tube of grease laying around that I will likely never use again.

You can use pretty much anything...you just don't want to put them on dry. Thicker is better so maybe not WD40 but you could put some canola oil or vaseline in there and it would be enough to stop it all from seizing.

I've used chain lube (probably boeshield T9 at the time) without issue on bikes...although I can think of worse things than having a tube of grease laying around. You don't even need bike specific grease...a tub of bearing grease from the hardware store would be fine.

 

[venessian]

Originally Posted by otc

I think getting a saddle that fits your form and adjusting it properly is key. You shouldn't really be riding on ********* in a normal saddle...you should be riding on your sit bones. Different models of seat have different widths/lengths/profiles and with the right adjustment you should be fine. Of course, from the number of people I see riding around on the lakefront with all sorts of abominations of bike fit (like the people who ride on top of bar ends that are turned facing inwards above the bars), I would imagine that most people who complain about issues don't care to put the effort into fit (since just getting a new stem or some riser bars should cost almost the same as some gigantor bar ends).
This. The importance of correct fit cannot be over-emphasized. Finding the correct saddle is really a task, but a necessary one. I tried various cut-out (not nose-less) saddles and personally found them very uncomfortable. Others love them. I think those nose-less saddles might work for always-upright positions (I see that various Police Depts use them), but I doubt they accomodate a variety of normal riding positions. I don't see rec or advanced road or mtb riders on them, and I don't really buy the hype when the people who ride 20,000 or 30,000 km/year, for a living, ride standard saddles that fit them. Armstrong's saddle is a model from ~30 years ago.

Originally Posted by BoomDiggs

That gives me a great reason to ride my bike to the hardware store to buy the grease, and then I'll have a tube of grease laying around that I will have on hand whenever I need it again.
FTFY.

 

[velobran]

Originally Posted by BoomDiggs

Do any of you guys use "no nose" or "split nose" seats? I hate the numbness associated with a ride and then I read this NY Times Article about these seats.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/science/28tier.html

This might be fine for putzing around on a cruiser, but try to take a hard corner with speed on a road bike without a saddle between your legs. You're going to lose, the ground will win.

This comes back every few years or so. People think those small thin saddles must do damage ... if you are sitting correctly on the saddle (seat bones supported) you should have have any issues. Also - move around a bit on the saddle and get off your ass to pedal every now and then.

 

[zippyh]

Out for a ride last weekend and watched a balloon landing.

 

[acidboy]

ok so this is the first time that happened to me and I was just wondering... I biked sunday morning for maybe around 35 miles mostly up mountain roads, and up till monday the sole of my left foot, the area below the smaller toes, was sore and was wondering what caused this. I usually keep my left foot straight when I freewheel so I don't know if my body weight was a factor, and I stuck with the crank's mid ring even during the climbs instead of taking it easy using the granny gear. the position of the cleats on the shoes are pretty much in the middle, fwiw. oh- I use shimano spd's.

 

[Sir Humphrey Appleby]

Originally Posted by acidboy

ok so this is the first time that happened to me and I was just wondering... I biked sunday morning for maybe around 35 miles mostly up mountain roads, and up till monday the sole of my left foot, the area below the smaller toes, was sore and was wondering what caused this. I usually keep my left foot straight when I freewheel so I don't know if my body weight was a factor, and I stuck with the crank's mid ring even during the climbs instead of taking it easy using the granny gear. the position of the cleats on the shoes are pretty much in the middle, fwiw. oh- I use shimano spd's.

Do you pull the pedals up or just push them down? If you push down on the pedals hard you can get a bit sore especially if you're not used to the pedals (that or I just learned not to do it).

 

[acidboy]

^ both, but lately I've been pedaling uphills with my heels down, fwiw, to put more power into it.

 

[Sir Humphrey Appleby]

Originally Posted by acidboy

^ both, but lately I've been pedaling uphills with my heels down, fwiw, to put more power into it.

I mean do you pull the pedals all the way round or just exert on the downstroke?

 

[acidboy]

all the way around

 

[SUPER K]

like you're trying to scrap mud off the bottom of your shoe.

Anybody remember those powercranks? Used to tear me up, but did force me to be efficient

 

[shibbel]

Ended up picking this up, and a cheap mountain bike (trek marlin) rather than spend all my $ on a hybrid. I added a Cateye comp, and Shimano SPD pedals.

 

[Minarchist]

Originally Posted by acidboy

ok so this is the first time that happened to me and I was just wondering... I biked sunday morning for maybe around 35 miles mostly up mountain roads, and up till monday the sole of my left foot, the area below the smaller toes, was sore and was wondering what caused this. I usually keep my left foot straight when I freewheel so I don't know if my body weight was a factor, and I stuck with the crank's mid ring even during the climbs instead of taking it easy using the granny gear. the position of the cleats on the shoes are pretty much in the middle, fwiw. oh- I use shimano spd's.
How well have you had the bike fitted? Have you ever done a full fitting, when you're riding for a computer and cameras to see if you have any knee-pull, steady pedal stroke, etc.? Is this a pretty common length of ride and level of exertion, or do you rarely push yourself this hard? Also, are these new shoes and/or cleats?

The answer to those will probably determine what is causing it, but you may have a bit of a lean either in your knee or on your foot that direction. The foot is easy to correct -- there are wedge-style spacers that can correct any pedal discrepancies left to right. The knee is more about concentration.

 

[Sir Humphrey Appleby]

Originally Posted by shibbel

Ended up picking this up, and a cheap mountain bike (trek marlin) rather than spend all my $ on a hybrid. I added a Cateye comp, and Shimano SPD pedals.

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/...fa/mvc-192.jpg

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/...fa/mvc-193.jpg

+1

 

[rdawson808]

oh for crying out loud...tried to change my pedals but my wrench that I'd used in the past wouldn't fit. Asked two friends to borrow theirs, but they forgot day after day. So I bought one. Seized? Crap. WD-40 and let them sit--no luck. And I stripped the spindle a little. Tried a hex wrench from the back with no luck either. Had to take it to the shop today and they had to keep it to disassemble the pedal. So I grabbed a bus most of the way home. Missed the second bus by seconds and had to walk a half mile home in my bike shoes. Ugh.

And the bike is making some atrocious noise when I"\\mm up out of the saddle. I thought it was just chain slap, but it seems way too loud and metallic sounding. And now it's happening starting to happen when I'm just starting from a full stop.

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