Some stupid newbie questions

Pete Derkowski said:

Hi all,

Although I've riden a 10 speed all over heck and back as a teenager, I
haven't done much riding since, so 50 I've decided to get back into riding
again (I used to love just taking off and ending up somewhere else, on roads
I'd never been down - I'd ride all day over the summer vacations).

So I checked out a lot of bikes and due to an end of season sale :-) , and
wanting something a bit more relaxed fitting than an actual racing position,
I ended up with a 2006 Trek Pilot 2.1 with s.p.a. (a single shock absorber
on the seat stay). I wasn't actually looking for a spa, but that's what
the place had, and they took $300 off the price, so there ya go. I traded
down on the pedals - it comes with clipless, and since I'm not that serious
of a rider yet, and didn't wanna buy special shoes, so I got clip pedals,
and added Crane Creek cross-top brake levers, a large Topeak large wedge
bag, a cable type combo lock for those rare times I'll leave the bike
unattended for 5 mins to grab a drink, and a computer (forget the name, it's
wireless but does not do cadence) and bought a couple of camelback bottles
last nite. 122 miles so far on it ( I only get to ride a couple of times a
week - farthest was a 32 mile ride a week ago).

Being a newbie to all this new technology, I have some Qs. I don't know a
lot of web sites yet (just started to look at Sheldon Browns last night, so
maybe he has some answers, not sure yet).

Things like...

In buying tubes - I have 700 x 25 tires, so I take 700 x 18-25 tubes... I
found they come with either long preston valves (60 mm) or regular length
preston valves... what is the difference??? I bought 2 Continental tubes
last nite from Nashbar (another Q - whad'ya think of Nashbar? good place to
shop?) of the long valve variety (had my first flat y'day, so figured I'd
stock up). I can't figure out why a long valve stem would be better than
a regular length one. I went back/forth for like a half hr before I figured
I'd better get the same as the bike came with, so I got the long ones.

Valve lengtth varies because depth of the rims vary. You need enough
valve protruding so you can get a pump on it. Too long is no big deal,
too short can be. 3 common lengths, 36mm, 48,, and 60mm...use any that
stick thru far enough.

Quoted message said:

I have Shimano 105 shifters, and it says "Flightdeck" on them. I thought
this was just a name Shimano gave them since they combine shifters and
brakes... but in another entry in this newsgroup, people are talking about
their 'flightdeck' as in their computer. So now I'm thinking - ? Is
there some computer that works with my 'flightdeck' shifter/brake combo? Or
are computers just also called 'flighdecks' and Shimano named their shifters
that to be cool. ??

'Flightdeck' is indeed a shimano produced computer where you can access
contriols of the computer via the wee bumps on the shift levers-see
them? Wires and such installed into the levers by yer local bike shop,
computer head on the handlebars and sensor on the front wheel for
speed...essentially wireless.. Neat system, albeit pretty expensive
answer to a simple question of bike speedometer/computer.

Quoted message said:

I've had tons of stupid Qs like this over the last month, but for some
reason I can't think of them right now - these are the 2 most recent.

Appreciate any answers you give - things like the above might be common
knowledge for many, but for a newbie, it can get a bit confusing.

NO stupid questions, just sometimes stupid answers-

Quoted message said:

Pete (think I'll get myself to a store and buy a patch kit or tube today and
get the bike back on the road - its gonna 2 weeks for Nashbar's stuff to
come in)

Pete Derkowski said:

In buying tubes - I have 700 x 25 tires, so I take 700 x 18-25 tubes... I
found they come with either long preston

Presta. These valves have never been Mounties.

Quoted message said:

valves (60 mm) or regular length
preston valves... what is the difference???

The longer ones are used with deep-vee "aero" rims, which were not
standard equipment on the Pilot 2.1; your wheels will probably work
quite well with the standard-length Prestas, but the long ones may be
easier to deal with in some instances.

Quoted message said:

I bought 2 Continental tubes
last nite from Nashbar (another Q - whad'ya think of Nashbar? good place to
shop?)

I'd say that there are more Nashbar customers using this group than
folks who have never spent a dime with that outfit. Their house-brand
items can be spotty, but their warranty is good.

Quoted message said:

of the long valve variety (had my first flat y'day, so figured I'd
stock up). I can't figure out why a long valve stem would be better than
a regular length one. I went back/forth for like a half hr before I figured
I'd better get the same as the bike came with, so I got the long ones.

If the stem is too short to easily install the chuck for the air pump,
you'll wish you had the long stem. Some wheels are designed in such a
way that the longest stems are barely enough to get past the wall of
the rim; in that instance, it becomes painfully obvious that a short
stem is not going to allow the tire to get pumped up. With a regular
rim, the long stem can still be a nice thing; it reduces the need to
mash in on the tire to keep the stem protruding while fiddling with
the pump's chuck with the other hand.

Quoted message said:

I have Shimano 105 shifters, and it says "Flightdeck" on them. I thought
this was just a name Shimano gave them since they combine shifters and
brakes... but in another entry in this newsgroup, people are talking about
their 'flightdeck' as in their computer. So now I'm thinking - ? Is
there some computer that works with my 'flightdeck' shifter/brake combo? Or
are computers just also called 'flighdecks' and Shimano named their shifters
that to be cool. ??

The Flightdeck is a fancy computer that can connect to the compatible
shifters to directly determine which gear has been selected. Billions
of miles of road have been ridden by cyclists who had no computer of
any kind. Such accessories are hardly essential...but easily sold to
certain groups.

Quoted message said:

I've had tons of stupid Qs like this over the last month, but for some
reason I can't think of them right now - these are the 2 most recent.

There is a corollary to Murphy's Law which covers this phenomenon, but
I can't think of what it is at the moment.

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 12:59pm (EDT+4)
From: [email hidden] (Pete Derkowski)

Congrats on your purchase and your "rebirth". As to your "Q's"...

Quoted message said:

In buying tubes - I have 700 x 25 tires,
so I take 700 x 18-25 tubes... I found
they come with either long preston
valves (60 mm) or regular length preston
valves... what is the difference???

The extra long "Presta" valves are to accomodate the super aerodynamic
rims (the ones that look like those plastic "flying ring " toys) the
extra length is necessary so the valve will stick out enough so the tire
can be pumped up.

Quoted message said:

I have Shimano 105 shifters, and it says
"Flightdeck" on them.

The "FlighDeck" shifters are designed to work with the "FlightDeck"
computer, when hooked together, the computer will display which cog and
sprockets are being used. A gimmick, IMO.

BTW, I use Nashbar all the time when I need something that my LBS
doesn't have or can't get. the stuff they sell is the same.

- -
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Chris Y.F.N.W. said:

The "FlighDeck" shifters are designed to work with the "FlightDeck"
computer, when hooked together, the computer will display which cog and
sprockets are being used. A gimmick, IMO.

That's what I always thought as well. I have enough gadgets on my bikes
already.