Update on my winter bike

Preston Crawford said:

I'm very happy, though. Especially knowing that out of the
box it has stronger wheels than I'm used to having on bikes in the past,
so I not only may have my mud problem under control, but I found a great
shop with a helpful owner and a great bunch of guys *AND* I have 36 spoke
wheels with good hubs, so I shouldn't have to do the inevitable $200 wheel
purchase that I've had to do with my last 2 road bikes.

It may be worth having the spoke tension checked if these are machine built
wheels. Proper tension and stress relieving are the keys to a durable wheel.

Quoted message said:

Also, in terms of sizing, a couple questioned the size 55 the owner put me
on. I got ahold of my old fitting and according to the sheet my inseam is
80.5cm. So going by the standard I've seen out there (inseam * .67) I get
a size 54cm. So it looks like indeed I'm much closer to a 55 than a 58.

80.5cm is 31.7 inches. That's a very short inseam for a 6'1" person, which
means your torso much be extra long. As far as relating "frame size" to
inseam, there are a couple of problems. For one thing, maufacturers have at
least three ways of specifying seat tube length. And for another, seat tube
length isn't the most important criteria for bike fit.

The main thing is that you feel comfortable on the bike, and it sounds like
you are. Good luck with the new bike.

Art Harris

Arthur Harris said:

Quoted message said:

wheels with good hubs, so I shouldn't have to do the inevitable $200 wheel
purchase that I've had to do with my last 2 road bikes.

It may be worth having the spoke tension checked if these are machine built
wheels. Proper tension and stress relieving are the keys to a durable wheel.

Oh, totally. They said to bring it in after a few rides to have the
tension checked. And they do the standard 500 miles or a month tune-up, so
I'll be sure to get that checked.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, in terms of sizing, a couple questioned the size 55 the owner put me
on. I got ahold of my old fitting and according to the sheet my inseam is
80.5cm. So going by the standard I've seen out there (inseam * .67) I get
a size 54cm. So it looks like indeed I'm much closer to a 55 than a 58.

80.5cm is 31.7 inches. That's a very short inseam for a 6'1" person, which
means your torso much be extra long. As far as relating "frame size" to

It's pretty long, definitely. Even though I'm much skinnier than I used
to be, I still have to buy 2xT or 3x shirts so they can actually be
tucked in. Plus I have nearly a size 8 melon. :-)

Quoted message said:

inseam, there are a couple of problems. For one thing, maufacturers have at
least three ways of specifying seat tube length. And for another, seat tube
length isn't the most important criteria for bike fit.

Of course not.

Quoted message said:

The main thing is that you feel comfortable on the bike, and it sounds like
you are. Good luck with the new bike.

Thanks.

Preston

Preston-<< Oh, totally. They said to bring it in after a few rides to have the
tension checked. And they do the standard 500 miles or a month tune-up, so
I'll be sure to get that checked. >><BR><BR>

I'm glad these gents at the bike shop are takin' care of ya but 'having the
tension checked' on a new wheel 'after a few rides' is not necessary on a well
built wheel. Spokes don't stretch, tension doesn't go down, nothing needs to be
'tightened'. I hear of so many bike shops even here in the 'republic' that say
this stuff. A sign of not knowing how to build/maintain wheels.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Quoted message said:

Preston-<< Oh, totally. They said to bring it in after a few rides to have the
tension checked. And they do the standard 500 miles or a month tune-up, so
I'll be sure to get that checked. >><BR><BR>

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

I'm glad these gents at the bike shop are takin' care of ya but 'having the
tension checked' on a new wheel 'after a few rides' is not necessary on a well
built wheel. Spokes don't stretch, tension doesn't go down, nothing needs to be
'tightened'. I hear of so many bike shops even here in the 'republic' that say
this stuff. A sign of not knowing how to build/maintain wheels.

Not just wheels.
Many LBS now indulge in "Ten Minute Assembly". Spin in the
pedals, air the tires and out the door. Oh, sure, with
"Three Free Tune Ups" so the few who actually ride the
machines have a small window of rework before the big
service tickets start.

We see every day machine-assembled bearings with almost no
lubricant, chewed up at a couple hundred miles. And yes,
the spokes are slack.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

A Muzi said:

Quoted message said:

Preston-<< Oh, totally. They said to bring it in after a few rides to have the
tension checked. And they do the standard 500 miles or a month tune-up, so
I'll be sure to get that checked. >><BR><BR>

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

I'm glad these gents at the bike shop are takin' care of ya but 'having the
tension checked' on a new wheel 'after a few rides' is not necessary on a well
built wheel. Spokes don't stretch, tension doesn't go down, nothing needs to be
'tightened'. I hear of so many bike shops even here in the 'republic' that say
this stuff. A sign of not knowing how to build/maintain wheels.

Not just wheels.
Many LBS now indulge in "Ten Minute Assembly". Spin in the
pedals, air the tires and out the door. Oh, sure, with
"Three Free Tune Ups" so the few who actually ride the
machines have a small window of rework before the big
service tickets start.

We see every day machine-assembled bearings with almost no
lubricant, chewed up at a couple hundred miles. And yes,
the spokes are slack.

Dear Andrew,

From what you and Peter are saying as experienced dealers,
it sounds as if a lot of people who are buying bicycles from
many local bike shops are getting not much more than is
predicted from Walmart.

That is, you seem to be saying that many bikes arrive from
the factory in bad shape and roll out the door in the same
state.

(You mention bearing problems. Would using cartridge
bearings all around fix this? Is there another big problem
with the bikes that you see?)

Do most of the more expensive bikes sold by local bike shops
really arrive so badly assembled that they need lots of
work?

Or is it just that a few of these more expensive bikes did
need preparation, but they didn't get it at another local
bike shop, broke down, and now are the basket cases that
stick in your mind?

Or what?

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Preston-<< Oh, totally. They said to bring it in after a few rides to have the
tension checked. And they do the standard 500 miles or a month tune-up, so
I'll be sure to get that checked.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

I'm glad these gents at the bike shop are takin' care of ya but 'having the
tension checked' on a new wheel 'after a few rides' is not necessary on a well
built wheel. Spokes don't stretch, tension doesn't go down, nothing needs to be
'tightened'. I hear of so many bike shops even here in the 'republic' that say
this stuff. A sign of not knowing how to build/maintain wheels.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:
Not just wheels.
Many LBS now indulge in "Ten Minute Assembly". Spin in the
pedals, air the tires and out the door. Oh, sure, with
"Three Free Tune Ups" so the few who actually ride the
machines have a small window of rework before the big
service tickets start.
We see every day machine-assembled bearings with almost no
lubricant, chewed up at a couple hundred miles. And yes,
the spokes are slack.

Quoted message said:

From what you and Peter are saying as experienced dealers,
it sounds as if a lot of people who are buying bicycles from
many local bike shops are getting not much more than is
predicted from Walmart.

-snip-

Quoted message said:

(You mention bearing problems. Would using cartridge
bearings all around fix this? Is there another big problem
with the bikes that you see?)

Do most of the more expensive bikes sold by local bike shops
really arrive so badly assembled that they need lots of
work?

Or is it just that a few of these more expensive bikes did
need preparation, but they didn't get it at another local
bike shop, broke down, and now are the basket cases that
stick in your mind?

I change flats all day long. At least half the axles are
noticeably rough or loose. And on from there.

We stil open every bearing on every bike and every
replacement wheel, fil with grease and lock. I know 2 other
shops that do. I know dozens that don't.

Cartridge bearings are also frequently only oiled and have a
difficult time getting past the first wet ride. They are not
in themselves an answer:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/photosfromthepast/STBBRUST.JPG

"Need lots of work?" What is _that_ standard? As with the
concurrent XMart/Schwinn thread, rider didn't object until
the chain failed. All else was suitable, apparently. So
what bothers a disinterested tire changer may not bother the
guy pushing the thing virtually uphill all day I suppose.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 21:35:03 -0600, A Muzi
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

From what you and Peter are saying as experienced dealers,
it sounds as if a lot of people who are buying bicycles from
many local bike shops are getting not much more than is
predicted from Walmart.

-snip-

Quoted message said:

(You mention bearing problems. Would using cartridge
bearings all around fix this? Is there another big problem
with the bikes that you see?)

Do most of the more expensive bikes sold by local bike shops
really arrive so badly assembled that they need lots of
work?

Or is it just that a few of these more expensive bikes did
need preparation, but they didn't get it at another local
bike shop, broke down, and now are the basket cases that
stick in your mind?

I change flats all day long. At least half the axles are
noticeably rough or loose. And on from there.

[snip]

[snip]

Dear Andrew,

Good God! I hope that I'm misunderstanding you.

Are these flats on brand new bikes that you've just received
from the factory? Not low tire pressure, but flats that need
new tubes or patching?

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

From what you and Peter are saying as experienced dealers,
it sounds as if a lot of people who are buying bicycles from
many local bike shops are getting not much more than is
predicted from Walmart.

-snip-

(am)>>I change flats all day long. At least half the axles are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

noticeably rough or loose. And on from there.

-blah blah-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Good God! I hope that I'm misunderstanding you.
Are these flats on brand new bikes that you've just received
from the factory? Not low tire pressure, but flats that need
new tubes or patching?

Perhaps I was unclear. I'm talking about the general
mechanical condition of bikes I work on, mostly changing
tires. We maintain and upgrade premium quality bicycles of
course. But like any shop, the bulk of service is changing
flats and other small repairs to very average bikes.

Flats are from glass, poster staples, torn valve stems. I
meant just the general run of bicycles that show up at my
door. Everything in the neighborhood. Many commuters seem
able to endure all kinds of deterioration and broken
equipment until the thing just won't move.

Yes, there'a a wide range of age and style. The typical
urban commuting bike is just a few years old and sold for
less than $300, 700-38 and 26x1.95 mixed. Your Fury would
fit right in.

Anyway, since I remove wheels a lot, I notice that few hubs
are adjusted or lubricated properly. Any other mechanics
out there? This isn't news.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Carl writes-<< From what you and Peter are saying as experienced dealers,
it sounds as if a lot of people who are buying bicycles from
many local bike shops are getting not much more than is
predicted from Walmart. >><BR><BR>

I say, that is correct. Some bike shops do a good job of assembly. Essentially
taking the bicycle apart and reassembling it corrctly, with grease added,
adjustments made, wheels trued, tensioned, rounded, dished and stress relieved.
Smart service managers see that in the long run, this extra time up front saves
time and $ later on. AND makes for a happy customer.

I have seldom seen bicycles arrive from any factory assembled well. I have
seen few bicycles from mailorder assembled well. I have seen lots of bicycles
from so-called 'pro shops' assembled poorly.

As for cartridge bearings, they can be over tight and dry as well. Any bike
shop worth it's salt will take the little seals off any cart bearing and add
grease.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Carl writes-<< From what you and Peter are saying as

experienced dealers,

Quoted message said:

it sounds as if a lot of people who are buying bicycles from
many local bike shops are getting not much more than is
predicted from Walmart. >><BR><BR>

I say, that is correct. Some bike shops do a good job of

assembly. Essentially

Quoted message said:

taking the bicycle apart and reassembling it corrctly, with

grease added,

Quoted message said:

adjustments made, wheels trued, tensioned, rounded, dished and

stress relieved.

Quoted message said:

Smart service managers see that in the long run, this extra

time up front saves

Quoted message said:

time and $ later on. AND makes for a happy customer.

I have seldom seen bicycles arrive from any factory assembled

well. I have

Quoted message said:

seen few bicycles from mailorder assembled well. I have seen

lots of bicycles

Quoted message said:

from so-called 'pro shops' assembled poorly.

As for cartridge bearings, they can be over tight and dry as

well. Any bike

Quoted message said:

shop worth it's salt will take the little seals off any cart

bearing and add

Quoted message said:

grease.

Are you adding grease to new cartridge bottom brackets? -- Jay
Beattie.