HubBub Custom Bicycles

Chains - A Discussion

Every so often, a topic gets going in an email exchange and has enough "meat" in it to share as interesting with others.  Greg Priddy, cyclist, soundman, and the other voice on The Outspoken Cyclist had a question about the "wear" on his Shimano chain and started a "conversation" with Brian.  I give you, in its entirety, that discussion - enjoy!

Hi Brian,

The chain was elongated by 1/2 link over the entire length, as compared to a new chain. That equates to 0.75% on my chain gauge, which is an earlier version of this: http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-wear-indicator-CC-3-2. Mine measures 0.75 and 1.0. The newest model measures 0.5 and 0.75. Maybe I need one of these, which gives a true measurement, rather than just a g0/no-go: http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-checker-cc-2.

I will bring the old chain to Diane on Thursday.

I grossly underestimated my miles on that bike for this year. It was actually 2,392, plus the roller miles from the winter.

The old chain was also an Ultegra, but it was a CN-6600, vs. the new one which is a CN-6701, hence the difference in appearance.

I examined the cable-end in the right shifter, and it looks fine, but I'll keep that in mind as something to check from time to time.

Thanks for the sage advice.

-Greg

__________________________________________

(From Brian to Greg)

A full half-a-link over the chain's length is roughly 0.45%, correct?
I'm estimating the number of links in your chain to be 112, and to
have the lengths differ by one-half link (change) over 112 links
(total)... or 0.25" (change) over 56" (total)...
That works out to be around 0.021" over 12", or a bit less than 1/32"
over a foot.

According to the old rule(s) about when to replace a chain - '1/16"
(0.063") over a foot' seems familiar - you still have some life left.
Relative to my experience with more modern drive-trains, this wear
seems reasonable for the distance you say you've ridden.  Although I
would have expected/hoped it to go further before having chatter
issues, I'm now far less surprised about the lifespan it seems to have
had.  Given that the old chain is apparently a 6600, it now seems
possible that it might have have been the original chain as well, and
possibly already had a few hundred miles as part of the original
demo-group.  This too would help to explain the wear and need for
replacement.

As far as tools go, as I tried to say earlier, almost any
length-change checking tool is okay - once you become familiar with
its idiosyncrasies and calibration (or lack of it).  Like any
measuring tool, inaccuracies can be used to your advantage once you
are aware of them.  These chain tools are notoriously inaccurate, but
most still do their jobs perfectly as long as the customer isn't
looking for numbers to trust blindly.

A common argument between old-timer frame-builders and the newbies is
about surface-plates.  Everyone wants perfection, and the newbies seem
to think that a perfect surface plate will help them build a frame
perfectly straight.  The first step to getting there (there being
APPROACHING perfection) of course is to understand that no surface is
perfectly flat, and the next step is to understand that the more
familiar you are with a surface's imperfections, the better you
account for them.  Indeed a skilled builder can use a badly warped
surface (or string for that matter) by simply understanding how,
where, and how much the surface is warped.  As usual, I digress.

My point is: ignore the numbers on your chain-measuring tools as
meaning something.  Start by putting a tool you like on a new chain.
Feel it, see it, try it over and over again, until you trust how a new
chain should fit in the tool.  Now you have a datum to compare to
later on when the chain wears and begins acting poorly.  Also try some
worn chains, some still performing properly and some not, and get an
idea about the point at which a Shimano 10-speed chain will measure in
your preferred tool just when it might begin under-performing.  Over
time (and chains) you'll know just when to expect it's time to change
them, based on performance, distance, conditions, and of course the
tool's reading (regardless of accuracy in the actual number).

Oddly, I have never used a Park chain-wear tool, although the ones I
remember from years past were most similar to the CC-2.  The CC-3.2 is
superior-but-similar-in-principle to the ProLink tool, which is
TERRIBLE because its calibration is so easy to knock out (think
Schrodinger's Cat paradox) and so difficult to correct.  I doubt the
CC-3.2 has this problem, but it does appear that it requires a certain
"feel", and probably is a bit too much of a go-no-go gauge.  Although
I like the old gauges I have, I still trust my steel rule.  That all
said... if the chain has significant mileage on it, and doesn't seem
to be performing properly... it gets replaced, regardless of what any
gauge or rule says.

good night,
Brian

(From Greg to Brian)

It is quite a topic.

My chain is only 105 links (I recounted the old one just to be sure), which makes the elongation 0.47%, but still not enough that I would expect engagement issues.

I understand what Brian is saying about knowing the imperfections of a tool or a fixture. However, it seems like there should be a more accurate way to measure chains than the options we have now. Maybe it's because the purpose-built tools are taking a sample over an insufficient length of chain? I wonder if a 12" digital caliper would do any better?

Of course, even if we can measure accurately, we still have to correlate that measurement to a real world decision on whether or no the chain needs replacing.

I do know that the first ride on a fresh chain is a beautiful thing. I could actually hear all the debris I was riding over on the bike lane because the drivetrain was so quiet.

Here's an interesting article (which is probably old hat to Brian, or at least the concepts are).

http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-004/000.html

The thing I found interesting is that most of the tools available include both roller-bushing wear and roller-pin wear, while only roller-pin wear is said to be significant.

That would mean that these tools are routinely overstating wear, which would explain why my Park CC-3 claimed 0.75%. Perhaps the conventional wisdom has been adjusted over time to recommend replacement at 0.75% as measured by commonly used tools, which equates to roughly 0.5% actual wear.

The Shimano tool seems to be one of the only ones that measures from the "same" side of the rollers, thus not adding roller-bushing wear.

After seeing a picture of it, I can definitely see how the Prolink tool with its big arc shape could easily be bent out of calibration.

 

 

 

 

Notes on the Heartland Velo Show & Madison, WI

29 August 2011

I’m sitting in the Milwaukee airport waiting for my flight to take me back to Cleveland.  Thought I’d noodle some notes about the weekend and what’s been on my mind as we approach the fall cycling season.

First thing, my computer screen is unbelievably filthy!  Geez- I thought I’d cleaned it recently, but evidently that “special cleaner” we picked up at Interbike last year is mediocre at best!  (Too lazy to get up and get something better to clean it though.)

So, I always wonder where ALL these people are coming from and going to when I sit at an airport.  People are reading, eating, sleeping, playing games on their “electronic toys”, and especially talking on their cell phones.  I can remember when none of these devices were in ready and commercial use – so, what DID we do?  Talk?  Read? Sleep?  Eat?  All of the above???

So, Madison, WI.  Let’s start there: it’s a nice clean place.  When there is an outdoor trash receptacle, there is also a recycling can next to it – I like that.  The roads LOOK really nice – in reality, they were pretty bumpy between Madison and Milwaukee – but then, we’re used to that in NE Ohio.

Madison is a COLLEGE TOWN – and I always forget how youthful that is – for the old residents as well as the students.  Having young people around makes one FEEL younger.  It’s a cycling town too – and that is evident by just looking around and seeing bikes either being ridden, locked up in front of stores and restaurants, and even on the back of taxi cabs..

Which brings us to the Heartland Velo Show.  I think for its first year, it was both well attended and well received.  I am trying NOT to compare is to NAHBS- because it is different.  The focus wasn’t totally on handmade – although there were quite a few of the Midwest builders in attendance – it was cycling – pure and simple.  Over the next month or so, we will be interviewing several of the attendees on TOC.

The seminar series was very interesting – the bicycle builder’s family tree, the history of Schwinn Paramount, a comprehensive fitting workshop and even the care and feeding of your wool cycling garments – were all fairly well attended.  My Sunday yoga class was FULL – we even ran out of mats.

The feeling of the show was “low key” – which I appreciated as I compare it to the frenetic pace of Interbike.  Even though I went back to the hotel tired at night, I wasn’t tired AND stressed out!  I will be talking more about the show on the air but wanted to state – in writing, how much I appreciate the effort that Bina Bilenky Trahan put into the event.  I find her an easy person with whom to work and she “gets it done”! 

So, they’re calling my flight and I’m ready to head home! Til next time… bye bye.

A Plain Dealer "Rant"

A call for "rants" was put out by the Cleveland Plain Dealer about bicyclists and drivers "sharing the road".  Here is my response:

A “rant” implies anger, outburst, and rage; discourse on the other hand, is about dialogue, conversation, and communication.  The real problem between the cyclist and the automobile is a misunderstanding about the rules of law. By law, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and thus entitled to use the roadways as such.  This includes obeying the laws – stopping at stop signs and red lights, yielding where appropriate, and the use of signaling when turning. It also includes being respectful as well as attentive.

As gas prices continue to inch up toward the $5 mark, more and more people are going to rethink their transportation alternatives.  When approached as transportation, a bicycle is efficient, non-polluting, and offers a healthy alternative to the rider and, in turn the employer. 

The real issue is the lack of safe infrastructure for bicyclists in NE Ohio (and elsewhere of course).  This is changing – access for cyclists as well as pedestrians and disabled is essential for a balanced and safe community.  Many bicycle lanes, paths, and other marked roadways are either in the works or being planned for the not-too-distant future.  As of now, many of these “bicycle routes” don’t go anywhere – they start and end in places people don’t want or more importantly NEED to go; rather they are landlocked recreational paths.

A cyclist who has good bicycle handling skills should have no trouble keeping up with the average speed in city traffic; in fact, many times the bicycle will be able to maintain higher speeds in congested, grid-locked traffic. 

For those who are new to on-road cycling, it is advisable to learn how to ride in traffic safely.  It IS unnerving to a driver to have a wobbling cyclist or one who weaves in and out of traffic. 

For the driver who is fraught with frustrations and upset, perhaps putting yourself on the seat of a bicycle will give you that sense of well-being and satisfaction that most bicyclists feel.  The actual amount of time that a driver might be “held back” due to a cyclist on the road is a lot less than you might think – usually seconds.  Perhaps leaving a few minutes early might give you time to relax instead of fret on your way to work?

Those who ride bicycles, for the most part, also own a car.  We work, raise our families, pay taxes, and yes, we ride bicycles.  We are not freaks, free-loaders, or asking for anything special.

Finally, as a note of history – many, if not most of the roads in the United States were originally paved to accommodate this new-fangled machine – the bicycle - around the turn of the 20^th century. 

So, SHOULD bicycles and cars share the road?  Yes and no.  One can always argue on whatever side one wishes. 

Diane Lees, producer and host – The Outspoken Cyclist on WJCU-88.7FM
Co-Owner, HubBub Custom Bicycles – Chesterland, OH
Tandem Rider

Urban Press Camp

The Outpsoken Cyclist (that would be me) was invited to Washington, D.C. to attend Urban Press Camp this past couple of days and I think it deserves a posting here.

Ramping up the the Bike Summit, Urban Press Camp was an opportunity for members of the press to speak with company representatives and see products as well as ride bicycles that are targeted at urban riding.  The event was held at the breathtakingly beautiful House of Sweden.  This building also houses the Swedish and Icelandic embassies.  They are about the "greenest" buildings I've ever seen - from the water dispenser that took water out of the air, to the recycled glass ware for drinking.

I even ran into people I haven't seen in years, including Larry Pizzi, who used to own a bike shop in Philadelphia.  He's now with Currie Technologies, the only electric bike company at Urban Press Camp.  The bikes were pretty sharp looking. (And I will be talking with Larry on The Outspoken Cyclist later in April).

Public Bike and well as Bcycle were the two "public systems" - sometimes called bike sharing - shown at the event.  Now in several cities around the world, Public Bike's Bixi system is probably the most well known in Montreal.  In speaking with each of the representatives of these companies, compelling reasons made it difficult not to see a bike sharing system work in every community.

I rode a Civia and a Breezer.  I liked the ride of the Civia better but loved the NuVinci shifting on the Breezer!  The little shifter "dude" is incredibly user friendly as he "climbs" a little visual hill or sees the road "flatten out" as you shift an inifintely variable system.  No clicking, no guessing, no noise.  The Civia had a 3 speed shifter and, while I remember riding a 3-speed as a teenager, I like a few more low gears!

So, it wasn't just bikes!  We not only saw some new products, but were given a gorgeous Osprey backpack, a new stainless steel Polar bottle (which is VERY cool), a Cateye Urban wireless computer, a pair of new Panaracer Urban tires, and a slick Gore Tex cycling beanie.  (I, of course, thinking I would be "miss minimalist" came to Press Camp with a teeny-tiny bag and suddenly had to figure out how to get all this stuff home!)

What I really came away with though is a huge commitment from the cycling industry to getting everyone on a bike.  It was a privilege to be invited and stay tuned to The Outspoken Cyclist in the coming weeks as many of these people will be my guest on the show.

New Year - New Ideas...

It’s been said that there is nothing new under the sun; and, while that might be true, it’s more likely that there are new versions of old ideas and we hope we are about to launch one.

When HubBub Custom Bicycles opened in February of 1997, our intention was to offer custom bicycles, bicycle repair, and the items that were mentioned in the book, The HubBub Guide to Cycling.  We sort of strayed away from that concept when we expanded our retail offerings – more accessories, apparel, footwear, and those things that make up the “full service bike shop”.  It seemed difficult to really “pare down” to the exact business model we really wanted. 

So, here were are, about to being our 14^th year, and we have come full circle… we are about to launch the custom only concept in what we hope will be a format that really showcases our expertise without the burden of hanging out in a full retail environment day in and day out – waiting for someone to “drop through the door”.  Now, before you say – “wow – that’s arrogant!” let me explain.

When someone wants to come in and talk about a custom bicycle, a component upgrade, or even a new pair of custom wheels, s/he is also talking about not only spending a lot of money but also putting their trust in us.  We want to be able to give our FULL ATTENTION to that person – without interruption.  (We have always tried to schedule repairs, so this isn’t much of a change.)

We did not come to this conclusion arbitrarily by the way.

 In the past 12-15 months, I would venture to say that 90% of the people who actually came to the shop – for any reason - did so AFTER a phone call asking if/when would be a good time to come in.  That doesn’t leave a lot of people who just walked through the door unexpectedly; but, it did leave a lot of hours that we needed to be here and WAIT for someone to come through the door; and, not be able to start projects that take a lot of concentration and time.  A custom single bike may take anywhere from 8-15 hours to build, including wheels, and when a promise of delivery is made, it’s frustrating to us and often a disappointment to the customer whose bike isn’t ready when expected. 

Our new idea is really an old idea that we are putting into practice in a new way – one-on-one customer service every day.  There will be a few exceptions during the week; we are required by many of our vendors to actually have open retail hours.  We will post them as we always have.   

So, we’re hoping to launch our new location in a few weeks; as with everything else, it takes twice as long as we expect to get the details in place.  We think you’ll like the results.  Stay tuned!

The HubBub Helmet Mirror

Wow - you should be impressed!  Two blog posts in two days... a new recent record for me.  This one, however, will be VERY short.  My friend and fellow-bicycle blogger Rick Vosper - Bike 2.0 - has taken my blog from yesterday and expanded on it.  And, even more cool than that, has had a lot of responses.

What is even mo' better is his reference to our helmet mirror which has FINALLY become a reality.

I told you this was going to be brief.  If you want one (or more) you can order them on line from our on line store.  So, that's the story... a happy ending to a long and tedious road.

 

 

 

Transportation Funding - KAPUT for cycling?

You know, almost every week on my radio show, The Outspoken Cyclist, we talk about bicyle (and often pedestrain) advocacy.  We also knew that the midterm elections were going to turn funding for bicycle/pedstrian projects into the proverbial whipping boy. Well, the news seems to get worse every day.

We lost Jim Oberstar, one of our staunchest advocates and head ot hte transportation committee, in a knee-jerk Republic reaction to anyone/thing Democrat and the AAA is railing against using any transportation trust money (of which the bicycle world receives $.015 (that would be a penny and a half) from every dollar - yet 59% of the AAA membership rides a bike and calls himself/herself a cyclist. 

Today, I received the following from the Seattle Pi blog - headline? More bad news for transit funding.

I've spoken with Jim Sayer from Adventure Cycling and Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie as well as Keith Laughlin from Rails-to-Trails and Tim Blumenthal from Bikes Belong and ALL of them think that we can get somewhere by getting back to the GRASS ROOTS advocacy - But, what IS grass roots advocacy?  Is it "guerilla advocacy"????  - Bicycle sit-ins? Protests on bridges and major thoroughfares? 

I think, as a whole, cyclists are pro cycling, pro democracy, pro taking care of each other, and for the most part, smart, educated, and caring. 

BUT REALLY, IS ANYONE LISTENING????

 

 

The Radio Show - Bicycling Today

Seems there is some speculation as to why I love doing my radio show from a Clear Channel AM station 75 miles from my house every week.  So, I thought I’d let you in on my thinking and how it’s going.

First, to listen to past shows, you can download any and all of the podcasts.  Each is 1 hour long and contains stuff that is perhaps a reason NOT to love AM talk radio – ads, weather, news, and sport.  BUT, I think that there is also a lot of cool stuff with very interesting people; so, just fast forward through the stuff you don’t like and listen!

Over the past 17 weeks, I’ve interviewed Richard Schwinn (yes THAT Schwinn) from Waterford Precision Cycles and Grant Petersen from Rivendell Bikes.  I’ve talked with PhD researchers for Parkinson’s disease research and Cerebral Palsy patients who put on a bike ride every year.  We’ve talked about Safe Routes to Schools and Junior Bicycle Racing in the U.S.  In fact, we’ve run the gamut from cartoons to training and the people who make it all happen.

So, the question remains – why would I prefer a conservative, AM talk radio station (owned by what some have termed the evil empire - Clear Channel - when perhaps the show might be better received and more widely circulated via non-commercial air time?

Here is the most compelling answer to me:   I get to talk to people who might NEVER have had an interest in cycling; but, because they regularly listen to this station, they are exposed to the show’s content.  And you know what?  It’s working!  I know that people are listening and talking about cycling because they are calling me and asking me questions about issues we raise on the show! 

Another really important reason is that THIS Clear Channel station came to me to host the show and has gotten behind it.  They assigned a great co-host – a veteran of radio and television – who has been both helpful and patient.  It has allowed me to learn the ropes while being in the trenches.  The engineers are patient and helpful in getting the guests, who mostly are on the phone with me, comfortable and ready to chat. 

We have two more shows for the 2010 season; Bicycling Today will go on hiatus after the August 30^th broadcast.  Perhaps with some luck and a few new sponsors, we will be back at 570WKBN in the spring. 

In the meantime, if you have comments, questions, or suggestions  about Bicycling Today – please don’t hesitate to make them.  If you like the show, please contact Larry Ward at Clear Channel.  He’s the one who needs to know! (larryward@clearnchannel.com)

Bike Fitting - Science or Art?

Is it Science or Is It Art?

Bicycle fitting is a science like medicine is a science - some things are always true - except when they aren't; some things are never true - except when they are; and then there's the reality - you’ve tried everything and still feel lousy. 

Let’s say you pay $250.00 for a bike fit - one of those laser, wobble, (sic) “retool” thingies that is “absolutely” going to be the answer to all your bike-fit issues.   You strap on your helmet, buckle up your shoes, grease up the tusch with butt butter, clip in, and shove off.

You go out and ride and find that you still have numb hands, pain in your feet, hips, knees, back, or neck, can't get any power out of the bike, and twenty miles is about all you can muster at any one time without feeling that you rode uphill against the wind the entire 20 miles with no air in your tires.

Your humbly trudge back to the shop and might be told any of a number of things from “you just have to get used to the new fit” to “you need to get stronger” to… whatever.  It’s NEVER the fault of the fit or the “professional trainer” person conducting it, right? You saw all the numbers, right?  

The “science” answer?  Maybe or…maybe not!

So, what if bicycle fitting is more like art with some science thrown in - and YOU are the subject of the canvas?  While your measurements might tell one story, the truth of who you are and what you need in a bike fit might be very different. 

For example, you broke your left collar bone ten years ago and it left you a bit lop-sided.  You might compensate for the difference by leaning right on your handlebars or shrugging your left shoulder up, or gripping the bars a certain way.  The result is pain in the middle of your upper back and numb fingers in your left hand.  (This is all theoretical now - or not) You tire after just a few miles and squirm around trying to get comfortable.  The inconsistency in your body leads to fit issues that lead to pain that lead to squirming that lead to… “Think I’ll take up golf!” 

You get the idea.  Any inconsistency in your body can lead to issues with your fit.  The “art” of bike fitting is knowing what to do with those inconsistencies to remedy the situation.  And that takes not just rote measurements, but an understanding of anatomy, physiology, bio-mechanics, and most importantly the delicate balance of a body perched upon a bicycle.

There isn’t a magic bullet in any of the “measuring” methods - they all give you accurate measurements; it’s what is done with that information, coupled with your feedback, and the knowledge and experience of the fitter that will make your experience on the bicycle exquisite or not.

A great cyclist once told me that being a great cyclist has a HUGE genetic component.  A great cyclist can ride just about anything (although prefers a great fit of course) and do well.  A great cyclist is also willing to put up with a lot - pain, discomfort, fatigue, and a lot more, to get across the finish line 1/10^th of a second faster than the rider chasing him.

The truth is that most of us just want to go out, ride long, ride hard, and come back feeling tired and happy.  You go take a shower, grab some food and a beer, and get up the next day ready to ride again.  If that is not your experience, it should be.

Stay tuned for more…

 

Cycling as Transportation - and more...!

Wooooo-weeee! The controversy!  The Associated Press article from April 14th talks of cycling's new BFF, Ray LaHood getting into trouble with the trucker's and manufacturer's associations for his "radical" views that cycling and walking might be as important to our country's transportation system as automobiles and trucks!  Oh noooooo, Mr. Bill!

Oh YES!  Mr. LaHood thinks we should have a voice and, I think we are incredibly lucky to have it be HIM!  Mr. LaHood is a cyclist, as is the rest of his family, and it's not just about transportation! 

The National Association of Manufacturers' blog entry "The Realities of the U.S. Economy," makes it perfectly clear - it's all about money! In other words, roads, bridges, and other projects that support the role of petroleum in every aspect of industry. 

It just doesn't seem to be a big stretch for me that we would address alternative transportation initiatives at the same time as we are building or re-building existing projects in and out of urban areas.

Bike paths that go nowhere - pedestrians who are not able to cross streets - disabled who cannot safely take care of themselves - and seniors who chose or are forced to give up their automobiles still having to depend upon someone else to "drive" them: seems to me these are real issues that deserve our attention.

We have an opportunity here - remember that it is easy to contact your legislators and let them know what you want.

Go to the League of American Bicyclists advocacy center type in your zip code and go at it!  Then go ride your bike, walk to the store, take public transportation when you can.  You CAN make a difference.

Oh, and listen to my radio show on 570 WKBN - Mondays at 6pm EDT. Click on the Bicycling Today link.  You can also download the weekly podcast - scroll down to Bicycling Today.  I discuss advocacy each week.