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location Minnesota, USA
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visits member for 1 year, 11 months
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Old, tired, crazy.


Sep
20
comment Cruiser bottom bracket is clicking and grinding
It may be a poor solution, but there ain't a better one, short of replacing the arm. You can't effectively grind the arm surfaces and grinding the (probably still flat) spindle ends to fit a damaged arm is just silly. And a properly tightened square crank set will last indefinitely -- it's only when the arms are allowed to work loose that you have trouble. (You obviously never had to deal with cottered cranks -- now THERE was a mess.)
Sep
20
comment Are runners allowed to use the bike lane?
Just yell "On your left" and go around him. The guy should move over to give you clear passage if given proper warning. (Ringing a bell does little good, though probably a Harpo Marx horn might work.)
Sep
19
comment Is it Shimaro or Shimanno?
Yep, it's an old, old trick to produce products under a name that looks like (and in some languages sounds like) the "real thing". Don't deal with anyone selling "Shimaro" or "Shimanno" parts, unless you fully understand that you're getting counterfeit parts.
Sep
19
answered How to store bicycles outside during winter
Sep
19
comment Cruiser bottom bracket is clicking and grinding
You can also fashion shims from beer cans. The AL in beer cans is tapered -- thicker in some places than others -- so you can cut a piece that offsets the rounding over of the crank arm.
Sep
19
comment Eliminating chainslap on a 90's Stumpjumper
Well first, obviously, make sure the chain's not too long. But I remember having a bad chain slap problem with my old Nishiki after the airline trashed the Suntour triple derailer and I was using a Shimano long frame. Eventually went to a Huret Duopar and the problem (and others) went away. But those options are no longer available.
Sep
18
comment How to make the most out of daily commute?
When I was commuting regularly I preferred to get up early and put in a long ride in the morning, then straight home. Turned a 20 mile commute into 35-40.
Sep
17
comment For a slightly warped wheel, is it worth getting it repaired?
The hard part is working out a low spot in the rim. Minor low spots can be fixed by adjusting the spokes, but you really have to work at it. For major low spots you need a sort of jack (a piece of threaded rod with two nuts and washers, and pieces of wood at each end to bear on the rim and hub) to push out the low spot. High spots are a little easier, but you run the risk of creating low spots on either side of the high spot if you don't go at it gradually.
Sep
17
comment Can a front wheel have a different number of bearings on each side?
It may be new to you, but it's old mechanic's wisdom -- been a rule since the Model T, probably. Of course, it depends on the tolerances involved -- with many bearings it's probably the case that the "full" ball won't quite fit when races and balls are new, but will after some use, so the rule tends to work when rebuilding.
Sep
16
comment How do I clean chain grease off my clothes?
@Kibbee -- Yep, the best way to keep the grease off your fancy work clothes is to not wear them. Also avoids the problem of getting all sweaty in the clothes.
Sep
16
answered Practical benefits of expensive jockey wheels?
Sep
16
answered What are the risks of untrued wheels?
Sep
16
comment How do I clean chain grease off my clothes?
Yep, pants clips/straps can work wonders. Or you can even wear a sort of gaiter that protects the pant leg.
Sep
16
comment How do I clean chain grease off my clothes?
You shouldn't -- chain grease is quite stylish.
Sep
15
answered For a slightly warped wheel, is it worth getting it repaired?
Sep
15
revised How to estimate how long a tour will take? (UK to Greece)
Added request to explain calculations
Sep
15
comment Why don't bikes by auto manufacturers make it into bike shops or onto the streets?
Actually, while the HD bikes I've seen appear to be just standard bikes with a paint job (and really not marked up over 2x), the one JD bike I saw appeared to have had some modestly significant engineering in it (though I can't recall the details, and it was nothing that would make me want to buy it). But again it was only marked up 2-3x over a good quality bike of similar style. But I think in both cases the buyer knows he's just getting a "name", but gets a kick out of that, the same way bikers put their kids in HD onesies.
Sep
15
answered How do I know if my cone/cap/bearings need to be adjusted?
Sep
14
comment Where to find bolts for an old Raleigh Bicycle?
This is the closest image I can find to the bolt I remember, though there wasn't (using 30-odd-year-old-memories) the extra shoulder, and one end was significantly shorter than the other.
Sep
14
answered Can a steel fork be unbent?