I did 16 miles this morning. I haven't cycled much this summer and it showed. I was slaughtered on the slopes of the Col du Sandy Ridge.

7/24/2010 5:14:02 PM

I put a shorter adjustable threadless stem on my Douglas, and holy shit did I see an improvement on my ride this morning. I was able to tuck into my core and power up some hills,
and not be nearly as fatigued as recently.

We did 50 miles in about 3 hours including a nice 1/2 hour stop at Weaver St. for refreshments.
When my friend and I got back, her cyclocomputer read 105 F! We still had some energy left to do power yoga in a/c.

7/24/2010 8:32:30 PM

damn this rain. i wanted to ride tonight since i did nothing yesterday! damn damn damn. i am considering upgrading rims. anyone ride carbon rims daily?

7/26/2010 7:59:08 PM

I may have relented and bought a part carbon frame, but I won't be riding carbon rims for awhile. Not till after I become a nurse and can afford it!

85 tomorrow here. I'll squeeze in some riding on the way to my orientation .

7/26/2010 10:55:27 PM

I need a new rear rim!

I want to go riiiiiiding

[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 11:28 PM. Reason : and tire and tube and stem and bar tape]

7/26/2010 11:27:41 PM

last night was good. i did my 20.10 miles in 1:03. i am happy with this. tonight will be an easy 20 miles. maybe shoot for 1:06-7. last night i was on the heart rate edge to do 1:03.

7/28/2010 6:46:33 PM

question

I just got a schwinn hybrid that im lookin to ride back and forth to campus

the rear wheel is missing...can I replace that with just any wheel or does it have to be schwinn specific?

7/28/2010 7:17:24 PM

No it doesn't have to be schwinn specific. Make sure your replacement is the proper size and that it will accommodate your current rear cogs then you should be good.

[Edited on July 28, 2010 at 8:44 PM. Reason : Do you know what model? I can possibly find one on the C-List]

7/28/2010 8:43:27 PM

i did 20 flat in 1:06:58. right where i wanted to be. i actually had to work the last 2 miles to make it under 1:07. so 18 nice smooth miles and then 2 ball busters. damn i am addicted to riding.

7/28/2010 9:05:28 PM

Do you ride in N. Raleigh around Falls of the Neuse and Durant?

7/28/2010 9:22:47 PM

schwinn trailway hybrid 700c 32" i think

7/28/2010 9:35:50 PM

Is it this one?

http://www.target.com/Men%E2%80%99s-Schwinn-700C-Trail-Hybrid/dp/B000KZ1G7Q

If so, you can easily find a rear wheel. Do you have the components for the rear (cassette and derailleur)?

7/28/2010 9:56:39 PM

thats the exact one.

how would I go about finding the parts? and yes I have all of the other parts

7/28/2010 10:01:33 PM

I'm not exactly sure if all cassette and freehubs are made to universally fit each other so please someone chime in if they know.

If you walk into a place like performance bike with your cassette in hand it should be easy to match up with the hub. The same if you want to get one on the cheap through the C-List.

For the reassembly, if you want to DIY, this tutorial might be of use:

http://bicycletutor.com/replace-cassette-cluster/

7/28/2010 10:18:40 PM

That Schwinn likely has a freewheel on it, as opposed to a cassette. Cassettes and freewheels require different rear hubs.

Any bike shop should have a standard freewheel rear wheel. ($35-50)

Freewheel rear wheels require a different tool to remove the freewheel gear cluster. Namely a freewheel tool and either a vise or large adjustable wrench.

Cassette rear wheels will require a chain whip, cassette lockring tool (95% chance of it being a Park FR-5), and adjustable wrench/vise.

7/28/2010 11:12:40 PM

Quote :

"Do you ride in N. Raleigh around Falls of the Neuse and Durant"

no i live in charleston sc. i ride in the country by summerville and jedburg

7/29/2010 7:21:55 AM

so are all rear wheels essentially the same?

I can get a picture of the rear and see what I need...Id rather go the craigslist way for cheapness.

7/29/2010 11:40:59 AM

^ Yes and no. Most except for aero wheels have the basic components of a hub around an axle and bearings and spokes that attach to rims, with tubes and tires, unless you run tubulars. On the right hand side, there is either a cassette that screws onto a freehub, or a freewheel, that produces the gear action. Occasionally you'll see internal hub gearing on cruisers, and those are super reliable, but suck to fix when broken.

But, wheels are different sizes for different bicycles, and for different needs (ex. you can't stick a 26" mountain bike wheelset onto an old 27" road bike). They are going to also vary in rim width and depth, spoke count, materials, etc.

They require different tools to fix, like Icanread said. If you don't know the difference between the two, I'd go to a bike shop and pay them to do it for you, so you don't f up the wheel.

7/29/2010 12:03:41 PM

well apparently its a 700c freewheel...and I think i have a 7 gear cassette that matches up

all I would need essentially is the rim...I could get the rubber from walmart for cheap

even an old rim with the tire already on would work...I could just change out the cassette??

[Edited on July 29, 2010 at 2:08 PM. Reason : x]

7/29/2010 2:03:06 PM

There is a difference between the cassette and freewheel. So no, it is not likely that you could just change out the cassette.


This is an example of a freewheel:




This is an example of a cassette:




Notice the inner circle of the two pics. In the freewheel, the unit threads onto the hub body. With the cassette, you have a lock ring (labeled, "SRAM") that threads into the hub body, essentially clamping the cogs/cassette body to the wheel.

7/29/2010 3:19:04 PM

so basically what im saying is...where can I get a cheap rear wheel?

7/29/2010 6:08:16 PM

Quote :

"no i live in charleston sc. i ride in the country by summerville and jedburg"

Ok, I saw a guy your build with the same bib and jersey combo working it through traffic. Nice times BTW.

7/29/2010 7:39:56 PM

JT3bucky, any bike shop in the area should have a generic, machine-built rear wheel. Freewheel or cassette style. I seem to remember that there was an underground type community bike shop somewhere in the Cameron Village area...maybe?

I regularly order both just to have on hand. Sta-tru is a brand that many bike shops will carry. These are one of the more popular, but still very very affordable replacement wheels. Figure on spending $30-45 for a new, generic wheel. A bit more if you need the shop to swap tube, tire, rim strip, and gearing.

Also, any shop worth its name will also make sure that the wheel is dished, trued, and tensioned appropriately. This is the first thing that I do on new shipments, but routinely will perform at the time of purchase just to give it that one last check over before you take off on it.

This is a small step to ensuring that the wheel will last. Even if it is a machine built, replacement quality wheel, there is quite a bit that the shop can do to increase the lifespan and quality of the wheel. Ask before the wheel is installed or you leave with it if it has been trued, dished, and tensioned. If these things havent been done or they want to charge you for this, find a different shop. (and let me know also, id love to know who is doing this...i know that it happens and is basically a way that they rip people off)

7/30/2010 9:28:03 AM

picked up a raleigh olympian today

its like 20 years old, maybe more...sucker is TALL. it rides well but gotta get used to the suicide shifters on it.

think its worth fixing up to ride around?

7/30/2010 3:36:39 PM

Quote :

"Ok, I saw a guy your build with the same bib and jersey combo working it through traffic. Nice times BTW."

another fat guy not scared to wear spandies? wow i am impressed go that guy!!

i rode with a guy last weekend who rides based on watts. he dropped me at 275 watts on flat ground. i am truly amazed at the guys that ride 500 watts.

7/30/2010 7:39:27 PM

I have built up at least a dozen Powetap wheels just this year alone. Wattage training is really starting to take off it seems.

7/30/2010 10:40:55 PM

I have no concept of wattage. I'm still trying to work on the concepts of "bike farther" and "bike faster" first.
Besides, cycling is laden enough with mileage and time comparisons, I don't need to add another measurement to the list.

7/31/2010 2:10:41 AM

http://www.charlottecriterium.org/

Anyone going to watch on Saturday? Or ride in?

8/5/2010 3:39:01 PM

No but looks cool.

I'm excited about the new race though, coming to Colorado next August:
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_15679242

Got to see Lance Armstrong as he announced it at the state capital yesterday.

8/5/2010 4:10:27 PM

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12941050

Wooohooo go Charlotte! Check out the video and come out tonight.

8/7/2010 1:21:20 PM

Anyone do the Tarwheels Bikefest today? I paced my friend on the 62-mile ride (was not interested in the full 100-mile with the heat), and finished in about 4 hours.

I may save the full century for October, when the heat isn't as ridiculous.

8/7/2010 4:09:28 PM

So I have a mtb and a road bike and both of them are getting surface rust in various places. The mtb is older and the chain cages have quite a bit as well as various screws and what not. Any ideas on fixing this stuff? I guess I can get new cages but any ideas on replacing the screws that have rusted? Do they make a tool to get the pitch/spacing of the threads so I can get some replacements?

8/7/2010 10:03:46 PM

chain cages? you mean the front and rear derailleurs? The parts that the chain runs through that actually moves the chain across the cassette and chainrings?

For surface rust on most parts, the best thing you can do besides replacing parts (which gets expensive fast) is some scotchbrite pads and your favorite rust inhibitor.

Typically higher end (more expensive) parts wont rust, as they are made out of better materials, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, carbon fiber, etc.

Replacing the chain shouldnt be more than $25-30. You can usually scrub the cassette so that it is clean enough for a new chain to work...decently.

8/8/2010 8:37:00 AM

Wow, I can tell it was late when I wrote that last night and haven't been on my bikes in about a yr, yes the derailleurs. I had thought about the scotch brite and paint but as soon as the chain hits it will take it off. I suppose it will keep the rust off too.

And this is actually XTR stuff on my mtb that has the rust on the derailleurs. My road bike has the cheap shit (105 in rear, tiagra in the front).

8/8/2010 9:04:55 AM

Isn't XTR all aluminum and carbon fiber with titanium screws or something? shouldn't be anything on there that can rust.

I'm about to get off my ass and go ride for the first time in two weeks.

8/8/2010 12:57:18 PM

The new stuff, probably, the 2001, for sure not.

8/8/2010 1:14:49 PM

I rode my bike today. To all who ride in the Triad area - "where the hills at yo?"

8/8/2010 5:12:43 PM

Carraway Mtn area, between asheboro and archdale


Pilot Mtn area, north of WS

8/9/2010 12:31:17 AM

^^ Isn't it also hilly around Hanging Rock?

8/9/2010 9:37:49 AM

I'm not certain, I've been doing my riding in Greensboro as of late. I might have to check out a ride through there.

8/9/2010 3:16:02 PM

Crit race in Charlotte saturday night:

8/9/2010 3:23:31 PM

Selling my 2009 Kuota Kredo Ultra.
Several Upgrades which include Carbon Stem/Bars. Selle San Marco Saddle. Full Ultegra Build Kit. Carbon Crank (53/39). Easton Circuit t3 wheels. This bike is super fast and extremely smooth.
Retail---$4,999

The actual bike photo is in my gallery!

I'll part with it for $2500 (negotiable)

Happy Looking!

8/18/2010 10:07:18 AM

are pedal bolt sizes different?

because my trek one fell off and Im trying to find a replacement.

8/19/2010 6:20:23 PM

pedal spindle sizes:

9/16"-majority of all adult bikes will have this size spindle, including your trek

1/2"-many kids bikes and much older generic bikes

keep in mind that the pedals are threaded backwards. 90% of the time there will be a L/R stamped on the end of the pedal spindle to help identify

[Edited on August 19, 2010 at 6:48 PM. Reason : ]

8/19/2010 6:46:56 PM

I have a question for your bike people out there...

I want a bike that I can ride to class and just around the area I live in. I'm thinking of getting a Huffy cruiser (26" wheels) but I'm wondering if this will be good for the area I'm in. Birmingham is surprisingly hilly, but it would be mostly downhill/flat on my way to class. The big challenge is coming back home where I have a slightly big hill to go up, but I guess my real question is, do you think a single speed cruiser would be ok for this? I'm really not looking for something to take on a trail... more like something to take me to the library/class so I don't have to deal with the parking around here.

Thanks

8/23/2010 12:41:46 PM

I'm doing my first cyclocross race tomorrow! albeit, its just a preseason practice race, but its still a USAC event with rules and normal run format.

yikes.

9/7/2010 10:52:33 PM

^^ it all depends on how hard you want to work. Are you in pretty good shape? Do you think you can tackle those hills without breaking too much of a sweat?

I'll give it to those hipster scumbags. I've seen some of them tackle considerable hills commuting to their hipster hangouts/unskilled jobs etc. I say to myself, fuck that! I'm not working that hard unless I'm training.

But it's up to you. Only you know the terrain you're going to cover.

9/7/2010 11:54:26 PM

so, hah, yeah... I ended up returning that bike and got one with gears


I rode it once... and let me tell you, fuck. that. It went over horribly... these hills are actually a part of a mountain - seems a little different riding in the car

9/8/2010 12:44:25 AM

Thought you guys would like this:

They won't even know what hit them...

9/10/2010 11:05:46 AM

lol... someone has entirely too much money

9/10/2010 11:09:54 AM