Date:         Sat, 8 Aug 1998 10:05:48 -0700
Reply-To:     AL_KNOLL@HP-ROSEVILLE-OM2.OM.HP.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Al Knoll <AL_KNOLL@HP-ROSEVILLE-OM2.OM.HP.COM>
Subject:      Bike Mechanics.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="cc:Mail"

Er ah, I fail to see the difficulty in maintaining or understanding any part of
the mechanics of the bicycle.  As a long time rider 30+ years road and off road
and owner of several steely steeds I might venture that bicycle understanding
and maintenance needs no particular knowledge of electrics, propane, fuel
injection, etc.

Bikes are elegant and simple.  MTBs today are a bit overblown in the suspension
department.  Remember that several world championships have been won on
non-suspension bikes.  Be that as it may.  The bike is basically a collection of
frame (needs only painting and occasional rethreading of munged bits)
bar (set)  Once adjusted to users preference needs no further work unless
damaged.  I fail to see the difficulty in adjusting the bar set.  Bar set
includes stem and bar and positioning of the shifter and brake controls and horn
and streamers and mirrors and radio and computer and GPS and...

Controls are bowden cable driven in general and adjustment of bowden cable
devices is trivial.  A bowden cable is an incompressible housing and a cable to
transmit differential force.

Now maintenance of Grip shifters and multiple use brake/control levers
popularized by Shi*Mano requires a bit of study, but not much.  These devices
are not designed to be adjusted, only replaced.  The cable system is the
adjustment.

Today's cassette hubs are maintenance free except for the occasional repacking
with suitable lubricants.  Derailleurs are also non repairable and require only
cable and positioning adjustments to keep in tune.  Now the 9sp close coupled
frame chain angle doesn't work at all problem is an artifact of the technology,
E. Merckx won over 400 professional races w/o indexed shifting, clipless pedals,
suspension, 9sp clusters or many of the fashionable tiddly bits.

Chain maintenance is a no brainer if you understand the basics.

So what's left?  The head bearings can be adjusted to suit with simple tools.
Flat tires are also simple.  Filling the water bottle requires a bit of
expertise an knowledge of gravity and fluid dynamics.  The BB bearings are
usually cartridge and require only replacement, easily done.  Crank arms and
pedals are similarly simple.

So now what's left.  Brakes?  Bowden cable operated, pad alignment can be done
with simple tools, lubrication is a breeze.

And now for the snake oil mystery...The tensioned wheel.  I might recommend a
fine book on the subject.  The Bicycle Wheel by Jobst Brandt.  A good read and
you can build strong, true, reliable wheels and also understand the principles
of this elegant structure.  Truing wheels can be done on your bike using only a
spoke wrench and your brakes.  Building wheels can be done at home but for most
this task might be best left to a knowledgeable friend.

Simple stuff.  Now tackle the voltage offset problem suffered by Digifant II and
poor grounding of the oxy sensor with a simple wrench.

Soapbox off.

Bike mechanics?  Only needed by the lazy or those who refuse to understand their
machines.  Off road riding dictates self sufficiency.  Where I ride, the usually
isn't a short walk to a phone/cab/beer/bike shop.  Getting home after a mishap
is up to you, but that's what makes it an adventure.

al (Ritchey, Cinelli, Colnago, Hetchins, Fisher, Jack Taylor)