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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)


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