Mar 12, 2013 at 01:23 AM
let me know if this makes it through.
Bicycle Tech/Gear Discussion Thread
Mar 12, 2013 at 01:40 AM
Whee! Gear!
(made it)
Mar 12, 2013 at 02:58 AM
i have an 80 dollar amazon credit. what bike part or tool should i buy?
a torque wrench would be lovely, but some say torque wrenches are inaccurate at the low and high end of their range. a torque wrench able to accurately measure a carbon seatpost at 6 Nm will not be accurate for my 54 Nm crank. i don't want to buy two wrenches. a gut-wrenching dilemma.
Mar 12, 2013 at 03:40 AM
the lower-torque wrench. More bolts. the one for the crank is less necessary when using a SRAM crank.
Mar 12, 2013 at 01:16 PM
Compression recovery tights........ do they work?
Mar 12, 2013 at 02:12 PM
They work for me.
Mar 12, 2013 at 02:29 PM
apparently, they don't work for Bicycling magazine: http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/tight-spot
Mar 12, 2013 at 02:34 PM
Rick,
The research thusfar is equivocal. Some contend the benefit is mostly lowering RPE on the next ride. Others say the data shows they could be worth up to a few percent of threshold--which is to write that on successive trials, some athletes were found to be able to ride at close to threshold after wearing the tights where others, not wearing the tights weren't able to get as close.
THere's also another angle on this entirely, which is they minimize the swelling that can occur on plane trips and minimize the heavy-leg feeling that can occur after long drives.
I think Keith has had some success minimizing leg cramps with compression socks post-ride.
I've been experimenting with both compression tights and socks. For long flights and drives, they seem to help some. I haven't done repeated on-bike trials on myself, but I'm of the mind that they can help with on-bike performance, though the help isn't dramatic. There is research to back up this contention. So for successive days of racing or really hard riding, or when I'm feeling particularly beat, I tend to use them, provided it makes sense (won't add to discomfort due to heat or other lifestyle things). THey allegedly can help with recovery when sleeping, so if you're the sort of person who dresses for bed, why not have your sleepwear work for you?
**I have a pair of Zoot recovery tights I want to get rid of. It's not that they don't work, it's that they're too small for me (the compression makes them ride down if you're too tall or thick). If anyone is interested in them, I'm happy to sell. THey're a little on the warm side due to the material and patterning (think of them as thermal underwear), but your legs will look totally superhero in them. (another reason to use them! as an insulating layer--double duty)
Mar 12, 2013 at 02:48 PM
thanks JP
That's pretty much what I was thinking of using them for i.e. wearing them while sleeping on Saturday nights when I have races on both Saturday and Sunday.
I'll give 'em a try and share my anecdotal results/musings.
Mar 12, 2013 at 05:00 PM
Rick, I have a pair of the compression calf braces. For me their number one benefit is that wearing them for a couple hours after a race reduces dramatically the dead leg feeling later in the day. Especially if you are spending an hour or more driving home. Can't really speak to any true performance enhancement.
Mar 12, 2013 at 06:13 PM
I have a pair for the same reason as Jim Nelson, I got them after my hematoma (we all miss Shirley), and the Dr said I shouldn't fly without compression to prevent DVT.
I also wear them with shorts to remove any doubt from bystanders and observers minds that I am a compete dork.
I also wear them with shorts to remove any doubt from bystanders and observers minds that I am a compete dork.
Mar 12, 2013 at 10:02 PM
you needs sandals to complete the effect
i remember JPOW once saying at InterBike "when did people decide that shorts, compression socks and sandals was an ok outfit to wear in public?"
so true
so so true
Mar 12, 2013 at 11:25 PM
The first time I saw guys doing that at my first stage race (giro de New Jersey or whatever) I thought to myself "I don't wanna do this anymore".
Fuck it, I'm gonna wear a sleeveless jersey with arm screens. Don't hate.
Fuck it, I'm gonna wear a sleeveless jersey with arm screens. Don't hate.
Mar 13, 2013 at 05:34 PM
It's like Viagra...only WAY better....
Mar 13, 2013 at 07:32 PM
I'm currently on a ferry from NY -> NJ with my bike. The ferry workers made me keep my bike outside of the cabin and within 10 mins it was completly covered in salt water.. Nothing I can do about it until the ferry is docked.
Any suggestions to avoid corrosion besides hosing it down with fresh water?
Any suggestions to avoid corrosion besides hosing it down with fresh water?
Mar 13, 2013 at 09:06 PM
Wes,
Clean and relube the chain. If you're really afraid, pull the seat post out and put a little lube in the seat tube, then reinstall.
Your bike probably sees more saltwater in a sweaty trainer session than on that boat ride.
Clean and relube the chain. If you're really afraid, pull the seat post out and put a little lube in the seat tube, then reinstall.
Your bike probably sees more saltwater in a sweaty trainer session than on that boat ride.
Mar 13, 2013 at 11:45 PM
Wes is your bike made of......titanium? If so, no worries mon....
Mar 14, 2013 at 01:33 AM
@twoyacks ... Carbon.. Haha
Mar 14, 2013 at 03:57 AM
Mar 14, 2013 at 04:14 AM
@twoyacks
All I can say is that, while more expensive, I would expect these carbon fiber chopsticks to be lighter without sacrificing lateral stiffness and vertical compliance
http://store.carbonfibergear.com/carbon-fiber-chopsticks-with-matching-carbon-fiber-rest
All I can say is that, while more expensive, I would expect these carbon fiber chopsticks to be lighter without sacrificing lateral stiffness and vertical compliance
http://store.carbonfibergear.com/carbon-fiber-chopsticks-with-matching-carbon-fiber-rest
Mar 14, 2013 at 04:26 AM
@neilx, what's the modulus on the sticks? You want them to be stiff, but not too stiff.
Mar 14, 2013 at 04:54 AM
@Joaquin
You make a good point, but ultimately it depends on exactly what you're using them for, e.g., sushi vs. sashimi etc. It's worth noting that the manufaturer goes to great lengths to point out that there have been only a few reports of catastrophic failure -- and each of those involved an unusual confluence of circumstances In one case, for instance, abuse of sake, an abundance of wasabi, and insertion of the sticks deep into the nostrils (which of course is not a manufacturer recommended use).
You make a good point, but ultimately it depends on exactly what you're using them for, e.g., sushi vs. sashimi etc. It's worth noting that the manufaturer goes to great lengths to point out that there have been only a few reports of catastrophic failure -- and each of those involved an unusual confluence of circumstances In one case, for instance, abuse of sake, an abundance of wasabi, and insertion of the sticks deep into the nostrils (which of course is not a manufacturer recommended use).
Mar 14, 2013 at 11:28 AM
i worry that without a trusted brand name attached, the layups and resin in those chopsticks is not trustworthy.
anyone got a recommendation for spring gloves that i can buy on amazon.com? i want some padding. i'm willing to take the chopstick dexterity hit and spring for full finger. my winter gloves are lobster mitts and were waaaaaaay to warm yesterday when it was 48.
Mar 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM
My favorite spring/fall gloves are Specialized Deflect BG. Designed for MTB/Cross I think.
45-55 deg comfort zone. Neoprene based. Don't stink. Last a long time. Not bulky. Some padding on the palm.
I am on my second pair. I bought mine at Bike Habitat.
45-55 deg comfort zone. Neoprene based. Don't stink. Last a long time. Not bulky. Some padding on the palm.
I am on my second pair. I bought mine at Bike Habitat.
Mar 14, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Still have that Amazon credit? Did you buy the small torque wrench? I get good use out of mine.
I have these spring gloves, which I really like and come out of the drawer at 40f +
Capo Thermo Roubaix LF
They are very grippy and feel great. Two issues about them - they don't have a leather palm, which is much needed protection if you fall, and they don't have a velcro strap, which makes me feel like I own professional equipment. But they're very comfortable.
Mar 15, 2013 at 11:47 AM
thanks guys. and bruce: i still have the credit because i haven't made a decision yet 
Mar 16, 2013 at 10:06 PM
The Deflects are good - and all winter gear is 35% off right now at Bike Habitat! Come by the SoHo shop and say hi, Brendan!dstokes said:My favorite spring/fall gloves are Specialized Deflect BG. Designed for MTB/Cross I think.
45-55 deg comfort zone. Neoprene based. Don't stink. Last a long time. Not bulky. Some padding on the palm.
I am on my second pair. I bought mine at Bike Habitat.
Mar 16, 2013 at 11:43 PM
I know that in my Must Own clothing list, I took some flack for suggesting several winter items, but the reality is, is that a lot of that stuff is on sale right now, PLUS, you won't be riding/racing exclusively summer gear until...mid June in some cases. We've had some nice springs, but they can be NASTY too.
Mar 17, 2013 at 08:29 PM
Hey dudes,
I have a question for anyone familiar with road tubeless tires. I was doing my best Belgian hardman impression yesterday in the 34F snow by Cold Spring Harbor, when I flatted my rear tire. It's a Hutchinson Fusion tubeless, in a Bontrager race 29 tubeless wheel on my cx bike. I went to put a tube in, but spent 30 minutes in the cold just trying to get the tire off with no success. Eventually I had to call a goddamn cab before hypothermia set in.
This morning, of course, it comes off by hand in 30 seconds. I'm assuming the cold yesterday (~34F) shrunk the bead, locking it in super tight, but there must be some way of levering it off even then.
Anyone else with tubeless here had this problem? Is there a magical tool I dont' know about for cold weather removal, or do I have to switch to clinchers for the winter?
(Now that I think about it, if I'd only restarted after the cab ride, I could have called it the prelude to Milan-San Remo.)
Mar 19, 2013 at 03:51 PM
a few crank-, BB-related questions:
1) i am pretty sure that OSBB and BB30 are one and the same thing (as far as power-meter fit is concerned). is that correct?
2) presently i use a compact 110 BCD crank. if i switched to a standard 130 would this cause any issues with shifting over and above what i could fix myself, using my original chain / cassette combo?
3) in terms of crank length. let's say i buy 172.5 versus 170... outside of raising my saddle slightly, would i be creating problems that i should avoid i.e. should i just try and buy at the same length i have already?
thanks.