I replaced my lower CAAD10 headset bearing (link to thread) because after cleaning using the method JP describes in the post above, it was still gritty.  So sometimes if it's gritty, it's not getting any better: the internals are deformed and more grease won't repair the fault.

Hey family men and others, bigger kid, means bigger stroller necessary for bike race travel. Which means my days of throwing the bike(s) into the trunk are all but over.

Any recommendations on trunk mounted bike racks that I will be able to throw on most any rental car? I was just going to order up the Saris Bones rack from Amazon, because it seems okay...but then I thought I better ask the peanut gallery to see what they thought.

Saris Bones 3-bike rack works very nicely. I have used it on a variety of cars with good effect. You could borrow mine if you want to give it a test run.

Thanks David! I've used a few trunk racks in the past to know that they in general are a reasonable solution, I guess I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some fatal flaw that made the saris bones crap, or some other great rack out there off my radar with some feature that makes it a "must own."

I second the Saris Bones. It is probably the best for a trunk rack. One concern though is storage when you're not driving to a race. Mine stays in the trunk of my car, but the Saris Bones is not small, you may want to consider some other racks that solve the problem but store in a smaller space.

Success? Well, I disassembled, took those bearings out what I think is a Cane Creek Ahead something or rather, (still can't tell if they are internal or external, but I can tell you they look nothing like the links Brendan posted...they look like little beaded necklaces, about the diameter of a Kennedy 1/2 dollar, or something to that effect), washed, dipped, dried, re-Phil Wood-ed, and reassembled.

I wish I could say that things were now "Billy Dee Smooth," but really, they're "Marc Bertucco Smooth," which, my wife will tell you, is "good enough, I guess, okay, whatever."

I still have dreams of this bike becoming my pit bike though, with superhotsupersmooth A-bike from maybe Van Dessel or Cannondale. I guess I better see if I can stop being a cat 4 crossing punk first though.

I've switched from the Bones to the Thule Raceway. Has a ratcheting cable attachment system (which helps with speed and security when attaching), and has a built in lock to keep the bikes on the rack when you need to make a pee stop. 3 bike maximum for the 9002 model.

Joaquin said:

I've switched from the Bones to the Thule Raceway. Has a ratcheting cable attachment system (which helps with speed and security when attaching), and has a built in lock to keep the bikes on the rack when you need to make a pee stop. 3 bike maximum for the 9002 model.

Damn you Joaquin! Stopping me from impulse buying and what not. Of course, this is the kind of advice I asked for! Seriously though, thanks for the tip...it's about $100 more, but I do like the built in locking feature and those bike top tube cradles look comfy/beefy.

Never tried it, but the Saris Solo is about as minimal as it gets.  It could hide in a small backpack.

Bones 2 works good, but the one that Joaquin linked to is better -- it has indentations in the cradles for your cables.  I currently pull my brake cable out and around the cradle to keep it from scratching the frame during the ride.  Bones 2 is also $100 cheaper, I think...

an unexpected twist around 3:30

twoyacks said:

an unexpected twist around 3:30

http://faqon.com/stages-cycling-power-meter-review-1/

Brilliant

Does anyone have a track front skewer to convert a road wheel for track usage that I could borrow this weekend ? Something like this http://www.wheelbuilder.com/zipp-front-track-bolt-on-skewer.html . thought I had one, but it ends up my wheel (which I have not unbolted before) has this funky "skewer" which is really 2 separate screws (one per side) that screw into the hub. I am at family in NJ and will be going from here to Nittany, and have dreams of a) doing masters and rookies at the track after my cx race and b) using a lighter front wheel I am going to check in at the bike shop near the velodrome, if anyone would have track skewers I guess they would.

I have one (i just have to poke around for it). I can also try to squeeze a track wheel into the car. Let me know off line.

Also, Joshua, there's typically a dude that works the track, who has access to a whole garage full of track bikes. He seems like a nice guy, might have something to loan you.

I too am planning on racing "the double" on Saturday. Although, we should both be aware that this choice could really hurt our legs for Sunday.

Wait there's a race at kissena in Saturday?

David Yang said:

Wait there's a race at kissena in Saturday?

No, at T-town. Which is in the same park complex as Nittany CX.

Good excuse to spectate Nittany!

gear question: why should i carry a chain breaker on a road bike?  this advice seems to be everywhere, but somehow i picture every single piece of my drivetrain failing, the sky falling, and my legs catching on fire before the chain breaks.  is this advice referring to MTB?  regale me with your chain-snap horror stories.

I've had a chain break.

I don't carry a chain tool, but I do carry a spare master link, which has saved by bacon once.

I carried Park's mini chain tool for a year, used it exactly never so left it at home.  Of course the Alanis Morissette laws of irony (in that it's just a bad coincidence and not really irony) dictated that I run across a guy stranded on the side of the road the next weekend with a broken chain.

Started carrying it again (and replaced it with a multitool that has one integrated) and used it once for myself and maybe 2 or 3 times for others.

It's one of those things you don't absolutely NEED on every ride, but is a life savor when you do.  Having one integrated into a multitool makes it a no brainer.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a cheap chain-whip?  My new cassette needs a significant tightening (whoops) but I'm loathe to shell out $40 for something I'll use once a year.

I have one from Nashbar. It doesn't have a nice blue handle but it works fine.

That said, I don't think you need a chain whip to tighten your cassette.

Alex - Wouldn't you just need the lockring tool if you're tightening?  Removal is a different story...

Either way, you can borrow mine if we can coordinate this weekend.

Alex,

I've had a chain break in the middle of no where in the catskills and had to resort to using a paperclip to get me home about 10 miles away, I stopped a guy in a pickup truck who gave me a clip and a pair of pliers which did the trick. Now, I often carry a chain tool and SRAM link in my saddle bag. This happened because the genius mechanic that put on my compact cranks and shortened the chain was ignorant about campagnolo and snapped back the chain without thinking twice. Naturally, not long after leaving on the ride, my chain snapped on a dirt path in the middle of the woods.

Bad story: Noah Greenhill and I were riding on River Road many years ago when his chain broke at the bottom of the first hill. We gerry rigged it back together and after remounting and taking a couple of pedal strokes, the chain came apart and got snagged in his derailleur cage which caused the entire dropout to twist and shout into the spokes. Frame ruined. Called a car service.

Good story: RIding in Cunningham a few years ago with Joshua Ceasar, his chain broke due to his brute strength. I pulled out a SRAM quick link from my seat bag and put it back together. He may have had a chain tool to take out a mangled link, I'm can't remember. We continued on to enjoy our ride through the woods.

Bad story: A friend with a Campy 10 speed recently changed his chain using the magic Campy one-use pin (but not the expensive Campy chain tool). After a modest number of miles, his chain snagged in his derailleur cage causing the derailleur and hanger to twist and shout into the spokes. It is not really clear why this happened, but the pin was apparently not completely symmetrically inserted - maybe a mm or 2 off (I didn't see it). Derailleur is trashed, but fortunately the hanger can be replaced on his Cervelo. He called his wife for a ride home.

Based on these experiences, I would be very leery of using a paperclip and if I was not convinced that I could put the chain back together with my spare quick-link, I would call a car service or my wife. Chain tool could be helpful in this context.

How about a brand new chain (installed by LBS that shall remain nameless) failing in the middle of a 53 x 14 full on sprinterval? Fortunately I stayed upright, landed on the toptube but somehow avoided destroying the family planning.

Funny John my Busted Chain story is nearly identical; Murray from Ride replaced my chain and the next day it snapped at the top of col du Prospect... Luckily for the family planning I'd been going so hard all my vital organs had retreated into my spine to take shelter....

Who do you think the first rider up the hill behind me was that day?

Murray.