The Biking Thread

[bune]

?

Hey guys, is it normal to lose 10-15 PSI after every ride? Houston roads are incredibly bumpy except on bike paths. I've talked to other riders around here who lose PSI after every ride too.

While we're on the subject, can I put presta valves in a schrader rim without risk of a flat? In my mind the extra space between the hole and the valve could open me up for a pinch in the tube.

Sorry, missed that one!

OK. So for the PSI thing - that doesn't sound too out of sorts, but maybe you can take the tubes out and submerge them, looking for bubbles?

for the valve thing: oh hell no. Like, you'll be more likely to cut the presta valve off from the tube moving around than from a pinch.

I have presta valves in schrader rims, Reid. I did it a long time ago, so it's kinda foggy, but I got some kind of adapter to make it work. Wasn't that expensive, either. I'll take some pics when I get home...if I remember.

Yeah, look for the adapter.

[washing machine]

Cool, thanks guys. Asking the jamily bike questions instead of google is what it's all about. I'll look for that adapter.

[washing machine]

This guy is amazing.

[Self]

Wow.

Whenever I start to think I'm good at riding a bike I watch this. I'll add yours to the list.

[Norris]

holy shit

[bune]

Jesus. He's got God Mode turned on, right?

Trying to watch that and it's like...I can't blink, I'll die if I blink.

[washing machine]

Well that sure is something.

[washing machine]

What would you guys say are the major things a bike owner should know how to do? Things that are easy to do without messing your ride up. Things you shouldn't have to pay someone else to do..

My skill set consists of

Changing tubes and tires
Identifying causes of flats
Adjusting brakes
Washing my bike
Removing the cassette

Anything else I should know? The chain and drivetrain still intimidate me as a new bike owner.

[PHATJ]

Holy shit. That video is crazy intense. And absolutely amazing. That dude was an inch from death for four straight heart stopping minutes. That terrain was viscous and he was FLYING down the mountain. Completely incredible.

[PHATJ]

Side note: the only reason I opened this thread was to say that every time I see it's name I read "The Bikini Thread" and them I'm immediately disappointed that it's not a thread about bikinis at all. Then I saw that video. And now I have an adrenaline boner.

[bune]

What would you guys say are the major things a bike owner should know how to do? Things that are easy to do without messing your ride up. Things you shouldn't have to pay someone else to do..

My skill set consists of

Changing tubes and tires
Identifying causes of flats
Adjusting brakes
Washing my bike
Removing the cassette

Anything else I should know? The chain and drivetrain still intimidate me as a new bike owner.

I have a google doc that I could send you if I weren't at work - they block google docs - that explains a lot of things. It sadly doesn't go in order of complexity (Chapter 1: Roadside flat repair. Chapter 2: Wheel Truing.) but it does cover everything you need.

From what you list, you don't really need to add anything. Some plusses: Front hub overhaul to keep your wheel spinning, bottom bracket overhaul in case you ever need to replace it, and depending on your cockpit how to replace bar tape.

[washing machine]

Knowledge is power. Send me that spreadsheet if you get a chance. I'd love to take a look.

[washing machine]

I wonder if we have a separate thread in GD about bicycles and whatnot unrelated to cycling as a sport and/or workout. If we did, I'd use that one to post about the homeless guy I saw today on a BCycle holding a second BCycle by the handlebars as he rode them both past a Bcycle station. I have a strong suspicion that he didn't actually check out either.

[bune]

I know the Nike bikes* here have GPS built in so they get recovered quickly.

*People try to tell me it's pronounced the same on both words. So Ni-key Bi-key or nike bike, one syllable each. It's Ni-key bike you damned heathens.

I'm trying to find the original GD shortcut for that thing. I have it downloaded here but it's 45MB so I can't email it to my home account. I'll look some more.

[Norris]

use dropbox or google drive instead of email

[washing machine]

I know the Nike bikes* here have GPS built in so they get recovered quickly.

Yes and no. One of the BCycle employees is a regular drinker at my bar and I picked his brain about this. They know where the bikes are at all times but it's almost not worth the bother recovering them from the sketchy tent towns because they still have to wait for the police to file a report, so the BCycle people end up having to be the ones who try and detain these thieves while the police take their time getting there. Becomes a wild goose chase across the city.

[washing machine]

I also had my other question answered, which was "why do I see homeless guys riding these bikes so frequently?" The answer is that too many riders don't dock them properly and people make it part of their nightly rounds to check for undocked bikes to roll over to tent town. The whole thing would make a fascinating podcast topic.

[bune]

use dropbox or google drive instead of email

Work blocks access to those. I burned it to a CD and brought it to work to print out (shh!) so it should be on my home computer. Just have to figure out which hard drive.

[washing machine]

I mapped out a 5 mile route to a bike shop across I-10 and ended up going 15 miles. Once I got on a trail I just kept going. Put a lot of post-Harvey mud and dirt on these poor tires.

[bune]