My Morning Commute

[Terpfan]

@thecyclingeconomist 34401 wrote:

http://deltacycle.com/Airzound-Bike-Horn

I have it to “alert” traffic that they are about to kill me… it works.

That ad is hilarious by showing someone using an airhorn at a football game–which is of course definitely not allowed.

[Certifried]

Weighed my bike at Proteus tonight… 42 pounds. I need to lose weight.

[Dickie]

@Certifried 34493 wrote:

Weighed my bike at Proteus tonight… 42 pounds. I need to lose weight.

I suggest you stay the same and put that fat-ass lazy bike of yours on a diet instead!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Certifried 34493 wrote:

Weighed my bike at Proteus tonight… 42 pounds. I need to lose weight.

Which bike?

[culimerc]

Broke the 3rd spoke in as many months this morning on wheels that are only 6 months old. Good thing I have disc brakes, still its getting old.

[thecyclingeconomist]

I once weighed my commuter when fully loaded down… it was 98lbs (both back panniers full with clothes and food for a week’s worth of lunches, front panniers filled with my computer and books for teaching). No wonder I had a rough ride in that morning.

Unloaded though: I think it’s about the same as yours… hovers around the 35-40lb. mark.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@culimerc 34522 wrote:

Broke the 3rd spoke in as many months this morning on wheels that are only 6 months old. Good thing I have disc brakes, still its getting old.

Your spoke tensions are too low. You need to have the entire wheel re-tensioned, not just replace a spoke and bring it back to true. The reason spokes break is because they completely de-tension when hitting a bump. I have a Wheelsmith tension meter, and for anyone above 175lbs, you should (on average, and it differs between the drive and non-drive sides on teh rear wheel a LOT) have your tensions higher than most machine built wheels come from the factory. After building all my own wheels for the last decade or so, I originally followed Brandt’s guide and then slowly learned other non-standard patterns and how the tensions are affected.

Are you breaking them on the front or rear? (I suspect front if it happens when hitting bumps, but it depends upon the bike you are on, how many spokes it has per wheel, and the lacing pattern.)

[CPTJohnC]

@Certifried 34343 wrote:

The sign on the wall appears to be paper, likely printed at a motorcycle rider’s desk.

time to play “rock, paper, scissors”.

To answer the questions: The sign is metal, permanent and affixed to the wall. And yes, bldg management put the bike rack in the M/C spot. Bolted in place.

And yes, the suggestion of perpendicular (or even angled) parking along the wall is excellent. What you can’t see, though, is a blower unit of some sort over the cruiser, which I’m guessing the ZX-14 rider wants to stay far away from. I don’t think it drips, but I’m not 100% sure.

Fortunately, most days it is just the ZX, so it isn’t so bad, really. And I think he’s learning a little about parking a few feet in front of the rack, finally.

How I miss the days of parking in my office!

[Certifried]

@ShawnoftheDread 34514 wrote:

Which bike?

My Jamis Bosanova. It’s steel framed, has a rack, and one Ortlieb pannier attached. I wasn’t really thrown off by the imbalance of only 1 pannier, so I shed the weight of the 2nd pannier and stuff it all in the one. I don’t really have too much stuff; park tool, jacket, sleeves/leggings, dirty under garments and socks, a power bar, extra tube. That’s about it. But it all adds up with the lights, fenders, etc.

@thecyclingeconomist 34528 wrote:

Your spoke tensions are too low. You need to have the entire wheel re-tensioned, not just replace a spoke and bring it back to true. The reason spokes break is because they completely de-tension when hitting a bump. I have a Wheelsmith tension meter, and for anyone above 175lbs, you should (on average, and it differs between the drive and non-drive sides on teh rear wheel a LOT) have your tensions higher than most machine built wheels come from the factory. After building all my own wheels for the last decade or so, I originally followed Brandt’s guide and then slowly learned other non-standard patterns and how the tensions are affected.

Are you breaking them on the front or rear? (I suspect front if it happens when hitting bumps, but it depends upon the bike you are on, how many spokes it has per wheel, and the lacing pattern.)

I didn’t slow down on a path last night as I transitioned from the path to a small bridge. I popped my front wheel up a bit, and the back wheel slammed pretty hard in to the concrete lip. Fortunately, I didn’t break any spokes, but I sure smashed my rim out of true. My petite frame and gear load is kind of hard on my bikes, so I see that I really need to learn how to true my own wheels. Where do I start? I am mechanically inclined.

[vvill]

@Certifried 34581 wrote:

My Jamis Bosanova

Is this the same bike you’re trying to go faster on??

I know bike weight isn’t everything but unless you’re on a descent a 42lbs bike isn’t going to be easy to get up to speed (unless you’re Dirt).

[Certifried]

@vvill 34590 wrote:

Is this the same bike you’re trying to go faster on??

I know bike weight isn’t everything but unless you’re on a descent a 42lbs bike isn’t going to be easy to get up to speed (unless you’re Dirt).

About 1/2 the days I have enough stuff at work that I can take my Trek. It’s considerably lighter

[thecyclingeconomist]

@Certifried 34581 wrote:

I didn’t slow down on a path last night as I transitioned from the path to a small bridge. I popped my front wheel up a bit, and the back wheel slammed pretty hard in to the concrete lip. Fortunately, I didn’t break any spokes, but I sure smashed my rim out of true. My petite frame and gear load is kind of hard on my bikes, so I see that I really need to learn how to true my own wheels. Where do I start? I am mechanically inclined.

Sent you a PM…

[Steve]

@culimerc 34522 wrote:

Broke the 3rd spoke in as many months this morning on wheels that are only 6 months old. Good thing I have disc brakes, still its getting old.

Agree with economist. It is likely a lack of tension. Bill Mould at Spokes ( Quaker Lane one) is a wheel builder in the area and adamant that lack of spoke tension leads to most wheel problems and under-performance. He also says that most people, when truing your wheels, don’t address tension (they just make it round). Might be worth seeing him, or getting a tension meter if you’re inclined to do it yourself.

[jnva]

+1 for Bill at spokes. He was very helpful and gave me some good wheel building tips.

[Greenbelt]

I’d be scared to weigh my commuter bike fully loaded — I’d bet it’s heavier than Certifried’s with my super heavy new tires! Fortunately, my route is mostly flat.

[Author]

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