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I know that Performance Bike do trade-in based on Blue Book prices:

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/bicycle-trade-in-program

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I forgot that you you use an eBike. I am a bit surprised that you have a problem with the heat. Do you wear regular clothes? I wear regular sports/running clothes, and not cycling clothes. My secret is breathable shirts($10 each) and shorts($18 each) from Modell’s Sports. 100% Polyester shirts are cooler than those made from a mix of Cotton/Polyester. There are many shirts made from 100% Polyester, but many are heat traps. After all, winter clothes are made from Polyester too. These shirts are breathable and almost see-through. To tell how breathable, just hold them up side by side with other types of shirts that has the same color, and compare the light that you see through them(either store lights or the light outside) and buy the ones that are more transparent. Discount stores sell less breathable shirts for $15 to $20 each. A-Shirts are good too. Shirts with a round neck opening like this one are heat traps because you can’t unbutton it when it gets hot. If you don’t like the colors and styles, K-Mart has similar ones for $18-$20 each. The same is true for shorts, here is one brand I recommend. Modell’s Sports is open July 4th from 10-11 AM to 5-6 PM depending on location. See “Store locator” at the top.

If you are avoiding Polyester shirts because they create static electricity when exposed to UV light, then the solution is to use free and clear detergent. Some say add a fabric softener. I haven’t had this issue for years.

Another secret is secret trails with lots of shade. This one is fully shaded, at least the area between Fairfax Circle, and Annandale. I seldom go south of Annandale. My bike computer shows a drop of 12 degrees when I go through that area, and it’s clearly noticeably cooler. As a bonus, it’s fully flat. It’s part compacted gravel/part paved, but it was no issue with my 25mm semi-slick tires, and even my 23mm road bike with cheap wheels. Not recommended for expensive road wheels though.

Anyone else has a secret trail that they would like to share?

[n18]

Many of us cyclists don’t look at heat index, as it depends on wind speed. We look at both temperature and humidity level and guess from there. Sometimes as the day go forward, humidity level drop, so late morning seems hotter than the afternoon or at the same temperature.

Personally, I have been drinking hot decaf while cycling in the past 3 days, and almost don’t break a sweat in the first 20 minutes. In the afternoon I use spring water or Vitamin Water, which is $1 in most places.

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o4v_5Yw00_E[/video]

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Besides what others suggested, since you would be spending hours visiting museums, I suggest that you use Capital Bikeshare and other bike sharing services. That way, you don’t have to worry about your bikes. You can use them when you are done with the museums. Capital Bikeshare only offers 3 options as far as I know when you use their kiosks, more options(Month/Year) are available online. You still pay extra if you use it for more than 30 minutes; but you can duck it and take it out again if you paid for a day pass or more to avoid the extra charge.

There also dockless bikes that you find around, you download their app, find their nearest bike, unlock it and use it. These dockless bikes are available only in DC currently and you are not suppose to take them out of DC, although some do. We have a long thread about it here.

Good luck!

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@mstone 179002 wrote:

the cleat alignment kinda depends on your feet/knees–if I rode a couple of miles with my cleats aligned like you describe, I wouldn’t be able to walk the next day. what you’re calling “wrong” in the picture is likely correct for the person wearing the shoes.

a good starting point for alignment is to sit on something where your feet can just dangle and see which way they point; set the cleats so that your feet point at the same angle relative to the pedals as they did to the edge of the thing you sat on. many (most?) people will find that their feet don’t point exactly straight ahead.

I know that is a possibility, but one could use this method to check right/left shoe symmetry. I have used this method before, and it worked for me.

[n18]

I found an easy and reliable method of aligning SPD cleats by using a plastic ruler that eliminates guess work:

1. Get a plastic ruler, and align it to the bottom of the SPD cleat as shown in the picture below.
2. Locate the center of the heel(Red X in the photo).
3. Adjust SPD cleat, so X is at center of ruler.

Image source: This Wikipedia article. In the picture, the cleat is slightly misaligned, so it needs to be rotated slightly clockwise.

Any plastic ruler works, but you might want to get this one(Use coupon code in their home page to get 50% off by showing it to the cashier on your smartphone).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18025[/ATTACH]

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@Sunyata 178865 wrote:

So… Last Saturday I did a nice little gravel ride out in the Flint Hills of Kansas and ran into this beautiful velvet Chaise Lounge…

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18005[/ATTACH]

Remind me not to draft you. I hate to run into that pointy thingy behind your saddle.

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@dkel 178745 wrote:

I’ve discovered—quite suddenly, and fortunately without dire consequences—that these heavy rains can leave thin patches of mud that are quite slippery: I almost lost my front wheel on one in a turn, but it was small, and I was through it in time to recover. A sheer coating of the stuff can look like nothing, and yet be extremely treacherous, so keep an eye out after even brief downpours; anywhere that excessive runoff can carry silt across pavement is a possible trap.

I have learned to think about the following word for every situation when I am about to fall: faster, and steady hands.

[n18]

How to measure Bolt Circle Diameter (BCD) for chainrings: Link1, Link2

Chainrings ar REI, Performance Bike, Spokes.

If you need a new cassette, I had a good experience with Sunrace cassettes.

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The rear gears look worn to me. You need to determine if you have a cassette or freewheel. Here is a ParkTool page with video that helps, which also shows which lock ring tool that you need. Removing it is tough if you don’t have the right tools. If it’s a freewheel, the hardest part is removing the gears, I had to use a water pipe for leverage(Home depot sells 2 feet pre-cut segment, just make sure that you get one wide enough for whatever wrench you are using). Here is a YouTube video showing this method. Some use a vise, which works fine, I have seen bike shop use that method. If it’s a cassette, it is easy if you have a chain whip, here is a method by using an old chain if you don’t have a chain whip.

[n18]

I know that this has been answered, but this one minute YouTube video shows how to stop the squeaking after installing new pads. If it’s an old pad that keep squeaking, even if it’s dry, then the pads are probably totally worn and the metal part of the pad is rubbing against the rim. If you don’t replace it immediately, you end up like me, paying $90 for a new wheel, instead of $5 for new pads.

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@lordofthemark 178687 wrote:

BTW, the chain has 3000 miles on it.

Recently, I discovered that my chain is stretched beyond 0.5% and 0.75% on the chain indicator tool. It had 1600 Miles and 6 months on it and I oiled it maybe 3 times.

[n18]

You can buy a second master link for $5(Links: Performance, REI, Spokes(Not in stock?)). REI has been offering for months at least 10% off drivetrain components, so you can buy 3 chains, or 2 master links and a chain to qualify. This is in addition to the 10% store credit, or the equivalent of 19% discount.

Also, this tool both opens and closes master links. I bought it after hurting my hand while using the pliers method to open chain links.

[n18]

Last day for REI Anniversary sale.

Interestingly, I just noticed that they have this smart eLock for sale for $100 instead of $200. Amazon price is $175(Link). It’s not available locally so you have to order it online if you want it. You can’t use the %20 coupon with this. However, it looks like from reviews it’s not waterpoof, causing the lock and touch panel not to work.

Other item of interest for the ladies, sunglasses from Smith with Chromapop coating for $56(After 20% Outlet coupon, comes with 2 lenses). Here is manufacturer’s link. I have used similar sunglasses and they make green shine more than any other sunglasses that I have tried. Tree leaves and grass always look like 4 O’clock in the afternoon. The one I had; had infrared blocking coating, which noticeably blocks Sun’s heat, but I am not sure that this one has the same. I lost mine, almost want to buy it again, but it’s not cheap($170). The only drawback is that blue doesn’t look different than cheap sunglasses. I currently use Maui Jim “green is geenier” sunglasses, and it does look greenier, but not as much as Smith Chromapop. The later almost look like two or three times brighter green, but Maui Jim has better blues; it almost removes the haze around clouds and make them look like having sharper edges, as if it’s not hazy and humid at all.

Last time they had sales, I ordered late Monday, it was shipped Tuesday and arrived Wednesday, so it doesn’t take a long time.

[n18]

Please don’t buy one. It seems like a fun tool, but seems to require more workout than a bike, and you could get a fancy bike for a much lower price. Besides, there doesn’t seem to be a way to attach panniers to them, so you can’t carry groceries, or work stuff on them if you need to.

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