jszokoli
Well-known
Let them eat cake...
Joe
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Wow. Mexico now is our biggest trading partner at 15% of our imports. China is number 2 at 14.7%. Pretty much China bit the hand that fed it. Oh-well. Seems like they have a debt problem that has to eventually unwind. China’s economy has mucho big problems and the way I see it no way out. Downhill from here…
No different here where we too have a debt problem that has yet to blow up (Consummer Credit Card, and also Car loans), and like China we have a real estate oversupply. Ours is commercial real estate and in China it is residential.
A different war of attrition is happening between the U.S and China, A Chinese proverb is “Time is the best weapon,” but I say “Time is not China’s friend.” China used all its ammo. It also shot itself in both feet.
They are headlining $100.00 oil. I have said this before, history has shown 4 out of 5 recessions are the result of high energy prices. Others say a recession next year. I don’t know about a soft landing. Pretty hard to do.
Use to be about a third of income paid for housing. Now it is north of 40%.
Have you noticed that things are escalating in the Ukraine? 4-6 weeks is the envelope before the weather impedes the fighting. Progress, but at the expense of lots of death and killing. This is a very brutal war and it is ugly.
I feel a bit distracted. I decided to seek the comfort of fiddling with my bikes. I got a deal on some XTR bottom pull front derailleurs and installed them without the new shifter cables I need. Tomorrow I will stop by A.J.’s to get the cables and some spares.
The amp tweaking waits for maybe Friday night.
Probably the most disturbing news is how the prices of hard assets have become elevated. Inflation is going to make everyone poorer.
Cal
No different here where we too have a debt problem that has yet to blow up (Consummer Credit Card, and also Car loans), and like China we have a real estate oversupply. Ours is commercial real estate and in China it is residential.
A different war of attrition is happening between the U.S and China, A Chinese proverb is “Time is the best weapon,” but I say “Time is not China’s friend.” China used all its ammo. It also shot itself in both feet.
They are headlining $100.00 oil. I have said this before, history has shown 4 out of 5 recessions are the result of high energy prices. Others say a recession next year. I don’t know about a soft landing. Pretty hard to do.
Use to be about a third of income paid for housing. Now it is north of 40%.
Have you noticed that things are escalating in the Ukraine? 4-6 weeks is the envelope before the weather impedes the fighting. Progress, but at the expense of lots of death and killing. This is a very brutal war and it is ugly.
I feel a bit distracted. I decided to seek the comfort of fiddling with my bikes. I got a deal on some XTR bottom pull front derailleurs and installed them without the new shifter cables I need. Tomorrow I will stop by A.J.’s to get the cables and some spares.
The amp tweaking waits for maybe Friday night.
Probably the most disturbing news is how the prices of hard assets have become elevated. Inflation is going to make everyone poorer.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Joe,
For me the only cake I indulge in is Cheesecake. I don’t mind eating cheesecake and it is no insult.
Lots of Americans can’t really afford to eat cake. They already have health problems and carry extra weight.
Let them eat cake is really not good for our country, and I don’t really want to pay or subsidize healthcare for people with ill health.
We already kinda do this, meaning pay higher costs for healthcare because our government subsidizes the corn farmer and makes corn syrup cheap, that leads to obesity that we all pay for Via healthcare costs.
“Let them eat corn syrup,” our government says indirectly. Healthcare is a major industry in our country, and clearly healthcare gets subsidized by some questionable policies. Anyways I call them bad policy.
Corn syrup often is used as a sweetener for soda. How much heart disease, diabetes, Cancer and death is related to corn syrup? How much money does healthcare make off these diseases? Mucho…
My spin and lifestyle is “Health is wealth.” I say government policy encourages bad health.
Cal
For me the only cake I indulge in is Cheesecake. I don’t mind eating cheesecake and it is no insult.
Lots of Americans can’t really afford to eat cake. They already have health problems and carry extra weight.
Let them eat cake is really not good for our country, and I don’t really want to pay or subsidize healthcare for people with ill health.
We already kinda do this, meaning pay higher costs for healthcare because our government subsidizes the corn farmer and makes corn syrup cheap, that leads to obesity that we all pay for Via healthcare costs.
“Let them eat corn syrup,” our government says indirectly. Healthcare is a major industry in our country, and clearly healthcare gets subsidized by some questionable policies. Anyways I call them bad policy.
Corn syrup often is used as a sweetener for soda. How much heart disease, diabetes, Cancer and death is related to corn syrup? How much money does healthcare make off these diseases? Mucho…
My spin and lifestyle is “Health is wealth.” I say government policy encourages bad health.
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
The clubman now resembles a bicycle. It has two tensioned and trued wheels, brake levers, front brake caliper (I need a concave washer for the rear), bottom bracket and crankset installed, pedals, and a seatpost with a saddle. I'm waiting on a 19 tooth track cog, a pair of white Zefal leather toe straps, and a set of Williams chainring bolts. Tomorrow I'll do some texting around to try to find the 44 tooth chainring one last time before I install the original 46 tooth.
For some reason, presta tubes with insanely long 48mm stems are all that anyone is stocking in shops right now. Not everyone has aero rims, and that huge stem is not only unsightly, but with that amount of length, it creates a bit of noticeable wheel vibration at high speed. There used to be a British company that made stem counterweights which mounted to the pair of spokes opposite the stem. Brilliant idea; probably noisy after a few hundred miles since nothing stays put on a bicycle wheel with tens of thousands of load cycles per long ride. The service manager at my LBS ordered me a set of SKS Bluemels B45 mudguards which I'm going to be painting white with some automotive enamel for fiberglass panels. I'd use epoxy paint, but it can flake after it really hardens, then gets cold and that mudguard flexes. I need to remind myself to pick up a set of road brake cables, and knurled axle washers, next time I'm at the bike shop. I think my next task will be to put rim tape on the rims, mount a set of Panaracer Gravel Kings, and set it down on the floor to get the sizing right before I settle on the handlebar angle and lever position.
It's getting white mudguards, white cable housing, and white bar tape, just as the racing version of this bike would have been delivered, though the bar tape is padded Newbaums, not the white plastic stuff which seems to last well beyond the handlebars its wrapped around, oftentimes.
I have one more choice to make, and it may be an albatross while I ride this bike as a fixed gear / single-speed; I need to decide if I am going to put a Sturmey shifter on the bar, just inside and below the right brake lever housing. This is how these bikes would have been set up with the trigger shifter accessible from the drop, just behind the brake lever. I want to do that before taping the bars, but I'm also not going to be riding a 3 speed hub for quite some time. Perhaps I'll just leave it off until I really dedicate the bike to an internally geared hub.
I've been reading a bunch of the fixed gear threads on bike forums, and it's not just a bunch of hipsters, in fact there is a thread for 40 y/o + riders, and there are some monsters on there. One guy carries a chainwhip and lockring tool, along with extra cogs, so he has the ability to re-gear his wheel when the terrain changes; and he's in his upper 60s. I have nothing to complain about when rolling a 46/19, while this dude is pushing a 46/12 around the hills of Oregon. This rider said that riding a century on a fixed gear is like manually digging post holes nonstop for 8 hours, when it comes to the upper body workout. My upper body is mostly slender and not as strong as I'd like it to be, for sure. I am a spinning, seated climber and I can really push when I want to. I need to stand up and pedal more. Some folks on that thread are pushing greater than 72 gear inches and more than a decade older than I am. I just need to get back into shape!
I can't wait to take a ride out to Valley Forge on the Schuylkill path; once past Manayunk, it's about 10 miles of path-only riding, no car traffic. It's also the zone where the crowds disappear because it's far enough from Philly that a rider needs to really mean it. Last time I rode that was in 2009 on my Vitus 979 with a bunch of teammates riding carbon bikes that weighed more.
Phil
For some reason, presta tubes with insanely long 48mm stems are all that anyone is stocking in shops right now. Not everyone has aero rims, and that huge stem is not only unsightly, but with that amount of length, it creates a bit of noticeable wheel vibration at high speed. There used to be a British company that made stem counterweights which mounted to the pair of spokes opposite the stem. Brilliant idea; probably noisy after a few hundred miles since nothing stays put on a bicycle wheel with tens of thousands of load cycles per long ride. The service manager at my LBS ordered me a set of SKS Bluemels B45 mudguards which I'm going to be painting white with some automotive enamel for fiberglass panels. I'd use epoxy paint, but it can flake after it really hardens, then gets cold and that mudguard flexes. I need to remind myself to pick up a set of road brake cables, and knurled axle washers, next time I'm at the bike shop. I think my next task will be to put rim tape on the rims, mount a set of Panaracer Gravel Kings, and set it down on the floor to get the sizing right before I settle on the handlebar angle and lever position.
It's getting white mudguards, white cable housing, and white bar tape, just as the racing version of this bike would have been delivered, though the bar tape is padded Newbaums, not the white plastic stuff which seems to last well beyond the handlebars its wrapped around, oftentimes.
I have one more choice to make, and it may be an albatross while I ride this bike as a fixed gear / single-speed; I need to decide if I am going to put a Sturmey shifter on the bar, just inside and below the right brake lever housing. This is how these bikes would have been set up with the trigger shifter accessible from the drop, just behind the brake lever. I want to do that before taping the bars, but I'm also not going to be riding a 3 speed hub for quite some time. Perhaps I'll just leave it off until I really dedicate the bike to an internally geared hub.
I've been reading a bunch of the fixed gear threads on bike forums, and it's not just a bunch of hipsters, in fact there is a thread for 40 y/o + riders, and there are some monsters on there. One guy carries a chainwhip and lockring tool, along with extra cogs, so he has the ability to re-gear his wheel when the terrain changes; and he's in his upper 60s. I have nothing to complain about when rolling a 46/19, while this dude is pushing a 46/12 around the hills of Oregon. This rider said that riding a century on a fixed gear is like manually digging post holes nonstop for 8 hours, when it comes to the upper body workout. My upper body is mostly slender and not as strong as I'd like it to be, for sure. I am a spinning, seated climber and I can really push when I want to. I need to stand up and pedal more. Some folks on that thread are pushing greater than 72 gear inches and more than a decade older than I am. I just need to get back into shape!
I can't wait to take a ride out to Valley Forge on the Schuylkill path; once past Manayunk, it's about 10 miles of path-only riding, no car traffic. It's also the zone where the crowds disappear because it's far enough from Philly that a rider needs to really mean it. Last time I rode that was in 2009 on my Vitus 979 with a bunch of teammates riding carbon bikes that weighed more.
Phil
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
I use to push a 72 inch gear, I use to be a chain stretcher. When I lived in NYC I had the steel IBIS set up as a single speed with a freewheel. 48-16T=72 gear inches (24 inch wheel and tire) with rather heavy Schwable Big Apple tires that were armored slicks like on a CitiBike.
Hills required standing. I had a loop that went by Astoria, LaGuardia into Douglaston, Corona, Forest Hills and then down either Metropolitan or Grand Street back into Williamsburg.
Because I weigh so little I am built for climbing. My fighting weight if I were a boxer would be a lite welterweight where I would be all muscle and no fat at perhaps 146-147 pounds at 5’10.” I have the three finger definition under my chest like Bruce Lee. I don’t have a six-pack, but more of a 4-pack. My rock climbing Patagonia knickers are a size 28 inch waist.
A stiff gear plus hills is more of a whole body workout. With 72 gear inches I could still accelerate and sprint. I also could honk.
Snarky Joe got word of this and educated me on why a 63 inch gear is the best all-rounder for fixed gear. I made the Ti IBIS a fixed gear.
As usual Snarky Joe was right. 63 gear inches was perfect gearing and I would do 4-5 laps in Central Park as long intervals. I purposely attacked the Harlem Hills and then would charge down the descent. This was a very quick and hard workout.
I miss having a fixed gear bike, and I need one. I might use my Ti Basso road bike. It basically goes unused. Right now it sits rigged out with 8-speed XTR with a mountain bike straight bar. I guess I like hammering…
Cal
I use to push a 72 inch gear, I use to be a chain stretcher. When I lived in NYC I had the steel IBIS set up as a single speed with a freewheel. 48-16T=72 gear inches (24 inch wheel and tire) with rather heavy Schwable Big Apple tires that were armored slicks like on a CitiBike.
Hills required standing. I had a loop that went by Astoria, LaGuardia into Douglaston, Corona, Forest Hills and then down either Metropolitan or Grand Street back into Williamsburg.
Because I weigh so little I am built for climbing. My fighting weight if I were a boxer would be a lite welterweight where I would be all muscle and no fat at perhaps 146-147 pounds at 5’10.” I have the three finger definition under my chest like Bruce Lee. I don’t have a six-pack, but more of a 4-pack. My rock climbing Patagonia knickers are a size 28 inch waist.
A stiff gear plus hills is more of a whole body workout. With 72 gear inches I could still accelerate and sprint. I also could honk.
Snarky Joe got word of this and educated me on why a 63 inch gear is the best all-rounder for fixed gear. I made the Ti IBIS a fixed gear.
As usual Snarky Joe was right. 63 gear inches was perfect gearing and I would do 4-5 laps in Central Park as long intervals. I purposely attacked the Harlem Hills and then would charge down the descent. This was a very quick and hard workout.
I miss having a fixed gear bike, and I need one. I might use my Ti Basso road bike. It basically goes unused. Right now it sits rigged out with 8-speed XTR with a mountain bike straight bar. I guess I like hammering…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
It seems that India will become the world’s big factory floor and the source of cheap foreign labor. Jobs already have been relocated from China. Vietnam is another country that is depleting and stealing jobs from China. These two countries are not only rivals, but also are not the best or friendly neighbors.
India and China have ongoing border skirmishes, and with Vietnam and China not long ago China attacked Vietnam and pretty much got their butt kicked. As much as China is flexing their military buildup, in fact they have not experienced a hot-war since that invasion of Vietnam and in that war they took a humiliating beating. What I suggest is that China militarily lacks the agility and experience to win a fight with an opponent that does. Vietnam had experience fighting the French and later the U.S.
Not very good historically projecting power, even across a border.
As fare as the economic Cold War goes China already has lost. Just like the first Cold War against the Soviet Union this war involved economics. China with its centralized government made many-many bad policy mistakes. Pretty much they failed pretty completely. Oh-well. They more or less did it to themselves. I feel bad for the Chinese people, but their government is mucho evil.
Anyways, I worry for the people of my country. We too suffer from bad policy. We also have a debt problem, and also a commercial real estate problem. We too also have a government that does not do the general public good. Big business is favored over the public good, and mucho wasteful bad policy abounds funded by debt In an unsustainable manner. Basically we the American people will pay for all the bad policy, and in the end we will suffer the consequences.
This sickens me. I love our country, but we can do better. We are no China, and I’m great full for that, but in many ways were are similar Via living on debt beyond our means. All I know is that the future is very fraught. I worry…
I don’t know about you, but I am getting spammed with hard sells big-time to purchase a new car. Why would I want to do that. I don’t know if I have been profiled, or if I fit a certain demographic, to be targeted so heavily. I wonder if this very broad mass marketing is a mask of a slowdown or recession.
Seems like a glut of unsold, especially luxury vehicles would explain the mass marketing and competition I am experiencing. I have a sense of desperation in this mass marketing that is so broadly based.
A glut would explain things. To me it seems like a “sucker’s deal.”
Kinda crazy when I look at how bloated and pricy these cars and trucks can be. To spend $100K on a Landrover Defender 110 is totally insane. I would rather drop $20K and basically buy and install all new, not rebuilt engine and drivetrain on my 1966 Chevy C-10. New axel, 4-speed close ratio tranny with two overdrives, 383 stroked Chevy 350 truck crate engine with monster torque, aluminum radiator, new driveshaft, 4-wheel disc brakes.
What is wrong with the world?
Cal
India and China have ongoing border skirmishes, and with Vietnam and China not long ago China attacked Vietnam and pretty much got their butt kicked. As much as China is flexing their military buildup, in fact they have not experienced a hot-war since that invasion of Vietnam and in that war they took a humiliating beating. What I suggest is that China militarily lacks the agility and experience to win a fight with an opponent that does. Vietnam had experience fighting the French and later the U.S.
Not very good historically projecting power, even across a border.
As fare as the economic Cold War goes China already has lost. Just like the first Cold War against the Soviet Union this war involved economics. China with its centralized government made many-many bad policy mistakes. Pretty much they failed pretty completely. Oh-well. They more or less did it to themselves. I feel bad for the Chinese people, but their government is mucho evil.
Anyways, I worry for the people of my country. We too suffer from bad policy. We also have a debt problem, and also a commercial real estate problem. We too also have a government that does not do the general public good. Big business is favored over the public good, and mucho wasteful bad policy abounds funded by debt In an unsustainable manner. Basically we the American people will pay for all the bad policy, and in the end we will suffer the consequences.
This sickens me. I love our country, but we can do better. We are no China, and I’m great full for that, but in many ways were are similar Via living on debt beyond our means. All I know is that the future is very fraught. I worry…
I don’t know about you, but I am getting spammed with hard sells big-time to purchase a new car. Why would I want to do that. I don’t know if I have been profiled, or if I fit a certain demographic, to be targeted so heavily. I wonder if this very broad mass marketing is a mask of a slowdown or recession.
Seems like a glut of unsold, especially luxury vehicles would explain the mass marketing and competition I am experiencing. I have a sense of desperation in this mass marketing that is so broadly based.
A glut would explain things. To me it seems like a “sucker’s deal.”
Kinda crazy when I look at how bloated and pricy these cars and trucks can be. To spend $100K on a Landrover Defender 110 is totally insane. I would rather drop $20K and basically buy and install all new, not rebuilt engine and drivetrain on my 1966 Chevy C-10. New axel, 4-speed close ratio tranny with two overdrives, 383 stroked Chevy 350 truck crate engine with monster torque, aluminum radiator, new driveshaft, 4-wheel disc brakes.
What is wrong with the world?
Cal
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Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Bluemels mudguards, Kool Stop brake pads, and brake cables are here. Tomorrow I should receive the chainring bolts, as well as a nice 50s style polished aluminum "bullet" tail light. There is no small version of a headlamp for any British bike, especially from that era; they are all just about full-size lamps with an incandescent in a chrome housing with a 3" lens. I want something more along the lines of the 1.75" SON Edelux which I have mounted on my Univega, but I want it to take batteries. From my research, I don't think there is such an animal, and I'm not building up a new dynamo wheel for this bike. That said, I want to be able to see a little bit, but really want to be able to be seen, so something with a bright LED, in a small metal housing is in order, I just need to find such a product. I suppose I could design it too, but I highly doubt that in the vast market of bike accessories, no one has offered a classy, polished aluminum, battery powered LED headlight.
I'm feeling marginally better than yesterday, but I worked a full day at my job, and I'm completely exhausted. I'm going to be lazy and do a takeaway order from our favorite Vietnamese place here. I'll get some hot chili oil to add to my Phở Bò Kho and burn out whatever infection is residing in my sinuses.
Phil
I'm feeling marginally better than yesterday, but I worked a full day at my job, and I'm completely exhausted. I'm going to be lazy and do a takeaway order from our favorite Vietnamese place here. I'll get some hot chili oil to add to my Phở Bò Kho and burn out whatever infection is residing in my sinuses.
Phil
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
Incremental progress is good. I try and do something to move forward every day.
I did have the opportunity to stop by A.J.’s to buy some shift cables. Didn’t need the housings.
When I changed to lighter pedals on the Newsboy, as maintenance I also tightened the crank bolts. Somehow the spacing of the chainrings a new 44/34 combo from White Industries developed a slight frame rub. I use one of the White Industries bottom brackets that features an adjustable chain line.
The pair of rings are “variable bolt center” and one of the chainring bolts was hitting the frame.
I delved in, but it was a tedious job. Had to remove the cranks to gain access. Now I have clearance, but the rub was a setback.
I also changed XTR front derailleurs to old style bottom pull. This cleaned up the Newsboy, and I also did the same on the Ti IBIS.
Tomorrow in the daylight I’ll do some field testing To check the shifting on both bikes.
Still have not gotten to more tube rolling of the Victoria amp. Likely tomorrow.
”Maggie” got a delivery of some “gal-Lees” basically preliminary copies that might not have the final edits.
Earlier in the week I found a crumpled dollar bill laying in the street. I’ll use this dollar to buy a Lotto ticket.
A fisherman with surf rods was fishing by the Peekskill train station. He used 4 ounce sinkers and was fishing for carp and catfish. He claimed to have caught a 14 pound carp.
This was the same location where all the white perch were caught on another day. This is a shallow part of the bay.
The grandson was more himself today. Still not 100%.
Cal
Incremental progress is good. I try and do something to move forward every day.
I did have the opportunity to stop by A.J.’s to buy some shift cables. Didn’t need the housings.
When I changed to lighter pedals on the Newsboy, as maintenance I also tightened the crank bolts. Somehow the spacing of the chainrings a new 44/34 combo from White Industries developed a slight frame rub. I use one of the White Industries bottom brackets that features an adjustable chain line.
The pair of rings are “variable bolt center” and one of the chainring bolts was hitting the frame.
I delved in, but it was a tedious job. Had to remove the cranks to gain access. Now I have clearance, but the rub was a setback.
I also changed XTR front derailleurs to old style bottom pull. This cleaned up the Newsboy, and I also did the same on the Ti IBIS.
Tomorrow in the daylight I’ll do some field testing To check the shifting on both bikes.
Still have not gotten to more tube rolling of the Victoria amp. Likely tomorrow.
”Maggie” got a delivery of some “gal-Lees” basically preliminary copies that might not have the final edits.
Earlier in the week I found a crumpled dollar bill laying in the street. I’ll use this dollar to buy a Lotto ticket.
A fisherman with surf rods was fishing by the Peekskill train station. He used 4 ounce sinkers and was fishing for carp and catfish. He claimed to have caught a 14 pound carp.
This was the same location where all the white perch were caught on another day. This is a shallow part of the bay.
The grandson was more himself today. Still not 100%.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Sadly, yesterday I went by the 9-11 Memorial near the Peekskill train station, and I saw Glen K. Pettit’s name with other fallen NYPD Officers.
I knew of his killing, but reading his name was more than a reminder.
In the mid 90’s, at the end of the Cold War I volunteered to get laid off at Grumman. There were rumors that the severance packages were going to get cut, and I foresaw that eventually a high probability that eventually I would get laid off.
It was all just a matter of time with Reaganomics and the merging and downsizing that was happening.
The merging of Northrop and Grumman had not happened yet.
I went to grad school to get “retrained” and I had up to one year’s worth of unemployment and my life’s savings. It was a risky bet…
I know Glen from when I was in grad school, but he likely was just undergrad. His focus of study was video, and in this capacity he did video of crime scenes for the NYPD.
Glen was an aggressive type “A” personality and another Alpha male. We at times did not get along, but we understood that a clash of two Alpha males would be bad.
Glen formally was an EMT. He was also a crazy driver and drove a SVO Mustang. He told me that he got fired from being an EMT because he was driving an ambulance in NYC and was pulled over by the NYPD before he killed someone.
I can understand why Glen would not hesitate running into harms way. He was an intense stress junkie, and perhaps he had a death wish.
I can say that Glen was special as well as crazy. He was a reckless man/kid who died young.
I have often asked people if they knew anyone who died in the attacks on 9-11, and only very few say they don’t.
My high school friend Larry I would learn lost his younger brother Perry who was in the NYPD to some form of Cancer.
”Maggie” made a point that the black soot we blew out of noses up to a year later after 9-11 was the ashes of dead people, and about 6 miles away in Greenpoint where we lived you could smell the foul odor of decaying bodies.
Christine Whitman, the Secretary of Health, stated that the air quality at Ground Zero was safe. Meanwhile the DEC was offering rebates on HEPA air purifiers, HEPA vacuum cleaners, and air conditioners.
Anyways I had to wait a day to get this out.
Cal
I knew of his killing, but reading his name was more than a reminder.
In the mid 90’s, at the end of the Cold War I volunteered to get laid off at Grumman. There were rumors that the severance packages were going to get cut, and I foresaw that eventually a high probability that eventually I would get laid off.
It was all just a matter of time with Reaganomics and the merging and downsizing that was happening.
The merging of Northrop and Grumman had not happened yet.
I went to grad school to get “retrained” and I had up to one year’s worth of unemployment and my life’s savings. It was a risky bet…
I know Glen from when I was in grad school, but he likely was just undergrad. His focus of study was video, and in this capacity he did video of crime scenes for the NYPD.
Glen was an aggressive type “A” personality and another Alpha male. We at times did not get along, but we understood that a clash of two Alpha males would be bad.
Glen formally was an EMT. He was also a crazy driver and drove a SVO Mustang. He told me that he got fired from being an EMT because he was driving an ambulance in NYC and was pulled over by the NYPD before he killed someone.
I can understand why Glen would not hesitate running into harms way. He was an intense stress junkie, and perhaps he had a death wish.
I can say that Glen was special as well as crazy. He was a reckless man/kid who died young.
I have often asked people if they knew anyone who died in the attacks on 9-11, and only very few say they don’t.
My high school friend Larry I would learn lost his younger brother Perry who was in the NYPD to some form of Cancer.
”Maggie” made a point that the black soot we blew out of noses up to a year later after 9-11 was the ashes of dead people, and about 6 miles away in Greenpoint where we lived you could smell the foul odor of decaying bodies.
Christine Whitman, the Secretary of Health, stated that the air quality at Ground Zero was safe. Meanwhile the DEC was offering rebates on HEPA air purifiers, HEPA vacuum cleaners, and air conditioners.
Anyways I had to wait a day to get this out.
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
With the exception of the mudguards, the Clubman is done.
Here's a few photos of the bike out in the alley.
It rides nicely, from the few laps I did up and down our alley. The weather is awful, so I'm not taking my "Sunday driver bike" out in it. It's definitely the lightest bike I own and quite responsive. I might have a chance to get out for a bit of a ride on Wednesday. I'm still waiting on a 19 tooth fixed cog. I set the chain length to the maximum amount of rearward axle location I could, so 16 teeth on the freewheel, which turns out to be perfect to locate the axle in the middle of the dropout for the 20 tooth cog.
In the photos, the front wheel is attached with the old French wingnuts, but I'm going to replace those with a set of Carlton track nuts. I just like the look of the wingnuts, but don't want to rely upon them to keep the wheel in the dropout.
Later in the week, I'll spray paint my mudguards and the bike will be really done, and ready for a nice long fall ride.
Phil
Here's a few photos of the bike out in the alley.
It rides nicely, from the few laps I did up and down our alley. The weather is awful, so I'm not taking my "Sunday driver bike" out in it. It's definitely the lightest bike I own and quite responsive. I might have a chance to get out for a bit of a ride on Wednesday. I'm still waiting on a 19 tooth fixed cog. I set the chain length to the maximum amount of rearward axle location I could, so 16 teeth on the freewheel, which turns out to be perfect to locate the axle in the middle of the dropout for the 20 tooth cog.
In the photos, the front wheel is attached with the old French wingnuts, but I'm going to replace those with a set of Carlton track nuts. I just like the look of the wingnuts, but don't want to rely upon them to keep the wheel in the dropout.
Later in the week, I'll spray paint my mudguards and the bike will be really done, and ready for a nice long fall ride.
Phil
pyeh
Member of good standing
Gorgeous bike, Phil.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
What a trophy of a bike.
Lots of love and passion went into the restoration.
Also this harnessed and utilized a lot of skills and knowledge from the past.
I have to say a real beauty.
Don’t tell anyone but our talk of single speed inspired me to go into the basement and look into my inventory of three 24 inch wheels.
I have an Answer 36 hole Pinnacle Pro BMX racing rim built out on a White Industries ENO hub in all black, even the butted spokes and nipples. Pure evil.
Then there is a Sun Ringle 32 hole rim also built upon a White Industries ENO, also in all black, but with straight gauge and brass nipples. This wheel was built to be bombproof.
Lastly I have a Rhyno Lite wheel with a Surely 1x1 hub that is silver. This wheel came with the Ti IBIS when I first bought it. It was set up for Bike Polo with a 50 inch gear and freewheel. I intend on keeping this as my trials wheel. 32 spokes, straight 16 gauge, and of course brass nipples. This wheel is meant to be abused and used heavily.
I have two Schwable 24x1.5 Kojak slicks that are really only 23.5 inches in diameter. This tire is discontinued but has proven to be durable and mucho long lasting. Very light in weight and also has a belt of armor. Pretty much makes the Ti IBIS like a BMX bike. Climbs and accelerates like a MoFo.
For a front tire to pair with the Kojak I love the Rene Herse 26x1.8 that only has a diameter of 25.5 inches. This tire also is light in weight and contributes to a BMX small bike like ride. As I remember I utilized a 46-16T to get a 63.59 inch gear with a perfect chain and no need for a chain tensioner, and the bike as a single speed rigid only weighed 17 pounds With an IBIS type II rigid fork.
Then I have a few sets of Schwable Billy Bonkers to exploit In 24x2.0 rear and 26x2.1 front. These tires are a full 26 inch diameter and push up the gear inches above 65.
Right now the Ti IBIS has been fully optimized as a 2x11 trail bike with a tricked out rebuilt Rock Shox Judy XC that weighs in just under 22 pounds. This is not a bike I would use for Blue Mountain, and for that style of technical ride I have my Steel IBIS set up as a 1x11.
At this point the Ti IBIS sits kinda garaged and unused, but some obsessive thinking wants me to keep the 2x11 capability kitted out where a re-install would just require a new set of shifter cables.
I need to buy another set of Paul Components Neo-Retro brakes that were kinda built for tandems. Not the best for clearance, but as a front brake there are no clearance issues and it is moot. This enables me to kit out and rig my rigid fork as an assembly for an EZ-PZ conversion from suspension to rigid.
I can then remove the 2x11 drivetrain and even the two brake levers somewhat assembled or semi-assembled. I have this Paul Duplex brake lever that actuates both the front and rear that is an elegant design for a single speed.
I figure to up the workout when I take “Maggie” out for a ride I will save my XTR drivetrains and ride single speed. No sense in wearing out the middle cog on a cassette just spinning.
Then I have the idea of lowering the seat and riding standing on the bike. Of course this is not energy efficient, but I have heard stories of riders who bare incredible strength riding without a saddle and seatpost.
Our rides are kinda slow and pretty much are too easy for me to be called a workout. More of a warmup where I use leg speed instead of pushing gears on these rides.
I love the Ti IBIS as a 2x11, but on pavement the 91.64 gear inch top gear leads to spin outs and not practical. It has gearing optimized for off-road. I would rather ride this bike rather than having it sit around. A conversion to off-road is about $10.00 for a set of stainless steel shifter cables.
Also I could use the single speed to do intervals riding the rolling hills and climbs on my training loop. I have a detour from the steep quarter mile climb from the train station up Hudson Street. Standing and pushing big gears is part of my style.
I also have to buy another Rene Herse Natches Pass. My spare pair went into building out Maggie’s Yo Betty.
BTW the 16 tooth White Industries freewheel on my trials wheel is locked on the rim. I tried even nutting the Park tool in a vise and using the wheel for increased leverage. Today I will mount a tire for better grip and more leverage. I might have to go by A.J.’s and see if two men can apply enough force to remove the 16T freewheel.
This 16T freewheel would be of good use on the Sun Ringle wheel. The Middleburn cranks I use have modular spiders so it is EZ-PZ for gear changes. A 48-16tT can provide a killer 72 inch gear to hammer on with a 24 inch diameter tire. Changing chainring, chain, and a wheel would be EZ-PZ and really usefull.
I would exploit the 23.5 inch diameter of the Schwable Kojak for an ideal 63.59 gear inch, and then exploit the 24 inch diameter of a Schwable Billy Bonkers for a very cool 72 gear inch. I checked on a chain calculator to verify that I would have a “perfect chain” needing no chain tensioner for 72 inch gear. Last time I had the 72 inch hammer gear was on the steel IBIS that has horizontal drop outs.
How cool having a perfect chain for 63.59 inch and 72 inch. Mighty cool if not perfect for me. I want to be one of those legends you hear about at the LBS: the old man who rides every day, that is mucho strong, that can drop the hammer.
Might have to buy another White Industries 16T freewheel if the 16T I already own is locked on permanently. A 20-16T made either a 30 inch gear or 31.5 inch gear depending on rear tire diameter. Excessive high torque tightened on the freewheel but good. It might be permanent. Oh-well…
Cal
What a trophy of a bike.
Lots of love and passion went into the restoration.
Also this harnessed and utilized a lot of skills and knowledge from the past.
I have to say a real beauty.
Don’t tell anyone but our talk of single speed inspired me to go into the basement and look into my inventory of three 24 inch wheels.
I have an Answer 36 hole Pinnacle Pro BMX racing rim built out on a White Industries ENO hub in all black, even the butted spokes and nipples. Pure evil.
Then there is a Sun Ringle 32 hole rim also built upon a White Industries ENO, also in all black, but with straight gauge and brass nipples. This wheel was built to be bombproof.
Lastly I have a Rhyno Lite wheel with a Surely 1x1 hub that is silver. This wheel came with the Ti IBIS when I first bought it. It was set up for Bike Polo with a 50 inch gear and freewheel. I intend on keeping this as my trials wheel. 32 spokes, straight 16 gauge, and of course brass nipples. This wheel is meant to be abused and used heavily.
I have two Schwable 24x1.5 Kojak slicks that are really only 23.5 inches in diameter. This tire is discontinued but has proven to be durable and mucho long lasting. Very light in weight and also has a belt of armor. Pretty much makes the Ti IBIS like a BMX bike. Climbs and accelerates like a MoFo.
For a front tire to pair with the Kojak I love the Rene Herse 26x1.8 that only has a diameter of 25.5 inches. This tire also is light in weight and contributes to a BMX small bike like ride. As I remember I utilized a 46-16T to get a 63.59 inch gear with a perfect chain and no need for a chain tensioner, and the bike as a single speed rigid only weighed 17 pounds With an IBIS type II rigid fork.
Then I have a few sets of Schwable Billy Bonkers to exploit In 24x2.0 rear and 26x2.1 front. These tires are a full 26 inch diameter and push up the gear inches above 65.
Right now the Ti IBIS has been fully optimized as a 2x11 trail bike with a tricked out rebuilt Rock Shox Judy XC that weighs in just under 22 pounds. This is not a bike I would use for Blue Mountain, and for that style of technical ride I have my Steel IBIS set up as a 1x11.
At this point the Ti IBIS sits kinda garaged and unused, but some obsessive thinking wants me to keep the 2x11 capability kitted out where a re-install would just require a new set of shifter cables.
I need to buy another set of Paul Components Neo-Retro brakes that were kinda built for tandems. Not the best for clearance, but as a front brake there are no clearance issues and it is moot. This enables me to kit out and rig my rigid fork as an assembly for an EZ-PZ conversion from suspension to rigid.
I can then remove the 2x11 drivetrain and even the two brake levers somewhat assembled or semi-assembled. I have this Paul Duplex brake lever that actuates both the front and rear that is an elegant design for a single speed.
I figure to up the workout when I take “Maggie” out for a ride I will save my XTR drivetrains and ride single speed. No sense in wearing out the middle cog on a cassette just spinning.
Then I have the idea of lowering the seat and riding standing on the bike. Of course this is not energy efficient, but I have heard stories of riders who bare incredible strength riding without a saddle and seatpost.
Our rides are kinda slow and pretty much are too easy for me to be called a workout. More of a warmup where I use leg speed instead of pushing gears on these rides.
I love the Ti IBIS as a 2x11, but on pavement the 91.64 gear inch top gear leads to spin outs and not practical. It has gearing optimized for off-road. I would rather ride this bike rather than having it sit around. A conversion to off-road is about $10.00 for a set of stainless steel shifter cables.
Also I could use the single speed to do intervals riding the rolling hills and climbs on my training loop. I have a detour from the steep quarter mile climb from the train station up Hudson Street. Standing and pushing big gears is part of my style.
I also have to buy another Rene Herse Natches Pass. My spare pair went into building out Maggie’s Yo Betty.
BTW the 16 tooth White Industries freewheel on my trials wheel is locked on the rim. I tried even nutting the Park tool in a vise and using the wheel for increased leverage. Today I will mount a tire for better grip and more leverage. I might have to go by A.J.’s and see if two men can apply enough force to remove the 16T freewheel.
This 16T freewheel would be of good use on the Sun Ringle wheel. The Middleburn cranks I use have modular spiders so it is EZ-PZ for gear changes. A 48-16tT can provide a killer 72 inch gear to hammer on with a 24 inch diameter tire. Changing chainring, chain, and a wheel would be EZ-PZ and really usefull.
I would exploit the 23.5 inch diameter of the Schwable Kojak for an ideal 63.59 gear inch, and then exploit the 24 inch diameter of a Schwable Billy Bonkers for a very cool 72 gear inch. I checked on a chain calculator to verify that I would have a “perfect chain” needing no chain tensioner for 72 inch gear. Last time I had the 72 inch hammer gear was on the steel IBIS that has horizontal drop outs.
How cool having a perfect chain for 63.59 inch and 72 inch. Mighty cool if not perfect for me. I want to be one of those legends you hear about at the LBS: the old man who rides every day, that is mucho strong, that can drop the hammer.
Might have to buy another White Industries 16T freewheel if the 16T I already own is locked on permanently. A 20-16T made either a 30 inch gear or 31.5 inch gear depending on rear tire diameter. Excessive high torque tightened on the freewheel but good. It might be permanent. Oh-well…
Cal
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Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Cal,
Nothing is affixed permanently. Nothing. You just need a good vise, sharp tools and a long pipe. A little Kroil helps too.
Thanks all for the praise on the bike. I'll get some photos in good light after this storm blows over and we have a clear day, which looks like Wednesday.
Supposedly my friend up in Bucks County has a set of original fenders for me. We'll see their condition (probably outstanding) and decide to put those on as users or as ones for show.
The Barelli pedals are getting a set of GB stainless toe cages with white Zefal leather straps once that fixed cog arrives.
Phil
Nothing is affixed permanently. Nothing. You just need a good vise, sharp tools and a long pipe. A little Kroil helps too.
Thanks all for the praise on the bike. I'll get some photos in good light after this storm blows over and we have a clear day, which looks like Wednesday.
Supposedly my friend up in Bucks County has a set of original fenders for me. We'll see their condition (probably outstanding) and decide to put those on as users or as ones for show.
The Barelli pedals are getting a set of GB stainless toe cages with white Zefal leather straps once that fixed cog arrives.
Phil
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
I secured the Park Tool by reversing the axel nut to prevent slippage and damage, and then I locked the Park tool into my bench vise, this time with a tire mounted for added grip and leverage. Still locked on like two dogs…
BTW the best compliment I can say is that your new/old bike is a rolling museum. It is mighty cool and a huge accomplishment. BTW it looks fast. How cool is that.
Now you have to get some wool jerseys. LOL.
Cal
I secured the Park Tool by reversing the axel nut to prevent slippage and damage, and then I locked the Park tool into my bench vise, this time with a tire mounted for added grip and leverage. Still locked on like two dogs…
BTW the best compliment I can say is that your new/old bike is a rolling museum. It is mighty cool and a huge accomplishment. BTW it looks fast. How cool is that.
Now you have to get some wool jerseys. LOL.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Between a pause in the rain I field tested the Ti IBIS and the Newsboy. What great bikes.
Another idea instead of single speed is use a 48 Wolf Tooth chainring and using the 11-40T cassette make the Ti IBIS a 1x11 “fitness-bike.”
Still I would strip out the suspension fork and make the bike a full rigid, also would change the tires and remove the front derailleur and shifter.
My thinking is a wider spread between gears, less gears and taller gears is all I need. I think I will still purchase a Paul’s Components Neo Retro brake to make changing from suspension to rigid and back EZ-PZ. Each fork would be kitted out.
Because I’m retired I daydream more like when I was a kid. I live in a world of possibilities, and I like it.
Cal
Another idea instead of single speed is use a 48 Wolf Tooth chainring and using the 11-40T cassette make the Ti IBIS a 1x11 “fitness-bike.”
Still I would strip out the suspension fork and make the bike a full rigid, also would change the tires and remove the front derailleur and shifter.
My thinking is a wider spread between gears, less gears and taller gears is all I need. I think I will still purchase a Paul’s Components Neo Retro brake to make changing from suspension to rigid and back EZ-PZ. Each fork would be kitted out.
Because I’m retired I daydream more like when I was a kid. I live in a world of possibilities, and I like it.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I exchanged the 12AT7 with a gain of 60 to a 6072 (12AY7 equivalent) with a gain of 44. This kinda hit a sweet spot for me and was easy.
The reverb effect is less in my face and toned down a bit, and for now optimized enough for me. I am pleased.
Took advantage of the poor overcast and pause in the rain to remove the bedroom air conditioner and remove the sun screen off the pergola that provides shade during the summer. I am pleased that this sunscreen so far lasted 2 years and there seems to be a third and maybe a fourth year of life left. Maybe more…
Lazy weather, but I’ll make the most of it. More rain after Wednesday’s break. Oh-well.
Cal
The reverb effect is less in my face and toned down a bit, and for now optimized enough for me. I am pleased.
Took advantage of the poor overcast and pause in the rain to remove the bedroom air conditioner and remove the sun screen off the pergola that provides shade during the summer. I am pleased that this sunscreen so far lasted 2 years and there seems to be a third and maybe a fourth year of life left. Maybe more…
Lazy weather, but I’ll make the most of it. More rain after Wednesday’s break. Oh-well.
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Already have two merino wool jerseys! Can't wait for the nice fall weather to kick in, sans rain.
As far as my museum piece bike, I don't think I'm there, but not too far away from that. I had feelers and watched items for creating a true museum restoration but I wanted to actually ride the bike. This is a user frame with a ton of paint blemishes and even one small shallow dent in the non-drive-side chainstay, so what I did is I felt I honored the time period but didn't do it really spot-on. Had I done it more "correct" I would have built up the bike using a pair of Constrictor stainless steel rims, a Reynolds seatpost, and a Regina single-speed freewheel. If I wanted to go all-out with a crazy build, I would have found a Sturmey ASC 3-speed fixed gear freewheel (that's just a fantasy right there, as they run close to $1000 for a working hub with the proper shifter). These Clubman bikes (made by Raleigh, Humber, and Rudge) were kind of built up to order in various rider schemes: upright single speed commuter, upright sporty commuter 4 or 3 speed, drop bar sports bike 4 or 3 speed, drop bar 3 speed fixed gear, drop bar single speed track/path racer. Each of these build schemes has their pros and cons. l chose mostly the latter, with the addition of a 2-speed freewheel, which goes along the more racing lineage of the hollow bottom bracket spindle.
What I didn't want to do was to create a bike which I valued so much that I wouldn't want to ride it.
Next build, I want to find something with really long horizontal dropouts, like Campagnolo 1010s or some of the heavy stamped British dropouts. I have an insane idea brewing.
As far as my museum piece bike, I don't think I'm there, but not too far away from that. I had feelers and watched items for creating a true museum restoration but I wanted to actually ride the bike. This is a user frame with a ton of paint blemishes and even one small shallow dent in the non-drive-side chainstay, so what I did is I felt I honored the time period but didn't do it really spot-on. Had I done it more "correct" I would have built up the bike using a pair of Constrictor stainless steel rims, a Reynolds seatpost, and a Regina single-speed freewheel. If I wanted to go all-out with a crazy build, I would have found a Sturmey ASC 3-speed fixed gear freewheel (that's just a fantasy right there, as they run close to $1000 for a working hub with the proper shifter). These Clubman bikes (made by Raleigh, Humber, and Rudge) were kind of built up to order in various rider schemes: upright single speed commuter, upright sporty commuter 4 or 3 speed, drop bar sports bike 4 or 3 speed, drop bar 3 speed fixed gear, drop bar single speed track/path racer. Each of these build schemes has their pros and cons. l chose mostly the latter, with the addition of a 2-speed freewheel, which goes along the more racing lineage of the hollow bottom bracket spindle.
What I didn't want to do was to create a bike which I valued so much that I wouldn't want to ride it.
Next build, I want to find something with really long horizontal dropouts, like Campagnolo 1010s or some of the heavy stamped British dropouts. I have an insane idea brewing.
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The Schwable Billy Bonkers tires are used/designed for Pump Track. I started looking into what is Pump Track.
Basically the physics of using your entire body like in pumping a kid’s swing causes acceleration using rollers and berms. No peddling required.
Very interesting…
Back in 2012 they proposed building a pump track at Blue Mountain, but it never happened.
This type of riding developes your core and upper body strength.
Since my Ti IBIS somewhat resembles a BMX bike especially interesting. You want a stiff frame, and a bike that corners well to harness your body movements fully.
My yard is too small to build a pump track. Don’t tell “Maggie.”
Yet another daydream…
Cal
Basically the physics of using your entire body like in pumping a kid’s swing causes acceleration using rollers and berms. No peddling required.
Very interesting…
Back in 2012 they proposed building a pump track at Blue Mountain, but it never happened.
This type of riding developes your core and upper body strength.
Since my Ti IBIS somewhat resembles a BMX bike especially interesting. You want a stiff frame, and a bike that corners well to harness your body movements fully.
My yard is too small to build a pump track. Don’t tell “Maggie.”
Yet another daydream…
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Cal, it looks like there are pump tracks in Highbridge NYC, Port Jervis, and New Paltz, for reasonably close to you, also way out on LI, and up west of Albany. If you're ever down in Philly, there is a pump track a mile or so from my house. I know the guy who started it.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
This type of riding is interesting. A very different kind of workout.
In my wanderings I know of the pump track in Highbridge.
Highbridge Park more or less is an overgrown unmaintained park full of homeless. On the extreme northern end are some mountain bike trails, but there is mucho broken glass and needles liter the area.
I once walked Highbridge Park end to end. At each entrance to the park in Washington Heights is a no Bar-B-Q sign, but mobs of families are all cooking right in front of the signs. Just a few feet into the park it is vacant because it is unsafe.
It takes a lot of balls to walk inside basically a no man’s land. Pretty much about a decade ago I was in Gladiator mode in that park. Any hassle the rule of law was kill or be killed. Back then the homeless did not go there, only drug addicts.
I did not understand the physics of a pump track until today. Just so interesting.
Cal
This type of riding is interesting. A very different kind of workout.
In my wanderings I know of the pump track in Highbridge.
Highbridge Park more or less is an overgrown unmaintained park full of homeless. On the extreme northern end are some mountain bike trails, but there is mucho broken glass and needles liter the area.
I once walked Highbridge Park end to end. At each entrance to the park in Washington Heights is a no Bar-B-Q sign, but mobs of families are all cooking right in front of the signs. Just a few feet into the park it is vacant because it is unsafe.
It takes a lot of balls to walk inside basically a no man’s land. Pretty much about a decade ago I was in Gladiator mode in that park. Any hassle the rule of law was kill or be killed. Back then the homeless did not go there, only drug addicts.
I did not understand the physics of a pump track until today. Just so interesting.
Cal