HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: blagdon@engin.umich.edu (Kenneth James Clark )
Subject: Re: Gas subsidies and taxes (was Re: Bicycle Paths
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 15:42:07 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

Tom asks for statistics:

>Silicon Valley is said to have 65% of it's employees living more
>than 10 miles away. That is entirely beyond the realm of easy
>commuting for the vast majority of the people you would "help"
>with your ideas of "improvement".

Silicon Valley appears to be an exception to the rule.  From the
1990 Nationwide Personal Transportation Study: Summary of Travel Trends
(U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration):

Average Vehicle Trip Length (miles)
                1969    1977    1983    1990
Home to Work    9.4     9.1     8.5     11.0

These figures are *round trip*.


I asked for statistics showing that:
>Before automobiles most
>people didn't use mass transit. They used single transportation and
>the most common form was the horse. The polution and expense of this
>form of single transportation was also subsidized by society and
>the filth and disease caused by draught animals were well known.

I'm still waiting.

Tom:
>And I suggest that if you were to give your ideas about taking away
>people's cars in a large crowd you would be taking your life in your
>hands.

This to my post calling for a decrease in use of automobiles for
individual transportation.  Specifically:

>Note that we're not even calling for that;  just a decrease in
>individual commutes by forcing motorists to pay the full economic and
>social costs of their activity.  AKA a market-based disincentive.
>An increase of transportation fuels costs phased in over five
>to ten years would allow ample time for motorists to reduce their fuel
>use, by buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle, reducing their commute
>distance, or taking another form of transportation.

You'll note that I never said 'take away people's cars'.  If they want
to get rid of their cars, fine.  That's their decision.  I'm calling
for an end to auto-subsidies.  If people discover their car is too
expensive when they have to pay its real costs, they can decide to get
rid of it.

Tom:
>As for your ideas of people working closer to where they live (or
>vise versa.) How would you do that?

The market will do that for them.  I won't go into basic supply and
demand in the housing market.  The same market forces that turn corn
fields into subdivisions will also produce housing where it's in demand.

I'm still waiting for Tom's statistics saying:
>Mass transit can help, but too many jobs in the developed countries
>are too far flung to make mass transportation a _simple_
>alternative.

I believe my statistics quoted above call this statement into question.
Note also that until the 1990 study, Home to Work travel distances were
decreasing.

Ken
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: choy@skorpio.usask.ca (I am a terminator.)
Subject: Re: Carbon-bike
Organization: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 19:51:19 GMT

In article <XN05QGK@netmbx.netmbx.de>, rcedv@netmbx.netmbx.de (R. Cirksena) writes:
|> 
|> Newsgroups: de.rec.fahrrad
|> Path: netmbx!rcedv
|> From: rcedv@netmbx.netmbx.de (R. Cirksena)
|> Subject: Rennrad aus Karbon
|> Organization: netmbx, Berlin, Germany
|> Distribution: de
|> Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1992 14:02:38 GMT
|> Message-ID: <FKY5T8N@netmbx.netmbx.de>
|> Lines: 25
|> 
|> 
|> Hi.
|> 
|> I plan to buy a racing bike (correct english?).

No. English is capitalized. English.

|> I know already how to ride
|> a bicycle :-)).

That's a good start.

|> But before I do it, I have a few questions:
|> 1. Has someone out there any experiences with a trek 2100 bike?

I know someone with a Trek 1200. It goes like snot. I've got a Trek
6000, which is the mountain bike version of the 1200 (about the same
class of materials and price)

|> 2. What do you think about a carbon-frame (muffed) in general?

I don't think about it, but you trade off strength and mass and wonder
what the components are like. Money is a factor in my life.

|> 3. I think I have to spend about 1100 ... 1700 $ for a bike. Is this a 
|>    realistic price? 

It is real if you are a real person with such a desire or destiny. Myself,
I have a racing bike I'm willing to trade as is for a picture of the Queen
on legal tender with TWENTY DOLLARS printed on it.

|> bye,
|> 
|> +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|> | Ralf Cirksena        |_______________Email: rcedv@netmbx.UUCP___________|
|> |                      |        If I knew everything I don't know yet,    |
|> | 1000 Berlin 36       |      I whould like to forget everything I know.  |
|> +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Henry Choy
choy@cs.usask.ca
From: RONEAL@lexmark.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Lead and Commuting
Date: 17 Aug 92 20:19:46 GMT
Organization: Lexmark International, Lexington, KY
X-Disclaimer: These views are the poster's and not necessarily those of Lexmark

In article <1992Aug17.150638.12202@maths.tcd.ie>
bpaul@maths.tcd.ie (Barry Paul) writes:
 
>Does anyone out there know what effect car fumes and other pollutants
>have on the commuting cyclist. In particular I am interested in blood
>lead levels. Is this a problem for people cycling in traffic? Is there
>any simple way of measuring the qty of lead in your blood? Do masks
>filter lead out, if so what are the best types and where can I get one?
 
Lead, shmead... give me a filter I can wear all the time to prevent inhalation
of those nasty little alpha particles which are discharged from unstable
plutonium... just one of these inhaled can cause cancer in the victim when it
decides to decay... and that stuff has a half life of 24,000 years!!!  We may
all die because of Chernobyl... or Hiroshima, Alamagordo, etc.  Bad thing is
that though something as simple as paper or skin can filter them out, they're
so tiny (a mere fraction of an atom) they could be anywhere... just outside
that filter when you arrive home and 'safe' and you jerk the filter off.  One
deep breath for a sigh of relief and you've just inhaled a time-bomb and you
didn't even notice it!  Might not notice it for years either... tick, tick,
tick, *BOOM*!
 
I'd rather worry about the drivers on my commute... if I'm driving I still
have to contend with the lead and other noxious fumes (and those blasted
little alpha particles).
 
 
Randy O'Neal  RONEAL@lexmark.com     Printer Attach Software Development
                                     Lexmark International, Inc.
-- Weinberg's Law --                 Lexington, Ky.
'If builders built buildings like
 programmers wrote programs, then                                     __o
 the first woodpecker that came      "The views above are not those  `\<,
 along would destroy civilization.'   of my employer... just mine."  O/ O
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: All that fat
From: royce@mdcbbs.com (Royce D. Myers EDS/Unigraphics)
Date: 17 Aug 92 11:55:51 GMT
Organization: Electronic Data Systems, Unigraphics Division, Cypress CA
Nntp-Posting-User: cook

Cathy Foulston writes:

>My doctor sez that regular exercise raises HDL levels.  Perhaps this
>explains some of the beneficial effects of exercise.

This has also been documented in the Berkely Wellness letter and Muscle and
Fitness magazine (not that the latter can be counted on for nutritional
advice).  Exercize is thought to _increase_ HDL ("good stuff").  Diet is
thought to control LDL ("bad stuff"); saturated fat consumption is thought to
increase LDL levels more than even direct consumption of cholesterol.
-- 
Royce Myers			EDS Unigraphics
royce@mdcbbs.com 		"Work is the curse of the biking class"
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: blagdon@engin.umich.edu (Kenneth James Clark )
Subject: Re: Gas Taxes (was: Bicycle Paths)
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 92 08:54:16 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

In article <1992Aug12.141058.10611@javelin.sim.es.com> bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com writes:
>
>This idea of course overly penalizes those who cannot reasonably be
>expected to ride bicycles -- old people, disabled & handicapped, or

Or reasonably be expected to drive cars.  Higher gas taxes would tend to 
encourage mass transit use, which would open more routes, better serving
the above groups.  Also note that many doctors are now suggesting that 
elderly people get more exercise.

>who live an inordinate amount of distance from their jobs.  

Perhaps such people should be penalized.  They contribute to urban
sprawl and waste of resources.  I suggest you find some statistics that 
say these people *have* to live so far from work.  For most people, 
housing is available close to their workplace.  

>It is a
>stupid idea proposed on an annual basis by narrow-minded, immature,
>egocentric individuals.

Like people who call others names?  :-)

What I don't like about the idea: I can think of much better things to 
do with such fee revenue than build bike paths.  What I do like:  less
urban sprawl, better roads (ie. paved shoulders, fewer potholes, 
wider lanes), more mass transit usage, less cars to over-congest
roadways, more respect for alternatives (like cycling), reduced trade
deficit (less oil importing, less auto importing).  Stupid like
Einstein (a fellow cyclist BTW).

Ken
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: MTB for a really big guy
From: jcb (Jim Becker)
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:35:04 GMT
Return-Path: <jcb>
To: postnews



i'm 6'9" and have weighted in the same range... :^)

my first mt. bike was back when they had larger frame sizes, and was a
Univega @ around 22 1/2". for a cheap bike find  one  of  these  used.
mine  is  now  ten  years  old,  so  should  be  cheap.  got a Charlie
Cunningham  340mm  seattube for it. (which now has a piece of plumbing
pipe pounded up it for extra strength!)

last  year  i fell in love with a Gary Fisher SuperCaliber, which is a
wonderful machine. oversize aluminum and very strong. it's 21 1/2" but
has an extended and oversize seat post. i really pound  the  bike  and
it's very solid. recommend it highly, if you have the money. 

you  can make up for frame size with seat tube length, and people have
moved to smaller framed mt. bikes in the past ten years anyway.

-jim

--
 -Jim Becker / jcb@ncd.com   /   Network Computing Devices, Inc. (NCD)
From: bobnob@west.darkside.com (Allan "Arnold" Anders)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Drillium
Date: 17 Aug 92 17:05:19 GMT
Organization: The Dark Side of the Moon +1 408 245 SPAM

sangster@med.wcc.govt.nz writes:

> In article <1992Aug13.162054.11196@overload.lbl.gov>, chris@carnival.lbl.gov 
> >Kurt Brunton writes:
> >> I have some old components sitting around and the thought occurred to me
> >> of drilling these out to make some light weight parts.  Is there anyone
> >> who knows of the best way to drill components
> >
> >How To Drill Out Bike Parts:
> >
> 
If you run out of other parts to drill you can save a whole lot of
weight by drilling out your water bottles ;-)
From: roat@rrc.chevron.com (Suzanne Roat,Chevron,(510)242-5313)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Aluminum's Lifespan
Date: 13 Aug 92 14:28:17 GMT
Reply-To: roat@rrc.chevron.com
Organization: Chevron, Richmond, California

While people continue to try to relate the lifespan of an aluminum bike to
that of aluminum planes how about a story about a flying bike.  Three years ago
on the way back from Florida to Tennessee after the Bike Across Florida ride, I had
occasion to witness this.  We were driving a 15 passenger van with 10 bikes on top
up I-95.  While cruising along in heavy traffic at 65 MPH, the bike on the outside
right of the rack decided it did not want to return to Tennessee.  It leaped off
the rack - wheel tray and all - and cartwheeled down the shoulder for about
a quarter of a mile.  All we could do was watch, holding a breath praying it did not
decide to tangle with the 18-wheelers behind us.  Fortunately, it rolled to a stop
and came to rest on the shoulder.  We backed up down the shoulder to survey the
wreckage.  The bike - a Cannondale (turned Airdale) - suffered from a trashed rim,
bent handle bars, and a giant-sized bite out of the saddle.  The frame - aluminum -
was perfectly intact, including the fork and is still ridden today by the original
owner.

Since the bike racks made it all the way to Florida through a driving rainstorm,
across Florida and back, and halfway back home, we suspect the rack was
tampered with while we stopped for lunch.  It was shortly after our stop that 
the tray slid off the poles.  Someone loosened the tray and fork mount bolts
causing the whole rig to slide right off.  Several morals I guess:  Don't mount
trays outside the rack support posts, check to make sure bolts are tight after stops
involving time out of sight of rack, and most importantly, aluminum frames are
a lot tougher than some people think.

---
Suzanne Roat				Phone:	(510) 242-5313 Voice 
Chevron Research and Technology Company		(510) 242-4647 FAX
100 Chevron Way				Email:	roat@rrc.chevron.com
Richmond, CA  94802-0627

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: M23231@mwvm.mitre.org
Subject: FAQ list
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 15:01:53 GMT

Is there a FAQ list for this forum? When & where posted?
Thanks,
From: tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Women's Tour de France updates anyone?
Date: 21 Aug 92 17:59:05 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

In article <MLY.92Aug20224308@atalanta.parc.xerox.com> Mly@LCS.MIT.EDU writes:
>In article <1992Aug20.223325.6595@javelin.sim.es.com> bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com (Bob Geer) writes:
>
>   >Who cares about the women's Tour ?! (provoke provoke).
>
>   That's *not* the way to find a girlfriend who cycles...
>
>There are reasons to be interested in the performance of skilled
>(female) athletes beyond a bizarre hope of attracting "lycra babes"
>thereby.

I find the women's racing, at least here in America, to be as 
interesting, if not more so, than the men's competition.

After all, the American women are with the very best in the world.
While the American men are still pretty much second string.
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: tlt38517@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Terry Thiel)
Subject: Re: MYTH or FACT: Do bicycle helmets wear out from age?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 16:12:05 GMT

bushnell@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com (William D. Bushnell) writes:
>I have heard from a variety of sources that the shock-absorbing styrofoam in
>bicycle helmets loses its ability to absorb the shock of impact as it ages.
>Since I have not seen any mention of this in published literature,
>namely the Consumer Reports May, 1990 article, helmet manufacturers'
>advertisements, and the rec.bicycles FAQ file, I am skeptical.
>I ask this because I continue to use and to be happy with the only helmet I've
>ever owned: an aging, heavy, but uncrashed Bell helmet circa 1976.  Should I
>retire it and buy something safer, lighter and more :-) stylish?
I think your helmet is probably OK although it must be heavy.  As an aside I
would not take anything consumer reports says very seriously.  Especially
when they're talking aobut bikes or bike accessories.
-Terry
From: BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Descending hills
Date: 15 Aug 92 00:33:53 GMT

This is a good one to read in the FAQ file.  It just came out the
other day and it saves you the trouble of going through the whole
thing again.  The subject has been written about often.

In view of the suggestions given I think much of it is bad advice.
Many have suggested how to go fast and how fast to go.  Let me
suggest to not go any faster than your safe feelings.  Go as slow
as you see fit to preserve assurance that you are not exceeding
your own safe limits.  Speed may or may not come with time.  This
is not important and don't let comments of others intimidate you
into speeding up.

If you want to know about technique, read the FAQ.  There are two
essays there on the subject and I think they cover most of what
matters.

jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: crwg2707@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (R. Wagner)
Subject: Re: saddle problem
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 15:09:02 GMT
Keywords: pelvic bone saddle

Another possibility is the Avocet Gelflex women's saddle.  I know it sounds
"girly" but my wife has one on her MTB which I recently rode offroad (I killed
my BB), and it is very comfortable.  It has a wider rear section and the nose
is shorter than a "men's" saddle and it's fairly squishy.  If you're a weight
freak you probably won't like it since it's somewhat heavier than a turbo,
but it's nice to ride on.  Hope this helps.


Ride on, 
Raydude.

"Ray, a man unburdened by the rigors of coherent thought." 
          -a Brannonism quoted by George Heinz

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: jbrill@unlinfo.unl.edu (james brill)
Subject: Road/Mountain biking in Flagstaff, AZ?
Organization: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 16:01:15 GMT

As a person who is thinking about moving to Flagstaff can
someone tell me how the biking is?  I don't have a car
(or a television for that matter) so ride often and 
everywhere.  Is there good single track?  Are there good
road climbs?  Will I still need my wool tights?  What is
the meaning of life?  But I digress.  Thanks for the help!
--
* JIM BRILL              * ...eternal dissent and the ravages         *
* University of Nebraska *    of faction are preferable to the        *
* jbrill@unlinfo.unl.edu *    voluntary servitude of blind obedience. *
* Free-lance Homo Sapien *                             -Edward Dorn-  *
From: shenry@cs.rice.edu (Sam Henry)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Dual pivot calipers (?)
Date: 19 Aug 1992 21:20:20 GMT
Organization: Rice University, Houston

>In article <92231.161336ERSHC@CUNYVM.BITNET> Eric Schweitzer
<ERSHC@CUNYVM.BITNET> duals: 
>
>(discussion about dual pivot brakes)

In article <9a!nvg_.tomk@netcom.com> tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H.
Kunich) brakes us: 

>How about because they are twice as powerful, need only a finger to
>actuate and are much easier to adjust?

I can "actuate" the cantilevers on my touring bike to bring it to a
complete stop from 15 mph--with one finger.  A quicker stop takes 2
fingers, a fast stop takes 3, and a Houston-traffic-panic takes a
fist. 

This is pretty much the same for the dual pivot calipers on the
Bianchi. 


-- 
sam henry <shenry@rice.edu>
Wanna ride?
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: test
From: douglas@mri.com (Douglas Blaisdell)
Date: 13 Aug 92 16:46:30 GMT
Organization: Microtec Research Inc., Santa Clara, CA

BThis is a test, this is a test of the rec.bicycles system
for the next 60 sec...
DB
q
Q
:q
:Q

:end
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: yogi@coombs.anu.edu.au (Michael Hanslip)
Subject: Re: Road tires
Organization: Computer Services Centre, Australian National University
Distribution: na
Date: 13 Aug 92 11:16:39 GMT

bmug@garnet.berkeley.edu (BMUG) writes:

>Comments on Conti Grand Prix, Specialized Turbo C family, or Michelin
>Hi-Lite family of road tires?

>Or any other clinchers that merit attention?

>Thanks!
I have been through about 3 sets of HiLites (comps and super comps) and 
thought they were pretty good. I liked them better than the Spec'd Turbo S
I got on the bike. My new Trek has Matrix 5F's on it and they seem as good
or better than the Michelins but I question their durability as they already
have a couple spots on the sidewalls that look a little iffy-I must have either
pinched them or hit a sharp object that partly cut the sidewall-a new thing
for me. I rarely ever get flats despite riding a lot and weighing a lot.
My friend rides Grand Prix tires and I think they might be the best of the 
lot if his ranting is to be believed. He is a convert from Michelin.
Michael Hanslip.
yogi@coombs.anu.edu.au

>John Heckendorn
>-- 
>                                                             /\
>BMUG                      ARPA: bmug@garnet.berkeley.EDU    A__A
>1442A Walnut St., #62     BITNET: bmug@ucbgarne             |()|
>Berkeley, CA  94709       Phone: (415) 549-2684             |  |
From: kol@hal.nta.no (Karl Olav Lillevold FST Student)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: MountainBike image (raytraced)
Date: 19 Aug 92 08:31:45 GMT
Organization: Norwegian Telecom Research

Hi,

I recently made a raytraced picture of a mountainbike, and
I've now posted it to alt.binaries.pictures.misc.
I used the program Rayshade and the result is worth
a look, even though it's a bit artificial.
 
 Karl Olav Lillevold                email: kol@hal.nta.no
 Student Norwegian Institute of Technology  (electronics)
 Diploma at Norwegian Telecom Research (image processing)
From: kelvin@kickapoo.cs.iastate.edu (Kelvin Don Nilsen)
Subject: Re: Tandems - help from experienced riders please?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 04:27:09 GMT


My wife and I too just bought a tandem.  I am the more experienced
 rider and am captaining.  We too are looking for hints from
 the experts.  Perhaps some of you need to be reminded of typical
 neophyte problems.

Here are some of the specific questions that we have:

  How should the stoker/captain cooperate when leaning into corners?
   (Sometimes, it feels like my stoker is fighting me on corners.
    Other times, I hardly notice she's there.  Are there any 
    "guidelines" for the stoker/captain?)
 
  Starting and stopping is somewhat inconvenient, but we're getting
   used to it.  My wife stays in the peddles always and I muscle
   the bike around whenever it's not rolling.  but this is awkward
   for me (and tiring in stop-and-go city traffic).  are there better 
   ways?

  Mounting the tandem is a bit of a trick for me.  My seat posts are
   always high enough that stepping over them is no easy task.  On
   my single bike, I always mount by stepping into the left peddle and
   beginning to roll before swinging my leg over.  I can't do this
   on the tandem unless I take a spin by myself before returning for
   my stoker.  Suggestions?

  So far, we've not been able to both stand while peddling.  Usually,
   if we have a tough hill or just want to accelerate quickly, i'll 
   stand but my wife stays in the saddle.  I cannot rock the bike back 
   and forth with her in the saddle.  I suggested to her that we should 
   probably try to stand together.  But the one time we tried that, her 
   natural reflex to the rocking of the bike was so violent that it almost 
   sent us onto the shoulder.  I think she might have returned to the 
   saddle before the bike was really upright.  What is the best way to work 
   together when we want to peddle out of the saddles?

  Are there any good reference books that talk in depth about the techniques
   of tandem riding?  

--

Kelvin Nilsen/Dept. of Computer Science/Iowa State University/Ames, IA  50011 
 (515) 294-2259   kelvin@cs.iastate.edu  uunet!kelvin@cs.iastate.edu

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles