HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles

ma1w+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Joseph Andy) writes:

> let people driving vehicles that *can* keep up by.  Ie, that they
> would yield to the "more important" vehicle.  Importance is defined
> pretty much solely on ability to keep up with traffic.

Well, that is your opinion of vehicle importance.  However, I do
not agree with your definition.

(From one viewpoint, the most important vehicle is the one *I* happen
to be in or on at the time.)

But I could equally well propose an alternate definition of
vehicle importance:

  The importance of a vehicle is inversely proportional to the
  amount of carcinogens it dumps out per passenger mile.

I tend to like that definition a lot better than yours.  It means,
of course, that bicycles are far more important vehicles than cars
are.  Your "important" vehicle is making it hard for me to breathe
at busy intersections.  Certainly you won't like this definition.
I don't like yours either.  So now what?

Also, I am curious about your definition of vehicle importance based
on speed.  Do you mean maximum attainable speed, or maximum speed
under the conditions?  In very heavy traffic conditions where cars
are moving at a crawl, I can easily exceed their speed on my bicycle.
Am I now the most important vehicle based on your definition?
Should they all get out of my way?  (They don't!).  How about a
steep and twisty mountain descent where bicycles can go faster
than most cars.  Should the cars get out of the way?  (Again, they
don't).  If you want to apply your definition, I will at least
insist on it being applied universally.  Next time I'm in
gridlock traffic, I want all the cars to move out of my way.

   - steve
From: keho@quads.uchicago.edu (david kehoe)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Break Wind Like A Pro!
Date: 8 Apr 92 13:55:00 GMT
Reply-To: keho@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations

I noticed that every issue of Bicycling! magazine has a cover headline with 
either the word "break" or "wind".  I expect the next issue to have the cover
headline "Break Wind Like A Pro!"  

Inside, you'll find interviews with top racers about how they break wind.
Laurent Fignon will explain how he carries a few prunes in his jersey pocket in
case he can't drop members of opposing teams in a solo breakaway.  "Suck this!"
he yells as he farts in their general direction.

Mike Pigg, the triathlete, on the other hand, carries a chili dog with extra
beans and onions in his shorts (he rides without a jersey) for use when he needs
extra propulsion up a hill.

Seriously, a friend and I once had the farts on a hilly 35-mile ride.  He passed
me and farted, then I passed him and farted, then we sprinted side by side, not
looking at the scenery, just at each other.  If one of us relaxed for a instant,
the other would pass and, you know, pass.  We rooled into our destination town
45 minutes later -- we couldn't believe that we'd done 35 miles in 45 minutes,
but there we were.
-- 
"Why my thoughts are my own, when they are in, but when they are out
they are another's." - Susannah Martin, hanged for witchcraft, 1692.
Thomas David Kehoe    keho@midway.uchicago.edu    (312) 753-0119
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: dmlieber@jarthur.claremont.edu (Stu)
Subject: Indexing on an old MtB
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 20:41:15 GMT

I have a question for those of you who are familiar with older Shimano
components.  One of my friends has a Schwinn MtB that's about 5 years
old, and he wants to upgrade some of the compontents.  More specifically,
he wants to put index shifting on the bike in place of the original
friction shifting that came with the bike.  He would like to do this 
without having to replace the rear derrailuer.  The derailluer does not
give a model marking such as DX or XT, but here's what it does say.

                      Shimano
                      Light action shifting

It's all metal, unlike some of the current components that use plastic.
He wants to know if the current DX above bar shifters will work with this
derailluer.  Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

Stu
From: jayg@hpldsla.sid.hp.com (Jay Gerstenschlager)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 15:23:43 GMT
Subject: Any USCF Races on April 17-19 in Los Angeles CA ?
Organization: HP Scientific Instruments Division - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles

Hello Southern California USCF racers, 
 
       I will be staying in LA over the Easter weekend (Apr 17-19) and would 
 like to race if possible.  Does anyone from the LA area know of any races near
 the UCLA area, do not know exactly what they call that area.              

Thanks for any information, 
Jay Gerstenschlager
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: anselmo-ed@cs.yale.edu (Ed Anselmo)
Subject: Re: New buyer questions (105,Ultegra,STI,Cannondale)
Organization: Yale University, Dept. of Computer Science, New Haven, CT
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 14:38:40 GMT

ewk> You might want to check out Paramount if you can find a local
ewk> dealer.  The frames are outstanding.  If you want Ultegra, it'll
ewk> cost $1500.

If price matters :-), Branford Bike (see earlier thread -- some folks
like 'em, some don't) offered to build up a complete Shimano Ultegra
STI bike for $995 (Columbus SL frame, Campy rims -- clincher or
tubular, Conti tires, full STI gruppo, your choice of gearing / cranks
/ stems / bars).  About $200 less than the next lowest priced STI bike
that I could find (the Performance Focus).

Branford Bike is local to me; I don't know if they do bikes via mail
order.
-- 
Ed Anselmo   anselmo-ed@cs.yale.edu   {harvard,cmcl2}!yale!anselmo-ed
From: dxs@evolving.com (Dan Stanger)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: bendix 2 speed coaster brake rear hub
Date: 8 Apr 92 16:50:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: evolving.1992Apr08.165039.72532
Organization: Evolving Systems, Inc.

i want to buy a bendix 2 speed coaster brake rear hub.  does anyone
have one for sale?
dan stanger 303 969 3312
From: kab33254@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Hard Harry )
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Vetta 20 cyclocomputer
Date: 16 Apr 92 00:34:23 GMT
Article-I.D.: ux1.1992Apr16.003423.20513
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

gee what a surprise that Nashbar is backordered.  I waited 4 months
one time to get a handlebar bag.  When I got it - I had already
gone on the ride I wanted it for.  Plus, it was in October and I was
just about done with that bike for the season.  Oh well.
Sometimes you can't beat Nashbar price-wise - but the wait
makes you wonder sometimes...

-- 
{----------------------------------------------------------}
{        .. __o     Kevin A. Butler                        }   
{      ... -\<,     kab33254@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu              }                  
{___.....(_)/(_).._________________________________________}
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: Brad.Hedstrom@engr.UVic.CA (Brad  Hedstrom)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Buyers Co-op
Date: 14 Apr 92 03:15:34 GMT
	<1992Apr10.175950.7846@craycos.com>
	<d8tr02aH0fjf01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>
Organization: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

IMHO, as soon as REI opened their first store in Bellvue (can you say
Yupvue?) the place went down the flusher. Their main Seattle store is
now about 50% clothing. And not just functional outdoor clothing but
high mark-up stuff like Patagonia. I've since switched to Moutain
Equipment Co-op (Vancouver) where I've gotten better deals on several
things. I picked up some Cascade Designs waterproof bags (made in
Seattle) cheaper at MEC in Canada (where *everything* is more
expensive) than at REI in Seattle was selling them. So forget about
REI.

Regarding these supposed "gouging" bike shops, the level of service
and the fact that you can walk in, look at at item, and perhaps
receive a bit of useful advice does cost money. Those mail-order
places just don't have that overhead. Whenever I read a note from
someone asking "Where can I order a Cannondale UR-1000 SUX realy
cheap?" I always ask myself, "How does this person know that they want
*that* bike? Just from an ad? A review?" Or have they spend some time
at their local "overpriced" bike shop talking with the salespeople,
looking at and maybe even riding the bike, and then they want to
mail-order it? Now if everyone did that there would no longer be any
overpriced local bike shops where one could look at the latest
Cannondale. You'd have no choice but to order it from New York. Sight
unseen and unridden.
--
___________________________________________________________________________
Brad Hedstrom                             |       Elec. & Comp. Engr. Dept.
Grad Student, Research Assistant, and     |          University of Victoria
Occasional Macintosh Consultant           |          Victoria, B.C., Canada
Internet: hedstrom@sirius.UVic.CA         |           (a.k.a. Brazil North)
From: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se (Torsten Lif)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Pedal stroke (was: Re: Equipment quest
Date: 10 Apr 92 10:47:12 GMT
Reply-To: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Telecom AB

In article 14044@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU, les@SAIL.Stanford.EDU (Les Earnest) writes:
>Steve Koren writes:
>>There have been studies done of racing cyclists where pressure
>>sensors have been mounted at various places on the pedal and
>>toe strap.  It turns out that there is no significant upwards
>>component to the pedal stroke.  [.  .  .]
>
>Quite right.  Anyone can easily verify this for themselves.  I often
>commute on my clipless-pedalled bike wearing Birkenstocks and my feet
>never come off the pedals even though I'm used to being "locked in."

A couple of years ago I was doing a tour and about halfway through (and
halfway to nowhere) one of my straps broke (I still haven't gone
clipless). Thinking that it would be better to be symmetric, I removed
the other strap and rode with just the clips for toe-guards. It made
almost no difference! Being a "spinner" I always downshift rather than
stand up, so the lack of "pull-up" support didn't matter much.

On my 'bent I have only the toe clips without straps, since reaching up
front to tighten the straps would involve some rather dangerous
acrobatics. Some have suggested that I should go clipless but I've been
rather content with just the old clips. The main issue in my book is to
keep the foot from coming off the pedal when you spin really fast. On
my upright, this seems to happen when the foot is in the "pull-back"
phase at the bottom of the stroke and there a strap is a help. But on
the 'bent, the foot has always tended to roll over *forwards* (don't
ask me why 'cause I don't know), and to prevent this the mere toe clip
is enough.

>--
>Les Earnest                                  Phone:  415 941-3984
>Internet: Les@cs.Stanford.edu              USMail: 12769 Dianne Drive
>UUCP: . . . decwrl!cs.Stanford.edu!Les         Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

---
 Torsten Lif                          |   Big cars are a Freudian 
 Ericsson Telecom AB, EO/ETX/TX/ZD    |   compensation for their drivers
 S-126 25  STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN          |   own perceived inadequacy.
 Tel: +46 8 719 4881                  |
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles

ez007195@fella.ucdavis.edu (Yeon Choi) writes:

> by someone in a repair shop that it would be done. I guess what my 

> or should I save up to buy another bike. I've been using my bike to
> do triathlons (mostly minis) and want to be able to increase my speed
> a bite.

Going from a 6 to a 7 speed freewheel will not increase your
speed at all (unless your 6 doesn't have a small enough cog for you,
in which case you can replace the cog individually instead of buying
a whole new freewheel).

Your speed is determined by many things, including your physical
condition, your aero position on the bike, your tires, and some
other stuff, but the number of cogs in your freewheel is not one
of them.  (Look at track bikes - they have no freewheel at all).
I ride just fine on my bike with a 5 speed freewheel.  What a 7
speed freewheel would give you is slightly finer steps in between
gears for a given gear range, or a bigger gear range for the same
size steps between gears.  Its a pretty minor thing though, and
if you want the smaller gear steps, you can always swap cogs in
your current freewheel.

  - steve

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: hoppe@cs.cornell.edu (Bruce E. Hoppe)
Subject: Re: How to prevent bar-end theft
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 13:58:58 GMT

In article <rrb4lINN8fl@agate.berkeley.edu> dchoi@physics.berkeley.edu (David Choi) writes:

... [story about bar end theft, finding the stolen goods on another bike]

>        By the way, the other guy's bike had slick tires on it, and was 
>TOTALLY clean.  I bet his bike has never even touched the dirt.  So god 
>knows why he thought he needed bar-ends.   

I don't mean to endorse a criminal act, but bar ends are actually very
useful for preventing numb hands on long rides.  I used a mtn bike with
slicks and bar ends for a week-long bike tour (no dirt) and the whole
setup worked great.

Bruce Hoppe
hoppe@cs.cornell.edu
From: caseb@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Stupid Huffy Ad
Date: 17 Apr 92 11:13:41 EST
Distribution: na

In article <1992Apr15.171356.14150@cbnewsd.cb.att.com>, ooo@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (paul.d.schmitter) writes:
> Anybody else see the new Huffy TV commercial?  The riders are wearing
> the now requisite helmets, but their seats are so low that I'm surprised
> they don't get black eyes from their knees hitting their heads.  When
> will the marketing types learn; or do they already know and they're just
> trying to accurately represent the Huffy-buying public?
> 
> +----------------+-----------------------------------------+------------------+
> | Paul Schmitter |      	 	 		   |pds1@ihlpb.att.com|
> | AT&T Bell Labs |		  			   |  (708) 979-5636  |
> +----------------+-----------------------------------------+------------------+
Why does a low seat bother you so much?  Why would someone who rides
5 miles/hour around the block want their seat adjusted for high
performance?
From: rfloyd@cs.duke.edu (Rick Floyd)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Shimano STI - lowest gear?
Date: 8 Apr 92 19:05:36 GMT
	<1992Apr6.143459.2386@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Organization: Duke University CS Dept., Durham, NC
In-reply-to: ampe@cbnews.cb.att.com's message of 6 Apr 92 14:34:59 GMT


   Specs on the standard Dura-Ace STI 8-speed derailleur are: rear cogs:
   max 26T, min 12T, max difference in chainwheel teeth: 14, max total
   difference (front plus rear): 26.  This would allow you to run a 13-26
   rear and 39-52 front.

You can use a 28T rear cog with a standard Dura-Ace derailleur,
despite the max of 26T cited in the specs. They're a bit conservative.
I've been using a 28T for two years (my bike's birthday was last
Saturday) with no problems. I don't think that this has changed with
STI, although I haven't felt quite rich or fast enough to try it.

	rick floyd
	rfloyd@cs.duke.edu
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: tlt38517@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Terry Thiel)
Subject: Re: nashbar?
Keywords: nash,bar,mail,order
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 12:18:48 GMT

anderson@Apple.COM (Clark Anderson) writes:
>At any rate, it also turns out that she buys everything mail-order
>when she can. I know, I know...she won't listen, and I know her well
>enough not to waste time arguing. So she wants to buy a bike mail-order,
>even though there are any number of reasonably good bike shops within
>10 blocks of her house. ("I'm too busy...")
>I have heard much about Nashbar here on the net. Can you buy bikes from them?
>Are there other mail-order places to buy bikes from? Is there an address

Nashbar sells bikesbut they are the ugliest things I have ever seen.  They
don't seem to be a particularly good deal either (pricewise).  If she's really
bent onbuying a bike mail order tell her to look in an issue of Bicycling
for a mail order place that sells name brand bikes.  Buying a bike mail order
is an especially bad idea for a novice IMHO.
-Terry
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: grante@aquarius (Grant Edwards)
Subject: Re: Sticky Demand Traffic Light problem solution
Organization: Rosemount, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 14:53:35 GMT

allyn@netcom.com (Mark Allyn) writes:
: 
: An interesting academic discussion though would be on which would be
: the worse offense to get caught with. Damaging a light controller
: or going through a traffic light. Since a traffic offense, even
: when commited on a bicycle, goes against your license; an offense
: of damaging a controler would not.
:

The problem of traffic light sensors that don't activate is a pretty
common topic in rec.motorcycles.  All of the people I've heard of who
had been stopped for running a red light that wouldn't trigger said
that didn't get a ticket after they explained to the officer that they
waited through 2 green-yellow-red cycles (for left turn lights that
won't come on) or for X minutes for straight-ahead lights that wont
turn green.

--
Grant Edwards                                 |Yow!  Somewhere in Tenafly,
Rosemount Inc.                                |New Jersey, a chiropractor is
                                              |viewing ``Leave it to
grante@aquarius.rosemount.com                 |Beaver''!
From: IO11265@MAINE.MAINE.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Looking for address for Pinarello distributor
Date: 15 Apr 92 14:11:01 GMT
Organization: University of Maine System

Well, I'm going to do it. I'm finally going to
re-do my old Pinarello. The only thing is, the
project has been in limbo for so long, i don't
remember if my frame is TSX or SLX. So, I need
to contact Gita in North Carolina. I know that
Gita is the US distributor, but i can't find a
address for them. Can someone look in the last
buyer's guide that Bicycling did. They usually
list all of the addresses in there.

Thanks!

Tom Liba
University of Maine
From: tdsmith@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Timothy Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: pedaling efficency
Date: 12 Apr 92 16:58:41 GMT
Reply-To: tdsmith@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Timothy Smith)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD


    This is really off the subject...

In rec.bicycles, BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM writes:

>Although machines are not always good parallels, let me try anyway.  If
>you drive your car down the highway, alternately stepping on the gas,
>full throttle and off again, and try to keep approximately the same
>average speed as with constant pedal position, you will definitely use
>more fuel in the oscillating mode.

>jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com

    This may be true for some motor vehicles, but is not true in general.
If the SFC of the engine is better at higher power levels then bursts
at high power followed by coasting at idle (or off) will produce better
average economy.
    As an example, gas turbines achive their best economy at 100% power.
Fighter pilots who are about to run out of fuel will increase engine
power to 100% and gradually climb to store the excess energy. When the 
engine flames out they will be able to glide farther than if they had 
maintained a constant speed and altitude.
    For the car example, if you can live with a 10-20 mph speed variation
then alternately accelerating at the engines optimum sfc point and coasting
with the engine disengaged and off will get you farther than a constant
power level at the average speed.  
    In hills this is very natural; optimum engine level for the uphills 
and coast on downhills.

    Sort of back to the subject:

    My muscle fiber type seems to be mostly fast twitch. I am not a 
natural TT rider. I found I could maintain a higher speed in a TT by 
alternately sprinting and slowly bleeding off the speed spinning in 
a tight crouch. It was painfull, but I could almost keep up with the 
real moto types.  Steady state aerobic efforts for me were about 4-5
mph slower.
    Second bit of anecdotal evidence: My average speed in small rolling
N.H. hills was often over 30 mph. (I have a good tuck...)  On level
ground I could barely manage 25 mph.  For me intermittent power bursts
are more efficient then steady efforts.

Tim Smith
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: shenry@cs.rice.edu (Sam Henry)
Subject: Re: 26" wheels: the ultimate criterium size?
Organization: Rice University, Houston
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 19:13:20 GMT

In article <1992Apr16.150914.26149@news.larc.nasa.gov>
Ken_Goodrich@gcdmacs.larc.nasa.gov (Ken_Goodrich) quests for
historical fact:

>... but why did >mountain bikers go back to 26" wheels if roadies
>have found 27/700 wheels to be the best compromise ...

actually, I don't think it was a question of "back".  Remember going
to the Firestone dealer (yes, the tire place) or the Schwinn bicycle
store for a 26" bike?  One of the signs you were growing up--a rite of
passage like finally getting to play real little league ball rather
than that pee wee stuff.  You can laugh about the Firestone stuff if
you want.  Just remember what Bridgestone's primary business is.

Anyway, the 26" was not the scientific measurement of the distance
from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the top tube.  It
referred to the diameter of the wheels on the bike.  And they were
bomb-proof wheels, too.  My brother and I were never able to destroy
one--well, by brother did when he laid his bike down in front of a
garbage truck.  He lost only a wheel (Jobst renowned lateral forces),
no damage to the frame.  So the frames were stout, too.  I suppose if
S. Texas had had hills, my brother might have invented Mt Biking back
in the mid-50s or early 60s.

Legend has it that a bunch of bored surfers gathered at the top of Mt.
Tamalapalapalapa, the sacred birth place of MTBing, looking for
dryland, cheap thrills. They took a bunch of these bikes with them and
started bombing down the sides of Mt. Tam.  That's the bikes they had
to start with, and that was the basis of the MTB "design".  A real
engineering design feat.

They had a lot of fun.  They piddled and piddled with the bikes,
lacing freewheels into the 26" rims, etc.  Now MTBing is no longer a
cheap thirll.

>So what compelling arguments are there for 26" off-road wheels -- ...

tradition?
then again, maybe there really is an engineering answer.

>Ken_Goodrich

see what you get for seeking truth in this forum!


-- 
sam henry <shenry@rice.edu>
Wanna ride?
From: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se (Torsten Lif)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Altitude & weather
Date: 7 Apr 92 09:13:59 GMT
Reply-To: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Telecom AB

In article AA04835@hplomg.hpl.hp.com,
BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@hplomg.hpl.hp.com () writes:

>Cumulative altitude is affected insignificantly by
>weather changes because 100 feet more or less isn't a big deal in a
>day's ride.  Getting up in the morning and seeing that you are 200 feet
>higher than when you went to bed is a good indication of poor weather.

One related question has been on my mind for a while. A couple of times
when I've been touring I've come across the phenomenon that the
mountain range has acted as a sort of "weather divider", i.e. on one
side the weather has been foul and rainy while on the other side it's
been nice and sunny.

Naturally, this has never happened to me since I got my AVO-50.

So the question is: how "steep" can an air-pressure gradient be? If
there's a low-pressure on one side of the pass and a high-pressure on
the other, will the AVO-50 register false altitude changes as I pass
the summit? Or are these changes so slow that they will merely appear
as a gradual offset in altitude during the entire climb/descent?

Or is the barometric pressure really the same on both sides of the
mountain and the precipitation merely caused by the moist air being
forced upwards?

---
 Torsten Lif                          |   "This is your brain"
 Ericsson Telecom AB, EO/ETX/TX/ZD    |   "This is your brain on the pavement"
 S-126 25  STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN          |   "Wear a helmet!"
 Tel: +46 8 719 4881                  |