HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: josh@Happy-Man.com (Joshua_Putnam)
Subject: Re: Homebrew Lighting Systems - how to - Part 1/3
Reply-To: Joshua_Putnam@happy-man.com
Organization: Happy Man Corp., Vashon Island, WA 98070-7399
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 21:02:52 GMT

In <1992Oct7.141544.2460@cbnewsd.cb.att.com> grande@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (brad.l.grande) writes:

>-------------------

>BUILDING YOUR OWN BIKE LIGHTING SYSTEM
>BRAD GRANDE
>Copyright 1991

>What makes up such a system?  You will need:
>-Some sort of headlight
>-12 volt sealed lead acid gel-cell battery, or same voltage as  
>light
>-Some sort of tail light
>-wire
>-quick disconnect connector
>-switch (optional)
>-a means to recharge the battery.

I'd add one more component: a fuse.

If you accidentally short a gel cell battery, you'll
discover it has enough rapid-discharge current to burn up
your wiring, scorch the paint off your frame under the
wiring, etc., and do small spot welding.

My 20-watt headlight's wiring harness has a slow-blow fuse
right next to the battery's positive terminal so that it
stays in line when the battery is draining or charging.
Although the light should only draw 1.7 A, I use a large
enough fuse to allow several times that flow, yet still keep
the current within the rating of the smallest wires in the
harness.  (Also, I happened to have two full boxes of
slow-blow 5 A fuses sitting around, so they were free :-)

A short may seem unlikely, but a long winter on the bike
exposes the wiring harness to plenty of inclement weather
and wire flex, so it's not as unlikely as it may seem,
especially if you use the frame as a conductor in a one-wire
lighting setup.  (I use two-wire for simplicity and
portability.)

Otherwise, an excellent article.  Thanks for posting it!
-- 
 Joshua_Putnam@happy-man.com    Happy Man Corp.  206/463-9399 x102
 4410 SW Pt. Robinson Rd., Vashon Island, WA  98070-7399  fax x108
 We publish SOLID VALUE for the intelligent investor.  NextMail OK
Info free; sample $20: Send POSTAL addr: Solid-Value@happy-man.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
From: ken@visix.com (Ken Mayer)
Subject: Re: Helmets - keeping a cool head
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 18:03:46 GMT
Distribution: na
Reply-To: ken@visix.com
	<12800@cis.rand.org> <1992Sep28.235812.19456@leland.Stanford.EDU>
	<casseres-011092155203@missmolly.apple.com>
	<EUGENE.92Oct2100914@trout.ksr.com>
Organization: Visix Software Inc., Reston, VA
Followup-To: rec.bicycles.tech


[The saga continues]

Fact #1: Your brain (and its handy carrying case, the head) uses an
incredible amount of blood proportional to its volume. Those little
brain cells needs lots of O2 and all sorts of other nutrients to
survive. That's why you've got those big veins and arteries running up
and down your neck. That's why if you body suffers from oxygen
depravation too long, your brain will die, but most of the other
organs remain viable (to someone else, as a donation). 

Fact #2: Blood is an excellent way to transfer heat around the body.
Nice viscous fluid, lots of water, doesn't freeze too easily, won't
boil away (thank goodness!).

Time to start using the ol' noodle:

Conclusion #1: Your brain is a big heat source. You radiate bunches
and bunches of heat from the head all the time. That's why there're so
many sweat glands up there. That's why there's the backpackers' rule:
"If your feet are cold, where a hat." You'll lose less heat that way.

Conclusion #2: Wearing a helmet, which is made from the same material
that is used to make foam insulated coolers, is a great insulator
because it blocks the radiation of heat from head and blocks the
convection of heat from the wind flow over your head. Conduction is
not a real factor since your not keeping your head pasted to a metal
wall or something. 

Notice I haven't said anything yet about sunlight or color of the
helmet yet. Why? Because, after all the thermo issues above, sunlight
is just not going to be that big a factor unless you're biking through
death valley or something. If you want to talk coloring of helmets as
a heat source concern, you first have to subtract all the heat your
head is going to produce, the insulating quality of the helmet,
whether there's a lot of air flow through the helmet or not, how hard
you're working underneath that helmet, etc. What you're left with
seems so small that it could only be of concern to maybe the 98-99th
percentile performance group.

Ken
--

Ken Mayer (ken@visix.com)
Visix Software Inc./703.758.8230
  Bene Vivere Ultio Optima --- Living Well is the Best Revenge
From: koren@fc.hp.com (Steve Koren)
Subject: Re: custom lighting systems
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 14:25:45 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Site
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1.3 PL5

Hmm, maybe somebody should collect some of these custom lighting system
posts and put them in a FAQ.  There has been mine, a good one by Joshua
Putnam, and a few others around.  It sounds useful to build a small
collection of designs so that new people can get them from one place...

  - steve
From: casseres@apple.com (David Casseres)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: motorists
Date: 8 Oct 92 17:45:56 GMT
Followup-To: rec.bicycles
Distribution: na
Organization: Apple Computer Inc.

In article <8289@lee.SEAS.UCLA.EDU>, gustave@ada.seas.ucla.edu (Gustave R.
Stroes) wrote:
> 
> Before you guys out there start bagging on motorists why don't
> you first look at yourselves.  Do you obey ALL trafic rules
> when you ride a bike?

No, do you?

> Or do you think, like most cyclists
> that a bicycle is somehow exempt from stop signs and such.

Since you know so much about what "most cyclists" think, let me point out
to you what most motorists do: guess what, they blow stop signs, ignore
speed limits, fail to yield the right of way, and in general drive the way
drivers drive, not the way the rules say they should.  And guess what, the
cops make no real effort to change the situation.

> When your through examining yourself, look to the other cyclists
> that you share the road with.  If your area is anything like mine
> then most of these cyclists are bozos who treat a bicycle as if
> it were some kind of toy.

And when you're through scolding us, maybe you'll examine yourself and ask
why you took the trouble to post all of this stuff to a group you don't
normally read.

> No wonder most motorists are bothered by cyclists
> since the chances are that the ones they come accross just blew 
> through the stop sign that the motorist just stopped for!  I see this happen
> all the time and it pisses me off because the behaviour of these
> buffoons might make a motorist take his frustration out on me
> next time.

Since you are so perfect, I'm sure he won't.

> I think you'll find that if you show respect for
> cars and act responsibly you'll be suprised at the change in
> how the "average" motorist will treat you.

Horse puckey.  I *do* show respect for cars and I *do* act responsibly and
damn if the motorists don't keep right on running me off the road.  I guess
it must be all those other bozos and buffoons, eh?  Maybe I should be like
you, and go around blaming other cyclists for the bad behavior of
motorists.

Sheesh.

--

David Casseres
Exclaimer: Wow!
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: MEDELMA@cms.cc.wayne.edu (Michael Edelman)
Subject: Re: Re: Do Kevlar tires work?
Organization: Wayne State University, C&IT
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 13:45:05 GMT

In article <973csB1w163w@gcarter>
gcarter!gcarter (George Carter) writes:
 
      [...]
>
>As I noted a few months ago, my view is that this product is the
>best innovation in bicycling in the past decade.  Before Kevlar tires
>I can remember fixing two flats during a single one day ride on
>occassion.  I flat maybe once every thousand miles now.
 
And on the other hand, I average about one flat every 3,500 miles
on 700x28 Michelin Hi-Lite Comps. Go figure.
>
>One new product that does not work well is the "mini-pump."  This
>product will die quickly in the marketplace if people actually use
>these devices and find out the aggravation of pumping forever to
>inflate a tire.
 
Agreed. Look at the review article in the new Bicycling. 200+ strokes
to get a 700x25 tire to 100psi? 450+ strokes for a 26" tire? I could
walk home faster...        --mike
Xref: sparky rec.bicycles:23091 rec.bicycles.tech:1178
From: kim39@scws8.harvard.edu (John Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: Avocet 30 for sale
Date: 10 Oct 92 13:56:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Oct10.095630.16230
Distribution: usa
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

@doug.cae.wisc.edu> kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad) writes:
pyramid.com> danjones@pyrps5.eng.pyramid.com (Dan Jones) writes:
>>Joel Kolstad writes:
>>>I got a Catseye Cordless, so I have my old Avocet 30 to sell.  It's
>>>blue, and about one year old.  I still have the box and instructions.
>>>I'm asking $15.  Please reply my e-mail...
>>
>>You can have mine for $12 and its only 6 mos old.  And for another $4
>>I'll throw in a rear wheel sensor, never used.  Postage not included.
>
	Hey, I could use a second Avocet 30...
-Case Kim    kim39@husc8.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,rec.crafts.textiles
From: gennari@mcs-next-3 (John H. Gennari)
Subject: Reflective tape for night riding
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 16:21:00 GMT


As the days shorten, I'm preparing to make my 40 minutes bicycle
commute in the dark or near dark. In addition to a lighting system,
something I'd like to have is some of that nifty orange reflective tape 
vests. I've seen some night bicyclists wearing them and from a car, they
seem quite effective. Where can I get ahold of them? Also, I'm guessing  
that the most cost-effective way to do it might be to simply buy the  
material and sew something simple. Where might I find such material or
tape?

-John Gennari
         <gennari@camis.stanford.edu>
From: ddd1@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (DANIEL D. DIEFENDERFER)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Commuting in rain
Date: 13 Oct 92 22:31:28 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <39351@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>, miliu@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (zaphod beeblebrox) wr
ites:
>Hello.  I was wondering, how do all you folks deal with commuting in
>the rain?  I've never done this, but am anticipating at least a few
>days of rain occasionally; enough to be prepared for.
 I use a cheap plastic poncho that fits over my backpack & me & my pack &
 contents have always been bone dry. Pants & shoes always get wet though.
 But the main thing I want to warn you about is; Your brake pads won't work
 when they are wet! No matter how much you read about this or are told cannot
 compare with actually experiencing it for the first time. So when you do
 finally ride in the rain practice applying your brakes & learning how long it
 takes to dry the rims & them off before stopping friction occurs. Don't wait
 for an intersection or an emergency stop to gain this experience.

-- 
Daniel
From: tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: clipless pedals comments needed
Date: 8 Oct 92 20:37:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.1992Oct8.203744.16918
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

In article <1992Oct8.133234.7164@newscan.canada.sun.com> andre@avalanche.Canada.Sun.Com writes:
>
>Myself and a bunch of friends are currently debating what gizmo we are going
>to buy next for our MTBs. I was going for forks, but they seem to go for the
>clipless pedals with the shimano shoes. 
>
Suspension forks are nice on occassion. Most of the time you can get
along without them and never miss them.

Once you get used to clipless pedals and the amount of power you can add
to your stroke with them, you cannot get along without them. In order
to do the same with toe-clips you have to tug the strap very tight. Then
if you need to get your foot out (common with MTB) you have to reach down
and loosen the strap. Not a cool thing on a fast off camber hill that 
you don't want to fall down on with the bike attached to you.

Clipless pedals start out being harder to get into and out of then toe-clips,
but after you're used to them it's much easier. Particularly the SPD's
which even the net grouch (Jobst of course) recommends. And if
he recommends them they must be really superb since he is only
so-so on heaven and salvation. :-)

The one important point about clipless pedals -- you _must_ find shoes
that fit properly. I have looked for four years! Trying on many, many
pairs and suffering all osrts of foot pains on long rides. A month ago
I finally found a pair of Paramounts that fit!!! What a difference.
>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: perlman@SMTC.engr.scarolina.edu
Subject: Re: Performance mail-order bikes - opinions?
Reply-To: perlman@smtc00.engr.scarolina.edu
Organization: NIST Southeast Manufacturing Technology Center
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 12:14:43 GMT

In article <1autgsINNrr6@agate.berkeley.edu>, gingold@garnet.berkeley.edu (Eric Gingold) writes:
>I am considering buying a mountain bike from the Performance
>mail order company.  The model I'm looking at is the Tangent
>(oversize CrMo frame, Deore DX components, $599).  Does anyone
>have experience with purchasing bicycles from this company?
>Could anyone comment on their reputation for workmanship,
>service, etc.?
>
>Please post responses or email to:
>gingold@garnet.berkeley.edu
>
>Thanks,
>Eric Gingold

Six years ago I purchased the Performance Superbe, a road bike equipped
with Suntour Superbe components for $525.  After 24000 miles, I am still
enjoying this bike.  During this time, I only replaced a set of wheels
tires, pedals (to upgrade to clipless), bottom bracket and chainwheels,
freewheels, chains, and handlebar tape.  Its starting to show some rust
probably could have been avoided by wiping off sweat.

I have been mail ordering from Performance for 10 years and they continue
to be my primary source for cycling goodies.  Prices are good, smart
people answer toll free lines, and service is excellent.

Rich.
From: gingold@garnet.berkeley.edu (Eric Gingold)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Performance mail-order bikes - opinions?
Date: 7 Oct 1992 14:51:08 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.berkeley.edu

I am considering buying a mountain bike from the Performance
mail order company.  The model I'm looking at is the Tangent
(oversize CrMo frame, Deore DX components, $599).  Does anyone
have experience with purchasing bicycles from this company?
Could anyone comment on their reputation for workmanship,
service, etc.?

Please post responses or email to:
gingold@garnet.berkeley.edu

Thanks,
Eric Gingold
From: bb11807@thug (Brian A. Blow)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Avocet Cyclometer
Date: 8 Oct 92 03:22:33 GMT
Organization: Medtronic, Inc.

ronf@panther3.panther.mot.com (Ron Feigen) writes:
: 
: I recently purchased an avocet 50 w/cadence.  It is VERY easy to reset all the
: functions.  Hold the reset button down 5 sec instead of 2-3 sec and all the 
: funtions reset.  Hold it down about 8 sec and you go into the setup program.
:

It works the same for the Avocet 40.
 

--Brian

brian.blow@medtronic.com
(612) 574-4030
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se (Torsten Lif)
Subject: Re: yet another lighting system
Reply-To: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Telecom AB
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 12:16:10 GMT

In article 1@research.ptt.nl, walvdrk_r@research.ptt.nl (Kees van der Wal) writes:
>I use a rather small battery: 6V, 700mAh (just sufficient for one-and-half-way
>commute in the dark). The 5 AA-size NiCad cells are very light compared to 
>another 4Ah lead-acid cell I've got.
>The NiCads are designed for rapid charging but at 0.5A but then I _must_ 
>prevent overcharging to keep the cells in a good condition.

The old rule-of-thumb is that you can feed NiCads the 10-hour re-charge
current infinitely without cooking them. I.e. for your 700 mAh cells,
you could allow 70 mA constantly. It's not necessarily "good" for them
but you will not instantly fry them either. Of course, this means you
have to ride for 12 - 14 hours to recharge them (since they are not 100
% efficient) and that may not be totally practical. But if you have a
hybrid system where the generator feeds the lights and puts a little
surplus energy to the battery at speeds over (say) 15 km/h, you only
drain the batteries at traffic lights and uphills. You may be able to
strike a balance where you keep the batteries "reasonably" well charged
at all times.

Your cells may be a bit on the small side, though. The "optimum" size
would be the one that can take all the surplus the generator creates
and feed it straight in. Smaller, you have to current regulate (and
waste). Bigger, you can't recharge efficiently.

However, your 0.5 A sounds like the typical 6V 3W systems you get here
in Europe. If it contains a voltage limiter (most of them do) it will
probably eat any extra current before you can feed it to your battery.
:-(

Have a look at the Sanyo BB generator with 2 output leads. It's not
grounded so you can full-wave rectify and there's no regulator on it.
It also produces a rather higher-than-nominal voltage since it's
intended to drive the front and rear bulbs in series rather than in
parallel. At "cruising speed" it probably generates 5 W which would
allow you to feed 2 to the battery. 2W at 6V => 330 mA => you should
look at a 3 Ah cell.

---
 Torsten Lif                          |   "This is your brain"
 Ericsson Telecom AB, EO/ETX/TX/AD    |   "This is your brain on the pavement"
 S-126 25  STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN          |   "Wear a helmet!"
 Tel: +46 8 719 4881                  |
From: tjohnson@atcc5.prime.com (Tod J Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: New Idiot In The Group
Keywords: Nugent, Halen, GWAR
Date: 7 Oct 92 14:30:14 GMT
Reply-To: tjohnson@atcc5.UUCP (Tod J Johnson)
Organization: Prime Computervision, Bedford MA

In article <1992Oct6.225747.14856@ncar.ucar.edu> ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Ilana Stern) writes:
>
>Tod, you are in trouble now.  Pay me lots of money, and maybe, just
>maybe, rec.bicycles won't hear about you and the little girls with
>tennis balls.
>

Ilana;

	Hey, it's good to see you again! I'm sure everything is going
well for you. Thanks for the info about this group subletting. I'll
keep an eye out. And one more thing; checks in the mail.

Bye;

Tod J. Johnson
From: armand@pongo.Eng.Sun.COM (Armand Aghabegian)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: minipums are OK
Keywords: kevlar
Date: 13 Oct 92 21:22:33 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: pongo

In article <1992Oct9.181531.20272@athena.mit.edu> aviator@athena.mit.edu (Joakim Karlsson) writes:
>
>I have a Blackburn minipump which I carry on my mountain bike at
>all times.  It works just fine for what I use it for: Adjusting
>the pressure when the tires are a bit low.  If I had a flat out
>on the trail, I'd be using it as well, and while it would take
>a while, I don't think it would be too painful to bring the tire
>pressure up to 25-35 psi, which is all I need.  I have no illusions
>about using it for a 125 psi thin road tire.  ...Joakim
>--

Minipumps work even better when volume is not your goal. I use my
blackburn mini on the road bike. Even though it takes quite a few
strokes to pump the tire to 100 - 110 psi, there is very little 
effort required. I used to get my arm muscles go lactic pushing 
the ordinary pumps. With the minipump, I just looked bored, sitting
on the roadside pumping my flat tire which after about 100 strokes
is hard as rock. 

I love those minipumps.

Armand
From: timevans@gn.apc.org
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Do Kevlar tires work?
Date: 9 Oct 92 18:56:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #R:9210020537.AA07573@mcs.drexel.ed:776376985:gn:1577900003:000:113
Nf-From: gn.UUCP!timevans    Oct  9 19:56:00 1992


hmmm .. does this mean i can read your newsgroup but you can't
read messages from apc? Are you receiving me?
Tim
From: Roy_Smyth@mindlink.bc.ca (Roy Smyth)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Do Kevlar tires work?
Date: 10 Oct 92 05:43:17 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

Yes, they do work.  I use specialized transition tires for commuting and
touring (different bikes) and and very happy with the performance.
From: mrodrigu@zeus.calpoly.edu (Mark Rodriguez)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Trek Bikes Opinions???
Summary: Should I get one????
Date: 17 Oct 92 00:10:20 GMT
Distribution: ca
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

I am thinking of getting into mountain bikeing and I was looking at the
BOTTOM of the line Treks. I kind of liked the 820's but I found the 830
to ride alot better. Is this a good brand?? Is it a good bike model???

Help I am very lost in this subject.

Mark 

-- 
E-Mail mrodrigu@eros 		Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
_______________________________________________________________________________
As promised, she's all yours, sir. All systems automated and ready. A chimpanzee and two trainees could run her. -- Scotty, "The Search for Spock," 
stardate 8210.3.
From: stecko@cntrol.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: bolts that stay on.
Date: 12 Oct 92 20:43:49 GMT
Reply-To: stecko@cntrol.enet.dec.com ()
Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation




	Use a product called Loctite on the bolts.  It is a thick liquid
	that comes in a tube that you apply to the threads before puttting
	on the nut.  It's available in hardware and department store's like
	Kmart, Sears...

	TDS
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: marcs@slc.com (Marc San Soucie)
Subject: Re: roads & inconsiderate motorists
Organization: Servio Corp, Beaverton Oregon, US
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 00:34:48 GMT

"Michael Smith" <p00004@psilink.com> writes:

> This *is* depressing. So far I've seen exactly one, count 'em, one, 
> story of constructive police behavior -- and it turns out that that one 
> was because a *car* was hit (if I've correctly understood the post 
> quoted above).

This is a repost - you must have missed it before.

While out for a ride recently, my wife and I were passed a little closely
by a large pickup. We yelled and waved with the expected lack of response. 
Three hours later on our return trip we were again passed too closely by 
the same fellow in the same truck. We got the plate number and a 
description of him and the truck. 

Since the road we were on is our most frequently traveled, and because
there is a lot of this kind of thing on that road, and because the guy had
the phlegm to do the same thing twice to the same people, we called the
Sherriff and reported him. A bit to my surprise, in 20 minutes a deputy
drove up and took all the details. He advised us that there was little
chance of any charges being filed, but that he would go talk to the fellow
(who turns out to live not far away) about the situation.

That was the last we heard from him, but we had already had more
satisfaction than we expected. We did follow up with a thank-you to the
Sherriff's department, which they acknowledged, apparently gratefully.

But hey, this is suburban Portland. If you have the stomach for it, go
higher up. At least write your state rep, police chief, mayor, and
governor.

    Marc San Soucie
    Portland, Oregon
    marcs@slc.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles