HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: praetzel@tesla.waterloo.edu (Eric Praetzel)
Subject: Re: What is the best, lightest MTB seatpost?
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 12:27:32 GMT

In article <1992Apr6.163914.12758@nas.nasa.gov> border@wilbur.nas.nasa.gov (Ryan A. Border) writes:
>1) Ritchey Force Directional Seat-Post,  330mm,  245g,    $64.50  (Nashbar)
>2) AeroSport Carbon Ultra-Light Post,    300mm,  265g,    $99.88  (Branford)
>3) Kingsbery Titanium Seat-Post          350mm,  210g,   $119.88  (Branford)
>4) Sakae Tall Cool One                   350mm,  290g,    $22.90  (Performance)
      This one is more like 390g.  The Nashbar Kalloy is much lighter and
       cheaper.  Actual weight:
        400g at 33cm, 285g at 15cm (head+bolt = 90+20g)
        460g for the ultra cheap steel thing that came on my MTB
  Kalloy Cr-mo seatpost                   300mm  340g  $13.95    Nashbar
  Deore XT                                330mm  296g  $47.91    Nashbar
>5) Suntour XC-Pro Seat Post              300mm,  290g,    $44.20  (Performance)
>6) Campagnolo Centaur                    350mm,  360g!    $39.99  (Performance)
>
Of course you will barely notice the weight loss.  Like the stem most of the
weight is in the connecting H/W and the best way would be to weld it straight
on so you don't have to drag all of that unnecessary adjustability around.
  - Eric
From: Tim.Cahill@f99.n121.z1.FidoNet.Org (Tim Cahill)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: What Is Citrus-Based Degreaser?
Date: 5 Apr 92 23:18:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: selene.702753328.0

And aerosol Gumout won't remove paint nor harm the ozone, right!  NOT!

 * Origin: NineJackNine (1:121/99)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,rec.travel,soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.american
From: nk1@prefect.uucp (27164-keshava)
Subject: Biking or general tours of India/Nepal
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 14:50:47 GMT

I would like to know if anyone has any knowledge
of any organizations providing youth bicycle tours, 
or just general travel tours in India or Nepal
or the area just around the subcontinent.  I'm
looking at going in the July and August time
frame.  

Thanks.

Nirmal Keshava
908 758-5954

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: bdhepler@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brad D. Hepler)
Subject: Re: Riding Down Stairs
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 23:04:25 GMT


Well, a friend of a friend here was showing how he could go down a
really long set of stairs really fast.  Unfortunately, when he got to
the bottom of the steps, his fork SNAPPED right off.  This was a
mountain bike, btw.  ymmv.

Brad
___________
Brad Hepler     class of 92 Mech. Eng.       bdhepler@phoenix.princeton.edu 
cbr600 (note non-PC reinsertion of bike brand)  "What else floats in water?"
From: ifai645@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Paul C. Janzen)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: pedaling efficency
Date: 9 Apr 92 14:24:12 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

In article <1992Apr7.193610.21143@ico.isc.com> bobb@ico.isc.com (Bob Bundy) writes:
>position at that point.  Furthermore, he cites a study by Dr. Edward
>Coyle at the University of Texas where it was found that the best time
>trialists pulled up less on the back stroke and delivered more
>peak power on the down stroke.
[...]
>to this group a few months ago.)  Further, other measurements have shown
>that top racers generate nearly all of their power during the down
>stroke.  Voluminous citations of advice from bicyclists and coaches
>aren't going to carry the day when it runs contrary to actual measurement
>and observation.  

I am not, and will not, be convinced, until someone shows me a study
in which a load pedal (that's what Coyle's device for measuring force
at points in a stroke is calld) is used in A REAL RACE, with real
climbing and sprinting. I'll admit that probably 90% of the time, I
don't pull up, but when I'm climbing or sprinting, I am absolutely
sure that I do, and I've got the bruises on the tops of my feet to
prove it. Races and ergometers just aren't the same.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul C. Janzen                Winter is the season in which people try
ifai645@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu    to keep the house as warm as it was in the
                              summer, when they complained about the
                              heat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Xref: sparky rec.bicycles:9238 rec.motorcycles:12933
From: joel@upchrch.UUCP (Joel Upchurch  )
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,rec.autos.driving,ca.driving,rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Kill a Biker, Go to Jail. NOT!!!
Date: 5 Apr 92 07:07:41 GMT
Article-I.D.: upchrch.iNXqiB1w164w
Distribution: rec.driving
Organization: Upchurch Computer Consulting, Orlando FL

steve@bucolix.ece.ncsu.edu (Steve Garnier) writes:

> I hope
> you meant to say that "motorcycles are _perceived_ to be dangerous".

I'd have to say that the perception is pretty accurate in this matter. I
did some analysis of accident statistics one time and found that
motorcycle riders are twenty times as likely to get killed in an
accident as automobile passengers on a passenger mile basis. It worked
out as about four times as likely to have an accident and about five
times as likely that each accident will be fatal.

I was surprised myself that the ratio was that high, but it appeared
to be consistent over a period of several years.

(If your mail bounces use the address below. My map entry is new.)
Joel Upchurch/Upchurch Computer Consulting/718 Galsworthy/Orlando, FL 32809
joel@peora.ccur.com {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel (407) 859-0982
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: don@island.COM (Don Hermes)
Subject: BTC Bike Swap Was (Re: Cupertino Bike Shop Swap Meet)
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 01:01:43 GMT

In article <57086@cup.portal.com> brad@cup.portal.com (Paul B Anders) writes:
>Personally, I like to know about such sales and events. While probably
>not the best use of Usenet, it is at least as informative as topics 
>such as "Training Drunk", or "Why Shave Legs".
>

Well, would it be appropriate for me to post an announcement for a 
Bicycle Trails Council of Marin sponsored Bike swap to benefit the
Trips for Kids program on Sunday May 31 at the Mill Valley Recreation
Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA from 9AM to 5PM, with a
bike polo demonstration , and a raffle, the contact is Marilyn
Price (4150 381-2941 ? Would the fact that it's a non profit group
and donations to the Trips for Kids program are tax deductable,
make it ok to post that here ?

don
don@island.com
From: jerry@siesoft.co.uk (Jerry Webb)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Bikes and trains in continental Europe
Date: 7 Apr 92 15:10:15 GMT
Organization: Siemens Nixdorf Systems Development Group, Reading UK

Tim Bradshaw <tfb@aisb.ed.ac.uk> says in article 21297:
>I want to take my (fairly expensive) bike to Heidelberg from Edinburgh
>for 2 weeks...The route I'd take is Oostend-Koeln-Mannheim-Heidelberg
>[by train].

I've taken bikes to France and Norway by train several times. If you are
taking the train from Edinburgh, note that bikes are banned from certain
intercity services since ScotRail reversed their earlier decision to allow
them on - the ban was announced on 7 February. 

I've heard rumours that the ban also extends to trains doing the route 
from London to Harwich, and that most ferry operators are wary of taking
bikes from England to Holland. There is one company that advertises a 
"bike bus service" to Holland, leaving London at least once a week (Bike
Events in Bath may know about this, or try back issues of New Cyclist).

On 1st March the service by which bikes and other baggage could be
registered direct to continetal destinations was withdrawn by BR.
This is not their fault - the shipping companies no longer feel that they
can carry unaccompanied baggage and still comply with the Aviation and
Maritime Security Act 1990. This means that you can't send your bike
in advance any more - you have to take a trip to the port, cross with
the bike on the car ferry, then register the bike for the train journey
onwards from the other side. 

Experience has taught me that if your bike has to change trains at a
major terminus like Paris, you should always take care of this yourself
by collecting it at the Care du Nord, cycling across Paris, and putting
it on the same train you will be taking to the next station along the
route. If you let the SNCF chappies do it, then the bike sits in a lorry
waiting for a full load at the Gare du Nord for a day or two before being
driven across Paris... a big hassle! I've never had a problem in getting
the bike to go on the same train as me, but there have been some close
shaves, and some hairy sprints through Paris to get to the next train.
Allow at least 30 minutes to find the baggage office at the next station
and to complete the form filling - but this is probably old hat to you.

N.B. Thomas Cook timetables list train services that can carry your
bike in Europe. They are available from your local branch, and are
updated about once every three months. They do a useful rail map too.

Cheers,

Jerry
--
===============================================================================
"A mountain is a geological wave ... we are the _real_ surfers"       
                                        -  "The MTB Way of Knowledge", W. Nealy
===============================================================================
From: jeannine@skyline.wpd.sgi.com (Jeannine Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Women using Flite Saddle
Keywords: saddles
Date: 13 Apr 92 21:48:31 GMT
Followup-To: rec.bicycles
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Research & Development

Are there any women out there who have tried the Selle Italia Flite
saddle? Any opinions - good or bad - are welcome.

I'm getting ready to buy a new Trek 5200, and have to decide whether to
try to admittedly light and sexy-looking Flite saddle, or replace it with
something designed for women.

I've been using a Selle Italia "Lady Turbo" saddle on my Vitus,
which seems to be the only women's racing saddle on the market. It's firm
(I hate gel saddles) but slightly wider than the men's Turbo model, and
I've found it very comfortable.

thanks,
	jeannine smith
From: BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Altitude & weather
Date: 7 Apr 92 17:30:48 GMT

Torsten Lif writes:

> 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?

How steep?  Well in a tornado or a cumulus clouds (thunder heads) pressure
varies by a few feet of elevation.  If there were a substantial difference
in pressure you would see buildings fly and trees toppled.  The jet stream
carries the major weather differences around while we live in the relatively
undisturbed and still air on the ground.  When a weather front moves in with
its giant swirl that we see on satellite pictures, the leading edge of the
swirl looks like a straight line to the earthbound observer and it is at
great altitude.

That it rains in one place and not at the other is a subset of a larger
weather pattern with small disturbances.  Locally we have a great example
with the ocean moisture blowing onshore over the dry hot land.  Clouds
form on the downwind side over the mountains and rain falls on these slopes
so that there are forests there while the west sides are grassy meadowland.

There are no "air pockets" that pilots of old spoke of, only air turbulence.
Of course today we call it windshear.

jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com
From: robishaw@orion.lrmsc.loral.com (Gary Robishaw x5960)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Commuting on a Bicycle
Date: 9 Apr 92 21:20:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: lrmsc.1992Apr9.212056.21635
Organization: Loral Rolm Mil-Spec Computers

In article <9204091720.AA02003@hplomg.hpl.hp.com> BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM writes:
>Gary Robishaw writes:
>
>> I too perspire profusly during my commute, irregardless of the weather.
>
>Disirregardles of whether one perspires or not, body aroma is the real
>
>jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com

Irregardless!!! Disirregardless!!! I guess I should post what I read before I
write. Or maybe I did.

Gary

-- 
Gary Robishaw                    "The only trouble with instant gratification
robishaw@uranus.lrmsc.loral.com           is that it takes so long!"
408/432-5960                                          Me
Usnail -- 3151 Zanker Rd. San Jose, Ca. 95134-1928
From: edw@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com (Edward Walsh)
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 15:19:48 GMT
Subject: Re: Bicycles & liability insurance
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Boise, ID
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles

This is addressed to David Harker:
It is unlikely you could win anything in small claims. While the bicycle
rider bay have violated the law, you violated a "common sense" safety rule
regarding large vehicle/small vehicle relationships at an intersection.
When pulling out at an intersection when next to a large vehicle (the bus)
you stay beside the larger vehicle until you clear the intersection to use
it as a shield for your own safety, and also you stay beside it because it
is unlikely you will see everything going on opposite it from you, such
that you may wind up being surprised, which in this case you were.

Ed Walsh

From: lous@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Lou Salz)
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 00:16:00 GMT
Subject: Re: Opinions on the Vitus 979 Dural aluminum frame
Organization: HP Network Measurements Div, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles

In rec.bicycles, pcc@s1.gov (Philip C. Cox) writes:

    I would like any pro or con opinions about the Vitus 979 Dural aluminum
    frame. 

I have had one of these for about seven years.  I would guess it has
about 40,000 miles one it at this point.  I have been very happy with
it.  It still looks like it's almost new.  The finish seems to be much
more durable than painted frames.  You don't need to worry about paint
chipping and the frame rusting.  I bought a steel framed bike 2 years
ago to replace the Vitus as my front line bike.  I really expected to
sell the Vitus, but I've found that I still like riding it.  It seems to
have a little "softer" ride than my steel bike.  I've heard others say
that the frame is more flexible than most steel frames.  This might
become a negative if you're bigger.  I only weigh about 140 pounds so I
seem to have been able to get by with light equipment.  

I've known about 20 other people that have ridden Vitus frames.  Almost
all these people rode significant mileage on their bikes.  One of them
had a frame failure earlier this year, the first I've heard of first
hand.  The guy who broke his was about 170 pounds.  Several of these
riders are up in the 200 pound range and they don't seem to have any
trouble.  Of the people I know that ride this type of frame, most are a
little smaller than average.  This is probably because one local shop
that sells many of the "euro-pro" type frame sets did not recommend a
Vitus for riders over 180 pounds.

I don't know if they are a good deal compared to all the new types of
frames that have come on the market it recent years.  One advantage of
the design is that it has been around long enough that it's weak points
should have been worked out, or at least well understood.  My own gut
feel is that the Vitus is not much different in reliability than
steel bikes.  The only other bike I have riden as long as my Vitus,
a Trek steel touring bike, had a fork failure at about 20,000 miles.
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: chandler@wc.novell.com (Mark Chandler)
Subject: Bianchi Cross Frame For Sale
Summary: bianchi prestige tangent frame
Organization: Novell, Inc. - Walnut Creek
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 17:17:04 GMT

******************* FOR SALE *******************

52cm (c-t) Bianchi Tangent Cross Frameset

Tange Prestige Tubing, Unicrown Fork, full
braze-ons (2 bottles, top tube cable routing,
rack bosses).

72 deg. head angle
73 deg. seat angle
16.5" chainstays
55cm top tube
11" BB height (w/35mm Continentals)

ALSO INCLUDES:

SR TCO Seatpost & Sanshin q/r seatpin
SunTour XC Comp BB
Tange Levin CD headset
SunTour XC Comp Top-Pull front derailleur

This is a 1990 model, white/silver/yellow fade,
very good condition.

Asking price: $200/obo
              (shipping negotiable)


--
Mark Chandler               Novell, Inc.          510/975-4522
chandler@wc.novell.com      Walnut Creek, CA      510/938-2562 FAX
==================================================================
     The opinions expressed above are mine, not my employer's.
From: MEDELMA@cms.cc.wayne.edu (Michael Edelman)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Finally: Wide enough shoes.
Date: 8 Apr 92 14:39:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: cms.167C395DA.MEDELMA
Organization: Wayne State University

I've had a lot of problems with bike shoes- noteably Shimanos- that
felt okay to my wide (10-1/2 EE) feet when I bought them but gave
me excruciating pain after an hour on the bike, after they'd been
dirtied or scuffed beyond return. I thought I'd be repairing my Bata
bike sneakers for years.
 
Yesterday I bought a pair of Time Sport shoes at an *excellent* price
($75- Barry got a good early-season purchase price) and a pair of used
Shimano Sante' pedals (*really* cheap) and after a few minutes of adjusting
the cleats, I did a quick 20 miles to give 'em a good workout.
 
Well, my wide feet are really happy. Plenty of room, toes don't get
bunched, comfy as heck. I'm sold.
           --mike
(yes, I *had* planned to use Time pedals, but the Sante' pedals were
so much cheaper I couldn't resist...any comments from the group re Time
vs Look system?
From: kim39@husc8.harvard.edu (John Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: pedaling efficency
Date: 11 Apr 92 15:22:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Apr11.112232.10954
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

> ifai645@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Paul C. Janzen) writes:
>I am not, and will not, be convinced, until someone shows me a study
>in which a load pedal (that's what Coyle's device for measuring force
>at points in a stroke is calld) is used in A REAL RACE, with real
>climbing and sprinting. I'll admit that probably 90% of the time, I
>don't pull up, but when I'm climbing or sprinting, I am absolutely
>sure that I do, and I've got the bruises on the tops of my feet to
>prove it. Races and ergometers just aren't the same.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Paul C. Janzen               

Jobst (and the studies he mentioned) did not dispute that top cyclists
(or others) may sometimes apply positive force on the upstroke, but he
said that over long disstances, it is less efficient  to do so.  

My personal opinion of how I pedal (and I'm no racer), is that most of the
time I slightly unweight my rear leg, but I do not apply enough
force so that a net positive upwards force is exerted on the rear pedal.
(i.e. Force on upstroke < weight of leg+pedal+shoe.)
However, when jumping in front of cars when the light turns green,
I am 99% sure that I apply net positive force to the upstroke in
an effort to accelerate quickly.  I do this for about 7-8 seconds
at at time. 
-CaseCardiovascular
From: BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: pedaling efficency
Date: 12 Apr 92 02:42:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: hplomg.9204120242.AA14278

Charlie Sullivan writes:

> I am puzzled by Jobst's reference to 'acceleration losses.'

and proceeds to say:

> Agreed, so far, and I might add that I think that is an important part of
> the reason knee problems are worse on uphills.  One can't as easily lighten
> up on whatever part of the stroke is causing the pain, as gravity will cause
> a large variation in speed during the pauses in power input.
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well???  As I recall change in speed is acceleration.  This causes additional
work as in "Force = Mass x acceleration" and "WORK = F x Distance" and
"Power = Work / Time".

<>         A shorter power stroke would cause cyclic speed variation with
<> related acceleration losses.

> But what I don't understand is what 'acceleration losses' are.  The
> power needed to move the bike+rider up the hill is constant, regardless
> of any velocity variations...

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.

> I think that the reason for using a longer stroke on hills
> and so avoiding cyclic speed variations is not that there are
> 'acceleration losses,' but either that it is unpleasant and disconcerting
> to have wide speed variations, or that they actually get to the
> point where it is hard to balance the bike during the slowest parts
> of the cycle, or there is a danger of starting to roll backwards
> (which could entail power losses, and other sorts of losses as well.)

What makes this unpleasant or disconcerting is that it demands more work
and more work requires more power unless you slow down.  This is the basis
of this entire discussion and analyzed carefully should reveal the answer
all by itself.  I did not see any comment on the experiment I proposed to
try isolating the power pulse more discreetly by intermittent pedal thrusts.
I think if you try this, you will be able to form some opinions on what it
does and how your body reacts to it.  I am curious what you find.

jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: nbernste@urbana.mcd.mot.com (Norman Bernstein)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Multiple Free Laps
Date: 9 Apr 92 11:33:28 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Urbana Design Center

warsa@lacerta.unm.edu (j warsa) writes:

>This post is primarily directed to Les Ernest, but I thought it might
>provoke general discussion.

>A new USCF rule was introduced this year allowing multiple free laps in 
>criteriums. It appears that it is being abused. Several times this year,
>I have seen guys stopping behind crashes, and even though they weren't
>really involved, getting free laps. At the Tempe Grand Prix, for instance,
>Hegg got back in after one of the early crashes (of the very many!). Later, 
>he stopped in FRONT of a crash with about 10 laps to go, and got a nice 
>2-lap rest before the finale. 

The free lap rule is very specific.  You get a free lap in the event of
a mishap.  A mishap is defined as:

	1.	being INVOLVED in a crash
	2.	a flat
	3.	an equipment failure (that is not the rider's fault).

If you are delayed in a race because you get caught BEHIND a crash, you
have NOT had a mishap and should NOT get a free lap.  Your rule book has
a list of definitions before the race rules . . . look at them.  Then
look up free laps . . .
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: lally@beta.lanl.gov (Bryan R. Lally)
Subject: Re: bendix 2 speed coaster brake rear hub
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Distribution: US
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 20:03:33 GMT

In article <1992Apr08.165039.72532@evolving.com> dxs@evolving.com (Dan Stanger) writes:
> i want to buy a bendix 2 speed coaster brake rear hub.  does anyone
> have one for sale?
> dan stanger 303 969 3312

I want one too, but I want one attached to an old Schwinn American.  I
had one when I was a child ...  Willing to pay and to ship in the US.

	- bryan lally
	  lally@lanl.gov