HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jclee@athena.mit.edu (Yogurt brains)
Subject: Upgrade/Shed weight on my MTB
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 01:44:39 GMT

Hiya folks,

I've got a Fuji Suncrest that I've customized with Bar Ends, Smoke Kevlar
tires, Performance stem, XT brake levers, and LowFat pedals.  It already
has a TCO seat post, and a cheap Fuji seat.  However, the bike
still weights a ton (28/29 lbs)!  I'm a tallish (6'0"), ultra skinny
guy (135 lbs) so I like it light.  Was wondering if there's anything else I
can do to drop weight, besides getting a new frame.  Not interested in Ti
or other mega expensive stuff.  I've shelled out the dough for the above
upgrades only because I know I can hack them onto my second bike.  I don't
want to get a new bike yet.  I don't have the dough, and I figure that in
a couple years, frame materials will be better understood and hopefully
better/cheaper.  Just my humble opinion, of course.  Right now, I have
no idea what kind of frame I would get.

Also, my rear derailleur is an Exage 500LX.  Is it worth paying $25 for
a Deore DX derailleur?

Thanks for any opinions.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe "DJ Skinny Lee"          MIT Class o '92 --> Stanford Grad School
<jclee@athena.mit.edu>                       OR:
        /|                   Snow and slush  --> Sun, quakes, and tofu
    \'o.O'
    =(___)=  Ack!  Thpth!
       U
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov (JOSEPH T CHEW)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Is it ok to soak cluster in gasoline?
Date: 24 Jul 92 20:07:01 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
Reply-To: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.198
Keywords: n
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   

You might want to try mineral spirits, available at your local
paint store for ca. $2 per gallon jug.  This is the usual modern
paint thinner and brush cleaner, replacing turpentine.

I'm not sure just what "mineral spirits" might be (there's a 
bad pun about "rock and soul" flying around in my head, but it 
won't quite land, fortunately), but I think it's some assortment 
of the lighter petroleum fractions.  Might not be as bad for you 
as gasoline, which has a lot of benzene.  Gasoline also has  
additives for doing this and that to a car engine.

--Joe "Use with adequate ventilation and keep fire away" Chew
From: mccallum@chlorine.cchem.berkeley.edu (Mike Mccallum)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: airplanes and bicycles
Date: 22 Jul 92 19:04:02 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: chlorine.cchem.berkeley.edu

United lets USCF liscence holders take their bikes free.
(So I guess this doesn't apply if one doesnt' have one....)
See a Cycling USA issue for the ads -- It includes the 
access code that you need to get the voucher or OK or what
ever they have you do these days.


--Mike
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: byars@mdd.comm.mot.com (David A. Byars)
Subject: Re: Cleaning Water Bottles
Organization: Motorola, Mobile Data Division - Seattle, WA
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 23:09:00 GMT

In <s1hm6aq.tomk@netcom.com> tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich) writes:

Stuff deleted

>It doesn't work immediately of course. What I do is to put a couple of
>teaspoons full in a bottle of hot water and close the cap. I spray a
			      ^^^^

As a Homebrewer and a bicyclist(not at the same time), I would reccommend
using cold water with bleach for soaking. Hot water will cause the chlorine
to dissipate, that's why it works so well for rinsing.

Drink Beer

Dave Byars
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: kpalm@athena.qualcomm.com (Kent Palm)
Subject: Wanted:  IRC Ultra Light EX70 Bicycle Tube
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 23:52:01 GMT

Two years ago I bought some IRC Ultra Light EX70 Bicycle Tubes (700 x
20c) from Bike Nashbar for $2.94.  They are great tubes, but Nashbar
doesn't carry them anymore.  Do you know of another mail order place
that does?
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: chris@carnival.lbl.gov (Chris Moll)
Subject: Re: ok to soak cluster in gas? Lemond the wimp!
Keywords: n
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 16:22:35 GMT

> As a former racer and bike shop owner, I have always soaked freewheels in gas
> and then rinssed with water.  

Perhaps they worked in spite of the water, not because of it.

> You can always leave it sit around to air dry as long
> as you don't leave it too long (try a couple of hours).  If you have an air
> compressor, this will work to blow the water out, if not, then use the lungs
> that god gave you and that cycling has built up and blow as much water out as
> possible.  Don't try to kill yourself, a few blows will do.  

This is a lot of trouble to get rid of something that doesn't need to be in
there in the first place.

My point is, you don't HAVE to introduce water to get rid of the solvent. 
Wait a few minutes and it'll go away by itself.  Water's a pretty ineffective
way of removing most solvents, anyway; kerosene, gas etc. aren't water soluble.

> I guess you could dilute the solvent until it evaporates as mentioned,
> but how many times do you really want to take off the freewheel and
> keep oiling it. 

I never suggested diluting the solvent, it'll evaporate just fine
full-strength.  This won't cause you to take your freewheel off more often.

But they're still not so great to breath.
--
Chris Moll                       (510)486-7891
---
"Blessed are they who Go Around in Circles, for they Shall
be Known as Wheels."
From: jrdodd@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: MTB Touring (was: Touring bicycles -- an extict breed?)
Date: 22 Jul 92 11:00:36 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <1992Jul20.203643.10028@overload.lbl.gov>, chris@carnival.lbl.gov (Chris Moll) writes:
> Michael Black writes:
>>I am curious about people's experiences.  Has anyone out there
>>actually tried touring on an appropriately equipped mtn bike?

	I toured the Coromandel a year or so back on a lightweight MTB,  and
think such bikes or hybrids are the way to go for touring.
	But a lot depends on where you're touring,  down here (New Zealand), 
you're more likely to come across metal (gravel) roads to start with,  and
there's always some pretty decent off-road areas near camping grounds if you
want to ditch the panniers for the day and have rough ride.
	The lower gears are also good,  espacially if you can't afford to swap
chainsets etc (remember when cycle touring was the 'low-cost' option?).
	New Zealand's national parks reported a 300% increase in cycle tourists
last year,  and the TV article I saw saw MTBs dominating the cycles quite
obviously.
	But after doing 90 km with a loaded bike into a 40 knot headwind,  I'd
have to agree with you on the aero-bars!

	Jonathan.
From: tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Interesting facts about bicycles in Ontario (from MoT)
Date: 27 Jul 92 23:28:07 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

I can think of many things that could qualify as an emergency to
me that wouldn't cause me to ask my neighbor to drive me somewhere.

Having your girlfriend call up and tell you she was out of gas in
the nasty part of town 20 miles away from you might lead you to
use a car instead of your bike.

The man was correct. Transportation is a matter of using the most
effective and efficient options. Automobiles are the most effective
in many instances.

Though I don't see anything seriously 'wrong' with someone that 
doesn't even have a drivers license. :-)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: wilhited@brahms.udel.edu (Douglas Ben Wilhite)
Subject: Re: Help! Knee Pain
Keywords: knee, pain, beginner
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 15:27:24 GMT

In article <w3mm35d.tomk@netcom.com> tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich) writes:
>
>What you have is probably simple overuse strain. Ice it down for
>20 minutes after riding and take anti-inflamatories such as 
>aspirin or ibuprofin. After an easy warmup be sure and stretch
 ^^^^^^^
YIPES!!! Hang on a sec..  Aspirin is far, far, far from being an anti-       
inflamatory agent.  In fact, it is quite the opposite - its primary action
is to cause a general vasodilation, increasing blood flow to most parts of
the body.

DON'T take aspirin, unless you want your knee to swell.

Otherwise, the advise given my Kunich is good.  

.


Xref: sparky rec.bicycles:18976 can.general:3603 ont.general:1284 soc.culture.canada:5366
From: steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steven C. Potter)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,can.general,ont.general,soc.culture.canada,ott.followup
Subject: Re: Interesting facts about bicycles in Ontario (from MoT)
Date: 29 Jul 92 12:55:02 GMT
Organization: Securiplex Technologies Inc., Montreal, Canada
X-Bytes: 1434

From article <1992Jul28.154005.12742@csi.uottawa.ca>, by mlantin@csi.uottawa.ca
 (Maria Lantin writes:-

> [stuff about path safety]
>
> had a mishap or some of their friends did.  The message I got from all that 
> is that bike paths are not THAT safe and that one should be very careful 
> (yelling out one's intentions before acting on them) while maneuvering on
> them. Sorry didn't mean to babble :)
> 

  I would estimate that on my 35-40 minute, 15km journey home from work I
  use my horn an average of 3 times to avoid an accident. Usually this is
  to alert an otherwise oblivious jay walker that if he doesn't move his
  A** off the path he might be in some sort of danger or to alert cyclists
  riding 2 (or 3!) abreast that I am coming through and need some space.

  Apart from the occasionally startled old lady or gentleman, or a kid
  nearly jumping out of his skin on suddenly being awoken from his semi-
  conscious daydreaming, I have found the horn to be about the most effective
  method for avoiding accidents. It is probably a dozen times more valuable
  than my helmet!

  What does everybody else think?
-- 
  ///==================================================================\\\
  ||| Steve Potter:         steven%spxtech@CAM.ORG                     |||
  ||| Expertise/Experience: Computer Systems Engineering / Real Ale /  |||
  |||                       Politics in Education in Quebec            |||
From: jbrodsky@oolong.hacks.arizona.edu (cool flowin gotta keep goin...)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: headset problems
Date: 31 Jul 92 07:56:08 GMT
Reply-To: jbrodsky@oolong.hacks.arizona.edu
Distribution: world,local
Organization: UofA Hardware And Computing Knowledge Society
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-a4

In article <92135@bu.edu>, hairless@buitc.bu.edu (Bill Yu) writes...
> 
>I have been trying to install a new headset on my old clunker
>and have had a problem trying to get the new race onto my fork.
>From what I have heard and read, all you need to do is gently
>tap the race onto the fork but this isn't working for me as I 
>need to really whack it to get any part of it to stay on the 
>steerer tube. I tried banging on it with a rubber mallet but
>the race won't sit on the fork evenly.  
> 
>Any suggestions?
> 
>Thanks,
> 
>Bill

    Try putting a large box type wrench or larege adjustable crescent wrench
around the steerer tube and close to the race.  The race should be tapped on
by tapping the wrench with the hammer.  This method will assist with making
sure that the race goes on straight, and does not get 'racked'.  If that 
fails, the race may not be the correct size for your steerer.  Always make
sure they go on straight.  If it's crooked, the wear will all be in the high
spot and you'll blow out alot of headsets.  I've seen it happen.  Do it 
carefully!



    -Joel Brodsky                

________________________________________________________________________ 
|                                  |                                   |
|  jbrodsky@hacks.arizona.edu      |  "May the next hill be your last, |
|  jbrodsky@seagull.tucson.az.us   |   and all winds be on your back." |
|  jbrodsky@maria.wustl.edu        |                                   |
|  jmbrodsk@nyx.cs.du.edu          |          -jb '92                  |
|__________________________________|___________________________________|

                              _ _-  ___O
                             - -_- _\ <_
                        ..........(_)+(_) 
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: eggers@csd630a.erim.org (Patrick Eggers)
Subject: Re: NBC Olympic Coverage SUCKS!
In-reply-to: smc@hotsc.att.com's message of Tue, 28 Jul 1992 13:42:41 GMT
Organization: Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
	<1992Jul27.183525.29286@ncar.ucar.edu>
	<1992Jul28.134241.13061@cbfsb.cb.att.com>
Date: 28 Jul 92 10:27:14


Just a small, hopefully insignificant point about Ilana turning off
her set, hopefully making NBC realize people were disgusted with their
coverage...  Personally, I think their coverage was, well, okay, we all
agree it sucked.  Now, do you think that they'll see that Ilana turned
off her set and thought:

a)  Wow.  Someone turned off the bicycling coverage!  We must be doing
    a lousy job so let's try to get better bicycling coverage in the
    future.  Someone get on this!

b)  Wow.  Someone turned off the bicycling coverage!  They must want
    to see more gymnastics!  Cancel all future bicycle coverage!

Just a thought.  But I don't put much stake in the thought processes
of our large corporations...  Including, of course...  NBC...

Pat
From: jrdodd@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Bicycle helmets (functionality)
Date: 28 Jul 92 09:18:08 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <davecb.712238768@yorku.ca>, davecb@nexus.yorku.ca (David Collier-Brown) writes:
> obrien@netcom.com (Robert O'Brien) writes:
> | a cyclist in Sacramento died in a solo cycling accident at zero speed.
> [...] According to what I read, his head hit the curb.
>   I have a good bicycling helmet, but I don't expect a lot out of it. It's
> still my job to keep the wheels pointing down and the head pointing up.
> 
> --dave (ex-motorcycle racer) c-b

	Well,  put simply I wouldn't be writing this if I hadn't been wearing
my helmet the day a truck side-swiped me and forced me off the seal whilst I
was using aero-bars.  I came off backwards,  hitting the back of my head hard
enough to dislocate my jaw.  My Extreme (Air-attack copy) helmet absorbed the
impact nicely and I got a free equivilent replacement from the Accident
Compensation Association.
	You might not agree with me writing this,  but at least I can actually
do it!

	Jonathan.
From: tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: LeMond Retire?
Date: 21 Jul 92 18:05:06 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

I put on about an extra 4 kilos this winter and have
only taken off about 2 of them so far this year. I am
absolutely astounded about how much difference this small
amount of weight makes. Especially since I am still carrying
this spare tire around -- I wonder if I can ever become a 
climber if I could take off about 10 pounds!
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: les@SAIL.Stanford.EDU (Les Earnest)
Subject: Re: airplanes and bicycles
Organization: Computer Science Department,  Stanford University.
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 12:04:04 GMT

Karen Walrath wrote:
>Just one question about this USCF membership and free bike transport
>on airlines.  Some, or all airlines seem  to make the restriction
>that you must be traveling to a USCF or similar race for your bike to 
>travel for free.  
>
>(1) Do they enforce this (do they ask?)

I haven't used this service yet, but I would assume that they would
ask the name and location of the event.

>(2) If they do, how do I find out about possible races in the
>    areas I'm traveling to?  I'm not plugged into any racing
>    clubs or publications.

Contact the district rep in the place you are going.  All district
reps are listed in the back of the Rulebook (page 105 in the '92
edition).

Kathryn Henniss follows up thusly:
>Another question:  What's the membership fee for USCF?

$32 per year.

>With the RT bike transport fee at $90, it might be worth it to
>join.

Sure enough.

>Of course, this begins to look like abuse of a privilege
>that presumeably hard-working USCFers arranged, and maybe
>not the most ethical way to go.  Wouldn't want abuse of
>the policy to mess it up for the people who went to the
>trouble of arranging it.

I have discussed this matter with those who negotiated this deal and
can assure you that they are quite aware that it could be used for
other purposes and are not at all worried about that.  In fact,
they encourage it.
--
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
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,ba.market,sco.forsale
From: sharonl@sco.COM (B. Baggins, at your service.)
Subject: Cycling shoes for sale
Organization: Society of Corrupt Optimums
Distribution: ba
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 04:49:59 GMT


2 pr. Sidi racing shoes.
  never worn.
  complete with original boxes & operating instructions.
  white with blue straps.
  size 42 1/2
  $75 pr.  obo

Respond to this account or call 408-427-3356

-- 
"i'll just wander over to soc.singles, impersonate a Nice Guy, and
start a date-rape thread."          -timr@sco.COM
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: kmjoffe@acs.ucalgary.ca (Kenneth M. Joffe)
Subject: cleaning a dirty bike....
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 92 22:50:00 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: The University of Calgary, Alberta


Hmmm.....the more I learn from this group, the more paranoid I
get about my bike.  Is this a common pattern or is it just me??
Anyways, I am still not clear about the cleaning procedure of a
dirty bike.  Just a couple of days ago, I was riding in thick mud
and water for about 2 1/2 hours.  I got home, and following what
others on the net have said, I washed my bike down with a mild
dishwasher detergent (environ. safe) and water.  Can't remember
for a fact, but I think I did this to the chain as well.  I then
took a hose and hosed the bike off (chain included).  I then took
a clean rag and tried to dry the chain thoroughly.  After this, I
took some regular oil (think it was 3 in 1 stuff) and oiled the
chain.  
   Well, after that bit of boring info., I am
wondering.......should I not have hosed down the chain???  I
realize that I probably didn't get all the dirt off and didn't
dry it completely.  I am riddled with day and nightmares that my
chain is going to streatch and screw up all the drive train
components.  
   Recent articles here suggest that I should have soaked my
chain in kerosene???  Even if this does get rid of all the dirt,
how can I make sure that every inch of the chain is thoroughly
dry??  Think I read one article suggesting that I just twirl the
chain in the air for a bit.  This sounds to me like it could do
some damage, not only to the chain, but to me as well.  How bout
a blow dryer??  
   Well, enough of my paranoid ranting.  I will try new things
and hope that this one mistake doesn't come back to haunt me
later.
From: karen@athena.mit.edu (Karen E. Walrath)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: MTB Touring (was: Touring bicycles -- an extict breed?)
Date: 28 Jul 92 20:58:06 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In article <11mm_xr.tomk@netcom.com> tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich) writes:
>I'm pretty curious about recombents. Isn't the much lower position
>increasing your chances of an accident? What about attaching
>panniers etc? The long wheelbase looks like it pretty seriously harms
>the manuveurability of the bike.
>
My husband and I own a long wheelbase recumbent (Infinity).  I normally
commute on a hybrid bike, but when the weather is good, I take the recumbent.
The lower riding position is mostly just different.  You can't see over
the cars like you can on a hybrid in an upright position, but I don't feel
more vulnerable.  In fact, most cars give me a wider berth on the recumbent
than on the hybrid.  [The recumbent also has an orange kiddie flag.]  Remember
that your feet are also closer to the ground, and if you stop fast you can
just put your feet down.  There is no tendancy to pitch head-first.

Panniers are no problem when riding.  When walking with the bike, it tends
to be rather tippy when it has panniers.

The wheelbase is longer, so it obviously has a bigger turning radius.  No,
it doesn't manuveur like my hybrid, but I don't expect it to.

The only serious problem with riding on city roads is the potholes.  When you
hit a pothole, you bounce.  You have no way of bracing against the bike.

>
>And lastly, here in the San Francisco bay area we have lots of
>10% and greater hills to climb. In fact, most of the good riding 
>is in the hills since the traffic is more limited. Although I
>have seen a couple of recumbents running about they always seem a 
>great deal slower than your standard safety bike. So how are they
>in real hills?

On a recumbent, you can't stand in the pedals or use your weight in any
way to help you get started or go uphill.  Your quads get to do more work
than on a regular bike (sort of like leg-presses on a weight machine).
A recumbent also tends to be heavier.  So, if you were to get on one right
now, you would find yourself going slower.  Eventually I would expect you
to get up to speed as your quads strengthen.  I don't ride the recumbent 
often enough or long enough for this to happen and I find that I go about
2 mph slower than normal.

Karen Walrath
MIT
Xref: sparky rec.bicycles:18834 can.general:3546 ont.general:1252 soc.culture.canada:5329 ott.general:557
From: tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,can.general,ont.general,soc.culture.canada,ott.general
Subject: Re: Interesting facts about bicycles in Ontario (from MoT)
Date: 28 Jul 92 18:15:34 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

Also _you_ have to be careful that you understand that the danger on
bicycle paths isn't really the other pedestrians or bicyclists or
whatever, but the _intersections_ where bike paths cross city streets.

automobile drivers invariably do not register vehicles that do not
pose a safety problem to _them_. This is the chiefest reason that
you hear the words, "I didn't even see him", at the site of motorcycle
and bicycle accidents. If it doesn't poss a threat to me, it isn't
important enough to see.
From: d3a132@pnl.gov (Carl P Baker)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Signalling right turns
Date: 29 Jul 92 15:34:05 GMT
Article-I.D.: oracle.1992Jul29.153405.5397
Reply-To: d3a132@pnl.gov
Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories

I don't know if it is legal or not, but I _always_ signal right turns
by sticking my right hand out.  The other signal was developed for
car and motorcycle operators. Car operators have the obvious problem
of not being able to reach the right hand out the right side window,
and motorcycle operators have to keep a hand on the throttle.

When you're bent over in a racing crouch, you have to dislocate
your shoulder in order to get the forearm vertical so that other
drivers can see it.  Most people find this somewhat uncomfortable,
and so signal right turns less effectively than they might.  Or they
signal with their right hand.

Carl P Baker
cp_baker@pnl.gov
509-375-2724

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed here are not necessarily
those of anyone in particular. Further, my employer is not
responsible for any opinions herein, or for any...(humorous
slam of employer deleted in the interests of)...
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles