HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: parksd@source.asset.com (Don Parks)
Subject: Touring the CA coast
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1992 22:51:36 GMT
Organization: Asset Source for Software Engineering Technology

I am currently beginning plans for a bike tour along the California
coast.  I am planning on using the Bike Centennial maps from Cresent
City to San Diego.  The trip is planned for three weeks (~1000 miles)
from the end of August through the beginning of September.  Currently
there are three of us planning to make the trip.

I have several areas that I would appreciate any input concerning:

1) We have pretty much decided on flying out from the East
   coast to Cresent City and flying back from San Diego, however, will
   we have to get two one-way tickets (expensive !!!!) ?  (Can't really
   afford another way out because of time constraints)

2) I have been keeping up on bike transport from frequent posts,
   however, I don't know anyone in Cresent City, so where can I have the
   bikes shipped within a reasonable distance of the Airport so they
   will be waiting upon our arrival? (Got friends in SD for the return
   home details)

3) Are there any reasons why we shouldn't plan on following a north to
   south route? (is SD to Cresent City any beter/worse?)

4) What places, people, sites, excersions, roads, etc. should we avoid ?

5) What places, people, sites, excursions, roads, etc. should we include ?

6) Anything else you think may be of interest/informative/suggestion to
   us....

Thanks in Advance from me and the rest of the Psycho Bikers of West Virginia... email (parksd@source.asset.com)
email: parksd@source.asset.com
phone (304) 594-9827
address:  Don Parks c/o ASSET
          2611 Cranberry Square
          Morgantown, WV 26505
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: dmlieber@jarthur.claremont.edu (Stu)
Subject: Re: QR seat posts ... thieves' paradise
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 03:47:08 GMT

>In article <1992Apr6.205607.20972@chpc.utexas.edu> ccfa001@hermes.chpc.utexas.edu (Curt Vaughan) writes:
>>It finally happened to me last week ... some @#$% QR'd the seat and
>>post off of my mtb.  I often wonder where these jerks sell stuff such
>>as this, and how much they actually get for their "efforts."  The combo
>>cost an arm and a leg to replace, and I hate having to carry the doggone
>>seat and post around with me.  Short of replacing the QR with a regular
>>bolt, has anyone come up with a method of securing a QR at least enough
>>to slow the thief down?

I'm don't like to carry my seat either, but I also don't like having to 
remove the front wheel to lock up.  When I go somewhere that I know my
bike is open for some form of theft, I use a long cable to go with my
Kriptonite lock.  With this I can lock the seat, both tires, and my pedals
if I'm using my Looks.  This doesn't require carrying another lock either
because you can hock the loops on a u-lock if that's what you use.

Stu
From: BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: riding up stairs
Date: 16 Apr 92 21:27:07 GMT

Paul Hutmacher writes:

> Now that we've established that it's ok to ride a properly maintained
> ATB down stairs, could a few of you rad riders give me some hints on
> your techniques for riding up stairs?

A couple of steps, OK, but stairs sort of defies bicycling because they
are steeper than any road you will ever find.  The generally run at a
greater slope than 50%.  I don't recall seeing any such roads nor do I
relish the thought of riding up them.  If stairs were flat they would be
much like riding down (except for the landing) but they are not so all
the stair climbing must also be accomplished with the difficulty of
balancing at less than walking speed and traction and timing of stair to
pedal overlaid on strenuous climbing make this a task for special
equipment and a skilled stunt artist.  I am not a volunteer.

jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com
From: ekearns@bbn.com (Edward Joseph Kearns)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Opinions Wanted: Light Saddles
Date: 7 Apr 92 14:27:54 GMT
Distribution: ba
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

gemmell@whistle.Berkeley.EDU (Peter Gemmell) writes:

>I was thinking about spending mega-bucks on a 
>new seat for my racing bike and was wondering
>if anyone had opinions about the latest
>super-light saddles they care to share:

Sure!  I just did exactly what you want to do.  I switched from
an Avocet M20 Gel seat to a Selle Italia Flite Titanium.
However I paid $74 through The Colorado Cyclist after the local
shop (Belmont Wheelworks) asked for $100.

I figured I'd do the switch right at the beginning of the season
so my butt wouldn't remember how comfortable the Gel seat was.

It looks like some kind of torture device, but it feels just great!
I am extremely happy with it so far.  It is much more comfortable
then I ever imagined.  I've put just over 200 miles on it.  I was
a tad sore after my first 50 mile ride, but after my second 50 mile 
ride Saturday there were no after effects, so I rode another 40 on
Sunday with no problems.

The weight reduction off the top off the bike is a blessing.  You 
can tell right away that the bike feels lighter when you sway from 
side to side.  

Good luck and Enjoy!
Edzo the elitist weirdo wheel builder. ;-)  nyuk, nyuk!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ekearns@bbn.com    617-873-3051   BBN Communications   Cambridge, MA.
      I am powerless over my urge to build and true wheels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ddb@hpgrla.gr.hp.com (dave bohn)
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 14:17:58 GMT
Subject: Biking in N. Italy
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Greeley, CO
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles

I would like to know what the biking is like in northern
Italy close the the Alps.  Things like the condition of
the roads, car traffic, other bikers, etc.  I normally
bike along the Front Range and mountains of Colorado.
From: dahls@fhydra.dnet.unit.no (Joern Yngve Dahl-Stamnes)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: What Is Citrus-Based Degreaser?
Date: 7 Apr 92 13:04:12 GMT
Reply-To: dahls@fhydra.dnet.unit.no (Joern Yngve Dahl-Stamnes)
Organization: University of Trondheim, NORWAY

Thus spoke the keyboard of Paul Smee:
>To expand with a bit of useless information, handy at parties, it's
>most commonly made using orange oil (what do you think the frozen OJ
>companies do with all their peels?).  Orange oil is one of the most
>potent degreasers known.  It's also a contact insecticide -- kills
>insects who try to attack citrus fruits, basically by sucking the fats
>out of their bodies.  Which is why you don't normally find worms in
>oranges.

That's great - no bugs on my chain ;-)
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+-+
* I went back to my mother,           * Joern Yngve Dahl-Stamnes           *
* I said, "I'm crazy ma, help me!"    * University of Trondheim            *
* She said, "I know how it feels son, * The Norwegian Institute of Tech.   *
* 'cause it runs in the family."      * Division of Physical Electronics   *
*       - The Who, Quadrophenia       * e-mail: dahls@fhydra.dnet.unit.no  *
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+-+
From: CBC107@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Buyers Coop
Date: 14 Apr 92 19:33:34 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

I've read the rsponses from my original posting and I have a few follow-up
comments and suggestions.  The idea is born out of some
less-than-satisfactory experiences at the local bike shops.  Like many of
you have mentioned, REI went from coop pprices to mainstream retail prices
(the only consolation being the annual dividend.) They started as a company
that wanted to fill the needs of consumer-enthusiasts who couldn't find the
gear they needed (ice axes).  Maybe bike shops start out withthis same
dedication to the enthusiasts, but then become preoccupied with how much
they can "keystone" the products they sell.  If profits were uniform and
predictable, we wouldn't have this dilema, but then we wouldn't be in
America either.  It is this line between profit and customer that is the
crux of the issue.  I agree that shops provide a service that can't be
dismissed.  I am not able to straighten chainstays or forks or replace
dropouts.  For those, and other hard-core problems I go to the shops.
But,in the same breath, I don't want to be gouged when I buy a bottom
bracket either.  I had one shop charge me $30.00 for a bottom bracket.  When
I got home I checked the price and found it in Nashbar for $16.00.  I took
it back and they adjusted the price.  But a few days later I returned and
saw the same BB for the original price.  These examples aren't extreme, but
normal throughout the industry.  I'm advocating a mail order coop that ships
directly to the consumer after minor repackaging.  The catalog will be a
list of what's available, with some basic necessary info.  No photographs or
graphics will be needed.  Since the consumers are enthusiasts they will
already know the products from the bicycling media, compu networks and even
bicycle shops (I know what you're thinking.) We will circumvent the backlash
from bike shops by keeping the name "coop" out of the title ot the business.
It's just a business - for enthusiasts.

I am sick of being treated like a whore every time I walk into a shop.  I
love bicycling and therefore invest a lot of time and money into it.  Shops
see me and see a way to make money - and I get screwed.

With low overhead, little profit is required.

Your responses have been very helpful - please feel free to continue the
dialogue.  Chris
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles,rec.autos.driving,ca.driving,rec.motorcycles
From: bryce_jasmer@next.com (Bryce Jasmer)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Crunch Commercial
Date: 17 Apr 92 20:21:04 GMT

Theodore Chen writes
>In article <13APR92.14393936@alcvax.pfc.mit.edu> stek@alcvax.pfc.mit.edu  
writes:
>>I found the Nestle Crunch commercial very disturbing.  I have
>>done plenty of drafting off of trucks and busses.  It is fun, but
>>it is also about the most dangerous thing that you can do on
>>your bike.  I know of at least one person who was killed doing this.
>
>not to mention that you wind up smelling like diesel fuel afterwards.

Not to mention that it was a blatant ripoff of a great scene from Breaking  
Away.

Bryce Jasmer
bjasmer@next.com
From: iyermish@sju.edu (I. Yermish)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Trek 6->7 Speed Upgrade
Date: 7 Apr 92 20:08:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: sjuphil.1992Apr7.200812.20958
Organization: Saint Joseph's University

There was a request for information about upgrading a TREK 400/500 from
six to seven speeds.  My machine crashed when I was replying so I lost
the sender's name.  At any rate, I just did this upgrade last week.  Here's
what I did to my six year old Trek 400 ...

First, I replaced the 52/42/32 Sakae Ovaltech Chainrings for ROUND rings
at 52/40/28 (which is the capacity of the Shimano Front Derailleur).  Though
this isn't what the original poster asked, I found it a great improvement.

Next, I replaced the six speed shifters with seven speed Shimano 105's.
This wasn't exactly necessary if I didn't need to have it click on the
last gear.  But I did it anyway.  I replaced the six speed Shimano freewheel
with a seven speed Sachs-Maillaird.  Adjusted the cables and limit settings,
go on the bike and had nary a mis-shift.

BTW, I got the parts from Colorado Cyclist.  They were very helpful on the
phone and had the best prices for ALL of the components I ordered.

With this setup, 52/40/28 and a 12x24 freewheel, I have plenty of flat gears
for my normal riding in South Jersey, and almost 1:1 for the hills in Vermont
and Massachusetts, without having to switch freewheels.

I can't believe that I got used to those oval rings.  Good riddance ...

-- 
----------------------------------------------
 Ira Yermish  iyermish@sju.edu  (215)-660-1636
----------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: alh@einoed.in-berlin.de (Adrian Le Hanne)
Subject: Re: QR seat posts ... thieves' paradise
Organization: Einoed Unix & Netzwerke, Berlin (FRG)
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1992 14:16:03 GMT

ccfa001@hermes.chpc.utexas.edu (Curt Vaughan) writes:

>It finally happened to me last week ... some @#$% QR'd the seat and
>post off of my mtb.  I often wonder where these jerks sell stuff such

My Syncros post has a hole at one end so i can use my u-lock to secure it.
Of course this is only a slow down when the thief uses a saw or removes
the saddle with the right tools...

Carrying around is not a solution for those who grease their post on a
regular base...

>Curt Vaughan
Adrian
-- 
  Adrian S. Le Hanne      Einoed Unix & Netzwerke
  alh@einoed.in-berlin.de Koepenicker Strasse 154, D-1000 Berlin 36 (FRG)
..!fub!einoed!alh         Tel: (030)611 31 26 / 611 32 26, Fax: (030)825 98 75
                          "Christianity Is Stupid." -Negativland
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: marcs@slc.com (Marc San Soucie)
Subject: Re: Race results: Tour of Flanders
Organization: Servio Corp, Beaverton Oregon, US
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 21:31:57 GMT

Jonathan E Snow (jesnow@athena.mit.edu) writes:

> Marc San Soucie writes:

> > Brent Seales (seales@stilton.cs.wisc.edu) writes:
> > 
> > > The 76th Tour of Flanders
> > > Sunday, April 5, 1992

> > > After the first hour of relative calm,  Jacky Durand (Castorama) attacked at 
> > > the 45 km mark.  He was joined by the Swiss Wegmuller (Festina) and the Belgian
> > > Meyvish (Carrera) and Roelandt (Assur).  The four riders profited from the 
> > > sluggishness of the peloton, and took a 22'10" maximum lead, at the 90 km mark!
> > > The speed increased a notch with the approach of the region of the small climbs.
> > > At the Vieux Kwaremont (km 152) the four riders still had a lead of 15'50".

> > I'm always amazed by races that unfold this way - letting a rider or group
> > of riders get so far out in front.

> 	Those weren't "four strong guys", really, I'll bet none of them are
> rated much more than domestiques at the level they're racing.

Durand and Meyvis(c)h haven't lit up the headlines much, but Wegmuller is a
top-notch rider who has won more than his share of time trials over the
years, and Roelandt was the fellow who won a Tour DuPont stage either last
year or the year before in a solo breakaway that the pack let him have.
Maybe the pack was overly dismissive of Durand and Meyvish, and didn't
think the other two pull it off.


> 	Personally, I find it much more exciting and interesting when races 
> unfold this way.  A tremendous gamble, a tremendous individual effort (at the 
> end). Boring races don't attract news coverage or sponsorship.  That's fine
> with me!  Hooray for Jaques Durand!

Definitely.

    Marc San Soucie
    Portland, Oregon
    marcs@slc.com
From: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se (Torsten Lif)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Taiwanese tires
Date: 10 Apr 92 11:33:42 GMT
Reply-To: etxorst@eos.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Telecom AB

In article 4617@csc.canterbury.ac.nz, chem194@csc.canterbury.ac.nz (Alex Ferguson) writes:
>> I had a blowout of the rear tire which seperated the
>> sidewall from the bead, .........
>
>>        Tim Olson
>
>I usually use cheap Taiwanese 27 x 1-1/4 tyres as they are
>cheap and reliable and half the price of the most expensive.
>Will I get twice the life out of the most expensive -
>unlikely. The Mitchelin World Tourer on the back at present
>seems to have worn suprisingly fast.

I used to ride on Cheng Shin tires some years ago on exactly the
grounds you state - I felt the more expensive brands were unlikely to
give double value for their double price. But they do! Believe me.

The sidewall failure was by far the most common for me on Cheng Shins.
They are rated to something like 70 or 80 PSI and to avoid snakebite
you must inflate them to this level. Long before the tread is worn out,
the cheap fabric reinforcing the sidewall breaks along the bead and
BANG. The last time that happened I had to walk quite a bit.  This
would typically happen after something like 600 to 1000 miles. The
tires I got next lasted just over 1000 miles which is as you point out
not nearly double mileage, but they gave in with a "soft failure mode".
The tread wore down so you could see that it was time to replace them.
Plenty of warning and no danger of getting stranded in the bush. With
the mushy sidewalls you get no warning. One day they just rip apart.

>BTW - what make of rim do you have on the back that caused
>the bead to separate from the tyre - Mavic?

I've had that happen on Weinmann stainless steel rims (yecch!) and on
Mavic M3:s. In no case was the weel in quesion out of true.

As a side issue, I noticed that their 32-622 mm size (1 1/4" 700C) was
assymmetric, i.e. the bead on one side was slightly tighter than on the
other. If you put the tighter side on the rim first (before putting the
tube in) you could easily roll the other side on with just your hands.
If you did it the other way round, the tighter side was impossible to
roll on by hand - you had to use tools and probably wound up pinching
the tube. At first I thought it was the rim that was assymmetric but
this turned out not to be the case. The same side of the tire was
tighter regardless of which way it went on the rim. I also tried the
same tires on other wheels with the same results.

And, no, the blowouts did not occur on the "tighter" side of the tire.
As a matter of fact, as far as I can recall, they all happened on the
side that was "looser".

>-- 
>
>Alex Ferguson - chem194@csc.canterbury.ac.nz
>bicycles ridden, mountains climbed, kayaks paddled, electronics fixed
>Chemistry Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand



---
 Torsten Lif                          |   "No, there's nothing wrong
 Ericsson Telecom AB, EO/ETX/TX/ZD    |    with my bike."
 S-126 25  STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN          |   "It's just a little 'bent."
 Tel: +46 8 719 4881                  |
From: dchoi@physics (David Choi)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Cupertino Bike Shop Swap Meet April 26th(Silicon Valley)
Date: 8 Apr 92 10:10:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: agate.rugqnINNitb
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: physics.berkeley.edu

I don't see anything wrong with letting people know about a swap meet.  In
fact, does anyone know of any that are going to happen in or around Berkeley?
From: TOM@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Bridgestone CB-O For Sale
Date: 15 Apr 92 18:19:39 GMT
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

Size:  50 cm seat tube, Cantileaver brakes, Specialized Fatboy Slicks, and
       joy to ride.  I'm selling because I have a road bike that I ride more,
       and the CB-0, nicknamed "ZIP!" has to go!  The bike is in excellent
       shape, fitted with a rear rack and water bottle cage.  I'm asking
       $350.00 or best offer.
                                 Tom (408) 268-2955 home
                                     (415) 926-3426 work
From: macintyr@mips.uucp (Craig MacIntyre)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Groupo -> Price ~ Quality ?
Date: 17 Apr 92 16:17:15 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University, Dept of Mathematics

In article <1992Apr15.161533.16324@s1.gov> pcc@s1.gov writes:
>
>Can anyone rank the following (in their opinion) in order of quality,
>consider non STI/ERGopower. The '92 models are what I can get, and the
>other 2 are what I currently have.
>
>Campy Record (92)
>Campy Chorus (92)
>Campy Athena (92)
>Shimano Dura-Ace (92)
>Shimano Ultegra (92)
>Shimano 105 (92)
>Campy Super Record 
>Campy Nuovo Record 
>
It depends on what you mean by quality.  The old Campy stuff lasts forever.
However, it lacks a lot in performance when compared to the newer stuff.
I have a bike with Super Record and I like it a lot.  But, I will be the
firt to tell you that NONE of the components in the group (exception are
the hubs and headset) work as well as 105.  Note:  It remains to be
seen how durable 105 and 600 are.  Also, the Super Record and Nuovo
Record have a classic look that is hard to replace.

I would rank the groups as follows:
 
1) Tie   Dura-Ace and Record
2) Chorus
3) Athena
4) Ultegra
5) 105

This ranking doesn't take into account price or looks.  I don't think
you can compare the old Campy stuff.  (Like comparing a 65 Vette to 
a 92 Corvette ZR1--the old one has style but looses out in every other
category, but I would rather have the 65).

My recommendation if money is a factor is the Ultegra 8 speed, with or
without STI.  I think it gives the most bang for the buck.  (Actually,
buy Suntour Superb (sp?) Pro--The most underrated, underpriced group
on the market.)


-- 
#############################################################################
# Craig MacIntyre		Graduate Student, Mathematics Department    #
#  macintyr@bigmips.tamu.edu             Texas A&M University               #
#############################################################################
From: macintyr@mips.uucp (Craig MacIntyre)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Super Record Chainrings
Date: 17 Apr 92 16:42:53 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Texas A&M University, Dept of Mathematics

In article <18207@oasys.dt.navy.mil> mackinto@oasys.dt.navy.mil (David Mackintosh) writes:
>I recently noticed that I can see quite a bit of daylight between my
>chain and chainrings (viewed from side, in between teeth; new chain
>or old), so it's probably time to replace them.
>
>Colorado Cyclist sells Stronglight rings for $25.99 each to fit Nouvo/
>Super Record but they are not pictured.  I'm interested in any other
>sources/manufacturers of compatible rings or sources for original rings.

I have some Sakae rings that I had my bike shop order for me.  They
are about $19.00 per ring.  They don't look as nice as my old Super
Record ones but they don't cost $70 each either.

-- 
#############################################################################
# Craig MacIntyre		Graduate Student, Mathematics Department    #
#  macintyr@bigmips.tamu.edu             Texas A&M University               #
#############################################################################
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: stjohn@b17d.ingr.com (Don StJohn)
Subject: Trailers for Children, Alpha
Organization: Intergraph
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 19:12:41 GMT

I am interested in comments from anyone who has had experience
towing children in a trailer.  Comments about safety, length of
rides, riding hills, entertaining the children, etc.

Also, I would be interested in comments about different
trailers.  In particular Bicycling magazine had a picture of a
new trailer in an issue several months back.  I think the article
was a round-up of new products or something like that.  Anyways,
if I remember correctly the name of the trailer was Alpha.  It
appeared to be a hard plastic shell like Cannondale's trailer,
however the children face forward in the Alpha.  I have not seen
the mount but it is supposed to attach to the chainstay.  It was
also unique in its aero styling and suspension.  I am
particularly interested in the suspension because the roads in my
area are not the best.  And I assume with three wheel tracks
between the bike and trailer you are going to hit more rough
spots.

I called the company that is making the Alpha trailer about a
month ago and they told me that they had delayed introduction of
the product for beta testing and refinement.  They told me they
had just gone into production and would begin shipping within a
week.  So far I have not found a dealer who has ordered or has
one.  Has anyone seen the Alpha trailer yet?

I plan to tow the trailer behind either our Santana Sovereign
tandem with my wife or behind my Klien Performance single bike.
We have a 17 month old boy and my wife is due with our second
baby in about 6 weeks.  So this year I would only take the oldest
child and next year both.

-- 
--

Don St. John   (205) 837-6015  Huntsville, AL
stjohndn@dsj.b17c.ingr.com