Elliot's Naked Bicycle Service, Piano Bar, & Much More 2018

[Elliot]

Obviously...
Elliot’s Naked Bicycle Service, Healing & Mystic Arts Center, Body Painting Free-For-All, & Piano Bar
…is returning in 2018!

Last year we “officially” repaired 677 bicycles – plus those we failed to write down.
And the Do-It-Yourself shop was also a hit, once again.

And don’t forget we have foot washing, massage, body painting, tarot card reading, and other services for the owners of the bikes (and anyone else).
Cold beverages – of course!

Hopefully, we will be back in the 4:30 Plaza, but we won’t know until July or so.

Wherever we set up, it will be even better than before.

And it is all thanks to you... who chose to visit us. We salute you!

Here are a couple snapshots from previous years:



Arne (left) and Aaron (right) and a happy bicycle owner paying attention to Aaron's bike-wisdom.




Our body painting artist Kelly (left) and happy “canvas” Katy.
We plan to start body painting early on Friday this year, for CTR.
And every day... we can paint you, or you can paint each other, or any combination!
And yes... that-Elliot-fellow is always a willing victim.




Edward repairing brand new $69.97 Cheapmart bike.




Our 2017 camp!
See the 3,600 square feet of shade at the "point of the arrow" -- the 18 10x20 tarps? That's where are shops and studios are. And we hope to add another 1,200 square feet this year, if we can find the money.
Giga Pan image by Todd Huffman. Thanks, Todd!




Camp façade in 2015.
Photo by our own Edward.




How we rolled – literally -- last year!

[gahb13]

Once I can secure a ticket, I'll be volunteering as a repairman (or wherever needed) for a few shifts. I enjoyed my time volunteering with you guys last time life aligned to allow me to go to BM (2014).

[Elliot]

Wonderful! Looking forward to having you with us again, Guy!

[Elliot]

.
We are moving!
Our new placement is 3:00 G Plaza.
I do not know if this is a promotion or demotion -- or lateral.

But we are moving there.
More info as soon as I figure it out.

[Elliot]

Well, drat. I'm not doing the "Naked Man" weekend at Laguna del Sol this year. Every last square foot of camping space is already booked!

I mention it here, since a few Burners are sure to look for me there.

Oh well... more time to prepare for the real thing.

[Krokodyle]

We are moving!
Our new placement is 3:00 G Plaza.
I do not know if this is a promotion or demotion -- or lateral.

Indeed...we have been moved more center and now live at D (& 4:45), unsure of the juju they use to make determinations on some placements...as always, expecting the unexpected (but generally expecting a higher noise level).

Since a few of us had crankcase issues last year (one came apart and mine froze up), I recommended to a fellow campmate to purchase a set of crankcase bearings matching their bike model and have them on the Playa. Is that the kind of thing that your camp can help with if it came to it? We're also going to be doing more pre-Playa bike preparation in order to minimize dust in the moving bits, so hopefully when we visit your camp it can be just to say 'hello'!

[Elliot]

We must have done 200 crank bearing repairs last year, most of them on Huffy Crankbrokes. We ran out of new bearings after a couple days, and cannibalized our own bikes for bearings after that.

I will look up a part number for those bearings. They often come in a box of 10 (for 5 bikes).

This applies to ONE-PIECE CRANKS. Not three-piece cranks.

Avoid buying the Huffy Crankbroke (Cranbrook), and other bikes with one-piece crank. You can find bikes with three-piece cranks for almost the same price.

If the crank will not turn because of dust, it will usually free up by squirting WD-40 in there.
Always set these bearings a tiny bit on the loose side.

EDIT to add:

Bearings for one-piece cranks come in two flavors – with 9 balls and with 10 balls. Technically, they are not interchangeable, but I have used them interchangeably and never noticed any trouble.

Many bearings are standardized and assigned a number. These with 10 balls are #66.
With 9 balls they are #64.

Without going into the details, it seems safe to recommend #66 for all bikes.
The #64 is for vintage Schwinns built in Chicago and a few others now rarely seen.

Here are links to both:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunlite-Bearin ... 23a1472383

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunlite-Bearin ... 2397f665a5

[Elliot]

Looks like I will be giving a talk on bicycle maintenance at BRC Community College.
Here is my tentative outline.
What am I forgetting?

1
Overview of bicycle; components and systems – focus student on topic.


2
Introduction to the one-speed coaster-brake bicycle.


3
Fundamental use of tools – righty-tighty, lefty-losey, except….


4
Removal of fenders and chain cover – (humorous).


5
Flats.
Components and concepts of rim, tire, and inner-tube.
Method of replacing inner-tube.
Method of patching inner-tube.
Proper seating of tire.
Correct tire pressure.


6
Reassembly – brake torque arm.


7
Wheels – spokes, tacos, bearings, axle threads.


8
Chains.
Components and concepts.
Chain tool and master links.
Replacing.
Adjusting tension.


9
“Cruiser” handlebar – folly of fashions.


10
Kickstand – lubrication, tightening bolt.


11
Saddle (seat) – adjustment of.
Sizing of bicycle to rider.


12
Pedals – threads, materials.


13
The Dread Crank Bearings, One-Piece Crank (“Ashtabula” -- humorous).
History, repairs and replacement, prevention, terminology (“bottom bracket”).
Quick fixes.


14
Three-Piece Cranks – brief explanation.


16
Opportunity to graduate at this level.


17
Introduction to Complificatated Bicycliopaedes -- mountain bikes, others.


18
Cable brakes -- use, maintenance, prevention.


19
Derailleur gearing -- correct use, maintenance, prevention.
Locking a front derailleur.
Locking a rear derailleur, converting to one-speed – including what NOT to do.


20
Q & A


21
Raucous graduation celebration.

[Elliot]

From now on, if you wish to contact me, please use regular e-mail: [email protected]
I am closing this ePlaya account -- too many accounts of all manner of sorts. Too much time on the computer and not enough on productive stuff.
Of course, please stop by and see us in the 3:00 & Gort civic plaza!

[Krokodyle]

Sad to see you go from ePlaya, Elliot!

Will be stopping by this year to say hi!

[Traveller in Time]

With view on the "Platonic Polyhedron Pagoda" (each time I find this one I am glad it is not a hadron collider)

[Traveller in Time]

Presuming you are located at 2:56 4450' from the man (that is G and 2:56)

You will be at 2:02 5252' from the camera (totally out of sight, blocked by shade structures)