Elliot's Bicycle Service & Tap Room

[unjonharley]

If your bringing a bicycle to the "Week of the Damned". You may think about bringing spare inner tubes and other space parts..

So as not to burden Elliot with providing for the whole BM..

[Elliot]

Thanks Unjon, that's a good thought. And I strongly recommend the "thorn resistant" or "puncture resistant" kind -- they cost only two to four bucks more, and that's very cheap considering how precious every minute is on Playa. But don't get the kind with sealing liquid inside, which makes a mess. I just paid only $7.99 for some Summit Puncture Resistant ones (by Kenda) at Performance Bicycles.

While I'm at it. If your brakes seem weak, install new brake pads before you head for the Playa. Brand new pads make a huge difference. No amount of sanding the old ones will serve as well.

[ygmir]

Thanks Unjon, that's a good thought. And I strongly recommend the "thorn resistant" or "puncture resistant" kind -- they cost only two to four bucks more, and that's very cheap considering how precious every minute is on Playa. But don't get the kind with sealing liquid inside, which makes a mess. I just paid only $7.99 for some Summit Puncture Resistant ones (by Kenda) at Performance Bicycles.

While I'm at it. If your brakes seem weak, install new brake pads before you head for the Playa. Brand new pads make a huge difference. No amount of sanding the old ones will serve as well.

brakes? huh?

[Elliot]

For that steep grade on 5:00 Street.

[FIGJAM]

I think I saw ygmir climb that hill every day last year.

[unjonharley]

I think I saw ygmir climb that hill every day last year.

Are you referring To Brokeback Dune @ H street

[Elliot]

A suggestion came up on the Cranky & Son bicycle thread: How about holding educational seminars on bicycle maintenance?

That is of course a great idea, but I don't know how realistic it is -- what with everybody operating on Playa Time.
But I do have some ideas, and perhaps I could put together a five-minute program, plus a handout, of the most vital items.

I could easily build some demonstration props -- heaven knows I have enough bicycles to cut up.

Maybe better to just have demonstration props (parts/sections of bicycles) on a table at all times?

Thoughts?

[GreyCoyote]

I think do both. Some folks WANT to learn but cant come to a scheduled talk. Having props at hand lets you demo the concept, and maybe let them try it out on a prop before they decide to do their own bike someday.

And for the rest, Sir Elliot could do a formal presentation! Drinks all around!

[Elliot]

...

And for the rest, Sir Elliot could do a formal presentation! Drinks all around!

'Fraid I'm not big on formality. I don't even own a formal nekkidbutt. And it's Swami Elliot this year. But since "swami" is reported to mean teacher....
What skills are generally most desired? Flats? Single speed chain adjustment? Multi speed shifting technique? What? People go to school for a month to learn basic bike technician skills. I cannot go over... what?... 15 minutes? Until the wine runs out? Until the audience runs out screaming?

[9ah]

A quick 10 min, unofficial tutorial At 1pm or something.

[Elliot]

A quick 10 min, unofficial tutorial At 1pm or something.

Yes, 10 minutes is probably just right. And 1 pm too, since that's when I usually open shop.
What do you have most trouble with on your bike?

[9ah]

How to change your tube or how to know the tube is 'gone' are the most common.... fix a broke chain (either off the loop or literally broken)

[pizzamancer]

Elliot's bike shop rules!

[Elliot]

How to change your tube or how to know the tube is 'gone' are the most common.... fix a broke chain (either off the loop or literally broken)

Flat tire and derailed chain. Yup. We can hold classes on that.

The tube is "gone" when it fails to hold air for the full week. Try to buy the thick "puncture resistant" tubes.

Chains don't break often, but they sure do derail. There are single speed bikes where the chain must be tightened just right. Then there are multi speed bikes where the derailers (derailleurs) must be adjusted just right.

Neither are good designs. It amazes me what the public puts up with. I would at least put strong guide plates on both sides of the sprockets, to end derailings once and for all.

I need to start a bicycle accessory factory.

[Cranky]

Another good two-minute topic would be lubricants: what you should put on your chain, where you should use WD-40, how to revive a skipping freewheel, etc.

[Elliot]

Another good two-minute topic would be lubricants: what you should put on your chain, where you should use WD-40, how to revive a skipping freewheel, etc.

That's a great idea!
And yes, freewheels can often be revived, whether stuck or spinning. It's a matter of showing people where to squirt the WD-40. We can do that!

[Raoul]

Since wine is one of the beverages of choice for your camp, I thought this might be a useful public service announcement - http://www.reshareworthy.com/open-wine- ... corkscrew/

[Elliot]

Since wine is one of the beverages of choice for your camp, I thought this might be a useful public service announcement - http://www.reshareworthy.com/open-wine- ... corkscrew/

Now THAT is very cool. No more breaking the neck of the bottle against the gunnel. (Not that I would ever be without a cork screw!)

[Captain Goddammit]

I got a box in the mail today direct from Clearlake California. I opened it up and there inside were the pedals my Elliot-supplied tandem bike needed - covered in playa dust!

Thanks Elliot!

[Elliot]

I was very careful not to shake off the dust.

[oscillator]

How about proper mount/dismount etiquette for tall bikes in crowds? ie, "Gravity, you're are such a part of me".

Or maybe a best practices on powering thru dust dunes without breaking a pedal???

But I guess the topic we all really want to know: The secrets of making moop-free engine sounds via clothes-pins-and-playing-cards-on-spokes.

-Osc

[Elliot]

How about proper mount/dismount etiquette for tall bikes in crowds? ie, "Gravity, you're are such a part of me".

Or maybe a best practices on powering thru dust dunes without breaking a pedal???

But I guess the topic we all really want to know: The secrets of making moop-free engine sounds via clothes-pins-and-playing-cards-on-spokes.

-Osc

1. I guess any dismount you walk away from is a good dismount. I am no fan of "tall bikes". My buddy Peter builds and rides such bikes regularly, and a few years ago he built a record tall one. Then one day he telephoned me, incoherent, and I figured out that he had a concussion and memory loss. (And I telephoned his fire department, 90 miles away, yes."
After recovering somewhat, he cut that bike back down to less radical height.

2. Best practice for not breaking pedals is to replace plastic pedals with metal ones. Now.

3. Make oral noises. I make a mean Top Fuel Dragster. Whaoomph! Whaomph! Burbbleburbblepattpattpattpatt... WHAAAAAaaoooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........!!!

[Canoe]

(drive-by post)

There's always this.
http://makezine.com/2012/11/22/trotify- ... hon-style/

[Patsh]

or this...

having my valet squeeze it into the garage for me... too much vodka that day to do it myself.

monster trike.jpg (33.87 KiB) Viewed 3375 times

[FIGJAM]

Not sure Elliot has inner tubes for THAT!

[Elliot]

Pat, what have you been feeding your tricycle to make it grow so?!
Looks well built. I bet it has power steering.
All my tires are tubeless, except the red tricycle which was solid styrofoam.
But huge stout industrial inner-tubes have been uses as tires in Kinetic Sculpture Racing.

[Patsh]

Pat, what have you been feeding your tricycle to make it grow so?!
Looks well built. I bet it has power steering.
All my tires are tubeless, except the red tricycle which was solid styrofoam.
But huge stout industrial inner-tubes have been uses as tires in Kinetic Sculpture Racing.

See what happens when you go vegetarian?

[Captain Goddammit]

I went vagiterian long ago… oh wait, what did you say?

[Elliot]

Tip of the week: There is a new kind of bicycle saddle on the market; see photo. This style has no snout-horn-point-nose.... One might think this is a good idea for us occasional riders who tend to get sore "here and there". Well, save your money. This type of saddle has a terrible drawback. That nose on a saddle is there for a reason -- it keeps us situated straight forward on the bike.

I tried riding one of these snoutless ones, and I almost fell off. When pushing with one leg we tend to rotate the other way, and if we don't have a saddle-nose we rotate back and forth and lose all sense of where we are on the bike. That makes it difficult to steer.

I can imagine some marketer thought this was a good idea for comfort. But he sits in an office and never rides a bicycle.

While we are at it, adjust your saddle so the nose points a tiny bit upward -- if it doesn't already. Not much, but just so you can see it. You may be surprised this is more comfortable than if the saddle droops in front.

Bad saddle design:

I cannot imagine where all that white powder came from.

[unjonharley]

I have one of those seats.. Feels weird until you use it for a time..
We are snowed in here.. Police ordered chains on all vehicles moving on the city streets.. We have about 18 inches of snow in our yard.. A 18 wheeler jaxed on the main bridge in town.. Six hours clean up.. The whole bridge was a sheet of ice..

I'm sitting fat and happy at home by the fire place... nite now