Sat 12/09; Jen's new derailleur, brake working; set off to Laguna Woods
Jen got a new no-name front derailleur ($12). The Shimano Alivio wouldn't fit the seat tube of her older Specialized bike so she went to a different shop in the area. At least she has a working front derailleur and rear brake now.
We took the blue line train with our bikes to its southern terminus at Long Beach. Even though it was nearly 15:00, we decided to ride to aunt Lisa's in Laguna Woods.
Labels: Bike Mechanical
Sat 12/09; Jen & Greg off to bike shops
This morning, Jen was getting stressed about her bike condition. There are still many issues with her bike and especially without access to tools, it is just taking too long for me to fix it. So, armed with an internet map showing local bike shops, Jen and Greg went off to find a shop that can repair her front derailleur and brake quickly.
We were supposed to go to aunt Hisako's today. Jen's bike is in no condition to ride, especially in an urban environment, so I am not sure what will happen.
Jen just called me from the New Millenium bike shop (2806 James M Wood Blvd, (213) 389-5076), saying that she would buy a Shimano Alivio front derailleur ($25 + tax) so I could install it for her.
Labels: Bike Mechanical
Fri 12/01; Bike work, showing Jen's place, reading
I rode Jen's bike to Missing Link bicycle co-op (http://www.missinglink.org) for them to re-dish the wheel and install the 6 speed Shimano freewheel, then walked back to Jen's apt. The Missing Link mechanics were busy but got the bike done by 18:00.
We were struggling to get the handlebars out of the stem, so we could install a new stem that would raise the handlebars higher. Clamp-type stems that require sliding the handlebar out sideways make changing to a different stem a lot of work. The new stem allows changing the stem or handlebars without taking off the handlebar tape, shifters, and brake levers. We weren't able to get the bar-end shifters out of the handlebars, there must be some trick to it.
We're still showing Jen's place to potential clients, but so far no takers.
I'm continuing the book "Earth Odyssey"; I'm trying to get it done before we go to Mexico, which we can do after Jen's place is rented.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Reading
Thu 11/30; Tinker's Workshop / Street Level Cycles
Jen was busy at her apartment so I rode to the Tinker's Workshop (http://www.tinkersworkshop.org), Tue/Thu bike lab, where they provide tools and some help so you can work on your own bike. One could buy used frames, wheels, and components to throw together one's own bike.
The truing stand was in use so I couldn't redish Jen's rear wheel for the new freewheel, but Jen came by and we tried some replacement stems that would raise her handlebars, and we bought one for $5. We'll have to take off her handlebar tape, shifters, and brakes to get the handlebars off, then put the stem on, then put everything back together again. Thanks to Sasa (sp?) who volunteers at the workshop for being so helpful.
Labels: Bike Mechanical
Tue 11/28; Physics, missed Tinkers Workshop
We all have off days, and today was one of mine though it got better in the evening.
I couldn't get into Dr. Harris' physics lecture (09:30 - 11:00). Nothing against him; arriving so late in the term makes it harder to catch up but his teaching style doesn't engage me emotionally. I won't go to the T-Th Physics class anymore. There is only one more week of class before finals anyway. So I left around 10 AM.
We were planning to go to a special bike repair session at Tinkers Workshop from 14:00 - 18:00. Our objective would have been to install the 6 speed freewheel if possible (which is tricky because of the small rear triangle spacing on this bike). However, Jen took a nap for several hours and I didn't wake her, and I slept too even though I have had plenty of sleep lately. So she woke up cranky that she slept and missed so much of the limited daylight and we didn't go to the Tinkers Workshop. We plan to go there on Thursday when she doesn't work.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Physics
Mon 11/27: Physics, Bike maint, Jen goes to Jeff's 'anniversary'
I skipped the 08:00 Physics 7a today, but I went to the 7b at 09:00. At the a good portion of it was interested; Prof. Irfan discussed experimental methods as well as applications of magnetic fields and materials, as well as the 3 fundamental types of magnetic materials: diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and ferromagnetism.
After class finished, I had the usual $4.50 3-item lunch special at the Little Mandarin in Downtown Berkeley, and then I met Jen at the Missing Link bicycle shop.
I tightened the spokes on the front wheel (of the Specialized Sequoia touring bike) & Jen took off the front fender. It took us a while to get the headset apart, but we bought new bearings and got it greased and put back together. Although Jen thinks her her handlebars are too low, we didn't replace the stem because it would have been quite a bit of work to take the brakes, shifters, and handlebar tape off the stem. Her 6 speed freewheel is a very narrow Suntour model where is no longer available. Replacing it with a Shimano 14-28T freewheel ($14, with tax part only) will involve adjusting the spoke tension and adding spacers to allow additional clearance on the wheel's right side for the increased thickness of the new freewheel. We made an appointment with the Missing Link service dept to install the new freewheel (about $30 labor).
Tomorrow we will go to the Tinker's Workshop. We already have the replacement Shimano freewheel, so we may be able to install it ourselves at the bike clinic (14:00 - 18:00).
Jen left for the evening to go to Jeff's 'birthday' party. He was her friend and former boyfriend who committed suicide in May of this year.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Physics
11/25 Sat; Preparation for Mexico, wheel truing
We're preparing for our bike trip to Mexico; we placed a craigslist ad for Jen to sublet her place for a few months and she got about 15 e-mails so far. Maybe her price is low. Jen needs some maintenance on her bike, so we went to Velo-sport (1615 University Ave Berkeley, CA 94703, 510-849-0497) looking at tires and a 6 speed freewheel. They had a few 6 speed freewheels, which we noted but didn't buy.
We went to Berkeley Saturday Farmer's Market, which has a bike mechanic from Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition. It was Austin, who also works at the Downtown Berkeley bikestation secured bicycle parking facility. Jen's spokes were loose, so I tightened them some and improved the truing on the rear wheel. Austin was willing to sell us the 14-28T 6 speed Shimano freewheel for only $10. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it fit because it is fatter than the Suntour derailleur it was replacing. So I ended up not buying the Shimano freewheel and we left. I'd like to true/tighten Jen's front wheel as well. Missing Link bike co-op (1988 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 510-843-7471) provides bike tools and a workspace to the public for free.
Labels: Bike Mechanical
Day 61 (Wed) Left Mancos early (07:00), rear tire flat, arrive Durango
I rough camped next to a house under construction (there weren't many rough camping spots in town. Normally in smaller towns I would find open land that technically might belong to somebody but was sort of out of the way, but things were kind of 'fenced in' in Mancos. I considered getting a motel but regarded it as a challenge).
I got up around 06:00 and was out of there quickly. Mag wanted to meet in Mancos for breakfast at 9 but it was a cold morning, most stores were not open, and there was nothing for me to do so I got a quick breakfast and started riding the 30 miles to Durango. I should have eaten a bit more (my energy wasn't great) but I made it.
I got a flat on my new Chen Shin Wal-Mart tire. When I dismounted the tire I was surprised to see two punctures, about 10 cm apart. There was a tiny pinhole puncture which I may not have noticed, though it would have eventually caused the tire to lose pressure. However, there was a truck-tire wire - I think that's what it was - stuck through the tire and the tire liner which had caused the tire to lose pressure quickly. Counting both punctures as one "flat", I think I'm up to 11. I've done poorly compared to Mag, who has had only 2 I think.
The terrain was fairly hilly.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Bike Touring
Day 50: trials on the ride after Monarch, Sargeant, CO to Gunnison, CO
Amazingly, the ride from Sargeant to Gunnison has been in many ways more challenging than the ascent to Monarch summit this morning from Maysville. I was lucky that I started pretty early up to Monarch and the weather, all things considered, cooperated with just light rain.
However, from Sargeant to Gunnison I had another front flat (my front tire is bald and full of cuts; I need a new one desperately. I'll put on my reserve tire, leaving me without a reserve, if I can't find one leaving me without a reserve tire, oh and this would be flat #8, I believe) and fought stinging hail, rain, and headwinds and hills at the same time.
I hope Mag & Ed are doing OK; Mag sent me a message that she successfully reached Monarch summit at 12:45, although I didn't receive the message until 13:15 because I was fixing my flat in a cell dead zone. Mag's message said that the weather for her ascent had been more challenging with rain and hail along the way.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Bike Touring
Day 48 Canon City, CO second flat repair
To be fair, I noticed the first slow leaking puncture last night; I just didn't fix it until this morning. Imagine my surprise when I got out of Denny's (general hunger and pancake craving) to find my front tire absolutely flat! I'm pretty cold because I got absolutely soaked in that hailstorm on hwy 115 from Colorado Springs so I'm changing my clothes to be dry and get warmer so I can deal with the flat.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Bike Touring
Day 30 - 2 flats WTF?!
Argh 2 flats today; 1 front and 1 rear. The rear flat happened when I wasn't even on the bike; a weakened part of the tube gave way when I was at a rest stop with a pop. I don't know about the front; maybe glass on the Katy trail.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Bike Touring
Day 28 flat! St Louis, MO to Hermann, MO
Photo: our expedition's 3rd flat altogether. I have had 2 rear flats (despite kevlar and tire liner) and Mag has had 1 front flat. We did over 80 mi today despite Mag's shifting problem. We will make dinner and camp ($10 for 2) in the "German" town of Hermann, MO which has some charming architecture.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Bike Touring
Day 22: Derailleur deja vu (you won't believe this)
Near Donovan, IL Maggie and I ran over a big rumble strip in the middle of the road (designed to alert motorists to the upcoming railroad tracks) and driving over it practically rattled our teeth loose. About 4 seconds after riding over the rumble strip, my bike came to an ubrupt halt.
I dismounted the bike and realized that my tank top had fallen from my seat, become tangled in my rear wheel, and mangled my new SRAM x.7 rear derailleur that I have had less than two weeks since the tree branch destroyed my previous derailleur. I took the wheel off but my shirt was really wrapped up in there and I couldn't get it out. Fortunately, two motorists, Dennis and Barbara saw us on the side of the road and stopped to aid us. We discussed our situation with them, realizing that we were effectively crippled. I could ride the bike as a single speed if I could get the shirt out and resize the chain, but I wasn't able to do that.
Dennis and Barbara left to get their other car while I continued to try to extract the shirt without success. We called the Tern of the Wheel bike shop (404 W Broadway St Bradley IL 815-933-9152) and they said they didn't have a 9 speed rear derailleur. But we had no choice we needed their help to get the shirt out. So, Dennis drove me in 1 car about 30 miles all the way to the shop, while Barbara took Maggie to their home in Donovan, IL.
Fortunately, the folks and Tern of the Wheel were able to find a derailleur (another SRAM x.7) and I installed it more quickly than last time, perhaps due to the practice. Then Dennis drove me and my bike to their house where they generously fed us and Maggie and I spent the night in comfort.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Bike Touring
