Bikes!

[Perry Winkle]

Finally started resurrecting my bike today. Replaced the tubes and cleaned it a bit. I can never seem to get the rear tire on with the tread pointing the right way. Even dumber, I took it for a spin around the block and forgot to reconnect the rear brakes.

Exciting and dumb. This is why I probably shouldn't be a mechanic of any description.

[Griff]

As forgetfulness goes, on some newer bikes with full suspension, there are lockouts so the suspension doesn't bob on climbs. A guy shared that he locked out but then only turned on his rear suspension for the downhill... ass over teacup. Sometimes its best to keep it simple.

[Lamplighter]

Now here is an innovation that really sounds ingenious...

Bits
NICK BILTON
10/21/13

Start-Up Reinvents the Bicycle Wheel

It’s rare that a company comes along and reinvents the wheel, but it looks like that is about to happen.

Superpedestrian, a start-up in Boston, announced on Monday that
it has received $2.1 million in financing to help build a wheel
that transforms some standard bicycles into hybrid e-bikes.

Superpedestrian’s solution is to slip a motor into an existing analog product: the bicycle.



The Copenhagen Wheel replaces the rear wheel of a bicycle.
It includes a motor powered by a built-in battery and sensors.
When someone pedals with the new wheel in place, the bike uses sensors
and an app on a smartphone to measure the amount of effort the rider
is putting into each pedal. It then offers an additional boost when necessary.

One of the most interesting components of the new wheel is
that the rider doesn’t need to tell the bike when help is necessary,
the wheel just figures it out using the sensors and gives the bike a push.
<snip>
The wheel doesn’t need to be charged or plugged in on a nightly basis, either.
Instead, the wheel captures the energy from the brakes when a rider goes down hill
and then stores that power in a high-capacity lithium battery.
The motor also acts like a generator, creating power for later rides when the rider pedals in reverse.

The company said the wheel will last for 15 miles in each direction and will fit on most standard bicycles.

Now, if someone will just invent a smartphone app to stop the rider from doing stupid things in traffic.

.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The company said the wheel will last for 15 miles in each direction...

Up and down? Back and forth? In and out?

[BigV]

[Griff]

That put a smile on my face!

[Griff]

Benny and I built trail today. I want to improve my home ride to the point where I feel bad if I don't do it at least weekly. Benny has a pretty good eye for flow so I let him make the call on a couple switchbacks. Check out this collie!

[glatt]

What is involved in building trail? I'm picturing saws, axes and shovels.

[Griff]

It depends on how much use it's going to see. It can be a big shovel job to avoid erosion and whatnot but for my purposes it's more hand saw and pruner work.

[Griff]

https://www.imba.com/resources/trail-building

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Griff

Check out this collie!

Damn, I love that video.

Such a polite puppy, waiting for him to catch up when he couldn't cut it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

What's is it the kids say... YOLO?

[Griff]

Or dum yo.

This is more my speed.

[monster]

Hebe got a new bike (new to her). it has never really been ridden and is a Dynasty Free spirit 230SE ATB Turns out it's a Sears bike, ten years older than she is, cost around $200 then and now considered a "10-speed classic" by some No wear on the tires or brake pads, looks like it will last her until she goes to college. Thanks to my ceramics teacher. (confirmed bachelor, huge house full of bikes and bike parts, even in one of the bath tubs)

[Griff]

A useful man.